Creativity and play — they are the same — are a means of touching down in the present moment and being open to anything. They give us joy and they take us deep. They surprise and they heal. Sometimes, they lead us to reckon with things we never expected.
When I was 22, an astrologer told me that I was going to grow up to be a “culture doctor.” Maybe I have. I am a writer, probably best recognized as an art critic for the Boston Globe. Lately, I’ve been working on a memoir, “Midnight Mass,” about growing up inside a family secret. I’m also a performer and public speaker. I’m a member of Playback Rhode Island, an improv troupe that works with small audiences in schools and nursing homes; audience members tell us stories from their lives, and we play them back on the spot. I believe that making art is essential and courageous. But I don’t want to be too earnest about it. Oh, and I love olallieberry pie.
I am available for teaching and public speaking on such topics as criticism and creativity; writing about art; and befriending the inner critic.
Email me! catemcquaid@gmail.com. Or follow me on Twitter: @cmcq.
Love this. A little photo of the culture doctor, perhaps?
On its way!
Hey, still no picture? My friend Hope would like to see one!
Love this! But not so sure about the pie?
Why dont you want to be too earnest about it?
Dear Cate,
Just talked to my mother (Elida Duffield Daley Wassmann) last night and she told me that her second cousin Cate McQuaid lives in Rhode Island, where we are visiting until next Saturday. Mom told me she found out about you while working on our family tree and that she talked to you a couple years ago. It would be fun to meet you if you are relatively near Little Compton, RI. My husband has to work in the week, but I could bring my children Jack and Isabella. Would you be free sometime next week? We will be going to Connecticut next Saturday.
Hope you are having a good summer so far.
Kind Regards,
Lydia
I stumbled on your site while trying to find out if you were on FB. I didn’t find you, but I love what you’re doing here! I’m just discovering how advantageous it is to have FB friends, as I’ve learned from them about cultural websites I hadn’t heard of and artists whose work I didn’t know and now I love. I wonder how many people know about this blog of yours? I would love to “like” and “share” this on FB. Have you considered putting a “share on FB” icon on this site? Thank you for all your thought about and writing on art. You are much appreciated!
Thanks! I’ll have to look into the “share on FB” possibilities. I’m not on Facebook, myself, because it gets a bit ethically muddy to be “friending” artists I write about.
Hi Cate! Long time no! Trust you are well! Cheers!
Thanks for the insightful review in the Globe today. I especially loved what you said about a house of cards.
Cate! Here you are! Like Carol, I was looking for you on FB and came across this site. Very nice – and I’ll stop by often to read although, I’ve been “reading” you all these years anyway. For me, not sure if I can say much has changed since ’92 (when I saw you last) except that I’ve raised a whole entire kid, still painting and still working. Suppose that’s enough. Hope you’re well and congratulations on all the good things I see here.
Take Care.
Hi Cate – It’s been a long time! It’s good to see you’re doing well and your site looks great. It might be fun to get together and catch up one of these day…