#mayor does not understand gender and therefore does not care

[askblueandviolet]

macaque, why do you keep using they/them for mayor? I heard from many people that when someone dislikes a person they ignore their chosen pronouns, (although of course that would not work with mayor because they use any pronoun)

MASTER POST

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[weirdstrangeandawful]

Okay fuck it, I've been pretty quiet about my hometown is because it's a small city and... internet, and whatever, but I don't live there anymore and I really, really need to say this.

This is going to get long so all I'm going to summarise at the top: Every 2SLGBTQ+ person deserves to feel the full support of the medical community regardless of their political expression or affiliation.

Fierté dans la Capital(e) Pride released a statement on Palestine recently. I encourage you to read it. Considering Ottawa is the capital of Canada and therefore has very strong ties to the military, the RCMP, the federal government obviously, and is also a hub of the tech industry in Canada, they had to be careful. And they did a really good job in my opinion. They provided all the important facts, made it clear that they're against genocide and that their position is based on evidence. Even so, many Jewish community organisations pulled out of the parade. I'm not going to comment too far on that, since I've not read into their reasonings and I'm not directly involved in that community. What does upset me is the chain reaction that seems to have started as a result. The mayor of Ottawa pulled out of the parade, which is a pretty big disappointment because we, as the Ottawa queer community, felt pretty proud when our last and beloved mayor felt comfortable enough to come out as gay in 2019.

Then the hospitals, including the children's hospital, pulled out of the parade. In my personal view, they do not understand what that means. The history of the pathologisation of sexuality and then the AIDS crisis are just some well-known examples of how the medical system failed the queer community. With current blocking of access to healthcare for the trans community in the US and parts of Canada, and the fact that the Canadian government does absolutely nothing to combat the near-yearly shortages of life-saving testosterone therapy, and the recent mpox epidemic, and the 8+ year wait times for gender affirming care in Ottawa itself, and the lack of access to healthcare outside of Toronto (5 hours drive or train ride from Ottawa) which disproportionately affects queer people, and the ongoing homophobia and discrimination we face in the medical system-- When it comes to pride, we need the support of the medical establishment!

Especially in a city where we have one singular community health centre for the whole region that

As a gay man who is vocally pro-palestine, do I feel comfortable going back to my hometown knowing there is a good chance I will have to seek medical care? No!

Do I feel comfortable that my 2SLGBTQ+ friends still living in Ottawa can seek the medical care they need? No!

Do I have confidence that the children at the children's hospital that has the one paediatric gender affirming care clinic in all of, not just Ottawa, but Eastern Ontario, can get the care they need? No!

Every 2SLGBTQ+ person deserves to feel the full support of the medical community regardless of their political expression or affiliation.

[theskeleton-system]

A Fungus Dangerclaw Masterpost

This is a post about Fungus' relationship with every Grumpus on Snaktooth;

Filbo

•definitely stumbled upon Fungus while looking for Liz

•was initially friendly toward Fungus, until Fungus took it personally and chased Filbo out of the woods, growling and claws beared

•when Fungus inevitably stays in town with the others, Filbo is rightfully so still apprehensive, but as Fungus warms up to him, he warms up to Fungus

•Fungus never learns his name, but knows the word Mayor, so calls him that (it is a constant Filbo Confidence Boost [tm])

Wambus

•would meet Fungus when they'd have come to town

•Fungus has absolutely attacked Wambus, he's the biggest man in town and Fungus believes in fighting for dominance, so he attacks him to become the Alpha of town lol

•Wambus doesnt like to make eye contact with Fungus due to this very event

•Fungus does eventually calm down when Wambus lets them rummage in the farm sometimes; it turns out Fungus is handy for digging holes to plant more crops

•after a while of Fungus trusting Wambus, she starts bringing sticks to the farm and burying them in hopes of growing crops too

•Wambus eventually decides he's adopting them. No arguments.

Beffica

•is morbidly curious of Fungus (that feeling is mutual)

•Beffica has absolutely kept Fungus in her cave out of storms, and so is probably the closest thing to a friend at first to Fungus

•she likes to paint his claws, and he loves to watch her do it, he also loves picking out the colours (pink is his favourite)

•Beffica will sit Fungus down and gossip to them while she paints their nails and brushes their fur, Fungus has no idea what she's saying, but likes to feel included and picks up on some words

•the few words he's learnt from Beff are "Squeeb", "Like", and "OMGee"

•Beffica does understand that Fungus can be dangerous, and she knows when to stop pushing their buttons

Gramble

•Gramble met Fungus in the middle of the night, when they broke into town to steal supplies

•Fungus DIDN'T attack Gramble, only because he's smaller than Fungus and therefore not deemed a threat

•when Fungus stays in town, they become enamored by the barn, and the Bugsnax there (because Fungus refuses to eat them too) and hangs out in the outdoor pen with them

•Fungus inevitably imprints on Gramble and begins following him around and bringing him Bugsnax that are very hard to catch (cheepoofs, grapesketos, lollives, scoopy banoopys) and Gramble is Confused.jpeg

•Gramble learns to trust Fungus when the first fight breaks out at the party (The "that's why your wife left you" Scene) and Fungus defends Gramble, literally standing between him and Wambus

•now Gramble accepts Fungus as family, and is just mildly frightened of them

Wiggle

•with Fungus constantly following Gramble around, it was only a matter of time until they met Wiggle

•Fungus took one look at her and was prepared to fight a bitch, but when Gramble stopped them from attacking her, they stopped being aggressive

•Fungus definitely wants that pink fluffy scarf around Wiggle's neck, but hasn't devised a plan to steal it yet

•Fungus doesnt understand how instruments work, so when Wiggle starts playing her banjo, Fungus is simultaneously frightened and interested

•Fungus begins loving listening to Wiggle's music and starts hitting the ground in percussion with the music

•Wiggle will never pass up on an adoring fan of course, and starts teaching Fungus how to make music, Fungus learns nothing, but is happy to have attention

•Fungus has ended up with the Banjo before, and absolutely tried to eat it

•(Fungus has worn Wiggle's glasses before and was fully prepared to wear them forever)

Triffany

•Triffany would find Fungus in one of the ruins, probably lost

•Triffany would be confused, but curious

•Fungus trusts Triffany quickly, as she's sensible and knows a feral creature when she sees one, so takes her time

•Fungus likes to try and help piece history together with Triffany, but obviously he has no idea what he's ever doing, so he isn't really much help

•Triffany's accent is completely foreign to Fungus, so they can have problems understanding some of her pronunciations, however, they absolutely adore her accent and loves listening to her talk

•Triffany is most likely the Grumpus who brought Fungus to town, probably to show Wambus the creature she adopted, and ask Floofty if any of this makes sense

