READING:
Mirzoeff, Chapter 6: The Changing World
2 quotes and a 1 paragraph explanation of the main points of the chapter that you will share in class
"Globalization is not a set of developments that just happen, nor is it a uniform process that affects everyone in the same way. Rather, it is a set of uneven and sometimes contradictory practices, products, and ideas that must be understood in terms of their local, regional, and national contexts." Mirzoeff emphasizes that globalization is a complicated process in this quotation. Instead, it is a multilayered, intricate process that is influenced by a variety of variables, including politics, society, and economy. He also emphasizes that not everyone will experience globalization's consequences in the same way because they can differ based on the precise context in which they take place. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend globalization as a complex and varied phenomenon that cannot be summed up in a single story.
"The emerging global culture is not a homogeneous, all-encompassing culture, but rather a dynamic and multifaceted realm in which diverse cultures come into contact and sometimes conflict with one another."
In this passage, Mirzoeff challenges the notion that globalization produces a single, homogenous global culture. Instead, he contends that as various cultures interact and trade ideas, goods, and practices, the growing global culture is marked by diversity and complexity. Additionally, he understands that this process of cultural interchange might result in conflict because various groups may have competing goals and beliefs. As a result, he emphasizes the significance of comprehending the complexity of cultural interchange in a globalized world as well as the diverse and dynamic nature of global culture.
READ ONLINE (all of these should be available without subscription):
Amy Sherald
on her Breonna Taylor portrait
https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2020/08/amy-sherald-on-making-breonna-taylors-cover-portrait
2 quotes
"I was thinking about Breonna Taylor, her life mattered, and I felt honored to have the opportunity to paint her portrait... This image reclaims a space of honor, celebration, and representation."
Amy Sherald, the artist who painted Breonna Taylor's portrait, describes her thoughts and objectives in this quotation. She is honored to have the chance to produce a portrait that can serve as a monument to Taylor's memory and acknowledges the importance of Taylor's life and the tragedy of her passing. Taylor and other Black women whose lives have historically been devalued and excluded from traditional art settings are among those whose lives are being celebrated by Sherald, who is also stressing the significance of representation.
"In the absence of justice for Breonna Taylor, I was compelled to participate in this project because I believe that art has the power to transform our hearts and minds, and to impact the world in ways that words alone cannot."
Amy Sherald Effect
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/09/23/the-amy-sherald-effect
2 quotes
"Sherald was making a declaration: she had arrived, fully formed, and was going to be taking up space on her own terms."
The author of this quote is expressing the influence Amy Sherald had when she burst onto the art world with her distinctive and striking portraits. Sherald was defying the conventions of portraiture and reinventing what it means to depict Blackness in art by painting portraits of African Americans with gray skin tones and plain backgrounds. The author is highlighting the fact that Sherald was asserting her own identity and vision as an artist rather than trying to fit into pre-existing ideas of what an artist should be or do.
"Sherald has become known for creating portraits that suspend black life in a state of possibility and grace."
The author of this quote is outlining the characteristics that contribute to Sherald's art's power and effect. Sherald is able to concentrate on the faces and bodies of her subjects while portraying their personalities and feelings with sensitivity and nuance by adopting a limited color scheme and simple backdrops. The author emphasizes how Sherald's portraits include not only Black bodies but also a feeling of dignity and possibility that matches the real-life experiences of the subjects she paints. Sherald's work is viewed as a way to validate the humanity of her characters while also honoring Black life.
Kehinde Wiley
The Exquisite Dissonance of Kehinde Wiley
(be sure to listen to the 8minute audio interview)
https://www.npr.org/2015/05/22/408558234/the-exquisite-dissonance-of-kehinde-wiley
2 quotes
"I want to project a different kind of imagery into the world. I want to see people who look like me on the walls of museums, on the walls of cafes, and not just in a historical context but also in a contemporary context."
In this quotation, artist Kehinde Wiley explains the inspiration behind his distinctive portrait painting style. Wiley is contesting the historical exclusion of Black people from the canon of Western art by painting current African Americans in the manner of conventional European portraiture. He promotes increased Black visibility and representation in art, both historically and currently, and aims to challenge established hierarchies of power by integrating Black bodies into settings from which they have typically been excluded.
"I am in a conversation with the artists who came before me and the artists who are around me right now. And that conversation is about the way in which we as African Americans are seen in the world, and more importantly, the way in which we are seeing ourselves."
