Art & beauty

[kaberett]

I have two friends doing astonishing things, currently, seeking crowdfunding/support.

1. Mia has set up a Patreon account: she brings joy and beauty and light into the world with her art, claws it out of a mire of pain and horror and exhaustion, and sets it gentle between her hands. Patreon is a means to crowd-support artists; Mia says:

I'm a queer Filipina artist who recently immigrated to Australia for True Love. My heart lives halfway between the Philippines -- the land of my birth and the beat of my blood, pugad ng luha ko't dalita -- and Australia, a place whose song I am only just learning, where I am just beginning to put down roots.

2. CN Lester, of a gentleman and a scholar, the Transpose series of fundraisers showcasing trans artists and performers, raising money for charities supporting LGBT+ populations, is crowdfunding their latest album, Aether. I've heard it performed live twice now and I cannot wait to get my hands on a recording of my own - CN is honest and heartbreaking about mood disorders and grief, and sings to you-the-audience about how beautiful you are, how beautiful you look from their perspective, and -- yes. Yes. It is a thing of joy and of wonder, also.

Comments

[clare_dragonfly]

Oh, wow--thanks for pointing me to Mia. I took a look at her portfolio and I'm crazy about her art. Plus, I've been looking for someone to try supporting on Patreon to see how I like the system in practice rather than just in theory (a friend of mine set one up, but doesn't have anything up, and I'm hoping that with a bunch of backers there the same will not happen to Mia!).

I'll check out the music, too!

[kaberett]

So glad you enjoyed the recs - I am working on finalising my ideas enough to actually commission Mia to do a specific thing, but first I have to decide which specific thing... so delighted that you get to try out an awesome model supporting such an awesome person :D

[itsamellama]

Indeed, I highly recommend my friend Mia ♥ She's absolutely fantastic and has been a major influence on my work in the past few years that I have known her.