Dangerous Predictions by Annie Mitchell

We’re all making unconscious choices in our lives based on our minds evolutionary inclination to make predictions for us. “This is where we were attacked last year”, “If you go into rushing water over the knee, it’ll take you downstream”, “she’ll fuck your boyfriend” and on and on, all the time, without end.

These predictions are a result of our own unique wiring, our trauma, and our environments both past and present. If you think about it … In a way, the future has already been scripted so what choices are we actually making?

The Zen practitioner says “none and also…” By examining the mind and actively working to cultivate an awareness of the present (in all its innocence and beauty), we can forgive the often painful educations we’ve been granted, thank the Universe for our gifts, and move forward not from the same ol’ doomsday programming but from clarity and soul.

Good luck to us all.

March Tenth by Annie Mitchell

I read somewhere

Things that are perfect are dead things. Empty things. A silence beyond change or challenge. An endpoint. A blank page. You are a wonderfully messy thing. An impossible thing made of iron and rainwater. Meat and electricity. A dream with teeth. You're too good for perfection.

ART and Music

Made as an Artist in Residence at Camp V, a former uranium mining camp, turned into cool cabins on an art park in rural Colorado. https://www.campv.com/core

Studio sculpture by Light artist Annie Mitchell

studio sculpture by Light artist Annie Mitchell

Studio sculpture by Light artist Annie Mitchell

Studio sculpture by Light artist Annie Mitchell

Studio sculpture by Light artist Annie Mitchell

Piano recorded in Malibu, CA 7/10/2020. Vocals recorded in Vancorum, CO 3/10/2022

Summer 2021 by Annie Mitchell

I feel like the reclusion and uncertainty of the pandemic made existing among others feel harder than it used to. It’s suddenly an enormous drain to connect and keep meaningful conversations afloat. Maybe I lost what little tolerance for it that I had and have fully embraced my inner Hermit. The rhythm certainly agrees with me.

Artist in residence

I’m currently 6 weeks into an 8 week residency in central New York at Stone Quarry Hill Art Park where I am building a floating sculpture to be displayed for the public, August 20 and 27. The 2-night event was just opened to the public today and I was told our slots are almost full so if you’re in the area and want to come .. shoot me a message.

I’ve been finding a lot of peace away from the pressures of life here. The grounds are beautiful and the landscape is so lush and green and despite what people say about New Yorkers, I’ve found them to be warm and welcoming. :) It’s rained quite a lot .. which has been amazing because it never rains in LA, but now I find myself missing the always bike-able weather of California. I composed the song below a couple weeks ago .. it has rain and thunder samples from the park.

A PODCAST

I was recently interviewed by the incredible creative forces that are Joel Krieger and Pavani Yalla for a brilliant new podcast they have put together that sheds light on people in the design community who feel a calling to use our skills in service of changing how we exist, our way of relating to the earth and our way of relating to each other. Right up my alley. It was an honor and incredibly fun. They’ve really got something great. I have enjoyed every episode and I encourage you to give it a listen.

In Joel’s words: “Outside In is a podcast about experience design for change. We’ll journey out to the margins to discover design insights in unexpected places. Our episodes will cover a kaleidoscope of experience — from wilderness treks to VR films, communal festivals to immersive theater and beyond. In each episode, we’ll deconstruct an experience with its creator — together, revealing strategies, insights and techniques for transformative experience design.”

Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Google Podcasts

Alueria at The Falls of Ohio by Annie Mitchell

LightFall is a place where art and nature collide to ignite our interest in, and love of, the natural spaces that have shaped our community. Designed in partnership with the Falls of the Ohio Foundation and River Heritage Conservancy, LightFall connects people to the historically significant landscapes of our river parks through art that inspires exploration and creativity.

I am honored to be the inaugural artist for this event at The Falls of Ohio, a site that brought great joy to my Mother and to our family. Alongside a fantastic team composed of local artist and musician WG Rickel, David Howe whom I bring with me from LA and a handful of devoted volunteers, I will be creating my largest meditative, immersive light and sound experience to date.  

Borrowing from a fungus endemic to Indiana, I titled the piece, 'Alueria’. Just as mycorrhizal networks connect individual plants together to transfer water, carbon, nitrogen, and other nutrients and minerals. I see the plant world as a site of teaching for humanity; The network encourages empathy in the plant world, a shared consciousness, a shared mission. If help is needed, the message goes out and neighboring plants react. Plants will actually share resources. It’s fascinating and relevant. We should be tuning in to each other like that. And I believe we can.

Alueria invites synchronicities and resonances between us and the environment’s resplendence. The work offers a distinct opportunity to experience an empathetic bridge between the constellation of beings, seen and unseen, known and unknown. I hope you'll join us. General admission tickets are here and if you’re interested in our special donor event party on opening night, September 8, shoot me a message me and I’ll get you there. 

Collaborators:
WG Rickel - Sound design and creative support
David Howe of Lightriders - Technical support

Partners:
The Falls of Ohio Foundation
River Heritage Conservancy
SoIN Tourism
Louisville Public Media

Made possible with grants from Bales Foundation and Samtec

Once Upon a Time by Annie Mitchell

My dreams came true. I gave my love freely and wholly and I was desired and seen and appreciated. I made art and lived in my body. I had a dog to love, a person to love and a garden to tend. My mornings were slow and my days were filled with pursuits of curiosity. I felt gratitude for the opportunity to behold a divine universe.

IMG_20200628_073640-01.jpeg
PXL_20201117_012606544-01.jpeg

Guest House by Annie Mitchell

11 months in .. I miss traveling. I miss eating at restaurants. I miss yoga classes with lots of people around me. I miss biking around town to my errands without a care in the world.

I miss you.

-Annie