Greetings, friends. I hope you've been making it through the gloom. I hate to admit it, but March is one of my least favorite months. I'm trying to shift my mindset, but it's difficult. The vernal equinox is like the promise of spring, but it never feels like it arrives then and there. Maybe I'll work on preparing for the seasonal shift rather than expecting it, yeah?

Anyway, I heard the word qualia on a podcast this month. I think it's one of my new favorite words.

My husband brought home another book from John K. King recently. A Stuart Davis book, to be exact. Obviously, we both fell in love with his work, especially the later pieces. It's so interesting to see how he is likely an influence in some modern art & design I admire. One of my favorite local artists, Jesse Kassel, seems to have some commonalities in his work. It's cool to discover your influence's influence's.

A friend of mine put together a short film highlighting some Black climbers in the Detroit climbing community. It features a few of my favorite people. It's called Project vBLACK and you should give it a watch.

Danny Brown and JPEGMAFIA just dropped Scaring the Hoes this month. I mean, holy shit. I am floored by this album.

I came across the poem, Hokusai Says. It's simple and beautiful and really touching. Today, I'll leave you with an excerpt of my favorite part:

He says it doesn’t matter if you draw,
or write books. It doesn’t matter
if you saw wood, or catch fish.
It doesn’t matter if you sit at home
and stare at the ants on your veranda
or the shadows of the trees
and grasses in your garden.
It matters that you care.

It matters that you feel.

It matters that you notice.

It matters that life lives through you.

Contentment is life living through you.
Joy is life living through you.
Satisfaction and strength
is life living through you.

Peace is life living through you.