Lauren Guilmette and Robert Leib, "Askesis" (2016), image/text
Askesis: Philosophy Without Teachers Residency, June 2016, Greensboro, NC
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Askesis is the Greek word for practice. Ancient philosophers, such as the Stoics, held askesis on par with theory for the importance of a philosophical life. At a time where the humanities are regarded by some as a wilting flower of the American educational system, can we re-learn to practice philosophy through our engagement with our contemporary landscape, and with that of others?
Day One: Looking, Talking, Lots of Walking
Philosophy Without Teachers was at 5-day interdisciplinary residency in Greensboro, NC, organized by Jeremy Bendik-Keymer of Case Western University and Ryan Johnson of Elon University, co-organized by the Elon Department of Philosophy and the Beamer-Schneider Professorship, co-sponsored by Elon University and the Beamer-Schneider Professorship in Ethics at Case Western Reserve University. Together the group took the question of practices to be central to contemporary philosophical inquiry.
A full schedule of the Weeks events can be viewed here.
(Guilmette/Leib 2016)
Day One: How do we build a place through shared behavior over time?
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Thanks to Chloe for the "travel gear" and for the questions it raises to interrupt familiar aspects of everyday life.
Day One: Forming a Place Through Shared Habits
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Our stoic and ever-walking leader, Ryan Johnson, reflects with Chris Adamo.
Domination is about irreversibility, free life is reversible.
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There is a lost art of writing letters.
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Ontology Rosary
Guilmette 2016
Day One: Why are we walking everywhere?
(Guilmette 2016) Follow our routes here.
Looking in the Windows of Blandwood Mansion
(Guilmette 2016) The group is reflected in the pane.
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After the Deluge
(Leib 2016) Still waiting on the Uber.
Portrait: Everyday Habits with Jeremy Bendik-Keymer
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Portrait: Jenn Bulcock
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Portrait: Chris Davidson
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The Magician
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Portrait: Chris Adamo
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(Guilmette/Leib 2016) If you have ever been told this, you're likely on to something.
Chris Adamo, writing and smiling
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Walking Protocols
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Protocol is usually used to mean rigid stipulation, as in military protocols, but for the stoics, it was instead a sense of bringing form out of chaos.
Only shadow moves faster than the speed of light.
(Leib 2016)
What is the Shadow of Thought?
(Leib 2016)
Who was this beauty meant for? Who is foundational?
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Post-industrial Protocols
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Close Up
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The Pantheon
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The Strangeness of Litter
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Day Two: Walking to Dinner Together
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(Bendik-Keymer 2016)
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Portrait: Lauren Guilmette
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The Planner
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Right?
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Portrait: Robert Leib
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The Lovely
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Get!
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With Whom Do We Share Our Habits?
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What is The South to Southerners?
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Greensboro Downtown, 2:54pm
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Greensboro Downtown, 3:01pm
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How Can Expression Become Exclusionary?
(Leib 2016)
Textual Protocols at Scuppernong Books
(Leib 2016) http://www.scuppernongbooks.com/
Lynne
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Pulling Forth the Concept
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Chloe Bass on Social Practice Art
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“But I always liked side-paths, little dark back-alleys behind the main road- there one finds adventures and surprises, and precious metal in the dirt.”
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How Can a Small Group Express a Critical Mass?
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Day Three: What it Means to Walk Forward
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Our museum guide, Derek, helps us re-trace the walk taken by the Greenboro Four, going to Woolworths on February 1, 1960. Special thanks to Derek!
How to Walk Through Wet Concrete?
(Guilmette/Leib 2016)
Can We Learn a Curiosity without Shame?
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) And without Violence?
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Day Four: How Do We Walk Through Our Histories?
(Leib 2016)
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Greensboro Historical Museum
Guns of the Confederacy
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Greensboro Historical Museum
Charms and Tinctures
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Greensboro Historical Museum
The Rival Magician
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The Future of History Exists in its Strata
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Greensboro Historical Museum
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Are These Fossils?
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Greensboro Historical Museum
Should We "Repair" Our Histories?
(Leib 2016) Greensboro Historical Museum
They are Not Amused.
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Greensboro Historical Museum
Bottom Center: "Known Only to God"
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Greensboro Historical Museum
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Greensboro Historical Museum
(Adamo 2016)
Whose Voices Does Progress Forget?
(Leib 2016) Greensboro Historical Museum
What Can We Expect from Our Histories?
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) "Hands are found on many gravestones. It may be the hand of God pointing downward signifying mortality or sudden death. The hand of God pointing upward signifies the reward of the righteous, confirmation of life after death." --Jessie Lie Farber
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Portrait: Monique
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The Enterpeneur
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Portrait: Chloe Bass
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Portrait: Ryan Johnson
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Greensboro at Night
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Sometimes Things Exist Before We Think to Doubt Them
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Uhaul Office
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What Doesn't Come Out in the Wash?
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"The Way Up and the Way Down are the Same"
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"Finding a Dinosaur Requires Luck"
(Uncredited 2016)
Preserving the Past Through Space
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Ryan and Chris explore the current landscape with reference to an historical mural.
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Parallel Play with Fossils
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) On Thursday afternoon, we all gathered with piles of art supplies in "parallel play," thinking together with Lynne Huffer about fossils, fragments, deep time, and the anthropocene, primarily using photo transfer, poetry fragments, letter writing, and found images.
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"Fossils are Always in Progress"
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Rob's Fossil, in progress
14x17", photo transfer on bristol paper
Rachael's fossil, in progress
14x17", photo transfer on bristol paper
Ryan's fossil, in progress
11x14", photo transfer on bristol paper
Portrait: Lynne Huffer
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Sappho Fossil by Lynne Huffer (14x17", photo transfer, collage, and pastel on paper)
So many beautiful results of Lynne's Sappho prompt, not least of which is this, her own artwork!
Lynne's Sappho Fossil
Chris displays his fossil of Greensboro
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Chris Davidson's fossil
This beauty is a 11x14"collage with handmade rose paper, maps, colored pencil, and found materials. It can be displayed in any direction, depending upon the mood and interests of the viewer.
Which Way is Up?
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) Map of Greensboro, Greensboro Historical Museum
Chris and their fossil: "I Would Not Think to Touch the Sky With Two Arms"
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Jenn and her fossil
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Detail from Jenn's Fossil, Meditation on Humans as a Layer of Nature
14x17", photo transfer, collage, and sharpie pen
(Guilmette/Leib 2016)
Detail from Rachael's fossil: Saturation Point
14x17", photo transfer, collage, and sharpie pen
(Leib 2016)
Jeremy's fossil-letter
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Monique displays her brick fossil
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Close Up of Monique's fossil: Portable Mural
roughly 6x3x2", acrylic on brick, found materials
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Lauren's fossil, in progress
14x17", photo transfer on bristol paper
(Davidson 2016)
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(How) Can We Listen Empathetically?
(Guilmette/Leib 2016) The group attempts to listen to the rhetoric of a common political bane without reacting.
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What can "We" take with "Us" as we go?
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