Yesterday, A Write at the Museum brought us to the Guggenheim’s Harmony and Dissonance, an exhibit on Orphism. This early 20th century art movement was entirely new to me and I found it totally captivating.
Our assignment was to “gift” a work of art to another member of the group. We are each to use our gift as a writing prompt by this Wednesday.
I was gifted Italian Futurist Giacomo Balla’s Mercury Passing Before the Sun.
This work was created in 1914, just after the start of WWI. When I look at it, I see the Statue of Liberty, though I know that is not what the artist intended. But she is there, is she not?
A few thoughts on the last week:
Now is not the time for despair.
Now is the time to get very clear about what our work in this world is. For example, my work is not to consume every news article and political podcast episode under the guise of being “informed.” In fact, doing so would prevent me from doing my real work, which includes reflecting our world and pushing for a better one through art; raising a thoughtful, compassionate member of Generation Alpha; and helping steward an organization whose continued success supports the livelihoods of around twenty people. Your work is probably different. There will be a lot of noise designed to distract us from our work.
At the same time, much of it is signal, not noise. Part of our work is also figuring out how to tune into the signals in a way that is both oriented toward action and sustainable. We are in this — caring for one another, building our communities, creating a more just world — for the long haul. Burn steady, not out.
Back to the painting. In astrology, a Mercury/Sun conjunction signifies communication, wisdom, and intellect + energy and power. Something to set our sights on, for sure.

This week in reading
I inhaled my ARC of Better: A Memoir About Wanting to Die by Arianna Rebolini. I’m preparing to interview Arianna for the Chicago Review of Books and there is so much to talk about. Our books also talk to each other in surprising ways.
Now I’m returning to Horse Girl Fever by Kevin Maloney and looking for the next novel to sink into…
This week in writing
Weeks like this, I lean all the way into my systems of accountability.
The Ungodly Hour Writing Club started back up this week, and though I was traveling for work and joining from Illinois meant logging on at 4:30am, I showed up. A Write at the Museum has kept my intake of art way, way up. And my friend Sara Lippmann and I have been emailing each other daily writing reports. If it weren’t for these systems, I probably wouldn’t have touched the novel this week. But I did, and I finished another draft of an essay, too.
This week in Leave news
Part I of the tour starts the week after next.
Brooklyn, NY | 02.06.2025 | 7pm
Rally Reading Series at Pete’s Candy Store — RSVP
Brooklyn, NY | 02.25.2025 | 6:30pm
LEAVE launch party and conversation with Sara Lippmann at Lofty Pigeon (RSVP coming soon!)
Cambridge, NY | 03.08.2025 | 12:30pm
Mud U class Writing From Memory — RSVP
Philadelphia, PA | 03.13.2025 | 6:30pm
Philly launch and conversation with Jiordan Castle at The Head & The Hand — RSVP
I am so excited to get out there and read from this book and talk to people about it. I hope to see some of you!
One month to go til pub date. 99% real.
Take care of yourself, my friend.
Love,
Shayne