Posts filed under art
Darleen's 32nd Birthday
I painted this dragonfly on my Buick on October 3rd, 2019 as a tribute to my friend Darleen that passed away on Oct 3, 2008. Today, Nov 22, 2019, would have been her 32nd birthday.
I only have a few rituals on this day. One of them is to text or call her mom. Her mother imagines what her life would be… would she be married? Have kids? Have a career? Live near Chicago or over seas?
Since her passing I have formed many of my closest friendships, graduated film school, met Rebekah, got married, moved across the country and then back again, have made things, wasted days, and lived glorious ones too.
I miss her. Darleen was a force of laughter, lewd jokes and beauty. She was loud and funny and crass. All we can do in life is walk the path that unfolds before us. When she got cancer and had to walk that path, she did it with strength and anger and vitality. I wish more of the good friends I made in 2009 and onward could know her.
Losing a friend when I was 19 changed my approach to life. I opened up to experience. I’ve done things I would have never done. For example, I was micro-dosing on mushrooms in the image above (taken by Jordan Bellamy). I’ve said yes to new ideas about spirituality. I’ve said yes to new experiences I would have been more critical of when I was younger. I’ve been a mix of curious and grateful when I’m in nuanced situations.
In these situations I often think, “I’ve already lived x amount of years more than Darleen... my life is already a gift beyond what many get.”
My generation is a bit obsessed with sharing our experiences on social media and always trying to find value outside of ourselves. I’ve been guilty of that myself, assuredly. Now our work is to be in everyday experiences and highlight and elevate them from the inside out, I think. And this too, this basic appreciation, I began to learn by having a friend die when she was 20.
Today I walked on a bed of fallen leaves outside my front door and let gratitude be my focus as I heard the leaves crunch under my steps. What a truly wild and humbling experience.
I can’t give you a report on all that I’ve gained by expanding my experiences, but I do believe I’m closer to love and “The Source” (or God or Jesus or w/e words you use) than ever before in my life. Obviously, Rebekah and my friends would be the ones to to validate that statement, but it’s how I feel.
I hope you say yes to some new experiences. Even if they are the big ones (that motorcycle trip with your sibling or trip to Africa with your Dad or riding in Beyoncé’s limo or _____ ____ ___ ______). But more so, I hope you are present to the experiences available to you every day.
Much love. Thanks for reading. Your attention is a gift.
-Orion.
"Wine in the Cellar" by Rebekah Pahl
Rebekah's single "Wine in the Cellar" is streaming on Music and available in the iTunes store!
The full EP will be out November 4th, until then, enjoy this tune!
Photo by Collin Fatke
Vote our Planet
"Sincerely, Mr. Buffalo #2" • Part of a Creative Action Network / Patagonia campaign
Vote everyday in your home, in your relationships, your neighborhood-city-state and country. Think of the water your great grandchildren will drink. Vote/choose on behalf of them: not corporate-greed and economic-ease.
Meet your neighbors. Talk to strangers. Spend time with people outside of your economic/age bracket. Entertain an idea that differs from the little-itty-bitty part of the universe you've grown-up-in and experienced. Embrace complexity. Find principles to live by. Be humble. Listen. If you're privileged and not lobbying/advocating for the underdog; rethink everything.
The Creative Action Network is community sourced activism-art. If you are an artist and/or an activist or someone who empowers artists/movements, you'll enjoy the site.
They get artists to contribute work for causes that need to be amplified. Creative Action Network gives 40% of the sales to the artists, keeps some for overhead and producing the poster/t-shirt/etc, and then donates the majority to the cause. I'm a fan. You should be too.
Wolf Pack
I made this design in collaboration with Earthjustice and The Creative Action Network to help reimagine our collective view of wolves. Earth justice has been fighting for decades to defend grey wolves (along with many other animals, places, and people).
You can buy the design as a print, t-shirt, or tank top
Find the Gold
This is a poster I made for the Creative Action Network (CAN) campaign: Transcend. CAN calls upon a global community of artists and designers to use their collective talents for good.
You can support the movements and artists by sharing campaigns (word-of-mouth/email/social media), buying art, and contributing your own artwork!
Click on the image (or this hyper-linked text) to see the description of this poster and to buy it for display in your home/classroom/office/etc.
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