all or nothing #17 - are you taking care?
table of contents
1.events 2.words 3.missed connections 4.horoscope 5.listen
»looking forward
+inhale the exhaust open call+
After a quarter century living, growing, and simultaneously failing and thriving in the great metropolis of New York City, the one piece of advice I can give? Don’t take the Cross Bronx Expressway - but if you must, open the window and breathe deep. Although you may be stuck in gridlocked traffic on a Tuesday afternoon, rest easy knowing that exhaust filling your lungs is bringing you nearer to the sweet relief of death. Before you arrive at your final resting place, though, you might as well apply to this super neat open call at All Street where you can vent about our hometown.
+my need for tender loving care open call+
Do you care? Like do you really, really care? ‘Cause, I mean, considering you’re here right now, I thought you did, but now I’m not so sure. From where I’m sitting, behind a screen in a dusty little basement in Chinatown, I’m just talking to the void. Considering no one ever likes or comments on these posts, I definitely get lonely. If you really want to prove your capacity for care, submit to this sweet little open call right here.
»looking back
+secret concert+
Shhh! Keep this on the low low low. I know we may not have ever met in person, but after SEVENTEEN dates, I think it's safe to say we’re moving from casual to committed, so I want to share some secrets to demonstrate the trust I have in you. Don’t say you heard this from us, but we might have thrown a concert last weekend. And it was kinda f***ing insane.
+where i lay opening reception+
If our walls could speak, they’d probably be perpetually yelling in absolute torment and horror after the years of stabbing, smashing, and prodding we’ve inflicted upon them. This month, though, I think they may be thanking us. Sylvie Harris and Natalya Kornblum-Laudi have blessed the demented walls of All Street with a soft warmth through beautiful textiles, photography, and woodworking, on view through April 14th at our East Village location (77 East 3rd Street).
words
+self (destructive) care+
I’ve never really understood what self-care means. When I think of self-care, my mind conjures up images of cucumbers on eyelids, hair in a towel, and a tall glass of a green liquid that looks just as bad as it tastes. If I was asked to define self-care, I’d probably look toward the Goop website or the lobby of a luxury spa. From my understanding, the concept of self-care is basically a practice of taking the time to prioritize one’s comfort above everything else in the world. Admittedly, there was obviously a lil bit of snark in that definition, but considering the obnoxious nature in which self-care is touted about and performed on social media, I think my exhausted disdain is a commonly shared sentiment. What feels odd about self-care to me is the standardized nature in which “rejuventating” and “relaxing” practices have been branded to become a one size fits all solution for any ailment ranging from mental burnout to physical pain. Whenever I have a spare second, the thing I want to do most is absolutely nothing. For me, a couple hours of nothing paired with junk food (either something that’s fried or crunchy) and mind numbing TV (either a reality dating series or a big budget superhero movie I’ve already seen) is the recipe to get me to momentarily turn off my brain and take a pause. The only problem with this nuanced practice of vegetating is the great lack of health benefits, both in a nutritional and mental health sense. Ultimately, the “self-care” taken can become a potentially destructive behavior. Then there is the anxiety that comes from a lack of productivity and the unshakeable guilt of actively choosing to participate in behaviors that are widely acknowledged to be negative. Thus, to achieve the truly elevated plane of self-care, one must look to holistically recharge and replenish their mind, body, and soul. But let’s be honest, doing the right or healthy thing usually comes with demonstrating a great deal of self-control, which then could leave your mind and spirit extremely taxed and exhausted. The cycle continues, leading to the need to practice more never-ending self-care, buying more products to soothe your skin and muscles, more subscriptions to quiet your mind and fill the void in your soul. So, what's the answer? Well, I obviously don’t know, or I wouldn’t be here writing a rant that no one will ever read in the midst of recovering from a flu and a broken foot, both of which could have easily been avoided if I took better care of myself. The lie I choose to believe is that moments of self-demolition are imperative in the process of creating a strong foundation, which then can be built upon for maximal growth. However, in reality, that's not poetic or even true, it’s just desperate. So, in closing, do whatever you need to do. No one cares and certainly no one is watching. It’s only you and your reflection.
missed connections
+where i lay opening
You: perhaps the most repulsive person I’ve ever seen in my entire life
Me: grossly intrigued
Description
I want to be where you lay. Bring me to your cave, your dwelling, your habitat. I want to be your captive, under your tender loving care.
