I’m sitting in the window of a coffee shop in Queens where I spend 4-5 days per month. I’m watching people walk by toting their colorful umbrellas while sipping my cappuccino and feeling a disconnection that it is already April. Will these showers lead to more May flowers? Just 3 hours south of Western MA spring has sprung here , there are no signs of lingering Winter flowers are blooming everywhere and I am feeling myself come back to life.
The origin of the name April is uncertain, some believe it comes from the Latin verb aperire, meaning to open, others believe Aphrilis comes from Aphrodite the Greek goddess of love. For Anglo Saxons, the fourth month is called Oster-monath or Eostre-monath after the fertility goddess Eostre. But regardless of where it originates from we all know that April showers lead to May flowers! and I really love flowers. Flowers are without any doubt one of my love languages.
I’ve been settling into this space and dreaming more on what direction it will take. This month I am excited to launch a few new features.
As a virgo, a many planets in virgo type person. I have always loved lists, all kinds of lists, handwritten lists, typed lists. I love post its, I love notebooks, I love fonts and old typewriters. I love collections of papery things, although in recent years have curbed urge to collect as it’s easy to become drowned in stuff. Starting today they’ll be a new monthy post, on the first of each month, perhaps it’s a continuation of the “7 things list” which I used to end my monthly newsletter on Mailchimp with.
The List
🎨New Woman Artist Discovered this month🎨
This month I dove deep into the world of artist Leonor Fini (thanks to a recommendation from my friend Devon). I think many of you know that my goal for 2023 was to get to know the work of a woman (or non binary) artist from every country of the world. I’m plugging along there will be an update soon.
MJ Dorian has curated and amazing two part online gallery of her work. Here is part 1 and 2
📚Art Book(s) I read this month📚
(Support your local library!)
by Clément Chéroux
(Sophie Calle is one of my favorite contemporary (French) photographers- her project "The Hotel" is an all time favorite project and happens to be the most aesthetic books ever. This book is somewhat of a retrospective. Her work reminds me of that of
in my imagination they are friends sitting around a kitchen table in a Paris apt sharing a cup of black coffee. Maybe Sophie and Patti will be my follow up book to Eleanore and Isabella I joked about last time in my series of women and friendship books!)Funny Weather:Art in An Emergency by Olivia Laing (present read)
Funny Weather is a collection of Laing's writings on art and culture, examining their role in our political and emotional lives. Some essays are more poignant than others.
🖼️Art show(s) not to be missed🖼️
I already wrote about exhibits at the Fitchburg Museum of Art so I wont repeat myself
"Pattern and Flow: A Golden Age of American Decorated Paper, 1960s to 2000s"
The Paper Legacy Project collection, Thomas J. Watson Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art at the Grolier Club in NYC Founded in 1884, it is America’s oldest and largest society for bibliophiles and enthusiasts in the graphic arts.
I was lucky enough to attend their virtual symposium last week and learnt so much about paste papers and paper marbling ahead of the exhibit. Thanks to my friend Carolyn for the recommendation.
Reading back over this I realize I forgot to mention The Wanhechi Mutu- Intertwined show at the New Museum! (and also an honorable mention to Phoebe New York show at the WCC in Chelsea). So much great art!
🌼Flower of the Month🌼
Daffodils
(as seen in the wild in Central Park and also at the Bulb show at the Smith Botanical Garden)
🌿Herb of the month🌿
Nettles: As well as drinking my Nettles infusion daily I have been experiencing with urtication (flogging with stinging nettles) for joint pain.
🎙️Podcasts I’ve loved🎙️
“Quote of the month”
“If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.”Don’t Hesitate by Mary Oliver (this one is a perennial fav)
🎬Film(s) of the Month🎬
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed Nan Golden
A documentary by Andrew Neel :Alice Neel
🗓️A month in classes(looking ahead)🗓️
In April I will be at the Tower Hill Botanical Gardens, Boyelston MA twice on the 22nd as part of their inaugural Artists in the Garden program! and then again on the 29th teaching an Intro to Cyanotype class which is sadly sold out!
We will be ending the month with our MAY DAY CRAFT FAIR (April 30th)
**And there is still room in the 23rd Annual Beginner/Intermediate Herbal Apprenticeship**
🫀The perks for being a paid subscriber🫀
I have received a bunch of questions from readers asking me to explain the difference between paid and non paid subscribers. At this point everyone who subscribes receives that same essays and postings.
💚I will host a one day workshop/retreat in-person just for paid subscribers in the Fall
💚A least once a year you will be offered free participation in an online program such as the recently offered 30 days of Nettle/self care.
💚You will receive snail mail from me! Original eco-prints bi monthly
💚And feel good knowing that you are supporting me in creating more of this type of content, and keep me in coffee when I am on the road!
Up Next: The Tenuos Line Connecting Art Museums and Climate Activism- essay and podcast.
PS. I would love to hear everyones monthly lists feel free to post in the comments section