Friend of Dorothy?

Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore?

The Decent Docent

Congratulations to me! On tuesday, I finished a twelve week class preparing me to be a volunteer docent at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. For the last three months I have been gaining instruction on principles of art and design, philosophies behind contemporary art, and strategies for working with different groups of people including different age groups (kindergarten trough adult) and disabilities. I had to write a paper on a particular piece of art in the museum, Romare Bearden's collage Serenade, linking its elements of design to its interpretation. And for the last few weeks I have been creating my final exam - a practice tour linking works of art from all three exhibits around a central theme of symmetry. I have incorporated works by artists like Bearden, Paschke, Kahlo, Oldenbourg, sculpture by Sol LeWitt and Alyson Schotz, and photographs by Klein. I have to take the education department through the tour. If I pass, I will be ready to start giving my own tours to various school groups, adult groups, and special tours.

I'm actually pretty excited about it, to get people to talk about what they see in a piece of art and reorient them to the things that they might want to look at. Strangely enough, I'm looking forward to the school groups. I remember how interested in looking at art I was at that age. It would be really cool to spark an interest or make a connection with the kids, get them to come back, and remind them that even as a kid they can look at a piece of art and just voice their opinion about it. Art is so cool.

World AIDS Day 2006

I applaud senators Obama and Brownback for bringing some attention to World AIDS day by individually taking an HIV test. The message that they wanted to send was that it is easy, painless, and bipartisan. Hey, if two senators can take the test, so can you.

But I think it falls a bit short because let's be serious. Did either of these men have to go to a free clinic, wait their turn with their cohorts, answer a battery of questions regarding sexual practices, numbers, and drug use? Do either one of these men actually think there is a chance that the test could come out positive?

Anyone who has ever taken an HIV test for something other than a photo op or support statement knows that taking an HIV test is more than just having the test. For many, it involves talking to one's doctor or locating an anonymous testing center. And the worst part of the test is getting over the fear, even if it is only a mild fear and only brief, that the test result could alter your life forever. I think it is that fear, more than disinterest, that keeps people from getting tested - the front of "it could never happen to me" that masks "what if it could?"

In celebration of World AIDS Day, let's try to remember that knowing is half the battle.