This past friday was the release party for our final volume of FOUR. It was certainly a bittersweet evening but incredibly special nonetheless. I was overwhelmed and deeply humbled (and have been throughout the entire experience) by how much support and praise we’ve received from the city, across the country and throughout the world. I mean we don’t know what we’re doing; we’ve just been pulling together things we like and whatever phase we’d been going through at the time (hence “can i live?”), and hoping that people like it and aren’t offended. But just seeing how excited and grateful everyone (and this is a very diverse “everyone”) was to be involved was really affirming and somewhat emotional but (sigh) just something I can’t put into words.
I’ve always said the magazine was created to showcase the amazing creatives that live in and around Charlotte. We just wanted to create opportunities for people (like us) who needed an outlet to work on something beautiful that will be kept on a coffee table or bookshelf, not flipped through and thrown out after a couple days. and that’s happened! Everything I wanted and more happened and was successful. FOUR could have easily been a drop in the ocean of new publications started every year, but we were blessed and highly favored to have gained a supportive loyal diverse following that is saddened to see us take a hiatus.
One of the guys I talked to understood my reasoning for leaving and he brought up the fact that people get complacent in Charlotte because it isn’t that huge of a city so it’s easy to settle when you’re at the top because once you find your niche there’s no competition. So the work starts to slack and become less remarkable. I never want that to happen. I will never settle with being “amazing” by Charlotte standards because I know better. Take it to a big city and then tell me what you think. I need time to get re-inspired to the point where its just pouring out of my hands, not just going through the motions. I want to crave life and experiences again. So don’t worry… I have B I G secret plans in the works for when I return to charlotte; I’m coming back on my worst behavior. and I'm hoping that there will be some friendly competition by then...
Sidebar: I was especially happy about the fact my beau was there and able to really see what I do, because he (who does not work anywhere near the design field), like my parents don’t really get it. All they see is me neurotic, always working, always stressing, always on the computer, super critical and freaking out about things that would seem ridiculous to anyone other than a designer. So the fact he got to witness the final outcome and actually hear what people were saying and how touched they were by our work was truly amazing.
PARTY MIX Reasonable Doubt — Jay-Z Saint Heron — Solange Knowles and Friends G I R L – Pharrell Williams Cupid Deluxe — Blood Orange
Photography captured by my lovely sister, Les Artise.