A Cup Hope Full is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Hello folks!
I am hosting my second crafting event at Sulis Studio in Florence, MA tonight (April 30th). We will be getting up to some crafting, including a tutorial on how to make flip books, and chatting about the relationship between spring and trusting the process. There will be a community altar that you are welcome to bring something for, and art supplies provided or as always the option to bring your own craft/supplies.
Art, nature, and magic are my jam and I am pumped to host/be at all of these. I hope to see y’all at them! Tell your friends, tell your family, tell your coworkers and community members. Most events are for all ages, and if you ever have any questions email me at thefantasiesofyouth@gmail.com.
A Cup Hope Full is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Hello folks!
I have been adoring the bud of a yellow crocus next to my driveway. The bright shoots of lilies growing taller through last year’s mulch of maple leaves. The wind has been strong this past week, and I have been in a flurry. Now with a stretch of open morning, I have been ruminating on what wealth of my life I often do not recognize or savor, especially when I am busy. I wonder what I have learned wealth is and isn’t through my years—what of these ideas I actually believe, and how I would like to make amendments. Whatever wealth I have, is wealth I can share. Life is rich, there is plenty.
Upcoming:
TODAY! On Sunday, March 31st from 4-7pm I will be taking part in the Trans Day of Visibility Resource and Art Fair as art vendor. I have six new designs available as prints and stickers. The event is put on by Translate Gender, and is taking place at the Northampton Arts Center.
On Saturday April 13th, I will be vending at the Stash House Spring Makers Market in Great Falls (Turners Falls) from 11am-4:30pm. The market runs both Saturday and Sunday, but I will only be there on Saturday.
Come May 18th, I will be part of Yet Another Queer Pop Up Market again! Their first market last December was so great, and I am looking forward to returning as a vendor.
Previous Happenings:
In early March I had the pleasure of giving a virtual guest presentation at The Evergreen State College on the mural (Rekindling Relationship) which I painted while I was an undergrad student there— as well as my full experience with murals and public art processes to current Evergreen students.
The Spring Equinox event at Sulis Studio was sweet! Thank you to everyone who came out, I am so glad we got to chat about the winter spring transition and make art together.
My show, “Hope is Here”, which was showing at the Northampton River Valley Co-op for the month of March ended yesterday. Grateful to have been able to get some original pieces out with the public!
Offerings
If you would like to commission something from me, please click the button below to go to the commission proposal form. If you are interested in purchasing a painting that you have seen me share online somewhere, or would like to hire me to teach, please email me at thefantasiesofyouth@gmail.com
Ask: I am looking for places in Western MA/the River Valley area to host nature journaling classes these upcoming warmer months. If you or someone you know has a yard/garden/farm they would be willing to let me host at, or know a local org/park that you think I should work with, please email me at thefantasiesofyouth@gmail.com!
Keep showing up with whatever words, heart, and resources you have for a free Palestine, celebration of trans and queer life, and earth loving.
Hope you all are as well as can be. Thank you for letting me share words and art with you!
A Cup Hope Full is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Hello all,
Days are lengthening, flowers are popping fresh sprouts from mud, and the pace slowly starts to build. I too, like the season, feel like I am waking again. Though this winter felt quite full, I would like to think I am finding a rhythm in how my life looks like now. Ever-expanding in my perceptions of how I might participate and give more of whatever I might and do have to offer.
As the genocide in Palestine stretches into its sixth month, and the United States has yet to call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, it feels strange to think of anything else— yet, there is so much else. My town recently passed a ceasefire resolution, which is certainly important, and it also doesn’t stop the people in Gaza from dying every minute. We start where we are, and as we gather momentum we are able to accomplish larger steps. My hope is for the call for a ceasefire to continue to build. My hope is for the genocide in Palestine to end, for Palestine to be free from apartheid, and for all peoples to feel safe no matter where they are.
I have started writing songs again, a practice I have not tended to since I was maybe twelve years old. While I sing songs of ending all war, and of loving one another— singing also does not end the needless death.
I wrote in 2020 of how so many more issues feel more important than art and sharing it. I have reminded myself countless times since then, that if any of us are going to make it through any of this with our souls intact, we need art. We need everything, we need all of us. We need food, water, shelter, respect, liberation, kindness, accountability, art and more.
