2016 BY THE NUMBERS

As an expert numerologist and math genius (some call me the Descartes of Instagram), it is my honor and pleasure to deconstruct this year's numerical figures through the lens of my life. Films, albums, castles, quotes, all the important things... 

An   ⭐️extra special⭐️   top ten for you, my friends, my colleagues, my math students. 

 

descartes doing math

descartes doing math

TEN✨ CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED FILMS I WISH I WATCHED IN THEATRES BUT COULDN'T BECAUSE OF THE CRIPPLING ANXIETY I GET AT THE CINEMA

With the comfort of Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and home VR devices, I've seen so many movies this year. Hundreds, maybe? A lot of my work this year involved cinematography and marginal industry involvement. I studied film in college. I love the cinema. Yet, as the cruel nature of the world would have it, going to the movies was not a big part of my life in 2016. I have deep anxiety to blame for that, and I'm having deep fomo for these ten pictures right now!

I resolve to catch up on these films, and watch more at the theatres, in 2017. (actually I did watch The Lobster on a date and it was a fantastic work of cinema but a terrible date movie. but i would see it again. just to make sure it's still a good work of film, you know.)

 

 

 

 

NINE✨ LUXURIES I LIVED FOR THIS YEAR

Listen, life's too short to not feel like a fancy lady. I may have DIY ethics and small-business values, but that doesn't mean I can't have a Versace attitude.

 

 

 

 

EIGHT✨ ALBUMS ALBUMS ALBUMS ALBUMS ALBUMS MUSIC BANDS TRACKS JAMS MUSIC BEATS LYRICS ALBUMS

1. Frank Ocean Blonde -- my fave 2016 album. probably your fave 2016 album. instant classic. play it everywhere. his visual album Endless is also fantastic.

 

2. Solange A Seat At The Table 

solange is so fucking talented. "weary" is immediately one of my favorite songs. i don't have any critique about this album, it's just very pure, very great.

 

3. Belly Belt Stay True -- I'm so extremely thrilled to be a part of Belly Belt, and to have toured and played with Kate and Erika this year! Kate Feldmann is a master pop songwriter, and a brilliant, beautiful performer. to have written, recorded, and produced this cache of glowing pop tracks mostly by herself is a testament to the best parts of DIY and the power of staying true. if you haven't seen Belly Belt live this year, you missed out, and I'm not just saying that cuz I'm in the band! 

belly belt bandcamp

belly belt bandcamp

Screen Shot 2016-08-04 at 10.35.29 PM.png

 

 

4. David Bowie Blackstar 

so haunting, so listenable, so jazzy, so transporting. RIP sweet lord of glam rock and beyond.

 

5. Beyonce Lemonade -- more than just being an album and a film, Lemonade is also a cultural event and emotional whirlwind. and the credits!! jack white! kendrick lamar! james blake! swooooon, this masterpiece makes up for how bad Ivy Park is.

image from tumblr

image from tumblr

 

6. Swan Meat Bounty EP -- producer Reba Fay's debut EP is composed of orchestral samples, clubby non-structures, and a dark rainbow of sounds. it's dazzling chaos. she wrote it in recovery from bulimia nervosa, something that I've also struggled with for years until last year, and used art practice in my recovery as the most effective survival mechanism. i can hear the pain and power, as well as Reba's messages of coping and embodiment, in Bounty's post-apocalyptic pastoral assemblage. this is quality electronic music. it's well-produced and well-thought out.

EP cover from swan meat's soundcloud

EP cover from swan meat's soundcloud

 

7. Rihanna Anti

the album she wanted to make. savage af. 

8. Sammus Pieces In Space -- saw her live at SXSW, she played before Belly Belt at a daytime showcase, and everything about her performance, delivery, execution, and tracks was 100% sincere and flawless. she even came out with a Samus Aran mechanical arm piece for her closing track! I've been playing her EP in my car. can't wait for what she does next.

 

 

 

SEVEN✨ QUOTES FROM MY DIARY THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE...... AND A FAV MEME ACCOUNT FOR EACH. HNY!!!

So glad I still keep a diary. It's a compulsive need to document and a meditative practice, which balance each other out.  Sometimes I look back at things I write months, years down the line and realize, wow, I think of some really deep sh*t. 

