Killing Justice

I haven't blogged in awhile, partly because I'm lazy and writing is not something I particularly enjoy (yes, I know..why have a blog?) and partly I was just busy with life. However, sometimes I just can't continue on with my life activities and truly be present to enjoy them when there are so many injustices. I need to get it out somehow. My job has been especially taxing on me this year (emotionally and physically), so I have been somewhat emotional lately, but the execution of Troy Davis really got to me. The prison/justice system is not an area in which I work but it is an issue I really care about. Two documentaries really opened my eyes to the injustices and backward thinking of our supposed justice system: Books Not Bars about youth in the juvenile justice system and The Exonerated which follows the work of lawyers at the Innocence Project who work tirelessly to use DNA evidence to finally prove the innocence of people who have been locked up for years, sometimes more than 20 years. I've known that our justice system is far from perfect and have been very interested in restorative justice practices for about 6 years.


"LADIES - IN - WAITING" by Rita Fuchsberg

The execution of Troy Davis really struck a nerve with me...maybe because I was watching the news live and could see all the supporters and people hoping for a stay of execution. The lack of hard, physical evidence and the recantation of most of the eyewitnesses means that there was WAY beyond a reasonable doubt. I started thinking about my own husband or father or sister in his place. They could be sentenced to life or death just by a few people believing they committed a murder!?! That's extremely scary to me, especially because I know how unreliable eyewitness testimony is (The Innocence Project reports that eyewitness testimony is responsible for 75% of wrongful convictions). See video...



The one thing that gives me hope is seeing how many people were protesting the execution and hoping that more people now see how messed up our justice system is. Many people were affected by this execution, not only Troy Davis. Every person that is put to death has family - their kids, husbands/wives are affected, the executioners and prison wardens who participate are affected (executioners have said how haunting it is when someone like Troy Davis is maintaining their innocence to the end), and the victims' family is affected (I can't imagine the family in this case has no doubts). In the end, the execution probably brings more pain to everyone else who is touched by it...I can only imagine the trauma to family and executioners.


"The Anomie" by Misty Morris

One of the best art exhibits I have ever seen was about death row inmates. You could see the jumpsuits, toothbrushes, head covering, and even the catalog that items are ordered from. There were photographs made to look like posters that tested the viewer's biases towards someone in a jumpsuit. There were art works created by death row inmates. And one piece that really struck me was a small TV quietly playing tracks of inmates eating their last meals. On the wall behind, you could see a list of every person executed in the U.S. and what they requested for their last meal. It is a way to identify with the person, allow you to stop and reflect, and remember that they are human too. And we are not God.


"Finalmeal" by Barbara Caveng


"No II" by Peter Wortel

Flowers In The Winter...

Even guys like receiving bouquets of flowers...especially handmade, paper carnation bouquets! :)

When my husband returned from working on the East coast for 2 months, I greeted him with flowers at the train station. I'm thinking to do a little demo at my next jewelry/art party. In the meantime, you can check out this tutorial at Folding Trees.



"Flowers are the sweetest thing that God ever made, and forgot to put a soul into." - Henry Beecher

Gender Stereotypes Make Me Want to SCREAM!

Ok, I have to vent for a minute. I have heard so many gender stereotypes in the last month I am ready to scream. Here are 5 gender stereotypes that I never want to hear again:

1) Pink is for girls and blue is for boys: Recently, someone was telling me about a time when her little boy was mistaken for a girl. She was flabbergasted at this mistake and wondered why they thought she would dress her little girl up in blue. I will tell you all now - if I ever have a little girl, please don’t bring any pink frilly dresses to the baby shower…you would be wasting your money.