•Fungus likes to chew on bones Triffany gives him, it helps sharpen his teeth and subdue his pure, feral rage

Cromdo

•Fungus would take a VERY long time to trust Cromdo, due to his sleezy nature

•Fungus absolutely wants whatever Cromdo is selling (because they're a hoarder) but doesn't know of the economy, only knows stick. Fungus will buy material objects with sticks and leaves or Cromdo will die

•a sick part of Cromdo wants to sell Fungus to Floofty for science, but knows that would be the second most illegal thing he's ever done (Grumpus Trafficking is no joke-)

•Fungus would probably want a tie, let's be honest

•to Cromdo, Fungus is like a cat, running around scratching the walls and knocking things off of tables

•Cromdo isn't afraid to scold Fungus, and Fungus will learn to listen in due time

•despite the tension and issues the two have, Fungus does it to show care for Cromdo, everyone knows this but Cromdo

•Fungus likes the word "Pal"

Chandlo

•Chandlo is Fungus' favourite. No questions asked.

•he found Fungus in a tree and brought him home to Snorpy, like gay people do

•"Snorp-dawg, I found a cryptid!"

"you WHAT"

•Fungus appreciates Chandlo so fucking much

•didn't attack for same reason as Gramble (small = not a threat)

•Chandlo likes Fungus because they're a hard-core survivor of the wild, and Chandlo vibes with that

•Fungus originally likes to watch Chandlo work out, finding it fascinating; but eventually starts joining in when Chandlo offers

•Chandlo just wants to keep this feral creature, that is all

•Fungus learns so many words from Chandlo, that he accidentally turns Fungus into a feral version of himself

Snorpy

•Snopry is (rightfully so) terrified of Fungus

•what is it? What's it gender? Why does it barely speak? How much sentience does it have? DOES IT WORK FOR THE GRUMPINATI??!

•but of course, Chandlo wants to keep it and Snorpy can't say no, so he ends up playing babysitter when Chandlo is gone

•Fungus, on the other hand, is enamored. Obviously-

•Fungus understands so little when it comes to Snorpy, all these conspiracies and big words and intricate connections, Fungus has no brain

•Fungus likes to listen though, and likes to look at the conspiracy board (also likes to hoard all the red string lol)

•of course Snorpy warms up to them, mostly when Floofty starts trying to steal them for experiments; Snorpy feels a newfound need to protect this gremlin from his mad scientist sibling

•Fungus just likes the attention

Floofty

•Floofty kidnaps Fungus for experiments (not clickbait)

•I mean, can you blame them? How does Fungus exist? A completely feral Grumpus in a society of modernized, evolved, civilised Grumpuses? They gotta know how Fungus works

•however, Floofty underestimated Fungus' energy, and now they're shouting at a gremlin, who is barking back at them

•Floofty loses so much sleep over keeping Fungus in one place.

•"fascinating...your survival instinct is completely intact- stop chewing my leg."

•Floofty tries to teach Fungus basic language, but learns the next day that Fungus forget everything they learnt

•Fungus doesn't know what to make of Floofty

•Is this good or bad? Friend or foe?

•if Floofty has to hurt Fungus to get what they want, they WILL be attacked (i.e taking blood or testing pain level)

•sometimes Floofty just snaps and throws Fungus into a river to "experiment" if Fungus can swim

•Fungus does like the attention though

Shelda

•Shelda is one of the only Grumpuses that Fungus shows concern and care for OPENLY

•He gives her gifts of sticks and rocks and leaves, and he'll throw a tantrum if she won't take them

•he likes to sit next to her while she meditates so she doesn't get lonely 😳😳

•the only problem with this is that Fungus is easily bored, and will start making noises and bumping rocks together

•and it's very distracting when you're trying to meditate

•But Fungus knows this and tries to behave as best as they can, they wanna make Grandma Shelda happy

•they become a part of Shelda's little fanclub, and listens to her wisdom despite not knowing ANYTHING she's saying

•he pretends he knows, nodding and agreeing all the time

Eggabell

•Eggabell, being a doctor, just wants to get her hands on Fungus to take care of him

•I mean, he's messy, and covered in mud and sticks and leaves

•he probably has the Grumpus equivalent of mange

•he DEFINITELY has fleas

•and she just wants to sit them down and clean them up

•but Fungus isn't having it, and is actually a little scared of Eggabell, as they don't know why she wants them to stay still

•Fungus will learn to trust her, and let her take care of the fleas and rabies and mange

•and when he does, he will never leave her side afterwards. He'll recognise she made him feel better and constantly want her attention

•He may get a little distracting for her sometimes, but she knows he means well

•also, because Fungus is a good listener, Eggabell airs her problems out to them, she knows they don't know what she's saying, but it's nice to rant to them while they eat a whole tree, bit by bit

Lizbert

•there isn't many opportunities where Liz and Fungus would interact sadly, however, I feel like if they did they would get along far too well

•Liz bringing Fungus on adventures around the island? Fungus showing Liz little cave systems they've found so she has shortcuts around the areas? Makes my heart ache-

•Fungus wants the hat, give her the hat Liz-

•because Liz is such a simple name, it would most likely be the only one Fungus would learn

•I can imagine Liz getting distracted from studying Bugsnax and instead studying Fungus, until Filbo or Egg reminds her she has more important things to do

•Fungus is incredibly agile, and I can imagine them scaling trees or cliffs and finding a safer route for Liz to take

•Fungus is Liz's emotional support adventure dog

The Journalist

This would be in terms of if Fungus was a character you'd meet;

•You would meet Fungus in Sugarpine Woods, but somewhere far away from Chandlo and Snorpy.

•Fungus would flee from you once spotted (sorta like the Snaxsquach, but not at certain times).

•You would then have a quest to ask around to see if anyone knew what this Grumpus was (and you would receive a resounding "no").

•The puzzle would then be figuring out how to cohearse Fungus into trusting you, which would be with sticks and rocks, making a pile of them to bait Fungus from hiding.

•Once you would have their trust, you would still have quests to complete before they move from their spot and follow you to town, this would include collecting more sticks and rocks, and finding Bugsnax so Fungus can have friends.

•They'd communicate these quests very poorly, you would probably have to rely on the quest descriptions to figure out what the objective is.

•After enough errands, Fungus would make a happy noise and start following you around. Then, if you walk into town, you approach Filbo and he takes Fungus off your hands.

•When you return to Snaxburg, it's in anarchy as Fungus has gotten out of control. Your next objective is "survive". Eventually, through sticks, rocks and leaves, you calm Fungus down enough for them to live in Snaxburg without killing anyone.

•However, some side-quests would involve Fungus, and the other residents having to deal with them now.

