November 2024 Updates

Online & In-person Art Sales, Fundraisers, and Sioux City Exhibition

Hi!!

 It’s been a busy last few weeks, art wise. I had numerous pieces in the MCAD Art Sale, I’m gearing up for an in person sale this weekend (more down below), and I’ve been investing time in growing my art as a business (which is weird to even hear myself say, but I’ll explain more below). 

 First, I want to let you know that I have work currently up in the Sioux City Art Center's Biennial Exhibition: Climate/Change through January 5, 2025. If you’re in western Iowa or traveling through Sioux City, I urge you to check it out! I don’t know if my health is going to allow me to make the trip, but I would LOVE if someone would send me pictures if they do go. It's so cool to see the windsocks displayed in a new way!

Next, I have been putting a lot of effort into thinking of my art as a business. In September, I was extremely honored to be one of the small queer-owned businesses supported through the PFUND Equity Fund. This support includes a grant as well as membership in the Twin Cities 2STQLGBTIA+ Chamber of Commerce Quorum (why aren’t they called Queerum? - my sweetie Anna rightfully asks every time I mention them lol - clearly a missed opportunity) and monthly meetings with other queer entrepreneurs.

 The PFUND money is helping me to hire assistants to help with the tasks I cannot do on my own, including helping me to do in person events and wrangle the clay and kilns. I’m excited to share this money with other Queer and Trans people, and it is just so incredibly helpful to have help because there are so many little things that I can’t manage on my own with my health where it currently is. In addition to the PFUND money, I’ve also qualified for Medicaid-funded PCA assistance. This has been a game-changer in terms of what I’m capable of doing in a day, thanks to the numerous people who are helping me save energy at nearly every turn by running errands, doing my grocery shopping, making me meals, keeping my house clean, and helping me keep making art. I’m so grateful that I have the help I need right now. I’m worried, like most disabled and/or queer and trans people I know, about the future of healthcare in this country, but for now, I’m being supported and I’m feeling better because of it. May there come a day in our lifetimes where everyone can access the healthcare and support they need and deserve. I know Universal Healthcare likely won't happen in the next 4 years, but we need it now more than ever.

 Also, I want to let you know that this coming Sunday, December 1, from 10AM-4PM, Kelley A. Meister Fine Art will be tabling at the Queer Voices Makers Mart at the Open Book, 1011 South Washington Avenue Minneapolis, MN, 55415. AP Looze will be helping me out with set up/break down and with tabling, so you might see them at my table when I’m resting. I’ve got lots of new ceramics for you, prints, and even some zines!

But if you can’t make it or don’t live in the Twin Cities, I’ll be updating my store on December 7 with all kinds of fun new stuff (sneak peeks in the WIP shots below - lots of pronoun pendants and ACT UP inspired pieces). I’m shipping nationwide, and if you are international, just email me directly and we can work something out. I would love to be part of your gift giving or just making you feel like your hottest, queerest self with a new statement-piece necklace, so check it out if you haven’t in a while.
 
Also, if you are interested in some of my art AND want to help support four families in Gaza, look out for an upcoming silent auction starting December 10. I’ll be contributing some prints and hopefully a ceramic piece or two. Details will be here - and if you don’t want to wait until then and want to contribute to this wonderful direct action mutual aid campaign, they have weekly targets they are striving to reach to keep giving the families steady support during the ongoing occupation, violence, and strife they are facing.
 Finally, a quick update on my health. It’s been a year of measured rest and taking things slow. I was part of the NIH-funded RECOVER-Vital trial for extended use of Paxlovid in Long Covid Patients this summer. Unfortunately, things did not change in any big or exciting ways after that trial, besides a temporary elevation in my liver levels. But I have been able to make substantial gains in strengthening through my physical therapy program and hard work at pacing. So far, it hasn’t made a huge impact on my fatigue, PEM (post exertional malaise/crashes), or brain symptoms, but my overall pain has reduced some, including in my shoulder which has finally stopped dislocating so frequently. Hurrah!! Unfortunately, I’m still having massive headaches when I even over do things a tiny bit. So I keep pacing and resting and hoping for more treatment options and/or answers/prognosis. It’s a bit easier to pace when I have fewer things on my schedule, medical appointments included. So I’m enjoying that ease, even though it may seem like I’m trying less to find answers. It’s all about balance, I guess.
 Thank you, everyone, for your support and patronage. If you ever want to talk about a custom commission (painting or ceramics, mainly, but I’m open to other ideas), I’m all ears! I’ve also got another new offering I’ll be rolling out in the next few months, so stay tuned for more info soon.
In love and solidarity,
Kelley