A return from a hibernation of sorts
Hello,
It’s been almost 4 months since I last wrote a Substack post and I feel as though I’ve been hiding in a cocoon, now ready to remerge with a new name (more on that a little later).
I’ve spent the past 4 months having some time off, moving house and dealing with all the packing / sorting / unpacking that entails, setting up my studio in the spare room, working on Berwick Parade and running creative workshops.
I forgot just how much time and energy moving house takes, though as this is my 4th house move in 5 years, really I should be a pro by now (ban second homes, tax the rich etc).
Now that the studio is finished I’ve got time and space to think and imagine again, and suddenly my pinboard and notebooks are full of ideas. As always the challenge is finding funding to bring these wonderings to life, but I’m hopeful 2025 will bring some commissions and successful grant applications my way.
I’m finding ways to tune into the expansive nature of my practice, to dream big and to prioritise my work as an artist. I’ve been reading Rick Rubin’s ‘The Creative Act: A Way of Being’, and would welcome any other books / podcasts / writings that inspire creative thought. Do send any recommendations my way.
As for the new name… last summer, my partner Alex and I secretly got married on a flower farm in the Scottish Borders. I decided that I would wave goodbye to Smith, and take her surname, Sayers, both personally and professionally.
So, hello from Chloë Sayers.
It’s a bold move to change my name at this stage in my career, but it feels right in many ways.
I’ve made a new website to go alongside my new name too, which you can check out here.
That’s all for now, hopefully there’ll be some project updates from me soon, but for now I’m off to write more applications and dream big.
Chloë x
wishing you everything good on all fronts dear Chloe Sayers! Ginxxxxx