Elevating the Community
This was going to be a different kind of post, entirely…
In it, I was going to relate to you how I was not feeling all the responsibilities I have for this weekend. At all. I intended to be as humorous as possible, yet honest to a fault too with every dirty detail.
But, those plans were brought to a halt after seeing a disheartening post late last night about a tragic accident involving Ade Hogue, a well-known, black artist and designer in the lettering community…
…and the announcement I saw this morning of his subsequent passing,
I can’t say I won’t feel like that ever again. Human emotions are mad fickle…and there is a time and place for sharing all of that. But, for today…Instead, I think I will just choose to be thankful for all of the responsibilities I get to have this weekend. As the Head of School where I teach told me this past week of her own trials, “It’s all in how you frame it.”
I am a blogger...I always have been. I love reading them and learning about the lives behind the artists I follow. Social media is okay for that too. But, scrolling is like riding past and waving hello as you constantly rush to the next bright, flashing light at the next intersection…Reading a blog is like stopping by for a leisurely coffee break. I don’t get to do it that often…But when I do, I like to sip slow and savor it.
When I learn about a lettering artist, I always check if they have a blog…I click around a bit, read about what their journey was like, figure out if I can learn anything from them, and decide if I’d like them as a person. If I do, I’ll come back.
And I liked Mr. Hogue.
He didn’t post too often. In fact, most of his posts were before I started my blog. But, when he did post, he was generous with his weighty thoughts on life and his knowledge of his craft…and he made arresting art about the causes that mattered to him most. He did what any lettering artist hopes to do at some point…He elevated the lettering community.
Current mood, not withstanding, I will not be dwelling on the negatives today. Nope.
Because, there’s really no way of telling the kind of impression others will carry of you with them on their journey.
