Now that the Michigan winter is finally hopefully over, we can enjoy some warm weather and hopefully some more colors in the nature on campus!
TOLAROIDS: Who is excited for spring?
OTM #31: Shoes
I got some new shoes for some important life stuff recently, and yesterday I finally gave them their big debut. They fit me well, made me look like a grown working woman. I felt confident and ready to take on the day; however, my brain begged to disagree. As I walked the halls, I started to become increasingly bothered by a potent smacking sound. My shoes. It wasn’t even my shoes hitting the tile; it was my heel, smacking back and forth onto the shoe as I walked. The longer I heard it, the more anxious I became. I became certain that everyone was turning their heads to think, “Who is that girl with the loud shoes?” (they were most certainly not doing this). My body was heating up with uncomfortable embarrassment – the air around me vibrated, vividly red. I was counting down the seconds, hoping I was done walking soon.
What’s particularly funny about this is how little everyone else would care about this; looking back on it now, there was no way that my shoes were causing a commotion. There was no way that anyone was judging me because of them, but this is the wonder of the human body: anxiety and shame. My funny self-sabotaging nature was convincing me I was a laughing stock over something as small as shoes; in this moment I was transported to what is almost elementary school-level embarrassment. It’s natural to be nervous – I was meeting a lot of new people, excited and scared all at once, and in order to deal with these new feelings I fixated on my shoes. It’s funny how people work.
The Indian Artist, Revamped: What The F Art Fair
Good morning everyone! I hope that this blog post finds you well! I had the great opportunity of being one of the artists at the 3rd annual What The F Art Fair this past Saturday. The fair was dedicated to showcasing the art of women, queer, and BIPOC artists across all different styles and mediums. It was incredible to see so many female artists under one roof, sharing their passion, talents, and skills with others!
Participating in a space that gives female artists across the community a platform to share their passions, and make a bit of money, was wonderful. I truly look forward to taking part in the experience next year as well! I could feel a kindred sense of community as soon as I stepped into the room, surrounded by women keen on showcasing their love for art.
The prints that I was selling consisted of Payal (Oil on Canvas), Modern Brahma (Watercolor and Acrylic), American Dhulan (Mixed Media), The Festival of Colors (Colored Pencil), and finally Govardhan (Oil on Canvas). The most awarding part of the night was getting to meet so many new people, share a part of my culture, and learn more about their own love for art. Making the rounds myself and looking at the booths of all of the other artist was amazing to see. You better believe many art swaps happened at the end of the
evening!
If any of you attended the fair, I would love to hear from you in the comments! As always, if any questions or thoughts arise, please comment or reach out to me!
Until next week,
Riya
Instagram: @riya_agg.art
Portfolio: https://theindianartist.weebly.com/
Coping couplets
I will write a poem without pain
Despite crying disdain for inflicting it’s stain
Or feeling its sting while afflicted by shame
Day by day seeping into a daze
My suffering is minimal in many ways
If one is worse I should be able
To lift myself from this haze
I will write a poem without pain
Dancing lazily in the game
For I am not living this life in vain
A Day In Our Lives #24
Hey guys!
This week I thought I’d show you a different form of art that I am learning about here on campus. It is one of my passions and I spend hours of time at home every day working on my skills in it. It is fibers and textiles! At Stamps, I am in the pursuit of learning all about fibers and textiles in sculpture form. I create soft sculptures that mimic stuffed animals, and I create clothing from my fiber art. I like them to be brightly colored, funky, and sculptural in form. I have a lot of fun when I create my fiber arts. Weaving on the loom, pictured below, is the most time-consuming of the different skills I know. I know how to crochet, embroider, sew (on the machine and by hand) dye fabric and yarns, knit, tapestry, and many more. I hope you all like it!
See you next week
Marissa
Evolving Emotions: Trust- Poetry
All of It
I’ve got you
Don’t look down
at the enormity of it all
at everything to do
at everything you might not do
at everything you don’t want to do
at all the things you regret
at all the things you don’t
the mistakes
the failures
the greatest fears
the mortifying moments
and painful memories
that don’t dull like they should
in the cracks
of your deepest insecurities
where lies the secrets
I hold them too
Don’t look down
I’ve got you
