Sometimes it's hard to explain, maybe even justify, what we do here. I went back to work a few weeks ago and people often asked me what I've been doing all that time I was let go. It was surprisingly hard to answer mostly because job hunting is tough on anyone and I didn't do much of that for lack of trying. Instead I spent my time carving potatoes, scouring cheap fabric, and finishing up projects around the house. At the time, it felt indulgent to do that. People are fighting for jobs out here and there I was carving potatoes so I do what most people do, provide a non-answer, one of those handy phrases that don't mean anything, a meaningless response that fulfills the purpose of expediency in ending a conversation while waiting for you printout or the coffee to be replenished at the break room. Why couldn't I just say that I spent the time figuring things out. Why hide? Why be sheepish about something that most of us do in some capacity every single day of our lives.
Thus, it was with great relief and sense of validation that I came across the work of Margaret Wertheim, a science writer, who together with her sister started crocheting a coral reef in 2005 and since then hundred of contributors, 99% women, have added to the collective that has promoted environmental awareness, defied modern mathematic's conventional modes of modeling structures and forms, engaged a community of artisans and provided a much needed makeover of the mathematician stereotype (san the pocket protector). I hope you take a look here and visit her inspiring talk.
And if the weekend finds you needing inspiration, I send you these. I can spend days here figuring these things out:
+ crochet me reef
+ preserving the tradition of age-old craft
+ slowing down and being mindful of your work
Hope you have a good weekend,
Ashima
24 April 2009
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