It's already Valentine's Day??

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I, for one, feel like it's still mid-December, and I'm hoping for a white Christmas. Anyone else feel like they blinked and *boom*  suddenly there pink & red hearts everywhere? 

 

I have begun to find, this year especially, that Valentine's Day and its traditional meaning has shifted for me and many of my friends. As a proudly single woman in her early twenties (or should I say "self-partnered," in a nod to the iconic Ms. Emma Watson), Valentine's Day should be considered a reminder to me of how *cough* boring my romantic life is. But interestingly, I find that rather than the negative connotations this holiday can represent, it has begun to demonstrate the immense love I have for all those in my life, both platonically & familially. 

 

And, of course, if you aren't aware, February 14th is also V-DAY, coined by Eve Ensler and her powerhouse feminist play, The Vagina Monologues (1996). If you haven't had a chance to check out this incredible play, check out your local colleges & community theaters, as hundreds of productions of this play a year are lovingly performed for donation to local women's groups. If you live by Elon University, check out their performance this V-Day (my personal soft spot, as both performer & director during my undergrad years). 

 

Valentine's Day also reminds us of the incredible hold that love and all its meanings has on the arts. How many of us have written bad breakup poems, love songs, or felt inspired by a muse? How many of our favorite books and movies and dances have been inspired by relationships of some form? Whether they be of first loves, true loves, lost loves, friend loves, sibling loves, parental loves, or self-loves, so much of our favorite works are inspired by Eros and the 9 muses. 

 

In honor of paying our respects to the gods of love today, we at Carolina Muse thought it would be fun to share our "Creator Crushes!" I asked our team members to share a creative crush they have on some of the world's creators, reflecting on how amazing their work is and why they are loving it so much right now. You can find our "Creator Crushes" down below, as well as some links to their works!

 

And as always,  I should let you know that since our last newsletter, there are a few news updates to keep an eye out for:

• Check out our newest issue!! Take a peek at our website to view it and find your own Carolina Muse Creator Crush!

• Our next submission deadline is Monday, February 28th

• Don't forget, we have the our fun STICKERS, designed in-house!

  • Purchase one for $3, and each additional sticker is just $1! 

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Creator Crushes

 

This month, I asked our Carolina Muse team to send me their current creator crushes; any creator who inspires them in this particular moment. This was particularly fun for me to learn more about our wonderful team and all their range of interests and creative inspirations! Since our team is comprised of creators from a range of artistic endeavors, such as music, dance, art, photography, and writing, we have the distinct pleasure of learning about some of their disciplines. 

 

Amanda: "My creator crush is Ada Limón, because her poetry always inspires me! The way she uses language and portrays deeper topics made me fall in love with her writing. 

Check out some of her incredible poetry books!

• The Hurting Kind

• Bright Dead Things

• The Carrying

 

Cassidy: "My creator crush is @salt_stitches on Instagram. I have been attempting to teach myself embroidery for a while now and I am just in awe of the things that Emily, the artist, is able to make. They are just stunning." 

 

Henry's creator crush is a band called State Park Ranger! Henry: "I love both their alternative folk rock sound as well as their community outreach. They are champions and advocates for the Asheville arts community and give back to creators and environmental non-profits."

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Madison is inspired by @poetryishealing, which is a beautiful poetry Instagram account curated by Madisen Kuhn. Madison: "I love her style and her honesty. Each piece is a poetic diary that is easy to place yourself inside of. Each poem’s rhythm reflects the emotions of that poem. It also helps that we have the same name 😋"

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Maeve: My creator crush as of late has been Neil Gaiman! I find his writing thoroughly fascinating. He captivates readers with his incredible world-building and dark, engaging storytelling. I have been trying to read through his oeuvre, and am currently reading his anthology on Norse Mythology. And, in support of my favorite independent bookstore in Greensboro, NC (Scuppernong Books), I have linked Neil's book for purchase from Scup here: Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology

   

NC Events 🍂

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• Now through March 20, 2022, Exquisite Creatures: The Art of Christopher Marley → This ticketed exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, NC "helps us see nature, and ourselves, as we truly are--beautifully diverse but still unified by our biophilia, our “love of life.”'

• Tuesday, February 22 at 10 AM, Coffee with a Curator → Celebrate Black History Month at the North Carolina Museum of History with this important discussion of the contribution of African Americans in World War II. 

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SC Events 🍁

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• Throughout Black History Month, check out the International African American Museum in Charleston, SC → The museum explores "the cultures and knowledge systems retained and adapted by Africans in the Americas, and the diverse journeys and achievements of these individuals and their descendants in South Carolina, the United States, and throughout the African diaspora."

• February 22-27, Beaufort International Film Festival → Check out this incredible film festival, which "recognizes aspiring filmmakers of almost every genre" and it's "also an opportunity to showcase the beautiful "film-friendly" region of Beaufort and the Carolina Sea Islands."

   

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CREATIVE ARTS INSPIRATION

from our team

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