Art + Activism

The Art + Activism organization is a space for students to collaborate and explore their art, their passions, and their messages. Five Columbia College Chicago students come together in this podcast to discuss how they've rebuilt the Art + Activism student organization, the projects they're proud of, and what they would like to see in Art + Activism's future.

I recently attended the Organize Your Own: The Politics and Poetics of Self-Determination Movements exhibition at the A+D Gallery and got to hear Hy Thurman speak about his history with social and political activism. Thurman, being a part of the civil rights movement of the 60s and 70s, is a founding member of the Young Patriots of Chicago, who formed an alliance with the Black Panthers and Young Lords which formed the Original Rainbow Coalition.

He said something that really hit me: they are still fighting for the same things now that they were fighting for back then. Not to the same degree of intensity, but still fighting against police brutality, racial discrimination, and educational inequity in impoverished areas which are still happening today. Hy also went on to say that this just goes to show you can never stop fighting for your rights. For this new generation of activist, I think this proves to be true, you have to fight for change.

The work that the civil rights activist of the 1960s did had a dramatic impact on America, changing the culture. A lot of good was done, but that does not mean that racism and economic inequality don’t still exist in this country, because they do. Being as connected as this generation is, we get berated by stories on the internet of severe injustices everyday, from all over the country, and the world. That kind of awareness can be motivating, to many young people across the country to get involved in different forms of activism. Whether that be through art, organizing, speaking out, or getting politically involved for the first time in their lives.

The first weekend of April I was in L.A. attending AWP, which is the biggest writing conference in North America. It’s three days filled with panels, readings, and a literary book fair. It’s got panels ranging from writing for video games to film adaptations to marketing yourself and building up your brand as a writer.

I attended as many panels as I possibly could from 9:00am every morning to 6:00pm every night. Of course, like with all these types of things, there were total busts (I accidently wandered into one about poetry and stupidly sat in the front row so I couldn’t leave and was stuck in an auditorium with a bunch of poets for an hour and fifteen minutes) but most of them were engaging and useful. Some of the ones I attended were fun and relevant to my interests: Making Monsters, Laugh to Keep From Crying, From Writing as a Craft to Minecraft. Others were relevant to my major: Treating Your Setting Like Character, Revising Towards a Finished Draft. And then some were about marketing: Authors as Entrepreneurs, Transcending the Slushpile, How To Build Your Writing Business.

This year, I had hoped that the conference would serve to ease my anxiety about graduation, finding a job, and “the real world” (which won’t stop hassling me).

It didn’t.

While the information and panels were great, there was something overwhelming and disheartening about the whole weekend. I couldn’t seem to really enjoy anything; I was filled with a tension that I couldn’t shake. The attendees seemed uppity, I felt small, and my career goals seemed implausible. And then I went home and that was that.

When I was six I was convinced my mother was having an affair with a wrestler. She would leave an hour after I got home from school and wouldn’t return until I was snuggled up in bed with the most recent Junie B. Jones book.

    It was a theory that plagued me every night as my eldest brother watched WWE and cooked us Mac & Cheese for dinner. I remember my heart breaking every time my dad came home from a rough day at the office and my mom wasn’t there. I found it strange that he didn’t seem at all concerned where his wife was (which I knew was in the beefy arms of some champion-belt wearing, speedo-sporting other man). But I couldn’t share my theory with him. It was sure to break his heart as well and I couldn’t be the one to do that.

    It wasn’t until the guilt of keeping my mother’s “secret” was so great on my six-year-old heart that I voiced my concerns about my mother’s extra-marital affair to one of my brothers.

    And he laughed in my face.

    “Don’t be stupid, Haley! She’s at work!”

    Work? The thought had never crossed my mind. Dad worked. He put on a suit, he had a briefcase, he was gone all day. Dads were the ones who worked.

    It had never occurred to me that mom could do that same things that dads did.

    When I was twelve I realized that my mom didn’t have to work. My dad had gotten a promotion and it would mean that my mom could stay home all day. I remember being dumbfounded when she said that she didn’t want to. I wished I could have the option to stay at home all day.

