2023: A Retrospective

This has been a weird and often frustrating year, but what can I expect when most of the people around me are pretending that the pandemic is over? Fortunately, despite the pandemic, I was still able to get a lot of things done.

I made some new artwork:

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/05/my-newest-assemblage-make-something-real.html

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/07/a-little-something-i-made-recently.html

I saw some beautiful work by other artists:

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/01/monochrome-multitudes-at-smart-museum.html

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-2023-gold-coast-art-fair.html

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/04/the-2023-expo-chicago-show.html

I also went to a few interior design trade shows:

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/03/the-2023-inspired-home-show.html  

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/06/neocon-2023.html 

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/10/design-chicago-2023.html

I wrote a little about supplies that I was excited to use this year:

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/04/add-to-cart.html 

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/02/of-course-i-had-to-get-this-paint.html

I had a few new business ventures:

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/02/mini-collages-at-tiny-frock-shop.html

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/08/book-signing-at-2023-black-womens-expo.html

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/12/my-first-international-art-show.html 

I shared my thoughts on technology and social media:

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/01/the-hand-of-artist.html 

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/08/its-not-price-its-principle.html

 

As well as my thoughts on the new Barbie movie and some exhibits at the Field museum: 

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/07/my-thoughts-on-barbie-movie.html

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/07/life-and-death-at-field-museum.html

And the pandemic:

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/03/my-3-year-pandemic-anniversary.html

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/10/taking-matters-into-my-own-sanitized.html 

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/10/get-art-not-covid.html

 

I celebrated the 30th anniversary of my YA novel with a new cover design: 

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/06/book-cover-design-part-4-new-edition.html

And the 15th anniversary of this blog:

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/08/my-15-year-blog-anniversary.html

And I designed these rooms:

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/10/my-latest-interior-design-project-jewel.html

And I raised my rates:

https://tiffanygholar.blogspot.com/2023/07/time-to-raise-my-rates.html

And then there are some things I didn't blog about. I did some more interior design projects at home that I plan to blog about in the future.

 

I had a chance to show my work at a high school's art gallery.

 

A few things that ended this year that I enjoyed, namely the Netflix DVD by mail program and Zulily, shuttered by the greed of a private equity firm. Christmas felt different this year as well, and Kelly Latimore's work embodied it:

 

I'm not into new year's resolutions or superstitions. I don't make vision boards. Since 2020, I stopped setting big goals and try to just take things a day at a time. So at this point, with 2023 behind me, all I can say is that I hope 2024 will be a better year than so many of the years that came before it.

My first international art show

My first international art show opens today! Two photos from The Doll Project are being exhibited as part of the Dolling up the lens: Barbie exhibition in the PH21 photography gallery in Budapest, Hungary. Here's more about the show:

The Barbie phenomenon, spanning over six decades, has left an indelible mark on our culture. It has been a source of inspiration, sparking imaginations, while also evoking strong criticism for its potential impact on body image, self-perception, and identity. Unlike traditional dolls, Barbie emerged as an adult figure, presenting a complete spectrum of allure and sexuality, thus embodying a symbol of beauty and desire. Barbie's world-building transcended mere play; it resembled the art of theater production and film direction, akin to the creative process behind staged photography. Barbie, in her own right, can be seen as an early physical avatar, foreshadowing the virtual avatars prevalent in today's digital realm. Even contemporary video games draw upon the imaginative foundations laid by Barbie. In this call, we invite photographers to explore the multifaceted world of Barbie, embracing both its positive and critical dimensions.

The show will be on view from today through January 6th, 2024, so if you or someone you know happens to be in Budapest, stop by before it closes!

My latest interior design project: A jewel-toned kitchen

This year, I've been working on a kitchen renovation. My client wanted to update her kitchen and make it more functional. She doesn't cook often and wanted a modern refrigerator with a smaller footprint, and more versatile seating in her dining nook. I began with space planning.

I wanted to design a kitchen for my client that coordinates with and continues the beautiful color schemes she has in the other rooms of her home. Ordinary, basic stock cabinets just wouldn't do. The greyed-down trend of the industrial farmhouse look had no place here. We had to get something custom, so that's what we did.

What I love about the backsplash tile is its iridescence. Depending on how the light hits it, you see more green, blue, or purple. The brown and bronze tones pick up the colors in the flooring, while the lighter beige tones pick up the cabinet doors and lampshade.

I used handmade bias tape that I purchased from Etsy to embellish a bamboo lampshade from IKEA. 

I also found a handmade table runner from Etsy that complements the rest of the kitchen.

My cousin Steve, who is a very talented carpenter, built the custom tabletop and we used a stainless steel restaurant table base to give everything a sleek, modern look.

As you can see, it goes well with the rest of the kitchen.

The over-range microwave opens up more kitchen counter space.

Now my client has a space where she can entertain and showcase her beautiful art collection.  Here's a before and after comparison:

I'm happy that everything turned out so well. Now that this project is finished, I look forward to starting the next one! Want to be my next client? Click here to find out how we can work together.

