Adaptability IS Thriving. As I am attempting to transition to working in my studio full-time again, I have found some alternative possibilities. Last month I set up my creative space with New Accommodations made possible, in part, by my subscribing patrons. This addition creates a workspace that allows me to do detailed work with minimal stress on 2023-2024 injuries that are still healing.
Of course, I've been distracted by the crime spree in the Capitol and much of my energy has been spent attempting to navigate and respond to the news that goes with all of that. The reactive urge to gather and organize and DO something is tempered daily by limited physical ability here. Feeling stuck and useless has been incredibly aggravating. In my frustration to find ANYTHING I can possibly contribute, I've been gathering a growing a list of resources to support resilience during these unlawful times.
As the inhumanity of this administration began to become clear, I discovered Leaving MAGA. Leaving MAGA was founded in 2024 to be a community and safe space for those who have left the movement, or have doubts and remorse about staying in MAGA but are afraid to leave. For those trying to understand how people we believed to be good could end up there and for those who are trying to leave, this is a window into how that works. For wellness sake and the sake of our Nation, may we all let go of that which no longer serves and make space for healthy communication that restores unity here.
Gathering Great Things
Doing my little bit in my small corner of the world, I've been sharing what I find that might inform and support any movement to defend Democracy. These bits and pieces include tools for resilience, protecting our privacy (or at least minimizing access to it), defunding authoritarianism, calls to action for Resistance, protecting our finances, being prepared, finding unity in the creation of mutual aid which decentralizes resources and the power over them, the development of sustainable self-sufficiency, and connections to independent media and how to support that.
This FREE list of resources continues to grow on my page at patreon here.
Joining the Shutdown315 Movement, I left all-meta media. In addition to creating for wellness and sharing on Patreon, subscribing patrons are making it possible for me to replace the muck-at-meta with more enriching connections and insights to write about on my pages at Substack.
My mind is so full of the happenings and the words about them that I haven't been able to tap into much as far as creating visual art. I have a plan to try to work through that by doing some replays of workshops I signed up for:
Thankful to be discovering some refreshing content and creators on Substack.
Shared this one with patrons in case you are also feeling at a loss or overwhelmed about what to do or how to be...or not to be. Sharing the headings/goals here, but you can Click through to read the full post. It's good. Better than anything I could come up with on my own in this moment.
"Feeling Helpless? Here’s How to Fight Back"
What We Do with All This Fear and Anger
Lady Libertie Feb 22, 2025
Here’s what we can do:
1. Resist Despair Like Your Life Depends on It—Because It Does
2. Forget About Converting the Hardcore Fascists
3. Stay Loud, Stay Public, Stay Together
4. Use Your Energy Strategically
5. Know That Resistance Takes Many Forms
6. Prepare, but Don’t Let Fear Rule You
7. Be Unruly, Be Bold, Be Ready
"So pick one thing today. Just one.
And start.
Stay loud. Stay bold. Stay American."
...............................
A few other words because... Artists Gotta Eat...
It's free to follow on patreon. There are already hundreds of Things to access in the free feed.
Subscribing patrons receive the the most art and the most-current Things from the studio first. Select a membership tier. Increase. Decrease. Cancel anytime.
Now that I have left the meta-verse, Patrons make it possible to provide free content here on this studio blog, at the Belfast Organization For Artists, on Substack, and at artforarachnoiditis.org, my website to empower fellow arachnoiditis survivors through creative wellness.
An arts advocate for life; my studio business and creative works are shared in alignment with the concept of accessible and affordable art. When you subscribe: in exchange for the benefits of your subscription level you are providing funding to allow this work to continue to thrive in the world. Thank You!
Patreon Subscriptions are not tax deductible.
Go here to make a tax-deductible contribution via Sheila's fiscal sponsor.
You can also find my Designs on Things for sale in Artist Shops at Threadless.
These sales support equitable access to creative things
in Allegany County, NY., help to fund the Belfast Organization for Artists, The Art For Arachnoiditis Project, and work to provide equitable access to local creative things in Allegany County, NY and elsewhere.
For your convenience, by request, patrons who'd prefer not to participate in any of the above platforms are now able to help fund this work via a direct payment on my website here.
