Those healthier, more profound relationships of friendship, camaraderie, and a type of communion that go beyond the superficial, professional connections in which we all are prone to indulge (because it’s easier, somehow) are really what informs a lot of my own creative and artistic practice. Katri intuitively knew that that’s the kind of connection I really longed for and needed. To give me career or work advice in a place where I am, at best, marginalized socially, linguistically, even legally since the Migri is taking FOREVER to process a pretty simple application, was not really appropriate. But that kind of deeper spiritual exploration is what she could provide, and she did. And we had fun.

But I’ve also had one of the loneliest winters I’ve ever experienced in my life. I’ve had exactly one invitation to take a meal in someone’s home and that was from a person I’ve known a long time and is a contemporary.

I’ve been questioning quite a lot I’m finding myself here. Where’s my place? I don’t know. What I do know is that an amazing opportunity came my way last November in the form of an 11-month fellowship as a curatorial resident at HIAP – Helsinki International Artist Programme on Suomenlinna from September of this year through July of 2025. https://www.hiap.fi/resident/pamela-cohn/ 

I will be hosting some small film & video curations at Globe Art Point in partnership with them this coming spring and continue to wait for my permit (filed last July). Because until I get that piece of paper, I am not allowed to work legally here or travel, etc. I am missing work opportunities, the right to make a living, the right to do lots of things and suffering psychologically and emotionally, besides. A bug stuck on insect tape is my spirit animal for now.