The Artichoke Vol. 10 No. 6 by Artichoke Magazine

VOLUME 10 ISSUE 06

MARCH / APRIL 2021

ARTICHOKE

the team EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSISTANT EDITOR WRITERS

Laura Bourbonnais Teagan Ariss Victoria Ann Carly Balestreri Reann Bast Kirandeep Bhanot Amelia Calo Joshua Cea Kaela Cordero Marvin Darkwa Megan De Sousa Kaila Gallacher Melanie Gazvoda Inna Gordeyeva Eduardo Guerra Avery-Rose Hamilton Pyper Johnston Siddharth Koyal Nicole Moos Roshni Nayar Melissa Nicole Shamus Quinn Meg Rethinasamy Nima Salimi Vaiva Slapsys (Brie) Brianna Sutherland Julia Usher Teodora Vilotijevic Cassie Weir Nicole Williamson

DESIGN EDITOR Sarah Carriere SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR Breagh MacDonald PHOTOGRAPHERS Sarah Shahab Yuhan Shi Eliza Szymak DESIGNERS Nuha Aneez Jena Angra Daphne Chu Victoria Collins Amy Davidson Sabrina Fortin Maria Guna Kalli Jones Shawn Lakhram Stephanie Lai Kacey Lee Sharyl Man Daye Oh Bailey Paniszczyn Heidi Trautmann Ingrid Wong Phoebe Wong Ha-Yun Holly Yoon GUEST CONTRIBUTORS Somayeh Nasiri Princess Okonkwo Fiona Vandermyden

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march - april issue 02

CREATIVE the spirit of spring Iridescent Divine Balance Defining Love from Afar Sarah Smiles The Health of a Woman Worship of Tools Day Complicated - Multiple Personality Day Distant Chambers The Machine in Motion The Hardships of Today Diagnosis

ENTERTAINTMENT Wolfwalkers Is a Wonderfully Wild Tribute to Hand-Drawn Animation

ART Spring Somayeh Nasiri - Artist Feature York U BDes - Promotional Postcards

FEATURE V-Day Interview with Megan Legesse VP Athletics Interview IBPOC Artists Association Interview

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GRAD FEATURES The Next Chapter Thoughts of a Graduate LIFESTYLE Budding Anticipation Serenity in the Springtime Tips to Regain Motivation Ezra I can do this all day A Reflection on Health, Chronic Illness, and COVID

2021 The Artichoke Magazine Winters Free Press Created in Toronto, Ontario PAST ISSUES issuu.com/artichokemag CONTACT US wintersfreepress@winterscouncil.com SOCIALS IG @artichokewfp FB @artichokemag

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Winters! I AM SO HAPPY to have joined the Artichoke magazine just a few years ago. I have been so lucky to be able to write and edit for this beautiful magazine alongside such talented and innovative people. Being a virtual Editor-in-Chief has had its challenges but I could not have done it without the lovely Teagan, Sarah, and Breagh and our unbelievably strong team of writers, designers and photographers. You have been the best team. Truly.

letters from the editors

Writers - thank you for lending your words to our publication; designers, photographers and guest artists - thank you for lending your art. And a heartfelt thanks to Fred working hard behind the scenes. Thank you all for your contribution and your hard work, and thank you to you, our readers. These issues could not have been published nor have reached as many students as they did without you. This time of year is undoubtedly difficult for so many, the stress of finals having been exacerbated by our current circumstances. I hope this issue brings you a bit of joy and that it gives you the beauty of spring and the warmth of summer to look forward to. To all of you who are graduating this year, I wish you all the health, and happiness, and success, and I truly hope that this magazine and the Winters community contributed positively to your university experience. I know it certainly has for me so far. Thank you for this experience and for a lovely year despite its challenges. Your Editor-in-Chief, Laura Bourbonnais Winters College Council Editor-in-Chief Winters Free Press

Heyo Winters! I CANNOT BELIEVE we are nearing the end of the school year already; although September does seem like a lifetime ago. Time is a weird thing. Especially when you are attending classes during a pandemic. This has been without doubt the most unique year of education I have had so far, and I am sure that is true for most of you as well. I hope you can recognize your accomplishments. The past two terms have been filled with challenge on top of challenge, and with that triumph on top of triumph, no matter how big or small. A reminder as we move into the last stretch of the semester and school work piles up, take care of yourself. You do not need to “earn” sleep, food, or breaks from your work. Everything will get done in the end. Working for the Artichoke, in the last year of my undergrad, has been truly such a pleasure and I am so proud of the six issues we have published. Shout out to the incredible executive team Laura, Sarah, and Breagh, each of their dedication has contributed to the growth of the Artichoke this year. I am always so impressed and inspired by our team of writers, this issue is no exception. The designers and photographers continually astound me with their talent for making our magazine so visually interesting. And thank you readers for taking a look at what we put together each month. Good luck with the rest of your term, you are going to crush it! And if you do not “crush” it, you will at least make it through and that is just as admirable. Sincerely, Teagan Ariss Winters College Council Assistant Editor Winters Free Press

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Hello Hello Hello, SEEMS LIKE JUST yesterday I had joined the Artichoke as a member of the design team. Now I am writing a letter as the Design Editor in my final year at York University, for our 6th and last official issue of Volume 10! To my designers old and new; thank you for all your hard work and creativity you have given to Artichoke over the last year. It has been a joy working with you all! Your work ethic and creativity will go a long way, and I look forward to crossing paths in the future. To the new photography team; your submissions have been nothing short of lovely. I am so glad we had the opportunity to get some amazing work into the magazine this year! To the Artichoke executives; I truly could not have asked for a better team. I have nothing but positive things to say about you three amazing individuals. Laura, Teagan, and Breagh: thank you so much for everything that you all have done! Just like that, another school year has ended and another group of students are graduating. Cheers to the next adventure! Yours truly, Sarah Carriere Winters College Council Design Editor Winters Free Press PS: Do not forget to stop and smell the Artichoke dip.

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Hey readers! WE ARE ALMOST at the end of the most unusual year in our academic experience. As you reflect on the 2020/2021 school year, I hope you feel so proud of yourself. It was tough, but you were tougher. It was not easy, but you did the damn thing and you did it well. You found creative ways to connect to one another, making and sharing incredible art along the way. You let the work of others inspire you, and found new ways to achieve your goals. You adapted, and you are amazing for doing just that. It has been such a joy to be a part of the Artichoke’s remarkable executive team. Sharing the work of our writers and designers has been a pleasure. Each issue was chock-full of thoughtful, timely, insightful work. The work the Artichoke published in this undeniably unique year will certainly be remembered and reflected on in years to come. To those who are also graduating, I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. I hope as graduates of Winters College, you go on to create, lead and play with the same zest that made you an integral part of the Winters College community in your time here. It’s been a slice. Let’s stay connected. Breagh MacDonald Social Media Coordinator Winters Free Press

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march march

CALENDAR

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Minecraft Monday/Online Games 8-10pm VIA Discord

The Department of Cinema and Media Arts, Sensorium, ImagineNATIVE and V-Tape presents a talk by Skawennati 12:30-2pm VIA Zoom

BYOP (Bring Your Own Pet) 8-9:30pm VIA Zoom

VCP Project Management Workshop 7pm VIA Zoom

Dianne Reeves: 2021 Jazz Artist-in-Residence 1-2:30pm VIA Zoom

“Teaching the Music of Black America” 3:30-5:30pm VIA Zoom

Venus Envy: Artist as Herstorical Recorder - Public Talk with Karen Finley 2:20-4:30pm VIA Zoom Livestream

Just Dance 8-10pm

VIC Improv Show 9pm VIA YouTube

Jam Session 8-11pm VIA Zoom

“Exploring the Classical Works of African American/Black Composers” 3:30-5:30pm VIA Zoom

Minecraft Monday/Online Games 8-10pm VIA Discord

Irish Mafia Night 8-11pm VIA Zoom

Show Choir 10th Anniversary Showcase 7:30pm VIA YouTube

Salsa Night 8-8:45pm

Drag Night 8-10pm VIA Zoom

Word Night 8-10pm VIA Zoom

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april april

CALENDAR

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April 02

Winters Bingo 8-11pm VIA Zoom

Minecraft Monday/Online Games 8-10pm VIA Discord

Just Dance 8-10pm

Formal VIA Zoom

Classes end

YSDN Graduation Experience

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the spirit of spring

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BY LAURA BOURBONNAIS

LADYBUGS WANDER IN sweetgrass morning dew with their spotted elytra, curious eyes and perky antennae. they exist outside of grass-stained tupperware, pudgy toddler hands and cracked bathroom skylights. spring resides in the blooming of the city’s cherry blossoms, the white-pink flowers aching for a quiescent sun’s tickle. spring sullies snow-specked autumn leaves crinkling on the playground, the bleary-eyed groundhog paying winter a visit, seagulls migrating northward, cawing overhead, lurking for worms to unearth. spring exists even if short-lived. grand-maman wakes grand-papa each April 1 with a handful of masses and renewed vows, seeding his ashes into garden beds, gloveless, scattering bouquets of tulips onto his headstone, ladybugs nibbling on stems and into the soil, spring cleaning his spirit.

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IRIDESCENT

CREATIVE

BY NICOLE MOOS

KALEIDOSCOPIC FACADES, Mystery adds She is an enigma Of awry pieces Covered with the sweetest icing, She hides from watchful eyes, For she is Silhouetted with resilience Like an open book, Read and judged by every passerby, But little do they know The scars that she hides Fierce, she keeps her head held high, Harsh eyes and lies Wither her ambitions, Leaving her fragile Longing for love, Aching for acceptance, She is left only with a handful of confidence. What must come of a woman like her? Veneered with a smile, Veiled tears, It is called Being iridescent.

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BY INNA GORDEYEVA

DIVINE

I’M JUST A woman, you’re the man I’m the woman you’re just the man both hold intent, both so intense, but why should either be the end of our story, of our glory without me you simply wouldn’t be without you I couldn’t come into this body Why do you question this body? I’m blessed with what I embody I can teach you things beyond this body Listen don’t talk over me. I will not ask before I speak

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BALANCE I’ll sink but I won’t ever plead I rise beyond where limits reach, the seas and streams, the milk you drink, I feel deep but the way I think will leave you wide eyed, can’t even blink. I am a woman shaping dreams, in every stage this wisdom brings a certain strength, a certain link rebirthing as a monthly spring I promise you I am not just if pushed into a “should” and “must”

I am not half I am the whole, on my own I would always grow, and I’ll raise a man with different morals, we need more heros not destroyers we are all healers - nothing destroys this divine balance our separate thrones, our one home, our common bones, our way of knowing what isn’t shown.

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DEFINING LOVE FROM AFAR BY INNA GORDEYEVA

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I CAN START a brand-new page today, a brand-new story. I am not anchored where I dread to rot. My mind flies with time as I anticipate, absorbing all the beauty, magic, and love of this world. To attempt to describe love itself is to speak of how the bottom of the ocean feels. To describe surfing a tsunami, swimming in lava, drinking poison. How can you describe love if you cannot live to tell the tale of doing it? That’s right, I believe love is never fully realized because it’s never ending, everlasting, and powerful enough to be greater than life itself. How would you explain people giving their life up for other people? Lovers for other lovers? Only after our heart is broken can we feel the intensity of love’s effects. The death of that relationship sparked a light of realization in the magic and life source of love. Knowing this, why should I ever stress the moments I did not know how to love properly. If you cannot write it in words, scream it in court, or provide evidence how was I supposed to know? Why did I ever expect to know how to show it properly, when I don’t know what it is. There are different kinds of intelligence, and love is one you cannot find by studying. All I can say is my love is pure, and imperfect, but that is what makes it real and raw. Now that I accept to let it back into my life, I ache for it to consume me. To show up on my skin, shine through my hair, sparkle through my eyes, radiate through my skin, fill the air as I walk by.

My mind will pour thoughts of miracle, prophecy, moral, truth, and faith. I will master the art of creating art. The art of reading. The art of loving. Thinking. Dreaming. I am obviously a dreamer. That is the beauty of words, sometimes you can describe a dream, but like love, a dream is also accessed partly leaving room for improvisation. Improvisation is a crucial element of life. I know our brains like certainty yet ironically it is the opposite of anything real or exciting in life. The reason we are here is to discover what is the mystery of others, the roots of our very abilities, and the extent of our relationship with expressing love. We must open allowing humility in, remaining vulnerable to change and grateful for the current moment we are living, or improvising in. Improvisation in love leads you to the answer of truth in partnerships allowing connections to stay authentic, spontaneous, and honest. There should never be a destination, there should not be limiting rules. The freedom of love comes with trial and error, and the role improvisation plays is allowing one to adapt to the world with the belief love is cruel. Flexible, delicate, and extremely strong, I know I will manage to adjust to this new understanding. I will continue to improvise in the name of love my truest self with new intentions for everyone and everything. New starts are chances, new beliefs are seeds planted in the soil of my heart.

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SARAH SMILES BY JULIA USHER

HAVING A SIBLING is like having a sidekick, it’s a new adventure every day. I am the youngest of two. My sister never fails to push my buttons as siblings do best. Still, she is my best friend, I don’t know what I would do without her; my world would be quiet.

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Our personalities are different but we both have big energies, ensuing wildness and laughter. I can be 100% myself around her. She knows when I’m down even when I make an effort to hide it. There are no faking things with your siblings; they always know... or find out eventually.

I’m lucky to have her around, especially now. My sister has been my quarantine buddy. We’ve done all the lockdown activities; playing the Wii, painting, baking board games, movie nights. She got me into Harry Potter. We would sit in our backyard and read, transported into the Wizarding World together. She and Harry have gotten me through the summer... and the fall... and the winter.

She reminds me that I am not alone, just by being there, laughing with me. Even in the silence, it is the most comfortable silence. It may feel like one long, continuous day, but it is bearable because she’s here; that’s all I need.

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BY BRIE SUTHERLAND

“TAKE SOME TYLENOL and get some rest.” “It’s because you’ve stressed yourself out.” And don’t even get me started on: “You don’t know what you are talking about.” I have heard over and over again as a woman, That my conditions are just too tough to crack. That a man cries less and therefore actually feels pain, And that I need to “calm down.” I’ve been misdiagnosed more than I can count. And I know I’m not the only one. Women all around the world are shunned For having a body that’s just ‘too much.’ When my friend’s body shook with seizures, And her parents said they knew why, Her doctor became frustrated, And believed that it was a lie. “Catamenial epilepsy” The seizures only happened when she was on her cycle. But since the doctor did not know, Instead of listening to what they had to say, She went through two years of suffering alone. “Women can’t be autistic.” We just show it differently. But if you’d done research on us too, You would have known that already.

