iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Aaaaa how do you get him to stop!?

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

I wish whistlers knew that not everyone wants to hear it. Yet they persist.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

The summer did not unfold as I had anticipated & now I’m in big debt after moving for grad school on a different timeline, thanks to my ex and his family. If you can help, I’d be so grateful. I am living on student loans, but it’s not enough unless the goal is met. www.gofundme.com/f/help-secur...

gofundme.com

Donate to Help Secure Primary Custody and Child Support for Penny, organized by Kelly McKernan

New Developments / I need your help again! I started this G… Kelly McKernan needs your support for Help Secure Primary Custody and Child Support for Penny

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

My hope is that I don’t NEED to make a living off my art while I’m in grad school. The only student loans I’m taking on are for living expenses so that I can focus these 2 years on getting my MFA. My relationship to my own creative capacity is in need of a major overhaul. The hustle ruined the fun!

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The thought of opening my web store back up makes me want to crawl into a sewer and take up vigilantism at night. I have zero desire to ask people to buy my art anymore because it’s become almost entirely soul crushing to do so these last several years.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Ah thank you! My very very very early work just before I graduated with my BFA!

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Have you looked into ARFID? I recently learned I have it and it explains everything I struggle with regarding food.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

So niche and I’m right there with you! I made a piece referencing her called “Milk Eyed Mender” waaaay back in 2007!

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Are you tabling? I’m going to try to go Saturday or Sunday and bring the kiddo!

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

It’s been 3.5 years of waiting but the “Andersen V Stability” case finally goes to trial this week! Stay tuned. 💜

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Guys my 12 year old is asking me for a CD burner for our computer and a portable CD player like I had in the early 00’s. She wants to learn how to download music and burn her own mixes. My heart is bursting! 😭

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

For my friends in the south who are dreaming of moving to the PNW for alllll the reasons, just do it. The quality of life is profoundly better here. I’m so much happier!

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

I had the insane idea to delete all my social media while in grad school a few nights ago, and the more the idea simmers, the tastier it sounds.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I need over-the-ear headphones that fit my tiny head AND don’t also squash the arms of my glasses into my temples… that are ideally under $300. Does anyone have recommendations? My new studio space is very shared, so headphones for music, etc is required.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I’ve been in Portland for about 6 weeks and the amount of climate-related headaches I have has decreased significantly. Every recent summer in Nashville has meant months of unbearable humidity and heat, with months of thunderstorms surrounding that. I had really hoped for this relief! 😭

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Reposted by Kelly McKernan

Karen K. Ho @karenho.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

This gallery of ICE crop/seed art at this year's Minnesota State Fair is incredible, especially the one based on Pablo Picasso's Guernica by Jennifer Nelson, which features the last words of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Morse code: www.cropart.com/Resist.pdf

A seed art entry in the 2026 Minnesota State Fair based on Pablo Picasso's Guernica. It features a loon, the words "Ice Out" and two representations of Renee Good and Alex Pretti’s. Notably, the mouths of Good and Pretty include their last words in Morse code:
‘I’m not mad at you,’ and ‘Are you okay?’” The artist is Jennifer Nelson.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Do any other autists habitually close their eyes when brushing their hair or teeth? I do it and always have, like I gotta dim the sensory input, lol.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Nature is healing because I chose not to fight with a boomer.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

I just survived a 20 minute Lyft ride with a woman who believes vaccines cause autism and I narrowly succeeded in biting my tongue because I value my peace too much these days. 🫠

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Now that I am *truly* learning my brain works, cognitive capacity has become as important as physical capacity. The latter is easy to measure, the former is more elusive. Unexpected attention and an overflowing inbox is one of the fastest routes to making my brain crash.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Yesterday morning I was hacked by a Docusign phishing scheme and I’m pretty certain hundreds of people were contacted. In return, I received ~40 emails and DMs from people confused by this (which is a reasonable thing to do).my (autistic) brain shut down and required 16 hours in bed to recover. 🫠

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

It’s not my first time crying in a bookstore, but it’s my first time at Powell’s. I realized I was walking through the maze as a local, not a tourist. This place made me want to move to Portland a decade ago, and now I walk to it from my apartment.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

If you got a Docusign email from me, don’t open it, I was hacked. 😣

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Reposted by Kelly McKernan

Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

“Unmasking” is a sculpture created while processing my (very late) formal autism diagnosis. The mask I built to survive began to fall away when I realized I’m neurodivergent. At last confirmed at 40, I can finally release all of my past selves. The relief is as immense as the grief. I am finally me.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

This piece (my first sculpture, actually) was created with paper clay, wood, acrylic paint, and hundreds of nails. For any interested collectors, please inquire with the gallery: www.moderneden.com/collections/...

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

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Reposted by Kelly McKernan

Grim Wilkins @grimwilkins.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Sergio Toppi

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

This is the inside… hundreds of nails to viscerally represent the pain that comes with masking as an autistic person.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I’ve been holding my breath all summer, carefully placing each step to get here so I can bring my daughter with me. Many things went awry and I had to pivot a lot. However, we are SO close to getting everything worked out, and I start grad school in a few weeks. I’m very very very happy to be here.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

I’ve been living in Portland for 2 weeks now and I’m finally settling in. Every day, I’ve gone on a Whimsy Walk, where I choose a destination but wander my way in its general direction. Every block has something interesting going on, but just as interesting are the people! It’s delightful here.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Unmasking, a sculpture WIP, my first!

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

I had a very lovely time tonight dropping in on a live nude figure drawing session, right in my new neighborhood! My drawing muscles are properly stretched with some challenging poses from an amazing model. I’m taking that energy into a long night finishing a project tonight!

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Is that what that is?! I have no idea but I think I can guess the answer 🫠

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Holy fucking mind blowing realization, Batman: I’ve been toe-walking my entire life, but after years of dance as a teen, it never really went away. I just caught myself doing it in my new long hallway! I stopped like I hit a wall when I put it together. What a wild journey I’m having, y’all. 😵‍💫

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Yesss! I’m actually saving money by not having a car (no insurance, no gas, no maintenance, etc), and some other lifestyle changes that allow me to live more frugally. And honestly, thanks to no sales tax, food and drinks are cheaper than Nashville! Groceries, though, ouch!

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Also using your hyperfixation tv series to understand human behavior and make sense of your own interactions through? Yeahhhhh

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

I’m rewatching Murderbot for the 3rd time and now that I got the ASD diagnosis, I am screeching with glee at the parallels of the autistic inner voice.

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Everything is so full of whimsy I am in love

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Kelly McKernan @kellymckernan.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Oh Portland, why do you make me choose!?

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