You Can Just Do Stuff

Earlier this year I sent a letter to Austin Kleon. Often times as creatives we feel like we're just shouting into the void, asking ourselves "is anyone paying attention? am I having any impact at all?" He's got some notoriety, but I still wanted to let him know that his work has had a profound influence on me, that some of the seeds he's scattered have taken root here in the UP. I grabbed a typewriter, tapped out a note, stuck it and a little woodblock print in an envelope, and mailed it off without any expectation of a response. Just a simple act of gratitude.

Lo and behold, he wrote back! It was a great reminder that people are people, regardless of how famous they are, and they generally love it when people genuinely engage with their work. I've had nice email exchanges with people like Oliver Burkeman and Jenny Odell, I loaned Glenn Auerbach my pocket knife so he could open a box of books, I've joked around with Debbie Stabenow...the list goes on. They're just people, and are often relieved when someone treats them as a fellow human, and they get to step off the pedestal for a little bit.

It was also a reminder that you can just do stuff! I didn't need to run the letter by anyone or apply for anything, I just needed to buy a stamp. In 2 weeks, my friend Jess and I are running a small sauna gathering at the Juhannus festival in Hancock. It was an idea cooked up over a beer, and we made it happen! We all have a lot more agency than we think. Go be weird.

Ink on Paper

Got into the studio the other day and printed a bunch of 5"x7" backgrounds. Wasn't sure what they were going to be at first, then I finished them up today. Felt really good to get ink on my hands!

Upcoming Events

Finally hittin' that summer stretch! Here's where I'll be (so far):

6/13 - Pride Fest
7/25-7/26 - Outback Art Fair
8/22 - Chocolay Bayou Art Walk

Other Rambles

I learned from my mother that these stones are called omars (short for omarolluks). They are glacial erratics from a small area by Hudson Bay, brought down here by the Laurentide ice sheet. The little pockets are formed by softer deposits in the sandstone wearing away over time. I have several on my sauna stove, but had no idea that they had journeyed so far. Magic is everywhere!

See you out there,

PB