This Wednesday, from 6:30-8pm, join us for a virtual artist talk featuring a few of our year-long residency alumni! We'll be joined by Traé Brooks, Dana Heng, Nyala Honda, and Anne Irving. They’ll provide some insight into their practice, their time as residents at The Steel Yard, and what their practice looks like after The Yard.
We hope to see you there! RSVP today via the link in our bio.
#providence #thesteelyard #ceramics #residencyprogram #metalwork
“Prayer (tribute to Peggy)”. Video installation. 2025
I was raised Roman Catholic
Growing up, I was taught that when you pray, you are speaking with God.
Respectfully, what the fuck does that mean?
How does one simply talk to the creator?
How do I address Him? Or Her? Them? All of the above?
I close my eyes and fold my hands
What do I say? And how do I know they’re listening?
Are you there?
Do you care at all?
Silence
As I’ve grown older; and got my ass kicked by life
Prayer is not “talking to God”
It is not asking for things
It is not chanting
It is not wishful thinking
And it is most certainly not vain repetition of words
Prayer. True prayer; how I’ve come to understand it, is the pouring out of one’s heart into another’s.
It truly is that silence
A gentle breeze
Children playing in the streets
A father cherishing his son
A mother nurturing her children
A kiss from a lover
Laughter from a friend
A promise
Prayer is that sudden impulse to stop what it is that you’re doing to look up at the stars in the night sky
And wonder if there’s anything or anyone out there
But within the depths of your mind you hear a soft and familiar voice
Reminding you that those stars you see aren’t there for no reason
And that you are never alone and you are connected to something far greater than you could ever imagine
Because in that silence, God speaks
Hi. I turn 30 today
And as per usual, another life update. I just finished 2 wonderful, transformative years at The Steel Yard; enjoying my time in Providence, and continuing to nurture my connections old and new. And now… I’m not exactly sure what’s next for me. And that is totally okay!
I feel like the majority of my 20s was spent being utterly restless. Constantly chasing after opportunities, exhibitions, working hard in the studio, navigating interpersonal relationships, going after the next great thing career-wise. And while I still operate this way and I’m learning and growing as an artist; at lot of that unfortunately came with a lot of anxiety, depression, and burnout. Not to mention, the losses, and crushing defeats and failures I had to endure. I would constantly worry about if and when the next opportunity would arrive and fear over being “left behind” and not being worthy.
But I think this time around, I don’t need to obsessively chase anymore. I feel secure enough in who I am and my capabilities that I can attain anything I can set my mind and soul to. And it feels great. Matter fact, I know that my 30s will be marked by unfathomable growth and mastery.
Admittedly, it feels strange, almost wrong, to be excited for a future given the state of the world currently. But regardless, I still have hope. The world has always been a scary and harsh place, but the most valuable thing Ive learned this past decade is that I am far more powerful and resilient than I give myself credit for. That my art and my voice matters. And that any deep Darkness is totally eradicated by even the faintest glimmer of Light.
I will always have hope. Here’s to an amazing 30s!
