Yesterday I was talking about newsletters with a group of artist friends and one of them said “I feel like you send them super regularly, like…biweekly?” I was hugely relieved to hear this since it’s actually been more than a month since my last newsletter, and after initially committing to writing once a week I felt like I had completely dropped the ball. The more time went on, the more pressure I felt to just put something out, and the harder it was to buckle down and put a newsletter together, especially because I’ve had several drafts of more “hard-hitting” tattoo culture commentary sitting unfinished. I’m trying to be less existential and committing to not overthinking, just sending what feels right. This issue is a mix of my own updates and general news. More to come soon. Thanks for being here.
Bridge II, glazed porcelain. 2023, currently on view at Selenas Mountain.
MY NEWS:
✴️ This is the last week to see my show Walk to the wide open window at Selenas Mountain. A huge thanks to Clare Gemima for this feature and interview in WhiteHot. I plan to be there Saturday evening and hope to catch some of you before the show comes down!
✴️ I’m in some current and upcoming group shows that I’m very much looking forward to, including Plant a Weed at Jack Barrett, curated by Francesca Altamura and opening June 17th, Xican-a.o.x. Body opening at the Cheech Center in Riverside on June 17th, and a couple of LA openings in July (details to come). I also have some pieces in an exciting show at AMOCA, Making in Between: Queer Clay.
✴️ I’m finally admitting to myself that I’m not making new merch anytime soon. If inspiration strikes and I think of something really good, I’ll make it, but I haven't been feeling right about producing just to produce. In the spirit of clearance, you can take 50% off any goods in my webstore, including print and ceramic editions, til they’re sold out using code SUMMER50.
✴️ One of the things that I’m most enjoying lately is the one-on-one consultation (coaching?) sessions tattooers have been booking. The time together is shaped by what questions each person brings into the session and can range from portfolio review and critique to support navigating career growth and change, finding supportive reference material, and more. It’s so fun for me to get to know artists and their practices more in-depth and to use what I’ve learned throughout my time in the industry to encourage others in their growth. You can book time together here.
I HAVE MY EYES ON:
✴️ My friend Marlee Grace has a new podcast called Common Shapes that I listen to immediately whenever an installment drops. I just recorded with them, so keep an eye out for our conversation soon. This week’s episode is with Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo, who I was lucky enough to get to know at ACRE residency and to continue to be inspired by their way with words. Here are some kites we made during their Flight School workshop at the Brooklyn Art Book fair this past weekend:
✴️ Abigail Lucien’s new book NAN VANT SOLÈY LA is now available from GenderFail. The publication is stunning as both collection and object, and I’m happy to have contributed to it with an interview we did while at a residency together last summer. Snag one while there are still copies available!
Book image via GenderFail.
✴️ Professor, artist, and activist Shellyne Rodriguez was fired from both Hunter College and the School of Visual Arts after she defended herself at her apartment following a campaign of right-wing harassment and doxxing. Artists and cultural workers can sign the petition in solidarity with her, and anyone can donate to her material support fund.
✴️ Lex Brown’s sci-fi piece in the current issue of SHIFT SPACE.
✴️ Also science fiction, I’m in the middle of reading The Employees by Olga Ravn and am captivated by the writing, though whenever I read new speculative fiction I find myself following it up by revisiting my favorite collection by Metropolarity: Style of Attack Report (it’s still my favorite).
✴️ For the first time in my life I’m paying to subscribe to bonus podcast content because I can’t get enough of If Books Could Kill. Michael Hobbs and Peter Shamshiri absolutely roast all the “airport bestsellers” that have wormed their way into the cultural milieu for better or worse. I consistently react aloud while listening and wish I could have a new episode every day.
✴️ Sometimes when oppressively hot weather hits I convince myself that listening to “cold” music makes me feel physically cooled down. I offer up a playlist to make up for the long pause~