AUGUST 21st
birthday + boredom
PORCHFEST / 731 DAY
an important day in Jackson - our area code is 731 so July 31st welcomes the opportunity to celebrate local music, food, and beginning this year: visual artists! I had the honor of painting a backdrop 8 feet by 6 feet to accompany a musician. It was the backdrop for none other than Erin Rae!!!! She showed up and of course was just as angelic in person as she is in her music.
PREPPING FOR THE SHOW
I was scrambling the month before my solo show. If not physically, mentally. My mind plays through every possibility - good, bad, neutral - to avoid surprises. Or at least, try. My Dear friend and mentor Keith reminded me, “Abby, even if ten people show up, it’s the ten coolest people in Jackson, and we will have a GREAT time!!” I thought that was sweet though I wouldn’t so confidently say whoever was at my show was the coolest. But he definitely believed that was true and I am so grateful to be surrounded by people who believe fiercely in me, especially during times where I am struggling to stay afloat.
AND YET! It all got done! I began setting up Tuesday for the show on Saturday, and am so glad I got a head start. There were a few hiccups, like figuring out how to hang my paintings from the ceiling (that was new to me) and the secret was surprising: CARPET TAPE! I could tape the canvas to the dowel rod which hung from fishing line. I want to give personal shout outs to Chris Deming and Jacob who dealt with the heights and kept the most even-keeled energy around the room. Their stability was amazing for me to experience and really what I needed.
THANK YOU CHRIS AND JACOB
So much of the show reminded me why community is such a tenant in my art making process. Chris and Jacob helped make my frames and set up the show. Courtney Searcy came to photograph before and during the show. Every day leading up to the show, someone different would reach out and ask if I needed anything. Walking into the local coffee shop, many friends would buy my drink on the spot, knowing I was prepping. Even the gallery owners, the Havners, have become such close friends to me before the show and would encourage me via text or in person and did their best to do whatever I needed.
During the show, fellow artist and friend Wendy Kim brought me homemade peach preserves. I thought, “I don’t need a show in New York! I need shows where people bring me their peach preserves!” It makes sense to me the importance of that.
AUGUST 5TH THE SHOW
Watching people, especially kids, interact with my work, solidified my visions of how I see my large scale pieces existing. In my studio, I can work on three paintings at most at the same time and have never seen them all hung in the same space! It was very spiritual to see how my paintings talked to one another, and even better to see others interact with them.
Even my dress had a story. Bethany, who owns a local secondhand shop Mother Thrifter, hyped me up enough to have the courage to wear this dress to the show. I fell in love with it in her store, and we worked out a trade between clothes and a painting for her house.
Anyways, thank you to EVERYONE
Anyways Anyways, I’ve experienced something I haven’t in a long time after the show - boredom. Do real artists experience that? Am I a true painter if I walk into the studio and have little to no motivation? Aren’t I always “supposed” to make?
Without getting too deep into my personal art philosophy, I’ve been trying to not see boredom as inherently bad or as a BAD SIGN of something. I think it’s a sign that my body is asking for rest. Deep, creative rest. I may not be in the studio as much this month after my show, but I’m feeling drawn to reading, writing, hanging out with people, making phone calls, dancing, etc. I’ve been drawing as well on a smaller scale.
I honor my intuition and have the freedom to change my own mind. Resentment has no place in my making.
In this time of recharging, I completed this vest I’m really proud of!!! I cannot wait until my favorite season WINTER. And a little drawing/painting I made. My cat is very happy I am spending more time at home and demanding lots of snuggles. And of course, catching up with Charlie Grey in my studio.
My thoughts on turning 25 will be in my next newsletter, but just know my sentimental ass has been looking through all the old photos and journal entries and memories and I love life.
AUGUST MUSES
Martha Graham’s A Dancer’s World - the full length is in parts on Youtube and has mesmerized me. Martha Graham is just A HUGE MUSE of mine but all of her dancers are simply unreal.
This interview with PopeL. He is most known for his crawling performances in NYC from 1978-2001. These shots are from his performance: How Much is that Nigger in the Window a.k.a. Tompkins Square Crawl 1991
He crawled holding his potted flower in a business suit until his boots began to fall apart.
The album Windswept Adan by Ichiko Aoba is on repeat in my house / studio / car / mind / soul
Episode title: From 'fight the power' to advertising for the power: hip-hop turns 50
This CodeSwitch podcast episode
Explores the beauty and the contradictions of hip hop, then and now. fascinating listen, whether you listen to hip hop or not!
5.
Judith Butler’s Interview on Gender
I’m wanting to buy some of Butler’s books with birthday money but her interviews will do for now <3
6.
I’m still a beginner I feel in terms of following crochet patterns. Expert in crocheting straight lines tho :) I’ve crocheted many blankets intuitively, but I’m convinced Kiara is one of the cutest people in the whole world and this is so easy/fun to follow. plus i can’t wait for winter!!!!! I’ll just make bonnets until then.