Morgan Bukovec Art

04/10/2026

morning coffee chat with my mom (from yesterday)

• we went on to talk about the lushness of green
in Oregon & Washington & Ohio

the wisdom in the trees
• opening yourself up & listening

the power of nature walks & finding connection
• the green

I loved witnessing my mom watch this video this morning with tears in her eyes saying "I SAID THAT?"
• the wisdom we hold & share without realizing it

reflecting this back to her is a gift
• sitting & sipping coffee with her is a gift

hold your loved ones close
• always & sweetly

04/09/2026

what is in your control /

03/27/2026

03/21/2026

let's restock the pierogis!

I ate a lot of late night pierogis back in the day

Rudy's is the longest customer of Janka Pierogis (est. 1951) in Cleveland, Ohio ~ handmade & delicious

favorite counter item

03/19/2026

city chicken history is a mystery

(will talk to uncle Dave tomorrow)

as I spend time in this old, familiar shop
I am reminded of the depths of my family history
the dreams of the past, new dreams of a better tomorrow

the value one person, one business can bring to a community • impact, legacy

the grief of knowing

knowing that this (almost) 100 year old beloved butcher shop will be closed ~ will fade out as a legacy, living only in our hearts & the distant memories (smells, tastes, traditions) of smoked Slovenian sausage, city chicken, & hand cut / hand made meats ... the system is changing, the industry is changing, the distributors are now focused on machines, rather then people ~ quality cuts are rare

intention feels rare

but, choosing to live & move through & with intention + action ... is where the impact, the legacy will live on

I am confronted with "saving the shop"

my heart aches & I know this isn't possible

feeling gratitude for the time spent singing with my 89 year old sweet grandpa, laughing with my uncles, learning more & more & asking questions, feeling inspired by customers, hearing peoples stories of the "good ole days" & listening ~ witnessing the love, cherishing the small moments

my mom is cooking her "famous" city chicken tonight & my belly dances for mashed potatoes & breaded pork, prepared & cut by hand, by those who made me

03/17/2026

butcher shop asmr & ... should I take over the family butcher shop?

Lisa (a 84 year old German woman whose been working at my grandpas shop for over 50 years) begged me to take over the family business today ...

heart sinks knowing this is the last of it after 98 years

grateful to have worked here consistently starting in 2020 & just hop back behind the counter to help out when I'm home ~ I've learned so much from my uncles, cousins, & grandpa (who is 89 & WORKS ALL THE TIME)

it was a dream of mine to work here as a kid & I love meeting customers who share their stories of the "old store" in downtown Cleveland & how their parents shopped there ~ 90 some years ago!

soup & packing orders during a blizzard - we are home!

anyone wanna move to OHIO & help me run this place?

03/14/2026

"shadow self" is a never ending self portrait photo project

of me

capturing my shadow

of me

--

these self portraits are from living on the road in 2025
• from TX to AK • WA to OR

I often see my shadow & think "who are you?"

going inward, traveling, witnessing to discover (& rediscover) new & familiar parts of myself

this past november, a nomad friend of mind shared with me two words that have struck me since: "I AM"

I've been repeating this to myself lately

always amazed at the power of words
the power of self questioning
& the power in capturing moments through photography

--
started this self portrait project back in 2023 when I lived in Prague, but did not become fully aware of myself capturing intentionally until 2024 when I lived on a campground with historic cottages ~ I would wander, connect with my senses, & take short videos of my shadow appearing on surfaces

I called this my : shadow self

last year, I caught myself capturing my shadow self through the lens ~ becoming drawn to the story of the surface & these moments that are no longer ... living, but held in my memory