("Self-Portrait" by John Kirby)

2) Boys shouldn’t cry: A couple of nights ago I was at the laundromat, which was overtaken by small children who were running around the machines like it was a race course and randomly hitting other unsuspecting children. When one boy (maybe 3 years?) got hit back in the eye he went to his mom and started crying. She made some comment about how he should have hit him back then (great…don’t even get me started on this subject) and then she told him to stop crying like a “sissy @ss girl.” ☹ The child was obviously offended by this comment and said that he wasn’t a girl, to which the mother replied that he was sure acting like one and “only little girls cry.” I CAN’T STAND THIS.


("Self-Portrait With Cropped Hair" by Frida Kahlo)

3) Females are teachers, librarians, day care providers, nurses, etc. - if they are not staying home with the kids: My 7th graders have definitely learned and internalized the gender-stereotyped jobs, but even my 1st and 2nd graders have too. Many would laugh at the idea of a male nurse or elementary school teacher and I would have to work hard to convince them that women can be mechanics or construction workers. (If you want a children’s book that breaks down these kinds of stereotypes, check out How We Are Smart by W. Nikola-Lisa.)


("The Dinner Party" by Judy Chicago)

4) When it comes to gift-giving, women like jewelry, chocolates, flowers or a romantic dinner and men like beer, whiskey, tickets to a sports game, a day golfing, and a calendar of half-naked women: Puh-lease. My sisters and I sent my dad flowers at work for his birthday and he LOVED them! I gave him a Vivian Green CD for Christmas and he likes that too. I’m about to break this stereotype again in 2 days when my husband comes home. Check back for pictures.


(Artist: Cindy Sherman)

5) Girls should be thin with big boobs and wear tight clothes – and they spend hours at the gym fretting about what they look like. Guys don’t care at all how their bodies look: Females AND males care about what they look like and do feel self-conscious when they don’t match up with the image of what society says we should look like. I heard a conversation the other day (again with 3 year olds) about how boys have short hair and girls have long hair. When we accept such narrow views about what is beautiful (or what males and females should look like) it has detrimental effects on people’s self-image, self-esteem, how they are treated, etc.


("Your Body Is a Battleground" by Barbara Kruger)

So, my question to you ---> Am I alone here? Or what gender stereotypes do you all hate??


Put This On the {Map} is touring around the nation, showing a 34 minutes documentary that reteaches gender and sexuality:

PUT THIS ON THE {MAP} trailer from PUT THIS ON THE MAP on Vimeo.

Your Chicago Weekend...

Hey Chicagoans - We survived the Blizzaster of 2011! WOO! Give yourself a pat on the back and take a shower (I know you have all been just lounging around in PJ's all day!) because it's time to get out of the house and DO SOMETHING. So here is a list of some really cool, artsy things to do this weekend or the next....

1. First, check out this video on PBS about an unknown artist who was recently discovered when her storage space was auctioned off and someone discovered 1000's of pictures that had never even been developed. It is an amazing story...

Watch the full episode. See more Chicago Tonight.

2. Aren't you interested in seeing some of Vivian Maier's photos now? You can check out about 80 of her photos at the Chicago Cultural Center in downtown Chicago until April 3rd. For the address, hours, and other info, click here.

3. After you check out the Vivian Maier exhibit, head over to the Gene Siskel Film Center, also downtown, to see Louder Than a Bomb, a documentary that follows some Chicago-area high school poetry teams as they prepare for and compete in the largest youth poetry slam competition. The documentary will be shown through February 10th, 2011. To see the schedule, click here. Click here to hear some of the youth's poems being performed on WBEZ.

4. Warm up with some coffee or tea and check out the gallery at Three Peas Art Lounge.

5. Get on Pandora Radio, Reverbnation, or Youtube and search for some new music to get you inspired, like Melodic Yoza:


6. If you truly consider yourself a Chicagoan and you have never seen Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, then go NOW. It's creative, different, and you are sure to have a rowdy good time.

7. If you are more in a jazzy or poetry mood or if you have never been to the Green Mill, then you must go this weekend or you will be deleted from my "followers list." JK. But seriously, you need to check out the Green Mill. They have jazz every night and Mark Smith has been hosting the Uptown Poetry Slam for the last 25 years. AMAZING.

