19 1 / 2012
We may be halfway through January already, but we’re just beginning to digest the incredible adventures of 2011. Even though we’re already sailing full-speed ahead into 2012, it’s worth taking a moment to share some of the highlights of these past 12 months.
2011 began with the opening of the Brooklyn Art Library: the permanent home of the Sketchbook Project and our storefront exhibition space.
In February, we kicked off the 2011 Sketchbook Project Tour with a two-day exhibition at the Library. We issued hundreds of library cards and checked out more than 2,000 books in less than 24 hours.
In March, we hit the road for Austin, TX and never looked back. We visited nine cities over the course of five months, including Portland, Atlanta, Washington, Rochester, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and Orlando. There’s no better feeling for the Art House Crew than meeting all of the people who make the Sketchbook Project possible!
Over the course of 2011, we checked out sketchbooks 35,712 times — for our librarians, it feels like it was all a dream. We launched the Digital Library over the summer and by the end of the year we were amazed by the results: Digitized sketchbooks have been viewed more than half a million times! The shelves of the Brooklyn Art Library now display 12,208 books to the public seven days a week. And we’re proud to announce that there are currently 36,841 card-carrying members of the Brooklyn Art Library.
There’s no better feeling than bringing together an inspiring community of creative people from all over the world to make something happen together. 2011 showed us the power of collaboration — and proved that the whole is the sum of its parts.
So thanks to everyone who joined us over the course of last year — and here’s to an inspiring 2012!
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16 8 / 2011
What I want.
Do you know what I want? I want it all. I want to be capable of a love so much it hurts. I want to believe that something that consuming is capable of being inside me. The butterflies. The connection. The randomness. The mind blowing sex. The knowing smiles. I want to be a mother to children I adore and have a partner who makes me feel safe, smart, secure, sexy, silly, serious, sinful, sincere, serene, satisfied. I want someone who makes me laugh till I can’t remember what started it all. I want to finish someone’s sentences. I want my sentences to be finished. I want to believe in someone, in something, in a future that’s not just about laundry, gas bills, teacher interviews and obligations. I want to be a good example. I want to always follow my heart, my instincts and be prepared that not everything will come up roses, but at least I did the right thing by me. I want to take a chance, to not hold back. I want to love some kids into this messed up world. I want someone who stimulates my brain as much as my body. I want to see it all, taste everything and go everywhere. I want to give and I want to get. I want too much and I want it all in one person.
So what do I want from you?
It’s hard to say as this isn’t really about what I want, but actually for what I wish. Do I wish you were that person for me? Yes. Do I wish that we were both able to take that leap into the unknown together? Yes. Do I wish we could jump off that cliff together, knowing that it will be scary, thrilling, confronting and momentous? Absolutely. But you are who you are, and I’m who I am so the question becomes – do I want a little, or a little more? Is this enough? I know a little is not going to be enough and then I’ll want that little bit more. Or maybe then I won’t want more, but you will. Or you won’t and I will.
And then there will be nothing and I don’t want that at all.