And as for ADHD, God forbid you would see that in a child identifying as she. When my doctor told me I had PCOS And the only way to ‘cure it’ Was to cut the cysts off like a hydra’s head, Only for them to grow back. She put me on birth control, Which has only helped a bit, But has no other remedies, Because there’s just not enough research on it. I’m told my diet is the problem, That’s why I carry weight around my waist, But in reality food has nothing to do With the hormonal acne on my face. Period cramps are supposed to hurt Like hell they are, thank you very much. When I fainted in Walmart due to pain, I was only hushed. And as for my mental health, The way it has been handled, You need to calm down! You stress yourself out! You’re just too emotional!

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The Health of a Woman

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Historically, As I’m sure you don’t know, Hysteria once was, ‘The Wandering Womb,’ An entity who, Like ‘an animal’ searching for semen, The uterus would take a stroll through a woman’s body, Making her crazy from lack of children. And when we walk into the hospital, Clutching our chest out of fear and pain, You tell us to take some Tylenol, Instead of assessing the situation as you would if we were named Dave. Just to be rolled back in having a heart attack, Our life again in your hands. 60 percent of childbirth related deaths Are preventable, And in Georgia, 92 county hospitals, Don’t have specialists in obstetrical. “But women have babies! That’s what they’re meant to do!” But on average, 2-3 people die a day from pregnancyrelated issues Alone, in the United States of America.

I could go on and on and on, For I haven’t even covered, How women of colour Have it much worse, Expected to be tougher, and we know that’s not true. They’re human and women, How is that so hard for you? Research, Test, And ridding of the stereotypes, Shouldn’t be that hard to do For 50.8% of the population, Who need healthcare too.

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WORHSHIP OF TOOLS DAY

She is the Co-Chief Editor of the teen issue of the Lost in Lagos magazine. She writes scripts, novels, and poems, and loves reading and everything sweet! Instagram @ToniaOkonkwo12

SANGO’S HAMMER

BY PRINCESS OKONKWO

CREATIVE

IN REVERENCE OF Sango

Every summer on the 5th day. The sacred hammer is brought out. One holds it up in admiration. The symbol of Sango. Sango’s tool. The tool Sango uses in battle. The tool which brings death to a thousand men. The tool of a god can only be wielded by a god. When Sango’s tool is struck, lightning that blazes like the sun shines forth. The thunder which accompanies it produces a deafening sound which destroys everything in its path, Clearing the way for the god. Every summer on the 5th day, One must worship the sacred tool for the power carried within which is magnificent.

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COMPLICATED: MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DAY BY PRINCESS OKONKWO

EVERYTHING IS A facade, Like those who wear a mask at a masquerade ball. No one is as they seem to be Many are walking dead who pretend to be living Others are fluid, playing the roles needed in society They are everything in between. No one seems to understand I know them They take everyone by surprise and keep them guessing. Why shall you be pained by the mask they portray, the sparkly diamond which rests on ghastly skin - skin which encompasses a rotten soul. They bear a plastic smile that shows the most happiness yet hides the most pain. What do you gain by being bitter? By the falseness you witness. If you wish for what they have, why don’t you don your mask and participate in the enchanted dance and drink the poisoned liquor? Why not thank the heavens that you’re not as complicated as they and no mask shields your face? Then you can take part in the elaborate game of life and choose to win or lose.

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DISTANT CHAMBERS BY MARVIN DARKWA

WATCH… AS THE unassuming “loved” ones flee the grounds, Ablaze, Ablaze, Ablaze, Onlookers, rejoicing as they pillage the fortunate psyche. A gifted curse runs through his veins, A devouring starvation sets in… Ablaze, Ablaze, Ablaze, INDEED, it’s crumbling in.

This bittersweet melancholy holds eternally true, The collapse of a predictably-unpredictable future, “Loved” ones flee the grounds wholly concerned with THEIR OWN sweet surrender Ablaze, Ablaze, Ablaze, INDEED, it’s crumbling in.

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Forgotten-truths flood an infinite corridor for an orgasming virgin. The screams… Remorsefully vain. A trickling light floods the psyche once more, Never to be seen again… The “loved” one look onwards. Shunning Shunning Shunning Ablaze, Ablaze, Ablaze, INDEED, it’s crumbling in.

As the flames engulf… A warming chill sets in, Ablaze, Ablaze, Ablaze, Close. Closer Still. Closing TOWARDS that immortal embrace… That calming-panic, That weird-normalcy, That distracted-focus, Even SHE TOO, shuns you, Ablaze, Ablaze, Ablaze, INDEED, it’s crumbling in.

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A silhouette drips with a forgotten twilight, They run, They run, They run,

Submerged in a web of a tortured mind,

assumedly.

They dig. They dig. They dig.

assuredly.

Plunging for the “one” they once “knew”.

assumptively.

That “person”…

Caring for their own “sanctuary”,

That “being”…

The door opens still,

That “existence”…

Ablaze, Ablaze, Ablaze,

However, all that remains is the shell of a man.

INDEED, it’s crumbling in.

A forgotten divine existence.

The cackling flames yell a truth,

And so, they run.

The laughing fire scream a honesty,

The door continues to burn…

The jesting kindling bellows a decency,

Dowsed in a sorrowful brilliance.

The door still wide open,

Ablaze, Ablaze, Ablaze,

Yet again they run,

INDEED, it’s crumbling in.

Ablaze, Ablaze, Ablaze, INDEED, it’s crumbling in.

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Nevermind.

“They” contend. “They” contest. “They” complain. He is “a shell” of his former-self, And AS SUCH, is alien to care... The door screeches as the flames continue, They run, They run, They run, Ablaze, Ablaze, Ablaze, INDEED, it’s crumbling in.

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The flames glimmer brightly; an unending aria that is all-at-once tragically beautiful and infinitely terrifying. It grows… An unorthodox paradox, A false pulse, A blind mind. They run. They run. They run. The flames dance now, Ablaze, Ablaze, Ablaze, INDEED, it’s crumbling in.

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The door towers mightily though amidst these flames as “they” flee, they witness a sight that is both scathing yet healing… The precious psyche drowns into a welcoming abyss “THEY”, FLEE FLEE FLEE Ablaze, Ablaze, Ablaze, INDEED, it’s crumbling in.

The door swings closed just then, Remnants of onlookers holding-strong; forever entranced. A lock on the heart of his ego forms As he smiles, And greets the incinerated carnage of a world so bleak, Standing still. He breathes in the flames… And walks forward, as the door locks forevermore… Strolling happily amidst the inferno For everyone to see.

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THE

MACHINE

MOTION

CREATIVE

BY JOSHUA CEA

THE MEAN MACHINE Of Modern Day, With Bolts Designed With One Task, Love’s Engraved On Display, And Uploaded In A Flash. Feel The Powerful Commotion, Spitting Ardent Flames, Closing Eyes To Devotion, Making Claims With Our Names. Petty People With Their Problems, Annoyed For The Smallest Things, An Echo Chamber For The Jobless, Tear Each Other Limb From Limb. These Four Walls Of Content, Flourish Digital Demand, Locking Doors With Consent, Standing Still On Command. Running Blind And On A Noose, More Blame To Spread Around, Doing Little To Reduce, A Plague And An Open Wound.

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BY JOSHUA CEA

EXHAUSTED FROM A constant run, I stopped to think what’s been done, The countless efforts and tries Vanish before my eyes. I’ve looked toward a future, But silently it’s been butcher, Plunge towards a freefall Like a used-up ragdoll. As the clock strikes eight, My testimony of faith Endures the hardships of today, Carrying tomorrow’s weight. Wrath and scolding fury, Contrived by a jury, Speaking wrong and talking right, Keeping quiet with delight. A nightmare which engulfs, To those who pleasure and indulge On the misery and death, Gasping on my last breath.

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BY REANN BAST

THE DIAGNOSIS CAME at 11:42 on Tuesday morning. I had been waiting since 9 a.m. to see the doctor. They finally called my name at 11:38 a.m. It took less than four minutes for him to tell me I was dying - something I already knew. And that I had about four weeks left to live. Which was news to me. I did not know what the appropriate response to this news was. Probably something along the lines of “Oh no. I’m dying. What about my family.” My only thought was “Shit. I’ll miss Christmas.” The doctor left me alone to process. Why

he would leave a dying woman alone was beyond me. I think he wanted to avoid watching me cry - which I did not. I do not think he expected me to steal popsicle sticks, cotton balls, and a stethoscope. The drive home was silent. I left the windows down, and the radio stayed off. My daughter would have been there, but she had an emergency at home. I might have liked the company, but I knew I would have ended up comforting her. So I drove home in silence. Not thinking about anything except how nice the leaves looked now

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that they were turning green, and how this exact shade of sky blue was so rare to see these days. I did not swerve to avoid the potholes, instead I hit them, letting each one jostle me roughly. I stopped at all the stop signs and waited at the red lights. I went exactly the speed limit and read the license plates of everyone that passed me. And then, instead of turning down the street to my house, I passed it. And I kept driving. And kept going. Until I didn’t know where I was. I stopped for a coffee and a doughnut

and tipped the cashier $8. And then I drove to my daughter’s. Her house was white, with one large maple tree in the front yard and a single pink flamingo sticking out of the grass. Her car was sitting in the driveway. And so was my granddaughter. Serena sat on the stoop near the ugly grey front door, her hoodie pulled over her face. As my car pulled in, her head rose and her eyes lit up. “Hey kiddo,” I said, getting out of my car, wincing as my

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knees cracked. She stood up and hurried across the yard to help me out of the car. “What’s up?” She looked at her feet, digging the toe of her shoe into the dirt like a child in trouble, “We got into another fight.” “Oh dear,” I handed her my untouched doughnut and put my arm around her shoulders. We walked together to the front door, “What was it about this time?” Serena looked inside the bag I handed her and smiled, but before she could open her mouth to respond, the ugly door opened, “Oh. Mom.” Abigail often kept herself composed, in business suits, hair slicked back, a brief case, emotions in check. But today she was wearing a hoodie with syrup on it. Her hair looked

like she got distracted while brushing it; anger, confusion, and worry all crossed her face in the three second span it took for her to notice me. And then it was replaced with a broad smile, “What are you doing here?” The inside of her house was spotless. All the water cups sat on top of coasters, the sink did not drip, the breakfast dishes were done, and when she opened her fridge nothing fell out. There was even a basket of lemons sitting on her counter. She pulled me into a chair by her kitchen table before I could even say anything. Then she picked up a cloth and started wiping up a non-existent mess. “Sorry for the mess!” She waved her hands around her head as if she was frazzled, “It’s been such a crazy

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morning.”

corner.

I nodded, “Of course-”

Abigail’s head snapped up, “Excuse me! I am talking to your grandmother! Please do not be eavesdropping!” She paused, her head quirked to the side and we heard the sound of feet stomping and then a door slamming shut. Abigail sighed and walked around the counter to sit next to me. “It’s almost a 5 hour drive to get there. I wouldn’t even want to drive that long and she thinks she can go with her friend who just got her license. That’s ridiculous, right?”

“Oh! The doctor! How was the appointment?” She hit herself in the forehead for forgetting, “I’m sorry I couldn’t go, Mom. Marcus has been working late every night, and Wren will not sleep. I just cannot get him on a schedule. And SerenaSerena has just been… pushing my buttons lately.” I took the lid off my coffee cup, swirling it around, “Ah yes. She mentioned a fight.” Abigail leaned her head in her hands and groaned, “She wants to go to this gay festival-” “It’s not a ‘gay festival’ Mom! It’s a pride parade!” Serena shouted from around the

I had not thought about dying since I got to my daughter’s house. But right then, I started to think of all the things I had never done. And I have never been to a gay pride parade. And I supposed the best time to try new things is on your

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deathbed. Well, the only time. I put my hand over hers, to calm her nerves, “Why don’t I take them?” A slow smile creeped onto her face, “You’re joking. Mom, that’s not funny.” “I’m not joking. I can still drive. And I’ll have three teenagers to keep me company. Easy peasy.” “Mom, you would have to leave tomorrow morning to make it.” “Okay. We’ll leave tomorrow morning.” She cocked her head to the side, “Mom, no you-”

“Oh, what? I’m awake before the sun rises every morning anyway. It’ll be fun.” She looked at me for a long minute, considering anything that could go wrong. Finally, she let out a long sigh, “Are you sure? You do not have to, Mom.” “Of course I’m sure!” She was shaking her head as she ran her fingers through the hair. And then she shrugged, defeated, “Alright. Pick them up here tomorrow morning.” We heard more feet on the floor, this time not stomping, but running. And then a pair of boney arms wrapped around my shoulders. “Oh my God thanks Gram! I can’t believe it! I have to go tell Rudy and Nika.” Serena unwrapped herself and ran

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back down the hallway calling over her shoulder, “Thanks Mom!” I did not sleep that night. I found it hard to sleep most nights, ever since my husband died. I guess I had gotten so used to his snoring, the silence without it was deafening. So that night instead of trying to sleep, I stayed awake. I packed a bag. And then I unpacked it, and repacked it. I made some sandwiches- no baloney for Serena- and listened to the radio. And when I checked the time and saw that it was only 2 a.m., I made some muffinsblueberry was Serena’s favourite. As I waited for the muffins to cook, I sat at the kitchen table. A notebook open in front of me, pen in hand, page still blank. I was not sure what to

write.

Dear Serena I scratched that out. Dearest Serena Scratched that too. Serena, I am dead. The oven beeped. I packed the muffins next to the sandwiches and some water bottles. After a minute, I threw the notebook in my bag too. And then I did not know what to do with myself. So I wandered from the kitchen to my bedroom. I could still hear the radio playing faintly, that Sweet Caroline song. I hummed along quietly. My bed was made, as it often was. More and more frequently I had been falling asleep in the living room. I did not like being in here. The room felt too cold, the pink

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quilt seemed dull, the curtains were too heavy to open. My husband’s slippers sat beneath his side of the bed, as if they were waiting for him to wake up and slip them on. A photo of us on our wedding day sat on the bedside table. We had been so young. “I suppose I’ll be seeing you soon, my love.” I said to no one. Or maybe I said it to my husband. I left the room before I started talking to the ghosts. Finally, 6 a.m. rolled around. I pulled up to Abigail’s house. Serena and two of her friends were waiting in the yard. The sky was grey, turning to pale blue. Dew and fog dusted the ground around their feet. Serena opened the front door and yelled something I did not hear, and then she picked up her bag and ran over to me.

“‘Morning Gram!” She gave me a half hug and a kiss on the cheek before opening the back door and throwing her bag inside. The front door opened again and Abigail, wrapped in a white housecoat with black and pink plaid PJ pants, squinted into the bright morning. Serena grabbed my hand and pulled me up the driveway. “This is Nika.” A tall girl with long black hair held her hand up and waved. “Good morning, Nika,” I replied. “Uh good morning. Ma’am.” I waved my hand, “Oh, you kids can call me Rose.” “And this is Rudy,” Serena

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We had been so young...

