Fall updates
Workshop at Wendy's Subway, Talk at University of Melbourne, Bees & more
Dear Readers,
On Nov 15th, I’ll be teaching a members-only Kolam/Encryption Poetry workshop at Wendy’s Subway. I believe I have some spots I can reserve for colleagues/friends so if you want to attend but aren’t a member let me know. And if you are a member you should’ve gotten a link to register but I can also send it to you over dm :)
More info below:
Encryption Poetry Workshop with Aarati Akkapeddi
Date: Saturday, November 15th
Time: 1–3pm
Location: Wendy’s Subway, 379 Bushwick Ave
Kolams (or Muggulu ముగ్గు) are intricate drawings created using rice flour, traditionally made by women in South India each morning at the thresholds of their homes. More than decoration, kolams are a daily ritual and an auspicious gesture of welcome. These designs often begin with a matrix of dots, around which looping lines form mathematically complex patterns.
In this workshop, we will discuss the history of kolams and their cultural significance in terms of mathematics, artistry, and gender roles. Artist Aarati Akkapeddi will also share the system they’ve developed for translating text into kolam patterns, which they apply to create prints using custom 3D-printed “legos.” Drawing from systems of code and translation, participants will learn how text can be transformed into patterns through simple rules, from assigning letters to shapes to working with binary code or ASCII as intermediaries. Through guided exercises with pen and paper, participants will create their own encryption systems and decode each other’s designs. We’ll then use the custom kolam “legos” to emboss our own encrypted kolam designs onto paper.
I’ll also be traveling to Australia in early Dec to give a talk (related to my book chapter about handmade datasets) at the University of Melbourne as part of a larger symposium called Taking stock: Photography and visual media in the context of GenAI. I’ll be sending more details on the symposium soon but wanted to put it out there that I’ll be in Melbourne from Dec 2-7 in case anyone has any suggestions for things to do/see or if anyone based in Melbourne wants to meet for a coffee!
Because I’ll be in Australia in Dec I’m missing a wonderful book launch event at Wendys Subway for Kathy Wu’s new publication She Will Last As Long As Stones. If you are in NYC then I highly recommend attending the book launch/getting a copy.
And some other random life updates….
I got married in late September. It was beautiful/intense/energizing/tiring all at once.
Love my dann, love my family and love my community!
This November, the bees are hungry. We had to feed them sugar syrup yesterday because they depleted their honey stores…
We’re trying to figure out how to set them up with sugar before winterization. Apparently they like fondant? If anyone has tips/experience with this let me know!
Also yesterday, Dann ironically bought this copy of the NY Post and now people are selling the issue on ebay for hundreds of dollars…
I’m really glad I shoved the cynicism away for a bit and got out and canvassed. I know things are complicated but I’m choosing to be hopeful for once 🤞🏾
And finally, I’ve been having a lot of fun recording the bees for a project where I’m training an audio ML model. More on that project soon but for now, I want to share the recordings because I find them really relaxing/unnerving. I noticed that they seem to dislike the fluffy microphone windscreen (maybe they think it’s an animal?)
🐝
Mostly, this fall I’ve been really tired! Ready for rest in December 😴
As always, thanks for reading.
In gratitude,
Aarati