WW5: Ah, Motherland!

Using relational cultural theory, how can we discuss connection and communication?

The relational-cultural model encourages growth toward connection and relationship instead of independence and isolation. I think the experience of many people living in the US is that of rejection and isolation. Prejudices prevent many of us from developing true connections with others.  The sense of home comes from feeling a relationship or connection to those around you.

How do our multiple identities inform our work?

By reconnecting with our roots, we can also begin to understand where we fit in. As Fairbairn states, “it is only in its relationship to these objects that its true nature is displayed.”

I feel that because the US is thought of as a country of immigrants, where your family is from has become important. Growing up without any strong traditions or solid roots in my heritage, I felt this sense of shame, that I didn’t know where I was from. My family came from so many different countries, that I didn’t have one to claim. Only now am I realizing that even when one does know where they are from, they can still feel as lost as I did.

How do you want the viewer to experience your work?

I especially liked the part of the reading that says, “a ‘boundary’ could be conceived as a place of meeting and exchange with the surrounding milieu rather than as a place of protection from it.” I would like viewers to experience my work as this type of boundary. Although the noren are particular to Japan, they can be interpreted as a universal sign of a boundary or a passage from one place to another.

This is one in a series of experiments I made during week two to see how the baked salt would take pigment and water.

This one is a sheet of baked salt. I was also testing here to see how it would hold up in standing water.

Roxana

I have a slide projector. It’s old but it works. I can bring it, the carousel that holds 80 slides and a single slide viewer on Sunday if you want.

hi everyone, i was wondering if anyone has access to a slide projector? for my project i want to project the landscapes onto my skin directly instead of doing double exposures because i would then have more control of the image. let me know if you or anyone you know has a slide projector i can borrow.

Also Pam, I found this photographer’s work that made me think of your project. She calls it a journal in progress and she shoots a polaroid a day and this is how she presents it.

http://www.suzanneszucs.com/support/pages/Journal_movie.html

Grammy's memorial tablet for the family house shrine with the ringing bowl & striker and pad to summon her spirit when leaving an offering or praying.

These are some of the objects that belonged to my Grammy. I will use some of these images to develop my designs.

One of her dolls, a Japanese country girl from the north wearing clothes made out of a traditional kasuri fabric and holding rice.

Kokeshi doll- this style is specific to Sendai, where my father was born. The Kokeshi Museum is in Narugo where my great-grandmother, Ayame Takahashi, was from.

Grammy's Buddha - She always had one in the house. This one she got from her friend Nolly Locke who ran an antique shop in Brattleboro, VT.

Shinto prayer rope that is usually seen at a shrine.

An e-ma (meaning horse picture) which is used at shrines to write a prayer on. People visit shrines and temples before or during big events in their lives and write their prayer or wish on the back of these then hang them on a board at the shrine.

The O-bon festival is an important tradition in Japan. During this Buddhist event people gather with family and pray for the souls of their ancestors. They believe that during this time their ancestors will return. The celebration consists of dancing, offering food to the ancestors, and guiding them on their journey with lanterns, both hung outside homes and floated in the water. I would like to incorporate lanterns in my installation to honor my grandmother through this Buddhist tradition. The lanterns will hang beside the noren to guide people through the passageway they create.

Anjelika- I don’t know if these books would be helpful for inspiration. If you’re interested, I can bring them in on Sunday.

“Generation T- 108 ways to transform a t-shirt,” by Megan Nicolay

“Sew Subversive” and “Subversive Seamster”

Hi ladies,

Please pardon the delay. Here’s this week’s reading.

Please keep in mind that although the author’s focus is counseling and results are client centered, tons of it can be cross-worked from a creative process/audience perspective. I am looking forward to hearing what you’ll get out of it…

And don’t forget to take your time to digest how your final piece may be related to this particular theory (or not) and what you’d like your viewers to experience when exposed to your work. See you on Sunday!

Relational Cultural Model – Reading2 (pdf)

This is some amazing work that I came across today.

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