Mpls

Join this facilitated reading group to discuss some really interesting new work by women writers, particularly women writers of color, focusing on race, labor and embodiment. We'll read some short stories and novel excerpts by Nisi Shawl, Andrea Hairston, L. Timmel Duchamp, Aliette De Bodard, Ekaterina Sedia and Octavia Butler (who isn't recent, but whose work informs so much recent feminist SF). We can also read material suggested by class members and/or critical writing about feminist science fiction. We will build our discussion around how race is written, how embodiment is written, how work is written. What meaning do these stories have for us as radicals? How do these stories fit within science fiction as a whole? How do they fit within feminist science fiction?

I also suggest that the group talk about our positions as readers of these stories - where are we in terms of class, race, gender, lived experience? How do these works speak to us? How shall we speak about them? On a personal level, as a white person I'd like to talk about being an accountable reader and an accountable speaker about science fiction by women of color. What does it mean, for example, that a white person is suggesting this class? How can I organize a reading group but avoid using the work of writers of color to make myself seem cultured/knowing/fashionable? In what ways can I read respectfully and honestly, recognizing my whiteness and how I profit from white supremacy?

Meetings will focus on your interests, attendees - we'll do various kinds of small group discussion, paired discussion, brainstorming, maybe even some art, collage, etc. I'll provide some plans for each class meeting so we can start generating ideas (and I'll nudge the group a little so that we keep moving), but I won't be lecturing – I’d much rather just participate in small group work and gently facilitate the class from the sidelines.

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We will share healing time, stories, guided meditation, & techniques for relaxation, self-healing, & healing others. Energy healing topics include: working with universal energy, patterns of energy movement in & around the body, sensing & moving blockages, breath, & symbols. Please dress for comfort & bring a pillow if you can (no worries if you can't). Reiki, Yoga, Qi Gong and other holistic methods will be covered.

*Please note: Despite the potentially provocative title, this class is NON-SEXUAL, open to all ages, & will have an environment of Super Safe Space. The title is in reference to how GREAT energy healing can feel!

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MN Indian Art and Aesthetics will explore the richness and diversity of Minnesota's Anishinaabe (Ojibwe/Chippewa) and
Dakota/Lakota (Sioux) artists in Minnesota. It is not possible to understand the Art and Aesthetics of the Native people of MN without understanding the culture of the Dakota and the Ojibwe people. To that end, it is my intention to invite Native artists to our class to relate as much as they can about their cultural heritage and its' relationship to their art. We will also be reading a number of books that will help us understand more deeply the cultural and aesthetic underpinnings of Native art.

Group sessions will include viewing and discussing Native art via Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), Aesthetic Scanning (DAIJ), and utilizing parts of the "Native Art As World Art" collection. Other resources will include a thorough reading of "Native Artists: Livelihoods, Resources, Space, Gifts." by Marcie Rendon and Ann Markusen. A new publication of the catalogue for the 2011 travelling art exhibit "Mni Sota: Reflections of Time and Place".

The course will follow, as closely as possible, the techniques of Indigenous Pedagogy which includes learning outdoors, hands-on/experiential learning, peer teaching, curriculum based on the four seasons, attendance and maybe participation at powwows, and a culminating event that demonstrates the outcomes of our study.

Be prepared to attend the Memorial Day Powwow either here in the Twin Cities or in Cass Lake, MN

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Participants are invited to join members of the Living Proof Print Collective for a two-day workshop covering the fundamentals of screenprinting exclusively for people of color. We will emphasize Do-It-Yourself (DIY) methods so folks can take their screenprinting skills out into their communities! Because of its DIY nature and capacity to efficiently create multiple copies of an image, screenprinting has historically been an art medium used to widely spread messages. We’re hosting this workshop specifically for people of color as a way to create a space to consider our positions as art-makers in our communities.

The first day, Saturday, November 10th 1-4pm we will focus on designing images to print and exposing screens. The next day, Sunday, November 11th 1-4pm we will be printing and sharing prints! By the end of the workshop, participants will make their image into a one-color print that they can put on paper or fabric to share and post widely and wildly. We will cover print shop basics, introduce materials and alternative inking and printing processes.

We are definitely open to participant input on class structure, though we will be cramming a ton into a short period of time so it would be great to hear from you with any questions or hopes before the actual workshop begins. We will be sending out some prep materials before the workshop and we encourage you to check these out to be more prepared for class when it starts.

IMPORTANT: Due to space limitations, we can only allow 6 participants for this 2-day workshop. Please sign up only if you can attend both days, in addition to self-identifying as a person of color and/or indigenous. We are planning to offer these again in the future so just let us know if you're interested in future workshops and we'll keep you in the loop.

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