I had this neat idea that all this is optional, you don't have to even do the main quest for Fungus because they weren't supposed to be part of the expedition and know no one. So why interview them, not like you can anyway. You can escape Snaktooth with all the normal residents and leave Fungus on the island, then their fate would be left unknown (but man I'd feel guilty for it 😟).

[theorynexus]

Fudge, I already did 57/ Now I have to do 58/ 13 over 12, man / I guess we’re doing human stuff instead of trolling, today.

Coincidentally via some sort of textual wonder possibly related to authorial intent and/or miracles, we now have to focus on Roxy, now. Somewhat ironic, considering Terezi just said she and John wouldn’t work out. ...

***shift eyes, something about knowing the unknowable and the vagueries thereof, possible interference by the new Narrator, et cetera*** Hmmm~

What, so black holes cause suck up all the voidiness into themselves via proximity?!   Noooo~      Who’d have thought!     (In all seriousness, that gives some interesting resonance mechanic relation, here. I want to know whether it’s just Alt!Calliope that can sense said thoughts, if it’s just Roxy being over-emotional, or if any other observer would be able to pick such thoughts up and it’s just a mater of proxy-imity.)

Okay, then. I thought the point of this was to look like a completely passive observer and not tip people off other than via the black eyes, but you do you, I guess-- if that’s intentional.  Nice gazing out through the fourth wall, though. I’m sure Jade would be/is vaguely proud, knowing the narrative resonance, here, given her own fourth wall breaking shenanigans. 

I blame time and void interactions. Also Dave being an insufferable prick. Good to know, regarding Roxy and their feelings toward Dave, though.

Is Dirk going to literally shoot him in the arse?   That would be horribly ironic, and probably quite crippling to Joke Jake’s reputation and/or the power of his endorsement, if so.   Semi-related:   I do sortof understand Dave’s belief/concern with regards to the importance of this event.    What I want to know is why there are not thousands of Daves running around, all helping the campaign and being available to deal with other important tasks.

“Iced” cream is the best fricking thing, Dirk, and I don’t know what you’re talking about.

This really reminds me of Equius and Nepeta, and that is sortof cute. I almost can’t stand it.  Honestly, this relationship is actually quite similar, except Alt!Calliope is much more dominant in the relationship than Nepeta was. Also Dirk probably has more potential to damage things than Equius did (other than way out of the temporal frame of that moirallegiance, as part of Lord English--- and even then, Nepeta ironically acted as a counter to his muscle-bound rage, albeit way after much of the damage had already been done [thanks, Davesprite {albeit, unrelated to the matter at hand, this relationship was probably why Davepettasprite^2 was destined in such a way to handle Lord English, in addition to the prophesies surrounding Dave dealing with him, Davesprite being the first one to get Caledfwlch, and the flying off into the sun prophesy (which was aided greatly by Seppucrow, the true hero of the story)}]).    I guess that makes this relationship relatively more important, maybe.

So fricking wonderful and adorable.   I do wonder why there are not that many consorts, though. Maybe they are just too distracted and hyperactive to have much in the way of drive to participate in politics.  The humans I sortof vaguely understand, albeit I’d have thought that more might show up specifically for Jake’s speech, assuming that it was announced beforehand.

Dirk feels predictably antagonized, and is lashing out. I have a feeling that he’d intended to do something major before all this control was taken from him, but this will probably make it worse. Hmm.

Heh.   I don’t think that he means to “pump her full of daylight,” at the moment, so this is still funny instead of terrifying.

Huh. Dave already knew about Calliope’s gender and is chill with it. Neat.

Oh. Umm... while I’m sure that he does not need that in order to target Jade’s body if he intends to do so, that is quite foreboding. He is indeed quite capable of tricking people into doing things, at times, isn’t he?

HAH!   That is horrible, you self-obsessed weirdo! XD

More serious than being mind controlled by a space witch with bad intentions who has mind powers stolen from all the major players of her species, huh?  (I seriously still wonder how the fight against her went so relatively-seemingly easily, and what happened with her curse.  Maybe it only transfers in LE’s proximity, or something. )      ... Also, it wasn’t entirely just a joke, Roxy, geeze.

Thaaat’s what happens when your world is under a corrupting influence that is twisting the fabric of reality to their whim.  (The question is: Is this Dirk or Calliope?  Does she really have the right to judge him for his actions, if he really is expressing free will in doing so?   Yes, yes she does, because he is strongly subverting the will of others, and justice in Paradox Space demands some sort of counterbalancing force.  If his excess relevance as the Narrator is the only cost he faces, rather than dying a Just Death, he should feel lucky.)

***peals of cherubic laughter peal out in the background***    Random reminder:  Angels (in Homestuck) are terrifying demons that should be taken as harbringers of the apocalypse. Alt!Calliope has already played this job once along with Lord English. Is her presence outside canon an ill omen by definition?  (I am not sure Calliope the younger entirely counts, given her special circumstances, by the way. Hard to say.)

Beautiful. It’s almost like he’s an open PAGE of Hope, waiting to be written! 

This is a somewhat wise impression.  But it’s complicated, and great power means great responsibility. Especially when the nuclear genie has already been let out of the bottle on account of someone’s great ambition.  (Note: I actually find Jane’s impulse to rule over her creation to be a reasonable one to have, all things considered. I am not judging her negatively for this. I am just not 100% certain that it is the right path to go on before they get a few dozen more years to wise them up, or maybe a few centuries.   Wisdom is a very important thing for leadership, and it comes with age!   Of course, experience also helps, but it might be useful to have some sort of smaller-scale experimentation with politic--  oh, wait, wasn’t she made a mayor at some point, according to the credits?  That really hasn’t been emphasized in the epilogue at all, but probably should be more heavily considered.    It’s still not enough experience for me to feel confident in her, but it’s something. Hmm.)

I mean... I can hear you. I thought your awareness was still there. I guess maybe having your position of control taken away from you might have sapped that as well, maybe.   And yes, it is very interesting, indeed. Now, please put down the gun and try to negotiate more reasonably and in a more civilized fashion than the mistaken cowboy diplomacy idea you’re now engaging in. I will give Dirk some slack insofar as he is still getting used to her identifying as such, but he is sortof making a fool of himself by lashing out at Alt!Callie like that. It’s rather irrational, and doesn’t reflect very well on his character. It makes him out as being rather petulant and inflexible when it comes to identity matters.

Yeeeeep.

This is true (regarding the last part).  It is also really sad to see them fighting like this. >:

Dave, you are being a dummy. You should really stop.