8. By Sunday, you should be tired and can relax in bed and watch an artsy movie (maybe I suggest 2 of my favorites?...Frida and Rivers and Tides) and be rested enough to go back to a full work week!

(I got the wall hanging in Pakistan and the bedspread was handmade by my father-in-laws mother)

Tips From National Geographic

I was in Washington DC last weekend and managed to see and do quite a bit in just a few days. My husband and I visited the beautiful Saint Mathews Church (said to be one of the most beautiful in the country), took a walk through the outdoor sculpture park on the Mall, stopped by a neat bead store, and fit in a lunch at Ben's Chili, where Obama is a customer! However, I think my favorite outing, was a trip to the National Geographic Museum. It's pretty small and doable if you have 1 or 2 hours, but well worth it! They currently have a collection of some of their favorite unpublished photos of 2010, as well as small hall of presidential photos. If you have ever seen a National Geographic magazine then I'm sure you know that they have amazing photographers - so, even though these photos didn't make it to print, you can be rest assured that they are beautiful, interesting, and thought-provoking. I highly recommend a visit!

My museum visit prompted me to check out National Geographic's website upon my return home (surprisingly, I had never done this before). Well, a "quick look" quickly turned into an hour...and then I stumbled upon their photo tips!!! - Brilliant! Check out this slideshow for a few tips on capturing "moments".... :)

Simply Beautiful Photographs, Tips on Capturing a Moment, Gallery – National Geographic

Here are a few pictures from my trip:

Pakistani Art

I just returned from my first trip to Islamabad, Pakistan. It was such a wonderful trip, visiting with my husband's parents and sister, and getting to know them better. I learned a lot through our conversations and outings. One of my favorite things, of course, was seeing all the beautiful arts, crafts, and architecture!! I couldn't help but buy some of beautiful textiles, necklaces, or carvings I saw....just doing my part to help the economy in Pakistan! ;) And now I will do my part to share a LITTLE bit of the beauty of Pakistani art with you, friends!....keep in mind that Pakistan is surrounded by other countries (India, China, Iran, Afghanistan) who have influenced the arts and architecture of the country.


Said Pur Village: This is a very old village in Islamabad, but it is being renovated in order to bring more tourists in.


Faisal Mosque: One of the largest mosques in the world, designed by a Turkish architect.


Carved door at Heritage Museum: There are many wood carvings that you can see in the architecture, as well as in handicrafts, such as the beautiful plates and boxes in the last picture below.


Wooden, painted chairs: These are from a small village in Rawalpindi. The old style of bed, found more in small villages, can also still be seen. The legs are carved and painted colorfully, but the "mattress" is woven like a hammock (similar to the seat of these chairs).


Textiles: This artist is weaving on an old style loom. I learned to do this in college but I don't remember - It's very complicated.


Mosaics and tiles: Many buildings and walls are intricately decorated with colorful, complex mosaic designs. This is just the washing area at Faisal Mosque. I only have a drawing in my journal to show the beautiful walls inside the mosque.


A gift for Dad: A wooden bowl that has been painted and carved.


A gift for Mom: Turquoise earrings, a paper mache bird egg, and a ceramic pitcher from the in-laws.




Carvings, and textiles, and jewelry, oh my! There are just so many beautiful textiles and handicrafts in Pakistan that it is hard to pack lightly!

2010 Progress

I thought I would review my New Years list from last year and see how I did on my goals. I had so many plans but then life happened and I traveled to Kansas City and NYC where my husband was working plays, then I spent the summer relaxing, then work started in September and I became very busy, etc etc. I know, they are excuses. So here is my progress and new goals for 2011!

1. Sign up for a Spanish course

Sad, I did not do this and this is a BIG goal of mine. This goal stays for 2011.

