Right off the bat you're not going to get an answer from me - YET. This issue popped up on the IECN Islamic School listserve, and I was so impressed at the crazy assumptions people where throwing around when it came to what young Muslims consider their self identity. Some people are clearly out of touch with the very kids they are around by choice of their careers. Well, conveniently this happens to be the direction my dissertation is heading and I decided to do some pilot studies over the past few month to see little glimpses of how indigienous American Muslim kids are integrating multiple identies into something totally new.

On April 2-4th I'll be at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Education Conference to present some of the results of my pilot research. Additionally, since I tend to pontificate when I get handed a microphone, I'll be sure to talk about all the things I think we can do to improve private Islamic school pedagogy in relation to using the arts in a manner to stimulates critical thinking. So typical of me!

For those who know or have noticed I tend to focus my art objects around the narratives of issues concerning Muslims. Or at least I use Islamic themes as my gimmick but it does tend to make sense considering, ahem, I'm one of them. But my interest in art goes far beyond just the creation of objects which is why I'm investing like the next decade of my life into the Art & Art Ed program at Teachers College. The idea of doing research into the uncharted territories of idenity and culture for the myriad of personalities that fall under the Islam umbrella is rather exciting!

At the beginning of January University of Colorado in Boulder is hosting a 4 day conference about Islam and the Media. This conference brings together a whole crazy array of heavy weights and new jacks (like myself) to discuss all sorts of topics relating to the above. I'm very lucky to have been selected to participate in the conference as a breakout presenter and am rather psych'd to give my little dog and pony show. My topic: The Birth of and Islamic American Identity Through Arts Rebellion.

Ok, this must be some type of fluke. But honestly I could get used to this and can't even imagine making a living off of selling artwork. Recently I was involved in a reviewed competition for the Myers Art Award. Essentially each year Columbia University purchases new artwork into their collection and the competition is their process for review. I submitted a piece that was created literally less than a week before and they loved it. I actually submitted 2 pieces as per their limit and they informed me that the decision was hard between the two so BOTH pieces went up into the awards show and one never came home with me at the end of the show. For what it's worth, I love the idea of not schlepping artwork back home at the end of a show. It's all exciting to get it there, but the pick up after the show is a pain.