Aww. That is a very cute reaction. :3 Also, that is somewhat dishonest, Alt!Calliope.  You should say “seemingly” nothing.  ***harrumphs and wags my finger at them!***

It is somewhat rude of him to laugh, but I am almost tempted to laugh too, specifically at the fact that this is Alt!Calliope confirming emphatically the beauty of their other version in Roxy’s eyes. It has a sort of ironic tension and silliness to it. Possibly some pride.        I therefore cannot entirely blame him for his laughter, for I do not know whether that is what he is laughing at, or if he’s laughing at the idea of finding an alien skull monster beautiful (which she really is).

It is sortof nice to see this encouragement from Dirk, albeit it is probably laced with irony and sarcasm.  Knowing one’s self and admitting/accepting the things one feels is incredibly important to a person’s health! It feels brotherly of him.

I wonder if Roxy actually feels that way (that it is none of her business), or if it’s Alt!Calliope’s somewhat cold (and sarcastically-directed) interpretation of things. Hmm.

A very important question to ask for someone who is dealing with their own identity issues and/or worries about their friends judging them for them. This is really all there is to say on the matter.

That is a complicated question.  The answer is this:  Identity is only partially self-deterministic.  You can certainly struggle and hope and wish for certain things, indulge in certain behaviors, and see what rubs off on you, or what you feel right about, but in all honesty, you are who you are.    This CAN change over time, and that is something that most people don’t think about. To say you “change your mind” about “the person you wanna be” is not an accurate statement: you don’t necessarily choose anything at all, other than whether you want to actually embrace who you are and/or are becoming, and if you will actually tell anyone about it.  In that sense: whether it is too late to change your mind about who you say and outwardly project you are?---  no, it is not too late.  However, it can potentially be pretty fricking confusing to people, and some friends may not be able to handle it, especially if they have pretty deeply imbedded themselves in your own journey/identity, and/or anchored themselves in it as part of their own.   This can cause them to be pretty put off, and potentially to have difficulty maintaining their relationship with you. As such, in summary:   one should be careful and always very much self-reflective about identity issues.  The choice to come out with any sort of change or difference is not an easy one, and someone should not be blamed for either side they fall upon--- whether they want to keep who they are a secret and/or for how long, or if they want to project it to the world (unless they are really violent about it and/or attempt to shame someone/force themselves upon another person as a “necessary” thing to do for their own growth/impulses or whathaveyou: that is just abusive and wrong).

No. While there is some degree of social capital involved and thus you should attempt to time things properly and take the needs of others into account (which means you have no right to get upset at them if they don’t react a certain way and/or are too involved with whatever is going on in their life right then to grapple with your assuredly stunning revelation), one does not owe their friends any sort of bombshell moment, and any sort of desire for one and/or push on someone else’s part for identity-related drama and/or revelation is actually what is greedy.

***shrug***     I guess it’s funny insofar as it has psychological humor wrapped into it and it makes the phraseology more cutesy (thus more approachable, I guess), but it’s not mind-blowing or anything.

And that’s okay. Someone can be casual about these things and not make it a federal fricking issue if they don’t want to.  It’s also okay to have repeated revelations and/or constantly wrestle with who you actually are. It’s not something to be embarrassed about or paranoid with in a social respect, especially in a world with numerous different species of alien humanoids that have different and somewhat conflicting types of identities and drives.  Almost indisputably, that should make identity issues less of a socially big deal.

Yes. Just like you helped him before.   Oh wait, what was that? You had years to figure it out, but did nothing?    Ah, well. Couldn’t be helped, I guess.   Brothers do have their own separate matters to consider, after all.

***snickers***      Honestly, he’s probably right, but for different reasons than he’s expressing.    

***cough time travel, cough***       Note:  I actually don’t want to read that. It would feel like a really awkward sort of waste of narrative time.  I’m just annoyed at the very ironic lack of time manipulation he’s been doing. Though in this case it sortof does suit him, insofar as he is using time concerns that he obviously could get around as if they were a suit of armor and/or armaments for him to verbally exploit.  Very knight-y. Aaand this feels like about the right time to end this post.

[solidarityinloneliness]

Love is Friendship… and Friendships are complicated

This week, we focused on the topic of “Friendship and its complexity” by watching My Own Private Idaho (Van Sant - 1991). We also read two articles on the topic of friendship by Julia Annas and C.S. Lewis, respectively. While Annas analyzes how Aristotle attempts to understand Friendship based on Plato’s existing work, Lewis philosophizes that Friendship is a “spiritual” experience “as great a love as Eros,” or romantic love. Annas argues that according to Aristotle, there are categories of Friendship. Annas exemplifies this by stating, “one man we love because of his character, and for goodness, another because he is serviceable and useful, another because he is pleasant, and for pleasure” (549). Instead of categorizing different kinds of Friendships, Lewis criticizes the common use of the term “Friendship” as a misnomer for “Alliance” or “Companionship.” Lewis specifies that friendships are born entirely outside of necessity, but purely for the sake of seeking “something more inward” together. When approaching this week’s topic, I was expecting that the film’s argument about friendship would be buttressed or criticized by the readings. I was surprised to discover how the film and the readings each have subtly distinct approaches to Friendship What’s clear is that all three believe in the importance of Friendship, and that its experience can even be as sublime as Eros. In this blog post, I will work through the three arguments and philosophize my own understanding of Friendship, which is a compound of the three.

First, Gus Van Sant seems to make a rather week, unnuanced argument about friendship in order to convey an emotional reaction from the audience. My Own Private Idaho follows male hustlers Mikey and Scotty through their journey across the U.S. and Italy. They begin as best friends, but their friendship fizzles out slowly, then suddenly. Mikey - poor, in search for his mother - suffers from Narcolepsy and depends on the hustler lifestyle and Scotty’s company for survival. Scotty - born into money and privilege - pursues hustling out of boredom and rebellion, and resolves to quit hustling once he turns 21 (when he inherits his mayor father’s money). Mikey confesses his feelings for Scotty, who gently rejects Mikey by reminding him that he only has sex with men for money. Late on, when they arrive in Italy to find Mikey’s mother, Scotty falls in love with a woman named Carmela, and brings her back to the U.S., leaving Mikey behind. The film ends with Mikey suffering from a narcoleptic episode, with no one to save him this time. Through MOPI, Van Sant seems to argue that Friendship is ephemeral, especially between individuals marked by different classes, or sexual orientation. While this argument works for the purpose of MOPI’s storytelling, it falls short as a philosophy towards friendship. The film seems to oversimplify the notions of class and sexual orientation. While these notions can be difficult to overcome, friendships can form across these differences. However, Mikey and Scotty’s friendship becomes dated the moment Mikey reveals his wealth to the audience. However, it is difficult to argue that Mikey and Scotty’s stark opposite socioeconomic standings is a common situation even for inter-socioeconomic friendships. Similarly, the moment Scotty reminds Mikey of his heterosexuality, the audience can predict their friendship’s impending demise. Today, modern prevailing theories on sexuality and gender subvert dichotomous categorizations of attraction. It is therefore safe to say that sexual orientation is rarely a rigid identity that cannot be overcome or changed, especially for someone like Mikey, who revels in homoerotic behavior. In short, MOPI sacrifices a nuanced discourse on Friendship, in order to tell a heartbreaking story about disintegration of Friendship.

