all your friends in one place - 11/17

recently i attended a friend's art show. it was in midcity los angeles at known studio. it was a wonderful success. we were a bit annoying and we closed them out.

the night eased from gentle chatter to artist presentations to a proper hang-in-the-space-until-all-the-art-is-off-the-walls, and finally to a hang-on-the-block-until-it's-time-to-go-home. something was in the air and it felt cool blue and syrup-y. my shoulders were not in my ears. my elbows were not in my ribs.

it was one of those evenings where every conversation teed up perfectly for the next. somehow, in the gap between summer and fall, i had found myself becoming very shy, disengaged, perhaps too overstimulated or too overwhelmed to feel like i could participate in group conversation. andy's show reversed this, lifted the imaginary dam and i felt like myself again. i am quite grateful to have this feeling back. the self, present.

andy's prompt for the show, titled Leave Ahead, was, in my own words, "what will you leave ahead for those that come after you?"

some pieces were family artifacts, clothing, one artist sculpted her matriarchal lineage's noses from clay, showing likeness and change and how she has inherited and will pass along her features.

~

@800cherries presented a particularly relevant piece. in response to andy's prompt, "what will you leave ~~behind~~ ahead?" sophie answered "i hope, nothing".

soph presented a dress made of two different silk fabrics, one dyed with avocado pits and one steam-bundled with flower petals from dtla flower district discards. the entire garment, if left to the earth, will break down and wash away with no negative impact, no plastics or chemical waste.

as someone who feels conflicted about my presence in the fashion industry due to this very issue, the piece (and, perhaps even more so, sophie's words about it) filled my heart with hope. we do care, there are better ways. one at a time is all it takes.

sophie is someone who has mastered the "leaving it better than you found it" rule.

the next morning dani texted me "last night healed me." it's also a special thing to collectively recognize the magic of a night. how beautiful to see everyone together, to discuss our families and the artifacts that so deeply reflect who we are. how beautiful to have all your friends in one place.