AN ARTIST WITH NO ART FORM

Are you an artist suffering from art withdrawal? Do you have the bad weather blues? Here is some art therapy to help you through.
By Alexis Haynie (Writer)

"And like any artist with no art form, she was dangerous."
                                             -Sula, Toni Morrison, 1973

This has been a long winter for me. I fell into the habit of working 50 hour weeks. When I was not at work I was hibernating in my dark basement apartment attempting not to freeze to death before my next shift. I was battling depression, anxiety, and the flu.

Without art, I became a danger to myself.

My bookcase stared at me from across the room, mockingly. My various notebooks sat in wait above it, menacingly. I just didn't have the energy. Plus, it was way too cold to get out of bed for anything other than work.

Something had to be done to fend off this gloomy state I had found myself in. An art project.

I bought some poster board and went to my favorite novels for some magic spells to put up around my room, very much like the barrier spells on the glass that kept the evil spirits contained in the movie Thirteen Ghosts (2001).

I took a kickboxing class. I went to the movies to see A Most Violent Year (a commendable film). Instead of sleeping on the train, I started bringing a book with me again. And a pen. I made it a priority to write every day. Something. Anything. Because the thing is, an artist with no art form is a dangerous thing—they pose the most danger to themselves. Creative energy demands exploration and expression. 

New York City is supposed to be a mecca for artist, but you can easily find yourself isolated and caught on the hamster wheel. To keep this from happening, I will be bring you an update each week in a section to be known as Artist Watch. I will showcase artists around the city and an event for the upcoming weekend. Art needs to be both created and experienced.

This week on Artist Watch I have Katie Cadwalader Earle and Janna Maria (with an a not an e) Vallee of Everlea Textiles!

Artist Watch

 

Janna grew up in British Columbia's Sunshine Coast while Katie grew up in Mt. Washington valley in New Hampshire. From these remote locations on the map they found each other in the Fibres and Materials Practice program at Concordia University in Montréal, Québec Canada.

Their journeys aligned in NYC when the sport of apartment-hunting kept them cohabiting for a while. Janna's son, Sam, rolled over for the first time while they were residing with Katie—definitely a sign of good things to come.

While art can help the artist feel more connected to the world and to themselves, it can also be alienating. To combat art’s insular nature, these textile artists teamed up to form an art-making, inspirational, fun-loving duo that has proven a valuable point of support and amicable collaboration.  

 

So how do we get a piece of this action?

This Saturday, January 31^st 2015 Everlea Textiles will be presenting a free Tapestry Weaving Skillshare at the Arts and Crafts Beer Parlor on 8th St.

There's no better way to get acquainted with this technique than on the best portable loom out there, an American-made Mirrix Loom. Janna will bring hers all ready to weave on!

 Visit Their Website

See their art on Instagram! 

 

ALEXIS HAYNIE is a college student, writer, and feminist, from Arlington, Tx who moved to NYC in search of a word. She hopes to spend her entire life looking for it. 
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Comments

[Janna Maria Vallee]

I'm totally with you on doing something creative every day. I started doing that recently myself to avoid the same kind of darkness. I either make something or see an exhibition.

Thanks for post!