Similarly, Annas’ article tackles some insightful arguments about Friendship, but falls short in addressing the full spectrum of discussions that could be had. Annas states, “[Aristotle] is right to insist  on the need for distinguishing reasons for friendship, and to appreciate that we are not aiming at the same kind of thing in all cases of friendship, without going to the other extreme of thinking that ‘friendship’ is simply ambiguous, that there is nothing at all in common between liking someone for his goodness and liking someone because he is entertaining” (547). Annas’ article is insighful insofar as analyzing Aristotle’s subcategorizations of Friendship. Indeed, there are varying degrees of Friendship, starting from transactional to deep and meaningful. However, Annas’ article is ambiguous in terms of its explanation of friendship’s relationship with altruism. Annas states, “Every point [made in Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics] confirms the impression that Aristotle does not think it psychologically possible for a man to choose otherwise than in his own interest” (539). By stating this, Annas sells the “Ladders of Friendship” notion short, since her and Aristotle’s understanding is that Friendship will only be as far as individuals’ self-interest can be stretched. However, if friendship can only exist as a manifestation of self-interest, then it is hard to argue that friendship can even become sufficiently deep to be considered altruistic. While I don’t believe that in MOPI, Scotty’s intentions with Mikey are always altruistic, I do think his continuous willingness to take care of Mikey after every narcoleptic episode, demonstrates altruism more than self-interest.

Lastly, Lewis argues that Friendship can only be considered a Friendship when it reaches beyond necessity and becomes “spiritual.” As Lewis states,  friendship is “free from instinct, free from all duties but those which love has freely assumed, almost wholly free from jealousy, and free without qualification from the need to be needed, is eminently spiritual” (77). He establishes this argument in two ways. He first explains that most relationship that people call friendships are really companionships or alliances. He then draws parallels between Eros and Friendship, in order to establish the view that friendship and romantic love can be fulfilling to similar degrees in different ways. For instance, whereas Eros manifests in “Face to Face, absorbed in each other” manner, friendship manifests in “side by side, absorbed in some common interest” way. Lewis’ argument is the strongest when he uses a journey metaphor, stating that friends are “travelling companions, but on a different kind of journey” (66). However, Lewis fails to address Friendships between men and women, as well as those between queer individuals. In essence, Lewis has trouble seeing that friendship can take precedence over lust or romantic desire. This viewpoint actually undermines his ethos. If friendship is as powerful as he claims, then should it not endure past fleeting romantic feelings, or lust? For instance, Mikey may be disappointed by Scotty’s inability to love him back romantically, but he sure is grateful for his Friendship and intends to keep their relationship platonic. According to Lewis’s logic, Mikey should not be able to remain friends with Scotty. However, it so plays out that Scotty is the one who breaks away his relationship with Mikey. In short, Lewis is too limited in understanding sexuality and gender to fully convince the reader the power of Friendship.

Like Annas/Aristotle, I think that Friendship has many different levels, but I also believe that Friendship at its Essence is an inward, spiritual journey, to borrow Lewisian terms. However, I think Annas and Lewis fail to address what Van Sant begins to argue then stops short of convincing me: That Friendship/Philia and Eros can co-exist and even buttress each other to form a stronger bond that sublimates past categories. Perhaps, had Mikey’s romantic feelings had been towards a fellow queer friend, My Own Private Idaho could have been about Friendship that blossoms into Romance, rather than Unrequited Romance settled for Friendship, or Friendship tainted by Romantic feelings.

[readincolour]

