All Signed Up

Registered for classes at NSCAD!! So very excited -- it feels real now, seeing my timetable online with my name above it.

Sat down with the Academic Calendar, made a list of the courses I want to take, flipped back and forth and added all the prerequisites, went through again to add the required courses. Checked and rechecked -- reminded myself that I can't take all the classes, not in one semester anyway!!

Wait listed for one class each semester.....and have registered for my second choices, just in case. Paining first semester, two classes per week -- so looking forward to it! Wait listed for Drawing second semester so registered for Typography and Sensoryscapes as my second choices.  Oh, the degree I'm studying for is a Bachelor of Fine Art, Interdisciplinary, minor in Art History.  Squeezing in as many Critical Studies as possible around the required studio courses. And they won't let me take more than 15 credits per semester until my final year!!

It's wonderful to be working towards my own dreams and goals, not to pay for someone else's Porsche.  People have been asking me what my plans are after graduation........it feels trite to quip "make art!", but, that's the only firm plan.  When I returned to school three years ago I was not expecting to be heading off to Halifax, and years ago when I "thought" I had my life all mapped out, well, can you say complete and total life change!! The only aspect of my life that I've brought forward from 2003 is my crabby tabby!!!  And I'm planning more changes.

And, I get to explore a new city! The parks, the museums, the galleries, the cafes..........




When we lose the right to be different, we lose the privilege to be free. -- Charles Evans Hughes

Feminine

Lilith: demonised for refusing subjugation

Kali: destroyer, ending illusions, showing truth

I've studied comparative and alternate religion, mythology, and shamanism mist of my life. I've been exposed, in one way or another, to the world's "major" religions, several Christian sects (from Catholicism to fundamental Pentecostal), dabbled with mainstream Christianity, and participated in Pagan rituals.

What I've found most interesting is the feminine role. Traditional mainstream religions teach that women are, well, less than men (I.e. only male clergy, woman's role is to be a "good wife" and nothing else..........), and must submit to a man's will, no matter what. That women are not thinking, autonomous, free beings. And I point out here that it is less than 100 years since women were made "person's under the law", before this change of "law" women were chattel, no different from vehicles, livestock: property.

Change, in our modern society, happens so quickly, in so many ways, however, some social norms take a very long time. We enact laws for equality: law is passed, attitudes change--the racist, the misogynist, the homophobic---yup, law passed, one second they hate, the next they don't. Yeah, right.......

Anyway, I didn't mean this to be a social justice rant, so I will go back to discussing my work: a diptychs of two mythological representations of femininity -- Lilith & Kali.










Lilith: the first wife of Adam. There are several versions to this myth as to the exact "events" and circumstances but what is the same in all accounts is that she insisted on equality with Adam, he wanted her to submit. She called the unspeakable (and allegedly unknowable) Name of God and left. So God made Adam a new wife, one more passive and less independent.














Kali: Hindu goddess, an incarnation of Durga. The Destroyer, when a hoard of demons attacked the earth and all the gods had failed to stop them, they called on Kali, who went into a murderous rage and "went across the land slaying all that got in her path".  She is associated with breaking illusions and showing truth.

I'll take the criticism, but not the abuse

The other day wedding photographer Kandise Brown tweeted the following link:

http://apracticalwedding.com/2013/04/hate-reading-and-feminism/

It really sparked something in me.  We, as women, have been silenced by others who tell us that "speaking out" isn't "nice".  Well, nice women don't make history.  She said it so well, I am not even going to attempt to paraphrase nor will I add anything.

I feel I have something to say, if you want to read it: great! if not, well.......... I'm only looking for dialogue, to communicate.  My intentions with this blog are to share my thoughts, ideas, what I've learned, my challenges.  And ya know what: it's MY blog.

"I swear by my life and my love of it that I will never live my life for the sake of another,

nor ask another to live for mine"

If you want to avoid criticism, don't do anything, don't be anything.

Haters gonna hate............

Three Years Later

WOW!! It's starting to sink in that graduation is coming---fast. Just a few more weeks of classes, final assessments, two exhibitions, then The Ceremony.

In many ways I'm a bit sad to be leaving NBCCD, there are people I've met there that I will miss terribly. Their friendly smiling faces, their gentle acceptance, their challenging of me.........

Moving to Halifax is WAY out of my comfort zone.......coming from humble, rural beginnings, I am proud of the life I've made for myself. Moving to "The Big City" is quite daunting. Truthfully not sure if what I feel is excitement or terror---probably a bit of both. No, A LOT of both.

The Plan is to share a place first semester with a former school mate (I do hope she forgives me my non responsiveness pre morning coffee!! LOL), she's a year ahead of me and will be finishing her classes in December. So, I won't be alone, I do know a few people down there.

New chapter, new adventure, MY life!!!