DISTILl Creative Blog

I recently did something for myself, by myself. I joined five strangers in a dark bar, a fifteen minute walk from my house, to discuss the novel Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino. 

I have been a part of a local parents group bookclub Signal chat for possibly over a year and have read each month’s book club pick but have never actually gone to an in-person meetup. Prior to a week ago leaving my house, alone, to do something as frivolous as discuss a novel felt, and actually was, impossible. Just reading the book was an accomplishment.

Fuzzy wheel: a simple machine in forward motion becomes blurry, plush, and playful. From a distance, all logic falls apart and crisp legibility melts into loose impressions. The ten artists presented here share an interest in the indeterminacy of edges (physical, psychological, temporal). They think about the limits, mysteries, and possibilities of vision, and embrace a tension between utility and play. They have a common inclination to see the inherent strangeness of all form, embodied by the soft architecture of a fuzzy wheel.

Much of my recent work explores the themes of motherhood, family, and the passage of time. As a mother, I've been balancing the everyday tasks of raising a child with the emotional complexities of life, and these experiences have deeply influenced my art. I often start with quick sketches based or referencing my ultrasound printouts, which then evolve into more complex pieces. Whether it's turning family stories into clay sculptures or using cochineal ink to create paintings, I’m always searching for ways to connect the past with the present.

Earlier this year I was approached about doing a custom artwork for a tequila brand. I, of course, said yes. I love Mexican ancestral spirits and projects that take me a bit out of my comfort zone. This project was in collaboration with the Powerhouse Arts Print Shop, which is an amazing professional printmaking shop. I had never worked with the print shop before, but I am a member of the Powerhouse Community Ceramics Studio and have been very impressed with the organization.

Last year I made a series of paintings about my matrescence (the complicated emotional and physical process of becoming a mother) called Postpartum Paintings. This work was very autobiographical, raw, and made up of what I would call experiments in acrylic painting and ceramics. I was figuring out how to make art out of and during a very difficult personal experience. After -- and while -- I was making the work I did a lot of research, see my Suggested Reading List: Postpartum Paintings, and looked at other artwork about motherhood, along with watching numerous tv shows and movies, having lots of conversations with other moms, and birthing and raising a baby. My baby is now two years old. 

This past year was my first full year as a mom and artist. I did not know what to expect and have made many big and small changes throughout the year. My husband and I have adjusted as needed, but we are still figuring out how to make the most of our time as business owners and parents. 

I am very excited to be a part of this upcoming holiday art sale! Come shop original artwork by Brooklyn parents in Gowanus. Support artists who are making work despite all the challenges that come with raising a kid (in a city and in my case, with no family nearby). I honestly did not expect to be a part of a holiday sale this year because it has been very hard to keep everything going. But then, I got invited by another artist mom (Molly McIntyre @brooklyn_rabbit) who saw my work at my Postpartum Paintings exhibit at Tin Cup and I knew I had to participate.

These are some books that informed my recent artwork for Postpartum Paintings and continue to inspire me. I have included them in reverse order of when I read them, as far as I can remember. I spent a lot of time researching books related to pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and motherhood, so I thought this might be helpful to anyone else curious about these topics. 

Last year I had a baby. Making work and figuring out who I am as a mother and artist has been difficult and confusing. Come see my latest artwork that materializes my experience. I consider this body of work experiments and I am excited to share what I’ve been up to in the studio!

The artwork in my show started with drawings that I made irregularly in a sketchbook I kept in my bedroom. I made them very quickly with a brush pen or whatever writing utensil I had nearby. I found keeping my materials to a minimum, just brush pen and small sketchbook, made it easier to draw. When I had too many art materials I felt very overwhelmed.

Angela Anderson Adams has worked as a curator and arts administrator for nearly 40 years and spent half of those directing Arlington Public Art. Under her leadership, Arlington Public Art has grown from being one of the first developer-sponsored programs in the country to an internationally renowned, award-winning public and privately funded program. The program contributes art and design enhancements to most major civic projects undertaken in Arlington County.

This past month I’ve been busy wrapping up a few classes (drawing and ceramics), working on Communer, and enjoying some time in the pool. I live in NYC and it’s the hot and humid season. I’m looking forward to some upcoming trips and an exhibition I am in at NARS Foundation called Interlinked! More information is below.