less fighting, more fun
I lost two subscribers after my last update. Too much vegan content, perhaps?
To that end, I have intentionally been trying to post less vegan stuff on my Instagram account, not because I want more subscribers, likes, follows, etc. (my account is private anyway), but because I know I’m probably not going to change any hearts and minds that way. I listened to this All Things Considered episode a couple of weeks ago about the impact of online sharing, pointing to studies about how sharing strong views online actually does little to persuade others while deepening the beliefs of the poster. That said, I will continue to share every time I successfully veganize a New York Times Cooking recipe.
Easily veganized this miso pecan banana bread recipe via NYTCooking Or maybe it was the MTB content? Thing is, quotes like this, from ultra-runner Courtney Dauwalter, are super applicable to the creative process: “the journey of trying is the whole point.”
On a somewhat related note, thinking about why I find something as physically and mentally challenging as mountain biking so fun, I really enjoyed this Consider This episode about “the serious business of having fun,” defined by The Power Of Fun and How to Feel Alive author
, as “the combination of three states—playfulness, connection and flow.”“Playfulness does not mean you have to play games. A lot of adults get very nervous when you use the word playfulness, so I like to say, you don't have to necessarily be silly or childish. It's really just more about having a lighthearted attitude towards life and towards yourself. Connection refers to this feeling of having a special shared experience with other people. And then flow is active and engaged. And really importantly, flow requires you to be present.”
All things I am digging about riding my bike with my son and his team.
Anyway, back to art and stuff…A few days ago I finished Everything She Touched: Life of Ruth Asawa. I nearly put it down at one point (proverbially speaking…it’s a Kindle, after all), but I’m glad I stuck with it because the second 2/3 or so is so good. Between undergrad and grad school (June 2002 to August 2005) I had two part-time arts admin jobs (wrote about them here), one for the Achenbach Graphic Arts Council at the Legion of Honor and the other for the NorCal chapter of ArtTable, Inc., and it’s crazy how close our paths came to crossing during those years (at one point during my AGAC gig I was encouraged to apply for a similar, but full-time role supporting the Fine Arts Museums Board of Trustees). About juggling art, work, and family early on author Marilyn Chase writes:
“Ruth was painting, sculpting, and even designing wallpaper. Although she avoided secretarial jobs, she did work a stint as a restaurant hostess to make ends meet.”
I, on the other hand, have not done a very good job avoiding secretarial jobs! On the contrary, I survived yet another wave of layoffs earlier this week.
So, who wants to join me on a tour of Ruth Asawa public art?? We can start in Oakland, pop over to San Francisco, and then head down to Palo Alto and San Jose (here’s the map). I also learned for the first time reading this book about the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, part of the San Francisco school district. How cool it must be to be a student or teacher there…
I’ve made some progress in “the pink room” (the multi-purpose craft/spare/future kitten foster room), adding various inserts to the IKEA Kallax (how cool are those X compartments, second pic below, just like in yarn & fabric stores!) and moving in a bunch of stuff from my very cluttered studio.
the studio…much better with less stuff in it! I also moved the table-door to the pink room without doing anything yet to the surface to level out the inset Shaker-style panel, but so far it’s actually working just fine as a work surface, with plenty of space for both my projects and my daughter’s. I might do something fun with epoxy in the future but this will do for now.
the pink room, with a work table like a double sink! Have you ever done a flash sale or giveaway to clear out studio inventory? I scored this gorgeous weaving by Alameda-based artist Laura Wasserman, who was giving away several wall hangings via her Instagram.
Not sure yet where in my home it will live (have yet to put anything on the walls two months after moving back in!) but I look forward to hanging it up permanently (and when I do I’ll make sure it’s facing the right way…this is apparently the back of the weaving).
How incredible is this crochet coral reef, “described as the environmental version of the AIDS quilt.”
Did you see that 4th graders designed New Hampshire’s “I voted!” stickers? I’m not exactly looking forward to this election and the long campaign season leading up to November but this story brought a smile to my face.
This is not something I’d necessarily apply for but I think residencies like this might be key to supporting artists in countries like the US. Can you imagine the American government ever again creating something like the WPA? I think every company would benefit from having an artist in residence.
I’ll leave you with the above images of a couple more mushrooms spotted on hikes and bike rides, plus a final quote from Ruth Asawa:
“I am happy for the years of productive works, and the ‘fighting years.’ If I had it back I would fight less and do my work more. ‘Do it while you are able to.’ That’s my advice to the young. Only you know what to do.”
Heck yeah.
That Ruth Asawa tour sounds like fun!