Things Are Looking Up... | April 2023 Newlsetter

Oh hi! Are you good? I hope that things are well and peachy keen in your world, and sending you positive vibes either way. Also, had to change the color theme to fit the peachiness I mention at the beginning of each newsletter and I think it’s a vibe if I do say so myself. Anywho…

A LOT has happened since we last chatted and as I mentioned in the last newsletter, I’ll be keeping this fairly brief. Oh and don’t worry, the audio version of my newsletters will be coming very soon. Road bumps happen!

As you know, I had surgery on my wrist on March 17th and that operation went very well. The recovery, however? Oof, that was incredibly tough up until this week and I’ve now been able to maneuver a little bit more. I can do things like hold my phone, press the button on the elevator, pull my pants up, etc. They sound small, but they’re really big milestones for me. I have an incredible support system and while things have been tough, it couldn’t have been manageable without my circle of loving humans.

The support that I’ve had also came from my MARN team who was very understanding and supportive when needed. I mention this because I never knew what it was like to have support from a workplace on this level until recently. I won’t go into detail about what I’m about to say next, but I find it important to mention to you because transparency is key and I also don’t want to paint the picture that everything, support-wise, has been rainbows and sunshine. I will put it like this and leave it at this—there needs to be holistic support for educators going through challenging times. The end.

Alright, let’s move on.

Over the past month, by no surprise, most of what I was able to do was think and exist. Even though I was “resting” physically, my mind wasn’t because I was in pain or intensely stressed out. Though over this past weekend, I hit a true breakthrough. I went to EXPO Chicago last weekend and I left feeling so inspired. It has me antsy to begin physically creating again (which I anticipate I’ll be able to do in the next week or so). I now can honestly say that time has been on my side more than I acknowledged a few weeks ago when I was in the thick of my recovery. Being forced to rest made me sit with myself and go back to the drawing board concerning my work as an artist, the relationships I have, where I’m at in my life and where I want to go, and so much more. Plus, I get to come out of this with a solidly functioning wrist. Wins all around and I can’t wait to share my creative journey with you once I gracefully get back into the swing of things more.

MONTHLY HIGHS AND LOWS…..

HIGHS…..

-  Almost finished with surgery recovery

-  More inspired to create and expand on my current body of work

-  Met new friends and saw old ones in Chicago during EXPO weekend. Not to mention the artwork in EXPO this year was striking!

-  Witnessed my mentee, KT Mullen’s, incredible art which is up now at the MARN ART + CULTURE HUB, so swing by if you happen to be in Milwaukee, WI.

-  Sleeping better at night without having to rely on medication to get me through without feeling pain

-  Travelled to San Diego, CA with my partner for my opening at San Diego Mesa College. I also had a second show up in San Diego, CA at Luxe Gallery.

LOWS…..

- Lack of support as an educator while going through a physically and emotionally tolling time

- Surgery recovery

NEWS + UPDATES…..

• On May 25th @ 4 pm PT, I will be in conversation with the incredible Aline Smithson for the Center for Fine Art Photography’s Behind The Curtain series, so please join if you’re available! It is free for members and $10 for non-members to join. Here’s a link for more info which will be posted soon.  

• I will be instructing an online workshop this summer August 7-24, 2023 with Santa Fe titled Archival Projects: Bringing the Past to Life. It will occur on Mondays/Thursdays from 9:30-11:30 am MT. I’d love to have you join and here’s the link for more information! 

• I am open and available for freelance writing and photography opportunities starting back in May. If you or anyone you know need my services, reach out to me here and let me know. I’d love to work with you (or anyone you know)!

ART/CULTURE STUFF I’VE BEEN INTO…..

Here’s what I watched over the past month, and of course, if you ever have any show or movie recommendations that you want to send my way, please send me an email so I can watch and follow up with you about it later. No book recommendations in this newsletter!

