Having finished my MFA and closed my thesis show alongside my peers successfully, my mind immediately went to what was next and what the state of my art practice would be in the coming months. It’s been three months since I’ve had time to make new work of any “meaningful size” as I’ve made a physical and mental move towards the next marker along a long road that I have no accurate map to guide me on. I’m beyond excited to continue the work I’ve been doing within academia through another media lens, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t scary to start this work without my usual multitasking and the mad dash to be in three places at once. For the first time in quite a while, I have a moment to pause and take comfort in knowing there will always be time for work and that all the work I do will be “meaningful” if it means something to me. All the work will hold value as it encourages moments of practice, moments of joy, and a reminder that creation can be a wonderful thing that doesn’t have to start with a grand purpose.
I don’t know what it means to make new work right now, and while I get used to new surroundings for both work and home life, I doubt I’ll define that in words. It’ll just be a feeling followed by an action. I was led to my thesis work by a feeling that came from the absence of dreams and figures I took for granted, things that were familiar to me. So, who’s to say what feeling will drag me up from my seat next and push me towards another experiment. It’s all speculation and anxiety fueling these questions but I’ve never been one to sit calmly in thought when it comes to my own future. I can only hope that what it means to make my work will involve more peace within myself going forward.