    It wasn’t until I was in high-school that I realized that my mom took pride in her work, in her job –just as much as my dad did in his. She took pride in providing for us in as many different ways as possible. It was a quiet pride, a humble pride. One that was simply grateful to have a job, to have an opportunity to provide monetarily for her children –an equal to her husband.

    When I was twenty-two, just this year, I learned that my mother has never been an equal to my father. At least, not when it comes to the workplace. I learned that for all the pride and hard work and nights away, society had decided my mom was not worth what my dad was, that she was not worth what any man was. She was 77 cents and he was $1.00.

    Equal pay, to me, is about my mom. It is finding out that moms can do what dads do and then finding out that, for some reason, when moms do it, it is worth less.

My mom is not worth less.

No mom is worth less.

No woman is worth less.

Have you ever thought about the gym being a fun place to go? It could be your sanctuary, your happy place, the place you go to to relieve stress, or maybe it’s the place you dread going to simply because the phrase “working out” seems to make you moan and groan. What if I told you how to fix that? With 5 easy tips, the gym won’t sound so bad after all.

Step 1: Go with A Friend

When you go to the gym with a friend, it keeps you on track. That person is not only motivation for you, but for them, too. It’s easy to quit when you are by yourself, but having someone there really does keep a positive mindset. That friend will never let you slack. It’s a win-win situation. Now, if you prefer to go in solo, try setting an alarm on your phone, or even write it down somewhere, that says something about going to the gym. It holds you accountable for your actions. I know when I don’t go after my alarm tells me to, I feel a little guilty!

Step 2: Join A Fun Class

Let’s face it, the gym gets a little repetitive. Try mixing it up by joining a fun workout class! For example, Zumba, dance, yoga, HOT yoga, boxing, self-defense, SoulCycle, all involve the same amount of energy you would put into the gym. They make you sweat a TON and you are having fun while doing it. Also, it is a good social spot to catch up with a friend or even meet new people.

Step 3: Set Personal Goals

It is always a good idea to set personal goals for yourself. “By this month, I want to be able to walk up all flights of stairs and NOT be out of breath.” “By this month, I want a booty like Khloe Kardashian’s.” Setting goals makes you excited for the future and excited for your workouts at the gym, or wherever you decide to get your sweat-on!

Step 4: Get Some Fun Workout Wear

If you love shopping like I do, this step will have you jumping for joy. Getting new workout clothes is one of the keys to your confidence while you workout. If you feel good in your outfit, your confidence will explode through. Try hitting up your nearest TJ Maxx. All of their clothes are discounted at affordable prices. Under Armour, Nike, Adidas, are all at prices you can’t beat. Also, Fabletics is a great source for cute, affordable workout clothes. It all is online and run by the famous Kate Hudson. You get your first of clothes for only $25 and it ships for free! You will be in love with getting dressed for the gym in no time.

Step 5: Reward Yourself

Every so often, it is 100% fine to reward yourself! You’ve been working hard, so rewarding yourself is a key motivator and it keeps us sane. Reward yourself with some ice cream, a piece of cake, or something that is not part of your new, balanced eating habits. Now, I am NOT recommending eating the whole tub of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, BUT I am recommending a bowl to give yourself a pat on the back. Doing this every once in awhile (1-3x per month) keeps your mind sane, while not throwing off your balanced eating habits. It’s all win-win!

Now that we have gone through the 5 steps, I hope you can see that working out doesn’t have to seem as dreadful as you once thought. By giving these steps a go, I know you will stay on track and achieve those results you’ve been wanting. Keep pushing, people!

"What am I freestyling about?" "Gender equality."

I can tell you the best advice I’ve ever gotten: when someone apologizes to you, never say “it’s okay.” Don’t ever give someone permission to hurt you again.  

    With midterms barely over and graduation looming, I’ve been racking up all the advice I’ve ever gotten or given –whether I agree with it or not. I do it in the hopes that somewhere buried in all of the clichés, I’ll find something that will solve all my problems. Something that will give me clear direction and purpose and wash away my anxieties, wash away my depression.

    I haven’t found it yet.

