Hey there friend, you wild one, you! How ya doing?
Something about the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Fire Horse has sparked my interest. (No pun intended)
After work, I’ve been reaching for a book from my shelf rather than my phone. I’m mindlessly flipping through pages to see if inspiration jumps out at me. It’s my new way of decompressing.
I reached for a book of horse paintings and drawings.
Throughout my life, I’ve created a small collection of horse tchotchkes, books and jewelry.
I’m not sure where this interest all began. It may have been the sullen country-western-flare in my grandparents’ midcentury modern basement or the opening credits of TriStar films of a galloping horse turning into a Pegasus. However it all started, I think horses are pretty magical creatures.
Little did I know, horse do not like being alone. They thrive on being with other horses.
A sad sight is a horse alone, for horses like to be with other horses. As in life, so it is in art.
-Lorraine Harrison, author of Horse: From Noble Steeds to Beasts of Burden
Through recent conversations with friends and random complaints from strangers about social media, I think most people are tired of riding the scrolling carousel. And like horses, they are looking for others to run with.
The Year of the Horse is the year of speed. It’s about not second-guessing your decisions and focusing on the future, not the past.
Reminds me of the lyrics from this week’s upbeat playlist;
“Don’t Waste Your Time or Time Will Waste You.”
Knights of Cydonia by Muse
Horse Blinders
I recently submitted a video collage piece to a local film festival. We will see if it gets accepted. Here is a screenshot of a film still from my recent piece called Prism Cell.
When I was making this piece, I thought about how our attention is captured in our phones and that our imagination is locked up. I wanted to submerge subjects like flowers under dark layers footage to show the juxtaposition of needing light and escaping the technicolor layers within our phones.
More to come on this.
Wild Heart
As an artist, I’ve had people try to tame or control what I’m creating. Hell, I’ve even had people try to tame how I express myself, fashionably speaking. Comments like “Why are you so dressed up?” “Wear less makeup and jewelry.”
Me? Less?
(the girl laughed in her throat)
Like a wild horse, I ignored these suggestions.
This documentary about the street fashion photographer, Bill Cunningham New York, reminds me of the freedom of self-expression.
For decades, Cunningham captured street style in New York City. It wasn’t about the celebrities or the rich and famous; it was about anyone who freely expressed themselves. People who were influencing looks on the catwalk long before it became a hashtag trend on Instagram.
You see, if you don’t take money, they can’t tell you what to do, kid… Money’s the cheapest thing. Liberty, freedom is the most expensive.
If fashion is not your thing, it’s still a great film if you love stories about artists who were residents in Carnegie Hall.
This artist literally lived in his work and while he is a bit of a lone horse, he united so many clotheshorses through his photography.
All New Episode
When I started my radio show, Electric Radio Club, I wanted to create a community for music fans who were looking for a little bit of relatability amidst music discovery.
This week’s Radio show is an upbeat playlist to help you gallop into exciting new beginnings and not second guessing prompt decisions!
You can listen to it here. It’s free to listen and free of ads!
In my last newsletter,
I promoted a new mini-radio series which I said would debut this month. Due to some technical difficulties (again) and a couple of days out sick, I am behind schedule.
So while you wait for this exciting new monthly feature, here is a list of some other cool horses I’ve been collaborating with.
Like with author and PhD Researcher of American Protest Music and Socio-musicology,(coolest job title ever) Sintija Brence of Grunge Included, invited me to share some of my favorite political songs.
In this collab, I tied in personal stories that led me to some iconic political songs. Like how I discovered punk rock music in my high school history class. Check it out!
Brad Kyle of Front Row & Backstage brings on music friends to play a game of Tune Tag and asked me to play! I had no idea what I was in for but it sure was fun! Check out the story here.
Back in the fall, I created the intro video for my friend’s music YouTube channel, The Dark Stuff for a special series called Rock of Aging about 80s Heavy Metal bands. I loved making this video intro! So much concert memorabilia!
And a lovely shout out from A Good Time with Casey Barber and one of her amazing ukulele sessions which was inspired the quote by RuPaul.
If you need a little motivational pep in your step, this video is for you.
Hey Paid Subscribers: I’m going to start linking playlists and such here. I’m hoping this will be more organized and accessible for you.
If you are interested in becoming a paid subscriber but not through SubStack, don’t worry, I’m currently working on an option through Patreon.
Thanks for your patience as I’ve got so many exciting things in the works and appreciate you all supporting The Radio Room!
Stay inspired!
Joi
Yes to all of this, and a huge shout/thanks for including Working Men’s Club in this week’s show.
Thanks, Joi, for the kind words and linkage to our Tune Tag! I hope your readers enjoy our melodic romp, and find some new songs'n'artists, as well as enjoying the familiar!🎶