Everyone Is A Creative: Newsletter No. 1
Everyone is a creative. I really do believe that. No matter the job title, the profession, or the career path, everyone has a unique perspective to offer. The Context is a place to highlight those perspectives. It is a scrapbook of sorts—a place to put everything I find and love, while sharing the context (get it?) behind those works.
This newsletter is an extension of that. Each week-ish, it will arrive in your mailbox with a handful of visuals—art, exhibits, joyful creative things, etc. I hope your eyeballs enjoy them. Maybe you find a new artist whose work speaks to you. Maybe you reconnect with your own creative point of view. Who knows! Whatever it is, let me know what happens.
Kristin Texeira’s Colors of Music.
1. Music Meets Color: Kristin Texeira
What’s better than food/wine pairings? Music/color pairings. Artist Kristin Texeira created 68 of them for her most recent show, Wood Winds. There is something very special about seeing your favorite songs paired with colors that so obviously fit the feeling—Talking Heads’ “This Must Be The Place,” Bill Withers’ “Lovely Day,” and Frank Ocean’s “Nikes” included. In sum, when you mix colors, music, art, and memories together, good things happen. See her pairings here.
Vincent de Rijk’s Liquidishes.
2. A Bright Result of Quarantine Walks: RiRa
2020 was the year in which we became well-acquainted with our living spaces. So naturally, joyful home objects took on a new importance. Amsterdam-based stylist Gijsje Ribbens and fashion agent Bart Ramakers did something with that—missing the joys of visiting their favorite artists and makers in person, they built an e-commerce space for creators to share their works with the world. Enter RiRa: a destination for extremely cheery contemporary home objects, featuring the bowls of my dreams: Liquidishes by Vincent de Rijk. Learn more here.
Platter pile by Good Kind Work.
3. Awaiting Spring’s Arrival: Things That Bloom
Yes, an entire section of this newsletter is devoted to florals. Are you surprised? Here are some that make me happy:
Good Kind Work’s ceramics, particularly this combination
Amy Merrick’s book On Flowers: Lessons from an Accidental Florist
Makoto Kagoshima’s earthenwear. The Japanese artist draws birds and blooms into clay, and once shared with Architectural Digest, “I draw flowers in anticipation of those who will behold them.”
Astrid Wilson’s Market Prints. In her bio she states, “I truly believe in the healing and calming power of nature, emotional power of colors, and the playful and free spirit of being childish.”
“Fishing men in Nhamacurra whilst the moon is still pronounced” by Cassi Namoda.
4. Purposeful Storytelling: Cassi Namoda
Maybe you know her work from this issue of Vogue Italia or this Juxtapoz interview. I just learned of Cassi Namoda’s work last year, and she quickly became one of my favorite artists to read about. She is from Mozambique, and her work explores the complexities of social dynamics and mixed cultural and racial identity. One of my personal favorite quotes: “That’s what it’s about. There’s no ego, it’s just me wanting to put an essence of a picture out there, something someone can ruminate over, consider, or relate to in a visceral human experience.”
Photographed by Lauren Daccache.
5. Captured Identities: Lauren Daccache
Lauren is a photographer and also a very dear friend. I’m really proud of her work—intimate, personal portraits of beautiful people. She recently shot this campaign for Cuup and is working on her ongoing series focused on the magic of Lebanon. She has a thing for eyeshadow art and does not shy away from being playful with her work. To me, her photos feel like a celebration of humanity, friendship, and the inner creative spirit. See how I just took it all full circle there?
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