Showing posts with label Artist Statement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Artist Statement. Show all posts
Monday, May 15, 2017
VLOG : Mission In Action
This is the unit 2 Action Project for my Endurance course. This is the third humanities course in the senior Global Vision series. Unit 2 was titled Katabasis and focused on how to dive into your mission. The first unit was about identification and this unit was focused on action. Katabasis means diving into the strange underworld with dangers all around. We utilized Dante's Inferno as a key resource throughout the unit. It was extraordinarily moving for me and allowed me to further understand the heroes journey. Parallels were drawn between Dante's journey and my own. I began to take the story and relate it to my life. It was one of the most influential texts I've encountered during my schooling. The unit also investigated the the journey of remarkable individuals who endured seemingly crazy missions. David Blaine is a remarkable example of someone we learned and talked about. Seeing his feats and then hearing him talk about his mindset and the process behind them made me very excited. The things he accomplished were mind-blowing to me and he explained that through practice, handwork, patience, and a will almost anything can be done. For the AP, students were asked to work on their mission for at least 12 hours and document it. I decided to paint my largest canvas ever. My mission was to provide people with the keys to unlock their own doors of perception and I determined the best way to do so was with a large painting. I really enjoyed this project as it allowed me to work on something I truly love. In addition to the painting, I really liked making the video. It allowed me to utilize a different side of my creativity. The project was definitely challenging at times but my passion kept me engaged and moving forward. I adored this unit and believe this is one of my best AP's ever!
Saturday, January 21, 2017
Self Portrait
This the unit one action project for my second senior STEAM course titled Systems and Models. Unit one was titled individual and focused on how psychology can help us think about ourselves in a plethora of ways. We all say we know ourselves but how many of us really do? We investigated ourselves through a variety of assessments and experiments. We became aware of how we fit in to society as well as how we work with certain types of people. The tests we took helped us all learn more about ourselves and how we function. I really enjoyed the entirety of this unit. I really liked the balance of math and science with philosophy and psychology. The action project asked students to take all that they've learned and make a self portrait with an artist statement. This was my favorite AP at GCE and it made me incredibly happy to do. I loved all aspects of the project even the difficult ones because I was constantly engaged and excited. Below is my piece and statement. Hope you enjoy !
“Me For You” is a large painting that attempts to represent the entirety of my being. My physical and inner self merge into one complexity which occupies the canvas with an array of colors and gestural movements. The piece depicts the totality of my past through a modern perspective. My life and all its phases are incorporated in the background through a process of marbling and fading which is supposed to depict age and change. Throughout the unit, I investigated and took a variety of personality assessments which helped me formulate a more complete understanding of myself. The first test, Myers Briggs, intends to identify its participants distinctive personality type and how they interact with the world. The test contains questions in four categories: favorite world, information, decisions, and structure and uses the participants responses to assign a unique personality type. After concluding the Myers Briggs test, I learned I am an ENFP which is also known as a campaigner. The N, which stands for intuition, is relevant to my creative process which birthed this pure representation of myself. The symbolism and abstraction that makes up the piece arise from the deep connection my inner vibes share with my current moment. The creation process began with intense feelings of confusion and anger which manifested as large jagged stroked and scratches. My campaigner spirit allowed a bit of my maintained madness to flow which allowed me to approach the piece with independence and creative freedom. Another influential assessment that helped shape the piece was the Enneagram. The test assigns participants to one of nine interconnected personalities. After completing the Enneagram test, I found out I am a seven with a four integration. Sevens are also known as “The Enthusiast because Sevens are enthusiastic about almost everything that catches their attention. They approach life with curiosity, optimism, and a sense of adventure, like “kids in a candy store” who look at the world in wide-eyed, rapt anticipation of all the good things they are about to experience.” My approach to this piece was driven by my childlike curiosity and approach to dealing with my emotions through a hands on experience. I represented my enthusiast qualities in several abstract ways also decided to include a big number seven in the piece, can you find it? These tests were an integral part of the creation of the piece which required a lot of self awareness as well as an understanding of my connection to the here and now.
