(originally published july 19, 2022 via my Buy Me A Coffee page)
Week one on the East Coast and I've somewhat got my commute from Brooklyn to my Jersey City studio down and, frankly, I'm pretty proud of myself. Those first few days were rough though, I won't even lie. (*insert a photo of panicked & sweaty Arielle here*)
day 1
There came a point in my last few weeks in Austin where I grew tired of answering the questions, "Are you ready?" "Are you excited?". The answer was always "no, and yes". "No" because, logistically, can anyone ever be fully ready to live and navigate a different state and creative practice (& all its unexpected happenings) for close to three months? Not really. But of course the "yes" was a yes because wow, I get the opportunity to create in a vibrant area with the possibility of expanding my reach. Yes, please and thank you.
Prior to leaving Austin I shipped a roll of blank canvas I had been using for commissions and whatever supplies could fit into a medium sized box with a hope that that was a decent running start. Artistically, I didn't come up here with much of a plan or project in mind. I wanted to feel out the space, the city (cities) and be lead freely in this place. So I'm starting with loose canvas and, of course, going big since I have the square footage for the first time ever. Creating feels the same, but different and I'm still searching for the words for it all, but painting first will help. I'm just loosening myself up for the journey! Although still doing my research, I've got my thoughts on paper next but we shall see!
As a few of you know my art practice began in my childhood bedroom back in Southern California, then moved to a 400 sq. ft. apartment in Austin, and then half of a living room in a one bedroom apartment. So you can imagine how much I'm internally screaming at the fact that I get to utilize a 500 sq. ft. studio space with a utility sink and four massive windows. My world is lit - in more ways than one. And it's just week one.
I covered a part of a studio wall with pictures, inspiration, and encouragements
loosening up on my first canvas
my nervous system needed a midweek moment to slow down from all the coming and going, so I leisurely explored a bit of Downtown Brooklyn and found a park bench to read on. very timely and fitting, I think
Here's a short clip of some studio moments from this first week at Mana Contemporary.
“I’m a writer, and everything I write is both a confession and a struggle to understand things about myself and this world in which I live . This is what everyone’s work should be…whether you dance or paint or sing. It is a confession, a baring of your soul, your faults, those things you simply cannot or will not understand or accept. You stumble forward, confused, and you share. If you’re lucky, you learn something.”
—Arthur Miller
What I'm watching these days - Lately the Girl Scout in me has been making way through Netflix's Alone.
What I'm reading these days - Anything and everything on the late abstractionist, Sam Gilliam. I can't wait to drop into the MoMA soon to see his work!
What I'm listening to - I've been sticking to my favorite Spotify playlist, but I recently got to chat with my AirBnB host and turns out he's a musician. We had a brief sweet talk about the creative journey and I'm looking forward to chatting more with him. His band is called Harriet Tubman and they're in the process of recording another album!
-A