CONCLUSIONS. (and continuations)

I know I know, it's been ages since I've updated. I didn't even tell you how the event went! Well, it was incredible. I feel really good about what went down May 2. It was miraculous to have it all come together. My parents, the day before (they told me later) walked into the space in the morning and were seriously worried -- piles, trash, pink fabric, ladders, signs un-hung, the place was just slightly un-finished. What they didn't understand was that the key to this installation was impeccability and what we called at Elsewhere "sprucing". With a team of 15 people working and making things happen, a slight re-alignment of a pink plush brick, or sweeping the floor, or putting a table cloth on, or adjusting the lighting made a huge difference. and just like that, we were ready. We ate a delicious staff dinner, everyone threw on their conductor uniforms, conductor badges, we took a family portrait, Kate put the finishing touches on the guest book, Sharon showed up with delicious snacks, Dani brought the crossing-guard uniform, Mom vacuumed the place, and Kathleen placed the inkpads where they had to go. And then people showed up!

Here is a video documentation of the piece that my friend and delightful film-maker documentarian Joe graciously made for me. Thank you for this beautiful and concise evidence and proof of my creation Joe.

Right (Here), Right (Now), You (Really) from Joe Fenstermaker on Vimeo.

I am currently working on an interactive website documentation of this piece. My goal is to have a working website done by the end of July. It's going to be good. At least, it is really epic in my mind and in the scribbled diagrams I've made of what it will look like...

For now I have settled in Greensboro, North Carolina. I am working as the Community Coordinator of Elsewhere Artist Collaborative. Please take an internet stroll on over to follow my current exploits as my alternate-elsewhere-self, where you can read about what we ate for dinner, what has changed in the museum this week, and what community initiatives I'm leading up. I think this is an incredible position I get to take on after completing my Division III -- Elsewhere inspired and empowered me to create the community and the sense of play around the work I was able to produce in my Division III project. Where would I be without, "make Friends, not Art" ???

I'm here until November. At which point I go off into the world of unknown. Fortunately, I am armed with thoughts of artist residencies? educational outreach positions at art museums? forming a traveling collaborative troupe? seamstress extraordinaire that also somehow builds community on frozen lakes in minnesota? the it's-never-too-cliche-to-be-a-barista?

See you in other realms of the internet. And I hope in real life too. I really miss real-life a lot of times. Meet me there, here, (in blogs) elsewhere. (and beyond elsewhere)

love
aliya

p.s. I can't wait to include you all in my next collaboration and performance and presentation and installation... create community and art wherever you are! right here! right now! you! really!

Things Accomplished in the Last 7 Days

In chronological order:

1. Combated a pink-eye infection induced by sadness about leaving.
2. Gracefully introduced many extended family members to the many extended family members of my good friends and everyone seemed to get along and even enjoy themselves!
3. Designed and produced a fancy dress personally tailored and fitted to myself to wear to Graduation.
4. Made matching handkerchiefs for special people in my life.
5. Cleaned the living room after my sweat-shop dress-making-and-moving-out-of-art-studios hurricane.
6. GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE AND RECEIVED A BACHELORS OF ARTS DEGREE.
7. Moved out of my home for the past year, The Castle, Mod 66. With lots of assistance and patience from my mom (thank you).
8. Gave away and sold and distributed and pawned-off and threw away so many things I've accumulated. Starting out with a clean slate [except for the two boxes of fabric and project-pieces in the car right now...] so I can start collecting new things.
9. Said goodbye to Hampshire College.
10. Cleaned the Art Barn and found new homes for my enormously inconvenient sculptures.
    
