In response to meeting with Crown Appeal Lawyer Nov. 22.
Pen and Ink by Cliff Derksen
Nov. 23, 2013
NOTE: CLIFTON STUDIO CHRISTMAS SHOW AND SALE
THIS COMING WEEKEND...
SEE POSTER FOR DETAILS BELOW.
The best way for me to present this to you is to just let you read a bit of their promotional material on the event. Here it is.
"Introduced over 30 years ago, Celebration Week: A Festival of Life and Learning, is renowned for its dynamic speaker series. Of the many events that take place during this week, the speaker series is by far the most high-profile and anticipated feature. Jean Chrétien, Dr. David Suzuki, Justin Trudeau, Rob Corddry, Jack Hanna and Ice T have all been part of the Celebration Week Speaker Series. Keep an eye out for next years' guest lecturers as they are guaranteed to be relevant and engaging with an important message for students!
Celebration Week is more than just the speakers however! It is also a multi-faceted event focusing on promoting both academic debate and the arts. Performances by the University of
Manitoba's Faculty of Music and various cultural groups on campus and the surrounding area help create an event that is truly unique within the city of Winnipeg."
Wow! So what am I to make my presentation about? As it happens, I have some friends at the U of M who know me and are aware of the art that I do and have done. They mentioned me to the organizers and suggested I be invited to speak on the subject of healing trauma through art. (Not always so good to have friends in high places huh?)
Since I have now had a few days to think about it, I have become aware that this feels very "lead" to me. Someone is guiding me of course. For it suddenly occurred to me that I am teaching a class of kids who live in the inner city area of Winnipeg and do display levels of trauma in their behaviour and in the way they do art. It's a "win-win" situation for as I prepare, do research and process my personal experience of healing through my own art, I will become more informed for assisting my art students heal from the traumas in their lives.
As far as the university is concerned, it seems rather daunting. Hopefully it is true as someone has said, "We may not have degrees but life itself makes us experts in some of the specific things we personally experience."
Gotta think positive folks.

Next weekend.
See poster for details.