Catherine Heard project, “Redwork: The Emperor of Atlantis.”A webinar Sunday will feature art professor Catherine Heard discussing public participation in her community embroidery project, “Redwork: The Emperor of Atlantis.”

Professor mobilizing co-creators for installation project

UWindsor arts professor Catherine Heard is seeking to engage people from diverse communities as co-creators in a large-scale sculptural installation work-in-progress scheduled for exhibition in 2023.

Prof. Heard’s project Redwork: The Emperor of Atlantis reflects her interdisciplinary practice and expands it by integrating submissions of embroidery — the art needlework known as “redwork” — from the public.

“Following the conventions established in traditional community quilting projects, contributors sew their initials or signatures into their patches,” says Prof. Heard. “They may choose a traditional redwork design or may select from amongst the categories of political patterns created for this work, including: the War on Terror, the Vietnam War, the Iranian revolution, Abu Ghraib prison, Black lives and histories, and Canadian residential schools.”

Heard will be joined by textile artist Shiemara Hogarth to discuss the project and how it manifests themes of political activism, collaboration, and community in an online conversation hosted by the Art Gallery of Windsor, the Niagara Artists Centre, and the Textile Museum of Canada on Sunday, April 11, from 2 to 3 p.m. Find details, including registration for the webinar, on the gallery’s website.

Attendees will have a chance to request a free sewing kit to participate in follow-up activity on May 9, an online sewing circle to embroider patches for Redwork: The Emperor of Atlantis. Register for the workshop through the museum.

water dropletA team of UWindsor environmental engineering students won the Water Environment Association of Ontario student design competition.

Student team cleans up in water treatment design competition

A group of UWindsor environmental engineering students came to understand the importance of wastewater treatment — and gained experience working as a team with professionals — in winning a student design competition of the Water Environment Association of Ontario.

Cay-Yen Ang, Jordan Goddard, and Fabianna Palacios took top honours against schools from across the province to address a real-world challenge: reducing overflow of wastewater from the treatment and collection system in Port Dalhousie.

The Windsor team developed a design to eliminate overflow with minimal cost, taking into consideration the effects of climate change. The submission recommended adding chemicals to improve the settling of solids during storm events, implementing fine bubble diffusers to increase the capacity of biological treatment, and use tanks existing on the site to disinfect water with chlorine.

Faculty advisor Rajesh Seth said the project showcased the students’ talents.

“Participation in such competitions is a great opportunity to help increase the visibility and profile of Windsor Engineering,” said Dr. Seth. “Winning it is a bonus, as they now move on to the North American competition in Chicago this October.”

The team also expressed gratitude for advice provided by alumni now working for Stantec Consulting: Mike Reaume (BASc 2010, MASc 2013) and Chrissy Jung (BASc 2017, MASc 2019).

“As one of the smaller groups that competed, we are very proud of the work we were able to achieve,” team members wrote in an account of their experience. “We are honoured to represent not only the University of Windsor but the environmental engineering discipline in this competition.”

Carton labelled "Juris Doctor: Because becoming a real doctor is too hard."The Windsor Law Revue features stand-up, spoken word, and musical performances.

Revue showcases law school talents

A one-hour program March 31 provided law students with a break from the drudgery of “Zoom” schooling. The Windsor Law Revue featured spoken word and musical performances, stand-up comedy, and inspirational greetings from alumni.

“As the term winds down, it was an opportunity for us to come together and celebrate the resilience of our community,” says assistant dean Francine Herlehy. “We’re pretty proud of it, and so I thought it was worth sharing across the campus.”

A recording of the event is available on YouTube. Herlehy promises viewers “lots of familiar faces.”

Author Trey AnthonyAuthor Trey Anthony is the keynote speaker for “Celebrating Women Who Inspire Us,” Wednesday, May 5.

May 5 event to celebrate inspiring women philanthropists

A May 5 event promises to celebrate the inspiring power of women philanthropists in our community, while supporting local youth through the On Track to Success program of the United Way.

On Track to Success changes the odds for students in need by offering supports to help them graduate high school and go on to post-secondary education.

“It’s a wonderful cause and I am sure many of our UWindsor colleagues will want to join us,” says Sheri Lowrie, co-chair of the campus campaign for United Way. She is a member of Women United, host of the annual “Celebrating Women Who Inspire Us” event, taking the form this year of a livestream.

Guest speaker Trey Anthony is the writer of the hit play and television show Da Kink in My Hair and author of Black Girl in Love (with Herself): A Guide to Self-Love, Healing, and Creating the Life You Truly Deserve.

Attendees may join pre-show gathering at 11:30 a.m. followed by the program from noon to 1 p.m. Admission requires a minimum $25 donation. Find details and register here.

floor tiles spelling out "One Step Forward"A tip from Human Resources suggests ways to keep calm and carry on.

Human Resources shares tips to keep calm

Do you ever find yourself mindlessly clicking a retractable pen for minutes at a time, or frantically scrolling through documents without even really reading them?

In a message sent Monday to UWindsor staff and faculty, Human Resources offers tips that can help provide some calm and clarity when you’re feeling overwhelmed:

  • Clean up your immediate surroundings. Tidying the area around you restores order to a little corner of your universe and allows you to move forward.
  • Focus on one task at a time. Constantly shifting our attention from one task to another can be draining. Single tasking can help us enhance focus.
  • Unload your thoughts. Keep a sticky note next to you and jot down your impulses as you have them. Unloading the thought can be enough to vanquish it.
  • Rethink your to-do list. Chunk like items together to make a long list more cohesive and efficient.
  • Accept what you cannot control. Uncertainty and uncontrollability are part of life; focus your energy on the things that you can control.

Learn how to gain some calm and clarity in the Wellness Tip of the Week.