I have been going through another growth spurt of learning. Recognizing that my knowledge of class and disability justice in particular (along with many other things) could be much expanded and improved upon. It feels aching to notice such a gap between the truth of my heart and my action. To see that I have not previously been how I would like to be going forward. I often feel lacking and ashamed when I notice such a gap— though recently I have also begun to laugh with relief. Relief because what a gift to learn now. Relief because I am so grateful to begin, so that I may incorporate these learnings into the rest of my life moving forward. It is never too late to start. I would rather be known for the awkwardness of my beginning efforts, and my commitment to practice, than for never having tried.
As long as I have a platform with which to speak and share art— I will speak on what I care about, I will share art, and I will remind that hope comes from taking action. To paraphrase the wisdom of a friend and an idea that has circled many times before, “Most people think that you need to have hope before you take action. It’s actually the way other way around— you take action and from that you find the hope you need to keep going.”
News and Events
For the entire month of March my first solo art show “Hope is Here” will be up at the Northampton River Valley Co-op in their Cafeteria.
I am hosting an event for the Spring Equinox at Sulis Studio in Florence, MA. There will be a chance to contribute to a community altar, plant seeds that you can take home, share your thoughts on the transition from winter to spring, and collage/craft.
Yesterday, I was able to teach some of the songs I had recently written to the folks who came out for Singing Club at 10 Forward in Greenfield, MA and I feel so grateful for it. Thank you all for letting me share and sing with you.
If you would like to commission something from me, please click the button below to go to the commission proposal form. If you are interested in purchasing a painting that you have seen me share online somewhere, or would like to hire me to teach, please email me at thefantasiesofyouth@gmail.com
A Cup Hope Full is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
In the Spirit of Giving
The Native Land Conservancy is an organization led by Native peoples located in Southeast Massachusetts that focuses on land rescue and cultural preservation. The Land Back movement is important across the globe where Native/Indigenous/First-Nations peoples have been displaced by settler colonizers— including Turtle Island (a.k.a. the so-called United States) where land has almost entirely become privatized. Land rescues regain access to land to rebuild relationships of stewardship through cultural practices such as hunting, foraging, environment conservation, and ceremonies.
“We accept the honor to protect, restore, and share land. By rescuing land and waterways, we are working to undo some of the destruction that has driven some species to extinction and sickened others. Rescuing land creates shared space for humans and our non-human relatives, preserves millennia of cultural connections, provides a healthy way forward for all.”
The Nevada City Rancheria Nisenan Tribe is raising money to purchase back the ancestral lands of Yulića located near Nevada City, CA. The opportunity to purchase this land is time sensitive, and they are about half way to reaching their April 2024 goal. Please consider donating to their gofundme, where you can also read more about this particular effort for homeland return.
I will be vending at City Space Arts Walk tonight (Thursday February 8th)! The event goes from 5-8pm and there will be many other vendors and artists.
A Cup Hope Full is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
Over the past few months I have been journaling up the whazoo, and starting more drafts than I may ever see through. Frankly, I momentarily forgot that writing publicly was something I could do, and like to do, as I was so thick in exploration and expanding my knowledge base. It is rare that I feel like I have the “perfect” words, even after several attempts. I remind myself that showing up is a practice. I remind myself that my aim is to show up as authentically and fully as I can at any time— my goal is not perfection. The more I look into the idea of perfection, I don’t even know what it is but a facade.
I seem to continue writing about how I keep becoming more myself, how I keep growing— which is true— though I occasionally worry about being repetitive. I continue to evolve, to emerge, as I would say everything and everyone else does too. Change is one of the few things that can be counted on.
I shared this comic on my instagram back in December with the caption:
“There is a pattern making to all of this (life); a kind of flow. Nature is in constant communication with all of us. And of course, we humans are also nature.
No matter if/how often we feel connected or alone— we are inherently a part of many ecosystems, all overlapping. Changes in the direction of energy/attention are constantly occurring, and when enough is collected in a certain direction, that’s when the most noticeable shifts occur. There is no “being late” and there is also no “enough”; so we keep going and keep welcoming people into (the) movement(s).
We are building momentum for the liberation of all peoples, starting with a free Palestine.”
Yes, we first and foremost need a ceasefire in Gaza and the whole of Palestine— but we also need an end to the unrightful occupation of Palestine. As I wrote in my last newsletter— safety and belonging cannot be found or had through displacing another person from their home. Peace is not made through the destruction of land and natural elements.
The Earth gives us everything, the least we can offer in return is intentional loving, stewardship woven with gratitude, and authenticity.
Offerings
If you would like to buy an original painting that is listed on my website, please reach out to me via email at thefantasiesofyouth@gmail.com.