Wiley discusses the greater environment in which his art exists in this quotation. He seeks to contribute to a bigger cultural discourse about Black identity and agency and sees his work as a part of one regarding the representation of Black people in art. Wiley acknowledges the history of Black exclusion from traditional art settings while simultaneously affirming the existence and dignity of Black people in modern culture by posing his subjects in a manner that is reminiscent of historical portraiture.
Black masculinity
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/kehinde-wiley-on-painting-president-obama-michael-jackson-and-the-people-of-ferguson
2 quotes
"What I'm doing is creating alternative narratives of empowerment. It's not about creating a dogmatic representation of power, but it's about creating a new concept of what power looks like, and it is coming from the street."
In this quotation, artist Kehinde Wiley explains how he approaches making art that questions established power structures. In his opinion, portraying African Americans in positions usually reserved for historical European figures fosters the development of a new conception of power that is grounded in Black people's lived experiences. Wiley challenges established power systems and develops a fresh story of empowerment for underserved groups by depicting his people in a way that is typically reserved for white elites.
"I am not interested in the repetition of a world that I know is doomed to failure. And, more important, I am not interested in creating a world that would be doomed to failure for my nephew or for your children."
Wiley uses this quotation to explain why he makes work that questions the status quo. He wants to establish a new society where his nephew and future generations may prosper rather than continuing the same power and representation structures that have historically excluded Black people. Through the development of a new visual language, Wiley's work is thought to contribute to the development of a more just and equitable society by challenging how we view ourselves and our community.
READINGS:
Mirzoeff, How to See the World, Chapter 5
In chapter 5 of "How to See the World," Nicholas Mirzoeff discusses the idea of visual activism and how it might be applied to bring about social change. The use of images and visual media to contest prevailing narratives and develop other viewpoints on social issues is known as visual activism, according to Mirzoeff.
Mirzoeff talks on several instances of visual activism, such as the use of street art, graffiti, and murals to oppose oppressive systems and advance social justice. He also emphasizes how social media and citizen journalism play a part in producing and disseminating photographs that might spark activism and increase awareness of crucial social concerns.
According to Mirzoeff, visual activism is a potent instrument for upending established narratives and constructing new ones. He contends that visual activists can contribute to social change and advance a more just and equitable society by producing images that subvert established narratives and emphasize the experiences of underprivileged populations.
In general, chapter 5 of "How to See the World" offers a perceptive examination of the function of visual activism in advocating social change. Mirzoeff emphasizes how images may subvert established narratives and generate new ones, and she challenges readers to think about how they can utilize visual media to advance social justice and build a more just society.
John Berger, Ch 7
The topic of Chapter 7 of John Berger's book "Ways of Seeing" is how oil paintings influence our perception of both art and the outside environment. According to Berger, oil paintings have dominated Western art and shaped how we view the world because of their historical and cultural relevance.
Berger examines the historical context of oil paintings, noting that wealthy people and institutions frequently commissioned them as a way to demonstrate their rank and authority. He contends that the complex details and use of light and shadow in oil paintings give them a sense of realism that can be utilized to support social hierarchies and class differences.
In addition, Berger addresses how oil paintings are often exhibited in museums and galleries, making the case that their placement against stark white walls and separation from other works of art and cultural relics serves to further the notion that they are high art and deserving of particular consideration.
Despite these criticisms, Berger recognizes the strength and beauty of oil paintings as well as their capacity to express and capture meaning and emotion. He contends that we can better appreciate their beauty and significance if we comprehend the historical and cultural context in which they were produced.
Overall, Chapter 7 of "Ways of Seeing" provides an insightful examination of how oil paintings influence our perception of both art and the outside world. Berger urges readers to explore the cultural and historical conditions that influence our perceptions and poses questions about how we interpret and appreciate art.
WATCH:
Jaune Quick-To-See-Smith
In her studio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BtEJqvhosw
The Minneapolis Institute of Art created the little documentary "Meet Jaune Quick-To-See Smith" for YouTube as a part of their "Artist Stories" series. Jaune Quick-To-See Smith, a Native American artist from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Nation, is introduced in the video, which also features some of her work and sources of inspiration.
Smith is interviewed in the film, which offers details on her creative process and the issues she examines in her pieces. Smith talks about growing up on a reservation in Montana and how those memories have affected her art. She also discusses the value of using art as a vehicle for social change and communication, particularly in regard to problems that affect Native American communities.
