Reverend Shereene Manimala | Upside Down Smilie

Cassette road-trip singalong with my parents, brother @lukemanimala and husband @djillestdoitall on backgrounds. So excitedddd!

i am an artist show - SOLD OUT I went into my first art show thinking that it didn’t matter if anything sold. This was about me ripping off the bandaid and sharing something from my heart. I’ve always been a creative kid but calling myself an artist has just been weird. I was in a funk when I picked up the pieces. I only sold two pieces and I felt bad about myself. And then slowly I get the messages “do you still have ____?” It’s really a wild feeling. One day you’re proud, the next day you’re not sure if anyone will like my work and then the next day I’m inspired. Thank you all for helping me make this happen and all of you that said “yes, you are an artist” SO ARE YOU 🙃

I’m finally ready 🙃 Before I get into the thank you’s and what this day meant to me, I have to share the beautiful work @byneel_patel put together three months ago that I’m just sharing now. @djillestdoitall told me that I’d know when I’m ready without pressuring me to think about a specific timeline. He hasn’t brought it up once but I’ve thought about it. Why can’t I just get my shit together?! I don’t even know how many times I’ve been “depressed” since this day. I could probably look at the printouts of the months with my smilie faces to track my moods daily. I could probably ask my therapist and psych provider their assessment on how they would describe what these past three months looked like. To me it was a lot of ups and downs. But what’s most important are the moments, seasons, days, even weeks when I felt grounded. When I felt like I could trust myself. I 1000% trusted God. Not that I didn’t trust God during the highs and lows but I definitely forgot to pray sometimes during the ups and I prayed even more during the sadness. Mental health is weird. The idea of “good” and “bad” is weird. Stability is always what we are working towards. I’ve had to cancel events. Back out of projects I was excited about. I’ve brought out my art supplies. I’ve put them all away. I’ve trusted myself. I’ve doubted myself. And I’ve created a lot of art. I shared on my story recently that this past weekend with sanu and @dannykulasik lit me up in a way I felt disconnected from. It didnt feel like that intoxicating high that I’ve gotten so used to the past five years. The high I’ve been chasing. The addiction to the hype girl. The addiction to the feeling of producing art, creating space and connecting with people I’m inspired by. It’s complicated and yet so simple. If you resonate, please keep going. Every time I get really low, I think about my three family members that lost their lives way too early. They should be here right now and so I will take my meds, focus on what I have on my plate, go to therapy, schedule my psych appts and finally go see a long Covid neurologist. I don’t know if you’re ever fully ready. But you’re def worth it.

We’ve been building behind the scenes and excited to start sharing with you all #worldwaves #chicagoart #chicagoartists #chicagoartscene #chicagomusic

DM us for the address! #worldwaves #chicagocommunity #chicagoartcommunity #chicagocreativecommunity #chicagolandcommunity

F SMALL TALK WITH @its_ae_lee @kuyachristopher @kennymossmusic Thankful for our mentor @janelee.music for bringing us together. We talked about being weird, the need for community and our biggest visions! #indiebabies #indieartists #indieartistmusic #indieartistspotlight #ɪɴᴅɪᴇᴀʀᴛɪsᴛ

Inspired by my homie @kennymossmusic who so vulnerably has been sharing and educating. I want to use these diagnoses to help people. It doesn’t define me and it doesn’t define you. We are so much more than our mental health challenges. #mentalhealthart #mentalhealthartist #wellnessart #bipolardepression #bipolarart

Put your feet in grass

Save the date! More info to come September 6th - Sunday of Labor Day Weekend Shoutout to our partners at @worldwaves.live ➡️ @starlingbyduo @drinkmondaycoffee Part 4 I’ll show you the venue and talk more about selecting a venue that’s right for you #chicagoevents #southasianevent #chicagoartist #chicagoart #worldwaves

1. We have to show up for our art and every single role is so important. Every single person interviewed and in the credits was needed to make this beautiful piece of work. Showing up for your art goes beyond your own life fulfillment, but allows for others to dream. 2. Representing a culture is a lot of pressure but an honor. Not only was @wizkidayo representing Nigeria, he was making the entire continent of Africa proud. As malayalee-American kids figuring it out as we go, we can be proud of people like @hanumankind and @mary.ann.alexander proudly representing kerala, India, and be reminded to keep going. 3. It can be done as a family. @jada_p__ is his partner and manager, similar to @djillestdoitall and I. We are building a family business with people we care about, an ecosystem to get the homies paid. 4. Music is revolutionary and we have a responsibility to bring people together, support each other and tell our stories how we want people to hear it. 5. We need to go to London! I know @worldwaves.live will feel so at home there surrounded by the beautiful diversity. @renesword we gotta make that happen this year #worldwaves #blackandbrown #blackandbrownunity #chicagoart #chicagomusic

👑🫂✨🌈

Grateful for the community we are building. One deep convo, hang at the house, we break bread, massage chair and just be present. You all are welcome. Monday is Open House. Take a lil trip out to the west burbs and experience it for yourself. We give great hugs 🫂 dm us for the address. #chicagoart #worldwaves #chicagoartist #chicagoartists #chicagoartistscoalition