2. Practice Urdu

Uhhh, Ap ka kya hal hai!? Teek hai? yeah, I practiced a little during my 10 days in Pakistan, but this is also a goal that needs to stay.

3. Stretch for at least 10 minutes every day

Nope..this only happened when I went to the gym (so 3-4x/wk). The goal was really to stretch at home, but it is highly unlikely that it will happen in 2011 .

4. Drink more water

Check! (yes, i know I didn't write the goal so it is measurable, but trust me...I am drinking more water!)

5. Eat more greens and less chocolate (I'm anticipating this will be the hardest for me!)

Um, I'm doing the first part for sure! (smile)

6. Sell at least 35 pieces on Etsy in 2010 (I sold 18 necklaces/bracelets in 1009)

I sold about 21...still working!

7. Read at least 25 books (I know this is low number, but still higher than my 12 books this year!)

Sigh. I failed miserably. I didn't even make it halfway. Maybe my goal for 2011 will be to read 15. :/

8. Take (and pass) the Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) exam

Nope...I finished the hours but really need to sign up for and take the exam.

9. Meet my parents-in-law

YES!!! - Met this goal twice!!! :)

10. Paint

Yes! Started painting and need to do more!

11. Pay off my grad school loans (this will also be a BIG task but I think we can do it!)

Didn't reach this goal, only because of a special circumstance, but my goal now is to have it paid off by the end of March.

Well, I still have quite a bit to work on for 2011. I might also add a goal of more travel....either to South Africa or to Turkey. hmmm....

What goals do you have?

Dear Santa,

I attended my first bazaar on Saturday. I stayed up almost all night beading and putting stuff together only to have not sold a single item!! I couldn't believe it! However, this is a new bazaar and it seemed that many of the shoppers were teachers or parents at the school and were there for the singing and other activities. Who knows. At least I have more stuff to add to my Etsy site (Conscious Creativity), so continue to check it throughout the week! And while you're on there...check out my wish list from other Etsy artists! Here are a few of my faves:

Raw Oval Earrings from a.g.ambroult

I love MANY of the vintage necklaces at FreshyFig, such as the feather lariats or owl necklaces. However, I especially love the Turquoise Blue Birds with Lockets like this one...

Yea, I know I could never afford this purse, but I can still admire, right? From Scotatto

Ok, this beret is more affordable and I know this person! Love the removable pin! From Fancydress

I've been looking for a travel journal for my upcoming trip and I think the fabric is beautiful on this journal from Parkside Harmony

But I also like this one and the fact that it has "sections" - From A Bound Book

p.s. Santa, I also love clothes and trips to warm places! ;)

Love,

Malena

Dear Diary...

While this post is about journaling, I should start out by saying that I'm not a big "journaler." I had a diary when I was young (late elementary/junior high age) and I would write a few sentences whenever something big happened...like if my crush looked at me that day or if I determined that my parents didn't love me because they wouldn't let me go to a friend's house.

As an adult, I have only journaled for two reasons: (1) I'm in a mood to write poems (I call it journaling because it's usually related to whatever is going on in my life at that moment), or (2) when I travel. So, I am writing this post because I will soon have a reason to journal - I am traveling to Pakistan with my husband to visit his parents and sister - and we leave in less than 1 month. YIKES!

Don't get my wrong, I have enough to worry about to prepare for our trip (work reports, packing, buying gifts, getting my visa, etc) but for some reason I am thinking a lot about the journaling! I honestly hadn't even thought about bringing a journal to Pakistan, until my husband suggested it a couple of days ago. After leaving one of my journals on a plane (that I spent 3 months working on during my first trip to Peru), I felt so frustrated with myself and sad about the information I lost that I didn't care to journal much during my second trip to Peru...I guess I just thought that I would lose it again, I don't know. Of course, this is not a good reason to give up journaling for the rest of my life.

