So...almost six months after my last unhappy journal here, I have something new in my gallery and I have something new in my life. Both things are very, very good.

The two things go together, too---the piece is my submission for the annual New Urban Arts mentor show. NUA is an amazing interdisciplinary art studio space in Providence connecting hundreds of local high school students with 20 artist mentors every year. The mission is to help the students develop their creative skills and ideas while meeting new people in a safe and supportive environment, while allowing the artist mentors to develop their teaching and mentoring skills and support their creative practices. I had the honor of being selected as one of this year's artist mentors, and twice a week I get to hang out with the students and help them create and develop sculpture projects (I'm the "Sculpture Mentor", but I have students who work with me on everything from sewing to painting). So far it's been nothing short of incredible. I think I may need to be a teacher.

So in addition to being seriously uplifted by being in such an amazing and supportive space, and, you know, figuring out the direction I might want to take my life in...I'm making art again. And enjoying it. So I wanted to share it on here, because DA (and this is going to sound sappy, but it's true) has always been a really positive and encouraging place for me. A random stranger telling me that they love my work is kind of awesome. I may not always respond to comments/favorites/watches, but I do really appreciate them, and it makes me want to keep posting stuff.

How's that for a tonal shift from last time, eh? Thanks for being patient. <3