New Books Coming Your Way, January 30, 2018

The Darkest Child by Delores Phillips 432 p.; Fiction/African-American Pakersfield, Georgia, 1958: Thirteen-year-old Tangy Mae Quinn is the sixth of ten fatherless siblings. She is the darkest-skinned among them and therefore the ugliest in her mother, Rozelle’s, estimation, but she’s also the brightest. Rozelle—beautiful, charismatic, and light-skinned—exercises a violent hold over her children. Fearing abandonment, she pulls them from school at the age of twelve and sends them to earn their keep for the household, whether in domestic service, in the fields, or at “the farmhouse” on the edge of town, where Rozelle beds local men for money. But Tangy Mae has been selected to be part of the first integrated class at a nearby white high school. She has a chance to change her life, but can she break from Rozelle’s grasp without ruinous—even fatal—consequences? The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory 320 p.; Fiction/Romance Agreeing to go to a wedding with a guy she gets stuck with in an elevator is something Alexa Monroe wouldn’t normally do. But there’s something about Drew Nichols that’s too hard to resist. On the eve of his ex’s wedding festivities, Drew is minus a plus one. Until a power outage strands him with the perfect candidate for a fake girlfriend… After Alexa and Drew have more fun than they ever thought possible, Drew has to fly back to Los Angeles and his job as a pediatric surgeon, and Alexa heads home to Berkeley, where she’s the mayor’s chief of staff. Too bad they can’t stop thinking about the other… They’re just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward the long distance dating disaster of the century—or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want… This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America by Morgan Jerkins 272 p.; Essays Morgan Jerkins is only in her twenties, but she has already established herself as an insightful, brutally honest writer who isn’t afraid of tackling tough, controversial subjects. In This Will Be My Undoing, she takes on perhaps one of the most provocative contemporary topics: What does it mean to “be”—to live as, to exist as—a black woman today? This is a book about black women, but it’s necessary reading for all Americans. Doubly disenfranchised by race and gender, often deprived of a place within the mostly white mainstream feminist movement, black women are objectified, silenced, and marginalized with devastating consequences, in ways both obvious and subtle, that are rarely acknowledged in our country’s larger discussion about inequality. In This Will Be My Undoing, Jerkins becomes both narrator and subject to expose the social, cultural, and historical story of black female oppression that influences the black community as well as the white, male-dominated world at large. Whether she’s writing about Sailor Moon; Rachel Dolezal; the stigma of therapy; her complex relationship with her own physical body; the pain of dating when men say they don’t “see color”; being a black visitor in Russia; the specter of “the fast-tailed girl” and the paradox of black female sexuality; or disabled black women in the context of the “Black Girl Magic” movement, Jerkins is compelling and revelatory. All the Women in My Family Sing: Women Write the World: Essays on Equality, Justice, and Freedom edited by Deborah Santana 336 p.; Essays All the Women in My Family Sing is an anthology documenting the experiences of women of color at the dawn of the twenty-first century. It is a vital collection of prose and poetry whose topics range from the pressures of being the vice-president of a Fortune 500 Company, to escaping the killing fields of Cambodia, to the struggles inside immigration, identity, romance, and self-worth. These brief, trenchant essays capture the aspirations and wisdom of women of color as they exercise autonomy, creativity, and dignity and build bridges to heal the brokenness in today’s turbulent world. Sixty-nine authors — African American, Asian American, Chicana, Native American, Cameroonian, South African, Korean, LGBTQI — lend their voices to broaden cross-cultural understanding and to build bridges to each other’s histories and daily experiences of life. America Ferrera’s essay is from her powerful speech at the Women’s March in Washington D.C.; Natalie Baszile writes about her travels to Louisiana to research Queen Sugar and finding the “painful truths” her father experienced in the “belly of segregation;” Porochista Khakpour tells us what it is like to fly across America under the Muslim travel ban; Lalita Tademy writes about her transition from top executive at Sun Microsystems to NY Times bestselling author. This anthology is monumental and timely as human rights and justice are being challenged around the world. It is a watershed title, not only written, but produced entirely by women of color, including the publishing, editing, process management, book cover design, and promotions. Our vision is to empower underrepresented voices and to impact the world of publishing in America — particularly important in a time when 80% of people who work in publishing self-identify as white (as found recently in a study by Lee & Low Books, and reported on NPR). Smoketown: The Untold Story of the Other Great Black Renaissance by Mark Whitaker 432 p.; History Today black Pittsburgh is known as the setting for August Wilson’s famed plays about noble but doomed working-class strivers. But this community once had an impact on American history that rivaled the far larger black worlds of Harlem and Chicago. It published the most widely read black newspaper in the country, urging black voters to switch from the Republican to the Democratic Party and then rallying black support for World War II. It fielded two of the greatest baseball teams of the Negro Leagues and introduced Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers. Pittsburgh was the childhood home of jazz pioneers Billy Strayhorn, Billy Eckstine, Earl Hines, Mary Lou Williams, and Erroll Garner; Hall of Fame slugger Josh Gibson—and August Wilson himself. Some of the most glittering figures of the era were changed forever by the time they spent in the city, from Joe Louis and Satchel Paige to Duke Ellington and Lena Horne. Mark Whitaker’s Smoketown is a captivating portrait of this unsung community and a vital addition to the story of black America. It depicts how ambitious Southern migrants were drawn to a steel-making city on a strategic river junction; how they were shaped by its schools and a spirit of commerce with roots in the Gilded Age; and how their world was eventually destroyed by industrial decline and urban renewal. Whitaker takes readers on a rousing, revelatory journey—and offers a timely reminder that Black History is not all bleak. Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires by Shomari Wills 320 p.; History While Oprah Winfrey, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Michael Jordan, and Will Smith are among the estimated 35,000 black millionaires in the nation today, these famous celebrities were not the first blacks to reach the storied one percent. Between the years of 1830 and 1927, as the last generation of blacks born into slavery was reaching maturity, a small group of smart, tenacious, and daring men and women broke new ground to attain the highest levels of financial success. Black Fortunes is an intriguing look at these remarkable individuals, including Napoleon Bonaparte Drew—author Shomari Wills’ great-great-great-grandfather—the first black man in Powhatan County (contemporary Richmond) to own property in post-Civil War Virginia. His achievements were matched by five other unknown black entrepreneurs including:

Mary Ellen Pleasant, who used her Gold Rush wealth to further the cause of abolitionist John Brown;

Robert Reed Church, who became the largest landowner in Tennessee;

Hannah Elias, the mistress of a New York City millionaire, who used the land her lover gave her to build an empire in Harlem;

Orphan and self-taught chemist Annie Turnbo-Malone, who developed the first national brand of hair care products;

Madam C. J Walker, Turnbo-Malone’s employee who would earn the nickname America’s “first female black millionaire;”

Mississippi school teacher O. W. Gurley, who developed a piece of Tulsa, Oklahoma, into a “town” for wealthy black professionals and craftsmen” that would become known as “the Black Wall Street.”

A fresh, little-known chapter in the nation’s story—A blend of Hidden Figures, Titan, and The Tycoons—Black Fortunes illuminates the birth of the black business titan and the emergence of the black marketplace in America as never before. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "lisarbobbitt-20"; amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; amzn_assoc_region = "US"; amzn_assoc_linkid = "785121bfbf478d195d0518a076e99b57"; amzn_assoc_asins = "1616958723,0399587667,0062666150,0997296216,0062437593,1501122398"; amzn_assoc_title = ""; amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; January 26, 2018 at 11:00AM from ReadInColour.com http://ift.tt/2DPL2sd

[bryanthailey]

Women in Maine government

Denise Tepler never intended to go into politics.

She is a teacher, a wife, a mother. She holds a master’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania. She volunteered in her children’s schools and around her community, the small town of Topsham, Maine with a population of about 8,500 people. She is also the District 54 state representative.

Through her volunteer work, as well as her part-time teaching at the University of Southern Maine’s off-campus centers, Tepler explored a passion for service, and eventually was asked to run for school board. “I had some frustrations with the school system and was interested in making change and serving my community, so I agreed,” said Tepler. “I enjoyed feeling that could make positive change for our children and our community but also realized there were some tough choices to make. I learned I had skills as a thoughtful change agent.”

After her experience on the school board, Tepler set her sights on the state legislature in 2008. Before she tackled the campaign process, though, she applied to Emerge Maine, a program that aids women who want to run for office. Tepler credits Emerge as her inspiration. “I came to understand about the lack of women in politics and how important our voice and our style are to governing,” Tepler said.

Emerge’s goal is “to increase the number of Democratic women leaders from diverse back- grounds in public office through recruitment, training, and providing a powerful network”, ac- cording to Executive Director Sarah Skillin Woodard. “The end goal is to have gender parity in Maine and across the country. This includes having parity for women of color whose representation is far lower than women in general.” This is particularly relevant in Maine, which is the whitest state in the country, according to a 2015 census report.

Women make up over half of the United States population, but hold less than one third of elected offices. Despite its status as a world leader, the U.S. ranks 104th globally in number of women serving in national legislature.

In the United States, there have only been 37 female governors, and only 27 states have ever had a female governor, according to statistics gathered by Emerge. Women make up 19.4 percent of the United States Congress, and 24.8 percent of state legislatures. Of cities with a population exceeding 30,000 people, women make up 18.8 percent of mayors.