READ: Look through and read the website https://www.wereherejc.info
—----------------------
The website's home page gives visitors an overview of the site's goals and objectives. The site's name and tagline, "A guide to the LGBTQ+ community in Jersey City," are shown on a banner graphic along with a succinct statement about the site's goals. Links to the "Events," "Resources," "Businesses," and "Blog" parts of the website are also included on the home page.
Future LGBTQ+ activities in Jersey City, such as Pride celebrations, community gatherings, and cultural events, are listed in the "Events" section. Information on LGBTQ+ support groups, counseling services, legal resources, and other resources that might be of interest to community members is provided in the "Resources" section.
The "Businesses" section includes a list of Jersey City companies and organizations that welcome LGBTQ+ customers. This section contains details on eateries, bars, stores, and other establishments that are dedicated to fostering an environment that is inviting and inclusive for all clients.
In the "Blog" section, you can find articles and blog posts on a variety of subjects that are pertinent to the LGBTQ+ community. These articles span a wide range of topics, including current affairs, politics, personal narratives, and dating and relationship advice.
Overall, the "We're Here" website is a useful tool for the LGBTQ+ community in Jersey City, including data and tools that can aid members in connecting with one another and locating the help and resources they require to thrive.
“The selfie resonates not because it is new, but because it expresses, develops, expands, and intensifies the long history of the self-portrait.”
- Nicholas Mirzoeff, How To See The World
The selfie is an evolved form of the self-portrait. Cameras and modern editing software have allowed people to get more creative with self-portraiture.
“The selfie depicts the drama of our own daily performance of ourselves in tension with our inner emotions that may or may not be expressed as we wish.”
- Nicholas Mirzoeff, How To See The World
Taking a selfie can capture a moment or feeling we experienced. Sometimes when I look back at my selfies, I can see the emotion on my face. When I look at pictures of myself I can tell when I am truly happy vs. faking it. To others, I may look happy in all of them because I’m smiling but I can remember how I truly felt when I took that photo.
My final project is called "For The Glory of Adoring You" and it is a sort of musical collage/montage of clips from my Senior Recital. The goal with this project was to string together lyrics and musical passages from songs I performed in my senior recital that paint a picture of what music means to me. The lyrics and songs I picked were:
"...and the world opened wide, and the world was inside of me."
- No One Else, Dave Malloy
"If she on earth, no more I see, my life will quickly leave me."
- Black is the color of my true love's hair, John Jacob Niles
The title of the work comes from the title of the last song. In a way, I was very fortunate to have this project the same semester as my senior recital, as music is the language I feel most comfortable expressing myself with. Music is my world, and how I share my soul with the world. It's also how I connect with people around me. I consider it to be the one thing I cannot live without, even with all of the street it causes me. When picking these lines, I wanted to use not just lyrics that fit those feelings, but also songs I love performing (although that was most of the 15 songs I performed in my recital). My relationship with music and performance is something that I have explored a lot throughout this semester through my self-portrait projects, and many of those concepts are brought back in this project. My photo series was about the struggle and process of creating music, and my collage brought the idea of using performance to connect with other people.
This semester, I have also taken a Music History course, and in the latter half of the semester, we covered composers from the 20th century. As technology improved with music, the use of recording and playback is something that some composers included in their work intentionally, as opposed to as just a method of preservation. Composer Edgard Varèse took this to a new level by creating a piece that was fully controlled musical playback with controlled visual playback. This work was called Poème électronique, and while my project doesn't have the same level of detail and abstraction as Varèse's, the idea of fixed musical and visual playback as a wholly new musical composition was something I took from Varèse.
 |
| Rosario and San Bernardo Corals |
 |
| Isla De Rosario |
 |
| "I Am Woman" by Allyson Merchan |
My final self-portrait, "Fear's Pressure", I used photoshop to create this image by using multiple images of media in order to create this story whether it is using pixel manipulation, filters, and many other effects needed to create this story. The idea behind the creation and production of my image was based off recent real-life events that has put me through a world of confusing and sad emotions that I had to bare for a pretty long-time that I am still kind of going through. I thought that a good alternative of dealing with my problems and emotions is to express it through my art and being able to show other people some of the human struggles we may share at one point in our lives. This piece also helps expresses the feelings we may have and the pressure you may feel in some situations.
