Notes on January

Notes, Images, and Reflections on January 2025

I should have shared these thoughts a month ago. Now, the last days of February are slipping by and it’s hard to say if they’re crawling or flying. But here I am, finally slowing down and writing a recap of January.

I’d set a goal to regularly share what I’m creating and what’s been moving me, but as usual, personal goals take a backseat to career obligations until my neurodivergent brain is ready to rise up. We listen and we don’t judge.

I always approach January with a sense of unease, knowing it marks the start of the slow season. As a freelance visual artist, I move between gigs in film production, music videos, installations, and object design. I never really know what I’ll be called for next. But what I do know is that from January through March, the phone doesn’t ring as often. The instability and lack of security creates a kind of stress that lingers in the background. It follows me, tugs at me — the grey skies, the quiet aftermath of the holidays, the weight of resolutions that never quite find their place, and that constant, gnawing question: "What the fuck am I doing?"

Yet from the anxiety blooms curiosity. How is it that the shorter days seem to stretch on forever? Why does the cold have a way of sharpening and intensifiying everything? What would happen if I just surrendered to my vulnerability and let up on the constant grip of control?

Those who know me well understand that I like to be prepared. It’s almost like a defense mechanism, rooted in this trauma-driven mindset that says, if I just figure out exactly what to do and how to prepare, maybe I can avoid the chaos. But the truth is, disruptions come in endless, ever-changing forms. How exactly do you prepare for the unknown when it refuses to be defined?

I’ve spent a lifetime trying to solve this riddle and the only answer I’ve found is to confront uncertainty with steadfast assurance in the authentic self. Or, you know, however Brené Brown would phrase leaning into what scares us most.

So this year, 2025, my word and overarching theme is unbothered.

It’s about dismissing the inner critic and rejecting external standards. It’s about shrugging my shoulders and turning up the music. Who knows if this will lighten the weight of the winter months, but it’s my approach and I’m feeling optimistic.

All of that to stay - January was a month unlike any other.

JANUARY IN REVIEW

Urban Cowboy Arcade

Garbage Objects (auditioning this as my studio name because why not) kicked off the year with a wheat paste installation in downtown Nashville. Urban Cowboy, a boutique hospitality and lifestyle brand, is opening a sprawling three-story bar and restaurant in the historic Arcade, and I was hired to cover 8,000 square feet in custom printed paper.

This isn’t my first bar installation, but it is by far the largest—and my first time leading an install inside a construction site. Still, it didn’t feel that different from working on a festival site mid-build or setting up props on a congested film set. Every space presents its own obstacles, and I was fortunate to tackle this one with assistants Julia Knight and Tay Sorrell, along with a crew that included Alyssa Miele, Christian Gale, Addie Carroll, Stone Martin, and Cara Maguire.

During the installation, we made paste from cornstarch, meticulously aligned individual sheets of paper, and moved between seven different prints to give each room its own character. We also applied a custom dye mixture to age the walls, adding depth and texture to the space — all while battling frigid temperatures, construction delays, and the structural quirks that come with working in a historic building.

Two months into this project, I’ve become more involved in other components of the space. More on that in the next recap, but for now, here are a few articles about Urban Cowboy Arcade. Once it’s open, I’ll share in-progress photos as well as final designs.

Hearing From the Arcade’s New Owners

Urban Cowboy Team Opening New Public House in Historic Arcade Building

Brand Commercial

While working on the Urban Cowboy project, I also had the opportunity to work as a set dresser for a brand commercial. I’ve signed an NDA so I can’t share details, but it was exciting to step away from wallpaper for a few days and tap into my art department skills.

Studio Expansion

For the past year, I shared a studio space with my friend Caleb. Both of us work in visual design and music, so having someone nearby to exchange ideas and tools with has been, in its own way, essential. But as my work evolved, so too did my need for more space. January began with Caleb and I still cohabiting the studio, but by the end of the month, that was no longer the case. In 2024, I transitioned from working out of my home to a shared studio. In 2025, I find myself in my own space. It’s still just a basement, but the difference is undeniable. I can’t help but feel a quiet joy, a disbelief that this is real life. The younger version of me, the one with dreams but without the tools or confidence to act on them, would hardly believe it. And yet here I am, standing in a moment that feels like the full circle of growth and transformation.

That’s a wrap on January. If you made it this far, thank you. I love you.