What I didn't realize was that choosing a place and belonging to a place are two very different things.

With no steady paycheck or an address, it’s hard to live within the system, but I’m navigating with help.

I find myself longing for my slippers. And so, I am bringing my residency extravaganza to a close. It’s time to set roots.

There’s a collective longing for things to settle; to sleep deeply, to wake without fear, to stop bracing for what might come next. I don’t think there’s much calm to be found in the world at large these days, which is why community and connection feel so essential.

“I’ve avoided opportunities simply because the unknown felt unbearable — and here I am, repeatedly stepping into it anyway. Fear has never been a sign to stop; it’s just been part of the equation.”

As a working artist, I’m in a unique position to speak openly and take creative risks. I’m not easily silenced for the stories I choose to tell — and I recognize what a privilege that is in a time when many are being punished for their perspectives.

Is it amazing to feel “free,” traveling with no strings attached? Yes.

Do you also find yourself, literally or metaphorically, shitting in a bucket? Yes.

Like so many things in life—this is a yes, and.

“Here’s the thing: I’ve never believed there was an age limit on growing, experiencing, or learning something new. If anything, I think being alive is allowing ourselves to stretch, evolve, and try. The alternative is stagnation atrophy and a slow decay.”

This weekend, a thought kept circling in my mind like a mantra:
“As of Thursday, I will be homeless and jobless—and I feel great about it.”

It's not about our individual interactions, but about recognizing the whole of our shared humanity. This is the space I find myself in with this project—focused on the collective, beyond our differences. In today’s climate, this can sometimes feel harder to embody, but it's what I want to see in the world. It’s the conversation I want to be part of.

“Buy art, a ticket, an album, subscribe and encourage. Show the artists you enjoy some love instead of buying something from a big box store.”

“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start right now.” When Harry Met Sally

“When you purchase a piece from me you will likely find a mistake and possibly a finger print here and there because I am an imperfect, lovely mess of a human.”

“My creativity is over in the corner, arms folded with their back to me refusing to connect or engage. I stomp my feet like a child and attempt to put marks on a paper but it all results in frustration and feeling stuck.”

“For most of my life, I have treated my artistic ability as a bid for connection and a confirmation I was lovable.”

Majestic, exuberant, shy and sly she carries herself with grace and humor. I aspire to be the fox, to be shapeshifting, light, sly and transgendered.

“Do I need a piece of paper to say that I am a qualified artist or know what I am doing? Here’s a little secret, no one really knows what they are doing in art. We are feeling our way through it, always.”