Week 10: Mar 23-29

Week Ten: Mar 23-29: Live Through This: Preface to page 90

Live Through This: On Creativity and Self-Destruction (pp. 9-90)

Preface  (pp. 9-13)  Sabrina Chapadjiev

Long, Long Thoughts  (pp. 15-25)   Carol Queen

Lady Lazurus: Uncoupleting Suicide and Poetry (pp. 27-35)  Daphne Gottlieb

Fighting Fire with Acid Rain: A Story of Coming Down (pp. 38-46) Cristy C. Road

A Little Hell Breaks Loose  (pp. 47-64)  Patricia Smith

Total Disaster: Sketching Sanity  (pp. 66-78) Fly

Slash an' Burn (pp. 79-90) Inga M. Muscio

Previously in our first book, artists and others wrote about environmental issues and about issues/concerns/atrocities in fairly accessible ways. In Live Through This, we experience first-hand first-person testimonies: witnessing to life experiences. For many of these writers, the distinctions between creativity and insanity or self-destruction blur or aren’t seen at times. They experience “unrealities." Like many of the eco artists in our last book, these women won’t quit. They experience what it means to discover power as artists, thinkers, teachers, and community members. These stories are not clean and they are not pretty to read—but you will find complex and empowering moments--some close to our own bones. I wonder if that is one remnant we give to students—the possibility of self-empowerment—however that occurs in schools. 

One reason I choose this book is because it was created in reaction to life events or circumstances beyond the control of the author. And we get to read her response--this book of women's stories/testimonies. 

In addition, these are other ways/methods to create art/research as we explore ways to create research. Biography and autobiography.  

Comments on project ideas from last week:

Sylvia is exploring an artist book; David with sunflowers, Raha sound, Marc a garden though his title may change; I believe it will be this book and our last book that will offer you some grounding to better tease some of these ideas--which are all incredibly rich and sustainable--it's what you want to do--meaning begin--and what you have time to do. Think of yourself and your sanity. Think of this as a mere introduction to something bigger, your beginning--your introduction. Your project does not have to be finished--I don't expect it to (that would be an old idea of schooling and research). David, as you struggle with locating viable method/s, keep in mind that you may create or combine something new. 

Let me remind anyone who is doubting any project idea/s. You DO have great ideas and stories to tell. I wa, always moved by your weekly comments and posts. Many of your posts represent stories from your countries, homes, neighborhoods, minds, lives and classrooms and studios. If you are struggling yet for a topic or method, please email me so I can help you calm down and possibly help focus your efforts. And please keep in mind that if you write something extremely personal, you can email it to me--you do not have to share that with others. Also, when you create a blog site, you can go under permissions and make it available to only us; keeping it private if you need to.(Under permissions you can invite only us and keep it private--you insert our emails that I can provide you).

Now, as we proceed to our second book, prepare for a complete switch to the personal is political is... Many people continue to think that writing about something personal is so much easier than writing about anything else. I disagree. I think writing about something that matters to me is always much more carefully considered and thought-through and scary.

As an aside, I've worked with a friend who co-developed the South Texas College Human rights Exhibition. Definitely worth a look:  www.humanrightsartexhibit.com/ 

This dovetails nicely with our previous book and our next two books.

Posts from last week: We are finished with our eco look/book. Last fall, here is what some students were considering about projects--thought you might like the review.

One student posted about pollution in Beijing and the possibilities for a project as well. Another posted, "The unimaginable 

resources (bodies, minds, passions) that are wasted in our current civilization could be used to sustain and save." 

"...something within mesas rekindled; it's a good thing and I want to tend to its flame." Many have posted and asked

How do we come together? It's a great question. Part of research is creating a question. And not even answering it.

