Peek into the Backyard Shenanigans

“Once you enter our backyard, you'll start to feel lighter and little to no pressure, as you'll realize that you are surrounded by so many folks who are Big Kids at heart.”

Desiree Kee

Photo by Luqman Muhammad

What happens in the Backyard of two artists? Shenanigans, of course!

For artists Desiree Kee and Aly Smutek, the idea for Backyard Shenanigans stemmed from a simple feeling: something was missing from Buffalo’s creative community. An accessible chance to create without any strings or pressure from the outside world was almost null and void. They wanted to create a space where people could simply make things for the joy of making them. They wanted to permit people to reconnect with the younger versions of themselves. With the support of the Generator Fund from the Buffalo Institute for Contemporary Art (BICA), they were able to build this into a consistent series. Rooted in play, artistry, and community, Desiree and Aly transformed their backyard into a space for interactive art experiences throughout the summer.

We sat down with Desiree and Aly to talk about the story behind Backyard Shenanigans, what it’s like to build a creative community from the ground up, the challenges they’ve encountered along the way, and where they hope to take the project next. Here’s what they had to say.

Where the Shenanigans Began…

MUV: Tell us the story of how Backyard Shenanigans came to be?

‍ ‍ Desiree: Me and Aly live together at The Shenanigans House, with me being her upstairs neighbor. We both attended Tri-Mania (a large scale interactive art event in hosted at the Tri-Main Center) last year, and it had inspired her to want to try to host Art events in our backyard. The idea she had in mind was an Art Exhibition throughout our yard paired with Live Performances and Vendors. I have been curating events in Buffalo since 2018, and my expertise as the Gallery Manager at El Museo has helped me to build a network of creatives that we could feature in this new venture of ours. 

‍ ‍Aly: Knowing that I was neighbors with Desiree and that she was a DJ, I thought it would be a really cool idea for us to collaborate together on hosting a D.I.Y show in our backyard. With me being an artist and knowing so many other great local creatives, I felt we needed another space to share our craft with one another in an outdoor setting. Meshing the worlds of the Punk scene and the local DJ & Hip-Hop scene, and the Visual Art scene in Buffalo was a big inspiration. We felt our events needed more variety than what people typically attend.

MUV: Shenanigans in many spaces can hold a negative connotation; how did you come up with the name?

‍ ‍Desiree: We were being super goofy as we were brainstorming potential names for our event series. We knew we wanted Backyard to be in the name that way folks knew that it would be an outdoor event from the comfort of our home. I randomly said Shenanigans to add a lighthearted aspect to the name but to also make it playful. I wanted us to incorporate childlike elements to these events, which Aly resonated with because social gatherings can sometimes feel a bit too serious, if not unwelcoming. I never thought about the negative aspects that can come with the word shenanigans because I've always jokingly used it, but I can totally picture our neighbors referring to our backyard events as such lolll.

Aly: We were brainstorming some ideas and honestly, the name kind of evolved. At one point it was "Big-back Backyard. It then evolved to "Backyardigan Shenanigans" & finally we settled on Backyard Shenanigans. I have learned over time that some people use the word "Shenanigans" in a negative connotation when they are witnessing people having a good time. The word is used when people are brought beyond their comfort zones. I think that it's important to be loud and passionate about art, especially during times where people want us to be silenced.

Desiree Kee & Aly Smutek

Photo by: Luqman Muhammad

The Backyard Experience…

What should someone expect when going to one of your events? 

‍ ‍Desiree: Once you enter our backyard, you'll start to feel lighter and little to no pressure, as you'll realize that you are surrounded by so many folks who are Big Kids at heart. There are multiple play stations set up throughout our Yard for you to choose from and allows you to engage with others in the process. Whether that is Art-making activities, playing nostalgic games, or vibing out to live music. You'll make a new friend or two or three as well!

‍ ‍Aly: I do believe that everyone's experience can be so vastly different. And that's kind of why we chose the model that we did. We wanted to invite others to choose their own adventure in our yard. You are invited to sit alone and doodle, mingle with new friends while creating something together, play a game, or to dance along to the music. We always have an art display, a performing artist, a group craft, a collaborative art piece, and games.

What do you hope they bring with them (not necessarily physical)?

‍ Desiree: Bring an open mind and an open heart! 

‍ ‍Aly: Bring a friend! Or bring yourself. Bring a readiness to create. We have had some people bring art they have made to show and display.

MUV: What do you hope they leave with? 

‍ ‍Desiree: We hope that you leave with the reminder that there is still some light left in this world.

‍ ‍Aly: I hope they leave having created something new. Whether that's a new friendship, or a piece of art, or maybe a new idea. I also hope they leave inspired to try new things and consider all of the different art forms that there are.

