Q Texture

4/3/26


I started drafting my February monthly thoughts during the last week of that month, but due to traveling and social plans, I kept postponing this blog post. I’d really like to be consistent in maintaining this space, but since mid February I haven’t been home too often. Yes, I sleep and eat here, but for a moment my own space began to feel a little unfamiliar. The process of writing all this out has been a compilation of piecemealing notes I’ve scribbled in a physical notebook, my notes app, voice recordings, and sticky notes.


In this post I’m going to combine my February and March thoughts. The second month of the year was exciting and fast-paced, 28 days actually goes by quickly. Then March started, I went on vacation, and resumed where I left off with immediately going back to work and balancing a handful of social outings. It’s now the end of the month, I feel at ease with having gotten more sleep and spending my most recent weekend by myself. This makes me laugh a little because a few years ago I used to have one super social weekend a month, and the remainder of the month I’d need to recharge. I crave external stimulation much more than before, however I think I was overly enthusiastic with all my plans and I was quite tired around mid-March.


These last two months have been fun + rewarding because I made an effort to step out of my comfort zone and did many things for the first time, or did something for the first time in a long time. I missed novelty, I missed friends, I missed feeling inspired; as a result I’ve been self-indulgent with having fun. Yes I score high on the hedonistic scale!!!!! It’s liberating to live so selfishly, however I’d like to be more conscious of finding a balance in ambition/desire/pleasure. I can expand this, but prefer prodding these thoughts in a real life conversation. Hmmm I think that’s enough self psychological analysis for this post lmfao


Recent life highlights:


I won’t deep dive into everything, but I’m going to gush about my experiences of viewing art in person. For context, since mid-Feb I went to The Wende Museum, Frieze, 4 galleries (two receptions), The Chicago Art Institute, The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, The Orange County Museum of Art, California Scenario Garden, viewed public art (during city walks and in airports), and I assisted in an art installation at work. Bro.. this was all in a month and a half. All the art I’ve seen lately is probably more than what I’ve seen in the last two years. I feel like I’ve gained child-like wonder again. It’s just! So exhilarating to view things in person!


I’ve had a lot of great conversations discussing art with a variety of people, but one of my favorite questions I’ve been asked is what I experience when I look at art. This question has been so fun to dissect and it reminded me of being in art history 101. It’s straightforward and simple, but my answer to this question has evolved throughout the years since my time in undergrad.


One of the greatest joys I receive from experiencing art in person is that I’m quickly applying my critical thinking skills lol this sounds so silly but there is a significant difference from seeing something in person compared to a screen or book. When something is directly in front of me, I’m confronted with scale, presence, and exploring if this object or experience is drawing from anything familiar I’ve witnessed before. The additional layer is taking into account exhibition design and observing how others are interacting with the same art and shared environment. Yeah my brain synapses are firing non stop when I’m in a museum or gallery, I really do get a dopamine rush when I’m in a space that evokes curiosity and inspiration in me.


Favorite artwork, artists, or exhibitions I’ve seen in person:


With all my adventures in the past two months, I have a growing list of topics floating around my mind. I’ll find myself being investigative about ¼ into an idea before something else catches my eye. I wouldn’t consider myself having a short attention span.. I just have many mental bookmarks. Exemplified in me having 100+ tabs open on my phone browser because I’m always looking something up. I will always come back to it, sure, it might take some time to connect all the dots together but I won't forget the idea!


Interests/Objects/Ideas I’ve Been Thinking About:


Wow, I love making lists. A lot of the subjects are related to each other, while others are random. What I have listed is inspired by art (duh), my visit to Chicago, and daily life encounters with coworkers/friends/long car rides. This is the year I fully nerd out btw, I want to become an expert on all the things that inspire me to learn.


Cheers to the first 1/4 of the year passing by! How exciting!!!!