Welcome to GOING POP, a repository for my reflections about fatherhood, and what it means to raise a human while maintaining a creative practice and staying engaged with the world.
Who are you?
My name is Adriel Luis and I’ve spent my life writing and making art on the internet. I’ve shared my poems, music, designs, and essays online for over 25 years, and through this I’ve built my career and a cherished, extensive community. I work in museums as a curator, where I collaborate with a wide range of artists and thinkers while following my obsession with how technology informs social movements and human connection.
Why are you doing this?
When I found out I was going to be a dad, people started asking me if that meant I would stop making art. I was like, What? How dare you! and then I secretly wondered if this is actually where my creative life ends.
It turns out, fatherhood has renewed my purpose to contribute to the world with passion and imagination, and to chase my artistic spirit relentlessly. Every day my child invites me to play until I sweat, explore simple but profound questions, and fall in love with the universe all over again. This is what motivates my writing here – that one day my child will come across this writing and know I rediscovered my practice through my love for him (…either that, or he’ll say “meh” and switch to a new tab in his neurochip).
So…will you tell me to feed my child raw milk?
This is not a parenting advice column, and you will find no child-rearing tips from me. I will not try to convince you to feed your child raw milk, breast milk, or any other kinds of milks. I will not tell you what stroller to buy. I am not seeking a Pottery Barn Kids sponsorship, and I have no interest in becoming a parentfluencer. I don’t know how you should raise your kids, and honestly, my child and/or I are probably doing something at this very moment that would horrify you. And if you don’t have kids, I will not try to convince you to have one. I’m just here to write as a way to unlock new levels of appreciating what it means to be a dad.
What now?
I plan to post bi-weekly as often as I can. If you’re still reading, that means you’re down! Hit that subscribe button and, like my kid says, “LET’S ROE!!”
