Inspirations abound
I have been fresh off the end of a class that ran from January through May, another teaching engagement that involved travel and whilst all that was going on trying to get to the rest of my life I’m trying to live.
I’ve squeezed in painting and had some days where painting came first. (YAY)
I’m looking forward to the second half of the year where painting will definitely need to come first because I’m prepping two new bodies of work for two shows that will go up in August and November.
And of course, somehow I caught a summer cold? Ugh.
Honestly, I think it’s because I finally slowed down to a more reasonable pace.
But enough of my woes, inspirations abound.
First, check out this video of the incomparable EGOT Rita Morena being awarded an honorary doctorate by Harvard. If you need a cry, this is sure to fit the bill.
Second, if you’re not aware, I have been helping to launch the Second Annual Middle of NOWhere Art and Music Festival as a formal member of the creative team. It has been my pleasure running the newsletter for what we lovingly call The MONFEST and supporting my friend Siri with this vision.
To bring our work together as a diverse group of creatives has been so fulfilling. If you’re in Central Iowa or nearby consider joining us July 12th from 1-9pm Central.
Lastly, I am giving a scholarly lecture next week for the Boundary Waters Connect community in Ely, MN. I’m sharing the lecture title and description and the zoom link if you’d like to watch. If you can’t make it in real time, I will certainly share the link for the lecture once it’s posted.
From Patronage to Guaranteed Income- Why We Need Artistic Investment Economies in the 21st Century
Artist Patronage in Western societies has taken many forms and served different cultural needs throughout history. This talk will trace the impact of patronage throughout various times and places to make the case that supporting Guaranteed Income for artists is the patronage model necessary for robust and diverse artistic production in our current era. By investigating previous cultural patronage models and better understanding the impact of guaranteed income for artists of today, this lecture makes the case for guaranteed income as a tool for defeating the trope of the starving artist. Supporting artists via guaranteed income is a viable economic model that encourages healthy public/private investment and benefits society at large.
Talk will be streamed 12:00pm CT Tuesday June 10,2025
Three tidbits of joy and inspiration from my world to yours.
Now, back to the pile of books I’m working through as I feel like that one grad student who was finishing their conference paper on the plane on the way to the function. You know who you are.
Oh wait.
It’s me.
Con mucho mucho amor,
KCF
PS: Want to support the continued labor of this artist during Pride Month? You know what to do - sign up for my super exclusive communidad on Ko-Fi or feel free to buy a painting!