Sprouting from a shared desire to increase our freedom from the behemoth of industrial agriculture, a group of recent SDaS students and other members of the Urbana-Champaign community have been meeting weekly to share seeds and knowledge about the many aspects and looks of gardening. While our motivations are varied, the problem of resource exploitation, misery and waste maintained by the current system of mass food production is a uniting factor.
Winter sessions consisted mainly of theory-shares: people would offer theoretical materials to the group which they had found of use or interest to them, either through presentations or sharing of literature. We also held seed swaps and “plotted” designs. Now that spring has sprung, workdays are being held at multiple sites around town. One of our applied criteria in transforming these sites has been that of working with the constraints (rendered benefits) of each location, as opposed to against them, using permaculture and biointensive methods.
For example, at La Casa Colectiva, a co-op and food producing garden site in Urbana, there has been particular emphasis on: the transplanting and nurturing of already present perennials such as fruit and nut trees and root plants ranging from horseradish to asparagus and chives; the use and rerouting of water from the prolific basement sump-pump; creating paths according to the habits of frequent users; the creation of gathering areas, including a fire pit nestled near the center of the garden; the integration of three precocious chickens into the system as a whole. Both chickens and fire pit are an uncommon sight in the otherwise suburban surrounding neighborhood, not to mention the presence of a dozen or so young people dedicating time and energy to producing their own food! The chickens also provide valuable help in turning the compost pile and supply a daily batch of eggs for household use.
Microtonal Design, or Alternative Crystallizations of the Pitch Continuum No aspect of music has become more rigidified in our minds and practice than the potential of musical pitch. Out of the vast pitch continuum, we find ourselves making the same non-choice over and over again: 12 equal divisions of the octave. Are alternatives possible, and do they make any sense? Yes! Join us for an exploratory seminar at the School for Designing a Society in Urbana, Illinois. Expertise unnecessary; only a willingness to un-stick yourself in good company.
Cybernetics and Social Change Cybernetics as an interdisciplinary field of study was proposed in the 20th century by scientists who wanted to fight fascism. From this study there ensued various unexpected theoretical and practical attempts and tendencies. A starting point for this course will be the view of cybernetics as a praxis for generating radical projects. Radical: getting at the roots of a problem; changing whole frameworks. The questions of cybernetics—regulation, self-regulation? observation, self-observation? stability, dynamics?—are invited to help actively answer the questions of social change: which social? how change?
Liberation Ecology What does sustainability look like when it refuses to sustain white supremacy? What is the meaning of liberation in a civilization that cannot feed or fuel itself? The choice between ecological objectives and social objectives is lose-lose. Rather than make it, we can unveil the connections between the two sets of issues, and create strategies for change that build on those connections. This class will weave together two elements: principles of ecological design, and exploration of the relationship between real and desired ecosystems and real and desired societies.
Ongoing Composition/Performance Projects
Pester Power! A collaborative compostion made by SDaS 2013-2014, now a kid’s performance to empower adults to help them change the world. Collaboration with writer Faranak Miraftab and her book Making a Home in the Heartland: Immigration and Global Labor Mobility We’re in the process of creating a touring program based on this book. “My Work in the Light of Herbert and Marianne Brun”Presentation/workshop series by local and visiting artists and activists.
Who is invited?
Since we all live with the consequences of the current design of society, everyone is invited to participate in designing a different one. No particular educational background is required; the prerequisite is the desire to participate in designing a society.
Apply
To apply to participate in the School for Designing a Society, please click here and you will be contacted for a phone interview.
1. Contact Linda at 217-550-6189 or lindaturnbull800@yahoo.com to schedule the first meeting of your team with a live performance of Pester Power at a time convenient for you and your neighbors.
2. Invite your neighbors to your house, to meet and see the live performance. (It’s 25 minutes long, fun, performed by kids).
3. After the performance, participate in a discussion about ways you and neighbors can change environmental and racial climate in your own home and in your community over the next 1 to 2 months (a member of Urbana’s Sustainability Advisory Commission would be happy to help). Make a commitment to take certain steps from the Low Carbon Diet book.
