Radically Beautiful: Spacebird
- rachael dana
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Owning my weirdness and validating others that feel similar to me is what inspires me to share my art. I recently discovered printing partners (Art of Where, Printful) that will print my art onto clothes and accessories , which I am super excited about.
I was born and raised in Southern California, always finding a space of peace near the sea. Other friends and families would move away due to the cost of living, but I’ve always known that I couldn’t live without being near the ocean waves.
Growing up, I was constantly told by my peers that I was “weird” and “crazy,” which was pretty hurtful.
In high school one night I had a dream that I was a bird that came from outer space. When I told my friends about the dream they didn’t quite know how to take it, but I held it close to my heart because it gave me a sense of self that I didn’t have before. When someone looked at me strangely, didn’t understand my unique accessories or abstract thinking and dismissed me as “weird” or “crazy”, I could easily remind myself that not everyone knows how to interact with a space bird. It’s expected that people will think I’m crazy or weird because I’m not like them; I’m a bird from outer space.
As a young adult my life was shaken with tragedy and for years struggled with PTSD, anxiety and depression. I finally got help after a stay at the county mental hospital. That was an experience that opened my eyes to the cultural negative stigma surrounding mental health. Over the years I’ve been relieved to see mental health discussed more openly and positive solutions normalized.
In 2026 the whole world changed when AI computing became pervasive in nearly every part of modern life. It was offensive to my senses aesthetically and destructive to the earth, requiring massive data centers that reduced natural resources available to nearby communities. I needed to reject this. I needed to get out of the tech industry and ground myself in what has truly brought me joy. Throughout my life, whether in a peaceful spot on the shore, tucked away in my bedroom, by myself at school, or in craft time at the mental hospital, I could always feel like myself when I was painting. Usually I only had access to watercolor, but favored acrylics. Since high school, I had found a creative outlet in Illustrator and Photoshop then got a good camera and started freelancing as a photographer. As a young adult I had also learned the art of jewelry-making from a close friend and went on to create jewelry for friends that wanted to give someone close to them a personalized gift. And when I married the love of my life, I made all of my own bridal jewelry and accessories.
Paintings, illustrations, photos, and jewelry
These are all precious creations that I have the skills to manifest in the world, and I can share with others as a celebration of profound loveliness that we have the opportunity to experience in life:
Connecting with one another through expressions of who we are and what matters to us.
Capturing memorable moments with photos, heirlooms, souvenirs of our experiences.
Cultivating conversations and togetherness in a world tending to isolate individuals.
Curating a culture of acceptance of "weird" and "crazy"
Allow me to share with you some of the things I’ve found to be radically beautiful.
Not everyone will get it, and that's okay, there are other Spacebirds out there that'll get it. You see me, weirdo, I see you, you are radically beautiful and you are welcome.
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