Dear Faculty of Arts,
It has been a busy and dynamic couple of weeks in the Faculty of Arts as we enter the midterm period of the semester. This week’s streamlined “Arts Update” is packed full with news, upcoming events, and information items.
KUDOS AND CONGRATS
Welcome to Our New Interim Associate Dean Billeh Nickerson & Looking Forward to a “Next Chapter” Interview: As announced earlier this week, Billeh Nickerson has joined the Dean Team as interim Associate Dean! We are thrilled to welcome Billeh on board. By a striking coincidence – or is it? – Billeh will be interviewed by legendary CBC Radio host Shelagh Rogers on The Next Chapter this Saturday (October 16th) between 3:00 and 4:00 pm. The show will be rebroadcast on Monday, October 18th between 1:00 and 2:00 pm, and will also be available online at cbc.ca/thenextchapter Be sure to tune in to hear your new AD discussing Duct-Taped Roses, his wonderful collection of poetry published by Book*hug Press.
Another Interview! Fiona Whittington-Walsh on Villains with Facial Differences: Fiona Whittington-Walsh (SOCI) was interviewed on Tuesday by WAMU, an American radio station with a weekly audience of 4.5 million. Listeners were treated to Fiona’s insights on “What Villains with Facial Differences Mean for People with Facial Differences.” Please have a listen here: https://the1a.org/segments/what-villains-with-facial-differences-mean-for-people-with-facial-differences/ Congratulations on this fascinating interview, Fiona!
Arts Speaker Series Redux: Wednesday saw Candy Ho (EDST) share her presentation “Connecting Students with People who Care(er): Post-secondary Professionals as ‘Everyday Career Influencers’” as the latest installment of the Arts Speaker Series. The PDF of Candy’s powerful presentation, which invites us all to think of ourselves as stars in our students’ “constellation” of career influencers, is attached to this message. Thank you, Candy, for sharing your insightful work.
UPCOMING EVENTS & INITIATIVES
KPU’s Climate+ Challenge is launching this month! This project is a KPU-wide initiative that engages students and instructors in learning about climate change, through an empathetic and solutions-oriented lens. The goal is to get more people at KPU talking, learning, thinking about and finding solutions to the climate emergency, and various climate-related challenges. This project is coordinated by Ellen Pond (Policy Studies and Urban Ecosystems) and Tracy Sherlock (Journalism and Communications). Faculty members who want to add climate-change content to their courses can sign up for something as small as having students complete a relevant assignment (resources are available) – or as big as running a whole course dedicated to “Climate+.” If you’re interested in taking part, visit the Climate+ website, fill out the contact form or email Ellen Pond (ellen.pond@kpu.ca) or Tracy Sherlock (tracy.sherlock@kpu.ca).
FINA Grads Take Flight: Some recent Fine Arts grads have collaborated to create an exhibition called Taking Flight – opening this weekend at the Deer Lake Gallery. Taking Flight brings together Alex Jones, Jacob Strohan, Jessica Spanza, Jude Campbell, Kia Eriksson, and Melanie Costa as emerging artists from the KPU Bachelor of Fine Arts Class 2021, celebrating individuality and self-expression during a time of great difficulties and challenges in the hope of bringing communities together. Tying together nature, materials, urban landscapes, and even our interpersonal relationships and their impact on our everyday life, the exhibition highlights the peculiar human condition of reacting, creating, and retelling our experiences. Please consider dropping by Deer Lake Gallery for an in-person celebration showcasing some of the artworks from the KPU graduation exhibition, in addition to new work, featured at the Gallery from October 16th to November 13th 2021. The Opening Reception is on October 16, 2021; doors open at 6:30pm
The Task Force Against Racism is hosting an Unlearning Anti-Blackness workshop for all KPU employees, on October 25th. The workshop will be presented by Udokam Iroegbu from Bakau Consulting. The workshop, which is recommended for groups who have intermediate to advanced social justice knowledge, will weave together key events in Black history and explore contemporary examples of racism and tangible actions for allies. It aims to unpack the manifestations of anti-Black racism in our society, exploring issues of cultural appropriation, solidarity, activism, intersectionality, Black and queer identity, microaggressions, intergenerational trauma and transformative justice. To register, please email tfa@kpu.ca with the subject line: “Please register me for October 25th workshop with Udokam Iroegbu.”
INFORMATION ITEM
Scholarship in the Sunshine: Have you considered applying for the $7000 Faculty Mobility for Partnership Building Program? It provides grants to faculty in support of 3-8-week-long opportunities to teach or conduct research in Latin America or the Caribbean. Please see the link here for more information: https://our.kpu.ca/sites/apps/Today/Lists/Announcements/DispForm.aspx?ID=10202
Max. $7,000 Funding Available – Faculty Mobility for Partnership Building Program
Wishing you all a restorative weekend in the rain!
Greg, Wade, Billeh, and Shelley
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