2025 in review
“A year from now, you may wish you had started today.” ― Karen Lamb
A few years ago, my supportive therapist recognised that I habitually feel like I'm "behind" or not making the progress I think that I should. I also tend to move on quickly from an accomplishment and miss out on celebrating it. She invited me to make a list at the end of the year of accomplishments I made, a practice I've kept up almost every year since. This year I thought I'd share my list of accomplishments in my art practice with you all. Your support - reading these emails, coming to events, sharing my work with your friends - has helped make all of this possible, and I'm so grateful to have you in my corner!
In 2025, I exhibited work in eight different group shows:
• Photography work in Post/Production exhibit at Willow Street Gallery
• Paintings and collage in shows at Artists & Makers Gallery, Brookside Gardens, the SHE:DC Gallery at La Cosecha, guest artist at Zeke's Uptown Coffee, Waverley Street Gallery, Kentlands Mansion, and at the Takoma Park Community Center.
In 2025, I exhibited my work in my first solo show, The Shape of Becoming, at Willow Street Gallery in June. I created all new pieces for this show between November 2024 and April 2025. Two pieces sold in the summer, and another sold through an art consultant this fall. The process of creating a series to show was challenging and exciting. The process
In 2025, I lead four three-week collage classes, focusing on art-making in community and learning color and composition techniques to deepen creative expression. I restructured the classes I began teaching in 2024 at DC Arts Studios from levels to themes, so all skill levels can begin a class at any point. I also continued monthly Collage Drop-in Night, and enjoyed my collaboration with Sharee at The Green Room in Takoma Park, which is now the hosting venue for all my collage classes.
In 2025, I moved my practice from DC Arts Studios to Crestworth Studios on 14th Street in Petworth - a move which has brought a lot of growth, new connections and opportunities, as well as a deeper sense of the direction for my art practice. Sometimes you need a change of energy to keep moving forward, and a good window. Our open studios and collectors' nights at Crestworth have helped me talk more expansively about my work and demonstrate my commitment to my practice.
In 2025, I began working through the art practice and business course "Being + Business" offered by Latela Curatorial. Through a few dozen modules, Latela's founder Marta Staudinger guides emerging artists through a series of internal explorations and external structure for a more successful practice and art business. I've have already learned a lot, and have about 1/3 of the course left to finish this winter. (Artist friends, let me know if you are interested - they have a referral program.)
In 2025, I was not accepted to several shows and residencies I applied to. But I was accepted for the second time by the DC Commission on Arts & Humanities for an Arts & Humanities Fellowship grant. I've got my fingers crossed that this year's funding isn't lost due to Congress's interference with the District's budget. The grant funds allow me to pay for the cost of my studio space.
In 2025, I've continued my memberships with Women's Caucus for the Arts, Takoma ARTery and joined National Association of Women Artists.
There is so much more to do.
For a few more days I'm going to enjoy the liminal space of the winter holidays, appreciate the slow return of the daylight, and gather my strength. In a week or so I'll be back in the studio expanding on my current series of paintings exploring the resonance and limits of the color white.
Thank you for being a part of this journey with me.
Painting titled “Fog” which is part of my series exploring the resonance of the color white.