Get art, not COVID

This past weekend, I decided to be the change I want to see in this strange fake-normal world we're currently living in. Since about 2021 or so, I've witnessed an unsettling trend: art events that are likely superspreader events. At least one artist I know blames an art show as the source of their coronavirus infection. I became wary of art openings after learning about that. The only one I've attended since the pandemic began was a group show I was in, but between the unmasked crowd and the poor ventilation, (so humid that it made a portion of The Unforeseeable Future come unglued!) I only stayed about 10 minutes. I don't  think I've written about how it's been the past few years to constantly know I'm being left out and left behind because of the art world's cavalier attitude about masking, but it really hurts. My Instagram feed is full of smiling unmasked faces crowded together for photos at somebody’s indoor art show. I don't smile back at them.

In The Unforeseeable Future (the book), I wrote about the pain of paying for a studio I couldn't use. I've now endured almost 2 more years of that pain. Quiet as it's kept, open studios are often rent parties for artists as we hope that some of the people who come through will either make a major purchase or introduce us to someone who will. I've been deprived of that possibility for over three years now, first because the pandemic began and now because of the foolish insistence that's it's over when it's not. While I am grateful for the existence of virtual "Still Coviding" groups online, it hasn't been a sufficient substitute for being able to sell my work in person, the way it’s meant to be seen. Even before the pandemic, I was getting tired of relying on the internet in general and social media in particular, where my hopes of getting my work seen by a new audience are constantly dashed.

A few months ago, I surveyed my email list to find out if anyone would be interested in attending a private open studio in a mask. Only a tiny fraction said yes. It didn't seem worth it. Then I saw the front page of the Chicago Reader, which featured an illustration The Fine Arts Building and an announcement about the 125th anniversary celebration. The thought of missing out caused me literal physical pain. This was my chance, finally, after all these years, to get the foot traffic I've always needed. So I decided that I would open my studio and require masks. 

With the help of a cousin who has experience working as a bouncer, I was able to enforce that rule during my first Second Friday Open Studio since Valentine's Day 2020. Then on Sunday, when the building participated in Open House Chicago, I enforced my policy myself. Offering masks to potential visitors was essential. Selecting stylish masks to distribute enhanced the experience. I also offered printouts of cartoonist Whit Taylor's brilliant COVID explainer comic "Temperature Check" and added some public service announcements that I made from memes and infographics to my usual mix of videos that I play on my TV in the hallway. For an additional layer of protection, I kept both my air conditioner and my air purifier running. 

Despite the horror stories I've seen about anti-maskers getting violent and my own bad experiences with them online, nothing like that happened, much to my relief. I probably could have had 50% more visitors on Friday without my mandate, but since one-way masking isn't enough, that wasn't an option. 

When I was on my own on Sunday, I sat in the hall and informed everyone who approached my door that they were welcome to visit, but I require everyone to wear a mask and there was a nice selection of designs to choose from. There were only 3 violations: a defiant elder with an apparent sense of entitlement, someone who didn't seem to understand English very well, and someone absentmindedly wearing the mask I gave them on their chin. After it was over, I sprayed Lysol in the air and kept my air conditioning and air purifier running overnight since the virus is airborne and can linger in a space for up to 16 hours.

As much as I would have loved to meet a dealer,  gallerist or big spender art collector, even though yet again that didn't happen, I am glad to have had the opportunities the past weekend provided. In addition to selling as much as possible, my goal was to create an oasis of safety within a potential superspreader event and help to raise awareness about COVID. I didn’t want anyone to get sick because they came to my studio. I know I'm just an unpopular artist with unpopular opinions, but I think people should be able to enjoy looking at art without risking getting infected with a weird new bat virus that keeps mutating!

Taking matters into my own (sanitized) hands

 

"Mask or Get Out" sign by Next Chapter Studio

It's been over 3 years since my last open studio and I am tired of missing out. I believe that art patrons should be able to enjoy events without being exposed to an airborne biosafety level 3 pathogen, which is why everyone who enters my studio has to wear a mask. No exceptions. Because I also believe in layered protections, I now have a HEPA air purifier.

I failed to post about this earlier, but now I would like to announce that my studio will be open during Open House Chicago today. Here are all the details:

Sunday, October 15th
12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
The Fine Arts Building
410 South Michigan Avenue
Studio 632F
Chicago, Illinois

Design Chicago 2023

Every time I leave the Merchandise Mart, I feel like I want to redecorate the whole world, and last week was no exception. I had the opportunity to see some gorgeous products while I was there for Design Chicago. I'll start with the fabric, beginning with a line that the Black Artists + Designers Guild created for S. Harris.

Fabric

Custom Rugs

Art

Furniture

 

Lighting

Accessories

Floral Arrangements

I'm looking forward to channeling my newfound inspiration into my next design project!