4. Meet three more times with your neighbors to check in on your action plan.
5. Celebrate your success with your team and with other teams.
Does this cost anything?
No. The performers (all kids) are excited to empower you adults to help them to change the world! The Urbana Sustainability Advisory Commission is delighted to work with you.
Keep in Touch! Subscribe to our Newsletter.
Seminars and workshops meet regularly… we’ll keep you updated!
apply no particular educational background is required; the prerequisite is the desire to participate in designing a society.
upcoming read about our upcoming programs and workshops for the year.
touring read about our touring and performance schedules for the year.
courses listed both alphabetically and by topic & a number of interdisciplinary programs cross boundaries between disciplines.
what happens? designing a society is a project that intersects the formats of classroom, commune, performance ensemble, activist group.
Stay in Touch
Keep in Touch! Subscribe to our Newsletter.
Exuberant Performance Workshops
Create your own One Woman (Man) Band!: Learn to multi-play various musical instruments. Waltzing Marching Band Take to the streets with a big band full of unusual instruments. Vaudeville, not Awed-ville Going back to the 1930’s, learn to be a performative ‘jack/jill of all trades’, rather than an expert in one.
Ongoing Composition/Performance Projects
Pester Power! A collaborative compostion made by SDaS 2013-2014, now a kid’s performance to empower adults to help them change the world. Collaboration with writer Faranak Miraftab and her book Making a Home in the Heartland: Immigration and Global Labor Mobility We’re in the process of creating a touring program based on this book. “My Work in the Light of Herbert and Marianne Brun”Presentation/workshop series by local and visiting artists and activists.
Who is invited?
Since we all live with the consequences of the current design of society, everyone is invited to participate in designing a different one. No particular educational background is required; the prerequisite is the desire to participate in designing a society.
Apply
To apply to participate in the School for Designing a Society, please click here and you will be contacted for a phone interview.
Since we all live with the consequences of the current design of society, everyone is invited to participate in designing a different one. No particular educational background is required; the prerequisite is the desire to participate in designing a society.
Apply
To apply to participate in the School for Designing a Society, please fill out the form here and you will be contacted for a phone interview.
Since we all live with the consequences of the current design of society, everyone is invited to participate in designing a different one. No particular educational background is required; the prerequisite is the desire to participate in designing a society.
Apply
To apply to participate in the School for Designing a Society, pleaseclick hereand you will be contacted for a phone interview.
Film Emphasis In the fall of 2013, the School for Designing a Society began to put more emphasis on the medium of video, with forays into the creation of Public Service Announcements as part of the larger SDAS collaboration project. We will continue with this emphasis in 2014. Under what circumstances will a composition of sound, text and moving image provoke curiosity, action, reflection, and change of mind?
Collaboration with writer & urban planner, Faranak Miraftab This Spring 2014 SDaS participants have been invited to work with writer and urban planner, Faranak Miraftab on theatricalizing texts from her book, Making a Home in the Heartland: Immigration and Global Labor Mobility. The book is based on interviews with Cargil employees in Beardstown illinois. The idea would be to create a touring program based on these texts/interviews. Writers, musicians, poets, dancers, activists are invited to work on this collaboration.
apply no particular educational background is required; the prerequisite is the desire to participate in designing a society.
upcoming read about our upcoming programs and workshops in the fall, spring & summer.
courses listed both alphabetically and by topic & a number of interdisciplinary programs cross boundaries between disciplines.
what happens? designing a society is a project that intersects the formats of classroom, commune, performance ensemble, activist group.
the integration of three precocious chickens into the system as a whole. Both chickens and fire pit are an uncommon sight in the otherwise suburban surrounding neighborhood, not to mention the presence of a dozen or so young people dedicating time and energy to producing their own food! The chickens also provide valuable help in turning the compost pile and supply a daily batch of eggs for household use.