I also had not considered journaling because, honestly, I don't really enjoy writing. :/ Yes, I realize the irony in this statement - as I'm writing a blogpost! Sometimes, I am such a perfectionist (or nervous? or unsure?) that it takes me half an hour to decide what my first sentence will be. And I know journaling should be "enjoyable," "just for me," "I should just get my thoughts out," yadda yadda yadda. I KNOW! urgh. I'm getting frustrated just thinking about writing!

But I also want it to look nice, so I have to spend time finding the perfect journal...it has to be the right size, open comfortably, have the right look that matches my feelings about this trip, and I need to decide if I want one with lines (because I can't write in a straight line) or one with blank pages (so I can draw pics).

When I travel, I like to write about the things that I see, foods that I try, cultural mores, experiences, etc. but I began thinking that maybe I won't have that much to journal about on this trip. After reading the warnings about traveling in Pakistan we realized we probably won't be leaving my in-laws' home, except for a quick trip to a market to buy gifts. So what would I write about each day? There can only be so much that goes on between 5 people visiting in a home for 2 weeks that would be interesting to write about.... BUT, I may be wrong. I just need to change my style. Instead of writing about my site-seeing adventures, I will write more about my feelings (because I know there will be a lot of those)! This made me think of one of my best books I have ever received: The Decorated Page. My parents gave this to me for Christmas many years ago and it contains great advice for starting a journal and decorating it. So, I will have to re-read this book before I leave and put together a few simple supplies - maybe some pastels, charcoal pencils, glue, etc.

I have met my in-laws once and my husband goes years without visiting them so it will be emotional I'm sure, but also fun to catch up. I also plan to cook with my mother-in-law and that could lead to some interesting adventures, between the language barrier and my lack of common sense (at times) when it comes to cooking. When I met my in-laws it was also interesting to see how my husband interacts with his parents, and how similar his mannerisms are to his family members. ...I'm anticipating my journal might look more like a comic book! I'll be sure to take some pics to share on here. :)

Any advice on choosing a journal? topics to write about? how to get passed my perfectionism and just write? etc?

Stencil + Spray Paint + T-shirt = FUN!

Last weekend I signed up for a Graffiti Art and T-shirt workshop at Elephant Room Gallery. I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but I work with young people who like to draw bubble letters in their school notebooks or who talk about tagging. I thought that I could learn something to use with them, since I have done t-shirt projects with my 8th graders.

Well, first I got a private lesson with Hebru Brantley in some styles of graffiti writing. It was pretty fun, but I'm not very good at it. : / I guess I need to practice that a little more! The t-shirt part of the workshop was with Sam Kirk. We made stencils that we could lay on our t-shirt and then spray paint the design on. It was a lot of fun and so simple! I have been brainstorming more t-shirt ideas to try on my own or ways I could do this project at school with my students!

Here is my finished product!

Here are the steps to take, if you want to make your own t-shirt.

Why do you Donate?

Well, this blog is about conscious art, right? Well here is some conscious art:

Donate HERE.

My husband is an actor and writer. He used his artistic talents to co-write this piece with his sister, Kulsoom, and direct it. His friends volunteered their time and talents as well. In just 4 days, their hard work has almost raised their goal of $1000! We have been talking these last couple days about what motivates people to donate: the organization? the person asking? the time and work that went in to gathering donations (whether making a video or running a marathon), a personal connection, or maybe someone simply asking!?

So, I ask you, what prompts/inspires/motivates you to donate to your causes?

p.s. If you are motivated right now to providing safe drinking water, or maybe a minor surgery kit, or 675 vaccinations, it is just a click away: Donate at FirstGiving

5 Reasons to LOVE Street Art

1. It's often uncommissioned = most interesting/unconventional

2. It's often politically or socially conscious

3. It beautifies public spaces and makes them more interesting

4. You don't have to pay to enjoy it (and many street artists actually have the art school training)

5. It's more available to the public than art in a gallery or museum (anyone can enjoy)

6. p.s. WHY NOT?

