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ustinovian The S p r i ng 2021 I ssue
Ustinov at Home? Reflections on the concept of home during the pandemic
Decolonising Academia Notes from a discussion panel on social issues and inequality within the academic community
Renewing your Brand Advice on making the most out of social media for business
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The Ustinovian
Contributors Photographers Brian D. Taylor, Chelsea Peer, Honghuan Li, Iqbal Ahmed, Kimberley Liu, Matthew Roberts, Peipei Cao, Roisin Thompson, and Yue Yang. Writers Arabella Lawler, Bea Fones, Chelsea Peer, Deshon Griffith, Diana MartinezTrejo, Eirini Tzouma, Fiona Brewis, Glenn McGregor, Iqbal Ahmed, Kevin Spreitz, Kimberley Liu, Leung Duen Yung (Vivian), Melissa Bryant, Ojasa Arya, Pedro Alberto Martinez Castro, Roisin Thompson, Sarah Prescott, and Sorina Avadanei. Editors Adam Burge, Arabella Lawler, Chelsea Peer, Deshon Griffins, Elise Gueilian Wolff, Julie Garg, Roisin Thompson, and Tom Toward. Special Thanks Katie Stobbs, Helen Luke and Martin Brader
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Design curious12.com The Ustinovian magazine and blog is written by Ustinovians, for Ustinovians. The views, opinions and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments in the articles do not necessarily reflect the views of Ustinov College or Durham University. CB/03/21/144
Outgoing
Editor’s Letter Welcome to your magazine. Welcome to the Spring 2021 issue of The Ustinovian. As usual, I want to shine light on the hard work of the members of our team - our volunteer editors: Julie Garg, Tom Toward and Elise Gueilian Wolff who offer up their time to read each submission and make suggestions for improvement to ensure the final products you see here are as polished as possible; and the support of my fellow Media and Publications Team scholars: Adam Burge, deputy editor, and Deshon Griffins, managing editor. I would also like to give thanks to Katie Stobbs and Martin Brader, whose advice and tireless guidance has been invaluable.
If you like our showcase piece, please visit our blog for more articles and regular updates: community.dur.ac.uk/the.ustinovian If you would like to submit to the next edition of the Ustinovian, please email ustinov.publication@durham.ac.uk
Something that may not surprise you: this issue has been under the infectious influence of COVID-19. As our last issue has had to exist in the digital world rather than adorn the foyer of Neville House, this one likely will for a time too. But beyond that, our pages illustrate Ustinov life in quarantine. A photo diary by Iqbal Ahmed catches glimpses of empty Durham streets, Kimberly Liu recounts giving back to the Northeast through lockdown, and members of The Pantomath team Eirini Tzouma and Deshon Griffins explore the concept of home among Ustinovians during this time. The rest of Ustinov life, however, will not be overshadowed. Bea Fones recounts Café des Arts’ event exploring decolonisation in academia, Fiona Brewis gives insight into the work of a Ustinov Eco Rep. This issue of The Ustinovian shows us how Ustinov carries on, and we are grateful to each person who submitted. This will be my final Ustinovian as Editorin-Chief, and so I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Ustinov community for helping to make these two issues of The Ustinovian happen. As I have said before, this magazine depends on you - your contributions, your stories and your experiences-to grow and thrive. And I hope that in the hands of the next new batch of Ustinovians, it will act as a warm introduction to a Ustinov that is different, but still welcoming. Chelsea Peer Editor-in-Chief
durham.ac.uk
Welcome to The Ustinovian
Editor’s Letter Welcome to your magazine.
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contents The Spring 2021 issue 4
Vice Principal’s Letter
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Principal’s Letter
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Welcome from GCR President
21 A silent war without weapons: Life in lockdown in Northeast England from the perspective of an international female PhD student
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Photo Diaries of COVID-19: Lockdown in Durham
25 Photo Diaries of COVID-19: Spring in Neville’s Cross
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Ustinov at Home? Examining different conceptualisations of home among Ustinovians during the COVID-19 pandemic
27 Renewing Your Brand
15 A Party for Two: Finding Fun in Lockdown 16 A Reflection from the Ustinov Choir 17 Decolonising Academia
28 There & Back Again The Renewing Perceptions of Chinese Porcelain in England from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Century 30 A Reflection on Renewal 31 Renewing the Environment: Ustinov’s 2020 Impact 32 Alumni Contributions
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Alongside my predecessor, Chelsea Peer, I would like to welcome you to the Spring 2021 Issue of The Ustinovian! The 2021 school year has remained an unusual and difficult one, with COVID-19 calling on the creativity of all who go to Durham University to move classes and extracurriculars online. With all that is different, changed, and restricted this last year, I am pleased to announce the release of the college magazine like usual as a little piece of normal that we can all escape into. The first half of this issue highlights the effects that COVID-19 has had on Ustinovians, as contributors reflect on the past year of the pandemic. The second half looks forward to themes of renewal, reflecting the invigorating start of spring and the reawakening of England as it comes out of the latest lockdown. While COVID-19 has had huge impacts on all of our lives, it is important to look forward and imagine the renewal that is right around the corner. I would like to give huge thanks to my 2019/2020 predecessor, Chelsea Peer, for her contributions in gathering material for this edition. I would also like to thank her volunteer editors Julie Garg, Tom Toward and Elise Gueilian Wolff, as well as this year’s volunteer editor Arabella Lawler, for giving their time to edit and offer suggestions to the contributors. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank the Ustinov College community for their contributions to the college magazine. The edition could not be made without you! I hope you enjoy reading and look forward to your future contributions! Roisin Thompson Editor-In-Chief
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Vice Principal’s Letter
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Vice Principal’s Letter
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Dear Ustinovians, I am writing this letter in March 2021 reflecting on my year as Acting Principal in 2019-20 because this edition of the Ustinovian was unfortunately delayed from the beginning of the Michaelmas term, due to lockdown. I am therefore also reflecting on the first few months of 2020-21! From my perspective, 2019-20 (and the start of 20-21) has been a rollercoaster period. What started as a busy and enjoyable, typical year in October 2019, with the usual activities - events, formal dinners, clubs, and societies - and general College life, swiftly moved into a more challenging and unprecedented period with the impact of Covid-19 from March 2020 onwards. I appreciate that this has not been a ‘normal’ twelve months for any of us, but instead has been a time of significant change and uncertainty. As I write this today, I remain immensely impressed by the continued contributions of Ustinovians to College life, even amid repeated lockdowns. GCR activities moved online, including the famous Ustinov Pub Quiz and Ustinov Live. Our GCP scholars provided (and continue to provide) a range of online GCP events and activities, the most well attended of which reached over 120 people via Zoom in 2019-20. Our student support team continued to engage with a considerable number of you during the last few months and many of you took online exams and assessments in
stressful circumstances for some. College staff have had to adapt to a rapidly changing work environment, with many working from home while our amazing operational team have continued to keep things running smoothly on site and across our accommodation, where over 200 of you remained during the lockdown period. I understand that this has been a difficult and isolating experience for many of you, being so far from home and loved ones, and I know I speak for the whole team when I say we have been continually amazed and inspired by your resilience and spirit throughout. Our residential neighbours here at Sheraton Park reflected the same sentiment in a message sent to Ustinovians last summer, noting their support and their gratitude for you all who, as part of the wider community, helped the whole neighbourhood in respecting the lockdown guidance and minimising any unnecessary risks to those around us. We remain incredibly grateful for your willingness to work with us to ensure a safe and comfortable experience for everyone. I know that for many of you, 201920 will have been a year that proved disappointing and frustrating. You have not been able to have the same experience you may have had in other years and that has continued into the start of 2020-21. I shared
the disappointment at the loss of the physical congregations in July and then this January, but I am very much looking forward to the re-arranged ceremonies and celebrations as and when they can be held safely. I trust that you all, irrespective of a change to the ceremonial aspects of graduation, feel a deep sense of pride and accomplishment at everything you have achieved in such a testing period. You should absolutely do so, and for those of you who may have deferred assessment until things are more settled, I wish you the best of luck with those examinations. I hope that your time with us here at Ustinov in 2019-20 and/or 20-21 has provided you with some great memories as well as unavoidably, some challenges and disappointments. I hope that the good has outweighed the less good and that when you think of your time with us, you can remember it with a smile while acknowledging that it has certainly been unique. To all Ustinovians, I send you my best wishes; if you are graduating, congratulations, and if you are remaining with us this year, I look forward to seeing you (virtually or otherwise!) now that I have returned to my substantive role as Vice Principal. For now, take care of yourselves and each other.
