Andrea Dupree
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Homepage: http://bluebirdandrea.wordpress.com
opportunity for all
Posted in frustration on May 6, 2013
I began composing this post prior to the May 4th vote on school tax in Terrebonne parish. After serval trashed versions, here are my thoughts on the results of the vote and the state of public education in Louisiana.
You don’t own a home in Terrebonne, so your vote isn’t valid.
My family works and lives here, so my vote is.
Yeah, but you don’t live here all year…so..
So what.
You attended private school, so what do you know about public education?
I taught art in public schools (five schools in four years) and have administered arts education programming in schools for about five years. I’ve seen the conditions of the schools (awful. buildings falling apart, murky paint, dim rooms, broken windows, rusted fences, no greenery, etc.) and the attitudes of the teachers (dedicated, inspired). A group of black third grade students once asked me, in the most serious way, if “I own slaves” or if “I’m rich because I’m white”. I’ve seen tough little boys calm down and tear up while drawing (a breaking heart). I’ve met caring kids and caring parents.
Yes, some parents could care less about their child’s education, but when you consider the history (BROWN V. BOARD: Timeline of School Integration in the U.S.) and quality of Louisiana’s public education system, why would the majority of public school- parents/grandparents/great-grandparents value education? Obviously, some families care, but when so many have been the recipients of sub-standard education resources how do you expect them to value education in the same way as a person who has experienced quality education?
Consider the quality of the learning environment. Do k-12 learning facilities affect education outcomes? (of course they do.)
Consider what “we” expect from teachers. It seems that in so many places “we” expect them to excel and inspire students to excel using only the bare minimum of resources and public support.
The Effects of School Facility Quality on Teacher Retention in Urban School Districts
Consider that maybe the future would be brighter for EVERYONE in our region if we gave a little more support to those who need it most (disadvantaged CHILDREN).
I just don’t know anymore…
on being well
Posted in art, time capsule on April 26, 2013
sometimes we “drop the ball”
sometimes nothing is helpful
don’t you worry, I’m looking for that ball
Poet Tree
Posted in Houma Regional Arts Council, short films, video art on March 27, 2013
Presented by the Houma Regional Arts Council
Thursday April 4th, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Poetry
Open Mic
Music
Video Art
Visual Art
“Exquisite Corpse”
Refreshments
My new(ish) co-worker imagined this event and I’m delighted to be a part of it. I’ll be unveiling some new works in video art (an hour’s worth, to be exact) to accompany the music of Moses Knightshead and Jak Locke. The new work is a combination of some re-imagined “old” animations (circa 2006) and video art (circa 2010) of mine along with some modified 1950′s animations and films. Although I made the work using my computer and the wonders of modern digital video editing, the computa machine did not make the work. The computer is as much a tool as a paintbrush or a piano. Often times people assume that my video art is the result of only some simple “screen-saver” type plug-in and took no time and no skill to make. I’ll post a breakdown of the process in my next caffeine-induced art rant.
attention world
Posted in art, family, time capsule on March 11, 2013
part one: method
Tonight, the computer brightness can’t get right for my eyes, but this house box only allows for so much activity space, so I stay. I scroll through an oldish music library and every single song reminds me of something I want to forget. I want to just download my brain, where does one sign up for such things? What’s wrong with me?
My art practice of late is schizoid, but seems to be is moving forward. I’m allowing myself time to think about projects…but I also sometimes get lost in the variety and am not as attentive to certain tasks as I should be. I’m trying to stay organized with the non-art-making (but its all art…right?) work tasks and not let them overwhelm me. Its all about using the space-time continuum wisely. I’d write more about the arts-making, but I want to actually make some right now, so that’ll wait. I’m learning about properly writing screenplays. Tapping into the word brain and building a story called “Droil”.
I’m also, most importantly, trying my best to balance parenting and working. I enjoy work and projects and work/projects. I think its important to have a good balance, but sometimes I the wires get tangled. Thankful for balance and a happy, healthy child. librastuff.
made this
Family history: Chitimacha
Posted in environment, family, inspirations, South Louisiana on March 5, 2013
Pictured above is Amelia Kassel, a Chitimacha woman, mother to Daisy Brady (Leblanc, Banzhoff) and grandmother to Ivy Rose Leblanc Lind (my maternal grandmother).
This connection to some of Louisiana’s first settlers invokes a sort of dizzying feeling and makes the feelings I’ve always had about the natural wonder of this place somehow mean something more. I need to learn more.
Heart
Posted in Uncategorized on February 22, 2013
Today I had an EKG and gave a vial of blood away for testing. My heart beat is slower than average, but that’s not cause for worry…instead I’m obsessing over what’s in my blood and what could be causing this tension. I hear I should maybe try stretching my heart chakra. My insurance is crap and I had to pay for everything. No wonder so many people avoid doctor visits. The holding rooms were full of people complaining about the wait. A man proclaimed that he could draw our blood for free, to speed things up. I planned my defense and avoided eye contact. A silver-haired woman walked in with a bloody rag pressed against her temple. Very calm. The nurses spoke of chicken and waffle chips. Two women in the second, smaller waiting room laughed over news of their friend “falling off da poach wit her legs up in da air lika chicken” and wondered how long until they could leave for lunch at Ihop. I sanitized my hands and worried about why none of the lab techs wore gloves. On the way home NPR was sharing a story about the red socks’ pitcher’s bloody sock and I nearly fainted.
I remain,
Patiently waiting patient
Body
Posted in Uncategorized on February 20, 2013
Been avoiding the doctor, but I’m going Thursday. My chest has been hurting for weeks. A dull ache. I think I’m finally ready to know what my cholesterol levels are and whether or not my genes are bothering my heart. I hope it’s all in my head and I hope I’m just letting this “heart health month” stuff get to me. My morbid vision keeps running out of control. I drop dead at zumba and some young nurse tries to help. I’m seeing the other side and feeling this incredible scrambling urge to soak in every minute with people and work towards completing projects and plan a birthday party and be a present parent so I won’t be remembered as a complete flaking failure. I hope its just the moon messing with my fluids.
Ad mad
Posted in Uncategorized on January 24, 2013
Let go
Posted in Uncategorized on January 24, 2013
JFK: Too often we hold fast to the clichés of our forebears. We subject all facts to a prefabricated set of interpretations. We enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. Mythology distracts us everywhere. For the great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie: deliberate, contrived, and dishonest. But the myth: persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. (Quotation from a speech at Yale University, June 11, 1962)
