April Appraisal & Adorations

Another spring newsletter from the studio desk in the Delta

April 26th 8:01 pm 

Hi hello, 

It’s raining soft outside and the world is bright green and I love to see my little studio warmly yellow lit and the cat and the dog curled up on the bed.

Seems like everyone on the internet is yelling all of the time. Usually it’s out of joy or excitement or passion for what they’re trying to tell you. Finding myself driving and walking in silence these days. The birds are so raucous. The rain is so plentiful. The roof over my head tinny with spring and the cat snoring and the dog snuffing towards his dreams. The catalpa leafed out and dropping it’s sweet yellow purple white flowers. I love them so much. 

Walking out among the birds worrying about what love is and why it’s so difficult. And worried about divine timing and how I often find myself so unsettled. I probably wrote about this to you already. Asking my mom over the phone, “what’s wrong with me?” And she said, “you’re a minister’s granddaughter. It’s in you to keep moving.” My dad (it’s a package deal when you call either one of them) and I laugh together, it seemed like both of us in surprise and agreement. 

In the new spring (which turns to summer so quickly, I guess it is new right until it’s over) I thought maybe love is the same as the seasons, same as the years, same as a life, it’s just all of our first times through this, it’s hard to know. 

It’s so sweet and beautiful in the beginning it’s hard to even realize you’re in it, you’ve made it. So easy to take it for granted, even the complex parts, even the challenges. The blackberries hard and green and hopeful, turning softer and bright red while you’re holding hands or sharing your favorite music and laughing, 

Soon summer hits and it’s long and hard but warm, easy if you can adjust to it, if you’ve found the place you belong, even when mosquitos come up, droughts come up, summer the longest season of all, 

Fall brief and golden with dazzling light and harvest, if you’re lucky,

The plunge into the darkness of winter and the heat of summer seem equal at times, just got to make it through and keep your eyes open for the beautiful things, if you can remember to. It doesn’t seem as difficult as it is in practice.

Then it’s spring again.

And all I mean is. You only get to fall in love so many times. You only get new love so many times and I think it’s hard because you don’t even know it’s the last-first kiss before it’s over. 

And so, there are the seasons, which are merciful even when the weather is bad, because in the springtime it’s new love all over. And in the summer, and the fall, and the winter. A new world. A whole new world. 

There’s a lot of yelling and sinking down and disappointment. I hope you can go out into the world and look up and be barefoot or feel the sun on your skin and see the young green and old green and the world slowly turning and changing around you, persistently, assuredly, with or without you, with or without the yelling, with or without mankind, but always with it’s own heart beating, loving, 

I am beginning to think I might know why farmers are how they are,

The way the fields come up every year, 

The chance to begin again and help and learn and fall in love, 

“done already said my words over the seeds, figured they were goners for sure,”

And then,

“they were just cracking the ground on Tuesday, now they’ve jumped up,” 

And then.

Before we know it, fall, winter, spring. I have already forgotten the coldness and darkness. I have already forgotten to be thankful for the light. I am trying not to forget to revel in the chance to experience new love in the land, every season, every hand. 

Thursday 4/27 in Tupelo!

In celebration of Church Goin Mule’s new collection we will be hosting a reception this Thursday, April 27th from 5-7 PM. She's bringing a special guest, Wilbur. You don't want to miss out!

Her collection will be available next Monday, May 1st at 7 AM CDT for VIP members and 9 AM CDT for the general public. 

www.thecarongallery.com

Lucky enough to be juried into the Arts Alive gallery exhibition at the Kennedy Douglass Center for the Arts during their Arts Alive Festival. There are three pieces to check out incase you’re in town for this vibrant arts festival in Florence, Alabama, May 20th & 21st. https://www.alabamaartsalive.com/events-copy

Prints are always available at churchgoinmule.threadless.com.

The next time work will be available will be the end of May at the Little Green Store in Huntsville. Theoretically. Will keep you posted.

Thank you for those who made Paper Fools at the Gail Keenan Arts Center in Pass Christian. I wish I could’ve been there that evening of the opening. There will be a closing coffee & conversation on May 5th at 9am. Deeply regrettably I won’t be able to make it but hope you can.

Thank y’all who hunted work down at Juke Joint Festival and made it a hit. A series of beautiful and fortunate weekends here in Mississippi & Alabama and so grateful down to my bones. I wish I was working better for everyone.

It’s the raining piano and the angelic voice of Brother Theotis Taylor, and it’s the tilt going up, if i just wait, if i just hold out and wait until tomorrow, he’s unsure, then he burrows down deep, everything will be all right.

Love you. Thank you. Grateful beyond words, every day, even when I forget in the morning, I remember by night. Thank you.