Guess what? I’m not the first person to investigate the confluence of art & music. My own work has performed such acrobatic tricks as pulling a painting, a poem, and a short story all out of one song. Phil Ward’s collective project, Now See Hear, pulls creativity from all over, even soap and brownies — not in the same pan, though.

Phil Ward warms up a room (even a virtual one) just on approach. People see him coming and expect a quick wit and a good laugh; I assure you he will deliver. I came to know of him through the FAR-West Campfire song circles, though I probably first met him on the Dr. Demento radio show back when I was young and impressionable.

Phil began Now See Hear in 2015, and creative works are still coming in, delivered by inspired folks from grade-school students to polished musicians. Creators of absolutely anything are invited to find inspiration and continue one of 23 threads. I said gumbo; I don’t think that’s been represented yet.

In February, the Now See Hear project received its 100th song from L.A. musician Bob Remstein, called Balcony to the Stars. His muse is Ky Bise, artist and student at Rancho Alamitos High School in Garden Grove, California. You can find their collaboration in “The Thread with Leaves and Peanut Butter.” Yes, that means baked goods.

Bob and Ky are both first-time contributors to NSH, although Bob’s daughter Eva contributed artwork to the project some years ago when she was twelve.

There are now 100 new songs and stories in the world created as part of NSH, and about 115 new works of art, craft and artisanship.

NSH’s 100^th art piece, inspired by Jen Hajj’s song “Surrealist Art”, was announced in 2021: Seth Holmes of Maryland came up with a suitably surreal painting. Both appear on a thread called “The Thread That’s Dedicated to Michael Morales.” Michael was a passionate FAR-West musician and NSH participant who left us far too early in life.

Now See Hear has been, in the true spirit of Folk, connecting musicians with artists, bakers, and makers-of-things since 2015. Please consider making your own contribution in whatever you do. Start here: Now See Hear: How it works. Pick a thread!

Bring what you’ve got to the project, as an artist, songwriter, storyteller, or poet; finder of things, baker, soapmaker. To get involved, click “Contact Now See Hear” and drop a line to curator Phil Ward. Let him know what you’d like to do, or scold him. Either way, he’ll write back.