11. Requested transcripts from Central Records so that I have paper evidence that I did something these past four years. As I turned in my papers, the lady behind the desk cooed, "Oh, it's our artist! I just loved your poster. It was just beautiful."
12. Began planning parts of our upcoming Ireland trip.
13. Found on Craigslist, Obtained via exploring parts of WMass I haven't been to, and Installed even without knowing how it actually attaches, a car bike-rack onto my car (and have successfully navigated with the bike on the car not hurting the bike, myself, the car, or other people!)
14. Returned a bottle of "Great Stuff" [please ignore the kinda-duche-y guy in the video] that I had high hopes for but realized I didn't need. Was reimbursed $4.49.
15. Obtained a new notebook and new organizational system for my new life.
16. Got the car looked at because of the rumbling I've been ignoring. Received an OK for Long Drives nod from very experienced mechanic.
    
17. Became 2/3 protected against HPV.
18. Fought a battle against the American Health Care System and lost.
    
19. Learned lessons about the American Health Care System.
20. Scanned all the notes and pieces left by people from my Division 3 show so they can be better documented later.
21. Found a maybe-awesome-but-maybe-it's-actually-hideous-I-can't-decide-yet? bridesmaid's dress for Kerianne's Wedding next week.
22. Went on adventures to Greenfield, Turners Falls, South Hadley, and Springfield MA. Was amazed at how green everything is in the summer.
23. Said goodbye to western massachusetts and all my friends and familiar things there. Began a new wander-y portion of my life.

I will post soon about the conclusions of my Division 3 project, and some photos and documentation! So much to say. Thank you all for your support and presence in my life this year. Thank you for assisting me to accomplish so many things and adventures and projects and beginnings and endings. I wish I'd taken more photos this past week. I wish I could hold onto more parts. I feel sad, but good. I went on just the right amount of walks in the Hampshire Woods, I packed just the right amount of sweatshirts, I said just the right amount of goodbyes, I kept with me just the right amount of projects, I left at just the right time.

love,
aliya

breath

As I am in the midst of making THE BIG FINAL CHART, I wrote down "make thank-you book" and immediately was hit in a big way by how grateful and thankful I am for all the amazing people that have guided me, talked to me, fed me, advocated for me, joined in with me, and been in my life this year.

I wish I could make a thank you book that included everyone that has ever made a difference in my life, going all the way back to Jo from third grade who taught me to crochet, or every distant family member, or the people in my first hampshire class, or the online-teacher who doesn't even remember me probably who showed me that collaborative art exists or all the groups of people I've become a part of around any project I've done in the past four years.... but it would take too long and mom wouldn't let me do that and I'd leave someone out anyways.

But, please know, honestly and deeply, I am so thankful to you. Thank you. You. Really.

best quote of the year

"keep up the spirit of your creative force." - thom haxo

blogs are for telling people things, right?

Things I am currently thinking which I would like people to know for some reason probably pertaining to the fact that I am growing up in the age of the internet:

1. I put together a really kick-ass pajamas outfit tonight. Mostly, it's because of the addition of cowboy boots, which unfortunately I can't wear to bed. I want to wear this everyday as my uniform, except that wouldn't make sense because then I would feel schlumpy. But as pajamas, this is a great outfit. That's what's great about pajamas, they're like sketches for masterpiece outfits later on in your real life.
2. I really love friendship bracelets. I also really love art pieces that involve acquiring friendship bracelets.
3. I am very much ready for it to be so hot outside that all you want to do is walk around in a bathing suit and you don't feel self conscious about it at all cause you're so awesome.
4. Things are going and churning. My project is becoming clearer every day. It's like with each meeting and piece I sew and project I keep working on, one little part of the piece comes into focus a bit more. I just have to trust that it will become a high-resolution photo by the time may 2 comes along.
5. "sweet dreams" is such a nice statement.

Goodnight, sweet dreams! Are you ready for The Most Productive and Additionally Amazing Weekend of Your Life? Do you have your Special Pajama Outfit on?? (say yes! say yes!)

Joe followed me to work one day...

Aliya Div III Preparation from Joe Fenstermaker on Vimeo.

Art For The Family.

= my new inspiration and guide book.

Also, I've been listening to this on repeat and singing loudly (badly?) into the warm nights.