What a truly beautiful expression of love this show is! I love seeing how you so wonderfully celebrate even the rats as ‘beloved brethren’. It’s a gift to be able to visit the world through your eyes. Grateful for you, Mari!
Mari, I am virtually speechless and in love with every single thing. 😭 The magical metaphors and meditations, the folk hygge-meets-Alebrije/artesanías quality of the felted scenes, your jam-packed show, the whiteboard messages (pets in the windows!), your AB FAB DRESS, your old friends and new, rats and pigeons 😍, and the pure adoration and dedication you poured into this entire experience that you even replicated for us here in the digital world - I also feel like I'm right there! Mari, what a gift you've given to the arts. So entirely unique, so entirely YOU, but a reflection of OUR collective humanness. Thank you!!! 🥹
Alebrije!!! THAT'S what it's called!!!! Thank you for solving a years-long mystery!
My therapist was just telling me that I talk a big game about being able to hold a lot of pain, but how much joy can I hold, too?? Your gorgeous response makes me think about how I just made art from joy...which may be my new purpose in life? Stay tuned. I wish you could come see it!! When I'm a felt-billionaire I will fly you in!
FELT BILLIONAIRE!!! #goals!! 😂 And YES! There is so much joy in the din and texture of NYC that folks don’t notice. Thank you again for giving these moments their deserved light. And, per your therapist’s note, I hope it also proved to you that—as Gibran said—the deeper that sorrow carved into your being, the more joy you can contain.
These are all such beautiful pieces- and I completely agree with you about the pigeons and rats. We are all ‘God’s creatures’, and equally deserving of kindness and respect.
Thank you. Being where I am, for a time while reading and looking, I was there. Again, thank you for the work put in to bring New York and yourself to me.
Congratulations on the show! And I truly love the art paired with the words and meditative suggestions. Beautiful in all the ways.... thank you for figuring out a way to share it with us. Great dress, btw!
I loved this post. I visited NYC in October 2018 and long to go back. I loved reading the whiteboard comments from the people saying what they love about NYC. My favourite place was Central Park. Your reflections and meditations really added to your art work. Thank you for sharing your show.
Just gorgeous, Mari! As always, a treat to settle in, pull up your column - bonus this time with art and photos - and wander through your imagination and world. Thank you for doing this, for taking the risk and having the bravery and courage to open yourself more. And for sharing it ALL online so those of us outside NYC can wander through your art show, too. <3
Thank you for gifting us all your work! I had a full circle moment of experiencing the joy of being in your presence. I feel so lucky and I can’t believe you mentioned me as part of your newsletter 🥹 THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU 🩷
I’d love to read more of your take on liminality and spaces in between. I feel like the last few years I’ve been living in a nesting doll of liminality. Health issues, mental stuff etc. I oscillate violently between recognising how sacred it is and going seriously-oh-fuck-no-more* sobbing.
A nesting doll of liminality! I can so relate. Not to be a completely ridiculous person, but I wrote a whole book about liminality, called My Inner Sky! But it's a theme I will continue to explore here; it doesn't get nearly enough airtime in our culture and it's so real.
You are utterly magical. The last piece, the Balcony Bardo of Liminality spoke purpose and hope to me. I'm in a liminal space, walking between two roles at my job, I can't go back to my old role but as I'm the newest at my new role I'm at the outskirts still, working the spot no one wants and wanting so badly to be in the center. This insight into the blessedness of liminal spaces (and the fact there's even a word for it !) gives me peace. 💛💛💛
I literally cannot even tell you how much this warmed me from my heart to my toes. Also you (YOU!!!! 😍) talked to meee?!?😂 I'm in a starstruck dream 💛💛💛☺️
One of my absolute favorite things about your work is that it reminds me again and again that we must not let the reductionist tendencies of society dictate our art. This is so purely JOYFUL and lifts the weights of FOCUS off my shoulders. As someone who time and time again has been told to "find my niche" if I ever want to be a successful creative, it brings me so much happiness to see you poking holes (literally with the felting needle) in that narrative. So appreciate what you bring to your community!
Ooohhh that means so much--thank you!!! Gosh I am still searching for my dang niche, but (for the first time in a long time), having fun not knowing what it is :) Hole-poking away, indeed!!
What a truly beautiful expression of love this show is! I love seeing how you so wonderfully celebrate even the rats as ‘beloved brethren’. It’s a gift to be able to visit the world through your eyes. Grateful for you, Mari!
This was a delightful surprise! The work is lovely and I wish all art placards were as thoughtful and thought provoking. Thank you for sharing!