Sarah Prescott, Vice Principal (Acting Principal 2019-20)
durham.ac.uk
Principal’s Letter
Principal’s Letter Hello to all existing and new 2020-2021 Ustinovians. Firstly, let me totally endorse what Sarah Prescott has said about the 2019 – 2020 academic year and the great end-toend efforts made by all students, staff, mentors and alumni to make what was a challenging time as good as it could be. While the Covid-19 situation has certainly tried our patience and inventiveness, what I witnessed during the 2019-2020 academic year from a distance while
passed down from the Government as to what we can and cannot do as a scholarly community dedicated to an active academic and social programme that thrives on building community through a range of interactive activities. Given this, we will need to continue to draw on all our inventive and entrepreneurial skills to make 20202021 a year to be remembered for one, when against all odds, all Ustinovians benefitted from an enriching year in which, through different ways of working, learning and experiencing, we achieved what we would aspire under ‘normal’ circumstances. As always, I
We are very much in the hands of decisions passed down from the Government as to what we can and cannot do as a scholarly community. on research leave is testament to the tenacity and resilience of Ustinovians and their desire to ‘carry on’ with business-as-usual as best as possible. This onwards and upwards attitude is a manifestation of the greatness of all who make up the Ustinov community. In the current academic year, matters continue as less than ‘normal’. We are very much in the hands of decisions
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and the Ustinov staff will work with you all, especially our GCR and GCP teams, to ensure that what makes Ustinov a special place for postgraduates is not diminished. As I’ve said on a number of occasions, and as printed on some of our Ustinov merchandise, ‘I’m a Believer’ in Ustinov as a great College, whether you are a student, a mentor, alumnus or staff member. 2020-2021 will be no different.
Lastly, and perhaps through some frustration that I have not had the opportunity to recite the Ustinov version of ‘I’m a Believer’ for the last 12 - 18 months at our enjoyable formals (dinners), I will leave all past, current and new Ustinovians with the following: “I thought a postgraduate college was only true in fairy tales Meant for someone else but not for me Another college was out to get me That’s the way it seemed Disappointment haunted all my dreams Then I saw Ustinov, now I’m a believer Not a trace, of doubt in my mind I’m in love with Ustinov and I’m a believer I couldn’t leave Ustinov if I tried” (I’m a Believer was originally written by Neil Diamond and became a number 1 hit for the Monkees in 1966 and featured on their 1967 album entitled More of the Monkees). To all those that have joined us anew in 2020-2021 thanks for choosing Ustinov!
Glenn McGregor Professor of Climatology and Principal of Ustinov College
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Welcome from GCR President
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GRADUATE COMMON ROOM – Putting the ‘you’ in Ustinov Covid-19 Update: as with the UK and most of the world, we are having to react to current events that are outside our control. As such, we are working to run a full social program – with government guidelines and social distancing in place. If you need help during this time, please take a look at our website (ustinovgcr. com) or feel free to contact us. Details for committee members can be found on the website too, alongside a huge amount of useful information. In addition to that, please do join the “Ustinov College 2020-2021” group on Facebook, where you can ask questions and keep abreast of College news.
Welcome from GCR President Hi everyone, my name is Diana and as you might know, I have been the President since last academic year (2019/2020). I chose to continue with this hard work so that you can have the best student experience at Ustinov College. Like last year, this one has been a little bit strange, but believe me when I tell you that the Ustinov Graduate Common Room (GCR) is here for you; we take it very seriously. So do not hesitate to contact us or even get involved in our big committee. During your time in Durham, you will have the opportunity to live in close proximity to a renowned World Heritage site and one of Britain’s best-loved buildings - Durham Cathedral, to make friends from all over the world, and to develop yourself personally and academically. Plus, though you might experience all four seasons in a single day, you should not worry too much about the infamous British weather. Nonetheless, you have chosen to be part of the one and only postgraduate college at Durham University. Ustinov
College has a lot to offer to everyone and I would advise you to give it a go and immerse yourself in College life whether you live in College or in the city. In a “normal” year, it can be daunting when you start the year without knowing anyone. Now if you add this challenging period, I bet you might feel a little bit nervous, but you will discover that Ustinovians are the warmest and friendliest bunch of people you could meet. Moreover, they are postgrads like you, and they will understand how you feel. Our best asset is our sense of community - a community of which you are now part. This community is made with lots of international students, so whether you come from Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Americas or even Antarctica, you will be very welcome. After all, our College motto is “Diversitate Valemus” — in other words, Diversity is our Strength. Our mission at the GCR is to help you make the most of your time at Durham. You can become a member of the GCR by paying a levy which ranges from £1 to £35, for the full year. Differences between each are the benefits you are entitled to, for more information about the membership details, just check our website (https://ustinovgcr.com/).
Our best asset is our sense of community - a community of which you are now part. This community is made with lots of international students, so whether you come from Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Americas or even Antarctica, you will be very welcome. So, I have talked about the GCR, and you might be wondering how exactly does the GCR work? Well, the committee is composed of students like you who volunteer and make things happen, and they are elected by fellow Ustinov students. If you have an idea to improve the GCR, or fancy helping contribute to this wonderful Ustinov community, then do run for a position. Details for positions can be found on the website, or you can always ask a member of the GCR Committee and we will be more than happy to talk to you. There will be elections during the terms, so keep your eyes peeled for the nominations. Don’t feel intimidated if you have never done such a thing before, there is always a first time for everything, and we encourage everyone to get involved. All that is left for me to say is: Welcome to Ustinov College and congratulations for getting into Durham University! The GCR is waiting to meet you!
Diana Martinez-Trejo Ustinov GCR President 2020/2021 durham.ac.uk
Reflection
Reflection
Photo: Iqbal Ahmed
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Photo Diaries of COVID-19
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Photo Diaries of COVID-19: Lockdown in Durham Photos and article by: Iqbal Ahmed
The unprecedented disruption of COVID-19 robbed our lives in Durham, just like everywhere else on Earth. The lockdown took effect in late March in the U.K., disrupting our lives, and limiting our freedom to move about. The City Centre in Durham - a place where people mingled, shopped, dined, and sipped tea - suddenly became desolate as these same people were consumed with anxiety and uncertainty.
The emptiness echoed everywhere. The city streets that saw the hustle and bustle of students, local residents, and tourists became stomping grounds for the other local natives – the ducks. They were puzzled by this sudden lack of human presence, but they remained curious about it.
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Photo Diaries of COVID-19
Nature took its own course, exploiting the absence of humans: colours danced in the sky, the wind whispered, and flowers bloomed. Empty sidewalks became their tabletop, undisturbed earth their vase. 9 The university should have hummed and buzzed with students enjoying a bit of the spring sunshine, but everywhere around the university there was a deafening silence. Concrete, streetlamps, and trees witnessed the fear and anxiety of the pandemic and the accompanying lockdown.
New rules of engagement dominated our lives. No hugs, no kisses. Only a void of empty space between us – 2m to be exact - reminded everyone that love and affection can wait. Life became the priority and staying alive dominated people’s lives. Stores like Sainsbury’s welcomed people but not without the warnings and reminders of the dangers of COVID-19.
While lockdown has continued and people stay inside, struggling to go about their own chores and habits, responsibilities and deadlines, there is a reminder that tells us to get back up and keep moving forward. Because this may soon come to an end.
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Photo Diaries of COVID-19
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Iqbal Ahmed is a PhD student in human geography at Durham University, UK.
durham.ac.uk
Ustinov at home?
Ustinov at home? 11
Examining different conceptualisations of home among Ustinovians during the COVID-19 pandemic By Eirini Tzouma and Deshon Griffith
“Life seemed a bit messy at the time, so all I can recall is long emails and packing up my things. I left Durham and came back home. I was staying in my new room that was decorated with old posters, talking with people in Durham while listening to my favourite local radio station. The news about the virus was varied, and I was not certain if I should follow the BBC or my tele. The hardest part of all this was defining home.” - Anonymous This article has a long history; a history that in a way is aligned with its content. Co-author, Eirini, had just become part of the Global Citizenship Programme’s Media and Publications Team at Ustinov
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when the emergence of the pandemic rocked our once stable ground. The opening quote reflects a relatable experience for many, especially for those who decided to return to their home country. Thus, a question arises; “How did the pandemic affect our understandings of home?” Eirini was not alone in this reflection. When she decided to reach out to co-author, Deshon, with her idea of investigating how COVID-19 affected Ustinovians’ conceptualisation of home, he himself had his own story of displacement in the pandemic. In March 2020, Deshon attended a conference in London and then, on a weekend visit to Oxford, was trapped in the national lockdown - unable to return to his country of origin (Barbados) and unable to return to College accommodation in Durham. He too had to grapple with new ideas of home - was it Durham, Oxford, Barbados or all three?
The Ustinov community is a very diverse one, often referred to as a potpourri of cultures, ideas, and identities.
