Perpetual Motion
Greetings from the winter wonderland of the rural Erhard hills of Minnesota!
I’m baaaaaaaack.
Well… sort of.
Before I continue the ramblings let me remind you of the ways you can support/see Art of KCF paintings and works out & about
On view - Material Mythos a Duo Show with my works up with beautiful paintings and sculptures by Ilaamen Pelshaw at Kaddatz Galleries, Fergus Falls, MN through the rest of the year
I have a painted quilt also on view as part of a group show called Threading the Needle at Calendula Gallery in St. Paul, MN
I am prepping my print to be sent to my Art of KCF Kafecitxos and all monthly members will be receiving some little extra goodies since this one is two years in the making as a cute little new year new us tiding! Join the club so you can get a cute little package and exclusive art from moi!
ok, back to the ramblings of a wild artist in the snow covered hills
I keep signing off emails to my students with positive affirmations like “we’re almost there, let’s finish strong for the end of term!”
Oh, students you say?
Did I not tell you I started teaching as a Community Faculty (adjunct) for a 2 credit grad class? Well, I, like my students, find myself counting down the days until I am released - 10! Two more class sessions and phew - I am not nearly as broken down as some of my students, I feel for them, trust, I know that feeling of just not even knowing if you’ll make it to the other side (sarcastic laugh to me - KCF knows how to treat all months like the end of a semester hahahaha). In the session before T-Day there were the tell-tale signs of student overwhelm and distress. And a first for me - STRESS in the atmosphere of a ZOOM ROOM. Like, I could feel it through the tiny screens accumulated and shining back at me through the digital realm. Phew!!
On the other hand, one class! One class?! It’s glorious in the sense of I haven’t been in charge of only one class (former 4:4 loader IYKYK) since my grad school days. But in so many other ways the experience has reminded me why I stepped away from this type of teaching duty.
Take me back to 2005 Graduate Instructor me making transparency copies for the overhead projector for lectures instead of trying to figure out how to confirm a student is in fact using GENERATIVE AI to write reflection papers when it’s expressly forbidden in the syllabus STAT.
Ooooh, but also don’t take me back there. I don’t want to relive any of those former timelines.
None of this is what I meant by saying “I’m back” by the way.
What I was trying to say is something like, let me try to finish the end of the year strongly with you! A few more newsletter opportunities to connect with my community. This is neither burden nor a chore. Nor is it something (like teaching at a university in a formal capacity) that inspires panic! I need more of this kind of labor in my life.
I’ve missed you!
2025 is coming to a banner close. Not since 2021 have I received a rejection for every SINGLE grant or fellowship application I’ve applied for and 2025 is even more special because I applied for even more things! (Maniacal KCF laugh hahahahahahaha.)
I’m feeling kind of crazed. Perhaps one shouldn’t be processing such news on the heels of TWO REJECTIONS arriving TODAY!
I’m truly fine, I just hope that you are reading my all-caps with my strong emphasis of performed (elevated) outrage with a twinkle in my eye, because that’s how I’m writing it out for you in my mind.
ANYWAY, I am truly fine. I mean it! I may have been rejected an epic number of times for my art career in one calendar year, but you know what? I also was invited to several things that arrived at my feet this year that I didn’t seek out or need to apply for that helped me do more of what I want to do.
And I have faith that the right opportunities to help me fulfill my purpose will arrive at the right time.
Afemme.
“I’m back” means, I will vow to send you a little message once a week to clue you in on the ins and outs of Studio Utopia through the close of 2025. We will finish this year strong!
Haha, or I’ll coast in to the new year like I’ve be trying to tell my nearest and dearest I am planning to do once those grades are in. Well, once I call it on working by the end of that week! I need a break, so I can truly be back, and not unhinged.
How unhinged would you say?
Oh, I had this phrase come to me “perpetual motion” and then started singing the lyrics to the 1998 banger classic “This Kiss” but in my total typical form of not ever really truly knowing the lyrics unless I’m listening to the song right then, I kept getting tied up when I was singing the chorus.
That’s because it’s centrifical motion, it’s perpetual bliss (this kiss) not perpetual motion. But, my way feels more accurate to my senses right now, because my perpetual motion has slingshot me back into a real crispy burnt out state and must be met with equal measure of stillness or some semblance of balance that I swear will begin December 19th - it truly MUST or I will not be able to face 2026’s round up of rejections and opportunities heading my way.
Till then, let’s finish the year out in whatever way you feel most called to do so.
I’m going to finish with a sense of presence, purpose and calm.
You?
😀