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interjected, pointing to a smaller kid with a yellow beanie pulled low, who stepped forward and shook my hand. “Good morning Rose!” Rudy said brightly. Serena leaned over and whispered, “Rudy’s pronouns are they/them.” I nodded once and whispered back, “Got it.” I clapped my hands together, “You kids ready to go?” They all shook their heads eagerly, and then Serena led them to the car. Abigail gave me a quick hug. “Thanks again, Mom. She’s really excited.”

“Of course, Abby. It’s going to be fun.” She studied my face and gave me a doubtful look, “Did you sleep last night? Are you okay to drive?” I rolled my eyes at her, “I’m fine. We should get going. Goodbye.” She sighed and let go of my shoulders. Serena ran back up to the door and hugged her quickly, then she ran back down to the car before I had even left the stop. “I love you!” Her mother called after her. Without turning around Serena yelled back, “Love you too!” I chuckled and followed her to my car. Her mother watched

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us drive away. Serena’s friends were quiet in the backseat, but when I looked in the rearview mirror they did not look stiff. Nika sat with her hands folded on her lap, Rudy was splayed out comfortably, and I noticed they had found the muffins. I did not care about crumbs, and Rudy, it seemed, did not either. Serena sat beside me, talking about school. I could not understand half the words she said, but I liked to hear her speak. She used her hands, like her mother, waving them in the air cartoonishly. Her voice became background music, a playlist for my internal monologue. I must have zoned out because I noticed when she stopped talking. “Am I boring you, Gram?”

I shook my head, trying to snap out of it. “No, of course not. You were saying something about a teacher?” Serena smiled, “We can listen to the radio instead.” I gestured towards her, “Put on whatever you like.” I called into the backseat, “There are some sandwiches in the bag back there if you kids are hungry.” Rudy’s reply was muffled, “Yeah, we found them. And the muffins too.” I was starting to regret not sleeping the night before, and on top of not eating breakfast and driving for two hours, I would have liked a break. “Nika, did you want to drive for a little while? Serena’s mom said you just got your license.”

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Nika shifted in her seat, “Um. Well-” Rudy elbowed her and said, through a mouthful of food, “Yeah drive us around Nika!” She smiled and shrugged, “Okay. I guess I can for a little while.” So I pulled over to the side of the road and everyone switched seats. Serena played music from her phone and the kids sang along, and some tension seemed to ease out of the car. I leaned my seat back and let my eyes drift closed. I focused on Serena’s voice singing the lyrics to a song I did not recognize, and I realized this would be one of her last memories of me. She was so young, there was not much else to remember. Christmas dinners, back-

to-school shopping, the occasional family vacation. I realized, too- with a joltthat I would not see her graduate. The shock made me uncomfortable. The feeling dragged me under but the sleep I fell into was restless, unsettled. When I woke up, the car was slowing down. I blearily looked around trying to figure out where I was. Then I noticed the red and blue lights. My heart pounded hard enough to fully wake me. I sat up in my seat, the seatbelt straining against my chest. Nika was shaking her hands and breathing rapidly, it looked like she was about to cry. “Nika,” I grabbed one of her hands. “It’s okay. It’s okay. Calm down. They’re just going

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to ask for your license and registration. Just give them your card. Everything is okay.” I started digging in the glove box for the registration when Nika let out a wail. “I don’t have my license!” And then a cop knocked on the window. The kids were looking at me. I was still processing what Nika had said. The cop knocked again. “Roll down the window Nika!” Serena snapped from the backseat. Nika whimpered and looked at me. I nodded and the window rolled down slowly. The cop did not smile, he flipped a notebook open, “Good afternoon folks. Do you

know why I pulled you over today?” Nika looked straight ahead, both hands gripping the steering wheel so hard they were white. “Ma’am?” Nika made a small sound and took a ragged breath, but I spoke first, smiling. “I’m sorry officer. I was so tired, I thought it would be alright if she drove for me. Is something the matter?” He put his hand on his hip, “She was speeding. License and registration.” I smiled wider, “Is that necessary? I’ll take over for now. We’ve been on the road for so long, we’re eager to get where we’re going. Little family road trip. That’s my granddaughter in the back, these are her two friends, we-”

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“License and registration,” he said again.

address? Have you ever been arrested?”

Nika closed her eyes and leaned her head on the steering wheel, “I don’t have one.”

“Rose. 67. 490 Gilman Street. No.” They kept us for a long time. By the time it was Serena’s turn to answer questions, it was almost dinner. I sat a few chairs over from Rudy and Nika - they had fallen asleep, Rudy’s head on Nika’s shoulder. I pulled out the notebook and tapped the pen against my chin.

“I’m sorry?” the cop asked, stepping closer. Nika said louder, “I don’t have a license.” He sighed and flipped his book closed, looking down the road. “Alright folks. I’m going to need you to follow me.” They did not put us in a cell. I do not know why I thought they would. We sat next to desks with an officer and filled out our information. “What is your name? What is your age? What is your

There is a long list of things I’ve never done. Skydive. Ride a horse. Get a tattoo. Bake a perfect souffle. Sit in a jail cell with my granddaughter and her young friends after getting arrested on the side of the road can now officially be crossed off that list. I was so young when I had your mother. I had never been

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alone in my life. I married your grandfather right after high school and since then our family has done nothing but grow. Living without him was the hardest thing I have ever done. I sighed and put the pen down. Good enough for now I guess. They let us go as soon as Serena was done being questioned. They had called everyone’s parents - I was sure I would have hell to pay when we got home - and told me I had a ticket to pay before the end of the month. I wondered what happens to outstanding tickets after you die? The kids were quiet on the way back to the car. They all sat in silence, the bright red of the sunset shadowed their faces.

Serena looked older than I had noticed before. I realized that was something else I would never get to see. What would Serena look like when she was 16? 17? 20? With kids of her own? I would not get to be a great grandmother. I could hear crickets nearby. The air was warm, the soft voices of the kids in the backseat, and the hazy breeze kept me grounded. I started the car, more for something to do than any urgency to get home. I could sit out there, content, until the stars came out. Serena turned up the radio. “Sweet Caroline,” she laughed, “I remember singing this on the way to the beach last summer.” She said it like she was remembering it, not like she was telling me. “Well

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you and mom singing it. I didn’t know the words.” I did not remember going to the beach last summer. I guess she had learned the words since then, because she threw her head back and belted out the chorus. I could hear Rudy and Nika laughing behind us. I was thankful then, that I had offered to take them on this trip, no matter how disastrous, because it was a distraction. It meant I was not alone. I cracked a smile and sang along, our voices carried on the wind. The song ended and the kids laughed, but instead of turning the radio down, when the next song started I turned it up louder. It was another song they knew, they started singing it again, just as loudly as last time. Then,

Serena got out of the car, leaving her door open, she held her arms out and sang the words into the air. Rudy and Nika rushed to join her. Rudy had grabbed a feather boa from God knows where and was throwing it around. Nika and Serena waved small rainbow flags and the three of them danced in the police station parking lot, the streetlights their spotlight. There will be a day after I die. And then a day after that. And a day after that one too. Serena you must see that you are love. You radiate your kindness. You are a flower. A kiss. A beam of light from the sun. I am afraid to die because I will not see you. I will not see you become the person you are meant to become, and

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help all the people you are meant to help, and love all the people you are meant to love. But I am so grateful I got to see you like this; happy, one last time. Keep your smile, Serena. When I watched them, I was almost glad we missed the parade. This way, it was just us. This way, I got to see them. I wanted this to be how I felt right before I died. Eventually, I think they stopped caring if they knew the songs - it was an Oldies station after all. They did not seem tired. Eventually, the moon came out, and the black bled the red from the sky. They didn’t seem to care. Eventually, I realized I was

crying. Everything blurred in front of me. But Serena turning, her hands held by Nika and Rudy, grinning at me outlined by the darkness and vibrant in the headlights is something I would never forget.

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ENTERTAINMENT

WOLFWALKERS IS A WONDERFULLY WILD TRIBUTE TO HAND-DRAWN ANIMATION BY SHAMUS QUINN

Now, I will give you a few more details over the course of this review, but it is my ambition to reveal as little to you as possible. I knew nothing about Wolfwalkers before I saw it, and I was entirely swept away by it — and I am not chalking that up to coincidence.

HAND-DRAWN ANIMATED films are something of a lost art. Do not get me wrong, I love all forms of animated filmmaking, non-traditional and otherwise. But there is something pure and special, and particularly laboured over, about hand-drawn work. And if you are a lover of animation, it is important to support these kinds of works — whether they are wins, loses or draws. And folks, trust me, Wolfwalkers (2020) is one of the wins. Released late last year on Apple TV+, this Cartoon Saloon film details the journey of a young girl who travels to a town called Kilkenny in 1650 Ireland when her father is tasked with hunting down a wolf pack that threatens the town. The catch: she becomes enamoured with the wolves, and with the mysterious “Wolfwalkers” — humans who transform magically into wolves when they fall asleep — who mill about the woods as well, and she finds herself jammed into the middle of the conflict between them and Kilkenny.

The young girl in the film is named Robyn, and she is cooped up at home as the story begins, much to her displeasure. She would much rather be out hunting down wolves with her father Bill. And you would be hard-pressed not to want that for her, too — for her to get out and explore the world, be free. The film expertly grounds us in her emotional situation, at times literally drawing her surroundings in such a way that we feel as claustrophobic and confined as Robyn does holed away from the outside world. The freedom she desires is represented in the forest environments, in the delicious world of the wolves and Wolfwalkers. They are a gratifying departure for her. And things change for the better for her when she embraces them, and when she meets and develops a close bond with Mebh — a wonderfully wild young Wolfwalker around Robyn’s age. Mebh is everything Robyn wishes she could be — she is untethered, able to run wild. Her presence in the story makes sense from a thematic standpoint, but rest assured, she is also a genuine riot — always gnarling and gnawing at things like her

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wolf companions, sniffing at every immediate scent. “How’s your smell?” Mebh asks Robyn, before promptly nose diving into her armpit. All of it works due to a rock-solid framework and emotional centre. The forbidden friendship narrative gives the film a strong foundation. While this device is a common one for springing conflict into a given story and often feels lazily tacked on, in Wolfwalkers it feels like a natural outgrowth of its themes. It should be noted that the film is not really secret in its messaging. References are often

made to paganism and religious persecution, and the plot hinges on Kilkenny leader Lord Protector’s oppressive reign over Robyn and her people, as he controls and contorts their faiths to suit his own dominant belief system. (During a particularly pressured moment in the film, the Lord Protector tells Robyn: “Never speak of such pagan nonsense in this town. Follow the rules, or you will never see your father again.”) Ireland has a history with religious oppression, so it is no surprise from this standpoint that Wolfwalkers dared to step into that sensitive territory. And to any of you thinking said territory is unnecessary or uncalled for, I say: it is no accident that this

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concept is present in a story about the freedom of expression. Plus, these heady philosophical ideas are not just dressing, let me tell you. They are not just there to make the directors and the rest of the gang at Cartoon Saloon look like scholars and philosophers. These ideas help to give the central plot an emotional heft that it would otherwise be lacking. I am a strong believer in the notion that the best films are not just about base external stresses — they are also about clashing beliefs and ideas, and how those ideas inform the central action. Throughout its lean 90-minute

runtime, you never lose the sense that the film is about something. My reading: I think, at its core, it is about fighting against socially constructed binds to be who you are. Now, I have spoken at length about the story propping Wolfwalkers up on its hind legs. But given that this is an animated film — and a gorgeous, celebratory one at that — I would be remiss not to mention the actual animation. And holy hell is it a treat. It would be an arresting experience to watch it even without its accompanying soundscape — or maybe with just its Irish Folk score. The animation is beautifully

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traditional, boasting a choppy yet elegant art style. The animation of the wolves in particular is enchanting, distinct from that of the people of Kilkenny — in that it feels freeing and awe-inspiring and dimensional, as opposed to feeling so boxed-in. The choppy art style reminds me of another spirited cartoon: the Peanuts specials. There was something oddly charming about the scrappy nature of Charlie Brown illustrations. Wolfwalkers has the same effect. The animators purposefully inject the visual language of the film with blemishes

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that would often be found in animation like that of the older Peanuts works. It is dirty and real, not squeaky-clean like most animation in the computer-assisted age. This visual correlation adds to the film’s overall charm — because what is more charming than the world and visuals of Charlie Brown? The animation also supports the film’s farreaching themes and ideas. The visuals of Kilkenny, for example, feel very narrow — picturesque in their own right, but still narrowly drawn. Any depth in the image feels forced and outwardly two-dimensional.

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congratulatory, just really sincere. You do not see these kinds of movies anymore. That said, you can see this one on Apple TV+. Unfortunately, that is the only way to watch it right now. I am hoping the film becomes more widely available soon. And with all the fantastic buzz it is getting, I am sure that is more than likely. In the meantime, just get the 7-day free trial. Watch it. Be delighted.

But that is by design; it is to support Robyn’s viewpoint, her feelings of oppression. The wooded sequences are a departure from this boxed-in quality for the same reason. As Robyn climbs closer to freedom, the sense of depth in the animation returns. The wolf-running sequences in particular are something to behold, equal parts frenetic and expressionistic. The film also plays around with its aspect ratio in creative ways, allowing the bars to push inward during pressurecooker moments for the characters — representing, in very dynamic fashion, the oppression they are slamming up against. Wolfwalkers just looks proud to be hand-drawn, to be contributing to that ageing form. And it celebrates it by calling attention to its specific facets. Oftentimes, the pencil strokes in the drawings are visible, enveloping the characters. (Think Pig-Pen from Peanuts.) And the outlines of the characters, the skeletal markings animators use to inform the rest of the drawing, are often there, too. This detail does not do much for the story itself, but it does loads for the medium to which it is paying tribute.

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It means a lot to see an animated film bent on celebrating the intimate, personal nature of hand-drawn animation. And Wolfwalkers feels just that — personal. Not self-

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SPRING

BY FIONA VANDERMYDEN

ART

IN THIS COLLECTION for “Spring”, I wanted to express the wildlife that you can find in Canada, especially when the weather can still be so frigid. While also giving a Persephone vibe when she comes back to her mother during the spring/ summertime. Her arrival with flowers all around her and the red lights from behind was definitely a fun self-portrait idea to play with. Fiona Vandermyden, also known as @effervescent_productions on Instagram and Facebook, is a Toronto-based photographer still studying at York University. She specializes in personal portraits, headshots, editorials, nature/ landscapes, and SO MUCH MORE! Being able to create this project or “Spring” for the Artichoke was such an honour, and a great way to stay creative, I mean, Effervescent’s motto is “Giving you an excuse to play” so why not continue that, right? Fiona is open for bookings if you are interested, all you have to do is send her an email, or message her on any of her socials!

