Noelle is doing this:

I’m in the midst of sorting through my things, purging a majority of it, for the move to Pullman. Moving is such a weird thing. You’re purposely displacing yourself, usually for a good reason, but out of your own free will. You bring the stress on yourself and the best way to combat it is so take your time. I’m making my way slowly through every box, packing each book and trinket with the utmost care. 

But as I’m doing all of this, climbing my way through bubble wrap and newsprint, I find myself already researching another move. I haven’t even bought my plane ticket to Washington and I’m already planning my escape post-graduation. And wouldn’t you know, it’s south again? Except this time, south of the border. 

Welcome friends, let me introduce you to my newest scheme: Oaxaca, Mexico. Google it. It’s simply amazing. Nestled between its’ ocean and mountains happens to not only be a vivacious art community, but most importantly for me, is a stellar printmaking community. For this next summer I will begin looking into travel grants that will take me to Oaxaca to research their art community, economy, and crime rate. I would like to stay there for three months meeting with printshop owners and simultaneously learning Spanish. Depending on how that trip goes, Oaxaca seems like a place I would like to live at least for a little while. The land there with its ruins and beautiful churches seems like a place that could foster incredible stories and creative resources. 

I’m sure Pullman will be lovely, but two years is a long time. 

Yikes!

Too many big changes for an introduction post. In less than four weeks I will be graduating from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in printmaking. I’ve only been in Atlanta for six months (I did the majority of my undergrad in Savannah, GA) and I can’t quite form the words about how bittersweet it is to leave this place, the friends I’ve made here, the professors I adore, the facilities, and everything else. What I can put into words is how genuinely excited I am to make the move to Washington State University to pursue an MFA. Anyone who knows me knows that I’ve been dreaming of moving to the west coast for a long time. While the apartment hunting is still…dragging on…and I’ve got butterflies in my stomach about who to hire for movers, I can’t wait to set up a home there this summer. In fact, this time next month I will be on a plane with two of my dear friends to explore Portland and Seattle before setting off on a train alone to Pullman. 

This summer I’m planning to take some time off, something I haven’t done since I started college four years ago. I want to take the time to make my new apartment feel like a home. I want to read the stacks of books collecting dust on my bookshelves. I want to learn to play the ukulele. I want to work on writing a book. I want to make countless sketches. I want to bike around Pullman. I want to begin researching travel grants for a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico next summer. Did I say this was time off? Does that ever actually happen?

But before any of that can happen, I have to graduate first. This means finishing the three artist books I’m working on, building frames, embroidering on finished prints, and putting the final touches on my senior thesis. We have our senior printmaking exhibition in less than two weeks. Double yikes! There’s so much to prepare for and not enough time to dwell on the remorse for not moving to this beautiful city sooner. 

Next update: The Big Move: Atlanta -> Pullman