My final piece "Fear's Pressure" is about being within a problems that entangles you in fear and confusion, fearing that the actions you may take will ruin everything around you including the friendships you retain, your reputation, your ability to be confident in your decisions, the way you and other people see your image and the actions you've taken. These thoughts are some of the thoughts that make you feel frozen in time and stuck in the mud, where it feels like the pressure of the world is on your shoulders, knowing that one of those solutions to all of your problems will cause you to lose something you enjoy and find valuable in your life. The piece mainly deals with the problems of fearing for becoming socially isolated, stranded, and the pressure and stress that is created by these thought out fears.
In the piece I am shown standing near a wall being overtaken by ivy plants. The incontrollable growth of the ivy plants on the wall resembles the never ending problems that occur to keep coming into my life, feeling as if there is no end to these problems to face and entangling me into a pit of stress and fear making me feel scared of what to do. The silhouette of the peoples hands resembles the fear of self image, social isolation, and the fear of poor decision making. I think this part really glues all concepts together because of the way you are already stuck in the wall of ivy, there are these hands that aren't really there, but you feel consuming your mind and thoughts being put into that frozen state of time where you're put at a crossroad of thoughts. The red is my finishing detail, resembling that frozen state in time and how these fears create this filter of fear that just consumes your whole mental state. The red makes the whole image bolder, yet suppresses a lot of those warmer emotions. Though red is a warm color, I do believe that this red filter makes the emotion much more colder and dense that ties in all of these feelings of fear and being scared of the future.
One artist that has inspired me and I have been able to relate my art to was Silda. Silda is a digital painter that expresses these uncomfortable ideas through her work. I think that initial idea of showing others really uncomfortable ideas may seem weird, but I also think it is really important to show others in order to understand some of these concepts of facing your fears or how to avoid them. Her art really inspired me to express a really uncomfortable situation that I have gone through in order to show others that these fears are to be faced and to show that you are not the only one who goes through these situations. I also think that showing people these uncomfortable ideas is to teach them not to put themselves through something like this again and to show how they have learned to rethink their own decisions next time too.
Another artist that I felt that I have been able to relate my work to that we've discussed in class is Carrie Mae Weems's. Upon looking at my art, I've seen that Weems's art and mine really show those times of struggles and one way that we can express our problems and troublesome topics is through the use of art. I think that one thing that one quote that has really brought an impact to my work is Weems's stating, "I think that most work that’s made by Black artists is considered to be about Blackness. Unlike work that’s made by white artists, which is assumed to be universal at its core.” Though her quote talks about races, I think that one things that we both are conveying through our art is the concepts that we portray through our art doesn't just relate to people who are going through a rough time or people of a certain color, these pieces can relate to anyone and everybody has their own little issues where they may have felt like this.
Another quote that I have found that has helped me create my piece was, “Being able to exist in your own body and understand that you do not need to be defined by an experience—arrest and incarceration—allows you to move forward with a little more sense of joy,” said by Shaun Leonardo. Leonardo's quote helped me create this piece to show that I won't let the bad experiences that I go through overwhelm me and get the best of me. I take these experiences and learn from them and move forward. This experience that I went through has helped me create a piece of art, but it also helped me create and show others an important concept and lesson.
 |
| LockScreen |
Linocut was a very smart part of Picassos art work but the work he has done was amazing. I like how abstract his paintings were other artist I found did scenery on their prints. To start off drawing myself took me about 30 minutes and transferring the image to the block took about 10, what took the longest was carving out all the lines and details. It's only so time consuming because you have to make sure the lines are deep enough so that when you transfer it onto a canvas or paper it still has detail. While doing this I tried multiple times on different days but I just was not able to get the ink to transfer fully onto a canvas or paper clearly. So instead I decided to paint the in between the carvings to make it stick out more on the linoleum block.
This is my favorite self portrait I've done because of the drawings and the carving. Ive never been good at drawing faces and making them look like the actual person but mine did.
Denise Abadies, Justice for Ana, 2023
My final self-portrait project is inspired by Ana Mendieta. I’ve found myself thinking about Mendieta a lot after learning about her activism, art, life, and death. I wanted to embody her spirit and the themes she explored in her art for my final self-portrait. This is a mixed-media sculpture made from coconut fiber, wood pieces, fake flowers, sand, and Spanish moss, with a plastic skull model covered in fake blood with eye sockets painted with black acrylic paint.
