Alright kids, let's talk about mental health. I'm in a weird funk, and the best way I know to deal with it is openly, honestly, and hopefully in a way that resonates.
Regular readers know that I moved into a new apartment this summer. Those who read between the lines (or know my business) know this new spot was the beginning of a new chapter, but the changes kept coming, the slate was wiped clean, and I was left with a fresh horizon on which to paint my future. I navigated the detours like a pro, as neurodivergents and trauma survivors will understand. Sure, there were struggles but also joy; who doesn't love a new storyline in a new setting?! I was balancing fun with rest, balancing my diet, things were shiny. But I was also, somehow, forgetting my meds. Fa la la, feeling fine.
I didn't notice until I refilled my prescription that I had a backlog. *Ok Dawn, you feel good, so that's good news, but also, pull it together and take your meds*. The next month felt more stressful, extra hormonal, extra lonely; I was restless, tired and aggravated. When it was time to re-up, I had an even bigger deficit. Uh-oh.
So I'm playing catch up. And the sun is setting earlier, and the events are about to be harder to find and harder to get to, giving me fewer things to look forward to. My patience is low, and my Inner Critic is yelling at me. In fact, my Inner Critic and my Inner Cynic have teamed up and formed a screamo band called These Assholes. They have a lot of songs about how I suck at adulting, and should be fully unpacked, my home decorated and spotless by now. They have a particularly catchy earworm about how I'm out of creative ideas, *and were any of them any good anyway?!* (Here I must shout out my Dear Leandra who is rereading my novel at a time when I didn't realize I needed that validation so desperately. Thanks, Love, for believing.) *And were / are any of my projects ever* ***anything,*** *or simply searches for meaning on my reluctant dance toward Death?*
Thankfully, there are other voices too. Wiser voices with kinder words, voices that speak in deep, confident tones from a timeless space, from experience. This will pass, everything does. You've been here before, and have come out the other side. The things will get done, the season will change. You will look back at this and see that it has to be this way, and wonder that you ever doubted. This is only discomfort, not doom. This is but a phase of your life’s moon.
And fuck, right now it's hard to tune into that voice, and it's harder to believe it, *but it's there.* And I know it’s telling the truth like how when you're a teenager you know which adults are being honest even if you don't like what they're saying. While I'm diligently taking my pills, I'm very aware that they are not a magic cure, but rather an ingredient in the recipe of my mental health. Even though my usual go-tos aren't hitting the spot right now, they're ingredients too, and this stew needs to simmer. While that doesn't help to tip the current joy scale, it does bring me comfort to know that it's only a matter of time.
If you're feeling blue, know that you aren't alone. Take your damn meds. Do the things that make you roll your eyes but you know will make you feel better in the long run. Go easy on yourself, and remember that your brain is a liar and a meanie. Check with people you trust when you aren't sure which voices are valid. And know for sure that it might take a minute, but the sun *will* come out soon enough.
PS:
By the time this is heading off to my esteemed editor, I already feel lighter. There's always light on the other side, promise.

A(n Industrial) material World

On October 3, POPOP Gallery in Montreal will open Nikita Seleznev's solo show, NORMA, marking the first presentation of his work in Canada. The project features a new installation combining sculptures, objects, mixed-media graphic works, and a video. The video is a collaboration between Seleznev and architect Grigory Baluev.

Seleznev's projects unfold as thematic "microuniverses," composed of works across various media that are unified by a distinctive visual language. NORMA is one such universe, exploring the meaning of normality in a world on the edge of catastrophe. At the center of the installation is a video that combines digital animation with brief documentary footage from everyday life. The video’s dynamic hinges on the juxtaposition of life and death. Its symbols and imagery extend beyond the screen, materializing as sculptures, objects, and graphic works on concrete, blurring the boundary between the viewer and the video.

Materiality is central to Seleznev’s practice, with his deliberate use of industrial materials—plastics, raw metal, and especially concrete—playing a crucial role. In NORMA, the artist transforms the exhibition space with objects that evoke urban ruins, while cracked concrete serves as the foundation for large-scale graphic works resembling faded frescoes. In this way, Seleznev aligns himself with artists who regard concrete as a testament to the many tragedies and wars of the 20th century.

The evening will include a live musical performance, featuring a collaboration between Nikita Seleznev and Grigory Baluev.

WHAT: Norma

WHERE: POPOP Gallery, 372 Saint-Catherine St W, Montreal, Quebec H3B 1A2

WHEN: Thursday, October 3 @ 5PM

METRO: Place des Arts (Orange)

DETAILS: POPOP Gallery

how the west was fun(ny)

Get ready for another night of laughter at the West Island Comedy Night!

Featuring some of the country's top comedians, our acts have been showcased on prestigious stages across the world such as JFL, BBC, HULU, CBS, CBC, CTV, Winnipeg Comedy Festival, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, San Francisco Sketchfest, This Hour is 22 Minutes, and much more! Don't miss the chance to experience the #1 popup comedy show in the city.

All of our previous shows have packed out, so get your tickets now before it's too late and be prepared to laugh your night away!

Tickets are limited. Tickets at the door, if available, $20.

Full menu and drink service available throughout the show.

WHAT: West Island Comedy Night

WHERE: Microbrasserie Labrosse. 133 Labrosse Ave., Pointe-Claire, H9R 1A3

WHEN: Friday, October 4, 730 PM

METRO: Um, no.

DETAILS: Facebook

I Have No Voice, Yet I speak volumes… what am i?

Poetry!

Join Accent for their 100th show!

Featuring invited guests Faith Paré and Mirabel. Theme: Riddles.

Sign up for the open mic at the door.

WHAT: Accent Open Mic

WHERE: Bar La Marche à côté, 5043 Saint Denis St, Montreal, Quebec H2J 2L8

WHEN: Sunday, October 6 @ 8 PM

METRO: Laurier (Orange)

DETAILS: Facebook

Join the family!

Forget The Box is growing, and we’re looking for new contributors to join our family! (Re)launched in Spring 2023, Forget The Box is Montreal’s leading arts magazine, focused on ground level, underground, and marginalized local art.

We’re looking for writers who want to build their portfolios while covering some of Montreal’s best (and most hidden) art scenes! And we’re also looking for other creative talents like designers and photographers who want to share their skills and unique perspectives to the cause!

Visit Forget The Box to check out Montreal’s most in-depth arts magazine, and reach NOW to start spotlighting our local arts community, and to join our family! DM us directly, or email forgetthebox@forgetthebox.ca