I am always listening to something.
An audiobook, a podcast episode, music.
Always listening.

I find the act of listening and receiving to be so powerful.
Through listening, I find human connection and
process my place of standing in this world.
New discoveries and perspectives grow in listening.

I am always listening.
So it’s only natural that my work is abstract, visual
interpretations of sentiments shared through storytelling.
Not everything I listen to or read has a direct correlation
to the artworks I’m developing, but there is so much of my daily
listening embodied in my pieces.

I thought it might be cool to share what I’m hearing
and reading to bring a bit more insight into
where I’m at when creating my work.

Week of Aug. 8

This week’s roundup of what I’ve been listening to/reading in (and out) of the studio.

Spotify doesn’t usually get in right when recommending new music to me, but this time they nailed it! I had never heard of flipturn until this week and their 2018 EP Citrona was exactly what I wanted to hear. Some bright guitar riffs matched with a little distortion and lyrics that are permanently rolling around in my head. “August” and “Six Below” are on constant repeat.

On Being is one of my favorite podcasts on this planet and will most likely make an appearance in every week’s roundup. I have been changed and moved by Krista Tippett and the wise voices she brings into conversation. This week, I did a re-listen to her unedited interview with Pádraig Ó Tuama and Marilyn Nelson. What a balm to my soul. This interview and the sentiments shared by Pádraig and Marilyn are some of the key shapers in the body of work that I began this week. Give it a listen.

After hearing the On Being interview with Pádraig and Marilyn, I needed more. I found Padraig’s podcast Poetry Unbound and am in love. Pádraig reads a poem and talks about it. Simple yet so, so powerful.

This week I listened to:
Ocean Vuong - Seventh Circle of Earth
Jane Mead - Substance Abuse Trial
Yu Xiuhua - Crossing Half of China to Sleep with You

I’m usually listening to at least one audiobook and reading a physical book at all times. There can be quite a range of genres that I delve into, so I’ve broken my reads down into categories: Book Club (the book I’m currently reading for my book club), Snack Reads (lighthearted, easy-going fiction, usually of the romance variety), Deep Dive (anything that isn’t considered a snack read, can be fiction or non fiction). Here’s what I’m reading this week:

Book Club:
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters

Snack Reads:
Weather Girl by Rachel Lynn Solomon (audio book)

Deep Dive:
Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski (audio book)
Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community by Pádraig Ó Tuama (audio book)