What does belonging mean? I think my last post kind of touched upon that. After I wrote that, I was lying in bed and I worried that I made it seem like I am bothered by my familial obligations, and that’s not it at all. Anyone who knows me, knows that my family always comes first and those are my favorite beings to be with. But I really do enjoy my alone time. And it feels like something I have to apologize for, like it’s not normal. I think only other introverts can relate.
But again what does belonging mean, especially when we live in such a fractured world. To feel safe to be one’s self, in whatever form that may mean. And that can be so many things and ways of moving through the world.
When I made this piece and added the transfer of the image, I wanted to create a sense of safety, refuge within the two pieces of wood. For the most part I walk through my days attending to my work, tasks, and just the actions of living trying not to be overwhelmed by the Overwhelm that we are living in. But it’s all just a facade. Often a crack appears and everything just feels so insane. But the insanity is that we continue to attend to our daily needs while maps are being redrawn, bombs are being dropped, citizens are losing rights, ecological destruction is given the green light and the list goes on and on. But what else are we to do?
I think all this is why I was drawn to creating a hidden safe little world.
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This piece is currently at Higher Art Gallery in Traverse City, MI.