Art Residency at the Madison Bubbler
When I first learned that Wisconsinites called water fountains "bubblers" I laughed and thought it was ridiculous. Now, after more than six years of living in Wisconsin, I'll be the…
The benefits of keeping a journal: paper time machines and thoughts from the soul
I keep a hand-written journal, to log the often boring, redundant, silly, serious, terrible, hopeful, vulnerable thoughts that I have. My current journal is handmade and has a sister that…
Jenie Gao running through electrical wire at the finish line of the Tough Mudder
“Only a fool trips on what’s behind him”
"Only a fool trips on what's behind him." I had a thrilling, amazing, tumultuous, nerve-wracking, at times unpredictable, unforgettable, educational, creative, and fulfilling 2016. Full of growing pains and gains,…
Today, we wear white
When I was a kid, my parents pounded into my head how lucky I am to have been born in the US. My mom, especially, emphasized how lucky as a…
In Pursuit of Purpose
I've been thinking a lot about what makes for meaningful work. People often think that finding meaning is the same as finding happiness. More accurately, it's about being willing to…
What God Looks Like
My mother once told me the story of a cartoon she saw in a newspaper some years ago, which explained God. In the cartoon, God is a faceless, featureless oval on a table. People come…
Still from Artist Talk at ALL
Our Relationship with Power: Why It Matters & What We Can Learn
Did you miss my show at Arts + Literature Laboratory? Here's a recap of why I chose to focus on power and a video of the story I told at the reception.…
Lessons of departure: the heart and mind of a rural town in a tourists’ economy
Lanesboro Arts Center is beautiful. The space is bright, open, welcoming, and full of activity. They regularly host artists and writers to use the space as a getaway to focus on projects,…
Ink drawings of Trees by Jenie Gao
A welcome interruption: a letter for busy people
We are a culture in transit, both for the joy and the agony of it. Our long work commutes depress us, while ideas of travel and escape excite us. In…
Flat Pictures of High Places - ink and watercolor drawing by Jenie Gao
Rules are made to be…
I'm a lover of paradox, for those who didn't know, especially the man-made ones. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, you need a parking permit to keep your car on the street at night.…