Maine has had 74 governors and each one has been a man. Only 4 women from Maine have ever been in Congress. The Maine State Legislature is 29.6 percent women. Currently, Maine has one female mayor, Emerge alumna Samantha Paradis of Belfast, a town of fewer than 7,000 people.

Each year, Emerge graduates around 25 women with political aspirations, after a 6-month, 70 hour program. Recently, the program has also trained 25 women to staff political campaigns. In the 2016 elections, Emerge Maine had a 72 percent success rate — every incumbent who graduated from the program held onto her seat, and 12 alumnae won House seats. Additionally, Speak- er of the House Sara Gideon (D-Freeport) and House Majority Leader Erin Herbig (D-Belfast) are Emerge Maine graduates.

“Women in elected office overwhelmingly support and push forward democratic principles like equality and fairness. When women hold public office they are more actively involved in a variety of gender-salient issue areas, including healthcare, the economy, education, and the environment,” said Woodard. “Women legislators are more responsive to constituents, value cooperation over hierarchical power, and find ways to engineer solutions in situations where men have trouble finding common ground. The entire country benefits when we have more women in elected office. Our legislatures work better and our leaders are able to forge important agreements. Everyone wins.”

Recently elected Bangor City Councilor Laura Supica is an Emerge Maine alumna as well, and incumbent Sarah Nichols is an alumna as well as a current board member. City councils function differently than state legislature, in that they are locally focused and much smaller. The Bangor City Council consists of only 9 people, and prior to this year’s election, only one councilor was a woman.

Alongside Supica, Clare Davitt, a reference librarian at the Bangor Public Library, was elected and sworn in last month. “It is obvious to me that as citizens, we deserve to be a part of the process that affects our lives daily,” Davitt said.

So why aren’t there more women in office? In 2012, American University government professor Jennifer Lawless and Loyola Marymount University political science professor Richard Fox determined seven primary barriers to women running for office, including lack of self-confidence, responsibilities in the home, and fear of poor treatment due to the nation’s response to women like Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin.

While it’s true that many women have familial responsibilities that a political campaign would disrupt, the skills gained through running a household are actually valuable tools in politics. “Women have always been the kind of people that take care of everything, not just taking care of kids at home,” said Nichols. “Before deciding to run, many women have to figure out how to work it into their lives. When you already think like that, you have an advantage on making policy. You already think about how it will affect other people.”

In Tepler’s case, she had to be convinced to run — both her school board campaign and her legislative campaign were kickstarted by encouragement and invitations from friends already serving. When she ran for school board, her youngest daughter was only 3 years old. “I am the primary home keeper in my family and had been available to do so for many years,” Tepler said. “My husband does not often cook. He does dishes and laundry but is busy during the day. It has taken him some adjustment to deal with a wife who is working a lot and is not always home to cook dinner, but he’s very cooperative and excited about my service.”

Another of Lawless and Fox’s barriers, fear of negative treatment or reception, is not unfounded. Tepler was elected to the House of Representatives in 2014 after then-incumbent Andrew Mason withdrew from the race and Tepler was chosen as the new candidate. “I don’t think we have a great support system for women in government beyond the partisan Emerge network. I have experienced sexist attitudes and have also found that being the only woman in certain rooms leaves me somewhat on the outside and my opinions not taken as seriously,” Tepler said, citing her work on the Tax Committee and the Democratic House Appropriations Caucus. “I have experienced the classic women’s meeting experience of having a man repeat something I said previous- ly and suddenly it’s heard.”

At 61 years old, Tepler says that she does not experience sexual harassment and “come-ons” on the job, but she’s aware of it happening around her. She says that it’s not always men perpetuating sexism within government, but rather women treating each other as competitors rather than colleagues. Men can be sympathetic to the issues women face on the job, but are hesitant to talk about it: “I have had some support about sexism from men, but it tends to be private rather than public. They will come offer support after witnessing a sexist incident, but will not publicly con- front it.”

Female legislators prioritize things differently than their male counterparts, which in turn gives more voice to topics deemed ‘women’s issues’, such as affordable and available daycare and menstrual products. “Issues that are important to women, from reproductive health care to the taxation of tampons and diapers, get more attention and are taken more seriously with women in the room — the more the better”, said Tepler. “There are issues that women are attentive to, such as child care, that I have found men, especially older men, tend to brush under the table. Women tend to be better at working cooperatively in groups, and therefore are more productive in legislative settings.”

Similarly, female legislators who work on policies that help women pave the way for more women in government. “Access to reproductive health care and improved policies regarding paid leave and childcare will make government jobs more accessible to women — they will have more control over their personal lives and the time and ability to serve in office,” said Nichols.

Since women make up more than half of the population, it’s crucial to have a similar percentage in government to ensure equal representation of all people. Women of color, disabled women, immigrant women, and lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women are further underrepresented, and many of these women do not have access to the resources they need to run successful campaigns and be elected.

“Women are leaders,” said Davitt. “Women are strong and competent and are more than capable of creating policy and representing our constituents. Girls and young women need to see them- selves reflected in leadership positions to help motivate them and give them a sense that they matter.”

[gystink]

Call for Entry: Botanic gardens needs public artwork (Denver, CO)

Denver Botanic Gardens Freyer-Newman Center Denver Arts & Venues Public Art Program 1345 Champa Street Denver, CO 80204 APPLY TO THIS CALL Entry Deadline: 11/26/18 REQUIREMENTS: Media  Images - Minimum: 6, Maximum: 6  Video - Minimum: 0, Maximum: 2  Total Media - Minimum: 6, Maximum: 8 

Introduction Denver Arts & Venues Public Art Program seeks to commission an artist or team of artists to create an original work of art for the future Freyer - Newman Center at the Denver Botanic Gardens. The facility is located near the main entrance to the Denver Botanic Gardens, at the corner of York St. and 11th Ave., Denver, CO.  The selection panel has recommended a site-specific artwork to be integrated into the exterior plaza of the Freyer - Newman Center. The commission amount is $300,000 USD.

Denver Botanic Gardens Denver Botanic Gardens’ mission is to connect people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world. To fulfill its mission, Denver Botanic Gardens has embraced four core values: Diversity, Relevance, Sustainability, and Transformation.

Not only do these core concepts relate to the natural environment and the care of living things within it; but these four ideas also apply to people and relationships. The Gardens strives to preserve diversity of plant life, as well as engage diverse audiences. Denver Botanic Gardens must speak relevantly to local, regional, and national communities. In all things, the Gardens strive to act as a catalyst for transformation of individuals and the environment.