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Artist: Somayeh Nasiri SOMAYEH IS AN Iranian-Canadian artist with over 10 years of experience in designing mosaic and vitray (painting on glass surface) for minor and major art projects and murals in Canada and overseas. She holds a secondary school diploma in visual arts, an associate degree in visual arts, a graphic design certificate, a fabric painting certificate, and interior decorating diploma. Currently, Somayeh is continuing her bachelor of education in Visual Arts at York University in Toronto. Her theoretical and practical knowledge, coupled with her international and Canadian work experience in the field of art have expanded her horizon

in the field. Some of her experience include: tutoring at Humber College, furniture restoration at Fairmont Hotel, designing illustrations for books, being a Teaching Assistant in high school, teaching kindergarteners and in adult art schools, making Iranian traditional Qajar Dynasty glaze, holding solo/ group exhibitions, making handicrafts with mosaic, ceramic and ornaments, and above all, proudly participating in creating the Coxwell Laneway Mosaic Mural. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/somayehnasirisam Facebook: S. Nasiri Instagram: @mosaic_interior_design

My eye with details Pen drawing with grid 9” x 11” October 2020

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Life Mosaic Art on Outdoor wall 10m x 23m (167 Sq. Meters actual coverage) Water & Wastewater Company, Iran, Sistan and Balochestan September 2009

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Untitled

Mosaic Art on Outdoor wall

Still-life Acrylic painting

2m x 4m (8 Sq. Meters)

24” x 36”

Private Green House, Iran, Tabriz

November 2020

August 2011

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Untitled

Nomadic Baloch Life

Figure Acrylic painting

Mosaic Art on Indoor wall

24” x 36”

2m x 5 m (10 Sq. Meters)

November 2020

Darvazheh Dolat subway station, Iran, Tehran December 2007

Growth

Woman in Nomadic Life

Mosaic Art on Indoor wall

2m x 4m (8 Sq. Meters)

2m x 5m(10 Sq. Meters)

Gholhak Subway Station, Iran, Tehran

Gharmdareh Subway Station, Iran, Alborz

March 2009

Date: September 2008

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Acrylic Painting (Homelessness) For a full-figure painting assignment at York University painting class, I chose a photo of a homeless person. I worked on a large scale using a large canvas in order to add more details to the painting. I made some changes on shadows to emphasize on his face, his grey hair, and his wrinkled hands to depict how fragile he is in such a harsh condition.

which shows the gap between the two starkly divided lives of the poor and the rich. Everything he has is dark and dirty compared to the bright and luxurious building. The realistic technique was not an ideal option for me to paint this man’s texture, but the harsh and chaotic touches of my brush applied more feelings to this painting.

There is a sharp contrast between the old man sitting on clean concrete steps, possibly outside a modern building

I borrowed the original photo from the Dreamstime website.

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BY KALLI JONES

IN AMPD’S DEPARTMENT of Design, students actively explore and expand the boundaries of design in communicating complex bodies of information for meaningful human experiences in our increasingly visual world. I created these designs to exemplify the interdisciplinary nature of our program, and how we manage to conduct creative solutions to real-world problems involving users, their contexts and interactions

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FEATURE

INTERVIEW WITH

MEGAN LEGESSE, THE DIRECTOR OF V-DAY AT YORK’S NEW DEVISED SHOW BY TEAGAN ARISS

I AM SO grateful to have chatted with Megan about her experience leading a project that includes devising an entirely new show that centers the voices and experiences of BIPOC women and non-binary folks. Despite the universe throwing a global pandemic into the mix, Megan and the V-Day team continue to work hard to bring this important and much-needed work to life which will premiere at the end of April. Teagan Ariss: Can you introduce yourself by saying your pronouns, your position/role for V-Day, your program, year of study, and anything else you would like to share? Megan Legesse: I am Megan Legesse. I use she/her pronouns. I am a fourth-year theatre student; I am specializing in acting, in the acting conservatory. [...] I am the director of this year’s V-Day production.

TA: So, V-Day is a global activist movement, can you talk a little bit about what V-Day is? ML: V-Day is, as you started, a global activist movement. The focus is ending violence on women and girls. Specifically [...] by the patriarchy. And the point of V-Day is to just raise awareness by having different events and The Vagina Monologues is one of them, but there are different events and showcases that V-Day is the head of in order to raise money and awareness to help women. Especially women who are in tough situations. And not only helping women, but just raising awareness of topics that are usually sensitive like female genital mutilation, sex slavery, rape, assault, all those things that people do not want to talk about, but it is unfortunately very much alive. [...] Their head show is The Vagina Monologues, but we are not doing that this year.

ARTICHOKE TA: Right, so my next question is how is the main production for V-Day this year different from previous years? ML: Well there’s a little pandemic this year. So that is the first difference, [laughing] [...] working on creating a remote show. Also, creating a new show, that’s also a thing. For as long as I’ve been here and I am sure for years before that I came to York [...], they’ve always produced The Vagina Monologues for their V-Day show. [...] The first show I saw, I was actually working on Concealer, which was a play that was in York’s playGround festival that spoke about the lives of Black women and was like a story about them. So we had finished rehearsal and we were like, “Oh Vagina Monologues, we should go see that!” So we sit there, four Black women and our fellow other POC artists, ready to hear a story about women, and I just see a sea of white people talking about their relationship to femininity and sex, all those things. And I was just sitting there with my cast/crew, and I was like “...what?” We had just come from this rehearsal where we were talking about our relationship with our skin and our hair, our Blackness, and our glory. And I came into this place, this blackbox theatre, where I am seeing a sea of whiteness being celebrated as revolutionary by my colleagues. And I was like, “Oh... I don’t think like this.” I was like, “I need to change this.” And so I applied to be [the] director and my goal was [that] I need to, I want to hear stories of other people. And so, originally the goal was [...] to just have a predominantly BIPOC cast, and talk to Eve Ensler to try [to] incorporate new stories based on things that are not in the show like skin, race, fetishization, all those things that women of colour deal with. But of course that is a big request to change an already published script. Just as I understood, it is Eve’s writing, I was having a big ask to change her writing. So instead

we had the idea to just create and devise a brand new show, based on the stories of the actors we cast. So, that is the biggest difference, it is the brand new show, the focus is on BIPOC women and non-binary folk, which hasn’t happened before which is crazy! I also originally planned it to be a very movement based show, I am a huge, huge fan of movement theatre and physical theatre, and dance, I love seeing movement in theatre so much. It’s so gorgeous to me. So that was a big goal of mine, but then ya know Miss Rona hit so, we are playing with [...] other ways to kind of invoke that visceral and rich experience through remote ways right now, until we eventually stage it. TA: I think that is so important and necessary. So my next question is how did the idea for devising an entirely new show come about? ML: I did my first devised show last year, it was called Strength (and other lessons my mom taught me) for York’s playGround. I am trained as an actor so I was like, “this is terrifying, I’m not a divisor, I don’t know what I’m doing.” So I kind of like dipped my toe into the devised stream. And that was a really well-learned experience for me, I learned a lot about devising on the fly, and creating something out of nothing. I am so used to just looking at a script and exploring from the text, rather than building something that eventually becomes the text. It was really, really informative, I learned a lot about my artistry. And then from then, applying to V-Day, my thought wasn’t, “let’s devise a new show” my thought was, “let’s just add to the show we already have.” Because I was like, “devising would take too long.” So that was the goal at first, but there were issues with [...] copyright and all [that] formal stuff. Which I very much understood. But, when we were talking to people from

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V-Day to ask for permission, even though they were like, “Unfortunately, ya know that’s not allowed,” they were very excited about the idea of making something new. Especially with the goal of it being focused on BIPOC women. So, at that point, my team and I were like, “okay, [deep breath] let’s create it completely new.” And with that, [...] that is how we did everything in terms of bringing people in. Like, instead of just asking the actors who audition to just do a monologue, we ask them to also prepare a story, also prepare a movement piece, or a dance, so we could really see that they were able to devise work on the fly and not just be actors. So yeah, it was like a bunch of steps and then we were like, “okay, this is what we’re going to do.” And that is what we are in the process of doing right now. We have a lot of writing, so now it is just like kind of fitting it into a narrative.

TA: That is so exciting. ML: It is. It is exciting. It is a lot of pressure though for me. Like I feel a lot of pressure. Because this is the first time the focus has been like that. And I do not want to let anyone down. Especially like the actors are just so brilliant, and happy. Some of them have been in V-Day before, and they have expressed to me that they have never felt so welcomed because like they were the one or two ‘tokened’ Black or Brown people and then they felt tokenized and hidden by the whiteness around them. So, they have expressed to me they feel so welcomed and able to do passionate work and vulnerable work which makes me feel so happy, but it gives me the pressure too, because I really want to do them justice and I want to show all these stories and have people be amazed and be interested in them and the people

FEATURE

who are performing them. TA: Well, I am sure you will do them justice. ML: Fingers crossed! TA: That’s so beautiful, for the people involved to have such a hand in telling their own stories or telling stories that they want to have heard. ML: Yeah. TA: Can you speak more about the devising process and what it has been like so far? ML: [...] It all started from the audition. I asked them to prepare a story and they just told their story and [...] usually from then, we had a conversation as people, like just as people, and from then [...] I would usually

find a prompt. And I was like, “Oh, [...] we’re talking a lot about femininity or feeling pretty,” and then [...] the first prompt I gave was like [...] write a piece that started with “I wish I could look pretty for you right now.” And so they would all write a prompt on that, we would come back the next week for rehearsal, we would all read them to each other, we would all feel each other, and talk about the themes we heard, imagery we experienced, it reminded us of another story. And we kind of just kept doing that. We would find new prompts from earlier writing and express it and find pieces and write poems and monologues. And nothing made sense- that was okay! I just wanted to make sure [...] we had this wide range of topics that we could eventually pluck from to form the story. And eventually throughout the devising we started to see similar themes like, some actors wrote

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FEATURE specifically a lot about their relationship with their mother, some actors would write specifically about their relationship to love, their relationship to men, to white men, to men of colour, relationships with their body, exploring their queerness, etc. So we would see these themes and from there we were able to find characters for the actors and to really kind of shape and make threedimensional people from the pieces that they wrote as themselves. Which was really exciting! And now we have ya know we have full, fully developed characters right now; [...] now that we’ve kind of bypassed monologue work, we are working on scene work [...] which is really exciting to kind of bring everything alive and seeing like, “okay now this character has all this monologue about who they are, but what is it like when they interact with someone else?” Which The Vagina Monologues does not really talk about, it is just monologues. So we are currently exploring relationships with each other and how they speak to one another and how they move with one another. Which is really exciting. That is where we are at right now. TA: That is awesome. What has surprised you about working with the team and the cast remotely? ML: Oh. [laughs] That is a really good question. [...] I think it is the ability to still feel each other. [...] I just miss, [...] especially as an actor too, I miss just being able to be in a studio and like feeling each other. And I am sure as a dancer, you can understand what I mean, like no one has to say anything but you can feel the presence of each other, you can hear each other’s breath, you can feel each other’s warmth and security. TA: Yes.

ML: And as a director that is what I always try to achieve in everything I’ve done, to know there’s a sense of safety and ability to be vulnerable in the work. And so when I started the project I was like, “oh shit, how am I going to do this? How am I going to make them feel safe?” Especially at home, [...] I always think I do not know who’s at home with them. I do not know if they’re safe all the time. I do not know if their neighbor can hear them screaming next door when they’re doing a monologue, because mine can which is fun [laughing]. So I think that is what I was worried about the most but, what surprised me is the first prompt we did, was a really vulnerable piece, and I was like not assuming them to get like very, very vulnerable because it was the first week. And I was like “[...] you know, they’re not going to be able to get there.” And they did! [...] We all probably looked so silly sobbing over Zoom, laughing and crying, and feeling, we were just feeling. And I remember we had a break and I talked to my ASM and I was like, “I can’t believe that just happened.” I cannot believe we were still able to feel each other and I think it’s because there was so much hope with this project and everybody’s so eager to do it, that it is still able to be alive in such a sense of feeling isolated. If that makes sense. TA: Yeah, for sure. I think artists still have such a desire to express and create, so I understand how that is surprising, but it also definitely makes sense. ML: Yeah. It was just a worry. I was like, “Is this still even going to happen? How are we going to do this?” The overall team was always thinking, “What are we going to do? Is this even going to work?” And I was like, “I don’t know.” [laughing] Especially because we had started right after classes had started, so everybody was already like

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On March 28th and 29th, V-Day will be hosting an event for all theatre students to gather with their peers to have discussions and receive advice about streaming, classes, portfolio work, and career questions from fourth-year theatre majors. To keep updated with V-Day@York make sure to follow: @vdayatyork on Instagram and keep an eye out for the Show Title announcement coming soon!

hating life. ‘Cuz it’s like, “Ugh I hate online theatre, I hate online everything.” So I think it’s because [...] we make it fun, and we have check-ins and check-outs, that people are able to really be themselves. TA: Has the pandemic situation influenced the subject matter of the show? ML: Hmm. Can you elaborate more on that? TA: What I mean by that is like what people feel because of the pandemic, because of circumstance, has that been brought into the show? ML: That is a good question. I don’t think as directly as that- like as saying it. I think it’s in the writing that the actors do. I think the longer we get into this pandemic, the more the writing seems to get rawer and rawer. Because there is such an urgency

for all the things they are writing about. Like touch, and freedom, and joy, and life. I think the need to experience life [...] in such a rich way is so much more heightened now. And I can see it in the actors’ writing. So, I guess that would be where it kind of comes through. But, we do not mention specifically the pandemic. [...] But, I think in their writing there is such a -hunger- is the right word, there is such a hunger in the writing we get every week and in the work we do. Especially because it is set in a time where all the girls are laughing with each other, all of them work with each other in the show, they are all laughing and enjoying life together, so [...] I feel like writing all of that is like another way for the performers to experience it. And that is why their writing is always bigger and bigger and bigger. TA: Yeah, it is like an escape.

