~ Meet the Sagittarius ~ Ali Beaudette
Ali Beaudette is a multidisciplinary artist and library worker from Central Massachusetts. Her practice includes photography, installation and writing and explores archives management and systems of classification.
What are your sun/moon/rising astrological placements?
Sagittarius sun, Gemini moon and Virgo rising.
How do you feel your signs have an influence over your work?
I identify deeply with my Virgo rising placement working in libraries and galleries. I am big into organization and attachment to work, sometimes to a fault. But I think my truest form comes from my Sagittarius placements (Jupiter, Sun and Mercury) - I am creative and independent but also incredibly restless. I have a tendency to be juggling what feels like 100 different things at once.
My Gemini moon may be my secret driving force. I get bored easily and jump to the next 12 things on my two to- do list. The trick is returning to the other items and actually finishing them. We’re working on that part!
Tell us about a favorite scent memory.
My dad used to get these big styrofoam gas station cups of hazelnut coffee and that smell is so special to me! When I first met my partner, he religiously had Anthropologie’s Volcano in his room. (brag) I will always love that smell but now we use Vessel's elevated Citrus Grove in our home.
What color are you really vibing with lately?
Pink is my all time favorite but right now in my closet and apartment, I am all about green, orange and navy blue!
What’s something interesting that you’ve read, watched, or listened to recently?
My lover is a big movie person and we have gone to the movies over 100 times in the last couple of years! Over the fall we went to the New York Film Festival and saw Poor Things, All of us Strangers and Zone of Interest. I would recommend all three of these for so many reasons.
My book reading fell off in 2023 (burnt out library worker) but I am really excited to start Britney Spears’ The Woman In Me (audiobook version read by Michelle Williams, of course), Melissa Lozada-Oliva’s Candelaria and Blake Butler’s memoir, Molly about his late wife, Molly Brodak (one of my all time favorite writers).
I love a good, sad, freaky piece of art.
Do you have any magical rituals or special ways you like to unwind in your space?
Kind of boring but no matter how exhausted I am, there is something so urgent about a deep clean of my space before I can truly relax. My partner will tell you I pick the most inconvenient moments to decide that we need to rearrange our kitchen cabinets (for example, while he is actively making dinner.) or deep clean the bathroom. We have a 250 square foot apartment and as two avid vintage shoppers and collectors, it is easy for it to feel super cluttered. There is no feeling like lighting a candle in your decluttered, clean space!
What’s something exciting you’re looking forward to this year?
I am starting a new job this year at RISD’s Fleet Library in their Special Collections and Archives - it is a dream job for me. In 2023, I had my first solo show at AS220 in Providence and I am excited to move forward with more creative projects this year! Found objects, photography, bookmaking, and maybe even a newsletter on the horizon. :)
