WHAT IS YOUR PASSION?

It's not a question. Questions imply a right and wrong answer. Its not a question, its a fact. Facts have origins. Your origin, your reason, can't be wrong. We can't judge it. We can be inspired, impressed. We can say "oh wow...i hadn't thought of that before now", but we can't reject it.

so: what is your passion?

On the the 14th of August, 2010, at the break of dawn (literally...)

zircon, fang, PFD, jooree, B and that human
(also known as the YUM team)

...set off for an experimental, experiential, two day, bio-regional tour!

First stop was Creston, BC. Sleepy-eyed and eager, we all piled out of the vehicles, shimmied into our spanking new spray-paint stenciled t-shirts and started smiling at Creston Valley Farmer's Market goers.
We set our booth up: tickle trunk, info, face painting, stickers and the center piece - our banner.
WHAT IS YOUR PASSION?
Using recycled bits of fabric, market goers were encouraged to write their passion(s) and safety pin it/them to our banner - a collective peace flag inspired, quilt resembled, patch work of collective community passions.

Next stop was Kimberley, BC, where we were met with warm, inviting, open arms. We stayed the night at the Little Cabin, surrounded by board games, mix matched dishes, and a multitude of nooks and crannies. There was excitement in the air - the electricity of staying somewhere new. Glancing around the room, we discovered a guest book, complete with entries from previous guests - B: "Let's do a workshop here!!!"

The next day, we arose early and gathered around a table of french toast, yogurt, and cut fruit. We tumbled our way to the Kimberley Platzl and set up our booth alongside the giant yodeling coo coo clock, surrounded by kitschy Canadianized German "culture", "fresh apple streudal, straight from the oven..." and oompa pa music for the Sunday morning Kimberley Farmer's Market. We experienced the most amazing response from the beautiful people of Kimberley. So much excitement about SelfDesign High and SelfDesign --- being supportive and encouraging to follow your passion. Parents of young children and youth met our offerings for them with excitement and amazement -- "this is possible??", "this really exists?" and "I've been looking for an alternative to regular school." etc...

Our banner grew. And grew. And will continue to grow. We think of if as an ongoing call to action. An opportunity to invite conversation. To build something together, regardless of where you live. To come together. To celebrate.

Sooo...in summary of the YUM East Kootenay tour :

YUM ate pizza, swam in cold rivers, visited local libraries, ate fruit, sang songs, admired flowers, played scrabble, talked about learning, ran through forests, plugged noses (thank you antiques and collectibles), asked questions, connected with East Kootenay youth, stenciled t-shirts, danced, giggled, turned wrong corners, visited waterfalls, swerved around squirrels, collected 100 mile diet lunch ingredients, pet cute dogs named Fart, sewed journals, photographed people and landscapes, video taped conversations, observed meteors, held one another with awe and respect and mutual respect. Oh ya, and we talked. A lot.

YUM tour, to be continued......

Call to action : Come find us in your community or add your passion to this blog post and we'll add it to our banner.

Next event : YUM at Marketfest in Nelson, BC this Friday, August 20th, from 6pm - 10pm.

Summer Visual Art Intensive in Action!

Summer Art Intensive in Action

Wow. Four weeks have flown by in a jiffy! Our first ever Summer Visual Art Intensive is beginning to wrap up with an art exhibition at Oxygen Art Centre, scheduled to open this Friday night at 7pm. The past 3 1/2 weeks have been rich and inspiring. The dynamic created amongst our group of young artists has provided space for co-inspiration, debate, and a deep engagement with the creative process. With four mentors supporting the group, each bringing their own expertise and personal style and technique, the learners have been exposed to so much rich learning. The past week and a half has been independent studio time and the photos attached demonstrate the level of commitment and engagement each learner has been bringing to this exciting and inspiring summer intensive.

Learners are becoming informed and empowered with the knowledge of gallery and professional art practices. The exhibition is a collaborative project that is guided and supported by mentors, but really fueled by the learners themselves. This summer's exhibition is entitled, SREYAL (layers spelled backwards) and is reflective of the overall theme the learners have been working with of "inner/outer" and the concept of time. All of the work created is in honor of these two interconnected themes. It's very exciting to have a recognized artist-run centre, such as Oxygen, supporting these learners by providing them space to exhibit. The opening reception is Friday, July 30th from 7-9pm. Gallery hours on Saturday will be from 11-5pm and everyone is welcome.

Plans are in the works for an online exhibition catelogue with images of learners work and artist statements, so stay tuned. Artists represented in this year's show are Jamie Inniss, Oliver Arthur, Mag Beynon, Tyler Wright, and Julian Sloman.

If you are interested in joining us next year, please drop us a line at 250-354-1310 or info@selfdesignhigh.org.

YUM does EPIC 2010

PFD, Fang and B took the Westi (beloved, pictured below) to the coast in May for the 2010 EPIC Sustainable Living Expo.

We had a booth where we met some of the Vancouver SelfDesign team, spread the word about our school and got introduced to Fang's new best friend:

We ran around the city in our free time, eating breakfast at Granville Island and loosing track of time in Opus, our favorite art supply store. Other activities included playing cards on Robson Street and getting to know the nice fellows at the auto repair shop in Langley a little too well.

SASQ

This past May quite a few SelfDesign-ers made their way south to the annual Sasquatch Music Festival held in the Gorge, WA. Crossing the border, eating canned soup, waiting half an hour in line for showers (or going without)... body paint, mad moshers, hoards of hipsters... good music and bare feet.

Here's a glimpse of the madness through Olivia's eyes:

Mosh from Olivia Mansveld on Vimeo.

Self Design - A Haiku by Emily Andres, age 9

exploring freedom

learning, thinking, being me

finding adventures

Up-cycle Fashion Show - A Review

The fashion show, that took place on Saturday, May 1st, had a great turn out. Many spectators watched as models strutted their way on and off the runway, and behind the doors of the uppermost floor, designers hurried about in a frenzy of make-up, fabric, and the natural high of a fashion show. But there was something special about this particular fashion show. It was not only the garments, but what they were made out of that made this show so unique. Designers were limited to only using recycled fabrics and materials, thus keeping many articles of unwanted clothing out of the landfill. Working hand in hand with the WIN store, Children Of the Seams raised over $700 which would then be donated to Kitchen Table Arts. Many great collections were showcased on May 1st , and the designers are hoping the Up-cycled fashion show will be an Annual Event.

Written by Tyler Wright, contributing designer

Introducing Andrew Miedreich

I'm going to be Frank here, you can be someone else... I generally enjoy a good game of round-ball; I like music (a lot), it's pretty much my life; and I'm a freestyle photographer, don't get it confused with freelance photographer. I can't tell you what the difference is, but I know there is one. Photography is fun. My friend and I have been known to make thermos's of tea and wander town late at night taking pictures of things that we think will look cool. Really, it's just a good excuse to get out of the house. I also like photography because I can capture the moment, I'm never really sure of the moments significance in the end, but it makes me happy, so why not.