landshape

I have decided not to teach at a college ever again. Or, at least, I have decided to not teach as this college for a long, long time. Last semester, I thought it was just the courseload I had. But this spring I have been teaching a class on Art & Gender (which in this political climate and at this particular school is risky) that I teach as a history of fibers. It has been so exciting to develop curriculum on a topic that is deeply undertaught in the history of art and a true passion of mine. It’s the structures of higher ed that are incompatible with the lessons and with a living.

As it stands, I am the sole professor of art history which is offered as a minor at the school. Everyone in the art school must take at least three art history classes for their degree. And yet the best that the college has to offer me as a lowly adjunct is a pay schedule that hits once a month and 16K a year before taxes. While meanwhile the coaches of this D3 school make six figure salaries.

And yes, to anyone thinking “Obviously this is the state of academia, Aubrey!” I know!

I actually never wanted to teach in the college setting. It was never part of my life plan. Being in academia in this current moment especially feels like being moored at sea, chained to dead horse, spinning in circles. The actual moments in the classroom are fine. It is all the rest, the constant squeeze on resources, the heaping plates of my full time colleagues, the bloated administration, and the university politic. This is the wave that keeps crashing over me.

So, thankfully I quit in the same email that I was able to recommend my dear friend for the job. A win-win, I hope.

I am leaping into the unknown.

Prior to quitting, people did not ask me, “What will you do now?” even as staying at the job would require me to endure 5 months without pay. Now that I have quit and the time runs out on the last semester, the answer of what the summer holds is still “I don’t know.”

Years ago, my grandfather (also named Aubrey) died. He left the money from the sale of his suburban home to be split among the grand kids after the back taxes and hospital bills were paid. I have a small fortune (to me) of 20K dwindling even in a high yield savings account that cannot keep up with inflation and this brewing economic crisis. It had always been a goal to let it sit and try to buy or build a house. After a year of moderate rent as prices soar around me, it’s time to stop out.

Readers, I bought an 18-ft double axle trailer. It is the foundation of my future tiny (10x18) house. In the meantime, Juniper and I will be living in the van as we build through the summer (this chihuahua of mine is a great foreman!), melting and learning and cooling off in my large air conditioned studio space in the meantime. I’ll be making ceramics for little markets throughout the summer. Who knows what else! I love to build and I love to teach, these things are important to the broader scope of my practice.

Before van and building time, I have made a class called Landshape. It is based on quilt guilds “quilt in a weekend” style workshop. Hosted on land in the humble foothills of southeast Ohio, this two day class teaches how to make a quilt from start to finish as well as how to draw inspiration and color from the land around you. Join a small cohort of other future quilters on May 23rd and 24th.

The skills taught include:

• machine sewing

• hand-quilting

• applique techniques

• composition planning

• improvisational patchwork

• mark making

• close looking

This class is ideal for someone who has a bit of machine sewing experience. All materials and equipment is provided but feel free to bring your own special fabrics/threads. I will have plant dyed fabric scraps as well as other scrounged yardage.

We will sew, drink tea, take walks, draw, and quilt from 10-5 on both days. I have attended this kind of workshop before and have been so heartened by the sudden community that forms when making and learning together. It will be an honor to facilitate that space.

Sign up by May 1st by emailing contemporary.hand@gmail.com. $100 deposit is required to save your spot (which is refundable if the class has to be postponed and/or you suddenly become unable to attend up until May 20th).

Scholarships available, as is camping if you are coming from further afoot!

I hope to see you then!