Humanities make Arts possible.

Nov 11

The post is a compilation of Diary excerpts from the end of October as a tribute to the Arts and Humanities month. It might be edited to add links as they are received.

Though Arts have an upper hand on Maslow's pyramid (unlike many stereotype education systems) the health of the categories at the base of the pyramid might pose a foundation to the prosperity of higher states of Art.

Should we as Artists, Connoisseurs, organizers be aware of that? May it be health or wealth or success or failure of all sorts it always entails a communal effect on everything that is connected at the grass-root level and also within its sphere.

I feel fortunate for the experiences I had this month while consciously thinking of ‘Humanities’ that are at the base of any Arts to happen.

October is 'Arts and Humanities' month

From its end now,

looking at the far end of October's start.

So much happening, so many stimuli.

So much to learn and understand.

Though our events did not go as planned,

The meaningful experiences

brought new insights to the creative platform.

These experiences might seem less fancy compared to our very first AAHM 2022 with E2Re project events but for me these ordinary everyday experiences feel more important in understanding the backstage, the ground level efforts that sustain the successful shining of any Art shows. My AAH month is dedicated to those wonderful unseen humans that make Arts and Humanities possible.

AAHM 2022 Cultural event, part of E2Re project at the Spurlock Museum.

And my love for capturing moments through photos, made this visual sharing possible. I believe a Picture suffices many words... but words can b a pointer to understand the picture better?

1 Oct

Garden club:

“This work is not directly connected to Art but definitely fosters a sensitive mind that can be so conducive for Arts”.

Since last year, we have been trying to restart the after school Garden club initially started by Beth Evans but fell off after she shifted. Happy now that it finally resumed this year! Thanks to volunteers (Susie Berkes, Joyce Hurd, and Kuldeepa) in maintaining the Garden patches. Though the joy of seeing the kids touch the earth, look at natural colors and critters, all seems worth the effort, its sad to see not much attention is given to such vital activities as part of mainstream edu curriculum. i am humbled though to see Suzie drive an hour and a half and Joyce 20+ min, to volunteer their time here not expecting anything but for the club to go on.

Gardening might not directly be part of Art but definitely fosters a sensitive mind that’s conducive for Arts. Art cannot survive in solitude, let alone prosper whereas holistic view is concerned. This outlook also supports our inquiry into 'interconnectedness' explorations for C. Designing Inquiry Project.

Students harvesting potatoes from a veggie bed. It was their choice not to wear gardening gloves and it amused me

Book2Prisoners: Tuesdays are my Service days. The same day I was at Books2 prisoners replying to the letters from the incarcerated requesting for books of their interest.

It's just been a few times I started helping here but had touching experiences with every letter and every book I packed. It was like connecting with them in some way sending them warm thoughts.

Thanks to UCIMC for taking under its umbrella such a meaningful cause along with many others. Our volunteer guide is Rachel Rasmussen who overlooks so many operations and still has the energy to help us enthusiastically search for materials and periodically laugh, bringing joy to our work though the letters are sometimes sad. Rachel was one of our guest presenters for the book event. Listen to her audio talks on this page

While responding to requests of books for Arts, Crafts, Creative projects, a thought crossed if we can have art studios or any infrastructure for creativity in prisons that could be a wonderful entertainment and also empowerment. So much more to be done from us all..

Searching for books in response to letters

2 Oct

It's Gandhiji's birthday. This year, It was an honor and a pleasure to attend Rajmohanji's tribute to Gandhi with a 'website opening' virtual event. As expected, the talks were inspiring and so were the discussions around 'We are one humanity' . This also reminded me of a skit play celebrating Gandhi and Dr King on the same day a few years ago, at the Spurlock Museum . It was a great amalgamation of Arts, Culture, History, Humanities within one event.

On this day I also made up for my missed Mentoring session. Happy to meet my mantee with some flowers for apology and while returning back, what a coincidence to see Gandhiji's slogan 'Be the change...' in a corner of the school hall. We are really 'One Humanity'!

5 Oct

I was at the Lincoln Square Farmers market. A lovely sunny day to be outside and a cherry on top, a band playing some celtic music outside Common grounds Coop! Thanks to the organisers, to the space lenders and to the musicians who can be equally credited for creating a joyful ambience all around!

Moving towards the market, other melodies continued… ohh the deep vibrations of a hang drum! Listening to it and shopping for locally grown/made products feeded the conscious gratitude for everyone who grows our livelihood and feeds our senses with beautiful creations. We donated a few $$ but all music was free for all! Arts serving humans, Humans serving Arts, I thought

I quote by Gandhi in the local public school

Program flyer for event- celebrating Dr. King and Gandhi

7 Oct

The music vibe continued. This time it was a School Jazz night. The help given prior and after from all parents is crucial for these educational events, not just for the sake of help but also as a contribution in supporting Arts for our children. Added advantage, the healthy bond with our kids and inspiration for our students to help when its their turn.

8 Oct

Got to attend an inspiring discussion on 'Race forward' hosted by Americans for the Arts. I joined this session with a curiosity on how others view 'moving forward' as.