    What I have found is a toolkit. Not the answer to anything, but tools for specific situations, responses to moments. When something comes along I can’t handle –which is every damn day –I flip through my Rolodex of advice until I find the perfect response to that moment.

    This is what I’ve got:

Breathe deeper

Take things one day, one hour, one minute at a time.

Plan ahead but don’t get stuck there

Drink more water

Don’t walk with your head down

Cry as much as you need to and don’t apologize for it

Be careful and be safe

Start letting things go

“This is the urban park of today. Unlike the neatly drawn public spaces of an earlier age, these parks are reclaimed from the discarded parcels of our cities: Stranded patches of woods, abandoned military bases and airports, storm-water systems, rail lines and bridges, places where scraps of land are pieced together like quilts or strung together like beads.” -National Geographic 

Beach weather is right around the corner and I know what you all are thinking: “Squats! Salads! Gym!” and I am sure you have thrown out all of your Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream by now. But, let’s get one thing straight:

 There is no such thing as perfect.

 You need to stop comparing yourself. Stop comparing yourself to the girl on the cover of the magazine in the check-out line or even the star of the latest TV show. Comparing yourself to another human-being does not do anything for a positive outlook on yourself. It only distracts you. Look in the mirror and tell yourself you are beautiful –because you are!

 Time and time again, I hear girls putting themselves down for not having a “flat tummy” or not having a “thigh gap.” Let me tell you something: we are human. Females do not come in just one shape and size. It is important to learn to self-love. Love yourself with or without the flat tummy and thigh gap, with or without any imperfections. Self-love equals confidence. Confidence is beautiful. Own your body, girl!

 Another thing that is beautiful? The word, “healthy.” Healthy looks beautiful. Everyone has a different body type, shape, and look. Life is not about being fixated on looking like the photo-shopped models on the news stand. Treat your body like you would a car; keep it fueled! Also, stop looking at the scale. That number you see is not a representation of who you are and what you stand for. If you feel beautiful, I can promise you that you will look beautiful!

 So, this is for you, girl, worrying about your “perfect” summer body. Get up, look in the mirror, and tell yourself that you are ready for that bikini. You are ready to rock your confidence on the beach with the sand beneath your toes. Smile because you are beautiful the way you are. Life is too short to do anything differently.

 Sincerely,

         Well, I honestly have a really hard time answering that question, even though Graphic Design is my chosen major. That’s what is going to be printed on my diploma and what my thousands of dollars of debt is going into. But what future do I even expect from the time, money, and tears I am putting into my arts education? That’s what I have been dreaming up this past year or so of my life.

           For Writing & Rhetoric II, an unfortunately required class at Columbia, I wrote a twelve-page paper about my future career. The professor gave us a whole semester to ponder this light topic. There is nothing more relaxing than weeks of in-depth contemplation of your future. One girl even had a small break down in the process and changed her major completely. I didn’t have such a revelation, but I did discover some new ideas of what design could be. That twelve-page process had me attending conferences and talks on design and social entrepreneurship that really expanded my view of what is possible in my field.

One of the more general definitions of design from dictionary.com is; to form or conceive in the mind; contrive; plan. The point of the conference was to expand one’s idea of design past that definition, and to see the design in everything all over the world. Every product, building, service, street, commercial, movie, piece of clothing, technology, political policy, piece of art – the list could go on forever – is designed in some way. The conference also compelled me to think of good graphic design as a form of clear and impactful visual communication above all else. That’s one of the reasons I made cultural studies my minor. I feel I am in the business of understanding people and culture the best I can in order to communicate a message in the most successful way possible. I love the thought that an image or message conveyed with good design can change someone’s perspective and way of thinking. Hearing about the social and cultural impacts design sparks can be inspirational as hell. Stuff like that encourages me to learn more about how I can incorporate social change into my future career and what I am doing now. Just thinking about all the different forms graphic design can take makes it unique to me. The fact that you can design things people see every day and, potentially, all over the world. Whether that is with an album cover, ad campaign, movie poster, magazine layout, company logo, mural, website, or store front sign, design has the potential to reach out and convey a message to so many people. That variety and reach is what sparks the ideas of interesting opportunities in my future in design.