Melissa Guion is a musician, graphic designer, radio DJ, and multidisciplinary artist from New Orleans, LA. She makes music under the moniker MJ Guider, performing nationally and internationally, and releasing music on Kranky, Constellation Tatsu, and most recently modemain - an imprint she launched to serve as a conduit for future collaboration and collective contribution as well as her own music releases through multimedia editions. She founded the experimental radio program Night Gallery on WTUL and produces visual work across a variety of mediums.

Throughout this month-long residency I’ve done a fair amount of work. Of course I wanted to take the opportunity to make something, or some things, and I did. The big project, though, was about sharing that work: showing it, talking about it, and being less clandestine in my art life. In recent years I’ve gotten a bit “better” about this (more with music than visual work) but it doesn’t come easily. When I do it, it can be uncomfortable and draining. Of course I’m mainly talking about “posting” - using social media.

“It feels like a lot to make the work, share the work, endorse the work, advocate for the work, and also frequently do other, completely different work to support both yourself and the first kind work.”

Anyone reading this has surely observed or expressed lamentations about social media like I have (both). It feels like a lot to make the work, share the work, endorse the work, advocate for the work, and also frequently do other, completely different work to support both yourself and the first kind work. I’m fortunate to have wonderful advocates and friends who share their platforms, resources, and enthusiasm with me, and help me share what I do more widely and with care. And I’m frequently glad to have a way to reach people, imperfect as it is. So I’m not here to bemoan social media, or turn my nose up at “being online." I would much prefer to offer alternatives, but I don’t have any great ones yet.

There’s always the option to simply not participate. I’ve done that at various points to varying degrees for varied reasons. Sometimes what you make still finds its way to its people, and sometimes it doesn’t. The work itself isn’t any less valid if you’re not actively promoting it. Not everyone can or wants to do that. But still, after many years on top, social media platforms remain the prevailing arena to freely (more or less) share (subject to the rules and whims of the platform) work.

I have a lot of feelings about the platforms themselves that are perhaps better saved for another discussion altogether. Briefly to that point, though, earlier this week a friend / extremely excellent musician and printmaker Beck Levy shared some good advice that I’ll pass along: “digital archives are unreliable & these platforms aren’t yours—think about what’s important to you & preserve it elsewhere.”

This has been an illuminating few weeks. Thanks to Southern Heat Exchange for this time and space.

Thank you to Melissa Guion for sharing her visual practice with us this July!