Visual Journal ◊ sketches, activism and family ◊
behind-the-scenes of an urban artist mom
◊ A sketch this week using graphite and watercolour. In it I wrote, “White women, you are dangerous.” Thinking about how we prop up oppressive systems through peaceful rhetoric that lacks substance or awareness.
◊ I’m thinking about Brené Brown this week. I’m learning from her widely criticized essay written on February 13th about the genocide in Gaza. Daniel Maté records his critiques here as does Asma Abu-Dahab and Micheline Maalouf. I highly recommend learning from these people.
◊ I’m learning from Dr. Ayeesha Kahn on community care. Why do we, in the west love to jump on “trendy activism” and then quickly burn out? Dr. Kahn makes some really excellent points about resilience and structures of care.
◊ I attended a free Palestine protest on the weekend
◊ I am work on the latest edition of the community newspaper I write/edit. We are focusing on food insecurity and the unequal access to resources and food where I live.
◊ My family attended a high-school open-house this week. Our girls are going into grade 9 and 11 next fall. The reason we are even slightly entertaining the idea is because this educational model focuses on young people’s strengths, interests and desire to learn hands-on skills in the form of apprenticeships while also giving them the chance to earn a diploma. We are hopeful but know there is a lot of competition to get in.
◊ I purchased some new art supplies! A few new sketchbooks, some acrylic retarder to slow drying time and one tube of oil colour to experiment with! Oh also a thrifted wooden house I’m excited to paint up!
◊ And to end it all, we are celebrating Mikayla, our oldest who is turning 16 tomorrow! What!? Can’t believe how fast time flies.
I suppose “trendy activism” is a by-product of social media. I’m not a fan of the performance activism we see on instagram but I guess it raises awareness? Never sure really. If folks go on to donate funds, call their politicians, vote, then that’s good.
I’m realizing that “performance” is embedded into whiteness and “perfectionism” into motherhood and so many other aspects of our life built around capitalism.
I feel like activism is something we are immersed in because some of us are made more aware of the injustices. And still…so many injustices are silenced and ignored. Is it possible to have the focal point of your fight while also seeing the interconnectedness of all our fights? Yes. I look to Adrienne maree brown often.