006: How to Memorialize Our Fire Story, A Conversation with Author Brian Fies

How to Disaster

“Art doesn't seem very important in an event like this. And yet sometimes, it's the thing that lasts the longest and means the most.” -Brian Fies

Episode Description:

Wildfires are devastating. They destroy homes, businesses, and sometimes even entire communities. And when they’re over, what’s left is often a wasteland of charred earth and blackened trees. In a few minutes, everything you’ve built has burned to the ground, without having the chance to say goodbye. But the most painful thing is to be forced to move on when you’re still grieving your loss. They say it’s just stuff, but it’s your life embedded in them.

But as much as you want to, there’s no going back. You can only build a new life. And in this new life, it's important to remember and tell your story. One way to memorialize your story is through art. It's a way to connect with others who have gone through something similar and help them heal. Author, artist, and fire survivor Brain Fies and his family were one of the thousands who lost their home during the 2017 Tubbs Fire. Four years later, he still continues to inspire others through his art.

Tune in as Brian relates the painful events of that day and how being an artist enabled him to be a source of strength for his family and others who have gone through the same experience. Jennifer and Brian also discuss the wisdom found in following building codes and landscaping, how climate change plays a huge role in these global wildfires, the demarcations of life before and after the fire, controlling your fire narrative, allowing yourself time to grieve, and the role of an artist in disaster recovery.

As an artist or journalist, you have a powerful voice. Let your story be a source of healing for yourself and your community.

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Highlights:

02:12: Breathing Thy Neighbors’ Lives

06:27: Unbelievable Things That Fire Can Do

12:49: Control the Fire Narrative

17:24: Grieve- You Have To

22:38: From the Eyes of a Fire Survivor

31:42: The Exact Perfect Word

37:39: The Role of an Artist in Disaster Recovery

41:30: Before and After the Fire

46:04: A Fire Story is a Climate Change Story

52:37: It Takes Time