My idea was initially inspired by Mendieta’s Untitled: Silueta Series. I wanted to incorporate Mendieta’s connection with the earth and the female body. “She wanted to leave her mark in nature. It was kind of like a reconnection with the earth. And she speaks about it, she said that she felt that because she was torn away from the motherland, from Cuba.” (Raquel Cecilia) I feel like I can relate to Mendieta on many levels. I also feel disconnected from my Filipino roots because I wasn’t born in the Philippines. My parents didn’t teach me how to speak Tagalog. According to them, we’re in America and Americans don’t speak Tagalog. They thought that we didn’t need to learn Tagalog. Most of the Filipino traditions that I’ve grown up with are religious but, as I got older, I leaned more toward spirituality than religion. I wish I knew more about Filipino culture outside of religion.
Ana Mendieta, Untitled: Silueta Series, 1978
I also feel inexplicably connected with nature because I love taking care of animals and plants. Replanting and arranging plants makes me feel connected with nature in my everyday life. Arranging this project gave me the same feeling. I started building this project by cutting foam board and turning it into a box. I created a few panels to support the skull and I used an expanding spray foam to keep the skull in place. I arranged the wood pieces, Spanish moss, and flowers surrounding the skull. I tried to form a rough silhouette of a body with the Spanish moss. After I did that, I added the coconut fiber but it didn’t stick to the foam. The foam was no longer tacky. Because the coconut fiber didn’t stick to the foam, I won't be able to transport this very easily.
I got this technique from watching terrarium builds online. People use expanding foam to get coconut fiber to stick to the vertical glass sides of terrariums. If I could start from the beginning I would try to find a slow-drying spray foam or add the layer of coconut fiber first before arranging the decorative parts. I added sand around the skull to emphasize the silhouette of the body. And finally, I painted the eye sockets black and painted fake blood on the skull. I think that the fake blood gave this project its power. I painted the fake blood onto the skull in some of the same areas that Mendieta had on her face in her Untitled (Self-Portrait with Blood).
 |
| Ana Mendieta, Untitled (Self-Portrait with Blood), 1973 |
 |
| Denise Abadies, Justice for Ana, 2023 |
“Blood had a number of meanings in Mendieta’s work. One of them was the violence against women.” (Sabbatino) I wanted to point to the violence against Mendieta, resulting in her death. It’s chilling knowing that during her life, she made art about the injustice and sexual violence against women in her community, and her life ended at the hands of her husband. Her husband Carlos Andre was acquitted of all charges related to her murder but I don’t believe that. The way they let him get away with murder is a direct reflection of how they treated women during the 80s. They disrespected women by dismissing their issues. Women were insignificant. Mendieta worked really hard to speak about this injustice through her art and she didn’t deserve to die the way she did. I can’t believe Andre is still alive today. Mendieta could have been alive today, continuing her legacy and she would have been able to see how far women in the arts have come.
“She herself invented an artform called earth body. And these are traces in the earth made with gunpowder, blood, water. In which she explores ideas of transformation, transcendence, rebirth, and regeneration.” (Sabbatino) This is a self-portrait because I feel like I’m in a time in my life when I’m in the middle of a regeneration. When I initially graduated from high school I went to Rutgers University in hopes of becoming a veterinarian. Health challenges forced me to take a break from Rutgers, which ended up being 2 years of soul searching. I knew deep down that I’m an artist and I must pursue it. Learning about female artists and activists during my time at NJCU has woken me up. I have an awareness that as an artist and a woman of color, I’m at a disadvantage. But there were so many women, like Ana Mendieta and other female artists we’ve studied in this class, who fought to have their voices heard and change the social discourse. I think it's important for today’s female artists to learn about the history of women in art so we can continue to take up space and express ourselves. Our female perspective is unique and we must acknowledge the legacies of those who came before us to nurture ourselves and the next generation of female artists.
