“sometimes you don’t need a goal in life, you don’t need to know the big picture. you just need to know what you’re going to do next!”
As the days rush by and the calendar pages seem to turn faster than we can catch them, it’s easy to feel swept along by what’s ahead or weighed down by what’s behind. But there’s a quiet power in pausing long enough to choose the next right step. Nothing grand, nothing sweeping, just the thing you’ll do now. In a life that’s shorter and swifter than we often admit, giving our attention to the present moment can feel like an act of both simplicity and courage.
-Sophie Kinsella, The Undomestic Goddess
Maureen McQuillan joined us to talk about Coloratura, her recent show at McKenzie Fine Art. The title is an 18th century Italian term that refers to a highly embellished style of operatic singing as well as – McQuillan discovered in her research – the title of a very hopeful Coldplay song whose core message is that it’s the love you experience that is the most important thing in life. To learn more about these concepts, as well as the mesmerizing work in the series, listen to the complete interview.
Shontina Vernon joined us in this archival interview from 2018. A multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker, she was at the time working on a number of projects. One of these was a film called Grrrl Justice looking at the pathways for girls and gender non-conforming youth of color within the juvenile justice system. To learn more about her work, listen to the complete interview – and to keep up with her current projects, visit her website.
A Few Words to Keep in Your Pocket.
Set aside the pressure of perfect plans and lean into what’s right in front of us. One breath. One task. One moment at a time.
Outings.
Join me at Nino Mier Gallery for Anna Fashauer’s Sculpture First
Interviews are available on iTunes as podcasts, and for Android, please click here. All weekly essay pieces are here in a shareable format. The full archive of interviews is here.
More Books to Read.
Ours is a community of readers. Tell us what books you’re reading now by adding your titles to our reading list here. Praxis user Patti Walsh is reading Bread of Angels: A Memoir by Patti Smith.
Opportunities.
Monson Arts offers residencies for artists, providing private studios, housing, meals, stipends, and access to specialized facilities in a supportive small-town setting. Learn more at the website. Deadline is January 15.