Hello there! It's Jocelyn Mathewes from my studio in Appalachia. And in this newsletter, I’m reflecting on the things around my art practice that support and intersect with it. (More of my art and some special behind-the-scenes for paid subscribers coming in the next newsletter in mid-May!)
In 2014 I made a goal to get back into art making.
It was a big, audacious goal for me to carve out time for something like that with 3 kids and a chronic illness. I’m so glad I did, because it's brought me to an entirely new place that I never anticipated being.
But earlier this year my unexpected break led me to a period of listening and stabilizing that made me realize something was way off. The tank felt a little empty, so I set about trying to fill it up.
I wanted to fuel my mind and art practice with quality experiences, art, people, and books. I brought ease into how I approached that goal by letting myself find fun ways to accomplish those things—planning things that felt good and satisfying when I thought about them.
My Philadelphia Art-Work-Ation trip was one way of making that happen. but I wasn’t done playing around with ways to fuel up.
books: reading more
My aim for “quality books” turned into a "Reading Residency" during the Thrive Together Network's Virtual Artist Residency. I kept it simple, dedicating 20 minutes a day to working through books on or adjacent to topics that inform my work.
Mostly, this meant finishing up Simon Penny's Making Sense that I began way back in October, which was quite a dense tome. Energized by the deep dive into reading, I bought a bookcase and then proceeded to scope creep by buying more books to read.
And what did I learn? I noticed that I had time to read if I brought intention to it and spent less time on other things. I also remembered my love of reading and how much it had meant to me in the past. I enjoyed living in a space that felt a lot like my undergrad years, soaking up ideas and information and learning for the sake of learning towards something greater.
That the time spent reading made my art practice more thoughtful. It made me appreciate certain choices I make in my process, and re-evaluate others. I believe that keeping this up more intentionally can make my artwork better overall.
Are there books you think I should add to my (ever growing) list?
people: thinking in community
One way I tackled the “quality people” part of my goal was to join a group for creatives run by Marissa Huber. She created “8 Weeks of Fun to Get Stuff Done.” a shared space to talk about our processes and goals, to see each other and offer support was such a beautiful way to get energized.
My goal for her program was “create support structures that let me focus on my fine art practice.” I already had done quite a bit of introspection prior to the group and came in with a good sense of what I needed:
Over the course of the program I reflected with others and heard about their goals. I noticed myself repeating how packed my schedule was, repeating things I was really longing for, and how the true issue seemed to be too much on my plate.
So what "create support structures that let me focus on my fine art practice" really meant for me was finding my way of editing down and letting go.
(I already knew that removal and editing is a key part of the creative process, so I'm not sure why it took so long to get there.)
And so, here’s the next phase…
two big moves
This period of fueling and inter-people-spection has led me to two big moves:
Seek out co-leaders who can carry the baton forward for Local Artist Meetup, hopefully by the end of the year.
Press PAUSE on my dining room gallery, EAT/ART space, after this year’s events.
Community-building through these two projects has had an enormous impact on me. Learning how to collaborate with others effectively, build partnerships, create engaging events, and facilitate connections helped me to feel confident to take on new things in other areas of life.
I also feel the pull of the necessity of the artistic interstitium. As I've said before, "Those who engage in ‘that invisible glue holding the relationships within a company together’ are doing as something essential to the health of the whole."
I believe in that kind of work, and it has proven so beneficial to so many (including myself).
But the shape of my—well, everything—has changed since their inception. My kids are older and in a different phase of needs. My husband's work has shifted in ways that ripple into our family schedule (such is clergy family life). Caring for both sets of aging parents (who live nearby) is also in the near future.
As some of my peers echoed in Marissa's coaching group: it's okay and necessary to turn your attention to your responsibilities and things that you value, which changes how you show up elsewhere.
But change is hard. And I'm filled with grief at the sense of loss of a piece of myself, frustration with things I can't change, and plain old guilt.
Our culture pays way more attention to fast-growth high-grossing all-in hustle, but I know (in this season) it's time for more editing down and letting go to support a sustainable, slow-motion hustle.
what lies ahead
I'm all-in on events scheduled for Local Artist Meetup and EAT/ART space through the end of the year. ("Lord willing and the creek don't rise," as they say around here in Appalachia.)
I know people within my community well enough to understand that the hankering for connection is there. Even if Local Artist Meetup doesn't move forward in its current form, the persistence and determination of regional artists and creatives will swell up and put energy into something beautiful. (I know this in my bones.)
As for the dining room gallery, I've got the 2nd Annual Yard pARTy and a really cool storytelling themed exhibit called Written in Real Time coming up in late summer/early fall. (If you’re local, don’t miss them—I’m really excited for them!)
After that, I'll regroup and feel my way forward, like I've always done.
wait, what does this have to do with art again?
Ultimately, winding down my community projects is a “necessary ending” that helps free up time to make my work. Devoting quality time in good quantities to get in the studio—that is heart of an artist’s practice.
xo,
jocelyn
P.S. I recommend this article (shared with me by fellow "8 Weeks" group member Tina Noren) for additional slowing down inspiration.
P.P.S. Because of personal and professional obligations, I’m taking a break from publishing content until mid-May — I’ll see you then with some juicy art content!
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Thank you for the post! I've been feeling the need to slow down and edit down for awhile and your reflections are an encouragement to reflect and prioritize this!
Also my parents totally brought me up saying “Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.” They lived in Jellico, Tennessee for a while. Maybe that’s when they picked it up.