2019 in Review

Whew! What a year. 2019 was a nonstop whirlwind of activity. I feel like I sprinted through most of the year and I’m still out of breath. Breathlessness aside, 2019 was full of amazing opportunities that allowed me to learn, grow, and experience new things. 

2019 was a very school-focused year. I got to take a bunch of classes I had been wanting to take for quite some time and I finally got to teach my own class. On top of that, I attended five different conferences, curated four art shows, judged my first art show, exhibited work in various shows and competitions, and so much more.

My Top Three Highlights of the Year:

Our First Year in our New Home

The new house has been the biggest change in my life. Karl and I have been here a little over a year now and we love it. We have a lot to be thankful for with the new house, but I am most thankful to finally live somewhere I feel safe and to no longer be living in a constant construction zone. It’s also been great to finally have space to both work and entertain. I spend most of my time in the office but I really enjoy working in the rec room and relaxing in the sunroom during the summer months.

Studying Abroad in Korea

JSU has an amazing partnership with Kookmin University in Seoul, South Korea so I was able to spend three weeks in Korea enrolled in Kookmin’s Language and Culture program for only a few hundred dollars plus airfare, food, and transportation expenses. Bethany, a fellow MFA student went with me and we had a wonderful time exploring South Korea, making new friends, and learning how to read and write Hangul (Korean). We traveled all over Seoul and went on a weekend trip to Busan. It was definitely the highlight of the year.

My First Year Teaching

I wanted to gain teaching experience while in grad school. I had previously assisted with two other classes but 2019 was the year I finally got to teach on my own. I taught Digital Literacy to around a dozen students in both the spring and fall semesters. It was challenging at times but super insightful and rewarding. I’m stepping away from teaching this year in order to focus on my thesis project and completing my MFA degree. I’m thankful for the confidence and insight this teaching experience provided me and look forward to teaching again in the future.

2019 Month by Month Highlights

January

• Ringing in the New Year in Atlanta, GA with Karl and Lindsey  
• Teaching my first solo class: Digital Literacy for Artists and Designers
• Spring classes: Alternative Processes in Photography, Ceramics II, Pedagogy
  • Alt. Process was a class I wanted to take while in undergrad but wasn’t able to fit in. I’m thankful graduate school gave me the opportunity to finally take it. I love the work and the processes I worked with in that class.
  • Ceramics was something fun and different I’m glad I was able to fit in my schedule. It was really rewarding to work with 3-dimensional forms and to create utilitarian objects. 
• Visiting friends in Spanish Fort, AL
• Joining the JSU League of Legends team. 
  • I left the team in November to focus on other things but had a great time practicing and doing tournaments as part of a team for most of the year.

February

• Alabama Clay Conference (hosted at JSU)

March

• SPE National Conference in Cleveland, Ohio
  • First time in Cleveland
  • I helped manage several fundraisers that assisted me, Abigail, and Madison in attending the conference.
  • Received great feedback on me #metoo photography series
• My first Escape Room
• Curated my first gallery show: From the Ashes — a sexual assault awareness show featuring work by multiple artists
• Half-Dragon – annual friend gathering in Atlanta, GA
• Girls trip to Nashville with my friend AnnaMaria
  • Kelly Clarkson concert
  • Stayed in a swanky art deco hotel
  • Visited my first speak-easy
  • And had a great time exploring Nashville with my Bestie

April

• FoVA (Friends of Visual Arts) Gala
  • Had a great time bidding on way too many things at this fundraiser benefiting the Art Department
  • It was hosted at the Anniston Country Club and it was super fun seeing everyone in formal attire having a good time.
• Field trip to Rural Studio
  • My pedagogy class went on a day trip to Auburn University’s Rural Studio, a special project of the architecture program. I had no idea something like this existed in Alabama. It was super cool so Google it if you’re into architecture.
• Co-Judged the Gadsden Museum of Art’s 2019 Youth Art Show
  • This was my first time judging a show. It was a really cool opportunity and a bit more challenging than expected.

May

• Began working for House to House
  • I started a summer job two days after wrapping up final exams. I did a lot of cover design, and page layout for House to House / Heart to Heart and got to work with my extremely talented friend Mary.
• Karl’s two youngest brothers graduated.
  • Ammon graduated from High School
  • Andrew graduated from College
• UCDA conference in Johnsonville, TN
  • I attended this design educators conference with fellow grad student Laura. It was my first UCDA conference. It’s quite small since it was specifically for design educators but was packed full of interesting topics and presentations.
• My beloved Art History professor and long-time mentor Dr. Karen Henricks passed away. 

June

• Art Alumni Show & Reception
  • Hosted the second annual Art Alumni Show and reception with help from the JSU Art Department and Alumni Association. 
• Tawno, our cat of 14 years passed away.
• Summer vacation in Miami, Florida with Karl
  • We enjoyed a lazy week on the beach. Ate some good Cuban food, and finally toured Ocean Boulevard on foot.
  • We visited the small Art Deco museum on the strip and ate at the restaurant where The Birdcage was filmed.

July

• Chosen as a finalist in the Hahnemule Student Photo Competition (top 50 out of 700 entries)
  • Published in fine art printer a German Print magazine
• Hosted our first family gathering in our new home.
• Left for my Study Abroad trip to South Korea

August

• Study Abroad adventures in South Korea
• Fall classes at JSU: Women in Visual Arts, Thesis Research, Production Design

September

• DragonCon – our 11th year!
  • Stacey went with us this year and we had a great time hanging out with her and our DCF friends.
  • Met David Tennant, Ethan Peck, and attended a bunch of great panels and events.

October

• Creative Works Conference in Memphis, TN
• Invited to serve on a Faculty Search Committee
• Dr. Henricks Celebration of Life
• SECAC (conference) with Laura and Stefanie in Chattanooga, TN

November

• League of Legends – finally made it to Gold in ranked play.
• Designed a board game called Escape from Tox City for my art history course.
• Spent Thanksgiving break in Charleston, SC

December

• Hosted several holiday parties
• Adopted Olivia and Chloe, two 14 week old female Turtoise Shell kittens.

I’m proud of all that I accomplished this year and feel blessed that I was able to do so much but I hope to be somewhat less active in 2020. This coming year will be my last year of grad school. I only have a few classes left to take and my thesis project to complete. I’m planning to focus more on improving my health and am hoping to start working on more specific plans for the future now that the end of grad school is in sight.

I hope everyone reading this had a wonderful 2019 full of all the things you love. Happy New Year!

Favorites

• Games
  • League of Legends
  • Apex Legends
• TV — Lots of good shows this year!
  • The Witcher
  • The Mandelorian
  • The Dragon Prince
  • She-Ra and the Princesses of Power (S4)
  • GLOW (S3)
  • Stranger Things (S3)
  • The OA: Part II
  • Umbrella Academy (S1)
  • Anime: Code Geass, Anohana