It’s been a while
To those of you who have touched base through the years, and wondered where I was.
It seems a lifetime ago that I wrote a blog called lil fish studios where I connected with others who were interested in creating a handcrafted life. I started that blog when I was newly married, with three young children, and had moved to Minnesota to a 10 acre plot of land in what felt like the middle of nowhere. I didn’t know anyone when I moved here, I wasn’t adjusting to the culture, and I needed connection. I found my people online through that blog, and some amazing opportunities to share my work with the world. Eventually I found people in person, I added a fourth feral child to the mix, and dozens of chickens, a handful of ducks, and lots of at-home adventures. Those wild days at home, raising my young people, were some of the most beautiful and challenging of my life.
As it does, life threw us some curveballs and I transitioned from at-home mom/artist into a breadwinner role at a nonprofit arts org, The Crossing Arts Alliance, where I currently serve as Executive and Artistic Director. I attempted to stay connected to my art and my online presence in the early days of that transition, but that proved too difficult with the new responsibilities I was carrying.
Through these past several years there have been peaks and valleys in my art practice. I taught, mostly felting, in my community and beyond. I made a piece here and there for exhibitions at Crossing Arts. In 2018 I had a solo show of some felting explorations I had been working on. I collaborated on some public murals. I helped many, many people make their own art. I have loved all of those things… but the connection to my own work, and in some ways, to me, was not the same.
My children are no longer feral babes in the woods, but grown and nearly grown people. My oldest served in the Marines and is now married. The younger three, all teenagers.
We’ve been through losses great and small, grief, mental health concerns, the end of a marriage, a pandemic… I’ve bought a house with lots of personality, in town, and am infusing it with art and love, and nature, albeit in a different way than I was able with my house in the woods. I have good friends and people who love and care for me. And now, after all this time, it’s time to rekindle that connection to my own work, and to me, in a way that is true to who I am at this time.
For now I am sharing some photos of my work, past and present. I have a project on the horizon that I am excited about involving paper collage, and I hope to share that here too. Beyond that, I make no promises, because life is tricky, but I can tell you I have a lot of hope for my journey, and if you’ve made it this far, I thank you for sharing this (new) first step with me.
Lisa
