all or nothing #14 - are you in love?
table of contents
1.events 2.words 3.missed connections 4.horoscope 5.listen
»looking back
+i’m talking to you exhibition+
If you follow the lines and follow the signs, the art will start to speak to you. The multifaceted artist Loryn Cook turned All Street’s cavernous Chinatown location into a mystery-filled experience, spawning little worlds on the walls that viewers could jump in and out of. Glimpses into the past, present, and future blossomed from the pages of a single notebook that led visitors on a treasure hunt of reflection and discovery.
+community dinner no.2+
Food is love. There is no greater declaration of care than a full belly and an empty plate. The world is in need of love today, so a team of all street cupids united and said, “Let the hyper-specific invite-only masses come to our door and get their fill of nourishment and libations.” The result was a pure, unfiltered, straight-from-the-source slab of medium-rare love.
»looking forward
+gifted+
Do you got gifts? Well, step right up and share ‘em, then. That’s what All Street and Valentine’s Day is all about. Come through to the gifted exhibition by Aidan Wilhite at the Chinatown spot until Friday to see some familiar faces, or maybe discover the next generation of artists. There’ll be programming and workshops throughout the week. Hit here to sign up!
+chaos theory multimedia showcase+
Chaos comes in many forms to engage the various senses. Here at All Street, we most commonly rely on our eyes to guide us through the anarchy of life, so we’re going to switch it up a bit and get on the sound wave. On the evening of February 24th, join us at our East Village location (77 E 3rd st) for a cacophony of noise, music, and chaos. Learn more here.
words
+ a love letter by casper+
Love. What can I say that hasn’t already been said a million times in a million different ways. I’ve been trying to think of something poetic, wise, or funny to share but I’m coming to a blank. And that’s the thing about love, it never comes at the right time. Growing up, I thought love was something that needed to be earned, which I unfortunately still believe. For me, the concept of earning love makes perfect sense, but when I’ve introduced the concept to others, I’ve been told that’s literally the antithesis of love. I’m not saying that other people need to “earn” my love or anything crazy like that, but inside of everyone there’s an intrinsic feeling of unworthiness of love, and the only way to quell that sentiment is to “earn” the love of others. Now, that may sound dark, but stick with me. I think that internal deficiency drives people to constantly try to do and be better until eventually they earn enough trust to relax and believe in the solidity of the love they’ve received. Personally, it’s very easy to “earn” my love if you let me have the last slice of pizza, or ask a single follow up question to “How was your day?” or "What's up?” I’m basically riding with you for life. I like to say I appreciate the little things, but the truth is, I just assume everyone is a far better person than me. Whenever I experience someone kind, I feel like I must show my gratitude and celebrate their sheer awesomeness. When it comes to earning the love of others, I’m pretty top-notch at that part. I hustle, but it’s hard for me to get comfortable and trust in any guarantee of unconditional support. I always feel like the rug could be pulled out from me at any time. Outside of TV and Instagram, I’ve never witnessed a functional romantic adult relationship in my life and based on my limited crowdsourced research, I don’t think most people have either. Yet as a kid, despite seeing a nightly trainwreck unfold before my eyes, I wholeheartedly believed that “true forever love” was waiting for me just around the corner. If I’m being honest, I still feel like that. There always has to be something more to hope, wish, or aspire to. Otherwise there’s just life and the acceptance that maybe your future will just be a varying degree of shitty depending on the day. Even though it’s wild corny, I think love is the only thing that tips the shitty scale. Other people are only interesting to us for the potential of love, whether platonic, romantic, familial, or the momentary fleeting love you may have for a stranger in a split second of mutual recognition that you’re both alive. Also, despite having A LOT of enemies – I mean like an insane amount (like a Notes app list on my phone that you gotta really scroll to get through) – but despite that, I think if you give it enough time, there’s the potential to fall in love with anyone. If you think of the most boring person you know, there’s someone that loves them and probably for good reason, you just haven’t seen why yet. You probably will never get to see why or how they earned that love, but they must have. I think that’s what draws so many people to art and making: there’s the constant potential to earn love from strangers even if you’re a boring asshole. So, in closing, the All Streetcultfamily would like to wish you a love-filled Valentine’s Day!
missed connections
+i’m talking to you opening reception
You: not talking to me
Me: more a scavenger than a hunter
Description
I will find time for the moments in between lines ‘cause feelings kept inside will just wither and die, so even if I didn’t catch your eye, I’ll catch your heart, just give it time.
