Hwhup The Deans List? The Jason Dean here, bringing an end to the Weekend like it a joke I heard once. I don’t remember it very well and thinking back, it was funnier in the moment.

Anyways. Let’s get into it.

New Art in my own space

Here’s what I’ve been cooking up in the lab 😎

These three pieces were taken a week ago today at Ode to Ashes, a site-specific performance by Kristine Hunter. The performance was a way to, in Kristine’s words, “honor and mourn the loss of the largest historic ash tree in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula”, a tree that was “a beloved presence—a witness to changing seasons, personal histories, and the quiet passage of time”.

I worked that evening so I missed most of the event, but was able to make it for the end. And what a beautiful end it was! I appreciate the thoughtful ceremony that Kristine created and performed. It was a wonderful, thoughtful celebration of a tree that clearly was significant to her and her family throughout the years. It made me think of the apple tree at my childhood home and how many memories I have playing under it, swinging from it, and being sheltered by it- and all the times my kids were able to do the same. What a blessing!

Ode to Ashes was a powerful testimony to the interconnection that we have with the world around us and highlighted the urgent need for conservation efforts. Thank you again, Kristine, for the incredible performance art and allowing me to photograph it!

Catch me at the Farmer’s Market, how ‘bout dat?

First, a correction. In The Weekender LVI, I mentioned that I would be at the antepenultimate Wednesday night market- not realizing that the Market actually goes through August 26, not August 12. August 12 is my own personal last Wednesday night market date (and in a perhaps cruel twist of fate, the actual antepenultimate market of the season) and I’m going to have some sweet new items available for sale. What might those be? Well, you’ll just have to stop by my booth and say ‘Hwhup’ to find out!

Or pay attention to my Instagram where I will be spoiling the whole thing as soon as humanly possible.

Bayou Art Walk

Less than two weeks until the Art Walk at the Chocolay Bayou Nature Preserve! I’m excited to make my maiden voyage with this event and, yes, there will also be sweet new items available for sale there as well. What might those be? Well, you’ll just (editors note, yes, we are going to literally repeat the exact same bit as the paragraph above) have to stop by and say ‘Hwhup’ to find out!

Or pay attention to my Instagram where I will be spoiling the whole thing as soon as humanly possible. (🙄)

Website relaunch update

SOON

As in, the site will be relaunching soon, not that you’ll get an update soon. Long story short, I’m having to significantly reconfigure my product entries in Square in order to be functional and presentable because I had no thoughts of online access when I was building it out. Unfortunately this isn’t the first time I have failed to have forethoughts.

Waves are Wednesdays Preview

Behold: the wave image I will be sharing this week on social media for #wavesarewednesdays:

Sometimes, words fail, and right now is one of those sometimes. But I will always have a ‘thank you’ at the ready because I’m so grateful for the the support and encouragement I get from so many wonderful folks- like you!

Thank you 😊

I appreciate you making it to the end here! I hope you have a wonderful week 😎

See you around,

Jason