On The Couch
Posted on July 19, 2015
with Daria
What was your last dream [or last dream that you can remember] about?
The most recent dream I can remember was very strange, as most dreams are. I was in some sort of park, and there was a giant tree in the center of the park. When I say giant, I mean enormous, like the size of a skyscraper. There were multiple sets of stairs and sculptures incorporated throughout the tree, like a maze. The tree’s entire facade had a chain link fence on it. I was in the middle of a birthday party when I decided it was time to climb the tree. For some reason, I climbed the chain link fence instead of taking the stairs through the different sculptures and forts. I must have climbed at least 50 feet up before I looked down and realized how high up I was. I spent the rest of my time climbing around the fence back onto the stairs because I was afraid to fall off. The end of the dream ended with me just exploring the forts and stairways. I was just glad I didn’t fall off.
What sound or noise do you love?
It’s not a specific sound, but I love listening to music before I go to sleep. It always sounds the best right before I fall asleep.
What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?
I have always been a very easy-going person, sometimes too passive. Recently, someone had been taking advantage of how forgiving I was. Eventually, I was just pushed to a point to defend myself a bit. It really made me learn how to stand up for myself and be able to explain what had been bothering me, and I believe it strengthened our friendship.
What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]?
Typography. Seeing someone have beautiful handwriting, or construct a flawless composition out of letters, always makes me happy. I always make sure to take a picture of a good mural or buy a magazine with nice letters on the cover. I want to be able to build up this great collection of letters that I can look at if I need inspiration.
What is something you have wanted to do for a long time?
I have always wanted to go Great White shark diving. I love sharks, I think they’re awesome, and I want to safely experience one up close one day. I feel like that would be the ultimate adrenaline rush.
What are you grateful for?
It seems like a cliche answer, but I am grateful for my family and how close we all are. This obviously means my immediate family, but also includes my amazing extended family. I know too many people that don’t enjoy spending time with their family. I never want to know what that is like and, thankfully, I don’t have to.
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This is an open-to-all series, so come have a seat!
Email Natalie to participate:
natiartphotography@gmail.com
Historic Pride
Posted on June 26, 2015
To all who stand and have stood together for love & equality,
Happy HISTORIC Pride Weekend!
The Color Purple
Posted on June 23, 2015
“Here’s the thing, say Shug. The thing I believe. God is inside you and inside everybody else. You come into the world with God. But only them that search for it inside find it. And sometimes it just manifest itself even if you not looking, or don’t know what you looking for. Trouble do it for most folks, I think. Sorrow, lord. Feeling like shit.
It? I ast.
Yeah, It. God ain’t a he or a she, but a It.
But what do it look like? I ast.
Don’t look like nothing, she say. It ain’t a picture show. It ain’t something you can look at apart from anything else, including yourself. I believe God is everything, say Shug. Everything that is or ever was or ever will be. And when you can feel that, and be happy to feel that, you’ve found It.
Shug a beautiful something, let me tell you. She frown a little, look out cross the yard, lean back in her chair, look like a big rose. She say, My first step from the old white man was trees. Then air. Then birds. Then other people. But one day when I was sitting quiet and feeling like a motherless child, which I was, it come to me: that feeling of being part of everything, not separate at all. I knew that if I cut a tree, my arm would bleed. And I laughed and I cried and I run all around the house. I knew just what it was. In fact, when it happen, you can’t miss it. It sort of like you know what, she say, grinning and rubbing high up on my thigh.
Shug! I say.
Oh, she say. God love all them feelings. That’s some of the best stuff God did. And when you know God loves ’em you enjoys ’em a lot more. You can just relax, go with everything that’s going, and praise God by liking what you like.
God don’t think it dirty? I ast.
Naw, she say. God made it. Listen, God love everything you love, and a mess of stuff you don’t. But more than anything else, God love admiration.
You saying God vain? I ast.
Naw, she say. Not vain, just wanting to share a good thing. I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.
What it do when it pissed off? I ast.
Oh, it make something else. People think pleasing God is all God care about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back.
Yeah? I say.
Yeah, she say. It always making little surprises and springing them on us when us least expect.”
Alice Walker, The Color Purple
Nati Art Photography 