The Turn of a Page
The Page of a Turn
Sometime in October of 2023 I started booking things out to January 2024 and beyond. It felt extremely early to me to begin that work, and simultaneously like I was really on top of my life. After all, in March when we start planning for things in June I am not nearly as salty. For some time now I’ve been trying to align myself with new cycles, like seasons, moon rises, the position of the sun in the sky, and other opportunities for re-birth beyond the Gregorian calendar. Though as I investigated where humans came up with this calendar I’m not surprised to learn that the seasons and the moon were important to the construction of this solar calendar linked to important Catholic liturgical points in time. Coming up with the mathematic reasoning for the length of months and the contentious February extra day leap year situation is rather fascinating.
Like, imagine the Gregorian Monks huddled around a board table in a heated discussion (not using Robert’s Rules of Order) about when the leap year has to occur for the math to work in the early part of 1582. The Julian Calendar mistakenly used the assumption of 365.25 days in a year, so the Gregorian shifts us back to the more sun-based system that approximates 365.2422 days per year; how specific! It’s also interesting to think about all that had to happen for this one calendar system to rule them all. And now, in just a few hours (depending on when and where you are while reading this message) we will be flipping pages into a new year. Perhaps you’re already there? How’s the weather?
I set a really lofty goal of reading 160 books this year. Turning pages has usually brought me comfort, joy, purpose and satisfaction. And I’m happy to report that I failed to meet my lofty reading goal for 2023. About a month ago I could have pushed myself to the breaking point to speed read through the remaining books to meet my goal, but I purposefully chose not to do that. I know all the strategies, thin poetry volumes, graphic-based texts, children’s books, cookbooks… but I kind of wanted to fail at not meeting a goal to feel how it sits in my body at 42.
I actually feel proud of myself for not pushing myself to sickness just to be able to say I met an arbitrary goal of my own making. To be clear, I read a lot of books this year. 117 as of the writing of this missive. I might finish a couple more between now and year’s end, who knows. I thought not meeting my goal would feel more devastating that it ultimately did. Here’s what I’ve learned, 160 books is too much for my life right now. I’m also committing to a different kind of reading goal in 2024 - maybe it will be more quality over quantity? I want to be touched by the book, I want to be changed by it. Maybe it’s too much to ask, but I want to learn something or feel something because of the art itself, not just devouring for devouring sake. To that end, please send your recommendations my way. I want to read more experimental literature.
I want to read more moving memoirs. I want to read more about art, painting to be specific. Perhaps I’ll try failing for my reading in a new way in 2024. Might I consider not continuing to read a book if I’m not into it? Perhaps one day I’ll stop flipping through pages I don’t want to be flipping. We’ll see.
A person I met this year, who’s become a part of my life, asked me if I was a paper planner type person and I excitedly shared yes, in fact I’m so into it I’m a Passion Planner Ambassador! In my estimation on this subject, there is only one thing more sacred than a freshly new paper planner, and that’s a full, fattened planner with a loosened spine. At the breakfast nook table I have amassed my two passion planners from 2023 for my final yearly reflections and introduced them to my three fresh new 2024 planners. It’s a great day when the planners meet! I leave what I want to be left in 2023 and bring with me what needs to move into this next year. I thank them for their service and welcome my new companions. The overlap of four (or five) paper planners is a magical time of year that truly only happens once! Now!
How special to get to caress these pages, marvel at the filling of some and the possibility in the others. I’m excited to announce that my Ko-Fi Klub Members (full name reveal coming in 2024 I promise, I know I keep saying that but the list of possibilities are made and will be solidified in January) will be invited to spend virtual space with me on Sundays when I’m able, for a planning party - we’ll converse, share tips about our favorite office supplies, be in community, and use our paper planners. Stay tuned to my Ko-Fi site for more information for our first meeting January 7, 2024 4-5pm central time. And if you’re not a member yet, maybe it’s time to join this awesome crowd… I’ve got some fun things planned and penned in my planner pages for 2024 for my Ko-Fi Cup Fillers (KCFers?! see what I did there?)
In the Tarot deck the Pages represent new learners, they are known as the the youngest and most inexperienced member of the court cards who skip with the spirit of inquiry and observation along the path laid out in front of them with fresh eyes. They are the members of their suits who are eager to learn, curious, and have open minds that are not constrained by preconceived notions because of their naivety, playfulness and sense of possibility. I love the Page energy of excitement for the new adventure ahead, it’s something I know I have within me and something I want to continue cultivating onward. In 2024 I’m turning my page into the one that reads more excitement, less anxiety about the path unfolding in front of me, more adaptation and flexibility in the creation and accomplishing of plans. So it shall be!