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ML: Yeah it is. We did an exercise I think last week [...] where we looked back on our very first few prompts from last year. And I asked them: “What’s changed? Do you still feel like that?” And everybody was like, “Noooo!” It was amazing, they were so embarrassed, they were like, “Is this girl okay?” They were like, “I’m so embarrassed for her, no no no.” It was amazing seeing how we have changed so much in the span of like six months. So those people from the beginning of the pandemic and the midst of the pandemic. Especially now we have so much time by ourselves. So yeah, that is something that I have noticed. TA: Yes, it is a very self-reflective time. [laughing] ML: Oh yeah. It’s like a blessing and a curse. Because sometimes I’m like, “I don’t want to- this is too much thinking...” I did not

realize distraction can be such a blessing sometimes. TA: Oh yeah. Oh yeah. My last question that I have is, is there anything else that you want the readers to know about V-Day, or yourself, or the experience? ML: The experience has been one of such hope, and treasure, and liberation for so many of the people a part of the project. I think so many of us have confronted things in the space, in this BIPOC space, that we have never been able to do in theatre school before. I know I have. And it has been so glorious watching all of that unfold, and I hope it is for the people who eventually get to see the work that we will do.

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VP ATHLETICS INTERVIEW BY LAURA BOURBONNAIS

OUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, Laura had the opportunity to virtually sit down with the Winters College Council VP of Athletics Rehaan Lachporia to talk about wellness in a pandemic and online school setting, and how his position has adapted to the online format.

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Laura Bourbonnais: Your position is very different from what it usually is because of the circumstances. Usually, it would have revolved around carrying equipment on campus, getting people to register on IMLeagues, etc. How has your online experience been so far? Rehaan Lachporia: I think my position on council or even just as a student [...] has definitely changed in terms of having to navigate the online world of education, the online world of socializing. [...] [I] n terms of my position, in the past it has [revolved around] registering teams, being a part of the sports culture whether that is at Winters or at York. There are certain things that you lose when it comes to the online aspects. Sports obviously cannot be held in person or at all for that matter. Some people use sports as a way to meet people, as a way to be social, as a way to stay fit, and to overall enjoy their experience as a student [...] on campus. It is hard because [...] the main goal of my position is to promote sports, help students engage in sports activities. IMLeagues [has] definitely [...] changed this year. [I]t used to be the platform we used to register teams on campus. It still is used to register teams but a lot of those sports are esports this year. So, games like NHL, FIFA, NBA 2K, Rocket League are some of the esports that are provided. Intramurals also provides Trivia nights, Pictionary nights, Bingo nights that any constituent is allowed to sign up for. With that [sports] loss comes a lot of opportunities to promote a couple of things that maybe were not as promoted

in earlier years [such as] promoting a healthy lifestyle, promoting healthy eating habits. I have had the opportunity to put more focus on those things with “Winters Works Out’’ videos that we have up. And letting students know that there is still a way to be involved [in] physical activity even though it may not be provided on campus. LB: What is the process behind the workout videos and have you received any feedback? RL: The process is fun. I have had some help from one of our lovely Directors of Promotion, Emma Prossello. [The second video] provides [constituents] with alternatives they can do and [leaves] it up to [them] how much they would like to push themselves in terms of the physical activity. I want to promote that everyone stay physically healthy but I cannot tell you how far you need to go. I like to leave that open for constituents to decide. [I have filmed another] video with a Winters Council member. The first video was very all-around in terms of the activities we were doing and the exercises. [...] [Another video] focused on the lower half of the body, [and another] is focused on flexibility and making sure that we are keeping our muscles nice and healthy. As much as [the videos] are short, it is quite a lengthy process just making sure that everything is up to standard and making sure of course [that those videos] are as inclusive as possible. Whether that is providing alternative exercises people can do and make sure I look at them through every lens as possible.

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LB: Going off that video tangent, I know you have done smoothie videos and have produced more nutrition focused content. Were the smoothies already a part of your routine that you tied into [your videos]? RL: The “Cooking with VP Athletics” video, that was a lot of fun to make. It is funny because I live in the Quad, I live on campus. If I was living at home, my parents would probably be making a majority of the meals. So, it came as a learning process for me too. I get a lot of healthy meals at home. [...] And I think filming the video definitely pushed me to make sure that I am watching what I am eating in terms of just making sure that I am giving my body what it needs to function, especially through online school. The process in and of itself is pretty simple. I try to find the things that [...] I am used to eating. I try to give people alternatives [for those recipes] and make them very simple as well and very quick. As much as school is still online, it does not mean that our lives are geared to online school 24/7. So, I think the other part of that is making sure that the [recipes] are easy, concise and obviously tasty at the end of the day. [In] regards to the smoothies, I will have a Tik Tok about smoothies. That is another thing that I was always doing. So, even promoting that as a quick, healthy alternative if maybe

“As much as school is still online...

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you cannot eat all your meals in a day. I also have a smoothie bowl Master Class event and that is the same kind of deal but rather than watching it through a video, you get to actually go online and you can see how we make our smoothies, some suggestions you can get as to how you can make your smoothie bowls or drinks. As much as there is a lack of focus on the sports aspect, I think my position can still promote a lot of healthy living, healthy eating, [and] healthy habits for a lot of constituents when we cannot be in that [...] social setting that campus provides. LB: If you could speak about the events you have hosted so far. If you could touch on the yoga event and how the response was towards it? RL: Absolutely. It was a joint yoga/Pilates/ Jackbox event with New College, the New College VP of Athletics, Casey. [...] [P]eople had actually been asking for an event more focused on fitness. So, we tried to be as inclusive as possible with doing Pilates and yoga. [They] are both difficult but some people may be restricted in that they do not have specific equipment they can use or they do not have sufficient space. [...] [Yoga and Pilates] was something we felt could hit a much larger demographic of students. The process went really well, the participants enjoyed it very much. I enjoyed it very much.

RL: Absolutely. The website IMLeagues is what York Intramurals uses in order for people to sign up for intramural events. IMLeagues.com. Log in with your student ID, select your organization (York University), and from there it shows you all the sports that are being offered, the esports being NBA, NHL, FIFA, NLB. When you register, you register yourself as a team whereas in past years, normally the VP of Athletics would register the teams and then people could sign onto those teams. It has changed [...] this year because when playing esports, it is usually an individual participation. So, people sign up and they register their own team. It might say unapproved but it will be approved. [...] Once it gets approved, you either receive an email or if not, the schedule for all of those dates and times for when that sport will be played will be provided online. Any further information that needs to be provided in terms of online IDs and things like that when playing these games on different platforms such as PS4, Xbox and Switch- those can be hashed out by constituents through the chat feature that they have. And if people need any information, [...] they can always reach out to me at the Winters Athletics IG page. I have had a couple people reach out already and I have been able to resolve a few issues for them, so do not feel shy to reach out if any help is needed.

LB: You mentioned the esports on IMLeagues. Can you go into how that works and how constituents can register?

...it does not mean that our lives are geared to online school 24/7.”

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LB: That is pretty comprehensive. You had mentioned the Winters Athletics Tik Tok? RL: Yeah. There is a video on how to do a push-up there, there will be one on smoothies. They will be following along those lines. I know as a student myself, filming normal videos is a bit of a lengthier process. So, what the Tik Tok allows for is shorter but concise insight that people may want and may not be getting as frequently from the videos. LB: What do you hope to achieve in future events and how might you want the events to improve and have folks feel more included within their spatial and physical limitations? RL: Some of the great feedback I got already was as much as we try to be as inclusive as possible, there is still work to be done. [...] Our last event happened from 6-8 PM. The feedback given on that was “could it have been a little bit later?” And the answer is, “absolutely, it could have.” [...] Going back and making sure that these events are as inclusive as possible, providing even more alternatives to specific exercises that we may be demonstrating on the calls. The goal for these events moving on, later on in the year, is to continue promoting healthy living, healthy lifestyle, things that within online school and the stresses of the pandemic might be getting a little lost. Just reminding ourselves to take care of our bodies. We only have one. Physical fitness and exercise can be a good stress reliever for many people.

LB: How would you suggest students who are isolated at home during finals could integrate a wellness routine into their schedule? RL: Study breaks are so important whether that is doing 30 minutes on, 5 minutes off. In terms of fitness though, something that I like to do is if I am studying, I will make cue cards for myself and if I answer those questions wrong, I may do a push-up or do a sit-up. Very simple exercises that can be done with limited space. The other thing too, is blocking off time in my day to do simple exercises such as yoga. After doing the joint event, yoga is something I am very much passionate about. I had not realized how great it is until actually doing it. Making sure that within studying, you are blocking time to take care of your body as well. Studying can really put a lot of stress on the mind and so taking care of the body can sometimes help us remain focused. That is the way I like to do it. It is some positive reinforcement and then you are like, “I should probably start answering these questions right!” [laughing] There are always little ways to incorporate exercises into your day. LB: I like that. RL: I would like to give you a specific routine but I think every day is different, every final or exam is going to be a little different. It is going to be a different amount of stress, so, I would say think of how much stress you feel. [...] Any amount of time spent exercising can help reduce that.

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The goal for these events moving on, later on in the year, is to continue promoting healthy living, healthy lifestyle, things that within online school and the stresses of the pandemic might be getting a little lost. LB: Do you have any tips or tricks to help you stay healthy while at home and juggling school and everything else? RL: Writing it down somewhere. I have a whiteboard. Writing down “do workout twice a week or making sure to go for a run once a week.” [...] The same way they tell us in school “when you write something down, you remember it more.” I think writing down goals for yourself

whether they be fitness goals or just goals in general is a good way to remind yourself. [laughing] It also makes me feel a little bit guilty when I do not fulfill it so it motivates me to continue to be healthy. The other thing too is after any type of physical fitness but generally the next day, you feel proud of yourself. It is important to remind yourself of those little moments of pride. And congratulating yourself for any type of exercise you do I think is really important in order to make sure you stay motivated and continue to enjoy it rather than dread it at that point.

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LB: Has the position helped with that motivation for you? RL: I think it definitely has. Even just having Athletics in the title name, it carries a lot of responsibility [...] that I am happy to carry. [...] But with that comes the wanting to lead by example. I am not saying that everyone has to do the same things I do or push themselves to the same limits that I do. [But] leading a healthy lifestyle is not nearly as hard as we think it is or nearly as difficult to implement into our daily lives as we think it is. [...] Making sure that if people have questions, I have the experience to answer those questions whether they be fitness related or just healthy lifestyle related in general. [And] making sure that I am motivating other people as well. I feel like I am trying to be everyone’s teammate here to help keep the healthy lifestyle going. LB: That is nicely put. Is there anything else you would like to say? RL: Elections are coming up if you would like to register! More videos and events

I feel like I am trying to be everyone’s teammate here to help keep the healthy lifestyle going. to come. I do not think I am a scary person so if anybody ever has any questions about trying to live a healthy lifestyle, [reach out]. I do not want to talk like I am the expert. I still have cheat days, I am still learning but I am happy to provide any feedback or any type of help that anybody needs. This online position provides the opportunity to promote things that were not as much in the foreground. Also, read the Artichoke! [laughing]

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Follow Winters Athletics on Instagram and Tik Tok @wintersathletics to keep up with their upcoming videos and events, and to help you stay motivated to live a healthy lifestyle as we near the end of the school year!

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INTERVIEW WITH THE IBPOC ARTISTS ASSOCIATION BY LAURA BOURBONNAIS OUR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF LAURA was lucky enough to sit down with AMPD’s up and coming IBPOC Artist Association and gain insight on the association’s founding from the founding members themselves. Each member holds a promising artistic future post-university. Laura Bourbonnais: If you could tell me your name, pronouns, program, and your position on IBPOC AA? Gloria Mampuya: My name is Gloria Mampuya, my pronouns are she/they. I am the President, maybe more facilitator right now, of the IBPOC Artist Association.

LB: Tell me a little bit about yourselves as artists and students. If you want to say why you chose your programs, what mediums or avenues for your art?

Marvin Darkwa: My name is Marvin Darkwa, I am in third year Screenwriting. My pronouns are he/him, and I am the cofounder. I am also the representative of Film.

GM: I was not in an arts high school. I was in sports most of [it] but I always liked being funny and silly. [...] So, once I quit basketball, I got an art degree in college which is CÉGEP in Quebec. So, I got my diploma and then I wanted to be in theatre because I felt [...] that is a good avenue to be [...] performing in for me at least. I came to York because it is the only place that accepted me, and then I chose the Acting program because really and truly I just wanted [...] to act. [...] I like being able to tell stories and I feel like [...] [acting] is the

Shenel Williams: My name is Shenel Williams, pronouns are she/her. I am in my third year in the Dance program and the Business program, and I am a Dance representative and also a co-founder of IBPOC Art Association. GM: I am in Theatre! In Acting, in fourth year.

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way that seems the most natural to me to hear stories. I do not consider myself a writer or a designer. I do not have that skill set. So, acting is definitely the route for me. [...] I want to be able to share stories that represent me, that represent other communities that are underrepresented and hopefully, I would like, potentially maybe in 10-15 years, being able to start a casting agency but exclusively for IBPOC actors. Just because, in being in this program, I have heard a lot of people, a lot of Black and Brown people, a lot of Indigenous people [hearing] like, “Oh, we would take you in our agency but we already have x, y, z, so we cannot, we have filled our quota,” type stuff. [...] But then they will have six blondes that look the same, you know? So, it is that kind of stuff that is a bit frustrating to hear in the industry and so that is a goal that I have in the distant-ish future.

