Action Camp: Next Week!

Action Camp is less than a week away now and I am starting to get excited! Campers got an email today with tons of links. I have so much reading to do! All about understanding how sexism/racism/privilege and divide-and-rule strategies of the 1% play a role in activism.

(That's not the only reading I have to do. James and I are sourcing a lot of books for an info shop we are putting together. Most of the books will come from lists found through ZNet. That's my go-to for leftist reading. They have all kinds of lists so that you can find just the right book depending on your area of interest such as feminism, labor history, race relations, and my personal favorite left program and strategy.)

Besides reading, I have to get ready! This will be the farthest I've been from South Carolina and the longest I've been away from James and the kids. I'm talking to the kids about it so that they know I'll come back and don't think I've abandoned them. But Am just clings to my neck and says, "I wanna go to California." Only it sounds more like, colly-foun-ee-aaaaah, with the emphasis on the last syllable because it is a wail. Poor guy.

Other than that, I am making packing lists and trying not to be nervous about the logistics of cross country travel. Yikes.

A Light in the Middle of the Tunnel

So right smack dab in the middle of the semester, I will be gone for a week.

:)

I got accepted into the Greenpeace Action Camp! This girl's going to California, baby!

I'm excited and daunted and overwhelmed and excited again. All of my teachers are really supportive and will let me work ahead to make up for what I'll miss. (One teacher even high fived me when I told her today.) James is also supportive and will keep the kids while I'm gone.

The frightening thing is that I have to arrange my travel plans by Monday or my slot will be given to someone else. Yikes! I guess I'll fly out. Maybe sell a guitar or two to buy the tickets. If I had my way, I'd take my time about coming back so as to see a bit of the country. But, oh, well.

Greenpeace

I applied for the Greenpeace activist training camp. It's in California in March. During a school week. Well, not just any school week; It is the week right after Spring Break.

When you sign up, you choose a track out of four possible study areas: Arts in Action, Climbing, Blockades and Boating. All these are specific protest tactic areas. I chose Arts in Action. You have to put your second, etc. choice as well. But really, if I don't get into my top choice, I won't go. It's too far and too expensive. And Art Activism is my track, so there.

Will you cross your fingers for me? It's a long, time consuming application and then you are told about a possible waiting list. But this girl holds out plenty of hope. :)

Also, I already emailed one of my teachers who not only approved of the idea, but agreed to be a reference on my application!

Leaning

I'm one week into the semester and already overloaded with amazing projects. I love what I do! I have a three part printing/letterpress project that I have started but not completely fleshed out. The first part is to create a design in which you "say something" using words or a phrase, no imagery allowed. It's not just about putting any old words down; It's about making a statement.

The statement I am making might not mean anything to most people, but it would strike a chord with people involved in 21st Century Socialism as found in progressive parts of South America; Mink'a is a Quechua word and a concept that has existed for centuries. Mink'a is community, it is a way of life. Members gather to complete tasks that benefit the whole community. It is considered each individual's obligation and has to be fulfilled to earn water and voting rights.

From now on, I want to really think about everything I do as a potential portfolio piece and think about what I want to communicate with my portfolio. I want to be able to send it to activist groups, community organizers, groups like SOA Watch, Adbusters and ZNet (I know, ambitious, right?) and for them to see that I get it. You know? I want it to be a left-leaning portfolio.

Because the thing is, I'm not out to get a job in a flashy corporate office. I will do whatever local, mom and pop freelancing I can. But my bigger goal is to work for the causes that need good designers.