Some updates and reflections

The big thing: I just moved to Los Angeles to start a PhD in US labor history at UCLA. I'll be studying with Robin D. G. Kelley and Toby Higbie, which I'm incredibly excited about, and researching histories of labor organizing in and beyond the art world—I'm excited to see how my research interests shift while I'm in school. If you're not familiar with Robin Kelley's work, I recommend his very recent talk at Socialism 2022 (among other videos from the conference, which I'm still working through). And if you're in LA, let's get together :)

Also, I'm looking for more editing work! I do everything from proofreading and copyediting to developmental editing, for clients including MoMA PS1, the Guggenheim, the University of California Press (specifically this fantastic book by Christina Heatherton), and Blank Forms, in addition to the New Museum, where I was the senior editor & publications coordinator for several years. If you need a proofreader or editor, let me know!

I've done some writing over the past couple years that I'm really proud of. A year ago, the Baffler published my essay on my experience working at the New Museum and helping to organize the New Museum Union; it was an extremely intense piece to write, and I'm grateful both for the editors who helped shape it into a coherent piece and for the responses I've gotten to it—and of course for my comrades at the museum, without whom there would be no union.

I've also been writing about labor and the art world for Momus (I joined their podcast to talk about the Baffler essay too, I can't listen to my own voice but you're welcome to), Texte zur Kunst, the Nation, and (way at the beginning of the pandemic) SSENSE. And I spent the past couple years organizing with comrades in the Art Workers' Inquiry—earlier this year, we were in residence at Wendy's Subway to think collectively about art work and prison abolition, and before that we put together this zine on art work during a pandemic.

I'm looking forward to the change of pace that comes with starting school again, to getting to know LA and finding my political home here—to making shit less dire for all of us, collectively. Be in touch, and of course, if you're thinking of organizing your workplace and want to talk through any of it, reach out! I am always down to talk union organizing.

Warmly,

Dana

Thanks for including me on this letter - Josh and I both noted that you are looking for editing work and wanted to enquire about your rates to copyedit/proof read The Employee book. You can refer to the publication brief for more details on the scope of the book, and in terms of timeline we would be looking at late fall / winter. 

Let me know any questions. Looking forward to your thoughts,

Lauren

Best,

Dana

xx Dana