Happy new year yall
even if my newsletter was a day late :)
and even if my keyboard is acting up again :(
2023 was a fun one, ish. more of a life lesson honestly. Theres still things that arent clicking. From building relationships w people, to being chronically online, its rly been an uphill battle. I did a tarot reading when i got back from college, and it said im gonna be a resting stagnant king, and it was kinda right, but i felt restless the whole time. But at the same time, I’ve done so much too.
To contradict my last point, ive met and connected w so many ppl, and i call many of them my friends today. Ive been in shows, galleries, and fairs. crossed 1k on insta, 3.5 on twt. So many reels and tiktoks. i helped raise 15k for Palestinians w the same friends ive met in the past years. I traveled throughout the states. I graduated and left utah for good. set up my website and kinda love it now. i ran this newsletter consistently. Journaled daily. and ended the year with a job (finally :) )
I’ve enjoyed all that, but now im looking at the year ahead. I was expecting to be writing my first letter with some snow outside but instead its like 50 degrees. heres some goals for 2024, and while i won’t hit all ima try to:
solo show - anywhere is good, but i wanna have varied sized pieces. Wall reliefs. sculptures. videos. a guest book lmao. I wanna bring different people from different parts of my life together too, so this would be a fun way to do that
i just fixed my spacebar i fully yanked the hoe out and i found some plastic and a woodshaving under it lmfao. my spacebar is now the most lifted key on my keyboard bc its not going back fully but it works and isnt too noticeable 2024 is for us
go to a gallery show monthly. I want to b rly immersed in the art scene. I always feel so awkward going to shows too. I had one a few weeks ago and couldn’t find the words for any conversation like I fully choked. but ima do it anyways.
public sculpture. like that would be so cool. I already applied for a residency to make a public piece and im hopeful. idk how i get paid for them but if i can get a fabricator i can rly fuck around🤪
4 group shows. the number doesnt rly matter but I wanna make a whole new portfolio of things to apply with and rly tap into the world around me. Also i wanna make friends so this would be the move. i think?
studio space. I wanna make larger pieces and use some power tools, and to do that ima need some space. and to do that, ima need some grants 😬 i also wanna hold lil studio tours, functions, and gatherings too like i wanna b a host so bad lmfao
hang out with friends more/make friends. see like the majority of the other points lmao. Ive been lonely as hell last year and I wanna go out and do things. I appreciate what i learned but oh my god i need to be in the club throwing wood shavings at full speed.
be a tourist. I dont wanna live a tomorrow like i did yesterday. To always exploring and seeing things for the first time🥂
read more books. spotify had audiobooks, my bookshelf is stacked. its time to get literate again. imagine a newsletter w rly nice grammar and formatting omg i could never
stand up for myself/dont minimize myself. I want so much for myself, and ill get all the best. but i need to step forward to claim that.
Im sure i can keep building this list, but this is the goal. last year was a building year, and this one is hopefully a connecting year. the next newsletter will be sent from work too which is gonna b a fun time. its been a weird few weeks getting ready for the move, but I wanna cram a few pieces in. we can see as we go, but ill keep yall posted.
alas, happy new year, may this one b filled with celebration and liberation,
Faraz
p.s. thanks for everything this past year. yall have seen the highs and lows, and damn did the pendulum swing. Idk how but i survived. thank you for all the support - calls, texts, comments, likes, and views. thank you.
im tryna throw more pics into my newsletters so its less walls of text but its a learning process. alas, ily