Visual Journals
A sketchbook gallery show plus thoughts on shopping small
Hello! In this overdue newsletter I tell you about an opportunity to look at my sketchbooks in a new show opening Dec. 13 – which then evolves into a little love letter to Portland and it’s crafty community culture. I dropped in some photo life updates at end. Thank you for being here :o)
I have an uncommon art show coming up at Happy Anyway on SE Belmont where I’ll be showing my sketchbooks from over the years. It’s called Sketchbook Experiments: The work of Allie Yacina.
Sketchbook Experiments: The work of Allie Yacina | Opening party Friday December 13 from 5-8pm at Happy Anyway 3125 SE Belmont st. | on view through January
Flipping through my stacks of visual journals, I’m reminded that sketchbooks can be a document. I usually remember each page and how I was feeling when I was painting or drawing it. What I was going through at that time. I also get to see cool ideas I had forgotten about that could still influence how I am making work today.
My artistic growth is captured in these pages. I had developed a habit of taking my sketchbooks more seriously than a place to scribble thumbnails, often painting directly on the flimsy paper. For a while I was satisfied to develop my skills in a way that felt low-pressure until eventually I outgrew the paper and started painting on nicer materials. Still, I never stopped keeping a sketchbook.
When Steph from Happy Anyway reached out with this idea for a show in her brick and mortar store I was psyched! I’ve always wanted to treat these sketchbooks as the main event in a mini gallery setting. Plus, Steph has amazing values that I align with: a passion for the handmade and in-person experiences as well as conscious spending. As consumers, where we spend money matters.
She refers to her store as “the cherry on top” as in, it’s not a necessity like a grocery store. And it’s not convenient to leave your house and go there to shop and buy something. In one click you can have Amazon very quickly send you pretty much anything. That is amazing really – think of all the people it took to develop Amazon and how many people it employs to keep it going (over a million people – I just looked it up).
But. I live in a beautiful, creative little city called Portland, with its corner coffee shops and independent bookstores and vintage warehouse thrift malls. I love driving, biking, and walking down streets that make me feel inspired. Culture, community, crafts – all the things I love about Portland. My neighbors investing in their ideas and creating spaces for connection. Well, I can’t partake in these experiences and then go home and spend my money online. These special places need our financial support or else they go away.
This time of year is very noisy and full of distractions – I hope you find some peace. Remember that busy doesn’t mean productive and that darkness can be cozy.
Allie
Promotions:
My work at the Ulna Community show (at the Olympic Mills Building) is coming down next week - if you’d like to buy a piece shoot me an email
Sketchbook Experiments: The work of Allie Yacina | Opening party Friday December 13 from 5-8pm at Happy Anyway 3125 SE Belmont st. | on view through January
The Crafted Prints is having a big sale through Dec. 2 | 20% off prints. Check out my work HERE
Currently Reading:
I’m reading an art book about the making of the Wes Anderson movie The Grand Budapest Hotel
Currently listening to:
Have a wonderful holiday season!!