Our Newsletter: Issue #52
Hello, and welcome back to another issue of Our Newsletter.
'Back', here, being an operative word!
It has been a while, to say the least, since I last wrote to you. So much time has elapsed that I've had some of you reach out to me just to check in (which is very lovely indeed, and has helped give me a much needed push to write again).
Let me address the elephant in the email.
Why has it been 6 months since my last update?
The short answer is, well, life just kind of got in the way.
The truth is, I haven't really been painting much this year and that makes me feel a little like an impostor considering I introduce myself as a painter, but I try not to pay too much attention to that because despite having taken a break from my favourite medium, I've been working on some other things instead.
Which leads me to the actual updates I wanted to share today:
an exciting collaboration for a print release coming very soon and workshops!
Queer Frequencies Print Release
I may not have been doing much traditional painting this year, but that's not to say I haven't been creating...
Whilst taking a tactical break from my oils I've been developing my digital drawings, which you may remember is something I started learning how to do a few years ago.
Enter the collaboration with Queer Frequencies: an initiative spearheaded by my friend Benny Cooper alongside Maxine Heron.
Queer Frequencies creates sparkling events amplifying the voice and talent of the LGBTQ+ community, and it does so in some of the most renowned venues in central London. The events fundamentally aim to promote solidarity, awareness, inclusion and community, especially at a time of increased adversity toward the LGBTQ+ community in the UK.
For this collaboration I created two drawings (pictured above) that I'm very excited to be sharing with you today!
The drawings reimagine two images from previous Queer Frequencies events in the drawing style that I've been nurturing, and use a pride themed palette to create artworks that I hope highlight the vibrancy of not just the events themselves but the community as a whole.
The collaboration will be officially announced tonight at the next Queer Frequencies event at Soho House's 180 The Strand, with more information on their official launch and availability to buy coming in the very near future.
A percentage of the sale of each of these prints will be going to the charity Not A Phase.
Health & Wellbeing for All Art Workshops
Last September, you may remember, I led my first ever workshop in collaboration with the charity True Ambassadors. This was a uniquely wonderful experience that gave me a taste for something I've been quietly curious about trying out for a while: teaching.
In April, the charity reached out once again: they had secured The People Powered Places Grant to launch their project 'Health & Wellbeing for All' and they wanted me to lead their monthly art workshops, which of course I said yes to!
Focusing on the key pillars of soul, body and mind, the project seeks to, and is in fact, delivering a dynamic catalogue of events and engagements in all aspects of wellbeing. The aim is to foster intergenerational and intercultural community ties through shared experiences in creativity, movement and learning.
So far, I've done a workshop in May and in June, and have a third coming up in early July. They take place in Plaistow Community Centre and the feedback has been nothing short of wonderful.
This is still all very new and each session I learn new things about the people that come and the myriad ways there are to get through to each individual. My goal however remains the same: to create a space where making art is approachable and fun.
I'll update you throughout the year with how this is coming along, but for now I'd just like to express my gratitude to my friend Anastasiia for approaching me with this opportunity, and the charity's CEO Doris Okundaye for trusting me with delivering something so special.
Although I hesitate to promise a consistent increase in the frequency of newsletters to come for the time being, it is certain that you will be hearing from me in much less than 6 months time!
As always, thank you for reading my updates and supporting the work that I'm doing.
Please feel free to let me know how the last few months have been for you by replying to this email.
Wishing you a great weekend ahead!
Lots of love,
Arietta xx