12 July 2010

Dream Job

I first discovered American Public Media's "Speaking of Faith" broadcast through an internet search for podcasts about Islam back in 2008 when I was working on my Mecca print. Since then, "Speaking of Faith" (SoF) has been a constant companion in my studio as I've listened, sometimes more than once, to archived interviews with well-known individuals such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Karen Armstrong, and Sharon Saltzberg as well as topical shows that delve into the complex intersections between science, religion, politics and ethics that are at play in our world. It would not be an overstatement to say that there's a little bit of "Speaking of Faith" in each of my prints.

So imagine my delight when SoF's online editor Trent Gillis contacted me (via Twitter, no less) with a proposal to collaborate. Right now, SoF is looking for words and/or pictures about your relationship to the land & the deeper meanings in that relationship. Here's a SoF blog post that offers a link to a series of videos from the Maine Farmland Trust as an inspiration and prompt. Trent writes this about the short films:
I’m hoping these films prompt you to think about your relationships — to the land, to your family, to your neighbors, to our collective heritage, to your faith — and then distill your ideas into words about what this means for you. It could be a place — a prairie night sky or an urban garden. It could be an interaction with a neighbor or a local farmer — something that makes you contemplate the deeper meanings of possession of land and its care. The result: a collaboration between us and printmaker Annie Bissett to weave your narratives into a collective narrative through text and images.
Perhaps some of you who read this blog would like to participate. The link to share your thoughts is here. I look forward to hearing what you have to say and to making prints inspired by your words.

9 comments:

d. moll, l.ac. said...

:) :) :) :) :) !!!!!!!!! this is soooooo great, what a wonderful connection, can't wait to see what you do with it!

Daniel L. Dew said...

Cool, I will have to check it out!

d. moll, l.ac. said...

I wrote them a little piece, I doubt they will use it, but it was nice to do. I published it via Facebook as well...

Patricia Phare-Camp said...

tried to submit but kept getting page errors...so I posted it to my facebook...

Linda said...

I am very excited to see the results of this collaboration! It is an intriguing subject and one that I think about quite often as the wife of a 5th generation farmer, a tree huggin' artist and as a non-church going Christian. Oh, the conflict I feel!! If I can put it in to words, I will share them at that link.
Good luck Annie and congrats!!

Unknown said...

This appears to be a very meaningful project. Our son has just completed his MDiv and has written his statement of faith for his UCC profile. Growing up on the family farm and our ties to the land was part of it.Thank you so much for sharing the information about it.(I'm going to encourage him to submit some words for it )Your artwork will be just the best for this.I spoke to you once about using prints for "social" commentary or causes at the print conference in Phil.(i'm a long distance Zea Mays member).This is the issue I am most passionate about and am so excited that you will be focusing on it.

Annie B said...

Thanks you all for the words you've posted here and on Facebook. (Speaking of Faith has a Facebook page, by the way -- you can do a search for it.)

Linda, I didn't know you were married to a 5th generation farmer! Five generations is a long long time. So much wisdom handed down through the family.

And Sue, yes I remember our conversation. Congratulations to your son on his MDiv. I just joined Zea Mays as a distance member too, so will see you there.

kit said...

Annie, wow, that is great - congratulations! I too am a regular listener to the show. I'll check out the link you shared!

Ellen Longo said...

Wow, Annie, congratulations! I love that show too.