Filed under: Learning to Love You More, design | Tags: adobe illustrator, creativity, expression, graphic design, Learning to Love You More
I finally figured out what I am going to do with my jobless, Lake Powell-less, bed rest summer. It will not be the Summer of Pain and Boredom. It will be the summer of Learning to Love You More. One day about a year ago I discovered a website while either doing StumbleUpon or reading in my RSS feeds called Learning to Love You More. Here’s an explanation:
Learning to Love You More is both a web site and series of non-web presentations comprised of work made by the general public in response to assignments given by artists Miranda July and Harrell Fletcher. Yuri Ono designs and manages the web site.
Participants accept an assignment, complete it by following the simple but specific instructions, send in the required report (photograph, text, video, etc), and see their work posted on-line. Like a recipe, meditation practice, or familiar song, the prescriptive nature of these assignments is intended to guide people towards their own experience.
So… being artsy and creative through assignments with the purposes of exploration and growth. I think I like that. There are like 70 things to do, so I was thinking I should get started now so I can finish up by August. There are a variety of assignments that include making footie PJs, recording documentaries, planting a garden, and healing… how fitting. I am excited to have something to live for while I’m loopy and immobile.
In other news, I am finally back into graphic design… it had been a while since I worked on a project and I was scared I was losing touch with the design world. It’s coming back to me slowly but surely. It’s both exhilarating and frustrating as I get back to my passion. I’m starting to remember all the shortcut keys again, and have begun to re-familiarize myself with the pains of corrupt files and compatibility issues. It has been an adventure to say the least.
[RACHEL]
And I don’t feel any different. Except that I do. The challenges are the same, getting more intense as time passes, lined up for me to blast my way through them as they come up… but there is no anxiety. I’m not past feeling– the difference here is perspective.
I don’t know why, but I feel like as soon as 2008 ended, the sun came out on life. It was like all of the feelings that made these challenges seem difficult got left behind. I realized that I had allowed myself to enter into academic survival mode, and everything that mattered took the back seat. I did not have a meaningful relationship with my friends, roommates, or anyone, really. I let school be my focus, which was not a good idea. School was unsteady. I lost in the fight for a 3.0, and I lost touch with the people and things that were most important to me.
As an apartment we made some goals that would help us get back to the good life… I am glad to have roommates who are united in spirit and sisterhood. It is good. Here’s a little of what we came up with, in addition to some of my own:
- Make bed every day (failure so far… but I believe that one day I will conquer)
- Go to bed before midnight
- Apartment prayer
- Weekly Girls’ night
- Have meaningful interpersonal relationships (you’re probably thinking dating-wise… yes, but more importantly, I want my friends to know that I care about them, I think I was a bad friend last semester.)
- Take care of my feet so they don’t get too much worse
- Remember Spanish through scripture study
- Taking heed to Elder Holland’s AMAZING devotional and having the courage to move forward
So far, so good… except for the bed-making part. I’ve stayed on top of things spiritually, academically, and socially and it’s been great. I am remembering how it feels to really be in touch with my Savior, to have fun, to laugh and have it be genuine, and be well-rested. I have never felt better, and I am calm and ready for whatever rugs life pulls out from under my crippled feet. Perspective and preparation, that’s all it takes.
[RACHEL]
Filed under: Music, School, life... | Tags: Code Hero, Fictionist, Fleet Foxes, Good Morning Maxfield, indie, Music, pink floyd, Provo, Radiohead, rock, Rocky Votolato, Sondre Lerche, Velour
It’d been a long time since I attended a show at Velour… and I forgot how fun that venue could be. I’ve always preferred the tiny, cramped rooms to spacious, seated venues anyways. Well, last Friday I went to my most favorite Velour show yet- Fictionist, and it was a packed show. Yeah, I know… I liked it better than when Rocky Votolato played at Velour, and he’s actually out there… at least by indie standards. The guys in Fictionist are champions, though. I discovered them back in the day when I was a sophomore or something. They were playing a free outdoor show at BYU, and still known as Good Morning Maxfield. I was late for work, so I couldn’t stay to watch, but I remember loving their sound. I got a hold of their current album and listened it to death. It was good by my standards. From that time forward, I forgot that I had a life and school consumed me. I did not go to any shows…. ok, except for Damien Rice and Rocky Votolato… but anyways, I went on a concert diet and never saw them live again.