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Around this time, Deshon had just instituted, along with Global Citizenship Programme team members Adam Burge and Chelsea Peer, an initiative called ‘UstinovNOW’. This platform was designed to keep the Ustinov community together even when students were no longer in Durham. The Ustinov community is a very diverse one, often referred to as a potpourri of cultures, ideas, and identities. The collective appreciation for individual idiosyncrasies, camaraderie and general support and affection for one another characterises the ‘Ustinov way’. Many aspects of Ustinov life centre around the physicality of Ustinov College grounds Pub Quizzes, GCP Events, Ustinov Live, and so on. This was, indeed, the normal way of things at Ustinov; until 2020 happened. The Media and Publications Team decided to carry out a survey through UstinovNOW. The whole project was conceived of by Eirini’s question about whether the pandemic might revive some more ‘conventional’ understandings of home, belonging and safety. However, the survey pleasantly surprised us. In the words of one
participant, ‘this invisible enemy’, and the common experience of it, connected people in unexpected ways. Ustinov became home for many Ustinovians because it was safe, supportive, and lively. Some emphasised the online events, some the emotional and practical
...whether the pandemic might revive some more ‘conventional’ understandings of home, belonging and safety. support and some the very sense of community that existed even before the pandemic. In any case, it is the idea of a collective, especially in times when individualism often prevails. In this piece, trends in Ustinovians’ ideas of home are interpreted. Home is often a place; but is a home solely characterised by its materiality?
Home As A Controlled Choice “I have never shared this feeling so many of my peers seem to have that home is where my parents are. Home fluctuates, depending on where I am currently living. Durham has been my temporary home this year.” - Anonymous A few respondents raised ideas of ‘home’ as a choice. The dynamic character of this concept is better understood when compared with what one respondent called ‘forced confinement’ during lockdown. The pandemic foregrounded a ‘state of exception/emergency’ in which freedom and safety were wrestling with each other. The meaning, compatibility, and importance of these ideals have been a well-known source of debate. However, as becomes clear from this quotation, choice is a powerful concept, especially during a health crisis which reinforces a sense of vulnerability and loss of control. Ustinov was for many a ‘chosen confinement’. Maybe this is our moment for another simple, yet crucial question: Why?
Home As A Feeling “I celebrated my birthday in that apartment, we stuck up paintings made by our friends, brought in flowers… this place felt so much like home.” - Anonymous Quite a few respondents raised the idea of feelings in their description of ‘home’; home as the place where they felt connected, safe, and as though they belonged. These feelings were attributed in some instances to relationships with people. Meanwhile others attributed this feeling to relationships with their environment, and physical objects
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“After lockdown eased in the end of June, I travelled to Durham to collect my stuff. As the train approached Durham station I felt this feeling of finally being at home. I felt excited to see familiar places. I went to my college and was so happy to see familiar faces. I went to my room and saw my items, my plants (that were luckily still alive) and I was so happy. It was then that I realised, everywhere I am, everywhere I go, everywhere I have some memory, some physical object I have a sentimental relationship with, that is home.”
Ustinov at home?
The Idea of a ‘Second Home’
- Anonymous
with emotional weight. This brings out themes of home also being centred around (im)material conditions, relationships and relations, memories and items that evoke warm feelings. This suggests that while their ‘true’ home was not in Durham, in many ways the ‘feeling of home’ was mimicked in that space - a feeling of safety, happiness, and belonging.
Home As A Source of Support When I first moved to the UK, I never imagined that I would call Durham home. But over the years, I’ve met amazing people who have grown into my second family. I think that home is wherever you feel loved, safe and have a sense of belonging. - Anonymous Closely related to home as a feeling, is the idea of home as a source of support. Notably, the idea of support seemed to have flourished through a vocabulary of kinship; we were happily surprised to see that Ustinov has been repeatedly and explicitly characterised as a ‘big family’. To some it might appear as a rather strange phrase. Yet, in a way, it makes
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...the Ustinov community provide the camaraderie, care, and support that makes people feel appreciated and that they truly belong. the pieces fit together. A lot of theories have been produced about concepts of family that, despite a lack of blood ties, attract this meaning of intimacy and bonding through choice and support. Especially when it comes to people building a life far away from ‘home’, the idea of a family of cohabitation and co-existence becomes crucial. Now, imagine how much this need is highlighted under the current health condition and its social repercussions. Those who remained in Durham while defining ‘home’ in this way spoke about the importance of communication with people ‘back home’, while simultaneously relying heavily on those around them for support to create that sense of a ‘second home’.
The analyses we have offered so far might not be completely surprising. However, they all share a common ground; they gesture towards the idea of multiplicity of home. For a lot of us, not only may home correspond to more than one place, but it might also correspond to different colourations of experience. Think of Ustinov, your friends, your peers, even those you might have had an argument with. Some of them migrated from another continent, from another country, from other parts of the UK, or originated in County Durham. However, all of us share something. Home, at least for a period of time, was plural. Therefore, some return ‘home’, stay at ‘home’ or make a ‘second home’. Or some would leave a ‘home’ to go back ‘home’.
Final Reflections With all that said, this article is for you who have been part of this big community, as much as it is for those to come - especially all who began their journey this academic year who may reasonably feel even more anxious. The responses to the question ‘What is home?’ showed both of us that there are many understandings of it, and for many students, Ustinov College fits those requirements. It is fair to say that once something has worked well, it is worthy of praise. College staff and members of the Ustinov community provide the camaraderie, care, and support that make people feel appreciated and that they truly belong. It makes them feel at home. For some students it is a second home, for others it is their only one. Either way, Ustinov College became home for a lot of us, not only because it provided security and comfort; but also because it gave us the opportunity to dream of starting life anew.
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Poetry
deck shuffler 14
there’s no room for whispers between oceans whatever glows from above and pulsates from below bends to the queen of entropy home is a collective name of winds you fall in love with that sometimes stop blowing causing a kiss between a ship’s bow and the abyss i will go cry by the rising tides and they will recognise my tears i shall become the nymph of unrequired affection By
Sorina Avadanei
and learn to sing my luring tunes through hiccups pebbles outgrow the moss as children outgrow their old coats there is nostalgia in knowing one day you will turn into dust
durham.ac.uk
A Party for Two
A Party for Two: Finding Fun in Lockdown By Roisin
Thompson
After a semester of seemingly endless lockdowns, completing a year of the same, my experiences at Durham University are certainly nothing like I imagined they might be. Coming from Canada and my typically modern undergraduate campus, my ideas about University in England were filled with visions of cold drafty hallways, dinners in strange robes, and formals for holidays I had never celebrated. In reality, the continuing Covid-19 pandemic has irreversibly changed the university experience I was expecting, yet, in a weird topsy-turvy way all of these imaginings have come to pass. Hallways have certainly been drafty and cold as windows are left open to increase the airflow and maintain a safer space for face-to-face teaching when possible. Meanwhile endless lockdown cycles have meant that some nights melt into days and further into evenings and I end up eating dinner in my pyjamas… Certainly strange robes for dinnertime! Most miraculously, I have even experienced a formal for a holiday I have never celebrated. As the days of lockdown begin to meld together it can be harder and harder to find ‘fun’ as everything takes on a monotonous tone, rattling around the same four walls day after day. The semester trickled by with events cancelled or moved online and socializing remained a distant dream. Yet, as we entered November the GCR at Ustinov got creative. The Bonfire Night
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Formal was necessarily cancelled as an in-person event, but instead of giving up on yet another chance for fun, the GCR managed to bring the formal straight into Ustinovians’ houses! Between online classes, zoom meetings, and digital socialization it can be easy to become ‘zoom fatigued’ and turn down invitations to events. More than once this semester I have been excited about an online activity, to get to the day of and have felt unable to turn the computer on. Yet, I find the longer - and more stringent - the lockdowns have become, the more important it is to decide to create fun no matter the circumstances. So, as the GCR set up their alternate formal plans, I decided that we would have fun with no holds barred and we signed up for the event. Instead of creating a typical purely online event, the Bonfire Night ‘Formal’ package promised a home delivery of
not only the catered meal, but also a bag of decorations to make each home feel like a formal venue. As evening on February 6th crept across the sky, the night of the ‘Formal’, my partner and I shook out our fancy wear (slightly wrinkled from their long vacation in the back of our closets) and got dressed as if we were really going out. I put on make-up for the first time in months and heels on for the first time in memory! We brought our little kitchen table out into our main room and poured a glass of wine while we waited for our ‘formal’ to arrive. Soon after 6:30 we got a knock on our door and opened it to a package on our front step and a waving GCR member outside our gate. With a cheerful thanks we went to set up our formal venue. We opened our package to discover not only balloons, but a golden tablecloth, atmospheric battery candles, table decorations, a kazoo, and a confetti popper! More than enough to turn our living room festive. With balloons up, table set, wine opened, music playing, and food warmed we proceeded to have a carefree and fun night! Although the GCR did set up an online aspect to this night, I must admit that we got carried away, dancing and having fun and we did not tune in. Despite the pandemic, I managed to experience my very first Bonfire Night in England, party and all!
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Field tripchoir Ustinov to Beamish
A Reflection from the Ustinov Choir By
Pedro Alberto Martinez Castro
The experience of being part of Ustinov Choir for the 2019/2020 academic year has been great! My journey in the choir began during the first year of my PhD. Unfortunately, for my second year in Durham there was no Ustinov Choir because there was no director. This past year, Monica Hernandez stepped up to be director and I am thankful she did so because we were really looking forward to sing and perform at events again. This year was a new experience for me since we had many opportunities to sing--not only at the Christmas festival and Christmas formal, but also at Durham Cathedral in an intercollegiate evensong. Singing in the cathedral is something that I will never forget.