MD: I am in Screenwriting but I do not see myself as a “creative.” I cannot draw, I cannot act, I cannot design. [...] [T]he only thing I am really good at is screenwriting. I want to do a series. In terms of how I got into this kind of thing, I was kind of a weird little kid. I grew up, right in the “jungle”, (Lawrence West project housing) where I listened to rap music but also watched films like The Shawshank Redemption. I used to watch until the end to see credits. Things like who was the screenwriter, who was the director, and who wrote the book [that] the movie came from. So, I was a bit different. Initially, I was in CMSthat is Cinema and Media studies, but under the advice of professor Marie Rickard, she read one of my short stories, and she advised me that I should apply to the Screenwriting program. And I was like, “Let me try,” and then I got in! I am really enjoying the program

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so far, I have met a lot of cool people, and it is a nice, nurturing environment. But I have noticed though that there are not many IBPOC people in this program. I mean, it is like I am the only one which kind of sucks because when you do not have representation it becomes more of a blur and the stories all sound the same. That is not good for the art, that is not good for the medium, that is not good for anyone. Honestly, where I hope to take this, I hope to be like Jordan Peele one day and win an Oscar [...] but that is probably not going to happen. [laughing] If I did, that would be totally fucking cool. I want to write for TV and have as much fun with this as I can, and I can write a message of equality and dopeness. SW: Kind of like what Gloria said. I did not go to an arts high school. I played basketball the majority of my life, but I loved dance. Dance has always been an outlet for me when I was sad, down. Or just something that I just felt comfortable in because I am also an introvert and I just do not know how to express myself at times. Growing up, I did not have the finances to be in dance lessons or to attend a studio. So, [...] auditioning for York was really, for me, a way to get the training that I need to make a studio, go out there and give people what I did not necessarily have growing which is the opportunity to [...] actually train in facilities. Dance to me- it means a lot. I choose to create not only dance pieces but pieces that are political and I hope one day to take that art into communities and I hope one day to put it on a big stage. I feel like I am all over the place, but yeah that is just in general hindsight. LB: Going off that, who are your biggest inspirations or people you look up to? SW: My parents are honestly my biggest inspiration but if we are talking about art: Janet

Jackson. That lady is an artist okay, in every form, every fashion. She really inspires me to make art. Teyana Taylor. She is definitely, probably one of the most underrated artists of our generation right now. Like her ability to shift mind and her ability to get into art, to a place where she is only in it, you cannot even get into her mind sometimes to see what she wants to produce. Those are the two people apart from my parents that inspire me and who I look up to. GM: That is funny because we had an assignment in the Fall term: “What artists do you look up to, that you want to have a career similar to?” There are a lot of people. [...] That is a long list. I love Beyoncé. I love her. I love Viola Davis. She is an icon. If I could have half her talent, I would be set. [...] Not only does she have the talent but she also just has that personality that is endearing and warm, and she is a hard worker. I [...] want to be able to say that I have a work ethic that is similar to Viola Davis. I also love Danai Gurira. [...] I only know her from Black Panther, but in that world, it was everything to me. Then, another artist that I really like in Toronto is Natasha Mumba. She is an actor and also I think she was an assistant trainee director at Factory. I have seen her perform a few times now and every time I do, it is incredible how well she is able to embody a role and just ooze power and emotion and variety in those roles. These are women that I look up to and I hope to be able to tell a story the way that they do. I am always moved by them and hopefully I could do even a fraction of what they do. MD: I draw inspiration from a myriad of sources but one thing you might not know about me is they are not just writing and film sources. So, in terms of film stars, I look up to Boots Riley, he was the filmmaker of an excellent movie called Sorry To Bother You.

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It was fantastic. Donald Glover is a massive, massive, massive influence of mine. From Community to Atlanta, and [he landed a role] in a Star Wars version of a Disney+ series. Terence Nance. He has a show called Random Acts of Flyness. It is on HBO. [...] [H]e deals with [...] the whole afro-surrealism and just afro weirdness, [...] it is [...] fucking fantastic. I love everything about that show. [...] Watch Random Acts of Flyness. It’s on Crave. It is so weird and strange and I love everything about it. Also, [I look up to] some rappers. Kanye West, he is just brilliant if only because he is just himself. [...] The reason why I bond to arts and culture was because of Kanye West. If it was not for The College Dropout, that was his first record, and just what he did on that record, bridging two different worlds into the conscience, I wouldn’t be here. And also, the creative side, I probably would not be here right now. It was that good. I also look up to MF DOOM. He passed away. [...] The person that most got me here honestly is a guy named Aaron McGruder. He has a show called The Boondocks. It was a comic strip before though. It was just a trailblazer in terms of representation, social commentary. Everything that makes Black people look good and not [...] a [...] stereotype, he probably did that. He is a massive influence of mine. LB: Where do you see yourself after graduation in regards to your art? That could include where you see yourself working or volunteering or living. What you would like to see produced, what you would like to produce, what projects you want to take on. SW: Well! After graduation, I hope to be doing a lot more than what I am doing now for sure. I feel like this program has been very limited. Sorry to out them like that. I came into this program thinking I would have the liberty or

even the space to create a lot more than I am actually creating and that is just not happening. So, that is first and foremost. Once I leave, I plan on getting my studio ownership and opening my studio. As quick as I can as much as my work ethic permits me to do so. And to start putting art on stage that highlights IBPOC students and everybody and not just white people. I just do not see myself in art anymore. I want to create art for everyone but also just highlight people who have been left out for years. I want to work with certain artists like Teyana Taylor. Hopefully she comes back. I want to work with her. There is a list of people. I just want to be in the same area as them and create. Wherever it permits me, wherever it takes me but those are just general goals for now. MD: In terms of what I want to do- screenwriting is what I want to do but it is not the end result of what I want to do career-wise. I mean, honestly, [...] I mostly know “theory”. So, if you see me asking questions and raising my hand [in class], it is because I know random stuff from film, TV, albums, graphic novels. The application part not so much. But I do plan to do things outside of screenwriting. I would like to be a curator at some point. [...] [I curated an assignment [first year] and one of the course directors at Winters Michael Zryd said it was really strong. He commented on it again when I ran into him on a talk on video essays. [...] So, I see myself in curation. [...] I see myself as a festival programmer at some point. Also creative direction, [...] I see myself as a film critic, that is also kind of cool. I could be a prof at some point because I know so very [...] much. [laughing] Screenwriting is the goal but it is not the end result. Honestly, [I see myself getting] an MFA. Finish this first, but then just two more years, put [my certificates] on the wall, make my mom proud.

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GM: So, for me, the future is now. [laughing] [...] I have had to think about that a lot recently because I am graduating this year. [...] [laughing] First of all, I mean, I want to have a place to stay. So, that is one. A homethat is what we need to find. I want to find an agent also, two, so I can get jobs. That is very important. [...] [A]lso, in terms of my own stuff- I have always had an interest [in] stand-up comedy. Always kind of wanted to do it but now I think that it is time that I do it. Even just write stuff that is absolutely garbage and I never put it up just to say that I have done it, you know, at least I did the work that was necessary for that. I want to be able to collaborate with amazing artists or amazing companies like Obsidian, Cahoots, Factory. All these places that make [...] not necessarily only Canadian theatre but Obsidian specifically is Black theatre, [...] Factory is Canadian theatre. All these companies that have a focus on local art more so, but also all run by IBPOC artists. Obsidian is run by a Black Artistic Director, Cahoots is run by a Black Artistic Director and Factory is run by a Filipina Artistic Director. All women too, I just realized. [laughing] [...] What I love the most about

theatre is the collaborative aspect of it and I want to be able to collaborate. I am not good at working by myself hence why I have never written my own show but being able to work with other people, discover other people, and create with other people is really something that I have grown to be passionate about here and that I want to keep doing. I also want to get an MFA. I am not sure if it is going to be in Theatre or in Linguistics but languages is also something that has interested me a lot. I am bilingual but I also spoke Mandarin once in my life and both my parents speak multiple languages so I have grown up around a lot of different languages and I want to give myself the excuse to learn and travel and learn about different stuff. And also, I mentioned before, my hopefully maybe casting agency. We will see how the acting career goes [laughing] and then we will base it off of that. But yeah, I definitely want to stay in Toronto and Canada but I am also open to seeing what opportunities come and which one I can jump on. [...] But, I think it is best to put in the work and stay ready for those opportunities when they do come, I know I can do it and I know I can do a good job.

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LB: How do you hope to keep growing as artists outside of York? You can touch upon being artists of colour, female artists, queer artists, so on and so forth. MD: It is very, very, very taxing being the only one in the program. I am constantly having to [...] prove my self-worth. [...] Part of the reason I want to be a writer is that I get to tell stories and I think that if I create stories that are meaningful, stories that are impactful, stories that have a message, I can leave the world in a better place than where I found it and I think that is just kind of cool. SW: As an artist, I hope to surround myself with individuals who are like-minded. Because I feel like right now I am in a program that is just like full of individuals sometimes that do not necessarily motivate you to grow. So, you are kind of just like in this spot of stagnancy and you just cannot see yourself going anywhere because it is like if you do not want to do it and I am always around you then I will fall into that same mentality, that same kind of energy, right? So, I [...] want to surround myself with individuals who want to be somewhere and I want to find community in order to grow. And to be in a community that is going to nourish me enough and push me enough that I am going to say, “Hey, I will go out there, I will do this,” and hold me accountable because at the end of the day I feel like accountability is a really big thing as artists. Being around like-minded individuals in order to grow and excel in life. GM: I feel like a lot of what Shenel said is something that I relate to especially being in the acting program. We are such a small group so you are kind of stuck together and if there is negativity in the room, it is going to affect everyone, right? [...] I need to go and make those connections although that is

something that stresses me out because I feel like I have mad impostor syndrome. Going out into spaces and being like, “Hey, do you want to talk to me about your art and teach me stuff for free potentially?” It is an intimidating position to be in, I find. Maybe that is why I have not thought of it that much. I think I am going to steal Shenel’s answer and say I am going to try to find people who push me to grow and people who are like-minded. I think I have been able to find that and build that with artists that are outside of York more through activism than through art itself. But because most of the people or all of the people that I am currently associated with are also artists, art inevitably comes on the table as a subject of conversation because it is what we are all passionate about. And so it is really interesting to hear also their conversations on what their visions are because they are especially more focused on film and TV. So, that is a deep dive into a world that I have not had the chance to explore that much in these past four years. But, I just hope to be able to go out into the world and just absorb as much as I can from the environment that I am in and the people that I am around and grow from that and learn from that and put that in the work that I do. LB: What sparked the founding of the IBPOC Artist Association? GM: This is something that I thought was needed in AMPD for a long time. What really sparked me to go ahead and do it, we are not going to talk about. But something happened in terms of discrimination in my class and because this was my second year working for the department, I had already worked [as a] Frosh Leader, I was on college council in second year. I felt that it would be selfish of me to just [...] sit back and try to keep all of this to myself and [...] get out and gradu-

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ate rather than put something in place that can be helpful to all students. Because what happened to me, it was not the first time that something like this had happened only in the Acting program let alone in all of AMPD. So, I remember that day when it happened, one of my first thoughts was, “We need to build something to make sure that when this happens we have somewhere to go to.” Because the only reason that I had ideas of where to go was because of the work that I had done in building connections in the first two years at York University. So, I thought that because of that knowledge that I had, I thought it was important to share and give that to other people who are not necessarily as involved and are more focused on their art, which they should be. Because that is what we chose to do. We came here to be able to do art, but then having to face discrimination, having to deal with racism, having to educate other people about everything that is going on, it takes a huge [...] emotional even physical, mental toll on people. And so, from there I had the idea but I never really put it into place. I was busy with school and everything else. And then the pandemic hit and then all of sudden, I have all this free time, but not really, and I was in communication with Sarah B. Chang and she offered the idea to start a support group for IBPOC students in AMPD and I was like, “Yes, and let’s make it an official association,” so that we have … a voice in this as well, in the department not just us… Although it is important to gather as a community and be able to have a space to vent about what is going on safely… for me at least, I was at a point where the things that happened, for us to need to vent, that needs to stop at the top. So, that is why we need to have this association. And then, Sarah connected me with Marvin and Shenel and then we just started working from there and it has been a great time.

MD: As a Black male, I cannot speak for [women] but we have all gone through our trials and tribulations at Winters. As you know, Winters is a primarily anglo-white dominated faculty which is kind of ironic considering that York in and of itself is primarily racialized students… Even coming in for the first day, I went into the film [program]… in my first year. There were 500 kids there and they all had the same story “white kid from a small town”... I was literally the only one there. I stuck out like a sore thumb… The professor would ask, “Is there anyone from Toronto?” Nobody raised their hand. I was literally the only one that was there: one six foot Black dude from Toronto… I thought in the back of my mind, “This is a problem, there is no representation in this program. It

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[...] brushed it off. And I had the idea too [...] I think we both had it. As soon as I got the email from the Dean, I was like, “I’m on that.” [...] In the summer, I had written a letter to the Department about the structures, about discrimination, about microagressions [...]. That kind of sparked me to have conversations with the Dean and then I was put into contact with Gloria and Marvin. And here we are today. [...] I feel like we all had the idea but Gloria [...] pushed it through. And she really came through when we needed it the most because I do not know how I would have gotten through another year with no association.

does not reflect [how the] rest of York looks like.” That was two years ago and I never actually did anything about it… There have been a couple organizations [for] IBPOC that have come and gone but [they] never really kicked the ground running like this association. [...] We have Gloria to thank for that. The Dean was in contact with me, she was like, “Hey Marvin, there is this association that we can build.” And I was like, “Hey, that’s dope!”… It [...] went from there. SW: From the moment I got into the program, I knew there needed to be some type of association, organization. Literally the first day I was here, I was just like, [...] “This is not right.” [...] But again, there was no time, there was no effort put into it so I kind of just

GM: Also, the thing is [...] again because I hate working by myself, the fact that the connection was made, I was like, “Okay, cool, let’s go from there.” Sarah had done some of the ground work also in pointing us in the right direction- how to register and all that. So, that is how we got that started. [...] Shenel mentioned the point of accountability earlier and I feel like for me, that is a huge thing. And so being accountable to other people other than myself, I think that was a really big motivating factor. Because, [...] I grew up in Quebec. I was always the only Black person in the room. My high school graduationI was the only Black girl in my year. The other one [in my school] was my sister and then there were two others also, who were siblings. So, [...] I have always been used to growing up around [...] microagressions, discrimination, all of that. [...] I was like, “I know how to deal with it and for myself, I don’t need it.” It was really about having something in place for others. MD: It’s like I was saying- you want to leave this place better than you found it. GM: Agreed. [...] Especially knowing that in communicating with classmates, colleagues, etc, just hearing their stories and hearing how similar they are… That was [...] really infuriating and

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saying, “This can’t just keep going.” [...] This should not be something we should just accept, get our diploma in 4-6 years and bounce and then it will just be another group’s problem. That is also a huge part of why it was so important to at least get it started this year so that we can have a structure to build on for the upcoming years. SW: I also [...] do not want people to go through the things I have gone through in this program. I genuinely, wholeheartedly, after talking to some people, like it is heartbreaking. [...] I have friends who have dropped this program because of this. I know people who are afraid to come back and finish it because of this. [...] I feel like right now, I am obligated in a sense to [...] push through and make change at like a structural level or just try to leave it a little bit better. And with Gloria and Marvin, I was like, “Yes, this is godsend,” because I do not know, again, [...] how I would have gotten through without the association. LB: Have you heard anything from students, faculty or any feedback that has struck you that you would like to share? GM: For me, what struck me the most is as soon as we posted about the association, [there were] so many people that were on board. And not knowing anything about who we are, what this is, having little to no information because we had barely any information too. Also, it was so last minute because we all got busy with school and so we kind of did this very last minute, a [...] week and half before registration because that was really the only time we had. And even in that amount of time, we were able to get the amount of people we wanted and even some extras and people were so willing to jump on board especially blindly into this group. Because

we are building this right now. [...] I got so emotional seeing all these emails from people, some people were even telling me their whole story [...] and being like, “I would like to join for this.” And like, “please come!” There is literally no criteria except [...] do not be white. [laughing] So, that I think for me is definitely [...] what got me the most, the willingness of some people to be like, “I would do this even if I’m busy with school, this is something that I would like to participate in.” MD: I am very keen on the reaction we have gotten. Even hearing about Gloria getting emails from students that identify as IBPOC. [...] I wrote An Aching Pebble which was my [...] short film last year. The lead in that film is actually now a part of the club [which is] fantastic! We made something that probably impacted IBPOC students at Winters [...] which is so cool. SW: Hearing [about the emails from Gloria] is just amazing. [...] People who did reach out to me when the post did go up were astonished actually. They were like, “This is a thing?” A lot of people did not say sign me up because of their schedule and what was going on, they just could not join, but [...] getting all those likes back and all those messages of [...] “Finally,” and “Oh my goodness, there’s really one coming?” [...] It was just all positivity, it was just all love. GM: The positivity was overwhelming. Like you said Shenel, even some of my friends who have graduated or random people being like, “Yeah, that’s so cool!” And I am like, “Thanks!” I get emotional thinking about it. It was overwhelming. LB: If students are looking to join this association now? Do they just email you?

