Participatory Practices: A collective close reading

“Grew me up Green”, Mindy by Vahri McKenzie

The following is a poetic edit taken from an hour long Zoom Chat regarding a performance art piece, Colour me, Beautiful, as part of the Bunbury Biennale 2021, HE | SHE | THEY.  We were provoked by the idea of participatory as a feminist practice. Participatory is more than interactive. As a method, it is intentional, planned, and full of techniques. The Zoom Chat is participatory and responsive. As a feminist participatory practice, Zoom Chatting requires introductions, engagement, a willingness to respond in ways that are not just scholarly, invitations that open-up and make room for thinking, and thanks. It is a feminist practice, and is an example of how to do a collective close reading.

(This entry was co-authored by The Ediths: Mindy Blaise, Jo Pollitt, and Jane Merewether. Inspired by the presentation by Dr. Vahri McKenzie at the Ediths Roundtable Series 2021)