We were sent to zoom rooms. I always enjoy this chats in small groups, it lets us open up and gives more time to share. Our group head must be amazing activist, she shared her insight on how a fundraiser they had was more to do with the impact it made and value it created for the participating members while also raising funds. This was in response to my question on how to be of more help with less conventional programs like creativity in prisons. Not that I found answers but definitely felt more hope for Creativity to be made accessible for those pockets and corners of our community that are ignored.

It's garden club day again! This week I felt like pulling back a bit from this obligation and using that time and energy in my creative work. But the other colleague was missing.so went to help Suzie and had fun working with the lively students anyways :) Made me think how these blessed ladies come this far without any complaints. Hope the school district respects the dedication by taking up more charge and involvement into such meaningful jobs. Cannot stress enough how learning in outdoor settings can be most impactful. Possible edu activities like Play, Sports, Arts, Gardening, infact in some way, all subjects periodically taught outdoors adds to better quality education

Concert outside of Co-op Common Grounds Store

9 Oct.

Luckily, I got to know from my friend, Naza about a podcasting workshop at the Grainger library and rushed to attend it as I had developed an interest in collecting interviews and talks. So glad I could join this stimulating event. The inspiring attendees, the content of slides, the way the discussions unfolded creating more ideas and enthusiasm, I felt charged up while leaving the session. Find more about their upcoming sessions here.

While walking on the streets, I saw a familiar scene that made me nostalgic. Students sketching their Uni high school building from across the street. The teacher, Ms Lisa was attentively guiding them from behind. I was touched by her calm yet involved gesture. Reminded me of my days as an Art Student and also an Art teacher. Apart from the benefit of being out, observation while sketching becomes such an important training in process of Art creation.

That same day was a make up for volunteering at the Idea store. I enjoy this time sorting through small found objects and organizing them neatly. There is something therapeutic about working with our fine motors, it fine tunes our focus, may it be painting or needle working or organizing our desks. Anyways, what's special about today was, I made a new friend. She said she was on the border of Autism spectrum but to me she was very creative and also intelligent. While pricing tiny brushes individually she came up with tricks to minimize the tedious efforts of cutting, numbering, and sticking the cello taped prices. Why dont we have more outlets for such undervalued genius minds around us, I ponder.. Was nice of her I thought, to volunteer at the store, though she had recently lost a job so could have sat home instead, saving her commuting funds. These unnoticeable beings make my day and my life so rich!!

Uni High School students sketching across the road

‘Podcasting Workshop’ by Graduate students from the ‘Idea lab’ at the Grainger Engineering Library.

Organizing can be therapeutic. Thread pools organized by color.

11 Oct

Volunteering at the book sale fundraiser at IMC was an inspiring time again. So many volunteers put in the manpower, muscle power, intellect and creative minds towards one cause! Most impressive for me was to work with a high schooler whom i made my guide that day. He spoke less but seemed like enjoying his work. Then I met a lady who spoke about Monkeys while we scanned the records. It made our time a fun learning period.

Though there is inequality in justice, there are wonderful beings that counterbalance that part of humanity by offering care and concern and help wherever needed. Do consider volunteering anywhere in your proximity.

14 Oct

Monthly 4 H meetings are my opportunities to learn from Mrs Thiele, our 4H club leader. Whatever she does and more importantly how she does it is always motivating for me. Mrs Thiele is a strong lighthouse for the budding 4 Hers. At 70+ she has all the enthusiasm and vigour to arrange tables, compile and print notes and oversee smooth happenings of monthly meets, apart from the special events’ work. We are humbled to have such a dedicated leader as our inspiration.

Mrs Thiele setting up for the October 4-H Club meeting

A high schooler helping setup materials for the Book2prisoners Book sale fundraiser

18 Oct

Colbert park is a newly developed public park with open spaces and an unusual feature for our usual flat land, a small hill that is fun to climb. The park has musical instruments and some interactive questions as one walks around the trail. The prairies are a good addition to its ecological value (thought ornamental stage yet).. We need more of these mindful, playful additions for meaningful stimuli in our parks.

22 Oct

Mentoring time again. This time we have my manatees sister and her Mentor join us outdoors. We collect some leaves and tree pods then make up a silly song and play that with pod music before getting inside. So much fun in just a small period of lunch time! We all should do that whether school students or office bearers, even teachers administrators and also politicians, not going out and singing per se but being outside, mindfully touching the natural things and listening to nature's poetry in our free time.

Garden Club again in the afternoon. After cleaning weeds and harvesting some produce, it rains! Ms Suzie has some tarp that we use and shelter under. The fun of it all and then watching the double rainbow, what a pleasurable experience that wouldn't be bought no matter what.

Garden Club members under the tarp when it showered

25 Oct

While the fast paced events of this month go on, there has been stress of pulling together our own event. In such times, Thanks to WILL radio for the lovely classics that entertain and destress me while driving kids from pickups and drop offs. Music loosens my mind and uplifts my heart, diverting my attention. to the beautiful side of us as humans.

This public radio is supported by donors, so many thanks to the unseen supporters because of whom we enjoy the programs.

