Let’s face it, it seems like 75% of the human population has a birthday in September. I put it down to too many people celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Out of curiosity, I tracked my own creation myth back to the major news story around that day, the Tet Offensive.
Since the pandemic, things have seemed incredibly unsettled and off kilter. I have learned that prolonged isolation is incredibly detrimental to someone with PTSD and moving during a pandemic is incredibly hard. I am also approaching my birthday, which I’ve never been a fan of.
Fortunately, I feel like I am starting to find my feet here, after nearly a year of being in Oregon. Hegira took a first place at the Oregon State Fair and I will be bringing her over to the Lincoln City Cultural Center to hang in their fiber art studio until she has a next date somewhere else. I’ve also begun recruiting fiber folx for The Community Coral Reef Project and have started to hear back from yarn stores in the PNW and elsewhere who will be sponsoring donation points for reef makers. Additionally, I will be providing a virtual presentation on October 9th to the Salem Fiber Arts Guild about my art and The Community Coral Reef Project.
Another positive note? Deception Pass will finally be able to fill her mission of going to an auction to support marine research. Right before the pandemic, I had connected with an Orca non-profit and we were trying to work out an auction for the piece with proceeds going to the organization. It was difficult since they didn’t have a history of doing auctions and then Covid hit. I hadn’t given up on the idea of donation and then I found the Marine Education Society. I have been following them on social media for some time and appreciate their engagement and research. They also have a robust online auction and funds go to keep their three person staff in working order. I will definitely be shouting out about their auction in spring of next year as the time approaches.
Finally, I am taking a long birthday weekend to explore the southern Oregon and northern California coast. I have some whale watching planned, a visit to the Washed Ashore gallery (Seriously, watch their movie. It is incredible!) and some wandering among the Redwoods and beaches. When I get back, I will be moving from my tiny apartment upstairs to a “less tiny” apartment. It will have an extra room that I can use as a studio and I will be able to start addressing this sketch that I made of the next crazy project I have rolling around in my head:
