A Cabinet of Curiosities, indeed

by Marynia Gottfred

Cabinet of Curiosities by Domenco Remps, c. 1690s

I’m opening my first post to the blog with a Baroque painting, because, inevitably, as I’ve sat down to write this, my mind keeps traveling back to it. So it feels as good a starting place as any. Remps’ Cabinet of Curiosities is trompe-l’oeil style, blurring the line between real and imagined space, inviting the viewer to let their eyes wander through the eclectic mix of artefacts and oddities depicted. It’s what I imagine this blog to be, as it continues to grow. A collection of stories and real-life magic. Right now, the Cabinet has just begun to open, with mysteries inside, waiting to be discovered. Something for our readers to explore and with any luck, take delight and inspiration from. To feed all of our senses of wonder and whimsy. (PS. someone will probably find some devilish freemasonry symbolism in this painting I’ve included here that I’m not aware of. I’d like to go ahead and squash any weird affiliations people want to make)

Hearing the pitch for The Dragon Cabinet from Aedan and Nat, I was instantly sold. To cultivate a community of artists creating and putting out work bravely into the world, writing about process, taking the time to build up and support our fellow cabinet members. I was honored to be invited into a circle of creators I respect and admire. I was also extremely intimidated. 

I went to art school with many of my fellow cabinet members and I’ve been inspired by their work for years. My professional involvement with the creative world since graduating has been on the production side (which is something I feel deeply passionate about and enjoy immensely - I could talk endlessly about the world of production management and bore you all to tears). There is still an artist in me, but my art has become something that I have been increasingly private about. Sometimes, it’s a matter of not having time to make, not prioritizing the connection to creativity and letting it shrink into the background of my personality, disconnecting from the outlet I’ve always cherished. And when I find time to make, I have a habit of keeping the art to myself, tucked away from others and safe from judgement. 

The Dragon Cabinet is doing something bold. Inviting us to create and share. To do the hard work of making, and then do the vulnerable work of sharing. For the community we are building, a place to gather and celebrate art made by artists with hearts and souls. Going against the grain, resisting the hostile takeover of AI into artist spaces, and creating for the sake of creating. Saying “I made this,” unapologetically, and sharing it with the world. To remind us that “I don’t have anything worth sharing,” is a lie, whispered to us by the enemy until we believe it. 

So here’s to this cabinet of makers, dreamers, artisans, and creators, committed to honing their craft, rejecting fear, learning, and supporting each other along the way. 

quick lil sketch of my beloved dog from earlier this week