Have you ever noticed the page turner who flips the music book for the pianist? In 2024 I’m calling in that kind of peace and ease. I’m requesting my ancestors and guides turn the page for me when I’m reaching the end of the page I need, and I’m ready for the next one. Such a beautiful offering, the assistance of someone, somewhere in the universe, a breaking down of the myth of individualism. I’m trusting that page turner to help me keep the pace. The page turner plays such a valuable role, reading along to see where the player is and knowing the exact right timing to switch to the next one. A quick, purposeful action marking a transition from the past notes into the present moment. I need this help all the time.
As I reflected on 2023 with Vaimo and my BFF on Christmas Day, they reminded me that one way to look at how my year unfolded was definitely possible, but so too was a more gentle reading of how things went down. Well actually they both took things to a pretty bleak conclusion, that was an even worse timeline than the one I was actually on, but their ideas helped flip the page for me a bit. It helped me see that if I’m not liking the story I can just shut the book. Move on, leave that behind, let go. They flipped my page for me, and I’m grateful that they did. May 2024 bring you a fresh flip of the calendar page, or any other turning of pages with which you may need help moving toward or beyond.
Happy New Year.
What I’m Seeing
Endanakiiyaan - “Where I am on the Earth” is up at the Watermark Art Center in Bemidji, Minnesota through February 9, 2024
Bemidji’s Watermark Art Center called to me as I took in the Art Market across the street that Sharon Nordrum organized (featured in the newsletter two issues ago). In the Miikanan Gallery my eyes were greeted by the vibrant and contemporary landscape paintings of Kent Estey. Kent paints with the joy of a painter whose pleasure emerges from moving mediums on a surface. His hand is visible in the long strokes representing grass blades, daubs that start narrow widen and then constrict again to represent leaves on a variety of plants, and the knowing of a seasoned painter of when to leave it alone and to move on to something else.
Estey Garden No. 1 is the kind of painting that would fit in at the ChicFinn, bright colors that push the landscape from realism to manufactured, acrylic paints that function to create just enough identifiable marks of plants we know and love. The abstract moments of splatters, paint applied with things other than brushes, and the relationship between the foregrounded florals to their green and blue backgrounds simulating their place in the natural world inspire a wondrous awe. A delightful feast for the eyes— Kent writes in his artist statement that he is simply painting what he sees, and boy oh boy do I want to see the world through his eyes in the form of these paintings. His exhibition, Endanakiiyaan - “Where I am on the Earth” is up at the Watermark Art Center in Bemidji, Minnesota through February 9, 2024. Go check it out! Not local? Check out the links to see some of the works up on view. Beautiful colors for your eyes!
Creative Ritual
Prioritizing life outside of the studio to be able to bring it back to my studio practice has been how I've been spending my time the last 11 days. I bought some new paints at Ron’s Discount Warehouse that I’m excited to play around with on some new panels I’ve got itching to be turned into something new. I hosted three rounds of people at the ChicFinn, from bringing old friends who don't know each other to make new connections, to recently made friends, to dear BFF, it’s been a beautiful December here (minus the snow we should have on the ground, who knew I’d be this Minnesotan begging for snow).
I received my last formal rejection of 2023-- I did not make the cut for a residency in New Mexico in 2024 -- which is definitely my page turner telling me that we are staying closer to home this year, save for some travels already planned with family. I received official news that the Spencer Art Museum is acquiring one of my Roots paintings and I will loan another with the possibility of the museum also acquiring that one after a show in 2025. What a way to end the year huh?
Also a couple of days ago I hosted two cool artists from the 410 Project - a gallery in Mankato where I’ll have a show up in January. They're making a video about my artistic practice as a way to tie into the exhibition. I booked another show right after it comes down in another small Minnesota community, so clearly KCF is turning pages quicker than expected in the exhibition portion of the year. More to come in 2024!
As I shared in the previous email, we have migrated to a new platform for the newsletter! Hopefully all will continue to go without a hitch as this platform has been great at importing all my previous newsletter issues from the other site and most importantly your emails!
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Questions to ponder
What are you turning the page on and leaving behind in 2023?
What are you turning the page toward in 2024?
Are there books (stories) you feel the need to close and leave behind?
Are there books (stories) you feel like savoring a bit more and bringing with you into this new year?
Thanks for journeying with me. I hope, as always, that you take what you need and leave the rest for someone else, or for another time.
-KCF
The Art of KCF Newsletter is a fiscal year 2023 recipient of a Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.