 |
| Denise Abadies, Justice for Ana, 2023 |
Works Cited
“Ana Mendieta: Traces/Stopy | Krátký dokument | Galerie Rudolfinum” YouTube, uploaded by Galerie Rudolfinum, 3 Nov 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72Nk0sPfRrU&ab_channel=GalerieRudolfinum
Castillo, Monica. “Overlooked No More: Ana Mendieta, Artist Who Pushed Boundaries” The New York Times, 19 Sept 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/19/obituaries/ana-mendieta-overlooked.html
 |
| untitled, Angie Cardona (inspired by Dada and collage) |
 |
| https://dwgeorges.wixsite.com/portfolio |
I didn't know what to expect from this course but I did gain a newfound appreciation for modern artists this semester. These new-age artistist are including culture history, and identity in their art. One of the main themes of this class was culture and identity; individual or social. which is why I decided to make my final project a personal website showcasing my past works with the hope to include new material over the years.Material that presents culture. I received so much inspiration from the wonderful artists this semester. One, in particular,\ was Bisa Butler. I love how you can get f sense of her culture from her works with quilts. She doesn't need to tell you that she's from Ghana but you the sense from the material she uses and from the subjects she chooses to stitch onto the quilt. Her work feels intimate and personal, that's the kind of feeling I want my audience to feel the steps that went into creating 'my portfolio were me thinking about art and finally coming to terms that I'm an artist. so I started to think about all the content I created over the years. I wanted to understand why was artistic about my content and I discovered that many of my works explore identity. whether it was black identity, women's identity, or even Haitian identity. It only made sense that through it all it was all a process to uncover my artistic identity. I would consider this to be graphic design and photography. I chose this medium because it's engaging. It gives people the opportunity to have intimate access to my work. overall the most ted part of completing this final was building the website and organizing my work. I would say that the difference between my first 3 projects and my final is that my first projects focused on my physical identity and my later projects highlights my cultural and societal identity.
"A combination of different cultures all coming together in one household, it also influenced me in a way that I was surrounded by art all the time." -Bisa Butler (Quilting for the Culture)
"You're the one that sets the mission, and part of that mission was that you have a responsibility to educate your people; you have the responsibility to have your people always shown in a positive light." -Bisa Butler (Quilting for the Culture)
"Realistic representation became a sense of self-worth.” -Kehinde Wiley
"There's something intimate about the ways people assume that by looking at certain parts of a portrait they'll be able to understand who those people are, where they come from, and why they happen to be in this museum today". -Kehinde Wiley (A New Republic)
My final project is called, "Waiting for Change." I wanted to encapsulate a certain feeling of nostalgia that comes with new beginnings since we're coming into the spring season. Throughout the semester, I've had a lot of life changing events happen to me and it was the main reason why I wanted to make a video of this. At first, it was hard to deal with but after a while I started noticing how these changes were aligning with the changing of the season and it made me realize that this is all a part of life! No reason to worry.
Two artists that have also motivated me to take on these nature-inspired shots were Wendy Red Star and Yoko Ono. One of my favorite parts of spring, besides the fact that winters over, are the flowers blooming. Even with the infuriating allergies plaguing me as well as a bunch of other people, I find the cherry blossoms very beautiful and I love how the NJCU campus looks when all the trees are in full bloom. In one of the readings, Yoko Ono speaks about them saying, "I like watching Cherry Blossoms from afar. In spring it looks like beautiful pink clouds on the ground!"
Wendy Red Star's piece, Four Seasons, was also a great inspiration for this video. I loved how her portraits were of her in front of beautiful scenery and I wanted to use that as well as Cindy Sherman's self portraits to do my own version of a self portrait. I ended up getting shy since there were people walking by but I kept it in there anyways because I knew how Cindy Sherman didn't strive for perfection in her art. At the end, I also added a shot of my belongings laying on some grass outside my house. I felt like it was a nice way to add my personality to the video as I tend to carry my whole life in my bag.
Another artist that was a huge inspiration for the shots I took was Wes Anderson. One of my favorite components to his movies are the still shots he would use that get zoomed in that for some reason always adds more emphasis to the scene. I also used one of my favorite songs called "Dance PM" by Hiroshi Yoshimura because that's one of the few artists that I've been listening to lately that helps when nostalgia hits.
.png) |
| La Belleza de Mi Cultura by Dattnan Martinez |
“Obra Del Maestro”
For my final project, I wanted to execute a painting that resembled the closest indigenous group to the region my father is from. Wendy Red Star inspired me to create this piece because I enjoyed reading and watching her create her passion for art through the history of her Native American side. Trama Textiles is a renowned producer of Guatemala's unique and traditionally crafted fabrics, which have gained international recognition. Despite the pervasive influence of globalization, Guatemala's indigenous people remain proud of their heritage, creating and wearing beautiful, colorful, and intricately embellished costumes. In light of the global conversation surrounding racial discrimination, honoring those who confidently display their cultural traditions is all the more admirable.
