More on that in a moment.
This summer has been a cleansing breath of fresh air. Not only have we been getting a record amount of rain, but I feel like I can breathe for the first time in a long while. I quit my job teaching with public school. It was figuratively sucking my soul. I know it was the right decision, and I feel a sense of freedom. I weep for the future though. I'm going to go off on a tangent here, but bare with me.
The state of public education in this country is at a breaking point and I don't want to be there when the shit goes down. The system is pure merde and I hate saying it, but I know it's going to have to FAIL before it gets better. Parents need to be more involved, take on responsibility and quit blaming teachers. Teachers worth should not be contingent on test scores and canned curriculum. We NEED to bring back art, music, shop class, dance and at least half an hour of recess every day! We need yoga and calisthenics. "no child left behind" is bullshit, instead of raising the level of all the students, it lowers standards and holds kids back. Gifted, enriched and honors classes are nothing but good for fostering achievement and advancement, plus they keep smart kids from getting bored and getting into trouble. Remedial classes are great for helping kids who are struggling. How the hell did it get this bad?! Common Core isn't much better. Yes, it is a good idea to have a standardized curriculum of sorts, so that we have a general assurance that kids in Vermont will learn the same stuff as kids in Alabama, but it still is so flawed. The original design and implementation was totally derailed when they got rid of the teachers who developed it in favor of the people who make and sell the standardized tests. How Effed up is that? the people who profit from the tests should NOT be in charge of what we teach! Alright, I'll get off my soap box...for now... heres a palette cleanser..
http://www.tastefullyoffensive.com/2015/07/fk-that-guided-meditation.html#.VZx_Hrrl5SE.facebook
So, back to the octopus. I just finished this bad boy. I started it in July of 2012, after a deeply emotional episode. It sat, static, a frantic background in emotional turmoil. For months. After I got pregnant, I new I wanted it to be an octopus, so i got into it. Little did I know the sheer magnitude of 750+ suction cups. Suffice it to say, I had to take a break from it again. I had everything done, but it wasn't finished, you know? So every once in a while I would glare at it, staring back at me with that rectangular pupil. As I said before, this summer has been great. I have had a burst of creative energy and it has been cathartic. I finished the octopus, finally, and I feel it is complete. I like it too, so...there's that.
I have also completed the first self portrait I have done in I don't know how many years. I'm not a fan of doing them, but in light of my recent health issues, self-exploration and evaluation, I thought it would be good. It didn't start out as a selfie, but I couldn't stop it once it started.
Now, keep in mind that both of these are 3 feet by 4 feet. Thus, giant head. I feel good about them both. And, I am still flush with creative juju. Until then, stay classy Burque.