Binge-worthy Shows

Swarm (MA | 2023 | Satire/Psychological Horror/Psychological Thriller) – 4/5

Love is Blind: Season 4 (MA | 2023 | Reality TV) – 4/5

 Movies

The Call (Unrated | 2020 | Mystery/Thriller) – 4/5

Pearl (R | 2022 | Horror/Thriller) – 4/5

Fractured (R | 2019 | Psychological Thriller) – 3/5

RANDOM PHOTOS IN MY CAMERA ROLL OVER THE PAST MONTH…

Alright folks, that’s all I have to share for this month. Thank you for reading and I hope that this spring continues to treat you well. If you ever miss any newsletters, you can find them in the archive on my website (with the exception of March’s newsletter which I’m slowly working on getting uploaded to the archive). If you’re interested in what I’m up to in the meantime, check out my Instagram!

Take care of yourself and I’ll see you again in May. 

 Love you, mean it!

-Alayna N. Pernell 

With Love, from a Chick Actively Recovering! | March 2023 Newsletter

Hey hey! Are you good? I hope so, but as always, I hope that things are well and peachy keen in your world, and sending you positive vibes either way. This is pretty much my staple greeting now so hopefully, you don’t get too tired of it.

 At the time that you’re reading this letter that I typed in advance, I’m currently recovering and resting. I’m recovering from surgery I had on 3/17 and while it’s painfully exhausting, I’m excited to have more control over my body and a better way of living and creating once I’m fully healed. The recovery process is tedious, so with this said, the next letter may be a bit shorter (like this one). So, bear with me and we’ll be back to our more regularly scheduled program in May.

I also want to simply say thank you in response to my last newsletter. My last letter was incredibly challenging to write, but the good wishes I received meant the world to me. We all need kindness and grace and I appreciate you extending that to me.

Something else really exciting has happened between this newsletter and the last newsletter. In case you missed the news… I GOT A NEW JOB! I now serve as the Program Manager for the MARN ART + CULTURE HUB. It honestly doesn’t feel like a job though. It feels like I’m truly doing more of what I love which makes me excited to work each day. I work with an incredible team of talented and committed artists, and I’m so grateful to have been given this opportunity. You can read more about my role here.

Just to go ahead and dissolve any questions, I am still teaching at UWM, I will just be teaching much less and it’s a decision that I’m very proud of and beyond content with. It took a lot of courage for me to speak up for myself, but I’m glad I did, and I feel like life is beginning to make more sense now.

MONTHLY HIGHS AND LOWS…..

HIGHS…..

-  Accepted the offer to be MARN ART + CULTURE HUB’S new Program Manager.

-  Switched up my creative language and began experimenting with a new method of working.  

-  Spent time with family and friends in Alabama.

- Spoke with Syracuse University’s Photo Department about my archival research.

LOWS…..

- Surgery!

-  Challenging experiences in my personal life that have had me in a fog (no further details will be provided from here, but mainly expressing so that you know that not everything is going great)

NEWS + UPDATES…..

• A couple of pieces from my work, Our Mothers’ Gardens, will be on view at the San Diego Mesa College in San Diego, CA from April 3-16th! I’ll be traveling to the opening on April 6th, so if you happen to be in the area, I hope to see you there!

• I am open and available for freelance writing and photography opportunities starting in May. If you or anyone you know need my services, contact me here and let me know. I’d love to work with you (or anyone you know)!

ART/CULTURE STUFF I’VE BEEN INTO…..

Here’s what I watched over the past month, and of course, if you ever have any show or movie recommendations that you want to send my way, please send me an email so I can watch and follow up with you about it later.

Binge-worthy Shows

Catfish: Any of the seasons (TV-14 | 2012-current | Reality Television) - 5/5

You: Season 4 (MA | 2023|Psychological Thriller) - 3/5

Alright, folks, that’s all I have to share for this month. I haven’t really had much time to read or watch movies, so that’s why it’s not listed in this letter. Considering I’m recovering from surgery at the time that you’re reading this, I’m sure I’ll have a lot of good watches to report back to you in the next newsletter. Thank you for reading and I hope the remainder of this month brings you all your heart desires. If you ever miss any newsletters, you can find them in the archive on my website and if you’re interested in what I’m up to in the meantime, check out my Instagram!

 Take care of yourself and you’ll (briefly) hear from me again in April. 

Love you, mean it!

-Alayna N. Pernell