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A list of things for August 2024

By Jen Myers —
A pale blue sky swept with thin clouds over a deep turquoise lake, with waves rolling up on a sandy beach, a white rowboat with yellow oars at the edge of the water

It happens every year: As much as I like autumn, I mourn the loss of summer. I do like summer best. I like sun and warmth and the old conviction, cemented in childhood, that summer is for freedom and new opportunities. I'm twenty years beyond a life ruled by school schedules, and now even my own kid is in a more flexible college phase, but the changing of the seasons still carry the same emotions. I still always feel like I didn't get enough summer. I still always feel with September comes a return to more work and less fun. Even if neither are true. It just always feels that way.

I suppose I could be a sensible adult and advise embracing inevitable change. Instead, at the end of summer I advocate for childish stubbornness. Skip the chores and go to the beach. Spend your time making something no one needs but you. Run away and hide when they try to drag you back to responsibility. You only get so many free and easy summer days. Why willingly hand over a single one.

Here is a list of things I made, thought about, and/or did in August.

  1. I compiled a list of recent books, films, links, and music I enjoyed: Recently 27 August.
  2. My little horror film podcast released two episodes focused on the work of director Oz Perkins: the first about his first film, The Blackcoat's Daughter; and the second about his most recent film, Longlegs.
  3. I mentioned this really only in passing a while back, but I started an experimental video series examining the inherent strangeness of empty constructed spaces. My first was at the giant arcade (video below). I made a second video, which made a brief, unannounced internet debut before I decided I wasn't happy with it. This past month, I got a new lens and reshot. So the new improved second entry of my horror vacui series will be in my next newsletter.
  4. I appreciated reading Georgia O'Keeffe's words on public success and being an artist to one of my favorite writers, Sherwood Anderson: "Making the unknown—known—in terms of one’s medium is all-absorbing—if you stop to think of the form—as form you are lost—The artist’s form must be inevitable—You mustn’t even think you won’t succeed—Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant—there is no such thing. Making your unknown known is the important thing—and keeping the unknown always beyond you—catching crystallizing your simpler clearer version of life—only to see it turn stale compared to what you vaguely feel ahead—that you must always keep working to grasp—the form must take care of its self if you can keep your vision clear."

I'm finding myself spending less and less time on social media these days, but when I am, I'm over at Bluesky. If you enjoy the newsletter, please feel free to spread the word in whichever places you tend to frequent. As always, you can reach me by email, should you wish to do such a thing, at [email protected].

Thank you for reading! I'm grateful for you. 🖤