1. "chilling is the key to a chill life" ~January 28

the chillest, @gary_from_teen_mom

the chillest, @gary_from_teen_mom

 

 

2. "at least 51% of my life is good so I'm doing amazing" ~February 17

51% happy as fuck, @cabbagecatmemes

51% happy as fuck, @cabbagecatmemes

 

3. "drink champers, become a scientist of life, have an aesthetic adventure with everything" ~April 9

the caltech of memes, @contentzone

the caltech of memes, @contentzone

 

 

4. "at the beach" ~April 20

smonked 3 acids, @anxiety.is.bae

smonked 3 acids, @anxiety.is.bae

 

5. "I love when events/spaces feel like a community is inhabiting them, and everyone in the community is friendly" ~May 11

bless us all, @korndmt

bless us all, @korndmt

 

 

 

6. "inspiration and passion are everywhere, and once unlocked, are infinite. the channels to unlock them vary from person to person but are no less special. once the channel is open and those vibes flow it cannot simply be un-opened. passion is the action taken following an inspiration. whenever i get home from shows or films I am soooo inspired and proceed to realize my art passions to the best of my ability. i'm so lucky to be surrounded by such awesome shit and learn from it. when it goes right, life is a vast source of joy and love and radiance" ~June 19

asthetic goals, @trenbolonepapi

asthetic goals, @trenbolonepapi

 

7. "i would like a real and pleasant world and would like to go to the mall and casually experience the intersection of spirituality and technology and buy some nice books" ~September 1

the homegirl, @meme_slut666

the homegirl, @meme_slut666

 

 

 

 

SIX✨ DIFFERENT HAIR COLORS

1. Silver/Fashion Gray

photo by tanner ross

photo by tanner ross

photo by iris ray

photo by iris ray

 

 

2. Lavender

 

 

3,4,5. Brown, Blonde, Blue

 

 

6. Pink

photo by swim ; photobooth in 2014 but i time traveled to get that hair color again and then went back to blonde really fast

photo by swim ; photobooth in 2014 but i time traveled to get that hair color again and then went back to blonde really fast

 

 

 

 

FIVE✨ DAYS OF PARTY CASTLE, A MALL-THEMED ARTY I THREW AS AN ANNIVERSARY FOR VALENTINE ENTERPRISES

Party Castle was one of the highlights of my year. It makes me realize writing this that as crazy and anxiety-ridden as 2016 was worldwide, my experience of it had several highlights: Valentine Enterprises work, VR experiences, exotic travels to Russia, SXSW, and Iowa, NYC for my birthday, and Party Castle in October. I'm grateful for how it came together and everyone who was part of it. A large project has never gone as smoothly for me, nor showed the most potential in providing people with a good time. I had a lot of fun with this one. There will be more Castles in the future. Future Castles. 

photo @lilycomeau

photo @lilycomeau

photo by tanner toss

photo by tanner toss

photo by hobbes ginsberg

photo by hobbes ginsberg

photo by tanner ross

photo by tanner ross

 

 

 

 

FOUR✨ SEASONS, A TV SHOW FOR EACH

 

           Spring 🌿 Twin Peaks 🌿 

 I re-watch it every year and it was especially relevant after I was accepted to the David Lynch Masters in Film program at MUM in Iowa. Still undecided whether I'm going in Fall 2017, perhaps after re-watching it next month I'll have a brighter clue about my future. It's just a damn good show with so much TV magic and dreamy Kyle Maclachlan. 

 

Summer 🌹 Stranger Things 🌹

Best show this year, perhaps tied with Bojack Horseman. Thank you, Netflix.

 

 

Fall 🍁 The X-Files 🍁

This show brings down my anixety. What a fucking classic. And Mulder and Scully? AAHAHSGSGAJKPWPKWL

 

 

Winter ❄️ Shut Eye ❄️

Ooooh it's so good I'm watching it now. I love things about psychics, real or fake. Binge watch bait. Westworld too, obviously.

 

 

 

 

THREE✨ VISUAL ALBUMS I RELEASED IN BETWEEN MY OLD MUSIC PROJECT (DEATH VALENTINE, RIP) AND MY NEW MUSIC PROJECT (SAINT VALENTINE)

Valentines Night, in April :

 

Boat Movie, in August :

 

Diamond Lexicon, in December :

 

TWO✨ STUFFED CASTLES, SIR AND MR, HANDMADE BY ME

SIR CASTLE

SIR CASTLE

MR CASTLE

MR CASTLE

 

 

 

ONE✨ DRESS TO RULE THEM ALL

To people who scoff at fashion, tradition, ceremony, and opulence, I say..... f*ck it, I love lavish shit. This blue dress is my favorite dress, I've had it since fifth grade and worn it pretty much every christmas. It's the first thing I ever bought at urban outfitters, back when they did their "urban renewal", and I think it may be the most expensive dress I own. In a world where chaos is oversaturated and order is abysmally elusive, it's nice to have a shred of personal tradition to look forward to. Like this dress. And taking pictures with my cat in it. It's nice. May your coming new year be nice as fuck and beyond.

this was 13 years ago!!!! 2003, b*tch

this was 13 years ago!!!! 2003, b*tch

Have lots of math in 2017, nerds!