Sometimes street art is left alone by the city, or actually protected, as is the famous "Crack is Wack" mural, which I visited in NYC a few months ago. Other times, it is covered up.

Here are some great blogs and sites if you want to see some street art, stencils, stickers, etc. I really love the "Eco" street art!

- Trendland

- Unurth Street Art

- Wooster Collective

- Brooklyn Street Art

Turning Hate into LOVE

In my last blog post, I was hoping and praying that people were marking 9/11 with love, instead of harboring hate and anger in their hearts. Holding onto hate is not only unhealthy and dangerous (for the individual and society), but it's also not very useful (usually). Perseverating on that hate/anger just makes one even more angry, stressed, raises blood pressure, etc, not to mention, possibly leading to violence.

However, take a look at these two women, who co-founded Beyond the 11th, after losing their husbands on 9/11 while 7 and 8 months pregnant - they surely had cause to be angry. Yet, they have turned their losses into love and global citizenship, reaching out to Afghani women who have also been widowed by war. Instead of viewing the situation as "us versus them," they saw the interrelatedness of their lives to these women in Afghanistan. These are the kind of actions that will "fight" the "war on terror" and make the world a more peaceful place.

Read or listen to their story here: Beyond the 11th

p.s. They also have a documentary, Beyond Belief, that is available on Netflix!

What I Think About on 9/11

Like most people I'm hearing from today, I also remember the events of my day on September 11, 2001. It was a sad, terrible, and scary day and I needed something to make me feel safe and assure me that everything would be alright. I remember putting up the American flag with my dad at his office. On the roof of the complex we saw a green praying mantis and I quickly took it as a good omen. Then, I began to see everyone coming together, people helping each other, caring about each other. It gave me some hope that overshadowed the fear.

However, 9/11 also sparked a lot of hate that was wrongly targeted at regular people and U.S. citizens. I didn't see this at the time in my small, white farming town. However, only 30 minutes away, my husband (whom I hadn't met yet) was becoming the target of hate crimes because of his religion and the color of his skin. Psychologically, I understand that people feel the need to blame something/someone in situations like this - you try to put information and people into boxes to categorize and understand the situation. But fear, ignorance, and hate, as we have seen throughout history, can trigger people to do terrible things.

Today, I feel like that same fear and hate have been exacerbated after years of war, children left motherless or fatherless, inaccurate media coverage, more security in airports, The Patriot Act, and political and community "leaders" that promote hate and segregation, etc. NPR has been reporting on the increased Islamaphobia and hate crimes towards Muslims and I have seen this as well - on NYC streets towards my husband, vandalism to our car, at my work, comments at the end of news articles I read... There is less tolerance, it seems, when what we really need is a cultural center that would bring people together, to learn about each other and care about each other.

Today, when I woke up and realized what day it was and that my husband was currently on the bus and train to work, I cried. Many people are marking this day with sadness and remembrances, but many are also marking it with hate. Today I am marking with love and I hope that people realize that these tragedies and events affect everyone, whether it's directly or indirectly. This morning I cried, praying that everyone who sees my husband today - on the bus, the train, the streets of Chicago - will be marking the day with love and acceptance, so that my jaanu comes home safely.

Homeless Art Museum

I can't believe I forgot to share this! It was one of the most interesting experiences I had in New York and one of the best "exhibits" I have seen in awhile (and I did go to the MOMA while I was in NYC). I was touring the Skyline with a friend in NYC and when we came down from the elevated park we found this man sitting at a table, claiming to be the Museum Director of the Homeless Museum of Art (a homeless museum).

He claimed that the stuffed coyote next to him as the Director of Public Relations and was his listener and she was telling him things. He asked about my friend and I, and when he found out that we were social workers he asked if we were just analyzing him and if our radar was going off, saying "cuckoo!" I have to admit though, we did discuss after we walked away whether (1) he did have some kind of disorder; or (2) if he was doing some kind of social experiment; or (3) he was just an eccentric artist. He was clearly an artist and gave us free entrance tickets into the museum (as shown in the picture) and told us that the ticket was good everywhere we went that day and was good until midnight - we would be in the museum for the entire day. LOVE it! Needless to say, I looked him up when I got home and the artist (Filip Noterdaeme), and ideas are fascinating! Check it out: Homeless Museum of Art.

