I've been working on a site-specific installation which speaks to the western education system, and more specifically its lack of inclusiveness to students with alternative learning styles.  I wish my creative spirit was nurtured by my teachers in high school and definitely see how my poor marks in high school affected my self esteem when considering college.  Six years after secondary school I got up the courage to give it a shot  to discover I could excel in academics in the right environment and with the right motivations ie.goals I made for myself as opposed to ones dictated to me.  Unfortunately not everyone who has had similar public school experiences as me realizes their potential.  In Fragments of an Education (working title), I'm grieving this loss.

I created a code made up of rubbings of textures from around Concordia University and then made them into a message.  My hope is that people might liken the process of decoding the message, to their experiences in school.  Whether the participant has felt victimized by the public school system or not I hope to demystify some of the preconceptions brought about by western imperialistic ways of thinking which put the population into two limiting categories; intelligent or unintelligent.  The message I chose was meant to make the viewer think differently about the judgments that they place on others or themselves while also acting as a message of hope and encouragement.

I will be installing this At Concordia University next week sometime with an accompanying website which will give those you who are not in Montreal a chance to de-code it too.

I keep on meaning to do a post about this upcoming adventure of mine, but it is such a big deal and I've had so little time lately to, well do anything but school work and prepare for this adventure, that I've known that I cannot capture it all in one post.  So I'll do it in installments. 

The gist is I'm going to the Northwest Territories to teach textiles for six weeks!

I'm so excited that it almost got me off track with school while I was doing all the ordering for it.  Yes, there were a lot of orders to be made.  Since there are no yarn shops up there to save me from forgetting something I had to think of everything I'd need for a two week knitting workshop, a one week knitting machine workshop and a one week weaving workshop (eek!).  It was a dream planning all the lesson plans and figuring out what yarns I'd need.  Cara at Birkeland Bros was a huge help in helping me decide on replacement yarns for ones she didn't carry.  I ordered everything from her (except the knitting machines); yarn, looms, hand-knitting implements and accessories as well as sliver and spinning wheels for a spinning workshop that will occur before I arrive.  I'm really excited about the Sweetgeorgia sock yarn that I ordered.  I also got some roving from her for the spinning.  Wheeee!  On top of all of this wonderfulness I was told that a large donation of Qiviut was made to my portion of the program (I'll further explain the entire 15 week program in the near future).  It is a mix of 2 ply and 3 ply yarns that have been mixed with silk for strength.  So special.

Are you ready for the kicker?  I get to teach elderly women - what knowledge they will have. I even received an email with a picture of them which was beyond beautiful.  I know that this is going to be a special experience.

I leave April 8th.