Highs and Lows

It's been a while. Did you miss me? I missed myself for a bit. I was down in the dumps coming back to Bowling Green. Joel and I weren't getting along like we normally do, sacrificing our relationship for that of a friend's marriage. Not making time for one another-- to love each other, vent to each other and just be with each other. When I got back to Ohio I couldn't find my work. That's not to say it was missing, it just wasn't coming. At all. Not a drop of creativity or making, or wanting to make. I just felt empty. Focusing too much on fears of teaching, fears of making and just plain old being a scaredy-cat can be crippling to a girl.

But I'm back! Head and heart are open and ready. Learning "no" can be a liberating yet difficult thing to do. I was able to stand up for myself recently and it felt great. I will not be teaching a 4D class that I would have no clue how to even start. (If you're wondering, like I was, what the hell is the 4th dimension?! They consider it time and space; teaching video, performance and animations.) I get to stick with foundations drawing and not feel a bit bad about it. In fact, I'm quite excited!

Cosmos
Sense of Place,
Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art

Oh the power of positive thinking. I got work into Sense of Place, an exhibition in August, Georgia. Seems quite fitting for my work so I was happy to be one of the chosen artists. I was talking to my friend here about selling work. "I'm selling this piece," I said affirmatively. A little later in the week, today in fact, I got a phone call from the Toledo Art Museum and I sold the work I had in the TAA show!

Highs and Lows
Sold at the TAA

So, on that note. Both my head and my heart are both beaming a little right now. The world is a beautiful place, even at the times when it seems the lowest.

Whirlwind

I had an amazing, busy and work-filled vacation to Wyoming. It solidified where I want to be in my life. I sit in sticky, humid Ohio writing this and thinking about how crisp the air is, how blue the skies are and what an amazing community of friends and family I have there. That's not to say Ohio is lacking in the community. I've got great friends here and my network continues to grow.

The opportunity presented itself to apply for a job back home. Not just any job, but my dream job. You see, this wealthy couple bought up a local dude ranch and have invested lots of bucks. One of their goals is to open an art center with a residency program. Funny, that's what I wanted to do someday down the line. I always thought it was years away and that I would move somewhere else sticky and humid to teach for awhile and gain some skills in the world of academia. Joel has always wanted to stay in the mountains but says he's willing to go somewhere else for awhile. There's a part of me that hopes he doesn't have to. I know it's a long shot but I already put in the application. Haven't heard back yet, but no need to rush. I still have my last year of grad school to finish!

I know several of my comrades also applied or at least were interested in the position. Good luck to us all; I know any one of us would be an asset to the ranch. And hey if I don't get the job, there's always time for a residency, right?!