Oh, that sweet smell of oil and turpentine!

I came home the other day, and as soon as I walked in the door the smells took me back to my senior year of college, art building, 2nd floor, corner room with the big windows (all open, of course) overlooking the grassy front yard where the Sculpture students were setting up their newest projects, where you have to weave through the maze of easels and wet paintings and talk loudly over the sound of the vents and music playing just to be heard...oh, how I miss the Oil Painting Room (I'm giving it a proper name because it's that special - and this is my blog so I can write what I want).

But yes, many hours were spent in the Oil Painting Room - learning to use the staple gun and saw to build a canvas, mixing oils, learning to how to block the colors, trying to master Monet and Picasso (or even get just a little close). I look fondly back at that room, where I would stay until 3am before a project was due, thinking I could fool the teacher into thinking I finished my project on time (I was only kidding myself though...oils take a very long time to dry and you can't paint the next layer on top until the layer underneath has at least partially dried). It was a challenging class but so much fun.

Now I can take my own time. My parents gave me a very nice easel for my birthday last month...and so, after 6 years off, I am getting back to my real love in art - oils. When I came home the other day, the smell of oil paints in the living room made me smile with all the memories and I couldn't wait to add the next layer onto my painting. I just hope the smells make my husband smile too! ;)

Sand Mandalas

It's been awhile since I have posted...summer vacation laziness (and travel) has been in full effect! I was in NYC in June but am just now getting around to posting these pictures of artist, Joe Mangrum, spending the better portion of the day creating a sand mandala at the south end of Central Park. I loved this little area because there are always interesting people to watch here, but this day was a special treat for me. While, he does have an art degree, Mr. Mangrum taught himself how to create the sand mandalas. Friends, if you ever want to get me a gift, I will take his Painting New York book! ;) Check out his website...his work is really beautiful.

Community Art

A good friend invited me to Chicago's Folk & Roots Festival last weekend and I was pleasantly surprised:

1. Great music (especially Red Baraat...I ended up paying to see them again the next night and then buying their CD)

2. The artsy booths set up (bought another summery dress that I don't need...but it's so bright and happy!)

3. The community mural that was being created on the street by Nuestra Musica Chicago. It was just too cool, not to partake....

Oh, and 4. The good company! :)

End of Year Art

I recently finished the school year with my second round of 8th graders. It was joyous - this is the first year that all the students on my caseload graduated! And they were all very happy for the end of the school year and new beginnings. However, it was also sad for me because I will miss all of them and wonder how they are doing in high school... I will wonder if some are still in gangs, if they are all going to school and doing their homework, if they are talking with their parents, practicing managing their anger, or seeking help when they are feeling depressed. But, this is not meant to be a sad blog...Instead I want to highlight a few end-of-the-year projects which give me great hope for them because it shows just how resilient, creative, smart, and caring they are....

Obviously I love art for awareness, and I try to sneak this value in with my social work projects. More importantly, however, I believe that art can be very therapeutic. It lets you open up, share something about yourself, let your guard down, reflect on/evaluated your beliefs and feelings, and observe others' perspectives, beliefs, and experiences in a non-threatening way. So here are just a few projects that highlight how art can do these amazing things!

This was a bulletin board in my office that all of my students helped to create (some in small groups and some individually). The students wrote down things they do that are in their comfort zone and placed these inside the sun. They were so interested in what others were comfortable doing, as it varied for everyone (i.e. doing math, playing video games, drawing, etc). The suns rays show those things that are outside their comfort zone but are important for them in order to grow and overcome obstacles (i.e. math again, a presentation, trying out for a team, etc):

This is a bulletin board outside my office with a quote by Publilious Syrus, "A good reputation is more valuable than gold." This project was done with a classroom group. We talked a lot about choices, consequences, values...and tied this into goals they had written earlier in the school year. They thought about their goals and values and how they want other people to see them. They were so creative and took so much time in creating their "ideal self."

