Welcome
I wanted to start this newsletter to make it easier to connect outside of social media. I love sharing the things I make with others. But Instagram is feeling more and more like an algorithm-driven void. My hope is for this space to be more peaceful, less flashy, and something you engage in consciously. My goal is for you to think, “Oh! An email with art inside! I can’t wait to open it!” instead of “ugh, more content pushing itself onto my eyeballs.”
A mantra I’ve been practicing this year is “no expectations”. That applies here too. I’m totally learning this newsletter thing as I go, and that’s kinda the point. This is a space for public learning and I invite you to be a part of that process. Comments are enabled.
I don’t yet know how often I’ll send out newsletters, or what I’ll typically include. But that’s the exciting part, and I’m grateful for you being a part of the growth process.
Algorithm Free Art
Here’s some recent art I’m excited about, and one “featured” piece I discuss more in depth (maybe “featured art” will become a regular thing?).
I took a trip to NYC and saw the biggest floppy hat of my life. Then this happened. The red background is actually an old black and white photograph of an ocean shore that I found in my grandmother’s photo collection. I liked the texture so I scanned it into my iPad. I love technology.
There’s a small airport along the Connecticut River, where I row. Sometimes the planes take off into the sunrise, and I only notice them in the reflection of the water. It’s cool to watch such different forms of movement happening at once - on the water and in the air.
This piece is collaged entirely from a cactus watercolor I painted back in March (minus the plane).
You're the first to see this one! I intended this to be a birds eye view image of a rocky ocean shore. When I flipped it sideways I realized it was an underwater ocean scene. I’ve been thinking a lot about water recently. Climate change is as scary as ever.
Featured Art
Homecoming, March 2021
This is my personal favorite piece. I thought it up while on a run in early spring, just as vaccinations were becoming available for the general public. I was living with my brother and sister-in-law in Holyoke, MA, and I was very much freaking out about my future. I graduated into the pandemic, wasn’t getting hired ANYWHERE, and emerging from a New England winter which I had previously decided I would never stick around for again.
I’m a huge fan of geese. My old rowing teammates always thought it was weird, because geese would leave their poop on the dock. (as if they have toilet paper??) While on this run, a flock of geese flew right above me in a perfect V. Maybe it was my obsession with geese, but it felt weirdly hopeful. I started thinking about geese as migrators who signal the change in season, as if to let us know, “Okay, winter’s over. You can come out now.” I wanted to portray the magic behind seasonal ritual and migration. The cloud of color behind the geese signals everything they leave behind, but also everything they bring with them. It’s also just purely a signal, like a flag telling us humans that it’s time to change seasons. I think that’s part of why I love geese so much - they remind me of familiar change.
I recently submitted this piece (and 2 others) to the Western Mass Visual Arts and Poetry Biennial, which is put on by the Northampton Arts Council. Who knows, maybe it’ll get hung up for everyone to see someday.
Thank you for your kindness and support! Leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you.
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I hope this brightened up your inbox. If someone you know could use more art in their life, or just needs a break from lame work emails, send this to them!
I’m always open to commissions & collaborations! Let’s connect.
-Hal
You can also find me here: Instagram | Hallaurart.com
I love the idea of permission to change.