I admit I was a bit taken aback when I was asked to write about finding community and what makes me feel at home, as I feel like I still have not found my tribe and I have been at Santa Clara University almost two years. Perhaps this is due to the community diaspora caused by the pandemic, or the rise in the cost of living that drives so many of my colleagues to far-flung homes. Perhaps it is the fact that it is harder to make friends once you move beyond the initial phases of a career path, or that making friends in your 30s and 40s is hard, and it seems the pandemic made it even harder than it used to be. It is probably a combination of all of the above and I had to step back and consider, "How do I find community?" This led me to, "How did I make friends when I landed in Los Angeles in the early 2000s?" My first response was through working as an artist in the entertainment business, and continuing making friends along the way for 20 years. However, after some reflection, I realized that many of my friends were found through shared interests, like professional organizations, screenings, and galleries. I also thought about what I do when I travel, as I love to visit new places. My first stop is almost always the museums in a new area, particularly art museums, though I do enjoy historical and anthropological museums as well. I think one of the things that binds human beings together is the search for beauty and truth, and museums often show evidence of this search. For example, the recent shows by Heesoo Kwon and Adia Millett at the ICA  in San Jose were insightful and thought provoking. Heesoo Kwon’s Leymusoom Garden led me to consider feminine power through the ages and the role of the current patriarchy versus the ancient historical matriarchy in my own culture. I love learning about the indigenous people of an area, and the traditions the land is founded on, and greatly enjoyed the Reclamation: Resilience of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe exhibition at the New Museum Los Gatos (NUMU), which then came to our very own De Saisset. I find so much inspiration in the art that is made in an area and treasured in local museums and galleries. One of the highlights of my spring trip to the Bologna Book Fair was the related series of art shows staged around town in a diverse set of galleries. They featured beloved illustrators, like At Killiok’s Home featuring Belgian author/illustrator Anne Brouillard, hosted by Hamelin, a cultural association. When Two Seas Meet was another example. This two-part exhibit of illustrators was held at the Museo Civico Archeologico di Bologna. In one gallery were selected works by Taiwanese illustrators in A Sea of Creativity:Taiwan. Works from many of Cali’s books by more than 20 different illustrators were displayed in the adjacent gallery as the second exhibit, A Sea of Stories: Davide Calì. 

I delight in going to artisanal markets and seeing craftspeople create time-honored crafts. I like to take classes where I can make something with other life-long learners, and hope to engage in some of the workshops in the area. In short, I find community through engaging in arts activities and shared cultural experience. It is what makes us human and makes us a society. While I haven't found an entire tribe in Silicon Valley yet, I have found individuals with whom I share many interests. My community is small but mighty, and I am always ready to expand it. I would love to find more people who share the interests I have mentioned, and explore more of the local museums in the Bay Area. If anyone is interested in joining me on a monthly museum or gallery jaunt, please email me at dheitmuller@scu.edu.