I work in a community that experiences a lot of violence. A lot of my students are desensitized to violence, probably for a variety of reasons, such as seeing so much violence in video games and movies, but also experiencing it at home and on the streets. As you might guess, many of my students respond that violence is not a big deal and are very nonchalant about violence when we are talking in my office. They also lack empathy for their classmates when they are a perpetrator or witness. This project was meant to look at how they have been affected by different kinds of violence, process how they felt about it, and decide what they wanted their classmates and teachers to know about their experiences or about violence in general. They created t-shirts with their messages and these were hung in the school cafeteria (same project I blogged about last year).

My last name is Ally

I've blogged before about how I became interested and involved in social justice issues, especially issues related to race. Basically, I don't know. I just remember being in 4th grade the first time I stood up for a friend of color and their "strange clothes." I've never liked anyone being picked on (maybe I could identify...because I was definitely picked on) and I didn't think it was fair for someone to be teased because they didn't "look" right. The first racist joke I remember hearing is "What did God say when He made the second Black person?: Punch line: "Darn, burned another." In elementary school, I didn't understand exactly why this was wrong, but I knew that it sounded weird.

Moving out of my small, White, farming town and heading to college, I became friends with people who were biracial, Black, Mexican, Guatamalen, Chinese, American Indian, Iranian, Korean, etcetera, and White. I got to see first-hand how they were looked at in a suspicious way in stores; the ignorant comments in class; how they were encouraged to sign up for the easier classes; how we were stopped at the border when I was with a group of "brown people" just trying to go dancing in Canada; the way others would touch or comment on their "beautiful" or "strange" hair.

Now I am married to a wonderful, talented, and loving Pakistani man. Through him and my new family I've seen this "otherness" and ignorance taken to the level of hate. I've heard of hate crimes, of course. In college I remember an area high school having 7 nooses hanging outside one morning. But to know people who have experienced this kind of hate...or to see/hear this hate is a different experience. That's when an ally is really tested and you have to know what level you go to - how do you respond to that comment? How do you support that person? How do you educate others?

I try to keep informed in my daily life and educate people in more informal and relaxed ways (i.e. casual conversations when their guard is down). But don't get me wrong, I love the more direct ways as well. I loved leading discussions in college about these kind of issues with my fellow classmates. I have created art pieces that also directly address issues related to racial injustice. And this is what I would love to do full time with young people - art for social justice. Art can be a non-confrontational way to educate people and start discussions...just like my husband is doing. :) If you know me, you know this is my ultimate goal: to have a job where I can address social justice issues through the arts.

Maybe because of these experiences, and my husband being Muslim, and wanting to do this kind of work, is why I felt really sad, angry, and even a little hopeless when I read this story about a 'Muslim Artist's Exhibit Vandalized. This artist, Anida Yoeu Ali, of the "1700% Project: Otherance," had a wall installation at Sullivan Galleries that challenges the stereotypes of a "Muslim" identity, which was defaced a couple of days ago. Among other comments, some text on the wall read "Kill all Arabs." Sometimes I wonder if things will ever get better. But I know that's not the attitude to have! Anida definitely does not have that attitude. In fact, she has organized a public performance and discussion for Saturday, May 15th at 12:30pm. She is calling on the public to join her in reclaiming the vandalized piece and turning it into a work of healing. I think this is a wonderful idea and I hope TONS of people will turn out to support. I am so disappointed that I have several plans for Saturday already and I am tempted to cancel them in order to attend and show my support. PLEASE, if you can attend, I urge you to do so. Your last name does not have to be Ally to be an ally. ;)