At some point pre-pandemic, I agreed to write a chapter that felt well outside of my wheelhouse. The request was to write about “Mennonite Art” but in what resulted, I attempted to make clear (as Maggie Redekop and others have said before me) that there is, in fact, no “Mennonite Art.” My chapter, in the book that was finally completed this year, tells one story of “Art Among Mennonites.” Other stories could have been told and other artists included, so I trust that readers will pay attention when I say that this is no comprehensive survey. It is simply one story among many, and the particular one I told was in part dictated by early pandemic restrictions: I had to rely on museums and archives that were available to me. Still, I’m pleased with the result and also happy to return now to writing that is more in line with my current research.

Speaking of which:

Disruption and Convergence: Generating New Conversations through Arts Research is being published any day now. My chapter on “Walking and/as Listening” is paired with one by Christine d’Onofrio. Delightfully, the editors not only paired contributions but also invited the contributors to join in intentional and creative conversations, so our conversation is published there as well.

The beginning of summer brought an unexpected gift of time when I was offered a last-minute opening in a nearby artist residency program. For two weeks, I had dedicated time, away from the distractions of home, to draw, write, embroider, walk, and occasionally play piano. It was lovely to get to know some artists from elsewhere and to be hosted so generously by the Mother’s Milk proprietors.

Finally, an unexpected invitation. Next week I leave for the Netherlands, where my dear friend Deirdre Donoghue and I will embark on the Walk of Wisdom (more on that after it happens). But before we begin on our walk, we have been invited to Amsterdam to speak at the Frascati Theater. We’ll be addressing the gathering of M/other Knowledge, a research week of presentations and performances coordinated by a local group of artist-mothers. While so many good research initiatives of this sort have taken place since I first published Reconciling Art and Mothering in 2012, the topic of art and the maternal is always timely, always new for new mothers.