Well, hello there! I hope that things are well and peachy keen in your world, and I’m sending positive vibes either way. Also, a huge thank you to YOU for showing up for me and being a part of my newsletter. This is my first one and I’m honestly both excited and anxious, but above all else, I’m looking forward to this new journey.
This year has been very pivotal for me in so many ways. This was my first year of not being a student and I experienced a LOT of growing pains. I started off the year feeling lost and discouraged due to a hectic work schedule which led to me having a terrible work/life balance. Sadly, it led to my art practice taking a backseat to almost everything due to me being overworked and simultaneously underpaid (but we won’t talk about this in-depth in this newsletter).
Instead of spending time with my art practice at least 4 days out of the week like I had set as a goal before graduating from SAIC, I was spending maybe 1-2 days creating which was not my work method over the 7+ years that I have been a practicing artist. I hated this because this was never the life that I envisioned for myself and in many ways, I felt like a failure and like I was neglecting my art practice from the fall of 2021 to the spring of 2022. Too dang long!
Though when summer 2022 arrived, I loosened the fear of going to more public art events in Chicago, IL, and Milwaukee, WI (due to COVID), and I started to feel that spark again and I created or at minimum soaked in art nearly every weekday and balanced that with doing other things I enjoyed (resting, spending time with people I care about, going to concerts, reading, etc.). Before the summer ended, I promised myself that when the 2022 fall semester started, I would not do any work related to my job as a lecturer after 4 pm on weekdays and not at all on the weekends. All other time gaps would be dedicated to my art practice and even rest (Yes, rest! Not a single soul will ever make me feel guilty for sleeping in and doing absolutely nothing on the days that I need it). I mostly kept my word and I reaped the benefits of reprioritizing the work/life balance I envisioned for myself after completing my journey as a student— a life that prioritized myself, my relationships, my art practice, my job, and anything else after that in that order.
I’ll share more about the things that are lined up for me (which I consider to be a result of me reorganizing my daily life and reprioritizing my time) in upcoming newsletters. Though for now, I want to talk about what makes today so special, why I’m releasing my first newsletter today, my yearly highs and lows, and the good news of a new venture that I’m starting in 2023. So please read until the end!
My birth announcement created by my parents after my birth.
The reason that I chose to release my first letter today is not that it’s the last day of the Sagittarius season and the beginning of the winter solstice. Today is special because it’s my birthday! Yay me and props to God for blessing me with another year of life. I’m 26 years old today and this truly feels like a new beginning for me. I know that sounds corny and sure I might say that every year, but it’s true! Truthfully, for a while, I was honestly sad about turning 26 because of the harrowing fear of me losing insurance coverage that I have had under my Mom for my entire life. Though over the last couple of weeks, I’ve found more joy since I officially have a plan worked out. #adulting
Plus, there is truly so much to be thankful for and that’s what I want to focus on in the rest of this letter. Each of my newsletters from here forward will carry the format of sharing my highs and lows of the month as well tidbits of things that have had my attention for the month (artists’ works, books, shows/documentaries, etc.) and any other pertinent news. So, here’s my 2022 recap + a HUGE announcement at the end!
HIGHS…..
Life
I reached my goal of reading 24 books this year with a heavy emphasis on fiction novels.
My top 5 books of this year: Tell Me Lies by Carola Lovering, I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You by Courtney Maum, Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin, and What Happened to You by Oprah Winfrey.
I worked out consistently (at least 4 days a week) whether it was at the gym or by following MadFit on Youtube.
Art
I conquered my fear of moving on from my previous body of work, Our Mothers’ Gardens, and began creating a new body of introspective archival work titled All of the G̶o̶o̶d̶ Days: Unfinished Notes from a Healing Heart.
I was a part of 6 exhibitions across Chicago, IL, Milwaukee, WI, and Johnson, TN for the following spaces: MARN Art + Culture Hub, West Town Pop Up Project, CNL Projects and Terrain Exhibitions, Chicago EXPO, Slocumb Galleries, and FLXST Contemporary.
I was a recipient of a few honors/awards: The 2022 Silver Eye Center for Photography Silver List, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Research Assistance Fund, and the 2023 Medium Review Black Artist Scholarship.
Works from Our Mothers’ Gardens were included in the Cream City Review Spring/Summer 2022, Volume 6, Number 1.
I was a part of my first exposition for Chicago EXPO as a part of the SAIC Alumni Booth.
I wrote my first published piece for Lenscratch featuring my former Photography Professor, Allison Grant!
Education
I finished up one full academic year of teaching in the Photo & Imaging Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee—currently going on finishing up my second academic year.
