1. Looking back at the “bones of summer” how have you engaged or created art? If you haven’t engaged or created art, please describe why.

This summer has been a rather scary and dynamic time, but a fantastic opportunity for creative expression and development.  Other than the performance of music I do not see myself as being a particularly artistic person, at least not in the conventional sense.  While I am not particularly fond of practicing visual arts, I find joy in creation.  During what could have been a rather mundane 6 months, I spent a significant amount of time practicing the tuba like a good music student, but my creative outlets reached further than that.  I went on numerous beautiful hikes with my film camera, and I knit a handful of scarves for my close friends.  I am not sure however if I would consider the products of my creative expeditions “art”, as it was the creation which brought me the most joy. That, and what one considers to be “art” is subjective.

  1. What things, if any, surround you that you consider powerful?

There are a number of things that surround me, and that I interact with on a daily basis that I might consider powerful.  There are things that possess the capacity for largescale impact, like my cellphone or computer, and there are things that have a powerful significance to me and to my life.  Technology’s ability to connect millions of people and share millions of ideas is powerful, but I don’t think that is the kind of power Laskey would be referring to.  Objects around me that carry an emotional significance are admittedly more abundant, be it my tuba both for my memories associated with it, or for it’s capacity to make music and evoke an emotional response.  I find playing the tuba to be incredibly empowering too, as we humble brass players can make a piece of sheet metal sing.

  1. Over the next couple of days, take note of the dominant sounds in areas that you consistently walk. What are the sounds you notice most of all? Be specific.

I found this exercise to be far more challenging than I had anticipated.  I had not really noticed until I put real thought to it, that I seldom listen to my surroundings.  I am constantly determining the soundtrack to my life through the music and podcasts I listen to pretty well whenever I go from point A to point B.  I was however, refreshed to discover through this activity, how wonderfully quiet Victoria (Saanich specifically) can be,  disturbed only by the constant slight rustle of leaves.  Despite the impressive amount of biodiversity available on campus ( such as deer, squirrels and adorable bunnies), It’s worth noting that I have heard very few birds.  The sounds I MOST encounter are the chatter of students, the sound of my feet upon the ground, my own breathing through my masks, and the construction near my building.

  1. How do you relate to the phrase “free time only works if you steal it?”

I resonate really well with this phrase, because I know that having a lot of free time is not conducive to a productive lifestyle.  During my 6 months of quarantine, I was the laziest I have been for years.  While it was nice to have all the aforementioned free time, I felt largely unfulfilled.  Before schools closed due to Covid, I was taking twelve classes, performing with seven ensembles and working thirteen hours a week.  I do not consider myself to be an organized person, however the sheer amount of work I had to do forced me to be productive.  Without the need for such a high level of organization, I wasted my free time.  Stolen free time has an apparent value, and so it does not simply become a time to turn off.

 

  1. Do you have any other takeaways from the film?

I really enjoyed looking at art through Laskey’s eyes, and I found it to be incredibly insightful.  I had never really looked at art in the same way that Laskey does, and I was honestly just impressed by the way in which he sees the world.  I am not sure whether Laskey’s perspective is one that can be learned or one that he has had since birth, and I hope that this class will help to open my eyes to looking at music and other forms of art in a broader way.  I would love to sit down and have a chat with you about YOUR view on Laskey’s life beyond the apparent admiration.  Laskey himself seems like an interesting character, and I would very much like to look more into his life and work in the future.