(What I think happened). Onward.

‘Human relationship moves at the speed of trust. Social change moves at the speed of human relationship.’ – The People’s Supper

Alone, Together moves at the speed of a letter. -Me

I need to address the individuals of Alone, Together.

It has been some time since I wrote any of you. Hindsight has provided me with some insight, and this is what I think happened:

I have a tendency to disrupt and pull the rug out from under me whenever I receive goodness. So many of you came forward to support me, and while I disguised it as adventure, the decision to move my life to the Yukon for school was disruption and running away none the less.

It didn’t work. And I found myself with a heap of broken bits, and a life barely there on my return from Nova Scotia.

I was deeply vulnerable these past four months; so vulnerable, that to expose myself further was not possible. I stopped writing.

I don’t have to apologize for doing what I had to do these last few months, to pieces those broken bits back together into a new life for myself. It has been hard work, and I showed up every single day, to each therapy session, and appointment; I’ve sat with my grief and my fear, and I let myself cry.

I do apologize however, if in any way, I have broken your trust. I’m sorry.

But now let me say that Alone, Together is a full, round thing, and no longer confined to 2019. With the last person having signed up just weeks ago, it is now an ongoing yearly subscription, so that the date you signed up is the date of when your year begins.

I am also closing off the project to new participants for the time being. My intention for ‘Year Two’, is to nurture and deepen the trust and communication I have with each one of you, the current participants. I have a few good ideas, and a stable home from which to carry them out now.

Alone, Together will be sustainable. I will honestly communicate my ability as a human woman and artist. I will ask questions. I will continue to do the work.

Thank you for being here with me. Thank you for your understanding, and continued support. Alone, together, we will get there.

‘I thank the lord there’s people out there like you…I thank the lord for the people I have found.’ – Elton John

Where I have been.

This will be my first blog post in some time, and not the only one I will be doing in the next couple of weeks…we need to catch up!

The last time I wrote I told you about the residency I had been awarded in Nova Scotia, with Great Island Arts. And about my acceptance into art school at Yukon SOVA. Well, I didn’t make it to the Yukon for school (the funding and support I needed didn’t come through, and in the end I don’t think that was the right thing for me at this time – that’s a far away place to go from anyone I know, and anything I know). But I did make it to the residency! (and set about a much needed fundamental shift in my life and art practice). I am including some pictures from my experience below (including captions) so you can see some of what that looked like.

As for what I did during my residency, well, that was all sent to the participants of Alone, together. I wrote to each of them and told them everything. I took two disposable cameras and am making books (with the good ones), to send to each of them. The documentation is inside the envelope.

My next post will update you on what has happened since coming back from out East. What happened after I deferred my acceptance and found myself back in London, without family to call, without a home of my own, and without a clue as to what I would do next – feeling changed… Stay tuned. ❤

This is Great Island. This land is Mi’kmaq territory. The island is covered in Spruce. This is the view of the island from the outboard motor boat we took to visit our neighbours, dozens of Seals just to the south of us.

MHXK5440 — This is me, exploring the shore. (And all that yellow, is all the pollen from the spruce trees).

This is the studio space I was given, and what it looked like when I was working. (Note: wall installation of ‘Alone, together’ correspondence I have received in response to my letters).

WBKJ8157 — This is me, in the moments just after breaking the studio apart, and packing it up. Time to go. (Note: I’m holding all the letter packages ready to be mailed once we get to the mainland).

Back on the mainland, on the south shore of Kjipuktuk (Halifax). Blue and green, in all directions.

YKJN3626 — I made a friend in Halifax, and we met outside this book store to share strawberries before heading to a full moon bonfire at Herring Cove.

Reach out if you can help.

Hello.

My name is Allyson Proulx, aka Lefty Smudges.

I am a self-taught, professional, multimedia artist and writer currently focused on generating experiences of magic and generosity alongside Deshkan Ziibi (Anishnaabemowin) in London, Ontario.

To get the ball rolling, in January, I began a daily correspondence project titled, Alone, together. To make sure the ball had somewhere to roll, this winter I applied to and was recently awarded, a two-week artist residency at Great Island Arts in Nova Scotia (June 22-July 5), and acceptance into the foundation year art program at Yukon School of Visual Arts (starting Sept.5, 2019).

54230487_854219631590927_4964124908666541287_n

During my residency I will be editing and drawing (working on two book ideas), while documenting my experience through ‘Alone, together’. My experience at Yukon SOVA will also be documented through ‘Alone, together’, and will be something entirely new –

Great Island Arts asks non-indigenous artists to critically engage with their presence on the land – unceded Mi’kmaq territory; Yukon SOVA requires students to understand the history, culture, and journey towards self-determination of the Yukon First Nations (Tr’ondek Hwech’in community).

To make it to these places – to actually be able to show up and receive this education, I am in need of some help from magical and generous folk just like you.

If you are willing and able, please join Alone, together, donate to me directly via paypal and e-transfer (leftysmudges@gmail.com), or contact me personally to purchase art work.

I created this Kijiji Ad for one special, magical patron – someone(s) with access to a safe and spacious vehicle for me; a vehicle I can use to drive myself to both of these places. It’s my most generous and magical ask, and also the one with the most potential to provide me with a sense of autonomy during this challenging and adventurous time.

I’ll be writing letters, playing with paper, and checking my email for the rest of the day.

leftysmudges@gmail.com