I created and instructed a course at UWM called Archive as Evidence that honestly could not have gone any better than what I had initially (and anxiously) imagined.
I had the opportunity to instruct a Photography II course for Photographer’s Green Book & TILT Photography this summer.
Community
I was selected to be a MARN Mentor as a part of the MARNmentorship program where I was perfectly paired up with my mentee + friend Katie Mullen! **p.s. if you’re reading this, I’m so thankful for you and our friendship!**
I hosted Thanksgiving at my home in Milwaukee and some of my family was able to come and celebrate with me.
I was able to attend a lot more social events and I’m finally truly forming my community here in Milwaukee.
Events
Finally saw Billie Eilish in concert at the United Center in Chicago, IL. I went solo and it was honestly the best night of my life and contrary to popular belief, not awkward at all.
Attended and spoke at the MOCP DARKROOM event as last year’s recipient of the Snider Prize. It was truly a special night, and I was fortunate enough to share the space with so many incredible people.
I attended Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI for the first time and got to see the incredible Boyz II Men and JoJo.
I attended Lollapalooza for the second year in a row with my partner, Alex, and it was truly a week to remember.
I went on a cruise to the Bahamas with my Mom and sister in celebration of my Mom’s 55th birthday.
I traveled to LA for the first time in support of Las Fotos Project and finally got to meet Aline Smithson in person.
I went to my first Milwaukee Bucks game as a surprise for my little cousin.
Photograph of me taken by Michael Rangel staring at a couple of my works at FLXST Contemporary in Chicago, IL a part of the FEMME exhibition opening on 2/5/2022.
My partner and I at Lollapalooza in Chicago, IL waiting for Duckwrth to perform on 7/30/2022.
My Mom (center) and my sister (right) at Freeport Harbour in the Bahamas on 8/19/2022.
My mentee + friend, Katie and I at the opening of Adam White Ossers’s exhibition opening at Var Gallery in Milwaukee, WI on 12/3/2022.
LOWS…..
Art
I did not showcase Black History Month on my Pinsta this year for the first time in a few years (womp, womp). It was a heavy month for me emotionally, and while I beat myself up for not posting something related to Black art + culture once a day for the entire month, as usual, I reminded myself that in the end that I’m human. Though I fully anticipate starting back up with this in Black History Month of 2023.
I wasn’t selected for any artist residencies (5 rejections in total) that I really desired, but I will certainly be putting my best foot forward and trying again next year.
Community
I didn’t get to spend as much time with my family this year—though I’m so grateful for technology and the ability to Facetime with them every day.
Life
I was officially diagnosed with GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) and informed that I have an enlarged hiatal hernia which has had me on a strict food diet and medications for 14 months (including the gap of time where I had not yet received a diagnosis). I suppose the win is that I haven’t had stomach pain unless it’s that time of the month— but geez do I miss french fries and tomato-based pizza!
- I was officially diagnosed with an anxiety disorder this summer by my primary care doctor (*Alexa play “Spiral SZN” by JoJo).
Selfie before being rolled back for my EG in Milwaukee, WI on 3/17/2022.
NEWS + UPDATES…..
I couldn’t be more excited to be offering my very own Art + Writing Services and Resources!! For the last couple of years, I have thought about what it would be like to create my own writing services from artists of all disciplines, backgrounds, and walks of life. Those aspirations didn’t go beyond my journal entries and conversations with close family and friends for a long time. Though after a very rough patch of thinking about my career this past October, I knew I needed to make a legit plan and put it into action by the beginning of 2023.
Well, my friend… here we are, and this timing feels better than ever!
I will also be donating 20% of the funding from my small business to a scholarship pool for artists who are in need of funding for any finalized art-related applications. If you are feeling generous and simply want to support the cause of other artists, feel free to share the word and/or donate here. Thank you in advance for your support!
You can learn more information about my new business venture here before I make it public on my website in a couple of weeks. The password to view in advance is “writer”!
On December 28th at 5 pm CST, I’ll be joining Heidi Parkes (incredible quilter, mender, and artist based in Milwaukee, WI) on YouTube LIVE to talk about all things Diary Art! Here is the link to join and I hope that you’ll join us there.
That’s it, folks! Honestly, sharing this newsletter has me feeling so grateful for 2022 and hopeful for what’s to come in 2023. It reminds me that the lows of this year where I felt so overwhelmed and at my wit's end are heavily outweighed by highs. This is truly only the beginning.
That’s it for me for now. If you’re ever interested in what I’m up to in the in-between time, check out my stories on Instagram!
Take care of yourself and you’ll hear from me again in January.
Love you, mean it!
- Alayna N. Pernell