I am replacing the traditional “exhibit” assignment with something more responsive to our present moment, a year into the pandemic and in the wake of extraordinary national events. You have spent 15(+) months in varying degrees of quarantine, learning remotely, caring for yourselves and others under unprecedented and frankly traumatic conditions. Instead of bulldozing our way through as though this were a normal quarter, please create an offering that reflects this time, your experience of it, and your thoughts about the future. This could take one of the following forms, or something I’ve not anticipated (in this case, please consult with me):
– A piece of art in any medium (not just visual)
– A piece of writing that is distinct from your Capstone Essay. This could be poetry; prose; a scene, monologue, or dialogue; a meditation; a short story; a collection of journal entries; a letter….
– A time capsule with an annotated catalog
– An example of making, teaching, or other form of knowledge production from your non-academic life. This could be a cooking/baking/gardening demo, a mini yoga or meditation or martial arts lesson, a community organizing workshop element….
We will come together at the end of the quarter to share these offerings with each other.
Please note:
– Whichever vehicle you choose, your offering must demonstrate substantial effort. It is obvious when a project has been dashed off vs. when it has been undertaken with care.
– At the same time, this assignment is not meant to be overly burdensome. For me, the most important part of the conventional 499 exhibit is students coming together to mark this moment of transition and celebrate themselves, their loved ones, and each other. How do you want to show up at this time and in this community? With what kind of “punctuation” do you want to close your experience of higher ed?
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Pandemic Offering Brainstorm + Memo
New Attempt
This experience is designed to support your developing a meaningful, actionable idea for your pandemic offering.
Walking can be a valuable and pleasurable part of the writing/artmaking process, helping us to sort out our thoughts and connect to our creative impulses. For 20 minutes, take a walk somewhere near where you are currently living/staying. You might have a destination in mind, but try to walk in a leisurely way—you are not in a hurry and can change your itinerary mid-course. Resist the temptation to check your phone or talk to passersby—this time is for you to be in the world but focused inwardly, a kind of moving meditation.
Questions to consider:
What is coming up for you as approach graduation? What is the dominant ‘feeling tone’ of this moment? Wistful, fatigued, anxious, excited?
What do you want to do with this emotion? Do you want to express it? Connect with others? Reflect? Distract yourself? Make something new?
What about the last 15 months will you want to remember and be able to access as you move forward?
What forms or actions align with your goals? Do you want to write, draw, teach, move your body?
What kind of support do you need to create your offering?
When you return from your walk, quietly pull out a sheet of paper or open a Word doc and freewrite about your experience; then prepare a memo for me, describing your ideas. If you have specific questions or concerns, this is a good place to register them.
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