As a new year begins, millions of people will make New Year's resolutions in an attempt to better themselves and their lives. Unfortunately, for many of us, those heart-felt intentions will devolve into well-meaning yet distasteful obligations. Nonetheless, the mnartists.org staff began our efforts at self-improvement early by creating collections on mnartists.org related to our hopes for the coming year. In honor of the new year and the new site design we each started with the themes of newness and resolve. Happy browsing and Happy New Year!

Colin Rusch
mnartists.org Community Manager

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I searched, initially, using the word "resolve," something that seems to me increasingly necessary if one is to own one's own life rather than renting it out to the highest bidder. My perpetual resolution, at the beginning of every day as well as every year, is to live my own life. My pleasures as a mother and rewards as an editor involve service to others, but I also make art and writing, and to do this must retain a sense of who the hell I am, absent all the other responsibilities. What I found under "resolve" ranged widely, and led me to a new word: "simplify." Marveling at two works I found using this word--a keyring and a diagram--I realized that I needed a third word to fill out my new year's resolution: "clarify."

Ann Klefstad
mnartists.org Editor

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