Are we all too full to receive artwork and their stories?

Happy New Year.

I’ve been spending time thinking about my next blog. I don’t want to feel forced to post just to keep up with a schedule. I want to write when there’s actually something to say.

Lately, I’ve been wondering if people even want to know about the artist behind the work anymore. I see comments and posts everywhere: “I could do that.” “I’m so annoyed with contemporary art.” “If I see one more story about the artist behind the work, I’m going to scream.” I find myself caught between understanding that fatigue and still needing Kezleigh to express.

Are we all too full to receive artwork and the stories that come with it?

"Look at the sky tonight, all of those stars have a reason to be" by Kezleigh

Not to mention the Covid PTSD no one seems ready to talk about yet. That one really got repressed. Add in the constant sense of impending doom, the feeling that we’re all waiting for the shoe to drop, and it makes you wonder: Is one more artist with a background in sadness and resilience really going to cut through all the noise of the internet?

I recently talked with another artist (an actor) about the current artistic climate. How hard it is right now. How difficult it's become to maintain a steady income. The arts are often the first thing to go. And yet, historically, when the world is in chaos, the art seems to be at its best.

So how do artists shine through this murk?

"Tie me to the waves that pass around me" by Kezleigh

I’ve been through this question in my own head more times than I can count. I’ve asked myself whether Kezleigh is ever going to lift off to where I want her to be. I see the buzz, the articles, the photos, the recognition. I see travel to other countries for solo shows. Gallery representation in different places, including this one.

Yes, I see the money. But more than that, I see her being comfortable.

I see her waking up, doing yoga, having tea, managing her business, and running her own print shop (printing has been hell lately, but that’s another story). I see her shoulders relaxed. Migraines and lower back pain are managed. I see walks in the forest, gathering inspiration. I see her visiting her family more often.

A manageable life. A comfortable one.

"I'm just too tired" by Kezleigh

I’ve also asked myself, if Kezleigh stayed exactly where she is right now, would I be okay with that? I imagine a therapist would tell me to come to terms with how things are, and that if she exceeds expectations, then great.

But in my heart of hearts, I’m not okay with it.

I need people to see Kezleigh because the work isn’t meant to stay contained with me. It’s not about being looked at for the sake of it, but about letting what I’ve already carried move outward, into other spaces, other lives. Being seen allows the work to do what it’s meant to do, and it allows me to live in a way that can actually support making it.

So my New Year’s resolution is this: to shine through the murk and be seen.

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Also, I got a new kitty named Lune.

Please like this post if you've read this blog and liked it. Let me know your NY resolution in the comments, I'm curious.