Hello!
How are you, dear reader?
It’s been a minute since I’ve posted here on Substack. Today, I’m sharing a video post originally created for my Patreon audience. I appreciate those of you who are following me here. I’m delighted to share this piece and a bit about what I’m up to this summer.
If you’d like to stay connected with my work — the best way to do so is to subscribe to my Patreon page or my YouTube channel. Membership is free on both platforms — paid members on Patreon receive art deliveries in the mail every 3 months. You can also find me on other socials @feelingndealing
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:
Hello and welcome,
I’m so glad that you’re here. I’d like to thank those of you who have submitted questions and responses. I’ll have a lot to share in the coming months. Today, I’d like to introduce myself further and talk a little bit about art.
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Introductions:
My name is Elena Solano. I live in the center of the state of Texas in the United States with my partner and three dogs. I was formally trained as a social worker and psychotherapist. I’m a LatinX, queer, visual artist, writer, avid doodler/journaler, psychotherapist, consultant and student of trans-disciplinarity & neurodiversity. I use she/her pronouns.
I was born in central Texas in 1983. Before arriving and settling on this land, my ancestors lived in Mexico (the Zacatecas & Aguas Calientes regions), Poland & other Western European countries before settling in North America. The paradoxical nature of my inheritances – minoritizations, oppressions and dominances; materials, skills and deficits – are embedded in my artistic practices.
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On art and the artistic process:
If you’re watching the video that accompanies this post, you’ll see a collection of my own artistic processes that I’ve filmed over time. They are edited together in no particular order.
I once saw a post on social media that said something to the effect of: ‘posting an art video without showing the finished product is a form of torture’.
This sentiment has stayed with me, as I often share artistic practices with no clear or clean ending or beginning. I recognize that those of us embedded within cultures of modernity have become accustomed to clarity, order and completion when engaging with art. My art practices will not provide this type of satisfaction with regularity. I find joy in the process of making, in learning, and in using my hands to interact with the mess and excess of aliveness.
Curiosity is my orientation of choice. I enjoy reading* and listening. I’m interested in dreams*, arts-based research*, mythologies, music, poetry, culture, liberation* and archetypal psychologies, tarot*, esotericism, symbolism and more.
I’ve become curious about the ways that psychotherapies, psychologies and healing ideologies — especially those embedded within dominant culture — might shape-shift toward mutual support and community care during times of poly-crises. I've come to understand that certain types of wellness can be achieved at great cost to the collective body, soul and heart-mind. I hope to illuminate modes of being and relating that enliven and deepen our sense of connectedness.
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Defining art by its effect
With gratitude, I’d like to put forth a few collected definitions of art from Ismatu Gwendolyn’s Substack publication, “Threadings.”
“Of course, we have to define terms before we go anywhere. What is art? While I personally think art is defined best by its effect rather than its mere existence, I submit collected definitions across a few dictionaries to find more tangible ideas.
art (noun):
The conscious use of the imagination in the production of objects intended to be contemplated or appreciated as beautiful, as in the arrangement of forms, sounds, or words.
Skill that is attained by study, practice, or observation.
Human effort to imitate, supplement, alter, or counteract the work of nature.
A re-creation of reality according to the artist's metaphysical value judgments.”
I too believe that art is best defined by its effect.
I share these definitions as a starting place for dialogue about art and the artistic effort. I welcome you to share your experience of the art/work that I offer, dear reader.
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Coming soon:
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The Millennial Lunarium with Gogo Khayela - released at the full moon
Gogo is a sangoma from South Africa. She is trained in Psychology and indigenous African healing. It has been my pleasure to record and participate in conversation with Gogo during the past two moon cycles.
Gogo and I are friends, colleagues and fellow nerds who live over 14,000 kilometers//9,000 miles apart. The Millennial Lunarium is an imaginative conversation space where we discuss the moon, lunacy, rhythms, cycles, change, art, psychology, indigenous healing and relationality. There conversations are edited and musically accompanied by robin herold*. I’m looking forward to sharing these conversations.
Listeners are invited to submit questions to la.luna.is.listening@gmail.com
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Snail mail art deliveries:
For all paid subscribers (on Patreon) – you will have the option of receiving printed art in the mail after 3 months of membership. For those of you who are approaching 3 months of membership, visit this support page for instructions: “Claiming my exclusive Patreon merch”.
Here you’ll find a list of countries where shipping is available.
This process of sharing art by mail is experimental. I look forward to hearing how it is received.
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(Announcements not included in original post)
On July 20, 2024 — I’ll be hosting a gathering for those interested in marking the passage of time and the works of Octavia E. Butler. We will gather around Earthseed verses from “The Parable of the Sower” on Zoom. Message me for more details if you are interested in joining.
On August 3rd, 2024 —
and I will be offering a workshop addressing Confusion. Stay tuned for more details.****
Until next time.
In solidarity and love,
Elena