Mari, I am virtually speechless and in love with every single thing. 😭 The magical metaphors and meditations, the folk hygge-meets-Alebrije/artesanías quality of the felted scenes, your jam-packed show, the whiteboard messages (pets in the windows!), your AB FAB DRESS, your old friends and new, rats and pigeons 😍, and the pure adoration and dedication you poured into this entire experience that you even replicated for us here in the digital world - I also feel like I'm right there! Mari, what a gift you've given to the arts. So entirely unique, so entirely YOU, but a reflection of OUR collective humanness. Thank you!!! 🥹
Alebrije!!! THAT'S what it's called!!!! Thank you for solving a years-long mystery!
My therapist was just telling me that I talk a big game about being able to hold a lot of pain, but how much joy can I hold, too?? Your gorgeous response makes me think about how I just made art from joy...which may be my new purpose in life? Stay tuned. I wish you could come see it!! When I'm a felt-billionaire I will fly you in!
FELT BILLIONAIRE!!! #goals!! 😂 And YES! There is so much joy in the din and texture of NYC that folks don’t notice. Thank you again for giving these moments their deserved light. And, per your therapist’s note, I hope it also proved to you that—as Gibran said—the deeper that sorrow carved into your being, the more joy you can contain.
These are all such beautiful pieces- and I completely agree with you about the pigeons and rats. We are all ‘God’s creatures’, and equally deserving of kindness and respect.
Thank you. Being where I am, for a time while reading and looking, I was there. Again, thank you for the work put in to bring New York and yourself to me.
Congratulations on the show! And I truly love the art paired with the words and meditative suggestions. Beautiful in all the ways.... thank you for figuring out a way to share it with us. Great dress, btw!
I loved this post. I visited NYC in October 2018 and long to go back. I loved reading the whiteboard comments from the people saying what they love about NYC. My favourite place was Central Park. Your reflections and meditations really added to your art work. Thank you for sharing your show.
Just gorgeous, Mari! As always, a treat to settle in, pull up your column - bonus this time with art and photos - and wander through your imagination and world. Thank you for doing this, for taking the risk and having the bravery and courage to open yourself more. And for sharing it ALL online so those of us outside NYC can wander through your art show, too. <3
Congratulations on your art show!! I went to NYC for the very first time last May and girl, that city completely captured my heart!!
I love how the five senses were honored through your incredible perspective/art. It's this kind of lens that creates the magic that is New York City!!
Thank you for gifting us all your work! I had a full circle moment of experiencing the joy of being in your presence. I feel so lucky and I can’t believe you mentioned me as part of your newsletter 🥹 THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU 🩷
I’d love to read more of your take on liminality and spaces in between. I feel like the last few years I’ve been living in a nesting doll of liminality. Health issues, mental stuff etc. I oscillate violently between recognising how sacred it is and going seriously-oh-fuck-no-more* sobbing.
A nesting doll of liminality! I can so relate. Not to be a completely ridiculous person, but I wrote a whole book about liminality, called My Inner Sky! But it's a theme I will continue to explore here; it doesn't get nearly enough airtime in our culture and it's so real.
Read it when it first came out and loved it. I think I need to reread!
I loved all this felted art !! Thank you for all the work and the words to go with !! Blessings ! ☺️ Beth in Kalamazoo, MI !
I love the art you created so much!
You are utterly magical. The last piece, the Balcony Bardo of Liminality spoke purpose and hope to me. I'm in a liminal space, walking between two roles at my job, I can't go back to my old role but as I'm the newest at my new role I'm at the outskirts still, working the spot no one wants and wanting so badly to be in the center. This insight into the blessedness of liminal spaces (and the fact there's even a word for it !) gives me peace. 💛💛💛
The holiest of all spaces, even though it rarely (NEVER!?) feels that way!! Sending you lots of love as you teeter on your own life-balcony!
I literally cannot even tell you how much this warmed me from my heart to my toes. Also you (YOU!!!! 😍) talked to meee?!?😂 I'm in a starstruck dream 💛💛💛☺️
I'm so happy you exist in the same time as me
One of my absolute favorite things about your work is that it reminds me again and again that we must not let the reductionist tendencies of society dictate our art. This is so purely JOYFUL and lifts the weights of FOCUS off my shoulders. As someone who time and time again has been told to "find my niche" if I ever want to be a successful creative, it brings me so much happiness to see you poking holes (literally with the felting needle) in that narrative. So appreciate what you bring to your community!
Ooohhh that means so much--thank you!!! Gosh I am still searching for my dang niche, but (for the first time in a long time), having fun not knowing what it is :) Hole-poking away, indeed!!
Congrats on your show !!!! and love the beautiful red dress!!!