Guatemala is a small country located in Central America, however, being this small does not mean that this little gem can not contain rich history. In fact, Guatemala holds a rich Mayan Cultural diversity and customs that have been passed down through generations. There are at least 24 distinct spoken languages throughout the country and these are found specifically in different regions. In addition, to the languages spoken in Guatemala, there is also a significant variation in how people from those regions design and wear their traditional clothing.
Their Traje, or native dress, can differ from village to village, influenced by history, folklore, religious belief, available resources, wildlife, natural features, and climate of each region. Their pieces are hand women with vibrant colors and complex patterns and designs, the fabrics often come in floral, animal prints, or patterns. Geometric patterns and designs that are heavily used in the region where my father is from- Chimaltenango- are diamonds, circles, triangles, zig-zagged lines, and curved lines. These shapes and patterns indicate features of landscapes, such as volcanoes, mountains, and rivers.
In my painting, I wanted to construct a medium that conveyed my heritage but also a personal detail that I “hand-made” THIS. Simply because knowing that my culture is driven by hand-making anything, I felt that this project needed to be more intimate and detailed oriented. The girl in my painting is me and on top of my head, you can see that I'm wearing this basket with food, typically women in Guatemala carry their corn, and flour that they hand-pressed and turned so that they can make fresh tortillas at home, avocados, beans, etc. To put me in this painting meant that I also imagined myself walking through the mountainous terrains that pertain to my Father’s region and how difficult these daily routines are for women in Guatemala.
They’re wearing thick fabrics as clothing plus carrying this basket of food, and then walking miles to get to my home, - sounds insane in my life but normal in this life. Despite the fact that my actual face is not shown, it’s important to note that not all Guatemalan self-portraits show their faces, a lot to do with the culture among sexes when it comes to drawing women. Out of respect, they don’t show their faces. Another is to not admire the person's face or beauty but to emphasize the bigger picture, which shows the landscape the detail in the clothes, the food, and what the person is doing, all these points have a greater significance than what the person looks like. Overall, I had a lot of fun creating this painting, inspired look from a painter from Atitlan Guatemala, Antonio Coche, who vividly portrayed the history and culture of my heritage with a lot of pride and detail.
“Obra Del Maestro”
References
 |
| procrastinating |
Procrastination
This week I decided to do a series on procrastination because it’s something I always do. Normally the reason I procrastinate is because im always working or would prefer to enjoy times with my friends over staying home for hours doing homework. Yet when I’m home since I’m barely home I decide to take time for myself, like watch Netflix, shop for items I need, and even catch up on sleep. In these bitches you can see how my notebook is right next to my laptop. The notebook has a list of 10 assignments that I have to get done within in the next 3 days due to my procrastination.
Yoko Ono Influence
“ Her name may have became a synonym for breaking up and discord due to her relationship with John Lennon, and connection with the Beatles break up, but work not be overshadowed even by the in famous status is the fact that Yoko Ono is groundbreaking, figure 1st activist, and an original creator.”
I find it interesting in society today you could be such an intelligent woman, and once you’re in a relationship, your mean is basically tied to that whole relationship. And this only happens when women and men can have a successful woman, but he still will be individualized by society. As soon as a woman has a boyfriend, she becomes the girlfriend of the wife; it’s like all her titles are stripped, and she is no longer herself, she only is a partner.
“ and 2011, the 78-year-old made history as old as artist to have a number one dance hit with her single move on fast”
I find it inspiring and motivational that even at that age, she continued her artistic passion and never stopped.
Khans Academy Performance Art Introduction
“ We must take time back into her self to let Our consciousness breed an occluded mind to be still and silent. This is what I can do, and what a museum can do in today’s world..”
I feel that in today’s society, there is so much going on in the world, and so much information being thrown at us from all different directions, but it is very hard to say and take some time to ourselves. You might think you’re taking time to yourself when you’re not working or being productive, but for the most part, you’re just on your phone, which also doesn’t allow you to take time to yourself. And the museum are you focus is on the artwork and you normally only take out your phone to take a picture of the artwork. So it lets you take some time to yourself and the declutter your mind from everything that is going on in the outside world.
The Gutai Art Exhibition
I like how unique this Exhibitionist, and how incorporates mud with painting, sculpting and wrestling. I have never seen any type of artwork like this and I know it’s because it has to do a post for democracy. But I like it I feel like it gives you a very genuine feeling about how the war felt.
