The beginning of Living Wild Studio Notes
Taking a step back in time to appreciate how far I have come along this path of becoming
Thursday, May 11th, 2017 10:14 pm, chapter 1 of Studios Notes from Living Wild Studios was sent out to 11 recipients, with the following quote as a header:
“When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.” - Audre Lorde
I started Studio Notes off the back of my newly created website, Living Wild Studios and I didn’t know what I was going to share, talk about, note. I said:
“I'm so happy to be landing in your email box today. Eventually, this newsletter has found its way to you. Procrastination is not the word. Fear might be a better word for describing why you have not heard from me sooner. I thought I needed to have something of worth to say to you before I sent out these notes.
I felt I couldn't waste your time, waste space in your inbox with trivialities. So this newsletter stayed on that pedestal, going no where fast.
I took the time and space to rethink things. Broke it down to really understand why I'm creating these notes in the first place. I could become all business like here and say it's a means of 'building my list'. Yes, I suppose there is an element of that at play. But in all honesty, I see these Studio Notes as a means of you and me getting to know each other better. Of sharing our thoughts and feelings and creations in a more relaxed and intimate way. These notes are almost like letters, letters to you from the heart of my life. The rough with the smooth. The successes as well as the woes. I hope you stay for the journey as well as contribute over time.”
Nearly, 6 years down the line, things haven’t changed in terms of my intentions, in terms of making a connection with you, dear reader. But I do believe I’ve changed, me the person has changed, developed and grown.
Through cultivating safe, personal spaces on the internet, I’ve been able to work through certain truths and create place markers along the way in relation to:
the evolution of my creative practice as it has brought me closer and deeper into my healing path
the exploration of my racial and gender identities, so that I can show up in spaces more fully myself
becoming a voice and advocate for hard and uncomfortable and sometimes unspeakable conversations, feeling the fear and friction but continuing to agitate anyway
creating community and offerings where love and nature are centred as a means of disrupting white supremacy culture
imagining a more collective way of being, where self-care is community care, through my writing, art and organising.
So with all this in mind, I welcome you to the next evolution of Studio Notes here on Substack. I hope to continue to make small and big changes in how I choose to show up in the work, always in the process of becoming.
Thank you kindly to everyone who has been on this journey with me so far, and thank you to those who have just started to come along for the ride.
I hope we can continue to create deep and true connections.