In February 2021, I slipped on some ice and sustained a pretty nasty injury. Two surgeries and a year and a half of PT later I found myself adrift artistically. With no firm deadlines on the horizon and a wandering focus, I took most of 2022 to relax my creative focus and make whatever came to mind and to hand. A good exercise for any artist. I explored new ideas and directions, without the boundaries of a show deadline or a specific theme. I expected at best to lay the foundation for what might be bigger and more developed thematic projects in the future. But as I played- with ideas and with materials- I had some fun. I’m really excited about the work. For the record, I’ve decided what I don’t like is icy sidewalks, so the series is called “Endless Summer.” Melissa Stern, 2022-23