Pedro Reyes spoke to many of them. One student posted about social projects for his students--which is closely related to

social practice as a method and possibility. Another posted about a trip to a landfill. That in and of itself is a project:

document trip, record reactions and question, pose some actions--that's a project. Grasping a scale of a landfill

is a unique experience. We all have them. Where is yours?Someone posted about how layered Reyes' project/art

is: people turning in weapons, media coverage, contributors, factory melting down guns, forging them, creating the

exhibit, media about exhibit, etc. Another posted about consumerism. Great idea as well. I posted that when I was a kid, I went to

the store with a purpose. Now I shop at a TJ Maxx with no purpose. And I waste a lot of money. But shopping everyday

is part of a social experience and social practice and communication in European and Middle Eastern cities for example, where people 

shop for fresh produce everyday. Small refrigerators, little space. How is that different or similar to what we do? 

Another posted about her daughter--can we return to gardens, parks and the earth not just for a solution, but for life

and to live? Watching trees and earth rather than tv, for example? James posted about sustainability--what about

consuming less--could start with myself and my art room. What gets wasted and thrown away--more landfill. I think

of all the art that gets thrown away and rationalized as throwable--part of a process. Can we rethink that? Another 

posted a lot about landfills and her students. I posted that at TTU, they are now recycling. Last year TTU created 31 scholarships

for $1,000 each from recycling proceeds. I recycled blue bottles as the Texas sun can kill most anything made of wood

and even metal--glass lasts longer. So, I created my 365 blue bottle iris art. I also think about when TTU students

leave for summer and throw out clothes in dumpsters with originals store tags on meaning never worn, or throw out

new stuff just because they can or it's a hassle to take back--they can buy it again in three months. I wish TTU

better worked with dorms and recycled and opened up a resale space--could make some serious money. Lots of

my friends dumpster dive at the end of semesters. Shocked with what gets thrown away. Speaking about about

landfills, as a kid, I saw them and they were huge. My parents recycled everything. My mom made her own bread

twice a week and washed out and hung to dry on line plastic bread bags. Others posted about 

the energy and material needed to produce meat. One posted about Lubbock water--it is really bad. Lots of brown

toothed people in Lubbock. Basic needs--water, ground, air--you are all touching on them and connecting these

to your lives. Made for incredibly interesting reading. One student is a first year teacher where I posted, don't lose heart. Teaching is tough and complicated

and then add life to it, one's own life with its ups and downs--the next book may speak to you in some ways.

As you can see, they as you were uncertain and asking questions. Good places to be. 

Now...we move from eco strategies and research methods to auto/narrative--women who find close connections 

to creativity and suicide. What are our stories? When do they count? When do we count? What dare we say?

What do we not or never say? Complicated and very interesting. Prepare yourself--some of the stories are

quite raw.

One last comment. There are now different editions of this book. I emailed you a pic of the first edition. That is what I am
using. If your book is different, it's okay. Share with us any additional stories in the latter edition if you bought that one.
Most of the book is the same. 

Week 9: Mar 16-22

Week Nine: Mar 16-22: Weintraub, Linda To life! Eco art in pursuit of a sustainable planet: Read: Red Earth; Pedro Reyes; Tomás Saraceno; Simon Starling; Gerda Steiner and Jörg Lenzlinger; Tavares Strachan; SUPERFLEX; Reverend Billy Talen; Tissue Culture & Art Project; Lily Yeh; and Marina Zurkow (pp. 253-318)

This is our last week on the Weintraub book. I hope you have enjoyed the variety of methods of engaging that these artists have demonstrated to us. It's as if art has become a sub-category in the midsts of even larger issues and topics. Is poses questions like what can be art-like? What methods and was of making art have mattered? Which still matter? And I feel re-grounded to the earth. It seems that this book is hitting a spot for many of us in one way or more--whether it's rethinking art and social constructs or the possibility of inserting ourselves/myself into the dialog. I'm noting how western art norms prevent some of us from considering or reconsidering the worth of an act--getting stuck in--is it art? Is it process? Product? Would this work in a gallery? (Consider your backyard as a gallery.) Is it a case study? A method? Art? Niloofar posted about what is changing? Keep in mind that you will need to develop a project (it can be on existing work or ideas) that addresses research and/or pedagogies. Some asked, How can we make changes? Silvia and others posted about the importance of not shaming audiences or consumers. Marc shared that he is working on a project that will document a community garden space. Keep in mind, that all of these will be looked at online by all of us as the semester ends. We will all chime in with positive feedback on each others' ideas/projects. You can create your own blog and upload your images, data, narratives, etc. What I would like to see is a narrative/description of why you chose what you chose and why it is important to you. That contextual information is of great importance for us as learners and artists. 

