2024 - a new year, new goals, and a new role
As we approach the end of the first month of 2024, I realized with such hyperfocus on dates and goals the past two months that I had fallen behind on my updates here. And as my creative and life journey continues, I’m excited to share what is happening now!
I'd like to share something that helps me create, focus, and channel energy towards my annual goals. I don't make resolutions. A more positive and productive thing for how I'm wired to focus on and channel my energy toward keywords, write them down, and hang them on my wall. With the powers of the universe, this focus and energy conspire to make things happen. I do not share the list initially with others to not put undue pressure on myself until they are achieved. This method has worked for me for the past few years for my personal goal setting, and maybe it can help you, too!
That being said, One of my goals for 2024 was to enter a juried show at a museum. I’m so excited to share that the goal was achieved, and I got the amazing news that “Fiona & the Stormy Skies” was selected for the Mixmaster 2024 Juried Members’ Exhibition at Mattatuck Museum! Special thank you to Susan Eley for accepting my photo into the show. This photo is the winningest photo I have ever taken in my life!
Mixmaster 2024 at the Mattatuck Museum
I also became a member of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) and am part of the “Off the Clock Show”, with info here: https://www.asmp.org/ct/event/off-the-clock-a-photography-show-at-the-west-hartford-art-league/
We also celebrated a year together with the phenomenal artists of Gallery 66! Looking forward to great things in 2024 together!
My photo “Wingy Sand” was taken at Wingaersheek Beach last September, one of a large series, and is part of the latest show with the Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts. Wingy as we lovingly call it, is so important to me and my family and closest friends. As I have mentioned before, figuratively I do believe our (Daley) blood is comprised of plasma, red & white blood cells, platelets, and Wingy. Possibly literally. I did a whole photo series of sand formations and patterns which are mesmerizing and inspiring. Please be sure to check out the amazing artistry (copy and paste this link: https://www.ctacademy.org/exhibitions/cafa-members-2024 )
I also entered my photo, “Trick or Treat?” Into the Hygienic Art 45 Salon des Independants exhibition. This show is dedicated in honor of Barkley Hendricks, one of the founders of the exhibition. More info about Barkley Hendricks:
Things aren’t always easy though, mentally or physically. While this creative journey has its peaks, it also has its valleys, trenches, and challenges. It is humbling to get rejected from three shows within a week. And then get sick. I tested positive on January 8th for COVID-19 and stayed positive for over nine days. Three of the days I slept 85% of the day, and was completely exhausted. However I did feel blessed to be fully vaccinated, and the sickness didn’t affect my throat and lungs detrimentally. A week later, Gary also tested positive, so we making sure that our health is a top priority as we fight this horrible virus and get our energy back.
Luckily, I can work remotely for my role as EAA’s gallery director and my new role with the Essex Board of Trade (EBOT) as their administrator, a job I started at the end of last year. Two major events were planned for January, so those details had to be finalized for both the annual dinner and the Essex Ed Groundhog Day Parade.
The Essex Ed Groundhog Day Parade is proudly sponsored by the Essex Board of Trade.
Every year in celebration of Groundhog Day, a community organization selected by the EBOT dresses Essex Ed – a twelve-foot paper mâché version of a groundhog - in a costume that recognizes a person or special occasion. That organization and costume remain top secret until Essex Ed appears for his journey and to his place of honor at the roundabout on the top of Main Street. Essex Ed has become a bit of a “celebrity groundhog” since 1978, attracting Groundhog Day lovers from far and wide, who rejoice by wearing groundhog hats and banging traditional noisemakers - pots, lids, spoons, and trumpets. Our emcee was Damon Scott, with Country 92.5 and the iHeartMedia Hartford team.
”Sunrays Over Riverside” was chosen as a finalist in the Riverside Photo Contest at the Mattatuck Museum! It will hang in the Monteiro Family Community Gallery at the Mattatuck Museum for the duration of the show, Riverside Reflections, opening this Thursday, February 1st from 5 to 6 pm. Meet the judges, and the photographers, and enjoy first access to the original art of Waterbury’s famous cemetery.
Another goal I achieved in January was to become a member of the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, and always nice to be welcomed! Middlesex Chamber of Commerce
That’s all for now, but as always, my creative journey continues and love sharing it!