I explored several physiological experiments and case studies to gain insight into other people's behaviors. The marshmallow test is a very famous and simple test that asks participants to sit in front of a marshmallow for a period of time without eating it. If they can successfully use their control and willpower their prize will double. During our in class version of the experiment, I easily waited the time necessary to gain the additional prize. That patient mindset was utilized during the creation process of the piece. I was able to work intensely while still being able to recognize the pieces development and it’s stopping point. Another experiment that influenced my piece was the Stanford Prison Experiment. A Psychologist named Philip Zimbardo created a simulated prison with students participating as either inmates or guards. This experiment inspired me to incorporate as many sides of me as possible into the piece. Several silhouettes and faces are present throughout the whole piece.
An American Psychologist named Carl Rogers described someone who is in a constant pursuit of reaching self actualization as a fully functioning person. A key element to a fully functioning person is a malleable self image. Rogers was a huge source of inspiration for my non representational approach to the portrait. I wanted to crush break all boundaries and be limitless with my perception of self. Another Psychologist whose work inspired the piece was William James. He was one of the Fathers of American Psychology. His writings on happiness were particularly interesting and influential. James talked about how there are two types of people, once borns who are predisposed to happiness and a twice borns who have to work towards happiness. I most definitely identify as a twice born and have had to work tremendously to reach levels of contentment. Creating this self portrait allowed me to have a place to work through a lot of questions and emotions I had which ultimately left me feeling happier and smarter. Following the completion of the piece I reached out to a friend of mine and fellow artist named Stevie Dread. We chatted for awhile about what makes a great artist statement. After a very rich and useful conversation I got the idea that reason and identity are two integral things for an artist statement. Why you did what you did needs to be articulated for the viewer in an honest manner. All these additional sources greatly benefited my project by providing me with new lenses to view myself and environment.
My thought process for creating this piece was fairly straightforward: Get in the studio and just begin working uninhibited. I calmed my mind and body through deep breathing and allowed the flow of energy to take control. I believe that you are your energy and if you find a way to tap into it and unleash it, the end result will be a wholesome representation of yourself. The final piece has dozens of layers each with a different purpose and story. I began with huge strokes of paint that covered the canvas. Color choices were made solely on what was closest to me at the time. After a base layer was laid, I began scratching and carving away at the wet paint. The next few layers were primarily touch ups and and additional background detailings. The foreground of the piece is comprised of many abstract strokes and shapes. The foreground is where the chunk of the story resides. It is the location I decided to include the most faces and structures. Direct elements that came about from my research are included as well as more abstract ones. My visual work represents me and my story by being unpredictable, deep, and engaging. This piece was made with the intention of sharing myself to all those who view it. I wanted to create a piece with a size that I felt would engage the viewers. As a fan of art, I love the bigger pieces and wanted to bring some of that scale to my viewers. I want to engage them in an internal dialogue with themselves. I would feel accomplished if I could arise feelings of discomfort and confusion because I believe those are emotions that impact a person. I’m trying to instill a certain feeling of hope in people. I want them to love themselves and have a desire to dive deeper into their psyche and soul. I hope that I can provide them with the keys to unlock their doors of perception.
Sources:
"Stevie Dread." Telephone interview. 19 Jan. 2017.
 |
| “Me For You” Acrylic and Ink on Canvas 48” X 24” 2017 MS |
I explored several physiological experiments and case studies to gain insight into other people's behaviors. The marshmallow test is a very famous and simple test that asks participants to sit in front of a marshmallow for a period of time without eating it. If they can successfully use their control and willpower their prize will double. During our in class version of the experiment, I easily waited the time necessary to gain the additional prize. That patient mindset was utilized during the creation process of the piece. I was able to work intensely while still being able to recognize the pieces development and it’s stopping point. Another experiment that influenced my piece was the Stanford Prison Experiment. A Psychologist named Philip Zimbardo created a simulated prison with students participating as either inmates or guards. This experiment inspired me to incorporate as many sides of me as possible into the piece. Several silhouettes and faces are present throughout the whole piece.