Let me say a few more words about semester projects. Many/Most will end up as works-in-progress--in other words, you will begin them and not finish them this semester. I am hoping you chose something that is of most interest to you so you will continue and carry on with the work. That's the point. I remind TTU undergrad students that as a teacher, I  never want to make any art that becomes landfill. And, what that means for me in terms of rethinking a lot I was taught. How can I be kinder to myself and the environment. Don't think of the project as one huge thing--think of something you are interested in further investigating--either by researching, making, teaching, planning, etc.

And many of you are already rethinking what you might want to do--that's part of the process. From where a project begins...to how it evolves...to how it ends...if it ends. Remember ours will be works-in-progress. Ideas you will begin. They do not have to finish. They may stay at the idea level--and maybe end there as well. When I think about writing and making art, my initial attempts and ideas are rarely what I end up with. So, be kind to yourselves. Do/Start something that really matters to you. Sometimes those rules have yet to be written--you will be writing them. Some of us posted about stewardship and the land. I remember everybody had a garden while growing up in my very neat and orderly white working class neighborhood. Gardens are making come backs for middle class white people  because gardens make sense--and connections back to the earth. Workers and others have always had and continue to have gardens--it's a part of being human. Gardens ground me. My dad might be amazed at how I work with the earth to give and give back.

Ideas for projects: Has anyone thought of a project, short-term, of documenting your own waste for a month; or where it goes. Document your local land fill. Maybe interview some people who work there. Document a community garden project like Marc is doing. Simplicity. Start at the beginnings of things. When we are asking questions such as What is Art? we negate all of the multiple cultural and geographic explanations for "making" however it is defined. So for example, if observing recycling is a project--Document it. Write about it. Take photos or make some art. A few have posted that they see "something sort of beautiful about waste"--one could do a photo essay documenting one's own waste or recycling. Use audio. One could create an audio blog space. Create a few audio blogs. That's a project. Or, how could we use smells? Or, if you are thinking very literally art-wise, create a small post-card-sized or trading card size something--collage, watercolor, etc. Or create a trading card set of what you throw a lot of away. These are mainly means to get you thinking about a project as we are half-way through the semester.

More ideas--You could take a picture every day of something for a month, etc. Keep in mind, that you can begin something that you will only be at the beginning of at the end of this semester--that is perfectly fine. Just recall and note all of the different ways--METHODS of doing research--that these artist employed and deployed. Art is only stagnant in our minds. Yes, there is always disciplinary blendings and road blocks as many of us have posted about boundaries and definitions, for example. 

NOTE** Always keep posting in the current week as you are doing for any late posts. There is never any shame or blame. We are all busy with our lives, teaching and learning. Just post as you can.And, use "I" language--never say "we"--say me or I.

Some ending thoughts...As we come to the end of our first book, keep in mind that the methods/strategies used, are examples of possibilities and does not include everything. You may use biography or autobiography as your methods or some of the multiple methods you will use. An idea for you might be to juxtapose your two worlds you have experienced as a teacher and artist. When I think of using human waste to if, for some reason, you are dong something really personal and need to be private about writing, send me an email letting me know. Anything is possible. I just want all of us to share in our learning and asking and researching, if possible. 

Also, don't think about creating something new and big--no need to do the impossible. Think small and local. Look in the mirror. It may be about you. Always use "I"/"i" language. Maybe what you start with is an image inventory. Your final blog piece does not have to be this one. You can change your mind. I expect some of you will. Just start to think about what interests you. How might that connect to multiple methods we are reading about? What other methods might you use? Theory is big ideas about the world. Methods are simply ways of collecting data or making art. Don't be afraid to ask questions and make mistakes. I do not expect you to be an expert. You are not in competition with these artists. I want you to begin at the beginning, if that is where you are. And no need to think about finishing anything...

