A year in review
Well, if you could point out a year when nothing goes to plan, 2021 was it! This just proves the importance of being adaptable nowadays when plans are subject to change at the same rate as the weather in Wellington, New Zealand.
I like to review my goals at the end of the year and have an insight into what was achieved, what am I grateful for, and what can be improved. I had made a purpose of making 2021 the year of FUN -you might remember that blog from January. One could have thought that all the ‘unexpected’ events of the year made this difficult to achieve but on the contrary, FUN happened because of these.
We started the year pretending that the pandemic of 2020 was over, and it allowed me, for a few months; to hold Open Studio Days, with the help of very generous creatives that gathered at my space once a month to offer their gifts to the community. These were valuable reunions, where I personally grew from sharing and meeting new people, and I hope those who joined us did too.
By July I was ready to hold a massive party to launch the solo exhibition I have been preparing, but the second wave of COVID-19 forced me to stir away from it, and instead and at the last minute, my exhibition had to be moved to the digital world. I am not a tech person, so this was a huge and stressful challenge to take but I did learn a thing or two about how to host these events online though.
In the meantime, my hand got injured at work and since I couldn’t perform my clinical duties, I was sent home to recover. The idea of not being able to support my family was very frightening, to say the least - what I didn’t understand at the beginning is that I have been given a gift that I have always dreamt of - time! Time to organize my art business, assess my goals, reach out to clue people, etc. And how grateful I am for this opportunity! Thank this period, the projects that are in the pipeline for 2022 are big and I can’t wait to be able to share all of these with you.
This year brought me to be a finalist in The Paddington Art Prize and Bluethumb Art Prize, the release of a colorful new series, and the presence in two new galleries: The Wellington Gallery in Sydney and The Toowoomba Gallery in Queensland. One of my works even got to the cover of The Tawny Frogmouth Magazine and I was included in the Studio Project for the Friends of the Artist Magazine in the United States.
So 2021 has been a winner, a challenge, and a fun-packed rollercoaster!
None of these could have happened without the support of family, friends, the local creative community, local businesses, and you, who are taking the time to read this blog and keep supporting me, every step of the way. I am so grateful to have you in my life!
As we farewell this year, I can’t stop thinking of all of those whose lives have been permanently affected by the changes and challenges it brought. I do wish that 2022 brings a magic door that leads you into a brighter future. Nothing is permanent.
And with these lines, I send you all a big hug from the deepest pocket of my heart.
May you have a wonderful journey through 2022.
XX
“A high tide lifts all ships”