GRIEF IS HEALTHY

In exploring this new found sense of vulnerability, I’ve been getting to know myself much more deeply than I ever have before.

One of the emotions that is front mind for me at the moment is grief. I’ve learned it can take many more shapes than maybe we’d typically associate with grief. Grieving the loss of a family member or close friend is common. What about grieving the way life used to be for yourself, a week ago, a month ago? A home you used have. A car you sold. Yes, you can grieve about the loss of attachment to a state of mind. Of a comfort.

I’ve been coming to terms with several unique layers of grief that I’m managing, but this is one in particular I’d like to share about.

A month ago I shared a video where I mentioned the end of a long term relationship. My ex partner asked to keep my dog.

While we haven’t had the final conversation yet, I’ve made peace with the reality that Vino mattered as much to her as he did to me. He’s a ray of light that provided each of us a path of compassion without judgement in our darkest times, and that he can be of better service to her now, like he was for me a year ago.

Where have I been the past year?

In a constant state of growth.

This is the most vulnerable story I’ve ever shared.

2022 was the hardest year of my life.

It taught me a lot about vulnerability, authenticity, and to take accountability for my life and my destiny. You only get a sliver of time here, why spend it in pain if you have the choice?

2023 will be the most exciting year of my life.

I’ll be embracing my intuition, love, and health, while opening myself to the gifts the world has to offer, exploring my creative genius, and working to build a storytelling platform that helps others to develop empathy and compassion.

In this video, you’ll get a small glimpse into my journey over the past year, and maybe learn a thing or two about yourself.

Thanks for being you. Drop me a line sometime.

andrew@storytospectacle.com

IG: @and_rew_and_you

Portland, Oregon is an intricate weave of high-up highways, beautiful bridges, pedestrian pathways, bike trails, and train tracks. I spent some time wandering the gamut with a camera or two and warped some of the unique geometry into a mind-melting perspective piece that underscores our city.

One rife with hidden curves waiting for your exploration.

In collaboration with Tim Marl, a local dance choreographer and owner of Rogue Society dance Company, we set out to create the first embodiment of the Rogue Characters.

Before we even met, Tim had developed a wardrobe mood board and conveyed this to his entire dance company.

From there we established that the resulting artwork would be abstract, as his upcoming show is not grounded in any location. We settled on a solid white background to create high contrast with the mid tones, and blacks of the skin and wardrobe.

The resulting Artwork did not disappoint. It’s amazing what you can do with some cheap lights, an old wrinkly drop cloth, some great costuming, and an incredible camera.

These represent my 3rd and 4th installments with the Generate Art Collective. September’s theme was ‘Square”….

The frame is exactly 4 feet x 4 feet, 

made of 4 48 inch long pieces of pine, 

held together by 8 stainless steel screws,

sunk in 8 angled pocket holes,

containing 4 rows x 4 columns of images, 

each 8 inches x 8 inches, 

there are 64 binder clips, 

16 foam core board,

each 8 inches by 8 inches, 

16 stainless steel eye hooks, 

16 aluminum ferrules,

8 identical lengths of stainless steel tension cable

A candid look at the unique beauty of our city underscores the fact that Portland is anything but Square