…Until last Friday, that is. I was walking in Provo and saw a poster for an album release for a band called Fictionist. I was intrigued by the artwork, and that’s what caused me to finally look them up. Then I made the magical connection that GMM and Fictionist were one and the same. So, I called my pals up and we headed over for the show. Code Hero opened, and I’ll say that they’ve come a long way from the time they opened for Rocky. Their sound has taken a nice direction, and wow.
After much anticipation, they finally set up all their sweet pedals and amps and drums and brought out a lovely quiver (can this word apply as it does to surfboards??) of guitars. Then they let it loose. I was completely amazed by the way their music has changed. You can tell it comes from the same people, but the overall texture was quite different. I was blown away by the guitars and vocals. It kind of reminded me of Radiohead meets Pink Floyd, with alittle bit of Fleet Foxes and Sondre Lerche. All great groups, might I add.
Some of my favorite moments in the show were their songs Fist and Invisible Hand, both off their new album, Invisible Hand. It was hard to pick a favorite… they played all the songs in their set well. I can’t forget to mention, though how amazing it was to hear them cover Pink Floyd’s Us and Them. One of the guys I went with and I were completely blown away. The saxophone solo was incredible. It goes up there as a triumphant moment without question. And I can’t forget to mention enjoying some of the older songs, they were the ones that got me hooked after all: Spinning Wheel and Lovers Past. Good good good. That show was a sonic journey, one whose sound and lyrics took me through all manner of memories and left me feeling good. In the words of another, “Drugs are overrated; music is underrated.” All you need is a little something to listen to.
I stood in the front row. I danced. I sang. I bought the album. It was good.
Go here and listen.
Myspace
Website
[RACHEL]
Filed under: life... | Tags: feet, haglund's deformity, ouch, pain, summer
Just trying my best to keep these darlings happy...
My mother commented that I am the child with health problems. I wonder if that was meant to help me feel special and unique? I mean, people always do confuse me for my sister… But, really, it’s true. They’re not life-threatening illnesses or anything, they’re just annoyances that throw wrenches into the gears of everyday life… annoyances that require specialized doctors… annoyances that require all manner of tests, x-rays, and hospital gowns… annoyances that make everyone feel sorry for me, but not sorry enough to pamper me. In essence, painful minor details.
So, what does that mean about this time? HAGLUND’S DEFORMITY. That sounds like it might be a hunchback or a crooked nose or something. It’s actually a foot problem caused by friction from shoes. It’s a bone growth that occurs at the base of the Achilles tendon, and it hurts like crazy. I have it in both feet. I’ve been a sandal junkie for most of my life. I switched over to regular shoes for a job I took, and then bone blossomed out of my heels like flowers in springtime. And then I stopped walking normally. And then it hurt really bad. And then I needed surgery. That is the short version of the story. I won’t bore you with the real deal, because, you see, this is not a tale of gushing blood and rupturing guts.
This summer I go under the knife, and then it’s bedrest, casts, and wheelchairs. It will be ridiculous and probably boring. I promise there will be pictures, because who wouldn’t want to see me in two casts and a wheel chair, while on heavy pain medication?? The summer has yet to be named, but I refuse to let it be the summer of bummer. How about the summer of love… or the summer of awesome friends who visit me when I can’t walk… or the summer of cast tans? We’ll see.
[RACHEL]
The Arcade Fire
Once upon a time, I met the only person in the whole world who has a similar taste in music to myself. It was amazing. I got into his car and the first thing he said was, “Have you ever heard of The Arcade Fire, because that’s what we’re listening to.” I was like… “are you kidding? I love them!!”
I can’t remember how I discovered them, I only know that I think that their sound is awesome. They have a very unique dynamic and I’d love to see them live. I think it would be a truly mind-blowing experience. They even get bonus points for creativity in the visual portion of their production (videos, album art, and websites). It is wonderful. Truly wonderful.
