Before I jump right into 2012 I wanted to take a pause and reflect back on 2011. It wasn’t until I started going through the posts from my old blog that it really hit me – damn, I had a pretty incredible year. The last couple of months, around the holidays, are always terribly stressful for me so this was a lot of fun to focus on the GOOD. Here is a list of highlights, but really, you could just re-read my old blog, because 2011 was pretty awesome. Thanks for reading!

> I became a member of the union Impractical Labor in Service of the Speculative Arts (ILSSA)!!

> I attended a talk by Todd Hido over at GEH and he signed my copy of his book A Road Divided.

> I went to a screening and Skype-talk with Bill Viola!

> I went to a couple of outdoor screenings. Hot dogs and old movies? Yes, please.

> I watched an artist knock himself out for his art.

> I played BINGO with a bunny and watched films on the side of a bus.

> I really enjoyed learning from and working with Jen Bervin and Jason Fulford.

> I attended the Contemporary Artists’ Books Conference. Learned a lot.

> I enjoyed browsing the The NY Art Book Fair.

> I wish I could have spent more time at the Mary Shelley Facsimile Library. Love.

> I fell in love with the BMW Guggenheim Lab while it was in NYC.

> I had the pleasure of participating in fieldwork with spurse!

> I met Abbey Hendrickson of Aesthetic Outburst in person! She’s the sweetest.

> I rode around in a camera! I helped make a test strip. Fun stuff.

> I attended two SPE conferences. Nationals in Atlanta, GA (I had the pleasure of meeting Michael Sherwin – he reviewed my portfolio) and Regionals in Syracuse, NY.

> I stopped by Spark Contemporary Art Space to see two exhibitions curated by Shane Lavalette of Lay Flat: Meta Revisited and Studious. Shane was one of my portfolio reviewers at the Regional SPE conference. It was nice to finally meet him.

> I had the pleasure of meeting Ron Jude of A-Jump Books. He reviewed my portfolio at the Regional SPE Conference. Speaking of A-Jump, I bought a set of all of their titles at the VSW Auction! Score.

> I went to the Everson Museum of Art to see From Here to There: Alec Soth’s America. After viewing the exhibition I attended a talk by Alec Soth himself. Left with a lot to think about!

> I learned to letterpress! …and I’m now obsessed.

> I started working on my first book! I hope to self-publish it this year.

New Year goals? This year I decided to make a birthday list instead! This year is going to be insane and I really cannot stress enough how I want to just take it nice and slow. I’m entering into my last year at Visual Studies Workshop. Where has the time gone? I start Grad Project I in a few weeks and thesis research begins! I’m excited. I’m terrified. All normal emotions right? Those of you who have already earned an MFA – any advice?

Hello 2012.