Some of my friends who are artists and teachers talk about slowing down, to observe and think--as they think of their next moves/or art. As for the artists creating around death, are you aware that 100 years ago 90 percent of people in the US died at home and today 90 percent of die in institutions? There were methods and specific models for mourning. Often, the dead were on display in the pallor for a week prior to burial and flowers were used to cover smells. Check our Jessica Mitford's, The American Way of Death (Revisited). Very interesting topic. Three years ago in June in a summer session in Junction, a blacksmith came through and "smithed" and gave demos to us--was incredibly interesting. He made some nails and other objects. All this referring to what is around me--and what am I interested in. 

Welcome back from spring break. Farewell to our first book. 

Week 8: Mar 9-15

Week 8: Mar 9-15 (Spring Break)

Happy Spring Break. You may use this week to catch-up on any past posts. I'm glad our first book inspired and offered newer insights into possibilities and connections and collaborations of artists, art/s, and environments. I looked up suggested websites and youtube sights. Thanks for your contributions.

Our next book will be narratives from the bone--women who experience marginalizations and self-defeats--turning normative codes and histories around so they can flourish. But that starts next week.

Week 7: Mar 2-8

Week Seven: Mar 2-8: Weintraub, Linda To life! Eco art in pursuit of a sustainable planet: Read: HeHe; Natalie Jeremijenko; Yun-Fei Ji; Eduardo Kac; Jae Rhim Lee; Maya Lin; Michael Mandiberg; Viet Ngo; Marjetica Potrč (pp. 205-252)

Next Week is Spring break. I will post the week for anyone who would like to catch-up on any posts: Week Eight: Mar 9-15: Spring Break (catch-up week)

Week 6: Oct 6-12: Weintraub, Linda To life! Eco art in pursuit of a sustainable planet: Read: HeHe; Natalie Jeremijenko; Yun-Fei Ji; Eduardo Kac; Jae Rhim Lee; Maya Lin; Michael Mandiberg; Viet Ngo; Marjetica Potrč (pp. 205-252)

One more week and we finish with this book.  

A few comments from Week Six posts. 

The tourism essays got me to thinking about HGTV and why I bought this copy of Texas Monthly this past fall to read about the Gaines. Interesting. With a downtown market they developed, something like 31,000 tourists flock to Waco a week. A very interesting read. At 31,000 a week, that's around 1.6 million a year.

Is anyone thinking about a semester project idea? For two weeks, no one has posted anything under that post heading. William Ayers, On the Side of the Child--posts some radical reads to pedagogy and learning--similar to the readings of this book--other ways to do something. He writes about love and freedom and learning. A nice read.

For those interested, the Beehive people/artists travel around the world. We had one of them at Tech ten years ago. They will come to schools. Contact them. David posted about how he has a formalist/conceptualist lens/judgment. Could that mean that that Western Euro lens is narrow and limiting? (I'm listening to The Empire Strikes Back hearing in my mind--the force of Western Euro thinking...) Are many of us working from or with very narrow Western Euro trained minds in terms of art or what it is or what it can be? I visited McAllen, TX this past week and stayed with a Puerto Rican friend who is mesmerized with Italian art and royalty--how art was made over the centuries, etc. I ponder about that I am not all that interested in it. He regaled me with stories about his travels throughout Italy, and I kept thinking--okay, another church. Another mural. That's why I'm heartened when any parts of some of these readings may move you or move you to ponder. 

Raha posted about launching programs in support of rural lives. Will that happen in the US under the administration? Sylvia posted about being inspired and fascinated.

Starting again after spring break, I'll post a section about project ideas again for class members to share progress, or no progress. It's all about ideas. We will shortly and vastly change the focus of methods with our next book--so be prepared. If you fall behind, just post in the current week. Great posts this past week.