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Ann-Other CollateralArtist: Dr. Pauline Sameshima, Lakehead University
Medium: Mixed media, video Artist Statement: This video is a response to data collected at one of the multiple sites in a funded international research project on social accountability during covid. The larger project is called Stories of Art and Local Transformation in Health and Education (SALT-HE). Using a methodological process called Parallaxic Praxis, interdisciplinary researchers analyzed art created by participants to develop understandings of how participants experienced social accountability, a globally recognized key value in transformative community partnerships in health education. The video plays with the inextricably entwined interconnectedness of the constructed frame (video filter), content (mannequin), and experience (poem) to demonstrate the complexity of addressing systemic change. |
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I can’t close my eyes my plastic skin does not feel the tears uncried sloshing in my hollow head severed at the neck from a body I do not know inconsequential online knotted, gnarled withering above ahead, the shadows of my filtered self eclipse my views I no longer know what flower coloured glasses I wear this shield, this mask is my every day I awake unrested eyes wide as covid numbers rise heartbeats wane celebrations mute and mournings remain silent this synthetic Halloween wig sits past the masquerade-- the fantasy old, the carnival and enchantment of being Other haunts beyond my house long past October autumn grows out of my brain a slow dying, expanding out from my body duff, plant litter, detritus my self decomposing calling out for sleep hibernation tangled and fighting my fall my crown of thorns my righteous mantle pricks my head bearing crosses I cannot see or hold negation and sin on every level always subjugated to another social distancing and another variant I hear Bob lament in song-- a brand new game it will never be the same beyond my shield I build another phoney world of pure white petals innocence symbolic of the bridge between a spiritual perfection and earthly chaos-- the mirror partner of every binary pretending all is well judge and jury of every dichotomy he’s bad, I’m good I’m clean, they party they laugh, I must not-- always suffocating even as the blue sky rests far far away Bob keeps singing-- stand up tall with our backs against the wall in my zoom room I lean fatigued no confrontation is my creed my mask chants my words: “Remember all the dreams reclaim patched stories threaded through our genes climbing, gathering remembering love” and yet, the word love is never visible tucked under my chin hidden in the fold of my life’s protection everyone, everything is far as I hold my distance-- eagerly peering through my own bars knowing I cannot see who dares to put eggs in the nest of compassion I grow on my head when all I can muster are sharp, dry sticks in a mess? a strand of hair blows across my cheek and cannot be wrapped gently behind my ear by someone who loves me for my ear is fused to my head even human howling cannot shift my gaze how do I live unsettled, undivided in flow with the Other in the communities I need and desperately fear? I hide to save my life how can I disrupt my own biases ascend the staircases detach my filtered face my social self my prepared head in my zoo cage to surrender myself? all I want to remember are the dreams I had before |
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Off CenterArtist: Dr. Pauline Sameshima, Lakehead University
Medium: Needle Punch Artist’s Statement: This artwork uses a needle-punching technique to echo a methodical process of weaving and circuitous motion. The dynamic nature of relationships within the pentagram is reflected in the intricacy, connectedness, and moving venn circle designs. Both sides of a needle-punched work differ greatly—a reflection of how unsystematic, yet acceptable, reciprocal learning processes can look. The design is overlaid with a disjointed pentagram, drawing attention to the “ground” where the people are more valued than the imposed organizer. |