I sure have a lot to catch up on. I haven’t had a minute of “free time” (whatever that is) to write about how my opening went, how the panel event panned out, or even to talk about how I’ve already started school!
I’ve made many new decisions about my employment/educational path, so I registered for the summer session to get started ASAP. I’m only taking 3 units to start for the summer. Therefore, I’m doing a crammed US history class (Reconstruction to the present). It’s a General Ed class I need to do anyway. So far, it’s difficult, but I wanted to get it out of the way now.
The plan is to get an AA in Sociology at CMC (Copper Mountain College), a BA in Social Work at San Bernardino on the Palm Desert Campus (a hybrid program), and then a Master’s in Museum Studies at CUNY, which is online. I’m not sure how I’ll finagle all that to align with what I want to do, but I would love to help artists with disabilities and mentor young/beginning artists in their careers. Perhaps I can create programs at art centers, while also aiding those who have recently left high-control groups. Obviously, I foresee these as two different part-time jobs. At least one is very possibly freelance. I’m also looking into getting certification with the Lalich Center to work with cult survivors like myself, and am waiting to hear back to see if that route is possible.
In the meantime, I began school the morning after we got back from LA on the 7th. I received the textbook the day before we left, but had zero time to look it over. I’ve been obsessively reading it since Sunday night. There’s already been two quizzes, and I got another one done early this morning. I’m not ahead of schedule. I’m still deciding what topic my class synthesis will cover. I have to choose one of these four:
- American industrialization through the lens of the Founding Principles.
- Equal rights and the Founding Principles.
- The New Deal, fascism, and the Founding Principles.
- The Bill of Rights and techno-surveillance.
My preliminary choice is techno-surveillance, meaning I may change my mind. But I feel like it might speak most to my sociology interests. These topics are also changed, or maybe pared down from the original syllabus. I have a little bit of time to make a final decision. I’d only like to incorporate the psychological tactics, and, more specifically, the effects of living in a surveillance state. This aspect will help me create a case for brainwashing and coercive control. We’ll see.
Okay, so my opening at Craig Krull went very well. The panel event went even better. I was more nervous about moderating this discussion than I was about the opening. I think I did okay, because everyone was deeply engaged, and it was a full house. You can see the whole thing on Instagram. I haven’t watched it back yet, but I’m about to—right after I read one last chapter for today.
The show and panel were wonderful, I think your best ever. Well, the show is still wonderful; everyone should go see it before July 3.
Thanks, my love. You are my greatest promoter. ❤️
Would really like to see it. Is there anywhere other than insta?
School sounds interesting.
We tried to record the panel on video, but the audio was no good. We used mics that were only connected to the gallery director’s phone. It might also be on Facebook. I can look if you want.
Gearing up for things you’d like to do in the future can be so fun. Sounds like an exciting time! I’m glad to hear everything went well with the opening and panel!
I attended your panel. It was very interesting. The show is too. I met your work at the desert landscape show you had at craig Krull a couple of years ago and have been following you on your newsletter/ blogs since. I’m the one who asked the question that wasnt very clear about photographs and how having so many now will change our relationship with memory and childhood in future generations. You answered discussing how current old photos don’t necessarily tell the truth. It’s such an interesting topic to think about. Memory doesnt necessarily tell the truth either which makes the translation of old photos into paintings a particularly intriguing space to explore. I’ve been thinking about this since your panel and trying to clarify my thoughts on it. And I guess what I was musing about is the idea that when we have a single photo for reference of past events whether it accords with our memories and feelings of the events shown or not, it is a singular vision affirming or belying the event. So that moment takes on enhanced significance. I wonder about our relationship to memory of growing up, family dynamics and such is affected by the over abundance of visual records that we all have now. Photos, videos etc.
Anyway, loved seeing your show and talk. Sounds like you are starting out on a whole new path at present. I hope it is challenging and joyful for you!
Been wanting to reply to this properly but my time has been limited. I’ll be coming back. Stay tuned.
HI again, Barrie, I really appreciate your reply here. It makes me think about memory as a whole, and of course, I agree with you that neither photos nor our own recall represents the Truth. As silly as it seems, it took me many years to see that, perhaps because of interviewing family members during the 9 years I was working on a memoir. We all have our own realities and interpretations of events, and none of them is accurate in any omnipotent way, but only to us as individuals. And, these views aren’t static either. They can be fluid and changing. I know mine are, or have been, anyway.
Isn’t it a bit kooky how photos are taken every day these days because of cell phones and digital cameras? Very few of my family members were recorded in this way. I’m also not a rabbit picture taker in general. I also preferred to remember events, or rather experience events and remember them later. I’ve always hated going to a concert and not being able to experience it in the greatest way because of everyone holding up their cell phone to record it. The cell phone is like a tiny wall that creates a “via” to being present in time, but I digress. I’m rambling now.