Lady Kitt Mailing List “Why Bothers”

 

• Irregular updates on why I keep bothering to do art as my job

&

• Irregular links to one off, one day art sales (next art sale 10am, Aug 30th, 2025)

 

My newsletter is:

• Irregular (most once a month-least every 3months)

• un edited (expect unruly grammar, crap  images and feral thoughts )

• (in general) positive 

• socially awkward (a tool for: reflecting on my work- particularly the social (ly) awkward / long form / messy aspects of it

• a tool for reaching out, sharing and staying in touch- experimenting with ways of doing this that don’t feel artificial or extractive, but may be chaotic and cringe-y

 

Newsletters will include:

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• A recent “Why bother” - a reason I’m doing the art I’m doing

and / or

• A link to one off, one day art sales (Max 3 times a year)

 

Newsletters may include:

 

• Links to / musings on: tools / resources / artists / experiences i’m finding inspiring 

• Credits: acknowledgement of folks who have supported me professionally recently and how

• Gratitudes: celebrating to folks who have supported me in a non-professional / beyond -professional capacity and how

• Wishes/ art spells : “shy bairns get nowt’ as we like to say in the North East. I’m big on making art spells / sharing stuff i’d like help with- because there’s probably someone out there somewhere who can help with pretty much everything 

• Info about opportunities / events: (including stuff i’m involved in) which i think might appeal to folks who are interested mess making, social/ socially awkward art / craft , less environmentally disastrous ways of doing / enjoying art,  folkart, disability arts, art activism, access centred art, feminist art,  parent / mother artists, art for / with children, queer art, my studio deity, hot art dad

 

 *Why ‘why bother’?: 

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Many years ago my lovely friend Dan Russel and I met working  on a project called “Socially Awkward”. About 2 thirds of the way through he asked me what my “why bothers” for the project where. I was utterly affronted- wasn’t it obvious why i was bothering- pouring dedication, love and creativity into this work?!? 

 

 but then i calmed down a bit, started answering the question and realised : some of it was obvious. And… some of it wasn’t. 

 

That’s why it’s a dead useful question.

 

 since then, asking “why bother” has become a regular event in my work life. I ask myself. I ask other folks involved in the work. I ask my children. I ask my studio deity (more of them in newsletters for sure).

 

“Why Bothers” are a way of setting intentions, AND of reflecting on the wild, tender, hilarious, useful, confounding and beguiling things that can happen because of / through/ alongside art.