just a little something different this time
Hi!
I didn’t finish a book this week because I was too busy taking photos of cacti. But! I have a cool new thing that I’m going to start doing. Starting this week, I’ll have a “guest list” maybe once a month that’s a “what I’m ______” section curated by friends/readers/whoever. This week I’m starting with my friend Basil Kincaid (an awesome collage artist), but if you’d like to contribute, please let me know. It can be about anything you’re into - poetry, movies, music, art, podcasts, whatever!
what I’m clicking:
This heartfelt and real profile of Anthony Bourdain | Your Uber driver’s side hustle (reminds me of the time my boyfriend and I got into a car with this guy) | Jessica Lange as everyone’s heroines | I loathe ketchup, how about you? | Long live the 90s, girl bands, and zines
what I’m watching:
This EXCELLENT mini-doc about people jumping off a high-dive for the first time. Watch it on your lunch break or make everyone at work watch it with you.
what I’m wanderlusting:
My hometown! I’m not sure if I’ll make it back this year, but Idaho is having a moment. Sun Valley is on both NYT’s and Vogue’s list of places to go in 2017 and in August there will be a TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE.
what I’m writing about:
Where you should take me on a Valentine’s Day date.
what I’m arting (GUEST POST BY BASIL KINCAID):
Celebrate Black History Month by supporting black artists. Fellow CC Alum (and super-talented artist) Basil Kincaid has curated a list of black artists to support this month (and every month). Check out their work (and check out Basil’s fantastic collages):
Interdisciplinary Artist
I love Stan's style and taste. Saying too much will belittle it—just check it out.
This man doesn't need an introduction. He's a boss. Get a painting of your dad—I just placed my order for mine. You could do Father's Day and black history month in one drop.
Writer, Thinker
Buy her book. I found myself melting through and into its pages. It really ministered to my soul.
Painter, Storyteller
A St. Louis native in San Francisco, Chris's work is evocative, introspective, and stimulating. I don't have any of his work yet but trust it’s on my list to collect.
Renaissance Man
The list of skills and offerings is too expansive to list. If you don't buy Damon's art now you'll feel super dumb in a couple years. Your window to collect his work before he blows completely out the frame is closing.
Fiber Artist, Painter
I collect her original textiles and so far I have 6 pieces of her fabric and a pillow. I love her work and I'm saving up for some of the original paintings.
God
Her work is beyond me, I collect prints from Kat as often as I can and I got my eye on an original that's a must have. This is one artist that I know will reframe the thinking of this planet. It's hard these days for an artist to become a household name. Kat will make this look easy, just watch. Buy the work.
Photographer
This guy is my favorite photographer in St. Louis.
Skin Care
No shade to anyone else making body butters but these are my personal favorite. The texture is perfect and the character and intensity of each fragrance is composed with the same level of attention and passion as fine art. I had to work my way up to the full detox from the milk bath and my first meditative soak brought me to tears I kid you not. This body butter is a part of my morning and evening ritual now.
Illustrator
Lola makes wonderful body positive work that I find inspiring and uplifting. I stalk her website from time to time just to feel empowered when I need a little boost. I love her stickers I need 1M of them.
Knit Designer
Her scarves are my favorite on earth.
Painter, Illustrator, Traditional Yoruba Arts
Stephen Hamilton is a tender soul and powerful artist. He has prints and originals of his breath taking work. I'm particularly interested in his Itan Project and Black Gods Live.
More artists:
Workplay, Designers | De Nichols, Activist | Ife Franklin, Artist | Vaughn Davis, Installation Artist | Kahlil Irving, Ceramicist | Itshanapa, Mixed Media Artist, Healer | Arielle Gray, Writer, Illustrator | Ro Tat, Painter, Tattoo Artist | Danny McGinnist Jr., Painter | Lance Omar Thurman, Photographer | Art Culture King | Howard Barry, Painter | Osmoses G Felix IV, Collagist, Painter, Musician
what I’m reading right now:
the best book I read in January:
what’s on my bookshelf waiting to be read:
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
The Association of Small Bombs
What books are on my list to buy (this will take me months to actually do):
Now that I have established myself as a Miriam Toews fan, I want to see what else she has up her sleeve: A Boy of Good Breeding, A Complicated Kindness, Irma Voth, and her memoir, which sounds like it was inspiration for AMPS.
Since I read this article, I added a few more books to my list. This list is growing faster than I can keep up.
Do Not Say We Have Nothing by Madeleine Thien
Hot Milk by Deborah Levy
The new Bernadette book
Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
M Train by Patti Smith
That Patty Hearst book
H Is For Hawk by Helen Macdonald
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born
What Belongs to You by Garth Greenwell
After interviewing Helen Ellis, I added a few books from her “classic trashy” book club to my list.
What are you reading? (You can reply to this email and tell me)
Do you like my book banter? Tell your friends to sign up! http://tinyletter.com/theodora