I often mention #NewMexico in my posts because I spent a month in Taos last summer for an art residency. I learned a ton about #clay through exploring the varieties available in the landscape and I learned a lot more about #indigenous cultures by visiting different pueblos. For the first time, I experienced having to change my behaviors out of respect for Native people in terms of how we dressed and what/when we were allowed to document through photography, painting and sketching… con’t.

Olla update: I’ve had my #garden ollas in place for 2 weeks now and they are still half to 2/3 full of water. The seedlings around them have grown steadily. We’ve had light rain once in the last two weeks. The true test will be when temperatures start to sore, but so far this #irrigation method has been impressively easy & efficient. It’s wild to know that an #ancienttechnology can still be so useful and relevant. I love clay! #pottery #ceramics #keramik #permaculture #gardening

The black on this mug comes from terra sigillata made from a ball of manganese-rich New Mexico clay my friend gave me. After they’re done firing, I lightly sand the exterior of each mug with a fine-grain sandpaper. The handles become smooth and soft to the touch.

After being on Mastodon for a month, I have to say there is a certain relief in being on a smaller platform where your exes from 20 years ago aren't present. It isn't natural to be able to contact and peek in on everyone from your distant past. There is a reason I did not announce where I was going to everyone before I left IG. Masto will certainly change over time, so I'm just really enjoying this nice, fresh start.

I'm working on a #zine for Florida teens about the existence of #ThirdGender in pre-colonial societies and found this article about #hijras in #India. Extremely beautiful, powerful and fascinating.

The Third Gender and Hijras | Religion and Public Life

#LGBTQ #queerhistory #transgender #artasactivism #artasresistence

Cooking #compost. I turned the pile on Sunday and today it reached 130°F, supposedly the lowest ideal temperature for efficient decomposition and to kill weed seeds and soil pathogens. Heat from composting can be harvested as renewable, sustainable energy. I get really frustrated by the sheer number of #EnvironmentalSolutions ppl have come up with that just aren’t implemented. Imagine a world where we use our food scraps to grow more food AND generate clean energy. #gardening #permaculture

It took me 2 months to complete this vase, which I made to honor the power & purpose of hurricanes. We made it through 3 strong storms last year. Milton caused a spiritual & mental shift moving me to “let go of that which no longer served me.” (That included Instagram, btw!) There is more to hurricanes than destruction & despair. They move nutrients from sea to land and renew ecosystems. I used #GulfCoast clays from LA, FL & AL to decorate the surface. #pottery #clay #hurricane #transformation

Using this #SilentSunday post to encourage people to look up the closest #LGBTQ #nonprofit to you and donate and/or volunteer. Even the smallest donation amount helps when combined with everyone else’s. Governments and corporations are becoming more conservative, but nonprofit #communityorganizations are still free to honor their missions to support vulnerable populations.