Right now, I really enjoy listening to “Rebellion (Lies)” from the album Funeral. It kind of reminds me of last semester…
Sleeping is giving in,
no matter what the time is.
Sleeping is giving in,
so lift those heavy eyelids.People say that you’ll die
faster than without water.
But we know it’s just a lie,
scare your son, scare your daughter.
I’m not dead yet 
Anyways, in addition to this song, here are some links to videos that will have your heart fluttering for this musical oddity: Arcade Fire’s Blogotheque Takeaway Show & Arcade Fire + David Bowie Sing Wake Up.
[RACHEL]
Filed under: School, life... | Tags: graphic design, learning, light, love, pedagogy, teaching
Well, I said I’d fill you in on the other amazing academic learning I’d accomplished in the last semester. I had some thoughts all ready, and then vacation happened, and now it’s all mixed together in a mental lump. The exact opposite of profound and not blogworthy at all. Oh wait, it’s all coming to the surface once more. Light and love. This was one of my favorite things I learned.
I didn’t always want to be a teacher, even though I was an education major. One day, it all sort of clicked and I found my passion. It was more than just design. It was sharing that talent with students. I’m not sure where to really begin, as there are many experiences that tie in to this lesson learned, but I guess I’ll just pick and choose until it all makes sense. It all started in high school, and I didn’t even know it.
When I was in 11th grade, I decided not to take Advanced Placement American Literature. My hands were full with other things at the time, and I didn’t want an overload. Because of my decision, I was put into English 11. Some of my friends who made the same decision were put into “normal” English… and I was put into an English class for last chance students. There were a few white and Asian students, but the majority were Hispanic. I think I was one of the only biracial student in the class. I’ll be honest and say that every day for the first few weeks, I was afraid of getting beaten up. I was not very accepting of my classmates or my situation, and I did not even try to make it better. Then, one day things just sort of changed. I realized that my classmates looked up to me as an example. I, in turn, made an effort to befriend and understand. I realized that not everyone was sitting pretty like me. Some had (or would soon have) children to worry about, some battled addictions, some had learning disabilities or serious health problems, some hardly knew English, some had or were suffering from their parents’ financial problems, and some had terrible family lives. My teacher was very understanding about the diverse and grave struggles his students faced. He made a point of creating an atmosphere of first and foremost safety, along with community and learning. It impressed me. He genuinely cared about each of us and he showed it through respect and kindness.
When I first came to BYU I was getting ready to apply for the Graphic Design program, until one day I completely lost passion for it. After some thought, I realized that it was not personally fulfilling to me to enter into that particular career path. So, what would be? After some thought and research, I stumbled across Technology and Engineering Education. Aha, I thought. Graphic Design + teaching. Heaven. I wasn’t completely sold on the teaching part until I visited the students in the schools, though. In the vocational skills classes I saw a lot of students that were there because they didn’t belong anywhere else… perhaps at a financial disadvantage, or behaviorally challenging. The atmosphere stole my heart. These punks just needed a safe, fun place where they could see some progress unfold in their lives. All they really needed was something to be proud of, and someone to be proud of them. They needed a mentor with an attitude of light and love. I can’t wait to share my talents with these kids… they need that sense of achievement and community. They need that light and love.
I love that I can use my talents to do more than just create a nice project. I can cultivate that talent in others. I can show students that there is more to life than just living day to day. I can show them that they are in charge of their futures. I can help them to be proud of themselves. I can show them that though they are all different, they are all important.
Growing up in a great family with the gospel, I have always been aware of my worth, agency, and bright future. I was never trapped in the cage of ethnicity, low socioeconomic status, disability, or low self esteem. Not everyone is so fortunate. If for at least the hour that they are in my classroom, my students could be freed from those cages, I would know that I have done something right. It would be amazing if that feeling would extend past the walls of my class.
I want to create an environment that fosters confidence, learning, and growth. Thomas Jefferson said, “Knowledge is power… knowledge is safety… knowledge is happiness.” I want each of my students to understand that. I want them to take what they have learned and run with it.
Thank you, Dr. Birrell, for teaching me about light and love.
[RACHEL]
