Diànyĭngyuàn
Let me start by saying that Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment Center is amazing!!! Thank you so much to Melissa and Ms. Q for allowing me to butt in and pick your brains apart yesterday. I can't describe the feeling of being where you need to be. Thank you.
I'd visited Lowe Mill before but it was closed the day I'd gone down there. My Mom and I walked around the property to the main entrance anyway just to check it out that day, after we'd noticed their hours on the door. Lo, and behold, we ran into the best Hibiscus tea from their vegan Caribbean food truck on the premises.. ..chil' 😒🤤😍
..bringing me to yesterday:
The Mill hosts studios for artists of differing factions enough for Independent Restaurants to Yarn Spinners to thrive, and STEAM Programs for Students. This place was so mind-blowing when I'd gone inside! ..I didn't walk in through the entrance.. ..I hit the side door, it was hot…
That caused me to walk in on the STEAM Students and a Band that has its audience create art on Cameraless Film. 😍
..I was like a moth to a flame. 😶
The piece I developed was conceptualized from a rather rare moment of insecurity I'd had about people judging my menses showing though my jeans. As I sat at the library computer earlier in the day, even considering the more ‘conservative’ area I'm in, I felt anxiety around heading out to the Mill. I could feel the energy lower in vibration around me and it began to feel like a warped, water-portal-like zone around me and I began filtering in conversations as my mind put words together to attract the very situation.. ..I spiraled in that moment. It's been so long..
The truth are what brought me back up. My menses isn't heavy enough for that madness. It happened from time to time that it's been heavy enough for that, but; you go home, throw those clothes out, take a bath, then take a shower, buy some new clothes and live your life. I stopped feeling obligated so long ago to ‘stop up’ my menses that this anxiety made absolutely no sense. I'd felt proud of myself when I got up, too. Confidently, I actually was fine. No casualties. Not knowing, I felt accomplished and ready to head to the Mill.
..all of this rushed to me at the table as I drew this out.
The conversation between myself and one of the singers was so beautifully progressive and wiggled it's way into what I put on the film. I didn't have much time to do more but I feel it's going to be an impacting enough clip when it runs through their show for whomever catches it.
It's much deeper than what I've already mentioned. What does this being up for you? Let me know in the comments. 😌
Love, Ae
