Homebodies explores the personal spaces of community members, the artworks and interesting objects they’ve collected through the years, and how those pieces live with them every day. This edition comes to you from Randy Miller, a local art lover and beloved supporter known by many local artists and the Holland Project. We caught up with Randy at the most recent “All In” exhibition, which is maybe where we first met years ago, and knew we had to rope them into the Homebodies series! Randy’s walls are full of works by Nevada artists and friends we know.
“When you are packing, take your artwork down first. When you are unpacking, put your artwork up first.”
This is the unsolicited advice I often repeat when I hear that someone’s mother’s best friend’s neighbor is in the process of moving. From my personal experience, it’s a pretty effective strategy. When I’ve left my artwork up and saved it for last, I was unmotivated to pack. Inversely, I was equally unmotivated to unpack when I held off on hanging my artwork. Why? Because art is a symbol. Art hanging on a wall or sitting on a pedestal owns its space. Art is always expressing. Art defines the space it takes up and, whether it be you moving out or moving in, it invites Emotion and says, “Why are you packing? This is Home,” or “Why are you unpacking? This isn’t Home.”
In my practice as a mental health therapist, I always inquire what a patient’s living arrangement is like… “Does your house feel like a home?” “If someone were to walk into your home, would they say, ‘This place looks like you?’” “Have you inserted your DNA into your home?” If there’s a “no” following any of these questions, I can almost guarantee that their home also lacks artwork. A home is a creature – it’s alive and it’s breathing. Building a relationship with the creature and feeding it artwork that speaks to you also gives the creature the opportunity to feel for you when you are not sure how you’re even feeling.
My self-care is inconsistent – isn’t everybody’s? On the days where I am being a little less mindful of myself or my needs, coming home is a gift. Not necessarily because I am introverted, which I am not, but because, when I am home, my home takes care of me. My relationship with the creature that is my home is dependable. It knows me. To steal Marie Kondo’s mantra, it brings me joy. Why? Because of the artwork I have been able to give space to. In these photos, you will see an assortment of artwork from the last fifteen or so years when I started collecting. In them, you will see artifacts from my past, objects that bring me back to my love of theater, snapshots of beloved moments, and many works of art from local and international artists from my travels. Oh, and if you couldn’t tell, I love my dear child, Coco – my other “creature” – so you’ll see homage to my four-legged kid in these photos as well.
To close, I want to take this moment to thank Alana for this invitation to participate in the Holland Project’s “Homebodies” blog series. The Holland Project and its community has become an oasis in what sometimes feels like the culturally dry landscape of the world. Finally, to the artists whose work I have been so privileged to bring into my home, I hope I have honored your work.
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