On the Road to Self-Love

Gettin’ Ziggy With It

By ziggy zig

— Prince Ziggy Zig is an activist, choreographer, dancer, performer, cocktail mixologist, and novice photographer. He is known as an asset to our community and we look forward to reading more of his work.

Taking the time to love yourself has never been more important, especially during these times. It is an everyday battle, but a rewarding journey and even though I just started this adventure, I truly feel like it is going to be such a beneficial long-term experience for myself and the people around me.

This self-love journey has translated through the different outlets that I have in my own life and has given me the confidence to know that when an obstacle comes my way, I will be able to adapt and make it through no matter how uncomfortable the circumstance may be.

Like other people in the community, I have suffered from anxiety and depression most of my life and have had trouble coping with it by myself especially after the pandemic. One thing that really started helping me move past anxiety and depression was taking a long reflective look at my situation and coming up with solutions for things that I could change, such as my daily schedule and morning routine.

I also try to focus on the things that bring me joy and challenge me at the same time. An example of that is going to the gym almost every morning. I have noticed that on the days I do not go to the gym, I have a little bit less energy while starting my day and I am less enthusiastic about getting tasks done.

I also noticed that just working on my physical appearance is not going to elevate me to the level that I want to be at if I do not work on my mental health as well. So now every morning I take the time to do a daily ritual of reading a positive affirmation and writing in my journal on the things I could work on and what I love in life at the moment. This helps me tremendously because I have shown myself that I am important to myself and taking the time to let me know that I love myself and care about my well-being. I am letting myself know that I matter to myself and not just going through the motions in life. I want to be present in not only where I am, but who I am as a person.

Another thing that I have been taking the time to learn is to stop guessing how people feel and think about me and focus on myself. To know that if there is a problem that needs to be addressed, that it will be brought to my attention and if it is not, then it is something that I do not need to worry about until it is. How a person may feel about me or think of me is none of my business and that was something that I needed to put into practice. This has relieved myself of so much anxiety about people and being in social settings because I am now free to be who I want to be without the worry of what others are going to think of me.

While taking the time to love myself and really reflect on the things that I love to do, I have discovered that I have so many creative outlets within me that I never let myself explore because of the fear of being judged not only by others, but by myself. I have discovered that I love photography and taking pictures of people and editing photos. I love doing interior design and decorating. I also love writing and expressing myself in a way that is profound and therapeutic at the same time.

In other words, I was holding myself back from truly being free and expressing myself in different avenues and different styles. This journey of loving myself is an everyday journey and I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to finally move forward in a way that is beneficial for myself and that can ultimately rub off on others who are around me and supporting me.

Self-love takes discipline. Because when you love yourself, you must show up for yourself and you have to let yourself know that you’ve got your own back. But when you do start showing up for yourself and you do start showing yourself how much you love yourself, everything changes.

There are still attributes of myself that I want to elevate and start putting into practice but I know that it will take time and patience. I do not need to take on my whole 32 years of life in one session and try to fix everything all at once. Anyone who tried to do that would be discouraged a little bit. Creating achievable goals in a realistic time frame is the best way to take control of your destiny, situation, and life without becoming stagnant and overwhelmed.

The last thing that I have learned, which would seem so simple to cultivate in your life, is gratitude. Trust me, especially after the past year and everything that has happened, I know it can be hard to look in the mirror and list off all of the things that you are grateful and thankful for but when you really reflect and start being thankful for even the smallest things like having toothpaste to brush your teeth or a blanket to keep you warm at night, your perspective of life, as a whole, really begins to manifest and change positively.

on The road To selF-love

arTiST ProFile: alexis arChiBald

By patric Stillman

Taking a look at the world from a different point of view provides the basis for this welding artist’s creativity. Conversations provide the path for creation. Personal connections inspire function and beauty. Random scraps transform into art.