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Overall, the choir has not only allowed me to sing once a week and meet new friends but has also provided an opportunity to gain more confidence speaking in front of an audience and to chill after a hard day’s work doing research. I would definitely recommend this experience to any student. Postgraduate students from other colleges sing in the Ustinov Choir as well.
This shows the importance of having a postgraduate community that provides this opportunity with a flexible schedule so more postgraduates can enjoy the experience all across Durham University. During lockdown we managed to continue the choir remotely and made videos of two songs originally prepared for the Ustinov International Dress Party and Ustinov Live which were cancelled. We have successfully sang “Seasons of Love”, from the Broadway musical
selected “Cancion Mixteca”. For the end of the year, the choir worked to remotely produce two more videos of the choir singing emblematic songs in different languages. These are available in the Ustinov Choir 2019 Facebook page. These songs will stand as a reminder of our days at Durham University and Ustinov College. I can say that even though we can only perform remotely, the choir has helped me to relieve the stress caused by lockdown. I hope
Diversitate Valemus - diversity is our strength - is Ustinov’s College motto and it defines the Ustinov College Choir as well. Rent by Jonathan Larson, and “Cancion Mixteca”, a Mexican folk song by José López Alavez. Diversitate Valemus - diversity is our strength - is Ustinov’s College motto and it defines the Ustinov College Choir as well. We wanted to show this by singing the folk music of another country in a different language, which is why we
everyone is safe and we can be back to having in-person performances soon. In the meantime, I am looking forward to our performances for the Ustinov Day and am optimistic about what the 2020/2021 year will bring to the Ustinov Choir!
durham.ac.uk
Decolonising academia
Decolonising Academia By Bea
Fones
In order to be truly ‘global citizens’, we must engage with social issues and inequalities. The Café des Arts and Ustinov Seminar teams of the Ustinov Global Citizenship Programme sought to begin this at home, within our own academic community where we, as a team of scholars, wanted to address and dismantle the ways UK Higher Education (HE) has been shaped by colonial power structures. We began planning the ‘Decolonising Academia’ discussion panel late in 2019, rescheduling twice in solidarity with strike action and due to lockdown restrictions. It eventually went ahead in a somewhat different – and certainly new to us – format: as a Zoom webinar in early June 2020!
We wished to challenge the privileging of whiteness that creates an environment where Black, Asian, and Ethnic Minority (BAME) students and staff face institutional racism and enormous barriers to inclusion and academic attainment. It is crucial to keep these conversations at the centre of our work, and use our platforms to combat inequalities within and outside our institutions. The event fell at a time of increased discussion highlighting the importance of antiracist action, with an enormous global resurgence of #BlackLivesMatter protests days after the death of George Floyd. We began the event with a minute of silence to commemorate the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and all who have lost their lives to police brutality and the violence inflicted on Black communities by structures of white supremacy. Our panel of speakers joined us from a variety of institutional and disciplinary backgrounds. Dr Jason Arday (JA), Assistant Professor in Sociology at Durham, is a leading voice in the areas
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of race, education, class, social justice, intersectionality and cultural studies. He is a Trustee of the Racial Justice Network and the Runnymede Trust, the UK’s leading Race Equality Thinktank. Dr Janine Bradbury (JB) is a Senior Lecturer at York St. John University, specializing in African American literature, American Studies, and Critical Race Theory and is a former member of the Runnymede Trust’s Emerging Scholars Forum. Dr Laura Loyola-Hernandez (LLH) received her PhD from the University of Cambridge and is currently a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Geography at the University of Leeds. She is interested in decolonial thought, feminist political geography, and critical race studies with a focus on Latin America. Mr Kayombo Chingonyi (KC) is Assistant Professor in the Department of English Studies in Durham whose interests are in contemporary poetry, the intersection of poetry and music, critical race studies, black studies, and studies of whiteness with a focus on performativity and lyric subjectivity. His latest book of poetry, Kumakanda, was a Guardian and Telegraph book of the year. We were lucky to have two guest cochairs joining us for the event. Nailah Haque and Oluwaseun Twins have led Durham University People of Colour Association (DPOCA) as President and Vice-President respectively and are the 2020/2021 Undergraduate Academic Officer and President of Durham Students’ Union. We were joined by 115 attendees from across the university and further afield for this crucial discussion; we are
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Decolonising academia
enormously grateful for the high levels of engagement, and we hope the event was valuable for everyone who joined us.
Jason drew attention to recent work by Leading Routes, a pioneering initiative aiming to prepare the next generation of Black academics, which investigated the attainment gap for Black students in HE. They found that just over 12% of academics in the UK are from BAME backgrounds, but this doesn’t take into consideration those on precarious, fixed term contracts. Only 32 Black women hold the rank of full Professor in the UK; this illustrates the difficulties for BAME students looking for role models or a ‘blueprint’ for how to succeed in academia. The mental health of BAME students, Laura argued, is not given enough attention; especially in the ways in which it intersects with immigration status, sexuality, gender identity and disability.
We opened with asking panellists what it means to say that academia is colonial and what it would mean to decolonise. Our speakers emphasized that ‘decolonising’ holds different meanings for individuals and communities; it involves the acknowledgment and deconstruction of colonial power structures which erect barriers for BAME staff and students in UK HE. All the panellists articulated the need for pioneering, student-led movements which will bring new ideas to the forefront of the discussion. JA: ‘I believe white people more generally need to understand what accompanies whiteness; the power, the privilege, the centrality and all it encompasses, and they themselves need to actively destabilise that.’
We asked our panellists to comment on measures like the Race Equality Charter (REC) and their effectiveness in addressing racial inequalities in HE. Whilst the REC and other measures may be an effective vehicle to engaging in better race equality practice in institutions, panellists responded, they can also become a box-ticking exercise for universities or an opportunity for an optical performance of change. Panellists emphasised the need to work with the community outside our universities, bringing activists, community organisers, and artists with us as contributors
KC: ‘We cannot do decolonial work out in the world without doing it in centres of knowledge production, and universities are some of the most powerful sites of knowledge production. If the knowledge they produce is decolonial, then we’re doing something important with those imaginative spaces.’
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Our panellists work in the arts, humanities, and social sciences; they highlighted how the colonial foundations of higher education manifest in their disciplines, what a ‘decolonised’ curriculum in each of their fields might look like, and how they define ‘diversifying’ and ‘decolonising’. A potential pitfall of ‘decolonising’ academic spaces arises where the political radicalness of the movement can be lost when the exercise is co-opted and becomes a brand, Laura articulated. Much of the unpaid emotional labour which goes into decolonising efforts is expected of women of colour, Black women especially, in addition to further pastoral responsibilities. Emphasising that normative whiteness is not the centre of knowledge production, Kayombo highlighted that long-term ‘decolonial’ projects can start with short-term moves to ‘diversify’ curricula and institutions. Janine emphasised that students can challenge biases in the lecture theatre, where they feel that what they learn is not reflective of themselves. Panellists also weighed in on the use of acronyms like ‘BIPOC’, ‘people of colour’ and ‘BAME’, which are used widely in academia, policy, and activism. These terms should be approached critically, as while they can bring power in alliance, there is danger in homogenising and reinforcing white supremacy in contexts like the UK, where terms don’t reflect colonial legacies specific to individual ethnic groups.
‘I believe white people more generally need to understand what accompanies whiteness; the power, the privilege, the centrality and all it encompasses, and they themselves need to actively destabilise that.’ Another key issue was institutional gatekeeping, and how it is an important point of intervention for decolonising practices in academia. What creates barriers for people of colour – especially past the undergraduate level – and how can these barriers be challenged? Our speakers emphasized the role of inherited wealth and social capital which students of colour, and especially Black students, often struggle to access. This fosters an atmosphere where marginalised students must constantly prove themselves worthy, facing additional barriers to studying effectively and benefiting from academic reward systems. JB: ‘What I would really call for is a radical reconsideration of our spheres of influence, and by that, I mean, where do we want to publish? Where do we want to study? How are we going to get there and is there a way that we can make sure that more people have the opportunity to progress, that is free from institutional funding and recognition and validation?’
rather than privileging the academic perspective. Laura pointed to student-led initiatives, like ‘Why Is My Curriculum White?’ led by Melz Owusu in Leeds, as places where some of the most transformative work takes place. Our panellists all highlighted the dangers of ‘decolonising’ being coopted by universities without adequate self-reflection and commitment to supporting colleagues and students of colour who already bear the brunt of organising, mentoring, and additional unpaid emotional labour. JB: ‘I think we just need to be mindful that what we’re doing doesn’t become performative. There’s such a big performative element, especially now with George Floyd, there’s such a scramble to demonstrate how great you are at this, at the cost of doing something genuinely meaningful… Decolonisation has become a new colonised space, and a contested space, and we must fight to protect it.’
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In response to a question about what students can do to contribute to decolonising efforts, panellists emphasised the significance of holding institutions to account, and taking advantage of the opportunity to give feedback on what they want to see more or less of in their modules and their institutions more widely.
