All through the dog days of chemo, I could look up and feel calmer, feel loved, when I saw Janine’s painting on the wall. I am so thrilled to hostess my dear Janine, with her wisdom and her beautiful art!
Deep gratitude to Janine for her big heart and her beautiful art and her all-round absolutely wonderful Queer Femme self!
Since the Corona virus has forced us to slow down, pare down, be cautious, pay attention, and simplify, I’ve found that this has affected my art as well. When we all first went into quarantine back in March, I thought that I’d definitely take the opportunity to make lots of art. But as I tried to jump full steam ahead, I became aware that it wasn’t comfortable to make art in the way I had before. I’ve learned to slow way down, and not force the muse. I’ve become conscientious of not making more “stuff” to take up more room in my small home, and in this overcrowded and polluted world. I’ve been making these little mixed media works on paper, just 5 ¾” x 8 ½”. I’ve been keeping them simple and thoughtful; careful not to overwork them, and finding my way back to making art simply for the joy it brings me. Back before art school, galleries, and the pressure to “succeed” as an artist.
Janine Evers is a Queer Femme Artist who lives and works in Provincetown. Her colorful, abstract paintings are influenced by the land and seascapes of the Outer Cape, and, particularly by the marine life that is found along the bay on walks during low tide. You can see more of her work at Four Eleven Gallery, Provincetown, Mass.
Every Friday, I showcase a queer femme goddess. I want to feature you! Write to me at thetotalfemme@gmail.com and let me shine a spotlight on your beautiful, unique, femme story! If you’ve written a femme story or poem or song, oh, please let me post it!
New Femme Friday feature starting spring 2020: Queer Femmes Respond. Are you reading more poetry? Are you navigating various technologies in order to see your folx and not be so isolated? Are you still going out to work? Are you able to get out for walks? Who’s home with you? We queer femmes are meeting these unsettling times with queer femme panache, and I want to hear about it! Along the lines of the Corona Letters over at the Sewanee Review, please send in what you’re doing, how you’re staying centered and sane! Write me at thetotalfemme@gmail.com with questions or ideas or a full-on post (with bio, if possible)!
At the Total Femme, my intention is to post three times a week: Meditations for Queer Femmes on Monday, Pingy-Dingy Wednesday on Wednesday and Femme Friday on Friday. Rather than play catch-up in a stressful fashion on those weeks when life prevents posting, I have decided to just move gaily forward: if I miss a Monday, the next post will be on Wednesday, and so on. Thank you, little bottle of antibiotics for inspiring me in this! (“…if it’s almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Don’t take a double dose to make up for a missed one.”) As I recover from treatment for breast cancer, however, I’m just going to post whenever I can manage.
The Total Femme 