thankful (better late than never)

[i originally wrote this post the day before thanksgiving]

i'm sorry to have temporarily abandoned this blog after my show! it was a crazy whirlwind of events and now it's down. 

it seems too short, but looking back, i am so grateful for so many people who helped me get through it. people kept telling me, "yes! your show's up! you did it!" 

but i felt i couldn't rightfully take credit that I did it. yes, everything depended on me doing it, but so many people got me there. i couldn't have done it alone. 

i hesitate to name names for fear i'll forget to mention people (and i'm sure i will) but i feel like i need to thank those who were with me through the entire project. because all of these people are all very talented in many capacities themselves, i'm including links to their online stuff if applicable.

i know it is a LOT of writing, but it must be done!
besides, there are some fun memories to preserve in these little anecdotes. 

check out some of the reception photos on my (rarely used) flikr! :) 

--

thank you to:

mallory and jeff: for being some of the biggest support even though you're both out of state. you were there when my ideas were just wee baby thoughts and helped me synthesize and develop them into strong and mature concepts. you were also my emotional sounding board and i'm pretty sure both of you heard me break down more than once, yet encouraged me to call again when i needed you. 

josh, for being kind and patient while i likely crowded your space as well as renee for sacrificing your desk so i could have a place to work.

zach: for helping me miter the poplar to make the cradles for the boards, even though it was late and chilly and the machine made silly cuts. and for stopping by to check on my art and for your quiet enthusiasm for it.

al: for helping me finish making the boards and cradles. and for talking in an irish accent while doing so. it went ten times faster with you there and was ten times more enjoyable.

jenny, talisa, danielle, danny, sam, hayden, mel, chelise, jacob, griffin, kim, ammon, jonnie, miranda and so many others: for general excitement for my show, curiosity to understand and expand my concepts and constant support and unending encouragement. 

joseph: for your visits to the studio, and for your continual excitement. you've seen my work progress throughout years and your encouragement has always helped me to continue.

normandie: for being here when i finished. for proving it could be done by completing a stellar show yourself, for eating your lunch next to my desk, for pita chips and peanut butter, for our talks about hard things and art and life and hope. 

steven: for often checking in on me unannounced and breathing over my shoulder to make sure i was working. believe it or not, i'd count on that as a pop quiz to keep me on task.

rebecca: for empathizing and encouraging. i loved creating our shows at the same time. and for the consolation milkshake talk time that night we took them down. 

annie: first for being an example to me when you did your show a couple of years ago, and then believing in me so i could do mine. for being an angel of a friend. 

tawni: with my weak immune system, i can only attribute the fact that i didn't get terribly sick during this project because of your wonderful food. honestly. besides, our little chats were often a highlight of my day.

ellis and adam: for kindly demanding that i make awesome art and expecting nothing less. 

bronson, bryan, jacob, steph, normandie: for helping me get the show up on those walls! that was quite the feat. i honestly couldn't have done it without you guys. especially you, bryan.

devin: for just getting it. 

mariah: for checking up on me, for being excited for my project when i wasn't, for making me eat and reminding me to sleep. for taking care of my entire reception so i wouldn't have to worry about it and when i was sad, to help me to stop being sad and be awesome again. 

and speaking of my reception-- thanks to jess, aaron, amber and vinnie, for volunteering to make things run as smooth as melted chocolate. 

professor harris: for believing in my writing. and for seeing me as a writer when i was too scared to admit it.

robby: for agonizing over the poplar and masonite. for helping me figure it all out. for doing so many odds and ends that made everything go faster or nicer, even when it cost sleep. for making sure i was safe late at night after working. for believing in my victory.  

steph: we started our collegiate artistic journey together and we ended it together. thank you for your encouragement, kindness, enthusiasm, ideas, and open ears. for being stern when i needed a coach and for being understanding when i needed a friend. we were meant to beeee! 

my studio owl girls--hana, chelsea, rebecca and melissa (as well as kelsey and her boy scott!): can i thank you enough?! for all those long (sometimes sleepless) nights in the studio, for learning the party rock anthem dance, for your encouragement and critiques. for wanting to see me succeed.

my bfa advisor chris thornock, for pushing me to go outside of my comfort zone to produce something that really mattered to me. and for your excitement. cuz that stuff is contagious. 

everyone else in the studio. and my professors. especially cynthia hogan and dave mcclellan, for always believing in me as a person, as well as in my work. that has helped me more than either of you will ever know.

jason lanegon and the mates in gallery 303 and friends in the print lab. the first two for being extremely helpful and the last for keeping me laughing and sane.

everyone who came to my reception: yes, everyone. i was overwhelmed with happiness and gratitude and the responses i got made it all worth it. 

my family, who have always believed in my art and never questioned my career path. maybe that was silly on your part, but i'm very grateful it was a battle i never had to fight. 

and YOU. yep, you reading this. thanks for taking the time, and for being interested or curious or bored or whatever brings you to this blog. it means so much. 

--

you guys. my show went up and came down. it was successful. and WE did it. :) 

happy thanksgiving! 

*thanks to joseph for that first picture and stephanie for the reception photos on my flikr*