Devon Reiffer

In addition to trying to get back up on the algorithm I’m sharing this photo from today because it’s been 6 years in the making. This is My best friend Cookie. We became friends over IG back when I was in Philly and she is the reason I discovered Long Beach. In between trips we would chat into the wee hours of the night as I worked on my art and I always said “I can’t wait to have a garage studio so you can come over and we don’t have to hold the phone anymore”.

She’s seen the space before but today, after 3 years of living here she came over and hung out while I worked on the new piece. This pic is what I always pictured when we would daydream about my future Cali life.

Cook has always been the one person to get sneak peaks of works in progress… this is the first sneak peak in person. I used to always look to cook for a reaction to a new piece that i was unsure about, it validated that I was onto something even if I didn’t feel it.

For the first time ever, I’m discovering joy and ease with flow. I’ve been vibing with this piece in a new way. I feel that already, it is special. I know I’m onto something good for the first time…confidently. Today when she walked in, she couldn’t stop staring at the new piece, she kept saying “there’s something about it”. I didn’t need the validation this time, but it was really awesome to see the reaction unfold in real time. To feel a specific new energy in my work… and to have my best friend pick up on it immediately was better than I imagined.

We have quite a story between us, too long for this post, but it’s a tale of two souls who forgot about age and became best friends. We plan on doing this for at least the next 20 years. But today we both realized we were fully immersed and living in a moment that was once just a “maybe when I get to California” convo. I’m grateful. I had to document it and share it. Connection, hope, and believing that dreams can come true is how we get through the storms. Keep dreaming, keep moving forward, we’ll get there. I am proof.

can’t wait to share this piece when it’s done.

Art and artists play a crucial role in challenging times. Art is a form of expression, emotional release, and reflection. Art helps people process difficult emotions, spark important conversations, and inspire hope or resilience, providing a sense of connection and understanding in moments of uncertainty or hardship.

Now more than ever, we have to support the arts and create safe spaces to come together. Art is power. Art highlights our humanity. This is the first of hopefully many of events… it’s free. It’s one night. It would mean a lot for everyone of you seeing this to share with your circles and come out and support. Hold down the QR code and rsvp if you want to donate… there will also be an opportunity to donate at the door. All of the extra details are on the eventbrite page. I am so excited to be a part of this. I look forward to seeing all of you.

***rart ***rartist

My 2024 mantra was “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”. There’s a big story here, but I’ll save the details for my memoir. In short, for some time, I have been 1 degree of separation from Yeardley Smith. AKA Lisa Simpson AKA Putter from Legend of Billie Jean.It’s been 20 years since I’ve talked to my dad but The Simpsons have been the keepers of little Devon’s fondest memories with him. This show is a gateway to the inner child who still loves him, which is a special type of healing that has furthered my beliefs on the importance + power of art.

I’ve always felt a soulful connection to Yeardley’s work which only deepened when learning about her advocacy + ally-ship for the LGBTQ+ community. She sees the importance of empowering marginalized communities + uses her success for the greater good. I knew this 1 degree was a gift from the universe So I made a trans flag collage portrait of Lisa Simpson for her. It was a token of gratitude, a way to say thanks for never losing sight of her humanity in all the success + for using her platform to make social change.
1am January 1 2024, I asked my 1 degree to pass the art along to Yeardley. I thought about it basically everyday for 365 days. NYE 2024, same spot, exactly 1 year later, I was finally going to confirm that she received the Devon Original. The response was “yeah she loved it + oh, she’ll be here tonight.” Yeardley came in, gave me a big hug, thanked me for my art. This is the start I had to 2025. My heart aches for everything that’s been happening with the fires + the political chaos. I’m reminding myself that the universe doesn’t forget about us. It works on its own timeline because it knows what we need more than we do. All of this to say, I believe the light will always overcome the dark… focus on your light. That’s how we fight. We will not be erased. thank you for the beam of light at the beginning of the year, it’s an anchor point in the chaos. May our paths cross again ❤️

***rart ***rartist ***rartistsofinstagram