Kyla Rain
Kyla is the Head of Community at Slingshot and the editor and co-owner of Pure Nowhere, an online and print publication focusing on music and art.
Archivist and curator (love to create but my favorite is to collect other people’s work / bits of their life), communal space
Latest inspirations?
Structure within people’s work - elements that go into that, folders and mood boards (save something for one element that ties into the other, weaving threads together, what makes me feel the best)
Work my friends have been making, creative friends that show personal connectivity in the creative process
Documentation of mementos that are typically overlooked, bookmarking a series and snippets of life, texture & fabric & light to create otherworldly dimensions (basic way to break down fundamental elements of art & imagery, simple medium)
Arlene - Vivid jewel tone textures, shapes profile compositions
Most surreal project?
Went on tour in UK/Ireland for a poetry book that I co-published, sold out almost every show and get to meet people who have been following our publication for a long time
Experimental audio installations in Amsterdam in summer, NY in fall, LA in winter - spent the most amount of time and intention piecing together, cohesive and seamless - caliber of creativity building up, milestone of bringing incredible individuals together, strangers commenting on it through intention
When are you most inspired?
Late at night, when I’m going through bouts of sadness or restlessness or discontent - long rabbit hole of ideas and alternate realities, breaking that wall down to make what’s happening in my head be real life
Creative habits?
Journaling a lot - hoarding mementos (wrapping paper with birthday note), weird little bits of trash, curating that into one cohesive space in a way that feels permanent (permanent impermanence), adding on top and on top under layers (you can feel them under the page) - how I curate my work and life
What is your creative process?
Looks like quilt making - starts with an underlying idea or foundation (base level of cloth that comes whole in one piece), piecing things together (seam ripping, hand stitch), sleep under quilt after exhausted but happy and content
I. Project for other people - events
Starts with sporadic idea mentioned by someone, collaboration begins “we have to do that”
Feverish intense work, stopping and stepping back to see what to piece together, adding structure
Building essential documents, physical touchpoints, what to think about\
Go look for creative work to showcase (music, visuals)
- Sporadic idea
- Structured work
- Piecing it together
- Neat and finalized
II. Project with someone else - book publishing
Most structured, curator as a parental figure in the process
Reached out to collaborator, have a conversation on their process
Make a notion on what needs to be done (immediate tasks, deadlines, initial thoughts)
Review, editing, adapting to someone’s process
Photography idea of images
Where does your inspiration come from?
Saving mood boards
Curating inspiration throughout the day with hoarder tendencies (ie. paper towel in notebook)
Pinterest - vibes board, elemental design / spatial design for physical place
Structure, texture, tone, naturally picking up things you’re inclined towards, feeling being a guide
Illuminated when I set it down
Where/how do you do your best work?
Places in limbo (park, airport) sitting in terminal, transitional spaces
Separating self from thoughts, trickling out like a drizzle from a faucet, disassociation for vulnerability
What are the challenges in your creative process?
Moments right before the process has to be done for someone else (ie. week of event)
Perception of your work and how it is digested
Bad at texting / logistical communication towards tiny details
Map out your creative journey
(1) Pre-creation - Event 6 month ideation / Book (come in with idea)
(2) Creation - Event 3 month / Book 2 years
(3) Post-creation - Event 1-1.5 month / Book 6-8 months (promotion and distribution)
Favorite design tools and why?
Little bag - notebook, colored pencils, two pens, glue stick, paper clip, small scotch tape (you never know when you’ll find weird little bits to secure in your book!)
Notion - creating based in organized chaos, foundational aspect
Lightroom - photo editing
How do you hope to grow as a creative?
Become more honest in my creativity, more unapologetic, finding comfort within inherent assertiveness