OTM #9: Company

katelynski 1 Comment

Hello again, hope everyone is well!

I’m currently starting out my second week of isolation at my family’s home, and I feel quite lonesome to say the least. It’s hard enough working through finals, as I’m sure you all know, but this added layer of contamination feels quite grim on top of that. It’s at least given me an opportunity to force myself to relax, but there is only so much of that I can take, since I’ve found I have a proclivity to desire work. Either way, I’m trying to make the best of my time in isolation, drawing as much as I can. I’ve been doing a lot of painting studies, which I usually wouldn’t have time to do. It does feel nice, once I can pull myself away from my anger and stress.

The other day, my dog pushed my door open to stare at me for a moment. It was a nice reminder of the existence of the outside world, the love that exists in nature and people. Her eyes made me smile; I had my own UMich “therapy dog” session for the day. I think taking that time to look outside, text a friend, look at old pictures, or anything like that while studying is a good way to keep us grounded in what matters. Let’s keep taking care of ourselves!

Scribble #23: Little Earthquakes

Sydney Braun Leave a comment

“These little earthquakes,”

I’m out of isolation and yesterday marked the official end of classes for the Spring 2022 semester. I am fortunate that I am almost done with my finals, too, and I feel as if a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. With my COVID isolation came time for me to find joy in the quiet and to fall in love with some of the simple things in my life again – playing guitar, going on walks with no particular destination in mind, and finding peace in being alone.

“Here we go again…”

It also made me realize that the reality of moving home for the summer is coming up faster than I thought. Soon, my quiet, hobby-filled life will entirely take the place of my social one at college, and I don’t know what I’ll do for four months without my friends. Surely there will be video calls and brief visits, but it isn’t the same as being right down the hall from each other like we are in Ann Arbor. Coming back in the fall will be fun, but I know, as usual, it will take some getting used to. I just need to remember that I do get used to it – I love this city, and, more importantly, the people in it.

“Doesn’t take much to rip us into pieces…”

Things will change, and I will adapt, and things will change again, and I will adapt again. Leaving Ann Arbor is going to be hard. Thinking about leaving is hard enough. But for now, out of isolation, I am more than ready to make the most of the time I have left of the semester. 

“Give me life, give me pain, give me myself again.”

Listen to Little Earthquakes by Tori Amos here: https://youtu.be/DMGl52-QtBk

PONDERING ANN: VII

Thomas Griffith Leave a comment

THE DISPOSABLE CAMERA,

 

a yellow point and shoot,

captures twenty seven frames.

 

When time comes

I’ll develop them,

writing little blurbs 

in chicken scratch 

on the back,

 

reminding me of loved 

ones, where my weary 

legs traveled, of sunsets 

that sank and sank

again.

 

Eric, cigarette plus shades

Brynna, wetsuit off the South Shore

Dad, beneath the skateboard rack

Prospect beach stretch, empty 

Forget me nots

 

I can almost hear 

laughter, the lull 

of a quiet shore

after the sun has 

shattered through

the world’s floor

and sunk beneath 

Superior to a 

long night’s rest. 

Academia Jukebox: Jack’s Song

thimai Leave a comment

Jack’s Song (or 16/04/16) by Cavetown is a beautiful tribute to the singer/song-writer’s childhood friend. As our first school year back in person comes to an end, it’s a great time to appreciate the new friends we’ve made and those we’ve been able to connect with over these two semesters. After having the experience of online learning, I know I definitely value studying with people in person more than I did before. Again, good luck with exams and make sure to hug all your friends! More of Cavetown here

You see me

Mattie Grace Levy Leave a comment

Painted like a desert 

Wrapping on the edges 

Yelling to you

As you turn away

You got tired of hearing me

You used to reach inside

And hold me

And now you don’t even watch

You listen to my ramblings with slight acknowledgments

And when the slightest words catch your attention 

You turn away

Yesterday: Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes

dai 2 Comments

   

This week, I painted Silme Domingo(left) and Gene Viernes(right), two Filipino American labor activists who fiercely lobbied against racial discrimination in Alaskan canneries in the 60s and 70s.

They were specifically part of a union called Local 37, and sought to improve working conditions and prevent racial discrimination for Filipino and Native Alaskan workers in Alaskan fish canneries. It was shown that the employers treated the Filipino workers awfully, being kept segregated in decrepit bunkhouses and served fish-head soup for a meal during their 12-hour shifts, while white workers were getting the best jobs as well as company-provided food and housing. Domingo and a partner posed as students from the University of Washington’s School of Fisheries and requested to document the canneries for a project. Instead, they gathered evidence of discrimination. In 1973, the Alaska Cannery Workers’ Association (which Domingo and Viernes helped found) filed a class action lawsuit against several Alaskan fish companies, winning millions of dollars for migrant workers. Unfortunately, Domingo and Viernes were assassinated in 1981, an order put out by the-then Philippines dictator, Ferdinand Marcos. 

Despite their tragic deaths, I wanted to celebrate these little-known activists who fought their entire lives against injustice, and dedicated decades to helping marginalized communities across America.