Good morning, everyone! I hope you’re having a lovely midweek moment in this first week of fall, wherever you are in the world. I know that my subscribers hail from all corners of the earth, something which makes me very happy, though I also know that many of you are here in NYC. Either way, I like to share the happenings of what’s going on in our immediate universe to keep us all connected and close.
This week of course is Climate Week NYC, and though there are a ton of in-person only events, there is also a full roster of livestreams to join from anywhere you are.
We’ll be closing the week on Sunday with our event at ABCV, one of our favorite restaurants, and will be joined by both Sharon Van Etten and Tarun Nayar of Modern Biology, who many of you might remember from the Substack Live he and I did together around Earth Day. Subscribe to his Substack if you haven’t already! And if he is offering a Taste Sound or Mushroom Church in your city, also be sure to check it out. :) Here is his calendar of tour dates. Can’t wait to meet in person and collaborate this weekend!!
Earth Day and World Book Day Celebration 🌱🌱🌱
Thank you everyone so very much for joining our live session yesterday! More than 200 people were there with us, and really felt like such an energetic community gathering - a beautiful way to recognize Earth Day, World Book Day, Earth Month, and Poetry Month all together. <3 I also just learned that it’s National Card and Letting Writing Month, so I’m …
Tomorrow, Thursday, will be a fun day. At 12pm there is the New York Sale auction at Swann Auction Galleries. I’m looking forward to seeing my friend Nicholas Lowry in action as auctioneer and to support friends who have a few pieces in mind. It’s really a beautiful showcase of NYC history, in case you are able to see it.
And then down the street at 6pm will be the opening of the new exhibit at Pen & Brush, Talkin’ Bout a Revolution: Pyaari Azaadi.
“Talkin’ Bout a Revolution is a solo exhibition spotlighting the work of Pyaari Azaadi, formerly known as Jaishri Abichandani. Taking its title from Tracy Chapman’s iconic 1988 song, the exhibition reflects Azaadi’s lifelong commitment to art, activism, and community. Known for her fearless approach to materials and form, Azaadi is an acclaimed painter and sculptor who continually embraces a multidisciplinary practice that challenges dominant narratives and centers feminist and decolonial perspectives.
This retrospective affirms Pen + Brush’s mission to provide mid-career women artists of substance with the platform and recognition they deserve. Azaadi’s work has been described by The New York Times as “resisting the patriarchal world by presenting a feminist vision of abundance. She knows that activism is about more than protest—it’s about making pleasure and joy even, or especially, when those things seem in short supply” (Jillian Steinhauer).”
I look forward to seeing a new exhibit in the space I’ve come to be so familiar with over the summer, continuing the relationship and bond with the gallery, supporting the next artist in their endeavors.
What else is happening?? My friend Riku Matsuzaki will be in town from Kyoto, working an exhibition and teaching indigo dyeing workshops/lectures in Manhattan and Dumbo. I took his workshop in Japan this last May, and had such a beautiful with him. I am so excited to take his workshop once again!
Lecture: 京藍 Kyō-ai: The Revival of a Lost Color and Life
Living Kyō-ai Indigo & Beeswax Resist Dyeing Workshop
We also have The Empire State Rare Book and Print Fair, which takes place in Grand Central Terminal, a majestic backdrop to majestic curation and collections. I’m looking forward very much to visiting my friends’ booths, including Henry Wessells (thank you for the tickets!) of James Cummins Bookseller, and Sunday Steinkirchner of B&B Rare Books.
“The Empire State Rare Book and Print Fair will bring over 30 rare book, print and ephemera exhibitors from across the world to Grand Central Terminal in New York. Visitors can browse books, prints and ephemera on a broad range of topics and areas. Our fairs are social events that cultivate a welcoming experience for all. There will be items at the fair to fit all budgets.”
There are loads of other things happening of course in the city - there is Why Socialism? by Albert Einstein, the new exhibit at our friends’ Kurimanzutto gallery in Chelsea. I will try to visit there maybe on Thursday before or after Pen & Brush.
There is the CBGB festival happening in Brooklyn, gatherings of friends launching new businesses and projects, and we are rehearsing and preparing to leave for the European leg of the Horses 50th Anniversary tour. On a personal note, I am organizing my laundry, trying to stay healthy, scheduling an action plan to tackle the dust/debris/mess in my apartment, maintaining correspondence (poorly), practicing piano, putting together gift bags for Sunday’s event, and starting to wrap my head around what songs we will perform and words to say to our guests. <3 It’s a lot all at once, overwhelming at times, especially because of the looming background thoughts of other projects and skills I want to lean into so much. Those looming thoughts can be loud, catch my breath, flip my stomach, make it difficult at times to focus on the current moment, but everything is happening in the timing it’s meant to and it’s all going to be great. <3
Thank you also to everyone who shared their kind words in remembrance of dear Cairo yesterday on the 2 year anniversary of the day she died. It’s amazing how she is so connected with Substack for me, since my first interaction with the platform was writing a guest post for my mom’s page, an obituary of sorts for our precious girl. Another gift to thank her for, joining onto this platform and meeting you all.
So that is the local week ahead! If you are in NYC, please join! If you know anyone here who would be interested, please share. What is happening this week/weekend for you in your neighborhood and the city/town/place where you live? Anything you’re excited about? Share any links in the comments!
So much going on:) I am looking forward to stopping by the exhibition opening tomorrow (Thursday). I'll be staying at my friend's place over the weekend, so that will be a short but welcome break. More editing on my book - it's surprising how much I have realised I have failed to mention, so catching up on that.
Sending you more hugs for Cairo. Our animal friends are really extensions of our family. I know how distressed I was when I thought I would lose Rico a couple of months ago!
Can’t wait!!!