Post-WOW deadline crash 2025

I think I forgot to anticipate the crash that comes after making the WOW deadline.

Maybe because I haven’t experienced it for five years, maybe because I thought having successfully navigated the creation and touring of two exhibitions might have made it less intense, maybe because ovarian retirement is holding the reigns right now. But last Thursday I physically and mentally crashed. Lower back issues I’ve been dealing with got out of control, meaning I couldn’t do what I normally do, in any way. Lying down and feeling sorry for myself, unmotivated to create and wondering if my weightlifting life was now over, I sunk further into the doldrums, wondering what was the point of creating anything, everything was so fucked up in this completely crazy world, where I no longer know what should be believed, or is even real.

Teetering on the edge, I threw myself a line, assuring myself that this was just a blip, and all would once again be well. Using some very stern words, I told myself that a glass of bubbles was not the answer, that in fact eating some real food, sleeping, and performing research activities whilst I was physically inactive was a very valid way to spend my time. Come Sunday morning, I knew I had to get back out walking for both physical and mental health. I allowed myself a slower pace than my normal mad techno beat, and made many stops to photograph fungus and lichen. By the end of the walk my back was feeling a lot better, and I was so inspired that I was  back in my usual quandry of where to start and which way to go, as I had eleventy-million ideas for print, paint, and embroidery works. Sometimes I don’t know which end of the spectrum is more exhausting! I'd love to play with more of my images like this...

I think it’s a timely reminder though, to slow down the frantic pace that life seems to have ramped up to. I always feels as though there just aren’t enough hours – I guess though that there never will be. I need some slow activities to contrast with the high energy ones – in fact I’ve just checked out my first batch of books from the library since COVID put an end to that habit. For someone who finds it hard to get the time to read the magazine I actually write for and love, this is going to take some work. Much as I find the internet brilliant for research, I admit that I can find myself endlessly scrolling, wasting time and getting over-stimulated. Currently I'm trying to figure out how I feel about generative AI.....

My exhibition DistoMorph is showing at Gympie Art Gallery until the 10th May, as you can see in this article in the Gympie Times. 

But I loved receiving this notification today even more than that coverage - being tagged in this story by a visitor! So many people never sign the visitors book, or just don't write anything meaningful- this is great!

 My Artist Talk presentation has now been uploaded to my website - it's a very casual discussion of the techniques and materials I use in creation of my works - check it out here.

Next stop after this is Dogwood Crossing, Miles in May.