One of my favorite local arts and music venues, 10Forward, had their water heater break unexpectedly after a month of being closed for other renovations/repairs and they are asking for extra support to keep this beautiful venue for the arts and queer community going! If you have funds to spare, and feel called to give, their venmo is the10forward.
I notice that in my own creative practice, as soon as something feels complete, I find something new to work on. I keep thinking I want that sense of completion (which can be satisfying)— though as soon as I deem something completed, I have already started on my next idea, project, puzzle. There are no clean starts or stops, only something gradual, something gradient. I have been leaning further away from the ideas of goals/destinations. Instead, I orient myself towards being enthralled with process. I lean into curiosity and explorations of presence.
I am giving myself permission to always come more into myself. If you need permission for this same thing, here is your permission as well. To allow yourself to always be new, always be the same, always be different, always be as you have always been, and as you have never been yet. You are welcome to be a contradiction. You are welcome to show up as you are, and grow into who you want to be/might be.
Here’s to hoping my other drafts see the light of day, some day. Here’s to practicing the art of showing up. Here’s to possibly writing about the same things for the rest of our lives.
As far as updates go, I will be vending at another pop-up event at City Space in Easthampton, MA on February 8th. The pop-up is from 5-8pm and is part of Easthampton’s arts walk event. Find the full details and directions here.
I also excitedly have my first solo show coming up in March at the River Valley Co-op in Northampton, MA! The show will be up from March 1st to 31st. I’ll share more details in future newsletters :)
I got back this week from visiting friends around the PNW. I narrowly missed the ice storm in Portland, OR but felt the chill of Olympia’s cold snap. I was glad to revisit my college town and chat with friends after moving away a year and a half ago. While the gorgeous moss-y-ness of the temperate rainforests will continue to astound me, it was affirming to recognize that I stood by my choice to move back to Massachusetts.
Even as I stepped out of the airport into a frosty Boston, pale and laden with road salt, I felt content that the community and land I had been growing my relationships with over in Western Massachusetts were fitting for this moment in my life. I often detested New England winters growing up (except when there was fresh snow of course). Now I welcome winter more and more. The way it snows and then rains and then snows, bending between ice and slush and mud. Eastern white pines framing marshes with bent cattail fronds, leading into a pond where ducks and geese still swim in below freezing winds.
I got to crying earlier this afternoon thinking about the possibility of a world without snow, and then a world without spring/summer, and then I went on a walk as slush fell from a sky of dewy dusk, trying not to slip on ice as I thanked god/magic/universe/creator for all the seasons.
Yesterday, I started compiling a list of plants that are native to the Western MA area for an upcoming project series. While there are likely plenty of resources out there already with this information, I enjoyed flipping through my few ID books— a relatively mindless task that reminded me of the wonder of combinations nature imagines, along with just how much I adore plants. I want to know my earthly neighbors—all their skills, preferences, and personalities. The world is always moving in rhythms, even in winter when I can not see them as easily.
I began a quilt this week that includes a patch from the Far Woods which says “I pledge allegiance to the land”, a phrase that keeps rolling around in me. My first and foremost allegiance is to the land, to Earth. I keep thinking about Gaza, about Palestine. How the bombs not only destroy buildings and take people’s lives, but the bombs burn the land, burn the trees, take the lives of countless animals, pollute the waters. I keep thinking about the extensiveness with which Palestinians love their land, how they steward their parts of the Earth, and would do anything to protect and remain in their homeland. The olive trees whose age spans generations; the pomegranates and herbs. I listen to their stories and hear the Palestinians immeasurable love for their homeland.
I am often reminded of all the shameful corporations and governments that prioritize profit, power, and control over the well-being of people and the Earth. How could someone harm the Earth, when the health of everyone and everything is so intricately linked? The atrocities are countless, seemingly endless, and yet my desire is to remain steadfast in my hope for better. To hold these institutions accountable, because their actions in harming people and the Earth are unacceptable.
I saw a post in the past day or two that I have since lost, that said something along the lines of: “I will teach my children to stand with the trees, and to stand with the people who stand with the trees.”
I stand with the people of Palestine for an immediate and permanent ceasefire now, and for a free Palestine. The genocide that Israel is committing against the Palestinians is inexcusable. Everyone deserves a home they feel safe in, and land that they feel they belong to— but forcibly removing peoples to obtain that land is very much not the way to do that, and will never be the means to create a truly safe home.
A portion of my hope that I offer now, is to continue to deepen my relationship with the lands I currently reside on— in the most respectful ways I know how and might learn— to continue to share what I care about, and to live in my values instead of through my wounds.
Please show your care, the world wants to share in your expression of heart.