Right brain / Left brain

These days of quarantine have been fantastically productive for focusing on business and checking tasks off my to-do list, but less conducive to new inspiration and creative breakthroughs. For me, the best kind of creative energy stems from new experiences, conversation and connections -- all of which I am feeling the lack of these days.

My biggest focus has been preparing to film an online punch needle course that I've been working on for the past 6 months. (You heard it here first!) The deep dive into writing the content, preparing an outline, script writing and pre-production has left little time to focus on my art, but this is a project I've been working on since January and I'm eager to put it out into the world. This foundation course is an expanded version of what I teach in my live classes, and I'm excited for the opportunity to reach a broader audience, and continue teaching this art form in a way that works with our current Covid restrictions.

Reading, picnics in a nearby park, and morning walks are keeping me grounded. I am finding the balance between the left brain and right brain aspects of making my art and running a business. Punch Needle World has been growing rapidly, and I've enjoyed the connection with the community and the way it has kept me learning, growing, and continuing to seek information. I am just about to begin working on my next punch needle coat, using a new type of yarn, and after a busy month I am looking forward to getting lost in the next creative challenge.

xx

An Awakening

I've spent the past 9 days off the grid on a camping road trip up through Northern California. My partner and I traveled through the Sequoia, Stanislaus and Mendocino National Forests, Sonoma, Marin and Big Sur, taking in all the beauty that California has to offer, from cool forests and lakes to vast sunny meadows, sweeping mountain views and curving coastlines. Nature is where I recenter. It brings everything back into focus, allows me to breathe, and reminds me what is really important.

More than any other time in my life, I am conscious of the feeling of living through history. June was an uncomfortable month. An awakening of sorts. Between the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic affecting the global population and the current fight for racial justice here in the United States, a massive spotlight has been turned on the flaws in our country -- our police force, our unchecked capitalism, the racism built into the systems that are the foundation of this nation, the human and natural resources that we have been exploiting without regard -- and we must not look away.

The energy and momentum that we're experiencing is due to a unique set of events that have all converged, and we have the distinct opportunity to make change right now. We are not only living through history, but we are all actively participating in its creation with our actions -- or lack of action. We have a chance to create real change, to ensure a better world for future generations, not only for people all across the globe, but for the very survival of the planet itself. We cannot go back to "the way things were". There is no going backwards. The world has already changed, and it is up to us whether we force it to drag us along with it kicking and screaming, or whether we embrace the change as an opportunity to re-imagine the very world that we are living in, and be a part of its evolution.

xx

Adjusting to a new normal

April was a busy month. Despite all the changes and uncertainty, the weeks have flown by, and daily routines have been keeping me grounded.

A big focus of mine this past month was launching Punch Needle World, an online community and informational resource for Punch Needle Rug Hooking. Punch needle has become a central part of my work as an artist and I am passionate about its history, and invested in keeping the traditional technique alive even as I work to push it in new directions as an art form. Punch Needle World is my way to give back, elevate the community of artists around me, and support new creatives interested in learning more about this craft. (If you're interested in learning more, check out the website and feel free to join the Instagram community or mailing list to keep up with that endeavor!)

On a more personal note, this month has been centered around adjusting to and creating a "new normal". Morning routines and evening routines have been key to keeping me on track. Coffee and morning walks, delicious dinners and weekly conversations with friends have been good for the soul.

A couple weeks ago, I broke the lease on my new art studio that I just moved into this past December. I only had a few months to work from the space before COVID-19 made getting downtown and safely working within a large creative office building impossible. Moving into that space was a big step for me, and while it was hard to say goodbye so quickly, I know this is one of the best ways I can prepare myself as an artist and solo entrepreneur to ride things out for the months to come.

Some things I have been thinking about these days:

Adaptability. In the midst of so much uncertainty, I have been thinking a lot about the importance (now more than ever) of being flexible and being able to adapt to new situations. Humans are incredibly resilient, but many people have a natural aversion to change when faced with it head on. While it might seem scary, I think there is value in leaning into the change - even being malleable enough to let it guide our course - rather than resisting and insisting on the quickest return to "the way things were". Rather than asking "how can we regain what we have lost", maybe we should ask "what new opportunities might this open up"? The current situation will shape our world for years to come, in ways that we can not yet imagine. As an artist, a creative and an entrepreneur, I believe it is prudent that we begin thinking today about how we can best position ourselves to adapt and stay flexible over the next 2-3 years -- and beyond.

How current events, necessity, influences art. In a similar vein, I have been thinking a lot about how current events influence art, and how restriction and necessity often lead to incredible things. This is very exciting to me as an artist! Sometimes being required to work with restrictions leads to creativity that would have been impossible otherwise. Traditional Rug Hooking, Korean Jogakbo and the quilts of Gees Bend are all art forms that evolved out of necessity and restriction (ie. poverty). The women who pioneered these craft movements began simply, by using what they had at their disposal to create functional personal items that were popular during their time -- floor coverings, traditional wrapping cloth, and quilts. I am finding myself increasingly drawn to this type of work, and wondering what shape my own work might take out of necessity in the coming years.

Looking forward,
xx

Uncharted Territory

The world, and the way we relate to it, has changed very quickly. Over the past month, my personal plans have shifted. Some creative projects have taken a back seat, others have been postponed indefinitely. My professional goals for the year are being reset. February seems like a long time ago. Making art feels both frivolous, and like the only thing that actually matters.

These days I am feeling very grateful ― grateful for my health and the health of my loved ones, grateful for the ability to work from home and for the beautiful weather outside as I write this from my porch.

It can be unnerving to face the unknown, not knowing what is going to happen over the coming weeks or months. But there is something freeing about relaxing into that uncertainty. None of us really ever know what is around the bend. This quarantine has forced me to take things one day at a time, to slow down. Life is simpler, and I have found a surprising amount of joy in this scaled back routine.

"Things falling apart is a kind of testing and also a kind of healing. We think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved. They come together and they fall apart. Then they come together again and fall apart again. It’s just like that. The healing comes from letting there be room for all of this to happen: room for grief, for relief, for misery, for joy.”

― Pema Chödrön, When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times

I know this is a scary time for many people. I hope amidst the chaos you are able to find space to breathe, to be outside, to be kind to yourselves and your loved ones as we all navigate this situation together.

xx