Finally, we touched on the topic of how COVID-19 and its disproportionate effects on BAME communities will impact decolonising efforts in HE.
LLH: ‘We do what we can with what we have. Speaking up is difficult, and a lot of the time, the burden comes to students or scholars or activists who are Black or are people of colour. Sometimes, it’s okay to take a step back and take care of ourselves, both as individuals and as a community, to hold ourselves, to elevate ourselves, to love ourselves and to celebrate that… We don’t always have to engage with these conversations because taking care of ourselves is resistance as well.’ Finally, we touched on the topic of how COVID-19 and its disproportionate effects on BAME communities will impact decolonising efforts in HE. Institutional factors prohibiting equal access for BAME communities to housing, education and employment will be intensified. The decolonising agenda, Jason said, should consider the implications of this going forward. For example, Year 13 students transitioning to HE are already disadvantaged by racial biases in that their predicted grades in secondary education (upon which university decisions will be based in the absence of formal examinations) are often far lower than their actual attainment. Factoring in where people attend university, their choices and future employment opportunities, the impacts of COVID-19 on these discussions is something which requires in-depth, nuanced treatment. As scholars striving to be truly global citizens, we hope the Ustinov College Global Citizenship Programme can continue to be a space where these issues can be brought to the forefront of our work, pushing for equality and the liberation of marginalized people. We will not shy away from acknowledging and working to change the ways we ourselves have been complicit in racism. We hope to continue facilitating these discussions, even when they may be uncomfortable, and commit to providing a space for learning and action, open to the entire Durham University community. We are enormously grateful to our panellists, chairs, and organising team for all the effort that went into this event, and to our audience members for attending and recognising the significance of this conversation. We hope you will continue to take this journey with us.
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Decolonising academia
With the recent global wave of support for the Black Lives Matter movement, there is a danger this work is not being done in a way which acknowledges how we have been complicit in racism ourselves. Anti-racism and decolonising work must move forward in order to be effective; our panellists emphasised the need to continually interrogate our own motivations. A member of the audience asked panellists to weigh in on how BAME academics can avoid complicity in colonial systems in HE. Our panellists emphasised the importance of keeping an awareness of positionality and privilege, acknowledging and changing behaviours which perpetuate anti-Blackness, supporting others and holding ourselves and others accountable.
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Poetry
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snegurochka that patch of sky, staring into my soul with hundreds of eyes and frozen eyelashes for the first time in my life, i noticed the bridge pillars i noticed they covered the faded red stars oh, if i could, i would have painted over the whole mountain pour the paint as the snow kept falling the whiteness would be as heavy and warm as my duvet By
Sorina Avadanei
i could fall asleep under it, i could fall asleep for as long as i wanted i could retract into earth’s core close my eyes, and, instead of black i would only see white but the mountain never did anything wrong
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By Kimberley
The rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) took a turn for the worse when it became an ongoing global pandemic and marked the beginning of a war without weapons. The number of reported deaths and confirmed COVID-19 cases jumped up in the UK days before PM Boris Johnson declared a nationwide lockdown on March 23rd 2020, as social media outlets fuelled anxiety and helplessness in the face of the coronavirus. To prepare to stay at home and take safety and control measures, people rushed into local supermarkets, frantically panic-buying and stockpiling goods, and emptying stores across the country in fear of a shortage of supplies. Masks, anti-bacterial liquid, and rubber gloves - even flour and toilet paper - sold out rapidly, so that supermarkets had to enforce purchase limits on items per customer. Faced with empty shelves, people went to book online slots for the delivery of essentials. However, in many cases, there were no delivery slots available for at least two weeks, triggering an even greater anxiety. In view of the lack of food resources, the lack of guidance and unclear coronavirus instructions released by the UK government, the limited bed capacities and intensive care admissions in the NHS, and the increasing number of cities being put under lockdown, many international students chose to return to their home countries. However, purchasing international airline tickets to
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A silent war without weapons
A silent war without weapons: Life in lockdown in Northeast England from the perspective of an international female PhD student Liu
Asia was no tea party at that point. The UK lockdown policy brought in aviation restrictions in an effort to flatten the curve and further prevent the spread of the virus and suspended, reduced, or cut flights to affected countries. Some airlines were selling one-way tickets to Asia, with economy seats receiving bids of up to nearly £6,000. Even these high-priced tickets sold out rapidly. Although some – apparently – lucky students successfully managed to book tickets home, many of these flights were continually rescheduled and/or ultimately cancelled.
Special thanks are due to Ustinov’s Acting Principal, Sarah Prescott, for sending us frequent updates via email about the latest coronavirus information. We are also grateful for the weekly college newsletter. Ustinov college staff are actively and continuously preparing college facilities in alignment with public health recommendations, distributing antibacterial hand sanitizers and masks at college entrances to protect both staff and students. We are hopeful the situation will improve soon, for we do miss the taste of life before lockdown. The coronavirus lockdown has left
To cope with loneliness, many of us have put up pictures taken at different events on our dorm walls. Several affordable takeaway chains – e.g. McDonalds, KFC, Burger King – stopped doing deliveries and drive-thrus during lockdown, creating even more struggles for many international students. The Ustinov Hairstyles and Lifestyles Society (H&L) started a WeChat study group to encourage students to support each other during these challenging times and gathered 197 Ustinovians. Most Asian Ustinovians had been away from home for at least six months, lacked food resources, and were tired and bored of cooking. So we had an idea and asked some popular reliable Chinese restaurants in Cambridge, Birmingham, and Durham to deliver fresh Chinese food to students’ accommodations within twenty-four hours so Asian Ustinovians could get a taste of home and feel a wee bit less homesick during this difficult time.
streets empty and turned many cities into ghost towns. Attending conferences, going to formals and parties with friends, taking part in outdoor group activities, dining out, having picnics and group barbecues, face-to-face meetings and conversations, lying in the sunshine, strolling down the usually crowded streets, and above all else, hugging one another. To cope with loneliness, many of us have put up pictures taken at different events on our dorm walls.
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A silent war without weapons
my birthday and managed to raise £105 – the initial fundraising target was £100 – for the Rape and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre (Darlington and County Durham). My Facebook birthday fundraiser feature – £105 of / £100 raised
My picture wall
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We have resorted to communicating strictly virtually with our friends and family, sharing videos of our workout sessions, the TV comedy shows we have been binge-watching, and DIY/ handicrafts projects we have proudly taken on. These activities, especially watching feel-good movies and videos, helps reduce anxiety and depressive moods and makes you feel happier. These at home activities can even help those we cannot be with in person. The Durham Chinese Students & Scholars Association (CSSA) held a charity auction to support their hometowns experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks. At the Ustinov H&L Society, we donated
handicrafts and bid at up to £8/item in the charity auction and subsequently donated the money to hometown organisations. Empathetic Ustinovians bid on our handmade products for more than they were worth because they wanted to support our hometowns and were happy to pay a little more.
I have found so much support at Ustinov in this crisis and throughout my time at Durham University. As a PhD student and a female, I was warmly and greatly welcomed by Ustinov’s college mentor system which guided and supported me during my time here in Durham.
Handcrafts made by members of the H&L society
‘I have found so much support at Ustinov in this crisis and throughout my time at Durham University. Special thanks to Ustinov’s Principal Professor Glenn McGregor and to Mr. Ray Mumford. I have been President of the Ustinov H&L Society for nearly 3 years now and I am very grateful for the way the GCR has supported each other and relentlessly stuck together during this time. My special thanks go to my GCR family: Thom Addinall-Biddulph, Jamie Graham, Alexander Blair, Matthew Roberts, Dan Brunsdon, James O’Neil, Sam Glyn, Nigel Quinn, Clare Wallace, Joe Farrouu, James Ireland, Adrian O’Brien, Alastair Stewart, Tom Pitts, and Connor Armstrong. The H&L Society would not even exist today if it weren’t for you. I wish all the best to my fellow Ustinovians and together, we will get through the COVID-19 crisis.
Inspired by my supervisor, Professor Lynda Boothroyd from the Department of Psychology, I wanted to personally contribute a little more to local charities and help them during lockdown. I decided to create a birthday fundraiser on Facebook in the week preceding
Thanks:
Photo credits: Brian D. Taylor, Honghuan Li, Matthew Roberts, Peipei Cao, Yue Yang, and Kimberley Liu.
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Renewal
Renewal
Photo credits: Kimberley Liu, Mason Zhang and Fenyi Shi
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23
Poetry
lament for epirus better times will come, you will find happiness
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in the taste of fruits in the winds warmed up by millions of cries for freedom they came from the mountains lecturing in the language of gods sometimes whispering around corners sometimes shouting in harbours people are utterly in love with familiarity the taste of a teabag that has been used more than once breathing in, humid air breathing out, turmoil and ashes By
Sorina Avadanei
i have no energy left for revenge i will open the window and let the spring breeze in waiting for a paradise where fig bits get stuck into my teeth and seagulls would steal my sandwich better times will come for those who have hope
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Photo Diaries of COVID-19
Photo Diaries of COVID-19: Spring in Neville’s Cross
But the Earth still spun, and it spun our little slice of Durham, Neville’s Cross, into spring as Britain’s natural beauty bloomed around us despite everything. While the city centre emptied out, our neighbourhood came alive with walkers, joggers and aimless wanderers (all 2 m apart, of course). Keen eyes will have seen Terra Mater introduce herself, and I decided to use my daily outdoor exercise to photograph this.
