About

Whenever I’m in a terrible mood, and infecting everything around me with resignation and hopelessness, my dad would instruct me to do this exercise: say, out loud, “I feel great today!” but say it like you really mean it, even if you’re just pretending. Then say it again, louder. And again, screaming. And again, smiling. Keep going until you really do feel great. It really works.

My name is Aliya.

This blog is about making art and building community and feeling great about your life right here and right now, not waiting until you are in the perfect place or have the perfect job or situation. It is about being creative whether or not you think you are a creative person. It is about discovering installations in everyday life, and beautiful poems in everyday conversation.

I make installations, sculptures, and events that connect people through providing a playful and purposeful place to explore. I also make upcycled jewlery and clothing, imaginary-landscape quilts, three-legged stuffed animals, and delicious macrobiotic cookies. I am inspired by hardware stores, found objects, maps, trophies and awards, living rooms, animals, crawl-spaces, sleeping bags, hot pink, plush, gold spray paint, glitter. I invite you to be an artist and a community organizer in your own community, to make spaces where people feel comfortable to express themselves, and share what you’re up to this blog.

I graduated from Hampshire College with a BA in Socially Engaged Art. Currently I am living in Brooklyn, NY, working at Creative Time, a public arts organization.

I am always planning and scheduling and looking forward: I am open to suggestions about what could be next.