LJ Parnell

cazimicollective.com
instagram.com/queerretrograde

Aquarius sun, Capricorn moon, Virgo rising

Hey y'all - I'm LJ! I’m an artist, farmer, meditation and embodiment practitioner, podcaster and companion to Millie the cat. With a background in sculpture and dance, I think about ways to infuse creativity and emergence into everything I do. I often find myself imagining worlds where humanity is prioritized over production, or profit. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, my collaborator hobbes baya and I started Queer Retrograde, a podcast focusing on love, relationships, and interviews with LGBTQ+ community members about their experiences and projects. In 2023, hobbes and I co-founded Cazimi Collective, an arts and farm retreat center in Virginia that centers the needs of queer folks and POC. When I'm not playing outside, find me working on yet another home reno project, or on my yearly read of 'all about love' by bell hooks.

I spent the fall of 2021 at Sable helping Otto and Sara out on land projects as a farm intern. Most of my time was spent prepping garden beds for winter, weeding, and organizing the tool shed. Although, I was able to make some cameos in the art making processes. Waking up in the dewy mountains of Vermont was quite a nice break from the harsh southern heat I'm used to, and the folks I met along the way were pretty cool too ;)

Photos 1,2,4,5 by SJ Valiquette