The Alien Not being native to the UK, I found much of the flora around Neville’s Cross was
hands and colours not manufactured in a locked-down factory. Yellows, blues, purples, and pinks sprouted from lush green stems and leaves. Equally, the lack of colour gave its compliments.
The Fauna Animal life abounded even in the small area around Neville’s Cross. Young calves followed their herd in the pasture by Observatory Hill, bees hid in flowers, and insects left their tracks on fallen trunks. Resident ruffian and college kitty, Vlad, interrupted otherwise peaceful rambles.
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By Chelsea Peer
The global pandemic shut down our economic and social centres just as spring 2020 was coming on. The pubs lay empty, Mother’s Day merch dangled in darkened shop windows well into June and the libraries were locked up tight. With our cherished routines interrupted, it seemed as though the world had come to a standstill.
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alien to me—from ferns slowly snaking up from the ground to spindly flowers; and a creative camera angle can make a strange plant appear even more otherworldly.
The Colours Yet, beyond the weird, the wonderful exploded in an array of colour and texture. Designs not etched by mortal
The Leaves and the Trees The bare branches of winter once left Neville’s Cross residents exposed to a gloomy sky above, but with spring came a comforting canopy of green. Leaves may sound like a boring subject for the camera, but their textures, symmetry and the ways they capture and reflect sunlight create stunning images. And
Photo Diaries of COVID-19
sometimes, a full tree can block prying eyes from a quarantine meeting place.
Artefacts of Hope In the months since the lockdown began, charming little artefacts have appeared around Neville’s Cross. Paper eggs for Easter, decorated keys and rocks painted with phrases like ‘Keep Dreaming’ and ‘HOPE’ show that while faces may have been hidden from view, the community is never out of sight.
Economies, shopping, dining, drinking, parties, our own Durham campuses - all these normal parts of our regular lives have either been reduced to running at a shrivelled crawl or have come to an empty standstill all together. But the seasons still change, and Earth still runs her course. Flowers still bloom, bees toil, and cats still climb through windows. Beauty exists even in a pandemic, and the calm brought on by the beauty of Neville’s Cross has been what has helped me most to carry on.
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durham.ac.uk
Renewing Your Brand
By Samantha
Seikaly
Renewing Your Brand. In the midst of the pandemic, all sectors of life have virtually been shifted online - from online education to online weddings, the world has undertaken a monumental shift in social engagement. As we spend increasingly more time online, we create a more nuanced network of our own data and presentation on online spheres, especially through social media. In November 2020, GCP SUCCESS hosted a live interview with Timothy Fare-Matthews on the importance of self-branding in a predominantly online world. It has become apparent that social media is one of, if not the most, important tool for professional development - a tool that now more than ever can be used to maximise social and professional reach. Timothy Fare-Matthews is the owner of First and Ten Productions, a production house in Dubai that has been a pillar of the city’s media industry, having worked with Pope Francis, Will Smith, Red Bull and many more. During the first national lockdown in the UAE in March 2020, Timothy and his colleague, Sebastian Bates, launched FTEN X Academy, an online networking community for Dubaibased business owners.
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From organising live interviews with business moguls, to offering services for multimedia course creation, Timothy has established himself within multiple networks by constructing a self-brand through his expertise.
“Branding is what people say about you when you’re not in the room” Praising his early efforts to self-brand, Timothy noted that “With our branding (...) we were able to kickstart a product. It’s called the FTEN X Academy, and that enabled us to build a community and also sparked my own personal brand as well.” Timothy emphasises the universality of the self-brand as something that everyone should focus on, as “there’s the brand of the business, and there’s also the brand of you.”
Every social media post and account is part of your brand, from your WhatsApp picture to your LinkedIn cover photo – but how much are you paying attention to your social media? Despite the trials of attempting to develop a self-brand, Timothy maintains that “it’s all about being active”. “It will develop, you won’t get it ‘right’. It will always be changing - we change as humans all the time; we learn things, we read things, the people we hang around - it’s all an influence. Be open to change, and know that you won’t get it right. Just start.” In a time of continuous online events, lectures, meetings and engagements, it has become our second nature to immerse ourselves into social media and the virtual realm. What we choose to do with our time online can alter our future possibilities by taking the effort to renew our own self-presentation on social media.
There & Back Again
There & Back Again By Duen
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Yung Leung
The Renewing Perceptions of Chinese Porcelain in England from the Sixteenth to the Eighteenth Century Since the Fifteenth century there has been an inbuilt, irresistible assumption that the trade of Chinese porcelain marked the start of global connection and the consumption of foreign goods. For pieces as exquisite as these, it is almost justifiable to assume that there was an immediate Western appropriation of porcelain manufacture and Chinese designs. This assumption premises that these ravishing vessels and table wares were gladly accepted and used the way they were supposed to be even when imported to England. However in reality, Chinese porcelain and its designs in England were conceived of in different ways, undergoing renewed interpretations through the centuries. When china was first adopted in Britain, Chinese motifs such as turbulent waves, phoenixes and dragons were strange to the English culture. It took local production more than three hundred years to start including these motifs into their own, locally made porcelain designs.
These false assumptions are clearly based on a problematic way of thinking that prevents people from looking into the differences between localized patterns of porcelain creation and consumption and those received from the country of origin. Furthermore, there has been the temptation of looking at
same location and with the same type of objects, means of consumption could vary in different periods. For instance, in England the introduction of Chinese porcelain dates back to the mid-Sixteenth Century: these new objects and their
When china was first adopted in Britain, Chinese motifs such as turbulent waves, phoenixes and dragons were strange to the English culture. an object as an independent work of art while leaving out the complex life that china had once it reached England. This is an interpretation that was emphasised by the early field of connoisseurship (a field that valuates art on where, when, and who created it) that has led to an overrepresentation of china as solely a trade pattern. Indeed, even in the
material caused confusion as people were introduced to a new style and form from across the world. In light of this confusion, when china arrived in England at this time, it was incorporated into a goblet-shaped cup known as Tazza, making it more familiar to the local ceramic forms, hence more approachable.
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There & Back Again
It is yet to be uncovered whether the Britons lacked the interest to adopt the exact manufacturing techniques or failed to do so, but for more than 300 years attempts were solely made on resembling and replacing with nonporcelain alternatives. The earliest re-creation of Chinese porcelain was not seen until William Cookworthy was granted a patent for porcelain production sometime before 1768. It is clear that the true imitation of Chinese porcelain and thereafter, its motifs, did not begin until long after its first introduction to English society. Once considered luxury goods, Chinese porcelain circulated in global trade. As time has passed, it has continued to serve as tableware for business tycoons and political oligarchs. Eventually, they became, and still are, exhibits in museums and part of interior design schemes. In exploring china’s origin in conspicuous consumption and beyond,
Owing to its growing familiarity, the porcelain market enjoyed prosperity in the Seventeenth Century. The elites started collecting and displaying these objects in their homes as a symbol of wealth and social status. Two of the most well-known surviving collections belonged to John Tradescant and Walter Cope of Britain. Later in the same century, chinaware was freed from its mere ostentatious furnishing function, and was renewed in its original purpose – for drinking and dining. While many people of prominence still continued to display them as ‘curiosities’, Chinese porcelain, according to Hannah Wooley’s cookbook The Queen-Like Closet, acquired a tableware function dedicated to serving dishes such as sweetmeats. Hence, it may be inferred that instead of the cliché ‘first use, then
...the Englishmen showed genuine enthusiasm in porcelain, the endeavour to imitate Chinese techniques, which has significant influences on motifs, began only a few decades after china first arrived collect’, imported china in England had been first collected for display until its active use was renewed. Later, it was once again aesthetically collected although some remained in use. Though the Englishmen showed genuine enthusiasm in porcelain, the endeavour to imitate Chinese techniques, which has significant influences on motifs, began only a few decades after china first arrived.
Pierson, S. (2012). The Movement of Chinese Ceramics: Appropriation in Global History. Journal of World History, 23(1), pp.9–39. theUstinovian
a broader and more diverse story can be told where a local self-identity is evident. In all, the British china trade was more locally fuelled and complex than a simple imitation scheme; both conceptions and perceptions of china evolved and was renewed in cycles over time.