+community dinner no.2
You: had something stuck in your teeth the whole night
Me: wishing i was a toothpick
Description:
I probably should have told you. I imagine the moment you went home and looked in the mirror, you were mortified and I’m sorry for that. But otherwise, how would you know this was about you?
+by all means figure drawing 2.6
You: effortless
Me: trying my best
Description:
That joke I made about that thing that happened didn’t quite land like I hoped it would. Silence fell upon the room and I wanted nothing more than to disappear - but without missing a beat, you made an even worse joke, not only embracing the awkward silence, but speeding into it full throttle.
horoscopes
+Aries+
To love someone else, you must first love yourself because we live in an individualistic capitalist society where you must always put yourself and your needs over everyone else.
+Taurus+
Love can be felt in a look, a hand, a word, a gesture, but can it be felt in the absence of everything? Can love be felt in a void from a distance of miles or years or a life? Will the love you create while on this earth outlive you once you’re gone? I don’t know. I’m asking you.
+Gemini+
No more drills. Today is the real mission. We ain't talkin’ ‘bout practice no ‘mo. Go to the nearest chain pharmacy. I’m talking Duane Reade, I’m talking Walgreens, I’m talking CVS, I’m talking RiteAid. I think those are all the major ones. If I missed any, though, def drop a line in the comment section below. Hit that V-Day isle ASAP. Find the biggest heart shaped box of chocolates you can get. The bigger the better. Once you find a nice, big and juicy heart, cop it, immediately. Take it to the nearest body of water. I’m talking the Hudson River, I’m talking the East River, I’m talking the reservoir, I’m talking the goddamn Gowanus Canal. Wherever you choose, it just needs to be big and wet. Individually remove every chocolate from the box. Skip ‘em like stones on the water. Make sure not to just chuck ‘em, but actually skip ‘em. Make sure to get that side-arm technique right. Once all the chocolates are out of the box and properly skipped, run home and locate some paper. For every indent in the box that once held a chocolate you’re going to fill with a crumpled up piece of paper. On each piece of crumpled paper, however, you must first write a note. The notes will be addressed to the last person you said “I love you” to that didn’t say it back. Each note should include a reason why you’re loveable. Once complete, deliver the box to their doorstep. Now sit back and wait.
+Cancer+
Once love is given, it can never be taken back. Unlike sticks and stones, words are forever burrowed deep into your bones. Every feeling felt and moment had may not always be accessible by memory, but it’s still there.
+Leo+
Love is like a cup of water, you can either see it as half full or half empty because you’ll always want more, even when you don’t need it. So whether sipping slowly or chugging down, don’t let a single drop spill.
+Virgo+
Everyone knows about the tortoise and the hare, so obviously it’s really not about being first, it's actually about being the last thing they think about before they fall asleep every night. So leave out your midnight offerings, it’s time to bribe the sandman so he’ll sprinkle some pleasant dreams about you into the ear of the one you love.
+Libra+
If you have a crush, go ahead and tell them. Every second you wait gives them further opportunity to find someone else that's way, way, wayyyy better than you. Those who hesitate will always rebuke fate.
+Scorpio+
Not every pot needs a lid, but sometimes pots do like to be watched until they boil. It’s important that the kitchen can be a place for experimentation and whether or not you can take the heat won’t matter, as long as you always make sure to wash your hands before and after.
+Sagittarius+
Apparently, love is just a chemical reaction, but so is literally everything else that exists in the entire universe. So according to science, love is as real as the flowing water in the vast ocean, the twinkling stars in the night sky, and the old crumbs in your crusty pockets.
+Capricorn+
If you think there’s only one way to say “I love you,” then you’re obviously not thinking hard enough. So crack open a book (or a thesaurus) and get creative because it’s too early to drop the L word, but saying “I like you” makes you sound like a freaking middle schooler.
+Aquarius+
They say, “‘tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” ‘Tis it tho? I think it’s better to take no L’s. So remember, in matters of the heart, winning isn’t everything but having ‘tis is.
+Pisces+
You can’t have a soulmate without no soul.
playlist
+Send us your writing, ideas, notes, observations or anything you want to gallery@allstnyc.com to be considered for future editions of all or nothing+