people are boring (but you’re something else)

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Sarah S.

People are boring

But you’re something else completely

Damn, let’s take our chances

-Father John Misty in Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)

It’s finally here! The 2015 edition of the Spring Mix Tape. As you know, I create a mix tape (i.e. a 2-3 albums of curated music as well as handcrafted cover art) twice a year- once for spring and another for fall. I ask my friends to submit songs that remind them of that particular season then curate their great music into “albums.” The music is always excellent and always of a wide variety (my favorite part!). But the best experience for me is creating the cover art, which has also varied widely: from screen printed canvas to watercolor to this season’s piece: collage. In fact, this season’s cover may be my favorite. I enjoyed the free form of the collage process as well as the structure of creating a “booklet” that literally stands on its own.

Copies of the mix tapes are for participants only, but luckily for you, I’ve put together public Spotify playlists for everyone to enjoy. Here’s to new music, art making, and above all else, the great friends to who make it happen, year after year…!

Album #1: People Are Boring

Album #2: But You’re Something Else Completely

Album #3: Damn, Let’s Take Our Chances

Tot ziens!

Sarah

This post is #29 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

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spring packing + spring making

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Sarah S.

Today is devoted to packing. It’s unbelievable how entrenched I’ve become in my apartment after just two years. I feel like I’ve been packing for days (I have) and still haven’t made any progress (I have).

#100DaysofMiaPrima Packing

So, I took a break to work on my Spring Mix Tape project. Every season (well, fall and spring), I ask my friends to submit songs that remind them of that season in anyway, subtly or not to so subtly. I then compile the songs into what usually turns out to be a three volume set of CDs– or “mix tapes.” I also create the cover art, which I’ll admit, can get a bit out of hand at times. I usually have to create ten or more copies of each piece, after all. But the project keeps me creating, and sharing work with friends makes it absolutely worth it.

For my last mix tape, I carved a hidden space into old books. For this project, I’m going a simpler, though no less time-consuming route, and focusing on creating art “books” to store the tapes. Here’s my progress so far.

Cheers!

Sarah

This post is #3 of the #The100DayProject. For more updates on my progress, be sure to follow me on Instagram and look for the hashtage, #100DaysofMiaPrima.

Fall Mix Tape 2013

Posted on November 23, 2013 by Sarah S.

Fall Mix Tape Art #miaprimacasa
Every season, I ask my friends to think about the sights, sounds, and feelings that remind them of the season. For me at autumn, I think of sweaters, hot chocolate, football games, and burning leaves. Then, I ask them to send me any songs that conjure up that imagery. When everyone has submitted, I compile the music together into three curated albums and create cover art. In 2013, we are celebrating the anniversary of the mix tape! (And also celebrating the season and the joy that comes along with sharing music you love and getting to know your friends a bit better on a new level). So I thought I’d share the first album with you all today. The first album, titled “State”, might be my favorite and probably sums up the feeling of the complete mix tape best. Enjoy and happy fall!

Fall Mix Tape Art #miaprimacasa

State of Independence, 2013, mixed media: packing tape, recycled bubble mailers, pen and ink

Fall Mix Tape

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Sarah S.

I think I started creating fall mix tapes in high school, right after I read Perks of Being a Wallflower, and fell in love with the simple concept that music can -and usually does- define certain periods in your life. Well, I’m not starting school this fall, but I definitely have freshmen moments here in the real world. To bring back the nostalgia even more (and in a more positive way), I decided to create a Fall 2012 mix tape. Thankfully, I’m surrounded by a pretty substantial and awesome friend group, so it was easy to get them involved in the process. I had nine of my friends submit songs that reminded them of fall. However many they wanted and anything they wanted. I agreed in exchange to create cover art, curate the songs, and give everyone a free copy. The result was a 62 song collection, which I compiled into three albums: Coming Down, Going Up, and Arriving, because “The truth is of course that there is no journey. We are arriving and departing all at the same time.”