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A Reflection on Renewal
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By
Arabella Lawler
A Reflection on Renewal It was a crisp and quiet New Year’s Eve and it was snowing, just like it does in the movies. I was returning home from my government approved walk of the day, when I saw something that struck me with a soft, but renewed sense of hope. I saw a young foal, galloping through the field by my house. It was freezing, and I could see its icy breath, steaming powerfully through its nostrils like smoke. This young foal was born in March last year. I remembered this, because it was born the same week that the UK was plunged into what is now known as ‘the first lockdown’. This new life arrived into the world, blissfully unaware of the pandemic, or anything outside the grassy enclosure of its field. I think back to those days and remember it being so refreshing – the simple joy of trying to catch a glimpse of the baby foal, commenting on how much it had grown in a single day and vying for its attention. As the seasons changed and time passed, we watched this young foal
take its first cautionary steps, in true Bambi style. Legs clumsily flailing and disproportionately long for its body. Back then, the foal was glued to its mother’s side like a shadow, trundling alongside and never apart from her protective gaze.
horse, galloping majestically through the night. Yet, in that moment I truly felt an overwhelming sense of renewed hope about the new year. Flash-forward a few weeks and 2021 has already presented a new set of
Nostalgia, for the precious time that was lost in 2020, but a peculiar sense of renewed hope for the new year. It had been a while since I had last seen the foal, but on that cold New Year’s Eve, I watched this strong young foal, now without its mother, full of life and vigour and galloping self-assuredly. I was immediately struck with a combined sense of nostalgia and hope. Nostalgia, for the precious time that was lost in 2020, but a peculiar sense of renewed hope for the new year.
challenges to overcome. But it is important that we remind ourselves that there is hope on the horizon. And I suppose that this is the message of this piece. That hope sometimes emerges from the most unlikely of places. From vaccines, to fresh starts and new beginnings. Hope sometimes presents itself in the guise of a young horse, galloping through a field.
2021 has been referred to as the ‘Year of Healing’. Not just in terms of putting an end to this global pandemic, but also in terms of emerging from the pandemic with a renewed sense of unity, hope, and a healthy perspective on life. Maybe I was just swept up in the beauty of the moment – of the snow, or seeing the baby foal transform into a strong young
Last year was a difficult year for so many, but it is important to remember that this year can still be a year of renewal. We must remind ourselves to be optimistic and inspired by sometimes even the smallest of moments that surround us, that remind us to be hopeful.
durham.ac.uk
By Fiona
Brewis
6) Proposed an aesthetic wildflower meadow. I have also met with the man in charge of the flashy wildflower meadow roundabouts in Durham and we’re planning to start our own on one of the college lawns. 7) Helped create new environmentthemed modules. I have wiggled my way into some student-staff working groups as a representative of ECO DU (Environmental Community of Durham University), a student group aiming to promote Durham University’s engagement with environmental issues. Through my involvement with this group, I proposed ideas and advised on the creation of new environment-themed interdisciplinary modules.
“So, you’re the eco rep? I suppose you ordered the veggie option?” A carnivorous neighbour at my first college formal smirked.
year, especially from the new Greening Ustinov and Sheraton Park (GUSP) group. I’ve also been grateful to the students and staff for supporting my initiatives; having a wee feisty ecowarrior stomp up to you waving plans for plant domination can be tiring to deal with.
8) Ran climate-themed events. I created two environment-themed pub quizzes, assisted GUSP in holding a community recycling event, and stewarded at ECO DU’s Valentine’s Day climate strike. I had hoped to hold litter-picks and nature walks, but sadly Covid-19 had other ideas…
Here’s a list of the stuff I’ve done:
“Actually, I ordered the steak,” I smirked back, quelling the inevitable “eco guilt” which rises up like a disapproving Greta Thunberg at the mere thought of a carbon-intensive indulgence. At that point in time, I was transitioning from bountiful bacon buyer to proud plantbased promoter. I’d cook vegetarian but plump for pork when eating out. I munched defiantly on my meat, trying to avert my thoughts from the many rainforests which had been deforested to grow the soya used for my late cow’s feed.
1) Donated oak seedlings. With GUSP, we dug up oak seedlings which selfseeded in the flowerbeds behind Neville House and donated them to a couple that is part of Grandparents for Climate Action – a sub-section of Extinction Rebellion – who were planting up the banks of a river to lessen the flooding downstream in Lanchester in future years.
9) Tried to get students to recycle. Although ultimately recycling is terrible, and is a symptom of extreme overconsumerism, it’s still pretty bad that Ustinov has the worst recycling rate of all of the colleges. I sent out a pleading email, however since I acknowledge that emails are fairly ineffective, I am planning to ask the porters to educate people on which bin to put things in upon their arrival in September 2020.
I am a stereotype of today’s environmental movement: young, female, veggie, unshaven armpit hair - if men aren’t expected to shave theirs, I’m sure as heck not shaving mine. Feminist, necessarily. Competition for the eco rep role was not fierce; I was the only person to run for it. To me, this is somewhat concerning given that Ustinov is a college of hundreds of students, all of whom will be impacted by the effects of the climate crisis. Perhaps it shows a lack of widespread education on the climate, perhaps it shows people tend to understandably prioritise their more immediate worries, i.e., the survival of a laborious postgraduate programme. In any case, I’ve been delighted to witness a high level of engagement from the local resident community this
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2) Started a community allotment. My faithful flatmates, other Ustinovian students, and local resident volunteers have been fantastic, tirelessly mashing up lawn to make room to grow spuds. Watch this space. 3) Reduced waste from the bar. Worked with the Bar Steward to facilitate the phasing out of single-use plastic cups in the bar and introduce a vegan menu. Coffee grounds and green food waste are now composted at the allotment. At least, when the café is not closed because of a global health pandemic. 4) Lobbied for pedestrian safety. Contacted the local councillors and asked that they focus resources on improving pedestrian safety at Potters Bank. In order to walk to university, the 400 students who live in Sheraton Park must cross a busy, dangerous road at the end of Westhouse Avenue, where there is no crossing. I have been chasing this up since December 2020.
Renewing the Environment
Renewing the Environment: Ustinov’s 2020 Impact
5) Rewilded part of the grounds. To improve the biodiversity of the Sheraton Park green spaces – I despise lawn monocultures – I have met with the Grounds Manager and arranged for the patch of grass to the left side of Neville House to be rewilded. It is already growing long and forming a wildflower meadow.
10) Proposed a community orchard & herb garden. GUSP is supporting me with this and we hope to plant the first apple tree soon & get people involved ASAP. In terms of facilities, Sheraton House already has solar panels on the roof and the remaining electricity is sourced from an offshore wind farm on the North East coast (which is the source of all electrical energy at Durham University). The heating in the college buildings is unfortunately gas, however it is turned off throughout summer months, to the dismay of those hailing from warmer climes. So tell me, what do you do for the environment?
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Alumni Contributions
Alumni Contributions Name:
Melissa Bryant Year of graduation:
2014 Degree studied:
MSc Global Politics (the first year it was offered!) City and country of origin:
Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis Current job:
UK Media Lead, World Bank City and country you currently live in:
London, United Kingdom
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The World Bank. As an International Relations student, it’s an organisation you will inevitably come across during your studies. And it’s probably an organisation you could see yourself working at some day, helping to support its mission of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity. Honestly, when I applied for my current role, I was pessimistic about my chances of success. The competition for development jobs is fierce, and I was no stranger to rejection. I didn’t even think I was an exact match for all the criteria listed in the job advert. But I have always been a fan of taking well-informed risks. After all, it was this mentality that led me to Durham. In 2013, I had finished my undergraduate degree in the Caribbean, and was contemplating my options. Canada seemed like an easy choice – closer to home and more links to friends and family in the diaspora. But I could not get the Global Politics MSc at Durham out of my head. So when by chance I ran into a Durham alumnus in St. Kitts who raved about his experience, it seemed like it was fate. I didn’t expect the transition to be easy. Transporting a child of the Caribbean to the north of England in a drizzly September was always going to be iffy. And even now, though I love many things
about Britain, I can’t say the weather is high on that list. But Durham certainly is. Arriving at Ustinov was almost like an intellectual overload. Discussions at the GCR, both planned and spontaneous, were always riveting. My worldview expanded as I became privy to the perspectives of people who I could never have dreamed of meeting on my 68 square mile island. I never felt as though my background made me less credible; instead, I could discern the respect that my peers had for my contributions.
My time at Durham will always remain a highlight. Though I’ve been in London working in international development since the summer of 2014, I never forget where it all (figuratively) started; at Ustinov College. In my day job as UK Media Lead for the World Bank, I rely heavily on the principles that made me feel so welcome at Ustinov – the acceptance and promotion of diversity, both in thought and in cultural backgrounds.
I didn’t even think I was an exact match for all the criteria listed in the job advert. But I have always been a fan of taking well-informed risks. I never considered applying to another college when I was looking at Durham. And it’s a decision I’ve never regretted. Being in Ustinov meant being part of a community. It meant I had ready-made companions for adventures to places like the Lake District, and it gave me mates who would helpfully induct me into British pop culture beyond my rudimentary knowledge of the Spice Girls.
While the last year has been tough for everyone, it’s knowing that communities like these still exist that make me optimistic we’ll get through all this, together.