MUV: What is a challenge you face in the work that you do?

Desiree: DIY Creatives don't always give each other grace when working together to achieve the same goals. I think it's because we're all hard on ourselves and try to aim for perfection and forget to leave room for error in the process. While the final product is usually a success, the ending result is damaging to the overall connection/working relationships. Unfortunately, this has been a constant challenge for us while managing this project this year. 

‍ ‍ Aly: This summer we definitely experienced a lot of burnout. We had 6 events to plan and complete, so it did become very chaotic at some points. There are a lot of moving parts to our shows, & it was hard managing all of that with just the two of us sometimes.

MUV: How do you overcome it?

‍ ‍ Desiree: I honestly wish I had the answer to this. I've been struggling to find it since 2018, and it's been a repeating cycle for generations within Buffalo's Creative Community. Being more discerning and advocating for yourself no matter what is a start, but having those traits won't always be well-received by those who require you to self-sacrifice for their benefit. 

‍ ‍ Aly: I think Desiree and I have a good way of balancing one another out & picking each other up when something feels impossible. We also have so many lovely folks who have dedicated their time to help us out with the heavy moving parts.

MUV: How has organizing Backyard Shenanigans impacted you personally?

Desiree: I learned a lot about my communication style and how it needs to be strengthened. I don't really like giving orders or directives as someone who grew up in a very strict household and has been micromanaged at jobs in my past. But this was a key element that was needed while organizing this project this year to give our collaborators the clarity and reassurance that they needed.

Aly: Going to local businesses to flyer up & collaborating with local artists reminded me that I'm surrounded by so many people who actually do care about art and community. It also inspired me to create and to not be afraid of being perceived. Sharing my art was special because I didn't know how many people would connect to it until I did. I'm excited to keep sharing and curating!

Above Photos by NS Productions and milkdudintheplaypen

Why the Shenanigans should happen…

MUV: Why do you feel it is important for people, especially adults, to have a space where they can just play?

Desiree: Our childlike wonder will always be our internal compass that leads us back to home, who we are at our core. The system that we're living under, along with the daily pressures of being in society with others, will always try to suffocate those parts of us in hopes that we'll conform to the general consensus. We stay connected to our truest selves by being playful and joyous. 

Aly: We need to remember the parts of ourselves that have always been there. Instead of being so motivated by the things we "have to do", we must remember what we enjoy doing.

MUV: What does the phrase “play is a radical act” mean to you as the creators of Backyard Shenanigans (B$)? 

Desiree: My first time hearing this quote was actually from Kelso at one of the B$ events, and it made my heart grow 3 sizes like The Grinch. It means to remember who you are in a world that wants to remove your curiosity and limit the possibilities of what it means to build a happy & fulfilling life. I've always been made to feel as though my playful and bubbly nature meant that I was naive and prey for disingenuous folks. I would be told that my energy was too much and that I'm very immature. I see so much of myself in Aly, and it's very reaffirming. Doing B$ has brought me closer to my inner child in a less traumatic way, and it's been very healing. 

Aly: When you tap into your child self, you remember who you really are. Who you were before the world gave you doubt.. & when you tap into that knowing, it becomes harder for the world to take that away from you. All work and no play should never be the norm. We need time to unwind when the world feels so heavy and know that we can always return to something familiar and fulfilling.

The Future of the Shenanigans…

MUV: What do you hope Backyard Shenanigans can do for the community? 

‍ ‍ Desiree: Our mission has always been to provide an alternative space within the creative scene that allows people to come as they are while providing a platform for emerging & established artists. 

‍ ‍Aly: I hope that it reminds people to be playful and to not get tainted by the negative parts of this world. It was cool interacting with the neighborhood because so many people just keep to themselves nowadays.

MUV: How do you hope to see Backyard Shenanigans grow? 

Desiree: We would love to expand outside of our backyard and find other accommodating outdoor spaces to host our events. Also, seeing in what ways we can provide offerings that aren't just event curation but maybe pulling strings behind the scenes alongside our community members or on a digital front. 

‍ ‍Aly: We would love to see Backyard Shenanigans in another outdoor space and work alongside other curators with a similar vision in mind. It would be cool to spread out the events and put more time into each one.

At MUV, we center play as a radical act. It is a way of reclaiming creativity, curiosity, and joy. Through Backyard Shenanigans, Desiree and Aly were able to fully embody that idea, creating a space where people can let go of expectations and simply make, experiment, and play. In doing so, they remind us that Backyard Shenanigans are necessary.

Above Photos by milkdudintheplaypen