Alexis Archibald (courtesy image)

discriminatory, I began to understand that it wasn’t me that they feared. They were simply sacred by something that didn’t know about. I tried to use their fear as a tool of empowerment to make wherever I was a better, safe place. It’s important for me to let others know who I am and keep it moving along from there.” Before the pandemic, a friend encouraged her to get a booth at URBN Pizza in North Park during their monthly art trunk shows produced by Thumbprint Gallery. Currently, she has been getting into the combination of metal and nature as they intertwine. “During COVID, I created a series of metal flowers in pots. I like the idea of rusting metal and thriving plants changing together through time.” A lexis Archibald was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1989 with her Most of the work that Archibald creates derive from collaborative commissions. As a social person, she enjoys twin brother. Together, along with an getting to know her patrons and survey older sister, they were raised in nearby the environment where the work will Layton, where Archibald discovered exist. Part of her process is to incora passion for welding during her teen porate a patron’s personality into the years. At 15, she began to learn the work, for example, by using hard lines, tools of fusing and soldering. She was if they are naturally straight forward the first student to enroll in three years or include curves to create movement, of welding and auto tech, which was if they are soft spoken. recognized as an even greater accom- Functionality is natural part of her plishment for a woman in a typically creative works. Archibald finds that male-dominated course. She has fond her patrons are seeking the combinamemories of igniting her creativity by tion of form and beauty to help transbeing regularly challenged to create form their homes. She takes great sat“creature” sculptures from recycled isfaction in two pieces, a mailbox and pieces of scrap metal. a lamp. The mailbox was an inspired

Around the same time, she came out gift that took root from a lighthearted to her mother as an April Fool’s Day conversation with friends who encourjoke during ninth grade to soften the aged her to create a personal gift for experience. Being caught off guard, their new home. She ran with the idea, her mother reacted poorly to the “joke” incorporating routers and camshafts but it opened up the discussion. In the donated by another friend, to create a process, Archibald discovered that her functional work of art. As a collaborafather was also Gay. tive work amongst friends, Archibald

Though divorced from her mother, believes it is a unique, sentimental Archibald’s father was very engaged piece that will be cherished for a long with the upbringing of his children. time to come. He often surrounded his children with When she purchased her motorcycle, the arts, especially modern dance and she received a generic exhaust that ballet. Her twin brother, who would originally came with the bike. Teachalso come out as Gay, found an inter- ing herself a little electrical work, she est in performance art while Archibald incorporated the exhaust to create a continued her interest in the art of standing lamp that was both functional welding. and beautiful.

Using her craftsmanship skills, “I used a torch to add coloring to the Archibald first job was with a storm piece. When you add heat to certain and drainage piping company. Her boss metals, they turn blue or purple. I encouraged her creativity and allowed was able to fire the exhaust to create a her to use the scrap metal from jobs for delicacy to the hard form. Once I added creative projects. This is when her art- a few bulbs with exposed filaments, it istry began to blossom and she started became a thing of true beauty.” a thoughtful journey with her art. In the future, she hopes to build her

She moved to San Diego, after she own workshop to create larger works. was fired from her second welding job She recently missed out on the chalbecause they learned she was Gay. lenge of creating a metallic fountain Archibald looks upon this as a blessing but the planning that she put into the in disguise because it jumpstarted her project has inspired her to think about own personal growth. scaling up her work.

“It’s hard to be a woman in a man’s “It gives me so much happiness world, in a trade like that,” said and joy to create custom works for my Archibald. “When I was feeling like patrons. The infusion of their happiness an outcast or in a situation that was and my welding visual art inspires me

Mailbox

Flower

Lamp to keep growing. It’s a nice, warm feeling to be in the community. Let’s all keep loving and supporting each other.”

Artist Alexis Archibald can be found on social media: @lezweld on Instagram.

Patric Stillman is a fine artist and gallery owner of The Studio Door. If you are an artist in San Diego’s LGBTQ+ community and would like to be featured in an artist profile, please contact Patric for consideration at patric@thestudiodoor.com.

Hummingbird

Plant Stand