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GM: Yeah. Email me at mampuya@yorku.ca. Because we are not an official association yet, we do not have an association email. But they can email me, and I will send them a Zoom link to join. [...] There are a few positions open and then afterwards, we are open to having general members as well. So, I think it is really just about having as many voices in as many places in faculty, in the department. [...] That is something we are going to have to decide on because we are going to have to figure out quorum to be fully ratified. [...] The door is open and even if it is just being a general member so you can talk to your friends after about what is going on. For me, at least, that level of transparency is something that I really want because I feel like it is something that has been lacking from the department at every level. [...] If people want to join, email me at mampuya@yorku.ca!

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LB: For the coming years, what kind of events or activities would you like to see the association take on? GM: That is what we talked about at our last meeting so we got a whole bunch of ideas already. [...] It is all coming from the members and everyone is [...] like, “We can do this and this and this,” and it [...] snowballed. [...] Because we started off as the idea of a support group, we want to be able to hold gatherings and people come and just talk about what the department has done. [laughing] And just vent, and just have a space where it can be just amongst IBPOC folks to be able to gather and maybe network and socialize and just have a space where they do not have to [...] censor themselves because it might affect their grades and whatnot. [...] Those are the main types of events but there are also activities [like] arts and crafts night, movie night- chill events like that [so] people can have a breather in the week. [...] There is a lot of stuff that we are brewing right now. MD: Honestly, I would love to see a collaboration with YUBSA (York University Black Student Association). [...] I think their ideology and creative energy is something we could include. [...] I would really like to see IBPOC hoodies. LB: How are you hoping the association will grow in the coming years and what are some ways to advertise it even further so even more students are aware? MD: Hoodies! We need hoodies. [...] GM: We have a bunch of ideas for that too. Obviously, we have to get our own Instagram account. [...] There have been talks about

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collaborations with AMPD. Even Luke Reece who is a York alum and he used to work at Obsidian theatre as well, is currently one of the 21 [Black] playwrights. [...] We have had people reach out to us and talk about collaborations or ways to promote our organization. We definitely want to do a logo contest to put on those hoodies, get some merch out there. [...] [laughing] SW: In terms of growth, not only like promotion [...] but word of mouth at like a lower level too. [...] Coming into university, you really do not know what is out there. What clubs, what organizations are out there. So I hope that this organization is talked about from the moment people walk through those doors. It is not something that you have to go and find but something that [...] they tell you about [and give you the information] instead of us having to [...] use our free time or wait for an incident to occur. [...] I want it to grow to the point that this knowledge is out there for anyone and when you need it, it is there. MD: Being a mature student, I know for certain clubs [...] they target you. [...] So, [...] that would be a good idea. [...] If they could send IBPOC folx our way, [that would be ideal]. GM: It is also important that we are sustainable, that our mandate is clear and that it is respected and updated as new years happen, as new people come into the association as new people come into the university. I think that the bottom line I really wanted to be clear and respected. That is also why I am not really pressed about being ratified this semester because I think that just gives us the opportunity to build a stronger foundation for the association. So, I think that a good association, a good way of working, a good set of

values for us are things that are I think really important and to pass on as years go by. LB: If there is anything else you would like to add or share about your experience at York, feel free to jump in! MD: Honestly, I just want to see more representation at Winters. That is the end goal. I like to see and leave Winters better than when I found it. [...] We are not respected, we are not acknowledged, we are not really being represented. It is just white kid, after

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always feeling like you have to say something [and sit in an office meeting]. I want it to feel like there is enough representation to the point where everyone can enjoy their time. [...] You get what you came here for and not just out here doing the most all the time. I just want people to be comfortable.

white kid, after white kid. [...] I do not see my experiences represented in a positive light and that is not good. [...] When you do not get a full representation of the full spectrum, the art [suffers from that absence]. SW: I do not want students to come into the program and feel like they are appointed advocates all of sudden. [...] I just want all individuals, especially IBPOC students to come in and just feel like they are learning and they are growing in their program versus feeling stressed and filled with anxiety and just

GM: At this point especially, we just need people on our side. As much as the department, there might be some good people out there in terms of faculty and staff, [...] who are actually actively anti-racist and do the work and that reflects in their curriculum and the way they teach… The majority of this university itself is still built on white supremacy. So, in that case, every time we try to fight against that, it is incredibly high obstacles that we have to face. [...] And, in each and every one of those aspects, this system is not built with us in mind. So, the fact that we are here and advocating for ourselves is a huge disturbance to this system. And I personally am exhausted to have to advocate for myself, fight for myself and still be able to get my degree and do my art fully. And I want to give other people an opportunity to [...] go to a place and only one place, tell their story once and have it dealt with properly. Because unfortunately this system is not built for us so every time we ask for something it is going to be a lot of hurdles to get over. So, that is what I am hoping that this association will be able to give future students and current students, is a place to go where they will know that they will be listened to and concrete action will be taken in a reasonable amount of time. Because I have been waiting for actually for a year and a half now and I am almost graduated. And once I leave, that dies with me.

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SW: You said something about not being able to commit yourself fully to your art and I feel that 100%. Since I have been here, I do not feel like I can commit myself to my art. It is literally one meeting after the next, one email after the next. It has come to the point in time where I do not even check certain emails [following up on the situation] anymore because you are physically, mentally, emotionally, exhausted and it is like, I cannot be who I want to be or reflect the light that I want to reflect in this program, because I am continuously dealing with repercussions of a system. I am always having to sit in and hear the same story over and over again and there is never a level of transparency, there is no accountability, there is no one to talk to, you keep getting put onto the next line, the next line gets put onto the next line and sometimes it comes back around. [...] I am almost out the door. I know I am in third year but [...] two more se-

mesters and I am out! Like Gloria said, once, I leave, this is out with me. And I am afraid because who is going to take on this role? Because no one wants to take it on because it is exhausting! [...] I just want there to be an actual structure or system in place that cares enough to do something and not to have us run around here like chickens with our heads cut off and then trying to also be students at the same time because it is not manageable. And the structure that continues to oppress the students and I do not know how they can even sleep at night. Honestly. Knowing that your students are here paying all this money to get a full encompassing degree and to have the time of their lives, and just be full of stress and anxiety. [...] This association, I really, really do hope makes effective change across the globe, and students [...] do not ever have to experience the things that some of us have experienced.

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The AMPD community is fortunate to have Gloria, Marvin and Shenel as student leaders. They are each leaving an important legacy for present and future AMPD students of colour. Email Gloria at mampuya@yorku.ca to join the IBPOC AA!

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THE NEXT CHAPTER BY CASSIE WEIR

TWO MONTHS LEFT. Wow. Time flies when you are wasting away in the Zoom universe. I have been writing for the Artichoke for two years now and am so thankful that I have been able to have this platform to write about topics that I believe in. I have grown so much since the first article I have written and I am beyond proud of the progress I have made as a person, writer, and creator. If there is anything that I hope that you can take away from everything I have produced it is that sometimes dancing around like a fool can help you feel more grounded, never apologize for loving those around you and yourself and that dark chocolate tastes better frozen.

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In regards to upcoming projects, I am involved in the Devised Theatre Festival which runs from April 13th to the 17th. My theatre company, Bondfire (@bondfire_stories), has created a show called ‘Elemental’. Elemental is about six personified sisters navigating the challenges of modern communication in order to reach a greater understanding of how to practice their purpose. My team and I created the entire show and are extremely proud of all the content we have been producing. I will be playing ‘Earth’ in the show and I am eager for the world to see what we have been creating. Thank you to the readers, the entire Artichoke team and to all the people who have supported these silly little stories I write.

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THOUGHTS OF A GRADUATE BY AVERY-ROSE HAMILTON

GRAD FEATURES

GRADUATION IS SOMETHING that you have your eye on every time you start a new school; it feels so far away when you start but before you know it, you are in your final year and graduation is months away. I should know, this year is my last year as an undergraduate student at York University. It still feels so long ago, yet not so long ago that I was starting my first year as an undergraduate here at York. It feels strange, to be graduating post-secondary school; you get so used to things being a certain way that once they are about to end, you do not know what to do. I do not, I have been in school for a good portion of my life and now that it will soon be over, it just feels…weird. Now that I have a few months left, I am excited and nervous. Nervous as to what to do next, and with the world changing ever so much I find it intimidating to think of me living on my own and working at a job. But thanks to friends, family, and staff-faculty here at York U, it is not as scary as it was three years ago. Three years ago, I was scared stiff. University was something I had never thought of before, not even as a childhood dream, and being there was so…overwhelming: living on my own

for the first time and having to think of things other than classes. Almost everything on campus made it look like a miniature version of ‘the outside world,’ and I did not know what to do. But the longer I stayed and the more people I talked to, the more I relaxed and became accustomed to life on campus. When it comes to plans after I get my diploma, there are a few possibilities I am considering. First and foremost, I am thinking of coming back and completing a master’s degree; if my application falls through then I will take another year here at York to take any undergraduate courses that will help me better my chances next time. And while I am here, I plan on continuing to contribute to the Artichoke Magazine. In addition to furthering my education, I will start looking at job opportunities and any experience needed; if experience is needed, I will see if I can fulfill it in the form of volunteer or part-time work either on or off campus. There are a lot of uncertainties as to specifics on what my life will be like once I graduate but I am still curious and looking forward to it all the same.

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BUDDING ANTICIPATION BY MEGAN DE SOUSA

During this winter season all I can feel is anticipation. The cold has never felt right. It has always sat awkwardly on my skin and seeped desperately into my pores, eating my gaiety internally and leaving this strange empty imagination. Before the pandemic, I used to explore this fragmental imagination while sitting at the frosted bus stop the mornings before high school, surrounded by withered real estate ads and feathery discarded plastics. I distinctly remember sitting on the cold steel bench, my bare thighs sticking to the seat like a toddlers tongue on a frozen pole. I popped my earphones into my rudolph-red ears and listened to this new album that I had heard playing in the back of some Netflix show that ate into my sleep schedule the night before. The album was so dreamy that I sat with my eyes glazed over for an hour, filling that empty imagination with millions of play ideas, each as different as the snowflakes that fell into my lap. Yet, I had missed my bus. I felt so defeated, so vacuumed of any creativity, I have never felt so anxious, so worried over such a little inconvenience. I would give anything to feel that anxiousness again, to miss going somewhere, to take advantage of missing opportunities to go somewhere, only to be saved by the next bus.

Yet, I have anticipation again. Spring is approaching and annually, my icefilled pores are replaced with green budded flowers, coming out of each of my dimples and budding into a new opportunity. Last spring, those flowers never bloomed, and my birthday, which is at the end of March, was a candleless affair filled with crying and desperation. However, this year I feel the peach coloured petals softly forming between my crooked teeth and behind my frozen ears. I have earned my child-like optimism back. My spring anticipation is akin to the excitement I feel in the pit of my stomach before a play; the ensemble begins their performance. The stage is static filled with lifeless sets. Intricate gold rivers flow on aged walls. Spectators twist their fingers to the seats. They drum worn leather to the bass-drum beat. An uproar of coloured cottons unfold. Fervent staccatos, poignant pirouettes; thespians pouring emotion on stage. One brief shining moment, there is pure awe. Abhor is gone, replaced with gleam and bliss. Spring is the month of anticipation and new beginnings. With this in mind, I urge you to fill your softness with greenery, grow something new and recognize the progress you have made in such tedious times.

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BY MELISSA NICOLE

SERENITY

IN THE

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SPRING, IN MY EYES, IS A TIME FOR ADVENTURE, A TIME FOR NEW FOUND BEGINNINGS, AND A TIME TO BASK IN THE SUNLIGHT AFTER THE COLD HARSH WINTER.

I HAVE ALWAYS enjoyed the season of spring, even through the gloomy weather and the peak of course load work. It is a time to celebrate growth, holidays, and family gatherings. I enjoy the sentiment of seeing my loved ones during festivities such as baptisms, Easter dinners and family reunions. I love the sound of soft rain on the window during an early Tuesday morning. I adore the sight of Canadian geese with their babies waddling across the street (even if they are crossing onto busy roads and everyone has to stop and wait for them). I appreciate the sight of fresh tulips and dandelions growing from the ground, even if they do make me sneeze! The point is, I enjoy spring, as it is a great - and might I add underrated - season. Of course this year, my springtime will be spent quite differently than other

years - it will even be different from last spring even though we are still in lockdown mode. Throughout quarantine, I have taken the time to be creative and work hard to further my craft, however, through this, I feel as though I have not focused on any self-care and relaxation. I realized that overworking myself, especially in a time as unprecedented and unusual as this, did not take kindly to my mental health. I now find it difficult to fully immerse myself in my course work since I am constantly tired, and that I am not stimulating myself to be productive. After all this time inside, stressing over every detail of my work to the point of exhaustion, I have finally made the conscious decision to focus on myself. A main hobby I would like to continue practicing is baking treats for all my family to enjoy! In the beginning of quarantine, I took to The Food Network and All Recipes to search for

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new baked goods to make in order to broaden my skills in the kitchen. Over time, however, I took a break from the skill in order to focus on other tasks. Now that we are still in quarantine, I would like to brush up on it again, making more challenging sweets to present to my loved ones. My main goal is to make homemade crème brûlée. Will it be achieved? Probably! Will it be any good? Absolutely not!

I would also like to go on more walks around the neighbourhood, in order to reconnect with my surroundings and to put myself in a new setting. Like everyone, I have been stuck in my house for months on end with little to no exposure to the outside world. Isolation has relocated my social space, my school space and my personal space into the same setting, so it is nice to get out every once and awhile. I love exploring new areas to walk around, whether it be a

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forest path, an open field or even new park spaces I have never been to before. Placing myself in new surroundings helps to further my mindfulness, which I believe is essential to work on during this time. A final activity I would like to do is to try to get active once again and work on becoming healthier. Many people can probably relate to the idea of not being as physically active during quarantine due to stress and anxiety, myself included! A major goal I have set for myself this upcoming season is to begin to work out regularly and begin eating more healthy foods. Hopefully, when restrictions are raised, I could begin to go on jogs with a friend while socially distant; this would not only help ease my mind, but also give me a chance to be social again. I am also looking to learn new recipes to feed myself and my family in order to incorporate more vitamin-enriched foods into my diet.

