1. ART FARM: I received news from Art Farm residency in Nebraska- we scheduled a two-week stay for July. Considering our current situation, I’m not sure if I’ll still be able to go, or what else might change by then, but, I do hope I will be able to make it over and see what they’re are up to out there, exploring the overlap between contemporary arts and farming life. Speaking to my friends Grace and CJ, it sounds like Art Farm has a lot in common with Lijiang Studio, so I’m also curious about the ways in which they differ as well (besides that one is in Nebraska, USA, while the other is in Yunnan, China). Since I’ve started gardening,* while contemplating Jay’s question, “What can art do in times of crisis?” (re: independent media? coping methods? trans-lingual communications?)… I’m looking forward to seeing what kinds of things I can learn there.
[Article: Community Supported Agriculture is Surging Amid the Pandemic]
*Food for Thought: What is the difference between the terms “food autonomy” “food sovereignty” “food security” “food justice” “food apartheid”…? Which resonates more with you right now, and why?
2. AOTVU: I signed up to participate in Carla Rae Johnson’s follow-up project, “Arc of the Viral Universe”- to keep a notebook/sketchbook throughout the course of April 2020-April 2021. Link to the public FB page for updates: [here]
3. 150 FIGURINES: Ray and Jon helped me make 175 miniature clay figurines to donate as part of NY artist Chelsea Hrynick Browne’s 150 Care Packages for healthcare workers- to be sent to the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Queens (we made a few extra just in case some models get damaged or rejected along the way). Description attached below, taken from @muscle_park ‘s IG:
“🍎 My friend @chelseahrynickbrowne is organizing a wonderful initiative for healthcare providers at local hospitals in NYC. She is creating "thank you care packages" for hospitals in NYC to give to their healthcare workers during this crisis. We are searching for businesses who will work with us and are seeking donations that will help healthcare workers smile. We are receiving various products - art, tea, hand lotions, etc. and are aiming to make 100-150 boxes for Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Queens.”
Oil painting during an RCS conference call. (March 14)
4. E-MEETINGS: In this past month, I’ve had the privilege of enjoying multiple meetings and parties on Zoom (which is new for me): one critique/ artist presentation for Karen Fitzgerald’s MFA class (with LIU-POST), two group discussions with TELEPATHIA (hosted by Jess T.Fang) on the current state of “consciousness communities,” one 24-hour dance party “CLOUD9” (hosted by BUFU/ China Residencies), one workshop on “Legacies of Care: Yellow Peril in the Time of COVID-19” (led by Yellow Jackets Collective), and our inaugural group gathering for the Garden Matrix project (tentative name), with Petra and Boat. Anyways it’s been interesting to see how our social communities and patterns have persisted, only shifted to be facilitated via internet conference-call formats. Which leads me to the next update…
5. MEDITATION: I completed the Deepak Chopra’s 21 Abundance Meditation Challenge (prompted by my friend Shaina), and I found it genuinely helpful during the increasing stages of lockdown and social isolation. It required only about 30-minutes’ commitment per day, which really isn’t too much considering most of the rest of the day is often spent circling in wracking anxiety, or stewing in semi-depression/ confusion, or busying myself on personal projects and community care tasks. It felt reassuring to hear daily positive reminders to steer oneself towards desirable futures, mainly doing inwardly reflective writing tasks, and by accepting your own potential to embody your best self and manifest whatever you can dream.
I missed a Vipassana group meditation (got an email notice), however, have been keeping up daily personal practice now that the program has ended. Ray has been listening to different Buddhist podcasts lately, and it’s funny to hear speakers comment aloud on how weird it is to lecture via group chat/ e-conference calls (instead of in-person). I hope you have your own personal practices that help you stay calm and well during this time of societal upheaval.
6. Tomorrow is my brother Jee-shaun’s 30th birthday! Technically a construction worker, he is still at work, carving stone for Hunt Studios in San Francisco. Happy birthday Shaun! We’re lucky to have you here in the world with us.
[Updated April 27th: Check out his new stonework website here: www.angelstoneatelier.com]