When I was a young museum curator, my supervisor once said, in exasperation, “Why do you have to do everything at the exact same time?!” I didn’t have a real answer, nor did I have any real cognizance of my practice. I have realized I am consistent in what I believe, what I value, and how I act. And I now know that I do everything at the exact same time because I can—that’s how I think, work, and find value. Does my hair sometimes feel like it’s on fire? Yeah. Do I have to be super mindful of self-care? For sure. Do I typically get a lot done? Absolutely. Would I want it to be different? No. Don’t let others shade the view you have of your multidimensional self.
My heart raced when I first saw Lorna Simpson’s work Flames (2019). Is her hair on fire? Is her energy dynamically exploding, filled with excitement, ideas, actions? Do I think she is results-driven? I most definitely do.