Self-love is truly something I am learning to practice over this Spring season. Springtime for me this year will be a season full of bettering myself and my mindset, and I highly encourage others to better themselves as well!

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Tips to Regain

Motivation BY AMELIA CALO

AS FINALS APPROACH and many students prepare for the summer semester or summer internships, motivation can easily slip away. It is easy to feel that every day seems to be piling on top of the other and the stress can become overwhelming. As these emotions set in, it is essential to take a step back and look at what aspects of your everyday life you can change. It may be a few simple changes that will help you refocus and recenter your motivation that may be slipping away. Make a schedule! Making a schedule is a great way to ensure you are getting tasks done. By planning, you can easily spread tasks across multiple days to prevent unnecessary stress. With a plan, you can break up tasks, create times for breaks, and know what is ahead of you. If making a weekly or monthly schedule is too overwhelming, it can be easy to simply start the morning making a todo list for that day. That way, you know what has to get done.

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If you are already a fan of making schedules or to-do lists, then perhaps changing up your daily schedule may re-engage some loss of motivation you are feeling. Making edits to your daily schedule may change what is not working and may help you gain some lost motivation. By changing up your typical everyday routine, such as switching working out at night to morning workouts, you can improve how you feel overall. Clean your workspace! Most of us are currently working in our bedrooms at home, therefore, it is very easy for work spaces to become cluttered and not make us feel motivated to work. When you feel overwhelmed, it may be time to clean up or even change up your workspace. Maybe it is as simple as cleaning off the surface of your desk or perhaps you take a break from schoolwork and change up your whole room. This change might be what you need.

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Change up your morning! The mornings can set the tone for your entire day. And as easy as it is to just roll out of bed and head straight to your computer for class, changing up your morning to be more about yourself can help build momentum for the rest of your day. Finding something to do in the morning that brings you joy can change up your day whether that is waking up a little earlier to make a fun coffee (or go out for one), go on a morning walk, make a fun breakfast, do a morning yoga class (online of course). These changes can brighten up the rest of your day.

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Plan something for the evening! Like you can change up your mornings, you can also change up your evenings! If you have a plan to celebrate the end of your day (not just on Fridays) you can gain some motivation to get through your work. Although what we can do currently is pretty currently, there are many ways you can plan something for when you are done with your school day. That could be finishing your night off with watching an episode or two of your favourite show or FaceTiming with friends. It is really up to you to pick what you enjoy doing to help make you feel relaxed. Take a break if needed! It may seem like you have to keep going when in reality, it is okay to need to take a break. Whether that means for the whole day or even just half a day, it can be beneficial to take some time offline to feel refreshed. Finding an activity that works for you such as doing a creative activity, reading a book, or going on a walk, can help you get away from screens and technology to refresh.

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EZRA BY EDUARDO GUERRA

IF WE WERE living in a perfect world, where going places in large crowds was not unsafe, students from all over Southern Ontario would be making plans to head down to Waterloo for St. Patrick’s Day. Now some of you may not know what makes Waterloo so special during St. Patrick’s day. It can be described in one word… Ezra.

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Deep in the city of Waterloo, within the campus of Wilfrid Laurier University, there is a small street with several on-campus residences and student houses, which is nothing special the other 364 days of the year. But, on St. Patrick’s day, Ezra Street becomes one of the most well-known public college party spots amongst the various universities in Southern Ontario. Somehow, this small street can fit thousands of students, who are heavily under the influence, as is the way this legendary street party goes. As someone who grew up in Waterloo, I became familiar with this event and as I got older, I began to understand where the excitement comes from. The answer is so simple. This is a party made for college students, by college students.

Here is a question. What do college students normally do? Stress over everything? Work non-stop on hundreds of assignments? Try to stay awake in lectures that are either too early or too late in the day? The answer is all of the above. So, students need at least one day where they can be together and have some fun. Some people see this whole thing a something unnecessary and even dumb. I understand these criticisms. Sometimes students can take partying too far and that upsets them. For those of you who do not know, this was a problem in 2018. By this time, the Ezra Street parties were extremely popular, having students from all over coming to party. The problem was the partying got out of control and even the police were brought in to try and calm things down. This became big news in Waterloo and opened a dialogue with local politicians and the University of Laurier as well. What is funny is this was similar to an incident that happened in the 1980s, where the police were brought in to Ezra Street, to shut down a college gone wild. So this street has always been a place for people to get together to party.

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This is a biased opinion but even though people did have problems with the Ezra Street parties, I do miss these sorts of events. I do not think I would go to it (due to my introverted energy trying to get me out of the green ocean of sweat and beer) but I do miss the normal life of people getting together and just having a good time. This world we live in right now has been hard on many of us, especially for those who have been spending this time alone. I know these parties are never perfect, but it is better than having a drink with someone over Zoom and acting like it is normal. It is not. It is less normal than sitting in a boat and having people crowd surf you across the street. Hopefully, one day we can go back to Ezra, to make up for all of the partying we have missed.

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I CAN DO THIS ALL DAY BY SIDDHARTH KOYAL

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APART FROM THIS ONE, I have written five other articles for Artichoke magazine. Some of them I consider hits, others misses. But never have I ever been as excited about writing an article than I am today. For this joint issue of March – April, one of the weird national days in March/April and my God, I felt like I hit the jackpot when I saw the list because April 28 is *drumroll* NATIONAL SUPERHERO DAY! Firstly I did not know that was a thing. Secondly, if you cannot understand why I am so excited, it is because I love superheroes. I love superhero movies no matter how predictable or how cheesy they are, I love comic books, especially those major event ones and the ones that completely break away from continuity and go do

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their own thing. I love superhero video games; I mean Insomniac’s Spider-Man & Arkham City? Absolutely fun as heck. Pre-COVID times, I had the pleasure to go to a couple of comic-cons in Mumbai and be surrounded by people of various age groups, from 5-yearolds to 45-year-olds, all united by the singular love of superheroes. Man, I miss comic-con, but then again, I just generally miss preCOVID times. I have loved superheroes since I was little. I remember my dad used to make up stories involving Batman and Spider-Man at bedtime, and have me as a character in them. Of course, some of his plot elements would not be comic-accurate but I did not know that at the time and he got away with it.

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I think kids love superheroes because they are powerful or have cool suits or drive a cool car or defeat evil. I mean, that is why I loved them. But as an adult (who still geeks out over superheroes) I love them because I know they do all that, and are still flawed, or still, in some sense, human. As a child, I see Spider-Man defeat Green Goblin and save the day, but as an adult I also notice Peter Parker, a mild-mannered high school student who is trying to get a job to help out at home, and trying to work hard to be a good student, and trying to be there for his loved ones. As a child, I see Batman take down Riddler and Two-Face (y’all already know which Batman I am talking about), but as an adult I also see the trauma that drives Bruce Wayne.. Looking at comics, I see how he strives to make the lives of people better so that no one should suffer like he does, how he takes in children who have lost their parents so that they do not suffer the way he did, and how he makes them his family. Superheroes are complex. Superman has literally lost his entire planet, and Captain America woke up in another time. They take pain and hardship and strife and they use it as motivators to fight evil and get justice for innocent people and they look cool doing it. But I think the huge, major, big, most important problem with them?

They are just downright not real. Yes, there are heroes in the world: moms, healthcare workers, the guy who takes my order at McDonald’s and the professor who does not do breakout rooms (look, I understand why they have to do them, but it is just so awkward). But I mean, Spider-Man and Superman and Iron Man and Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel, none of them are real! That is frustrating because of how much we need them right now. I mean can you imagine Superman just floating down from the sky during the terrorist mob attack in Washington in January? They would have gone home right that second. Or Captain America storming the White House two months into Trump’s term because he cannot take how Trump is acting anymore. Batman or Mr. Fantastic or Tony Stark would have already got us a vaccine and would have had some insanely amazing delivery system for it and we could go back to comic-con. We could have had Storm from the X-Men or Thor deal with those terrible forest fires by bringing in the rain (not lighting because that would not be helpful). I think my point is this, 2020 would not have been the horror show it was if we had superheroes.So yeah, compared to the risk of apocalypse (see what I did there?) and/or complete annihilation of the human race, the problems we have been facing seem just a bit better.

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I stress on “just a bit”. But here is the way I look at it: we need superheroes for those world-ending threats because regular human beings cannot defeat those evils. But if the superheroes are not here for the threats we are facing right now, that only means just one thing. I am just going to tell you what that is because it would be really weird if I just ended this piece right there. It means that the threats we face are threats that we can deal with. COVID-19 is horrible but we can combat it by staying at home, wearing a mask, and practicing good hygiene. The governments of the world suck, but we can change that by going out there and standing up against them by speaking out, and voting them out. The environment’s going through a lot right now, and that’s our fault, and we can work to make it better by making life choices that are sustainable life choices that help the environment. I know, right, if you were not thinking about how cool it would be to have real superheroes, you are thinking about it now. Sorry about that. Of course, the existence of superheroes comes with the existence of superhero-level threats. World eating celestials, alien races trying to destroy the planet, evil bald men with no care for the innocent just trying to achieve power. That last one may be happening,

I am just not sure how far along he is. Superheroes are not real, and that is a fact of life. But that does not mean we have to stand around hoping for them to become real, it means we have to take their place, we have to stand up to the injustices in the world, help innocent people, and try to save the earth. The thing I love most about superheroes? No matter how bad things get, they do not back down, especially when it comes to the people they care about and their homes and their planet, and we should not either. My hope for the future is not the spontaneous existence of superheroes, but instead that people follow their fictional example to do some real good in the world. As amazing as it would be to be bitten by a radioactive spider and web-swing around the city, it is equally amazing if I wash my hands, wear a mask and maintain some distance. It would be just incredibly heroic of you too to do the same. So, spend April 28 doing heroic things, inspiring other people, reading about real heroes (and some fictional ones too) and watch a superhero movie or binge-game the Miles Morales game. Meanwhile, I am going to work on a petition to make National Superhero Day an international holiday. And finally, Excelsior! P.S. It happened to be an article about heroes, I had to say it.

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A Reflection o Health, Chron and COVID BY KAILA GALLACHER

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on nic Illness, AS I SIT down to write about World Health Day, the stitches in my back are pulled and pain spiderwebs its way through the incision. It is not an uncommon occurrence, the stitches have been pulled every time I sit or lie down for the past two weeks since the invasive procedure that made them necessary. It is painful and uncomfortable, and for a second it makes me pause. Who am I to be writing about World Health Day? Who am I to be writing about health? Quite possibly, I am the perfect person to be writing about it. I am an expert at living with chronic illness and chronic pain and therefore tend towards over-analyzing health-related issues.

I know how to hold, and experience, health and illness together, rather than hold them as separate and singular experiences that do not overlap. What the majority of people see as the definition of health is one I will never have. The picture of health most people have is rigid, unbending, and does not include me. To a degree, this is understandable—I am labeled as chronically ill. Yet, because I live with pain and chronic illness, I can definitively say, I know what health is and I know what it is not. Health is not one size fits all, health is sometimes incremental steps towards feeling less bad, and is achieved only in degrees. Health is sometimes the ability to function well enough to

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get the assignment handed in on time. Sometimes, health means saying time. Health is recognizing what is most important is you. World Health Day, for someone like me, is a strange concept. It is a day of conflicting feelings based on the fact that an accepted level of health, a “normal” level of health, is something I cannot achieve on a good day. And, now, we are living in the middle of a pandemic. This year’s World Health Day is a whole new level of strange and those conflicting feelings about the oftenrigid ideas of health in our society are more pronounced than ever before. Being chronically ill, I often look sick, and the number of glares I have encountered trying to shop for groceries would probably surprise many. Throughout this pandemic, medical care has been more difficult to access,

treatment has been harder to get and procedures that needed to be done have been consistently pushed back. Obviously, for good-enough reasons, sometimes. Hospitals, doctors, and nurses need to focus on stopping the spread of this virus. And we, as people with one or many chronic illnesses, need to be sure we take care of our bad immune systems. Many of us though are just left waiting to feel better and get help. World Health Day carries a whole new weight to it this year. We are in a lockdown, are only permitted to be outside for necessary trips, stores are at reduced capacity and limited hours, and when we do go out, we are required to wear masks. We cannot see people outside our house. We sanitize our hands constantly. Every time we step outside, we are met with new levels of anxiety

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and fear when people do not follow simple rules. The entire world has become acutely, and at times, aggressively, obsessive about health. It is, of course, necessary, but also profoundly difficult. The measures we all have to take, the isolation we face daily, and the out-of-control anxiety, is affecting us all. The certainty of our lives and welfare has been thrown into uncertainty and we all feel it. I wake up exhausted, every day. As much as we may try to engage online in our classes and outside of them through video chats, online games, or Zoom calls there is a profound lack of warmth and connection in our lives. At the end of the day, the fact is we are left staring at a cold screen. Alone, in our respective rooms or apartments. The disconnection we feel somehow fuels a deep exhaustion at the

beginning, during, and at the end of every day. Both students and teachers are feeling it. To me, it seems the question we are left with this World Health Day is how do we deal with this? How do we form and cultivate connection when it, more or less, has been removed from our lives and depends now on screens? It is a tricky question, with no one perfect answer. Though, for me, I believe the answer lies in the experiences I have had in being too sick to go to school for two years as a teenager. The most we can do is accept that life is this right now and it is hard. We have to accept that we are all feeling this exhaustion and COVID depression. We have to realize that although it is important to remain in contact with one another, if we struggle in doing so, it is not the end of the world. It is vital that we go easy on ourselves and make time to take care of ourselves.

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What you need to do to take care of yourself may look different than what another needs to do. And that is okay. Finding out what will help you cope with everything that is going on can be a process filled with trial and error. Creative projects may help you such as writing or art-journaling. Watching your favorite shows or movies, or reading your favorite books, may be exactly what you need. Breaking down assignments into more manageable tasks may help with feeling overwhelmed. Seeking help through York Counselling Services will give you even more ideas on how to cope with things right now. Light exercise, either inside or outside away from people, can help. Putting together a schedule for your days, and sticking to that schedule, can help. But, if you do not follow through with that schedule, if you have a bad day, or a series of bad days, you need to go easy on yourself.

The bottom line is life, right now, is hard. You do not need to make it harder by pushing or berating yourself too much. Give yourself permission to be human, give yourself permission not to be perfect. Things will get better soon.

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TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. LOVE YOURSELF.

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