14.02.2019
Rosalie Schweiker came to our university for the visiting artist programme this semester and gave a really interesting twist on a lecture. She explained she used to have a copy of  'The Little Red School Book' and how it used to educate teenagers on topics you might not have found in school, such as sex and drugs. In the 1970's you didn't have the internet, a go to place for answers to questions that might've been too uncomfortable to ask aloud. So some people were getting themselves into situations they weren't prepared for, or could in some cases, become dangerous. The book at the time was seen as outrageous, but as Rosalie explained, was a safety net for many of its readers. This idea of having a backup plan and a point of call for information right inside your pocket was a comforting precaution. Which lead Rosalie to develop this idea into something we could use in the present. As sex and drugs aren't that much of a hot topic anymore and we're able to find answers to our questions on search engines such as google, the path of her book lead down another direction. Rosalie explained that she rarely sells her work but still earns as a working artist. She spends a lot of her time presenting lectures or talks, or with workshops and lessons in schools. Which the idea then became a book by Rosalie and Mirjam Bayerdorfer 'Teaching   for people who prefer not to teach'.
A magic 8 ball of learning, each page reveals a different answer, an activity or discussion to be had. This can be chosen by the teacher or as Rosalie said is intended, by the class themselves. This is a fun and exciting way to teach and learn as the power of the classroom is disrupted and handed back to the students.
As the books were handed out for us to have a read it was clear this was the direction of the lecture today also. Our lecture was to be exploring Rosalie's calendar for this month (as she picked from the book) and we spent the hour finding out what it's really like to be a working artist. As she spoke about her month of current projects to yoga class I found it a very useful incite into how you need to stay organised and network yourself all the time. There are opportunities everywhere and creating this publication was just one that allows Rosalie's work to travel, and reach a wider audience.

http://rosalieschweiker.info/come-along/