Freyer - Newman Center The fusion of science, art and education is the heart of Denver Botanic Gardens. It is rare that an institution contains breadth and depth in a variety of specialties related to human interaction with the natural world. At the Gardens, one can find preserved plant and fungi specimens, documented uses of plants, and historic botanical illustration. Contemporary botanical illustration programs extend the scientific art of documentation into the 21st century. The Gardens’ holdings are unique in that horticulture, plant conservation and preservation, mycology and art unite to document human relationships with these elements and the larger environment. Housing each of these programmatic elements in a single facility — the Freyer - Newman Center — will make these assets more accessible to the public. Please visit the link at the bottom of this document for more information.

Materials & Media The selection panel members have set forth specific goals and parameters for this public art project with the hope of creating a unique and inspiring work of art for the diverse community that visits and enjoys the Freyer - Newman Center. The panel is looking for artworks that create a distinct connection to the natural world and demonstrate the connection between the micro and macro, as well as honor human relationships to the natural environment. Artworks should enhance the experience of those that use and enjoy the Freyer – Newman Center and could engage multiple senses, harnessing tactile and auditory components to achieve aims. The selection panel is open to artwork in all media and materials that are suitable for outdoor display. Artists are asked to be mindful and respectful of the center’s functionality, its users, the neighborhood, as well as the mission of the center as a destination for science, art and education.

Maintenance & Durability All applicants are expected to consider the issues of long-term conservation and maintenance of public art, along with time and budget. These projects are located in the public realm and may therefore be exposed to weather and physical stresses, as well as be subject to vandalism. Public art projects should be fabricated of highly durable, low-maintenance materials. Semifinalists are encouraged to consult with a professional conservator prior to the submission of a final proposal. Artist proposals awarded contracts will be reviewed by the City of Denver’s Public Art Committee to ensure conformity with city standards of maintenance and durability, as well as ADA standards. All finalists are expected to stay on budget and to complete work in an approved time frame.

Who May Apply This project is open to artists who currently live and work in in the United States, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, gender variance, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, marital status, political opinion or affiliation, or mental or physical disability. The selection panel is especially interested in artists that can demonstrate a deep understanding of the Denver Botanic Gardens and its mission, as well as the area’s history, landscape, and surrounding neighborhood. Colorado artists and artists working in media that is suitable for outdoor display are especially encouraged to apply.

Can a team apply? Applicants may apply as a single artist or multi-person collaborative group.  If applying as a team, please submit one résumé for the team, with 1-2 pages per team member.

Applying for these opportunities In response to this RFQ, applicants will be asked to submit six digital images, a résumé, and a statement of interest no longer than 2,000 characters via www.callforentry.org (CaFÉ™). From these applications, the selection panel will choose between three and five semifinalists who will create site-specific proposals and be brought in for an interview with the panel. Artists will be paid an honorarium for this work. Artists/teams selected as semi-finalists will be required to submit a Diversity & Inclusiveness Form in order for their proposals to be considered, which will be provided upon notification. As directed by Executive Order 101, this form must be submitted for all city solicitations of proposals. Denver Arts & Venues Public Art Program staff can provide guidance on filling out this form. Semifinalists will be expected to pay for travel expenses from the honorarium. From the interview and proposal, an artist or artist team will be selected for this commission.  The selected artist or artist team for the commission will collaborate with the Public Art Program staff and the Freyer - Newman Center design team when finalizing their designs for installation. 

 Budget The budget for this commission is $300,000.00 USD which will be allocated to the artist/team selected. These funds come from the City of Denver’s One Percent for Art Ordinance resulting from improvements made to the Denver

Botanic Gardens. This contract amount is inclusive of all costs associated with the project including, but not limited

to: the artist’s design fee, other consultation fees such as structural engineering consultation, insurance (including

Colorado Workers Compensation), tools, materials, fabrication, transportation, installation, any building or site modification required, travel to and from the site, per diem expenses, project documentation, contingency to cover unexpected expenses, and any other costs. For all work done on city property, prevailing wage requirements will be applied.

 Timeline (Except for online application deadline, timeline is subject to adjustments)

 Monday, November 26, 11:59 P.M. MST Deadline for entry (via CaFÉ™ system)

December                                                           Semifinalist Selection

March                                                                   Finalist Notification

Project Selection Panel According to Denver’s Public Art policies, the project selection panel plays an active role in the acquisition of public art for Denver. The Freyer - Newman Center selection panel is comprised of 11 voting members and additional non-voting advisors. The selection panel is responsible for reviewing the site, establishing criteria, writing a request for qualifications, reviewing applications, and selecting and interviewing semi-finalists and selecting a finalist for the commission. 

Selection Process Between three and five artists/artist teams will be selected as semifinalists, depending on the number of qualified responses to the RFQ. Those selected will receive more specific information regarding the site and have the opportunity to meet with Garden representatives, the design team and public art staff.  The semifinalists will receive an honorarium to prepare and present the proposal in person. The selection panel will review the proposals, interview the semifinalists and recommend a finalist for the commission. The final recommendation of the selection panel will be presented to the Public Art Committee, the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs, and Mayor Michael B. Hancock for final approval. All decisions of the City and County of Denver are final.

Materials to be Submitted Please read this section carefully. Incomplete applications will NOT be considered. The applicant’s name must appear on all materials submitted.

All materials must be submitted online, via the CaFÉ™ website (www.callforentry.org). There is no application fee to apply or to use the CaFÉ™ online application system.

Digital Images—In order to be considered for this project, the applicant must electronically submit six digital images of previously completed artworks through the CaFÉ™ system. Artists who wish to submit kinetic, sound or media works must submit a complete CaFÉ™ application and will have the opportunity to upload up to two video files.

Instructions on how to format images to CaFÉ™ specifications can be found at https://www.callforentry.org/uploading-images-audio-and-video-files/. Assistance in using the CaFÉ™ system is available here: https://www.callforentry.org/artist-help-cafe/. If an artist does not have access to a computer, s/he may call 720-865-5563 to make arrangements to use a computer at Denver Arts & Venues.

Statement of Interest—Please submit a statement briefly outlining your interest in the Freyer - Newman Center public art project and experience working on projects of this kind (2,000 character maximum) via CaFÉ™. 

Résumé—Submit a one-to-two page current résumé via CaFÉ™ that highlights your professional accomplishments as an artist. Please name your résumé file accordingly: Last name.First initial (i.e. Smith.J.pdf).  Résumés that are more than two pages will not be downloaded. If applying as a team, please submit one résumé with 1-2 pages per team member.

 Please direct all questions about the project to Brendan Picker at brendan.picker@denvergov.org or by calling 720-865-5563.  

For more information on the Denver Botanic Gardens Freyer - Newman Center, please visit:https://www.botanicgardens.org/freyer-newman-center

Applicants are encouraged to watch this video: https://youtu.be/YzxJ6BHIJaI