Urur Dhex-Dhexad Ah/Community in Between It is not a direct translation, and that is significant. Qorsho and I met for coffee last year during one of my trips to Columbus and got to talking about identity and representation issues. She mentioned an idea she'd been thinking about to showcase the ways that young Somalis were contributing to their communities, and I immediately jumped on board. I contacted a good friend at Dublin Arts Council about the idea, and they offered us a slot in their exhibition schedule and agreed to sponsor the development of this project.
Since this initial conversation, we've focused our inquiry on community-building among young Somalis in the diaspora, with aims to offer a counternarrative to the ways the Somali community is often represented, offer a series of role models for Somali youth through the development of posters to be hung in social service agencies and schools, further investigate diaspora community-building processes and identity negotiation among 1.5-2nd generation Somali Americans, and contribute to local conversations regarding race, religion, immigration, integration/participation, and representation. Our project includes a photonarrative exhibit featuring photographs taken by three high school female Somali photographers, each participants' story, and artifacts from each participant. We were able to offer a photography scholarship for the three girls, which included a camera and a three-day workshop with Toronto-based artist Riya Jama. More on that in a future post. It also includes a poster series exploring attributes of individual attributes that help build strong communities. A website is to come. Follow the project on Facebook and Twitter
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I am currently working on a photonarrative research project with a group of young Muslim Americans, mostly Purdue undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. This exhibit is part of a larger initiative that began with the intent of a) forming a network of church leaders who would be ready to respond in support of our local Muslim community if any kind of anti-Muslim demonstrations would take place and b) offer dialogue events at area churches. There have been a number of other outreach efforts locally, such as the "Meet a Muslim Day" and "Islam 101" and attention in local media to area Muslims. It is a timely topic given the rise of Islamophobia in response to political campaigns and media coverage of current events.
Since moving to Lafayette, I felt disconnect with my local community. Yes, we found a supporting church family and made some good friends. But, the commitment to working to improve my neighborhood, my city was not present like it was when we lived in Columbus. Marc and I often wax on about the bike trail, the kayaking, the food, our friends, being able to walk to everything, the bus system, and even (heaven forbid) Easton. (Marc and I would complain every time we had to go to Easton about the driving, so to have any sort of fondness is indeed a sign of our love). Yet, in the past month or so, opportunities to engage here in Indiana have presented themselves. I recently reread my life vision statement: I dedicate my art making to improving the lives of those around me by adding beauty, creating opportunities for people to learn about each other through making and viewing art, and to create spaces for people to engage with difficult topics through art making. I haven't dedicated myself to anything in Lafayette. I have not been living courageously. I started to regain my excitement about community art when Qorsho and I began our new project, Urur Dhex-Dhexad Ah/Community in Between (interviews and photography begin this May), but still nothing in Lafayette.
Until this. Marc started an initiative to create a network of churches in Lafayette to support the local Muslim community if there were any local demonstrations or attacks. Part of that is public education. He began arranging opportunities for a group of Muslim students to speak at churches, mostly Sunday school classes. After the first one, it occurred to me that I could help. So I offered to create a photo narrative project for them to share their experiences being Muslim American. Is it artmaking? Yes. I am creating opportunities for learning and growth and centralizing art as a vehicle for doing that. I may not be painting, but I am making art. That being said, this year, I have three resolutions: 1. To take better care of my body, mainly through 20 minutes of daily physical activity. 2. To take better care of my spirit, through daily scripture reading. 3. To take better care of my art, through daily artmaking. I've been trying to workout or take walks everyday. Jonah has been a help - he asks to do "the exercise video" with me and he loves to paint on the easel and all things craft. It's not much, but I asked my mom to get me a book of 365 drawing challenges for my birthday (29 years last week). It was on the rack at JoAnn's next to the adult coloring books. She laughed a little at me and asked if I was serious. I said yes. It gives me a chance to practice drawing everyday. With all the jobs I have and the parenting, sometimes I just want someone to tell me what to do. So for now, this will do. |
Ruth M. SmithCommunity arts educator and researcher. Drinking coffee. Home educating. Making art. Listening intentionally. Categories
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