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Alumni Contributions
Alumni Contributions Name:
Ojasa Arya Year of graduation:
2017 Degree studied:
LLM in International Trade and Commercial Law City and country of origin:
Kolkata, India Current job:
Associate in Fox & Mandal City and country you currently live in:
Kolkata, India
Ustinov will always hold a special place in my heart. The college gave me memories that I will cherish all my life. The international and multicultural exposure that the community at Ustinov provides introduced me to the friends I now have that come from so many different countries. The environment and the vibe you get while living in Ustinov is very positive. From the time spent in the kitchen with your flatmates, sharing and tasting food of different cultures, to just chilling in the Fisher House Bar - one can never feel lonely at Ustinov. I remember
once, when I was in the common room working on some submissions till late into the night, I ended up being the last one in the common room when the porter came by and we ended up chatting for a while. It was these small things and little gestures that made Ustinov such a delightful place.
The best part of Ustinov were the regular events that were held. My favourite were the movie nights and pub quizzes.
The best part of Ustinov were the regular events that were held. My favourite were the movie nights and pub quizzes. The formal dinners make you feel like a part of college society and is a wonderful experience. The most awaited event was definitely the summer BBQ. It was surely one of the best days I had while in Ustinov. One of the best experiences I had while living in Ustinov was working in the Ustinov College Bar. It not only provided an opportunity to interact and socialise with people, but also helped me grow independent and responsible. The Fisher House café and bar was the ‘Central Perk’ for me and my friends. I surely spent more time at Fishers (as it was famously called) than in my own room. The café was a saviour. I still crave the food the lady would serve with such a warm smile. Ustinov has been the most beautiful experience of my life. It made Durham feel like home and gave me friends who turned into family.
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Alumni Contributions
Alumni Contributions Name:
Kevin Spreitz Year of graduation:
2003 Degree studied:
MBA City and country of origin:
Toronto, Canada Current job:
Art Photographer, Gallerist City and country you currently live in:
Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico
Musings on Creativity, Renewal, the Life of an Artist, and a Pandemic, in No Particular Order.
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I became an artist (fine art & documentary photography) after I spent time in the Canadian Navy and then the business world. The Navy led to my Durham MBA, which led to a few years in management consulting. And that led to a conscious decision to force a renewal towards a path of my own choosing, and my passion. This decision made me a happy person. I think if we are to be Captain of our life’s voyage, we must never feel that what we are doing at any point is the endgame. Renewal is a state, not a destination. I’m writing about how I became an artist,
remembered your keen mind a decade earlier, or a favourite pub-mate had you in mind for something? When I was studying my MBA, I never dreamed that I would make my living from my photographs or have a gallery, but I use my MBA every day. I am my own finance director, operations director, strategy director, and on and on. My art drives me, but my Durham MBA allows me to see it for what it is – a business that provides for my family.
The short, and perhaps lazy answer is, I had too. I’m not kidding. It was always in the marrow of my bones. but in part 2 of this article, in five years (allow me my dreams, damn it!), I could be writing to you how my being an artist for a time led to my current career as a Lumberjack…or a Lion-tamer. Or maybe I’ll still be an artist. In fact, I would posit that our Durham education acts as a structural support for the framework of renewal in career and life. If you studied French, or Archeology, or Law, who’s to say that your time in Durham not only leads to that career… obviously…but also to an adjacent – or completely different – opportunity down the line just because a professor
I have often been asked the question, “Why did you become a professional photographer and artist?”. The short, and perhaps lazy answer is, I had too. I’m not kidding. It was always in the marrow of my bones. I was given a Kodak Instamatic as a Christmas gift by my aunt when I was 10. I remember that yellow box, and then the feeling – in the marrow of my bones! – when I later received the first developed prints from the camera store in the mall. (Remember those? Camera stores? And malls?) It was magic! Immediately I felt that wonder of making a two-dimensional graphic
representation of our three-dimensional world. Immediately I felt the power of interpreting my world through creativity. Yeah, I wasn’t the typical 10-year-old. The camera store staff quickly adopted me as I was responsible for 18.2% of the store’s revenue. Later, as developing film at a store was becoming a thing of the past, I went to university. I continued my passion, but it was always for me, just for me. It was my creative expression. Friends might ask to see my latest photographs, and I reluctantly agreed, only because I wondered why they would want to see them. The digital revolution came and continually improved, and I kept shooting. I have a life in pictures. I’m grateful that my management consulting career allowed me to indulge my love of travel and curiosity. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was building my portfolio. Eventually, someone in the business community asked if they could buy one. Then another. And another. When a gentleman contacted me and asked if I would make ten museum-grade photographs with a nautical theme for his vacation home, I thought, hmm, maybe I could really make a go of this? Tied to this was the thought, ‘maybe that wouldn’t be a bad idea’, as my love of solving business and human problems was diminishing. I loved the work and the people I met, but like most things
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I think renewal, or at least the notes your soul sings when it’s calling you for renewal, works that way. It’s not a bolt out of the blue. You meet a person, you like spending time with them, and then – sneakily – one day you realize you want to spend more time with them than anyone else. You have a job, and you like that job, but maybe you also have another side job, or you have a hobby, and one day you realize you would rather do that than this. Renewal, that sneaky songstress. Renewal’s cousin, the elusive and muselike Creativity, plays a part in all of our lives, if you are willing to let it come to you. In the business world, it helped me visualize the solution to problems as a canvas needing to be completed. The problem was the blank canvas, and I would imagine, “what do I want this canvas to look like?”. Similarly, this article started as a blank screen, and I hope it was finished by letting creativity come to me. That’s not saying it was “art” that completed it, or it is art that solves business problems. Hard graft and knowing the facts matters, but the execution can be informed by the elements of creativity and an artistic mindset. I don’t believe that there is anyone who just isn’t creative. I think of the remarkably accurate bell curve – every endeavour on earth has its failing performers, its adequate middle, and its rock stars. Even rock stars have their rock stars. Somedays I’m at my desk in my gallery, and not a single person comes in. Other days I see a lot of visitors and most of my day is chatting with them about their lives or my work. Presently, I have two commercial clients for product work, and I have two fine art photographs I need to package and ship for two clients. I also have to do the admin-y things that everyone must do. I reserve a few days a month just to go out and see what I see. Maybe a photograph comes out of it. I never get too stressed if I don’t take a good shot for a while, for I know it will come. It’s a quiet life, but fulfilling. And no boss. If I were to give any advice to would-be photographers and artists, it would be this. Don’t. I became a ‘pro’ shooter at the dawn of smartphones and “a camera in every pocket”. I finally opened my own gallery a couple of years before a global pandemic would stalk the land. I write that in jest. Partly. One must become what they were made for, and one must strive to learn what they are made for. And that’s not necessarily only in the arts. I met in my business career some
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incredibly talented people that had a true gift for numbers. I would say, how lucky they are, loving and excelling at what they do, doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing. The word gift is intentional. It’s a gift to be doing what you were born to do. I remember my navy days. Some of the ship operations people, the arrogant ones, would laughingly dismiss the pay clerks. How sad to be a clerk when we are the tip of the spear! I would say to my fellow officers, “how long do you think the navy would last if we didn’t get paid?” And when I would go to the admin office, those gifted pay clerks knew every single rule and regulation, every single benefit I qualified for, and had me sorted quickly and professionally. If we are all honest, that’s the backbone of every company we work for, or if self-employed, the contractors that help us to be selfemployed. The work-horses, not the show-horses.
been incredibly fortunate to develop a following in different parts of the world, of the right kind of clients, who value photographic art. I could write another essay on that – the importance of singing your song to the right audience, of marketing correctly. When I started selling my work, I understood – perhaps instinctively – that I must find those that value compelling photographs, museum-grade and limited edition, that are bought to be shown as art. End of story. Whatever your field, your industry, your dream, don’t waste a second with the wrong type of colleague, of client, of dream-maker. It’s not worth it. And don’t tell yourself they’ll come around. It’s you that must come around, and not to them. To someone else. The word artist can mean two things. There is the profession, Artist. I make my money selling the art I create. But there is also the second order meaning, difficult to articulate but perhaps best
The pandemic has been brutal to most, including artists. But like a good horse, I work, not show. I do the dreary parts that every job entails, even the glamorous jobs. I cold-call, I network, I continue to improve my skill, I create. I renew. The pandemic has been brutal to most, including artists. But like a good horse, I work, not show. I do the dreary parts that every job entails, even the glamorous jobs. I cold-call, I network, I continue to improve my skill, I create. I renew. Sometimes I’m even commissioned to create portraits or photograph high-end homes when people want my exacting quality and artistic vision, despite rarely advertising these genres as part of my repertoire as my passion lies in my fine art prints. I enjoy these commissions, and it fortifies my savings for the inevitable troughs in the cyclical art-buying sphere. I have
Alumni Contributions
in life, the seed of a desire for change sneaks up on you. I loved my work, and I loved my picture-making, but one day I realized I loved the picture-making more.
described as the soul of an artist, irrespective of one’s job. One might say a spiritual element, but the nonspiritualist might say a firm belief in artistry. And renewal is indivisible to that. Both meanings are correct. And perhaps the second is more important, because it is central to a person rather than just a job-description. I can’t write that is a recipe for happiness or success, but I can absolutely write that it is a life well-lived.
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ustinovian
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