Lesley Unplugs

 

Lesley Returns to An Analog Life

 

Like many other creatives, I have been challenged this past year to continue to create and share my work without concerns of theft from AI scraping.  The only solution that feels like the right fit for me at the present time is to remove my artwork from the digital sphere entirely and refocus my attention on "real life" interaction.  I hibernated all of my social media accounts, including the content of this blog.  I focused my efforts instead on local opportunities to show and sell my work, and have been pleasantly surprised to have many such opportunities appear.  In the last six months I have had my work on exhibit in four different shows in my community - in galleries, libraries, businesses and organizations.    

At the same time I have become enamoured once again with the old "analog life" we all once enjoyed.  Remember the slow pace of the 90s? Well, I've returned to it. I am writing real letters by hand (complete with old school sealing wax and stamps), reading real books and magazines rather than online ones, watching DVDs instead of relying on the streaming platforms (my next plan is to find an old VHS player) and for the most part shifting the focus of my life to reflect my desire to get back to some of the ways I enjoyed life prior to the internet, and particularly social media.  And it feels wonderful. While I am no Luddite - I am obviously typing this blog post on my computer and will publish it when I'm finished thanks to my wifi connection - I do find that my daily joy comes from creating art, crafting, cooking, listening to music, playing my guitar, writing, walking, dancing, and spending time catching up with friends in person or on the phone, rather than by text or messenger. 

 So, my artwork for now is available for viewing only by request, (email me for details) until I figure out how I can safeguard it from digital theft.  After almost 20 years of sharing on platforms like FB it feels weird to be in a "cone of silence" digitally, but I can tell you wholeheartedly that I do not miss it.  I have never been comfortable with the rah rah rah of self-promotion, and often felt like a hamster on a wheel with the "look at what I'm doing" posts on the various platforms.  It feels good to stop the crazy ride and get off, even if it's just for a while. I CAN happily create without incessantly show-and-telling about it. (The old tree falling in the forest philosophical thought experiment.) 

I am toying with creating an old school (while electronic) newsletter that could update anyone that's interested in finding out what I'm up to. I won't say monthly, because I have a habit of losing interest and pivoting; suffice to say it could be every few months.  Sharing what I'm working on, thinking about and listening to (for those of you who are familiar with my love of music) could be a fun way to stay connected to folks not living in my immediate community.

If you are intrigued, simply cut and paste the email address below and type "join newsletter" in the subject field, and I'll put you on the list. 

lesleyfountainstudio@gmail.com  

Hope you are all well and happy.  I am making myself a cup of tea and putting a mix tape from 1990 in my boombox.  I will forever be grateful to my little brother, who painstakingly created so many very labour intensive mix tapes and gifted them to me regularly back in "the golden age."  

It's the dawning of a new (new, new) era.   

Catch you all on the flip side. (Side B)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUUer2Diqzk

"Love Love Love" - Terry Hall