I received this note today, from a participant at last year’s workshop:
“I remember last year’s love letter workshop…and I am 100% convinced that love letter is what propelled her to keep dating me…That was a really interesting and fun workshop Smudge, and you’re a really great instructor, and you helped me dig out and word my feelings that day.’ -Juliet
Tomorrow night it begins again, and I am ready. #getinhere
It’s that time of year again – time to send out a whole lot of love.
Lefty Smudges Valentine Project 2016, has her teamed up with textile artist, Paulina Szczesny (psletsdye.com) to create a card that is as textured and beautiful, as the love we believe in. This year’s project involves three love letter writing workshops, teaming ‘Smudge’ up with two more amazing artists – Denice Baker and Misha Bower – providing workshop attendees with stories of love to inspire the pen.
By purchasing the card, or attending one of the workshops, you are committing an act of love; You are participating in a crusade of love. Your participation in this project, will directly impact the amount of love mailed through the postal system, expanding across sea and land, landing in the hands of our loved ones, and positively infecting the world. Will you join me?
To purchase a Valentine, visit my Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/265802981/lefty-smudges-valentine-2016-silkscreen?ref=shop_home_feat_1
To register for a workshop, visit the Eventbrite listings:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lefty-smudges-valentine-project-2016-workshop-1-tickets-20959633829
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lefty-smudges-valentineproject-2016-workshop-2-tickets-21078252621
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/lefty-smudges-valentine-project-2016-workshop-3-tickets-21078339882
‘What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.’
#getinhere
The postcards are waiting patiently for their time to shine again, but in the mean time, I have been using these first few days of the new year to focus on The Shoebox and Valentine’s Day (my biggest project of the year)!!
There were 1 or 2 concerning comments on my social media pages of late, with the tone of ‘Nice to know ya. Thanks for the postcards. See ya later Lefty’. So let me be clear – ‘365 Days: A Year in Postcards’ WAS A SINGLE PROJECT OF MINE, AND I HAVE ONLY JUST BEGUN!!
For the next three Saturdays I will be holding space, hereafter known as The Shoebox. The Shoebox is space I am creating where people can come and interact with me as an artist (experience the connection I offer), where they can write letters (find the materials, addresses and the inspiration), and where they can join a growing community of likeminded individuals who choose to use the written word as a tool for social justice, as a considerate means of connecting them to those they love, and who acknowledge the need to keep written communication alive in our world.
The Shoebox will travel around with me this summer, bringing letter-writing and note passing to music festivals, and beautiful towns along the way! I’ll keep you posted on dates and times and towns….
Here is a poster for The Shoebox, for the next three weeks:
And then!!…Starting the first week of February, I will be running my Love Letter workshops again, in conjunction with the Valentine card campaign. The workshops are going to be held at local used bookstores (I have confirmed Tues. Feb. 2, 6-8pm, at Attic Books http://www.atticbooks.ca) – because what better place to write a love letter than to be surrounded by the greatest love letters ever written, and because used bookstores are where I have spent much of my time, and where I have found much inspiration.
This year, the heartfelt Valentine, that you can order and have sent to someone you love, is a collaboration between myself and the wonderfully talented textile artist, Paulina Szczesny (http://www.psletsdye.com). I was with her the other day at her home studio, and while she worked beside me, I started this collage…stay tuned pals – this year’s Valentine is going to be bea-u-ti-ful! #getinhere
I learned a lot this past year, and I do hope you will stick with me as I continue to unfold and grow as an artist. I have lots of ideas (including a podcast!), and opportunities for us to correspond…it’s going to be a good year.
Come to The Shoebox. #getinhere. Write soon.
All my Love, Smudge
Allyson Proulx 