What's on my Mind

Image by Ingrid Mida 2012, Quote by Thomas J. Watson

The desk in my office is relatively clear - for now. In a matter of days (perhaps even hours), it will be piled high with books and papers, and my calendar will be jammed. Given that I am a person who is easily bored and cannot sit still for long, that is the norm for me. But last month, I was burned out. When I looked up "burn-out" on Wikipedia, the inventory of symptoms seemed familiar, especially "the reduced sense of personal accomplishment and mental exhaustion". I hardly cared about any of the marvelous experiences I had in 2011 - attending the press previews of the McQueen and Gaultier exhibitions; interviewing Valerie Steele, Harold Koda, and Jeanne Beker; speaking about my work at the Costume Society of America conference,  Concordia University and Ryerson University's Research Symposium; being interviewed on ArtSync tv and having my photographs published in a book of art..... None of it seemed to matter much, but, after a good rest (including a complete break from technology for 10 days), I feel like I've got my mojo back!

Life seems to have a rhythm of its own and fate sometimes seems to laugh in my face. I hardly know what to expect in 2012. I've already had two disappointments -- a grant application was turned down and a proposal rejected. And yet I know that I also have much to look forward to. I will keep my fingers crossed for the Fashion Tales research symposium in Milan and that my article on Fashion and Art will be accepted for publication in Dress Journal. What I do know for sure is that 2012 will include:
1. Research for my thesis (still in the proposal stage)
2. An exhibition of my work at Loop Gallery in May-June 2012
3. A trip to Versailles and Paris in the spring with Opera Atelier
4. A summer of research at the Royal Ontario Museum
5. The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute exhibition on Prada and Schiaparelli which opens on May 10, 2012

Whatever happens, there is no doubt that I'll be making LOTS of mistakes this year.... I'm dreaming big!