Listening to classical music in Will radio while enjoying the fall while waiting on signal light

26 Oct

Prep for Cultural celebrations- Halloween and Diwali are a fun multicultural experience most years. While making our own handmade decorations (from repurposed papers) a friend visits and brings some homemade pastry rolls (with homegrown berries!) How delightful I feel when friends go that length to prepare from scratch with joy and Care and then share without hesitation! Art is not just with Art supplies, these rolls and my playing with Shakerpali geometric shapes, presents a great example of Art’s scope in many other everyday sectors.

Chinese berry rolls homemade with homegrown berries

Making Shakerpala and exploring geometric designs other than conventional crisscross diagonals

28 Oct

Setup for Jazz night fundraiser was physically challenging but mentally insightful experience.. I have been feeling guilty for not being able to help as much with my kid’s band group. This was a chance, I thought so signed up for only remaining help on the list- setting up music equipment on stage. Bit skeptical knowing the heavy weights of these equipment but surprisingly, it was fun.

Made me ponder, these school events go on every year more than once. so much to load and unload twice per event when the programs are away from institutions. The helpers come from somewhere and the shows go on every year with success! Hats off to these unknown source of efforts

29 Oct

Mentoring in the morning was fun outdoors again with co-mentor and mentee sisters. They had fun eating outside and me being in sunlight. Looking at the falling leaves we come up with an idea of making prints with them. Hehe Nature's inspirations!

In the afternoon, there was the Garden club. This time we worked on the flowerbeds. While cleaning the annuals and learning from Ms Suzie and Ms Joyce about the perennials and its care, the wind blew a pile of leaves behind and it swirled up circular upwards. There was that AWE and wonder! And also a buzzing insect that no one could identify but I am all curious. it's like the hummingbird moth maybe.

As though a reimbursement for my volunteer work, life gave me a chance to attend a Zakir Hussein concert at Krannert centre. Thanks actually to my hubby who got tickets even though we are moving thru a low financial period. It was truly a touching experience listening to the melodies, the subtle and exhilarating sounds without any disturbance or concerns is so transcendental! We have undervalued the role of sounds in refining human psyche, in fact in many ways we have abused our listening sense.

Cleaning the space and Setting up music equipments for Jazz concert to follow

at Krannert to attend Meastro Zhakir Hussain’s concert

a big buzzingg insect seen during garden club

30 Nov

Most of the month's planning was around a senior special event planned for 3 Nov. with our 96 year young senior guest, Dr Stake. Today I received news of him being unwell. It took many moments to calm myself before I could respond with care. Though sad about his health and of event cancellation, was glad to know, Dr Stake was in the hands of a good Care.

Wishing a smooth recovery and sending warm thoughts his way. In flashback I wondered how at 95+ age he had the enthusiasm to be part of our Book reading event earlier. Thanks to Dr Stake and Dr Merel for inspiring and encouraging us in this initial stage of the Inquiry project, part-II. Their co-authored book, 'A Paradigm of Care' is truly in the spirit of this Arts and Humanities month.

With my low spirits, I reached out to listen to Thay (Thich Nhat Hanh). The first link that came up was my solace. More discourses here

Dr Stake talking to attendees of the book reading event

a screen shot of Thay giving a discourse

31 Oct

Happy Samhain eve, Happy Halloween eve, Happy Diwali eve! Such a multicultural world is mine!

While setting the Halloween candies on patio, i couldnt but fall in love with the happy Prairies infront. Some are still blooming but most are dried now. I had to organise some dried ones for kids to come by but left most of them as is, for there are ladybugs and bees and insects flying. crawling by.

Thinking of Nature and Festivals and our Celebrations- always makes me sad how festivals from all cultures have turned into commercial consumerism that uses the degenerative products just for fun lasting a day or even an hour, and then they lay in landfills for years and years. Education seems to be the key, not just informational, but more to do with mindful consumption and its generative alternatives.

A good Question to start the ‘America Recycled Day’ month

Thrash generated in one week by one child who is low on candies. Not to mention the toxic artificial chemicals this deteriorating our kids’ microbiomes

while raking parts of yard, an insect crawled from under dried leaves trying to hide somewhere else

. These backstage volunteers, helpers, creative compassionate minds and also the many educators, leaders, policy makers who go out of their way to make Arts (or any Nobel acts) shine, are my heroes of the AAHM celebration. They teach me dedication and selfless work towards a higher purpose.

October over all has been a demanding month, physically, mentally and psychologically too. While rushing around, I tried to make sense of it all. Are all these events interconnected? None had anything to do with each other, nor were they affected by each other. Or were they? or should they?

With C Designing inquiry back of my mind, wonder how all these activities fitted into our theme of 'Wellbeing for all’.

With these Questions my interest shifts from pursuing the hectic schedule to streamlining my attention towards the creative Inquiry.

November seems to give a chance to slow down with a couple extra holidays we have had. Many important events happened last week that made me rethink Work, Creativity, Lifestyles, Ethics, Evolution.... Lets see what unfolds from these experiences

Ascend Art 360

Humanities make Arts possible.

Compilation of C. Designing events