Build Your Perfect Picnic
Catdroool Club July 2024
Every month I send art to members of my Catdroool Club. You can join for $6/month or $60/year. Each month’s art is truly unique– you’ll never know what you’re gonna get.
This month I’m sending everyone 2 prints:
a two-color, empty “picnic blanket”;
and an assortment of items you might bring to or encounter at a picnic.
When you receive this month’s art, you can cut out the items you’d like and paste them to the blanket- to build your perfect picnic.
Chicago summers are idyllic for many reasons – who doesn’t love jumping in the lake, going to festivals, eating ice cream, biking around, and of course – having picnics? There’s a special joy I’m filled with when I walk through Palmer Square Park any given day of the summer and see hoards of people enjoying summer spread out on picnic blankets with dogs, kids, friends, food.
There aren’t many free things left in this world anymore, and I’d argue bringing a picnic blanket to the park to catch up with friends is one of the best free ways to pass the time.
I can’t wait to see what everyone will make with their picnic prints this month. If you’re a member of Catdroool Club, please share your creation with me!
In other news...
I have 2 pieces on view in a show called Be Of Love: Care in an Age of Discontent opening this Friday, July 12 at Public Works Gallery.
About the show from Public Works Gallery:
One of my pieces is a risograph print of a film photograph I took last year at Montrose Bird Sanctuary in Chicago. As an artist, I like to think I practice a radical act of paying attention, observation, and gratitude for the mundane.
Time to get personal...
If you don’t know, I have a 7 year old cat who was severely abused and has anxiety (probably as a result). For the first 3 years of his life, he was happy, social, and sweet. Over past 3 years, his anxiety escalated unexpectedly on and off through attacks on us and our other cat. It has been 1 year since one of the worst attacks we experienced with him.
My home and day-to-day has changed a lot to accommodate him, his anxiety, our other cat, and our safety. We have worked with 3 behaviorists – including Jackson Galaxy– and tried many medications. We discussed putting him down.
I’m happy to say, 1 year later from one of his worst attacks, he is in a much better place mentally. Hopefully his attacks are behind us, but every day is a lesson in patience, love, and being present with his needs. I never knew I could love another creature so much who has also caused me so much pain. I feel deeply for him and committed to creating an environment and life where he can thrive. If you have a high needs, aggressive, or behaviorally challenging pet, you are not alone and I feel for you.
Thanks for reading. I hope you are enjoying summer, wherever you are.