+secret concert
You: blue shadows danced upon your eyes
Me: with one look was at your service
Description:
It was a dark and stormy night on a little street in Chinatown. I didn’t expect to find you, but I did. I was at your beck and call slinging drinks to the masses when you, the one with blue eyeshadow, emerged at the bar and it was all over for me.
+figure drawing 3.19
You: could never be a bother
Me: me a perpetual petulance
Description:
I was lost until you found me, guiding my hand to the promised land of pure bliss. Following the lines and contours of charcoal flesh, I entered the Elysian Fields of Chinatown.
horoscopes
+Aries+
No one ever fell in love being careful, so throw caution to the wind and keep your mind full and care empty.
+Taurus+
If sharing is caring, then technically taking is anti-caring. Thus, all care taken must immediately be returned.
+Gemini+
Run yourself a bath. Make sure it’s so hot you’re uncomfortable. The extra heat will really help extract all the toxins from your porous meat suit. Before entering, drizzle a little bit of olive oil, a dash of oregano, and a secret ingredient of your choosing into the boiling mix swirling around in your tub. If you’re anything like me, your apartment's prewar plumbing makes bath time extremely precarious for your downstairs neighbors, so we’ll have to make this one quick. Think of a number between 10 and 30, then play the Adele album that’s closest to the number you thought of. Sing along at the top of your lungs as you submerge yourself in the water. Once in the water and singing along, think of the last place you felt safe, then close your eyes. When you open your eyes you will be in that place. Really feel the heat of the water on your skin, let that intense heat sink in and imagine you’re engulfed in flames. As you witness that place of serene safety burn down around you, remember that all of this is just in your head and that you’re actually totally fine. Then let the bath water drain until your wrinkly, damp body is sitting like a slimy slug in the porcelain vat. Take a selfie and hide it away in your hidden folder. Don’t look back at it for another two weeks. This is you, you are this, forever.
+Cancer+
Sometimes two letters will make all the difference. If care can become scare or carved or clare, then you can become whoever you want with only two letters, too. And the two most important letters in the English language formulate the magical word, “NO.”
+Leo+
The commodification of care has generated a subverted utilitarian economy fueled by the need for constant productivity and output, situating the permanent plebeian as a simultaneous byproduct and casualty of the failed planning produced by a lack of care. With that said, be careful.
+Virgo+
Some people say it’s cool to care, while some people say it’s hot not to. Regardless of your temperature preferences, the weather is never fixed and there’s a reason some days it’s hot outside and others it's cool out, so be like the climate and change.
+Libra+
Don’t be afraid to slow down and even stop for a second. In order to run, you must first stop, then walk, and finally run. Otherwise, running would be a constant state where you could never speed up or slow down, and we must remember that pacing is everything.
+Scorpio+
A famous Canadian once said, “Take Care,” but what if we tried giving care once in a while instead of taking it? Try that on for a size and see how you fit in the world.
+Sagittarius+
You could always care less. People often misuse the common saying by forgetting to utilize the common contraction for “not” after the word “could.” But perhaps it’s a freudian slip of the tongue and mind.
+Capricorn+
For some people, self care is a practice because it never can be perfected, but for people like you and me, we don’t talk ‘bout practice because we’re too busy already in the game.
+Aquarius+
It’s not that you don’t care, it's just that the only thing you actually care about is yourself and you know what? That’s ok, because if you don’t prioritize yourself then no one will.
+Pisces+
No one cares about you.
playlist
bonus
+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+