Guild Hall Academy of the Arts

Or, what am I doing here?

I’m going to be inducted into the Guild Hall Academy of the Arts tomorrow. At first I was like, sure, yeah, that sounds nice. I’ve collaborated with Guild Hall a few times. They are a performing arts venue and art space in East Hampton. They invited me out there and treated me well. I felt like they listened when I talked about Indigenous things.

So, sure, I’d be happy to be part of your academy. But then I looked at the list of people they have inducted previously, and it includes actually famous people: Julie Andrews (!!!???!!!!!), Ina Garten (omg, are we going to be friends?!?!, can I come to brunch!?!?) Ralph Lauren (can I get a discount code?!?!?), Neil deGrasse Tyson (can we talk about stars??!!??), and like…lots and lots of other people. Lots.

This years inductees include: Katie Couric, Neil Patrick Harris, Sheree Hovsepian, Jane Krakowski, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph M. Pierce, David Rockwell, Jeffrey Seller, and Almond Zigmund. [WHAT AM I DOING HERE??????]

I don’t know. Its fine. I’m sure not all of the people being inducted this year will actually be there. And maybe we won’t even talk or be introduced. Supposedly we’re going to be invited on stage to receive a medal? So maybe we will. I don’t know.

I do know that I have an outfit. It’s going to be a little sexy and a little NDN. It is going to be CUTE. I’m bringing NDN cuteness. I’m going to have my hair done (thanks to Deyah Cassadore) and my friend Daniel Salmon gave me some final styling suggestions. So, I’m taking care of things I can take care of. (I mean, it's an event and I need to look CUTE).

But also…what’s the word for insecurity and apprehension and denial and fear and maybe also curiosity and that sinking feeling? I am not a pro at these things. But I want to say this: humility is a practice. I am humbled that a group of people want to recognize my work in this way. I know, I know. But also, the humble thing is to be grateful and to offer what I can in a good way. I think I am being asked to offer something of myself—what exactly I am not sure—but I have learned that being of good mind, being of good heart, means accepting with gratitude when someone offers a gift. So, I’ll be sure to post a follow up later this week, with pictures and such. For now, gratitude is the word of the day.

(a picture of me in an old mirror when I was doing a workshop with Guild Hall last summer)