F*ck it, I’m a flower

One time a train-hopping anarchist told me “When all the elements line up just right, a freight train can sound like the song of a humpback whale.” Years later when walking in the canal areas off Deerfoot trail, just out of sight of this area is a large trainyard, I heard the perplexing sound of a humpback whale and remembered the wisdom shared with me. Had I not known what the train-hopping anarchist had to share, maybe I would not have even heard this sound.  

Using oil stick, a paper mâché mask and photo transfers, I try to draw lines around all the invisible intersections of “knowing”. It started, as it always does, through a dissection of observations of human behaviour, a wondering of what values are revealed through what is accepted, what is engaged with and responded to, and what is not. What is protected when there is an underlying belief and reinforcement of ideas of what is and is not true...meaningful...worthy...successful...Art. And what do you do if you find yourself on the other side of favour? 

People put a lot of effort into getting rid of Dandelions, to maintain crisp edges, uniform height, and hue. They seem to think it means something if you do not. Regardless of all else that might need your attention, or how you appreciate the pop of vibrance and puffs of magic or the fact that dandelions are one of the first blooms of spring and provide an early food source to pollinator.  

  “A journey of knowing self, “other” and everything” is a 3-part series created with oil stick paint on mylar. It started as a personal affirmation and plunged into an expanse of darkness, not knowing your role within the context of the whole can feel like surviving in the belly of the whale. Proceeding with confusion is more than valid. What one might strive for might not be right for the other. Some might ask the value of artificial light while others are consumed by it. Understanding what you know, what your name is, what their names are, gives you the choice to find what you need and say “fuck it” to the rest.  

john a. powell* is an African American law professor. He leads the UC Berkeley Othering & Belonging Institute. In his work he outlines “targeted universalism” which is the idea of universal standards of achievement, his work studies how these systems create “others”- he states that the way to counteract systems of othering is to create a culture of “Radical Belonging” which values multiple ways of knowing and being.  

  “A community of Radical Belonging” was created by photographing various people in a Dandelion mask I made with paper mâché, using photo transfer techniques I collaged the images onto wood panels.  

Remember- The work is not instructions on how you should show up, its an invitation to something more.  

john a. powell -spells his name in lowercase in the belief that we should be "part of the universe, not over it, as capitals signify" 

Research Highlights: 

Lecture: “Travelling with Feminist Killjoys” Sarah Ahmed 

Podcast: “Nocturne” Vanessa Lowe 

Exhibition: “Interiors” Margaux Williamson 

Queer Methodologies 401 

Results from AUArts equity survey  

Artists: 

Peter Doig  

Kathrine Bradford 

Katherine Bernhardt 

Rocio Graham