Art Grove's 2023 Wrap-up
By Tom Jakob | 12/1/23
One of the more important aspects of the Art Grove mission is to nurture a sense of community based in honest and moral reflection on the creation and sharing of art. There are far too many publications out there that project an image of success through accolades, puff pieces, and divisive lists that measure the quality of one’s achievements in relation to their age. And in this bizarre media ecosystem we live under, end-of-year wrap-ups often devolve into little more than half-hearted, condescending best wishes coming from those who already seem to have more than enough to go around. We wish to do something different. We wish to have our community remain active in their involvement and benefit. And this is precisely why we have begun a new tradition for Art Grove.
For this issue, and for all future December editions of Art Grove Newsletter, our team will be compiling a listicle of reflections from all or at least many of the featured artists from over the past year’s issues. We achieved this by reaching out to all of our past featured artists from 2023 with some reflective questions, asking them to give us a moment of their time to jot down some thoughts in response. We send a hardy thank you to everybody who participated. A special shout-out is owed to our August artists, all of whom got back to us... not to compare, just saying... that was kinda cool.
Anyway... We hope to not only re-highlight these artists through the newsletter, but also provide something of value to you, the reader. While it might seem a bit early to be doing this, consider that the holidays are upon us and so too are the woes and drama that ensue amidst our traditions with family and friends. We hope that by doing this, perhaps you will have something to think about and provide some comfort, catharsis, or cogitation during the stress of the holidays. We also hope it will continue to encourage lively, thought-provoking conversations about the strengths and weaknesses of working as an artist in the modern world, and in doing so, uplift our entire community with the wisdom of our featured artists. If you find yourself feeling particularly reflective, and are interested in sharing your reflection with us, please send us an email via artgrovenewsletter@gmail.com.
Cara Search | July 2023
For our very first issue, Art Grove Newsletter spoke with Brooklyn-based visual artist Cara Search about her creative process and the methods she came up with to manage projects and ideas.
Cara’s 2023 Reflection:
“This year, I practiced the Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way) concept of bribing the inner artist. It’s exactly what it sounds like: giving your inner artist a treat/bribe before they produce anything rather than saving it as a reward. I would recommend tactile treats like cafe drinks, 10 minutes of dancing, putting on fun makeup, etc, rather than digital content treats for this purpose.”
Carlos’ 2023 Reflection:
“This year the most important thing I learned is that being open to the change happening around you requires an acknowledgement of the finite nature of life. While it is a difficult lesson that requires constant mindfulness, it can also be deeply transformative.”
Evan Kassof | August 2023
The August issue of Art Grove Newsletter saw among our most exploratory stories of the year through composer, producer, and union organizer Evan Kassof. The story discussed art through a lens of labor; how our systems are set up in such a way to force institutional dependence and how Evan’s work seeks to uproot those machinations.
Evan’s 2023 Reflection:
“I spent this summer at an artist residency in Oregon, confronting for the first time in a long time the act of composing alone. This came directly after having helped lead a successful 42-day strike where everything we did was done collectively and where the decisions we made had very real and very serious consequences. Facing a blank sheet of staff paper after that and pretending like this mattered as much as that had felt empty and purposeless. So, I have found in my artistic practice a necessary new direction: if I am going to make work, it has to be collaborative, facilitatory, and oriented toward organizing and action. It is no longer enough as an artist to show the various ways the world is falling apart without offering solutions or at least practices that generate solutions.”
Emma June | August 2023
The August edition of Art Grove Newsletter saw West Virginia-based journalist, novelist, and content creator Emma June discussing her process of writing a novel through both the motivations and distractions of her day job as a newspaper editor and content creator.
Emma June’s 2023 Reflection:
“This year, I learned that pausing and redirecting is not a "failure." Art needs space to breathe, and if that means that I have to get back to basics for a project, start over or completely change direction, then that's what I need to do. It's not a linear journey by any means – there are ebbs, flows, tidal waves, droughts and thunderstorms, and that is NORMAL and perfectly OK.”
Anjali Shinde | September 2023
In September, we published a very candid story about NYC-based flutist and interdisciplinary artist Anjali Shinde’s decision to leave academia to pursue her own projects, and her subsequent breakthrough with radiating rather than directing a shared enjoyment of art with others.
Anjali’s 2023 Reflection:
“Lately, I’ve been ruminating on group dynamics as it relates to shared responsibility. Personally, It’s been very important to keep in mind the fact that I can only be in control of how my own work gets completed. I’ve been spending my time re-centering my intentions and processes to reflect that: focusing on letting go of that which I can’t control, and trusting that letting my work speak for itself is enough.”
JL Marlor | October 2023
Art Grove Newsletter’s de-facto “badass of the year,” if such an award actually existed, should belong to NYC-based composer and punk performer JL Marlor, who spoke with us about critiquing heteronormative systems and the premiere of her new orchestra piece Saltwater Lung.
JL’s 2023 Reflection:
“I think I've been learning that ultimately, money for art IS the cherry on top. If I am going to create, it has to be for me, and I have to value it with the same care and concern that I have with breathing, functioning, eating, sleeping. If I start creating art as a job, I lose the center of why we create and the inherent humanity within it.”
Margaret Taylor Woods | November 2023
For the November edition of Art Grove Newsletter, we spoke with Richmond-based opera singer and teaching artist Margaret Taylor Woods about defining success and how her artistic life changed after the birth of her child nearly a year prior.
Margaret’s 2023 Reflection:
“Recognizing that being a singer is just one facet of who we are, I've come to appreciate the profound impact of experiences beyond the stage on our artistry. Balancing career, family, and personal growth has not only enriched my own journey but has also enhanced the authenticity and depth of my performances. It's a reminder that a well-rounded life outside the spotlight is essential for a truly meaningful artistic practice.”
Betsy Podsiadlo | Creative Director of Art Grove Newsletter
Betsy lives in Richmond, Virginia and is the Creative Director for Art Grove, collaborating with managing editor, Tom Jakob, operating as a scout, content curator, and contributing writer. Her work as a composer features the combination of medieval religious tonality, traditional Appalachian style and surprising whimsical electronics ranging from choral suites to solo trumpet with fixed media.
Betsy’s 2023 Reflection:
“I began this year with anger and frustration, pushing against the walls that had defined my creative and performing practice up until then. As the months went by, I finished grad school, moved to Richmond VA, began my new work of producing, and started Art Grove Newsletter with my partner. These experiences have allowed me to expand my perspective of myself, my art and what’s possible for me as a whole artist. I hope the next year continues to bring expansion and the continued excitement to engage with new skills.”
Tom Jakob | Managing Editor of Art Grove Newsletter
Tom lives in Richmond, Virginia and is the managing editor for Art Grove, collaborating with creative director Betsy Podsiadlo to help produce, write, and copy-edit every issue. His writing has been published in Art Grove Newsletter, Richmond Magazine, WTVR-CBS6, Homeroom Virginia, and After the Storm Magazine.
Tom’s 2023 Reflection:
“I remember believing that 2022 was a year of immense growth for many people. This year, I believe each of our evolutions was tested with a personalized form of proportional rigor, and perhaps sometimes we either succeeded or failed to meet each of our own newfound standards. So I look back on this year with fondness for the courage that I and so many others were forced to execute in those trials, regardless of whether they resulted in failures or successes. Because as each year passes, I grow fonder of the idea that the closest thing to perfection is earnest attempts at growth and empathy for those trying to do the same.”