Finding Joy in Mourning RBG

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an inspiring woman in so many ways. As a female lawyer, it’s hard not to look up to her and aspire to be like her in some way. But the most surprising way she has been inspiring to me is the way she’s popped up into my art. Her possible death has been a concern for me since November 8, 2016. A huge concern. As I said in this zine in early 2019, it was such a concerning thought that I couldn’t even think about it or the likely the ramifications of such an event.

Illustration discussing how climate change, fascist, anti-immigrant rhetoric, deportations, and RBG's health are all very concerning to comics artist Maddy Buck.

And then it happened. And somehow, despite the urge to wallow in despair at the predictable consequences of her death, I started joyfully making things:

First it was the impromptu collar made the morning after I heard the news. Made with scraps of colored paper, and documented to the tune of the Marriage of Figaro.

Image of Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissent collar created by artist Maddy Buck out of bits of watercolor paper, sitting next to a pin that says, "Dissent collar."

The next day, not sure what to do, I started making her response to the “When will there be enough women on the Supreme Court” question.

Illustration of collage of 9 women on the Supreme Court.

And finally, I responded to a friend’s request to draw her by cutting, pasting, and playing. It turned into a wonky portrait that I adore to pieces and a lawn sign.

Photo of Ruth Bader Ginsburg collage sitting on a yellow chair outside on some grass with many orange leaves all around.

May her legacy be honored and may she keep inspiring us all to create and act in positive ways.

The periodic nature of social media

There was a time when I spent all my free time on AOL Instant Messenger. (Check out the perfectly on point Pen15 if you need a refresher on the sounds and sights of those days). Then it got old.

There was a time I spent all my free time on Myspace. But I never really understood what was going on there and something better came along.

There was a time (a long time) when I spent all my free time on Facebook. Then it got old, manipulative, and impersonal.

There was a time I spent some time on Snapchat. But I was 5 years too old and Instagram was more fun.

Then there was a time when I spent too much free time enjoying Instagram. That time is still now. And, to a certain extent, it’s a great and easy way to share and get some feedback on creative work. But lately it is feeling more and more manipulative and out of control. I haven’t abandoned it yet, but its demise feels on the horizon.

After a few years into each form of social media, the luster goes away, the thing that made it special gets replaced by ads and manipulative algorithms, and it’s just not fun anymore. Well, these are my observations, at least.

So, I’m going to try to share more on this space that I own and and manipulate myself and that won’t be affected by the constant adoption and abandonment of social media. (Austin Kleon has some great thoughts about the value of owning the space where you share your work.) We’ll see how it goes….

Stay Tuned for Blob Collages!

I just finished a collection of blob collages. I started these in early lockdown days, almost as a meditative practice. My goal was to complete thirty of them and here they are, in a glorious pile! If you want one, stay tuned!

Image of piles of Maddy Buck art, collaged pieces of paper, in rainbows.