When I was a dance major at SUNY Purchase, I used to sing, “It feels good, baby” to myself between classes. I was reminding myself that dance for me wasn’t a line or a look but a feeling.
In my artwork, it is all about the feeling. I like to make things that feel good. A sculpture that feels good to the touch or helps you feel good in your body. A dance that feels good to perform, especially one that feels good in a surprising way…did you know it would feel so good to pretend to eat another dancer in my dance carnivore? A psychedelic journey that feels good in the body. A community that feels good to be a part of. A party that feels good for all attending. A home that feels good to inhabit. A garden that feels good to spend time in. Architecture that feels good to frequent. A sport that feels good to play. Money that feels good to deposit. Food that feels good to ingest. Clothes that feel good to wear. Friendships that feel good to simmer. A family life that feels good to pass the time. A challenge that feels good to meet.
We get very distracted with how things look in our society and even how things sound. But feeling…we have to listen in for feeling. We have to let people know that feelings are important - maybe most important. Maybe the money is tight. But maybe you are rich in love, rich in warmth, rich in experience, rich in feeling.