Denali, our Laner of the Week, is an Alaska grown, NYC-based artist, poet, actor, storyteller with their fingers in many artistic pies! “I love being able to create and participate in stories built around comforting those who have historically not been seen or given voice. All of my art is a practice of liberation and a deep commitment to love, and all that comes with it.” Denali has a short film coming out this year(hopefully) that they’re really looking forward to! All sorts of goodies below!
What do you like about Mustard Lane or just working events in general?
The people!! Mustard really does such a great job of selecting laners. I’ve had so many conversations on long shifts with people I might not otherwise cross paths with, that have nourished me on a deep and meaningful level. The fact that so many of us are artists allows for a sense of play and makes even uneventful shifts a lot more fun, which in turn makes the clientele happy, because we truly raise the vibration wherever we go.
When you’re not on the Lane…what are you doing?!
Making art! Collaborative storytelling! Reciting poetry! Tending to my many plants and people I am lucky enough to know and love.
Favorite restaurant or food?
Tough question for a Taurus moon! I am an equal opportunity food enthusiast, but I have to dine on a dime, so anything that’s cheap and delicious. Comfort foods! Food trucks! Dumplings from any culture!
What is one of your goals for 2025?
To improve my window garden enough to share with those around me in ways that are most accessible to them! I made the mistake of just giving everyone a basil plant a few years ago and everyone who received one was unable to tend to it, so this year I am preparing for that by processing the plants I grow a little further(drying, infusing oils, pickling, etc)
What is your favorite place or travel experience?
I love visiting any place that I feel deeply rooted to the earth around me. As simple as being present in the park, with my feet touching the grass, or as vital as standing among ancient and vast redwood trees stretching seemingly endlessly towards the sky.
What’s your favorite way to spend a day off from the Lane?
Ideally with my loved ones, doing something enriching! Playing dungeons and dragons, goofing around, enjoying nature, sharing a meal, dancing, resting together, crying together, dreaming together.
Do you have a favorite piece of art/media you’ve consumed recently?
I’m really enjoying the Alligator Bites Never Heal Album by Doechii
What’s your hidden talent?!
I can speak a little Japanese, and I can roll my tongue in 3 places in my mouth!
If you could have your dream job tomorrow, other than Laner of the Week, what would it be?
I would love to be paid to travel and write poetry! Or some kind of collaborative storytelling like acting! Any way of making a living making art and being around like-hearted individuals.
What’s an essential part of your daily routine?
Music of some kind. Singing, or dancing, or listening to music is very high on my list of needs.
What life lesson did you learn the hard way?
How to listen to my body. Becoming newly disabled +chronically ill with Long Covid in 2020 was a huge reality check on my limitations and how much I was willing to ignore the call of my body to rest in favor of being productive. To rest when you need to rest is the most productive thing you can do! I’ve since learned to have better boundaries for myself in a big way.
Winter is in full swing…what’s something you look forward to this time of year?
Being COZY!! I love the feeling when it’s a little chilly, but you’re snuggled up with a warm beverage and a good book, good company, good music, or the quiet of winter.
Favorite late-nite snack…?
Late night or not, my favorite snack is the Boomchickapop Sweet & Salty kettle corn. Best of both worlds!
What’s a brand or event that you would love to represent or work should the chance ever arise?
Fashion week! More acting/artistic gigs! Anything liberation forward!
How do you stay inspired to be your best Laner self?
I try to stay present for both the good and bad things, and usually the inspiration follows. And when it doesn’t, I’m in my noticing phase, which will eventually be composted into something beautiful or necessary (perhaps both, if I’m lucky).
Any New Year’s Resolutions?
Just to experience the good in it’s fullness whenever it arrives, and to share that with the people around me! Singing, dancing, and play as a therapeutic tool, and finding as many ways to build and be in community as I possibly can.
To learn more about Denali, check out their instagram @denali.thomas.
Meet Christine, the latest addition to our internal team!