Most of the work of making a dance or performance is going to the studio and the ritual of getting to the studio. This sounds ridiculous, but I find it true. There’s a method to being in a process. Which, what does that mean? It’s permission to give yourself authority. Because no one will ever tell you or give you permission to make. You have to convince yourself it’s a good idea to be making anything at all. Or, maybe it’s more reverse psychology – you have to convince yourself that it’s not a bad idea.

For our Process v. Product Festival, we asked three Chicago-based artists to reflect on their process in creative ways. Jenn Freeman writes a letter to her mother connecting her process to the spiritual in a poignant piece of writing.