An American Psychologist named Carl Rogers described someone who is in a constant pursuit of reaching self actualization as a fully functioning person. A key element to a fully functioning person is a malleable self image. Rogers was a huge source of inspiration for my non representational approach to the portrait. I wanted to crush break all boundaries and be limitless with my perception of self. Another Psychologist whose work inspired the piece was William James. He was one of the Fathers of American Psychology. His writings on happiness were particularly interesting and influential. James talked about how there are two types of people, once borns who are predisposed to happiness and a twice borns who have to work towards happiness. I most definitely identify as a twice born and have had to work tremendously to reach levels of contentment. Creating this self portrait allowed me to have a place to work through a lot of questions and emotions I had which ultimately left me feeling happier and smarter. Following the completion of the piece I reached out to a friend of mine and fellow artist named Stevie Dread. We chatted for awhile about what makes a great artist statement. After a very rich and useful conversation I got the idea that reason and identity are two integral things for an artist statement. Why you did what you did needs to be articulated for the viewer in an honest manner. All these additional sources greatly benefited my project by providing me with new lenses to view myself and environment.
My thought process for creating this piece was fairly straightforward: Get in the studio and just begin working uninhibited. I calmed my mind and body through deep breathing and allowed the flow of energy to take control. I believe that you are your energy and if you find a way to tap into it and unleash it, the end result will be a wholesome representation of yourself. The final piece has dozens of layers each with a different purpose and story. I began with huge strokes of paint that covered the canvas. Color choices were made solely on what was closest to me at the time. After a base layer was laid, I began scratching and carving away at the wet paint. The next few layers were primarily touch ups and and additional background detailings. The foreground of the piece is comprised of many abstract strokes and shapes. The foreground is where the chunk of the story resides. It is the location I decided to include the most faces and structures. Direct elements that came about from my research are included as well as more abstract ones. My visual work represents me and my story by being unpredictable, deep, and engaging. This piece was made with the intention of sharing myself to all those who view it. I wanted to create a piece with a size that I felt would engage the viewers. As a fan of art, I love the bigger pieces and wanted to bring some of that scale to my viewers. I want to engage them in an internal dialogue with themselves. I would feel accomplished if I could arise feelings of discomfort and confusion because I believe those are emotions that impact a person. I’m trying to instill a certain feeling of hope in people. I want them to love themselves and have a desire to dive deeper into their psyche and soul. I hope that I can provide them with the keys to unlock their doors of perception.
Sources:
"Stevie Dread." Telephone interview. 19 Jan. 2017.
Personality Test Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.
"An Overview of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI)." An Overview of the TKI | Kilmann Diagnostics. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.
"The Myers & Briggs Foundation - Sensing or Intuition." The Myers & Briggs Foundation - Sensing or Intuition. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.
"Type Seven." The Enneagram Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.
Https://www.facebook.com/verywell. "Who Was Psychologist Carl Rogers?" Verywell. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.
"William James." Biography.com. A&E Networks Television, 14 Nov. 2014. Web. 21 Jan. 2017.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Collaborative Mural
For the unit 3 AP in If These Walls Could Talk students were put into groups and asked to collaboratively design and execute a mural in GCE's new space. Group members evaluated the murals made by students in unit 2 in order to find both visual and conceptual elements we wanted to include in our mural. Over the course of a few weeks, we all worked together towards finalizing the prep work necessary for the completion of the mural. We cut and tested stencils, took pictures and complied collages, and prepared the wall. The process at times was frustrating but a continued forward pushing effort allowed our group to remain on task. All the time and effort we put forth began to pay off when our ideas began transforming into realities. Following weeks of prepping and planning our mural had finally come together. The final mural was both a beautiful piece of art that captivated the viewer as well as a tool that contained a deeper message.
The mural my group created depicts a diverse group of people spanned across the length of the wall. Interspersed cracks throughout the wall contain collages depicting different realities, treasures, and gems Chicago contains but aren’t known for. The intention and purpose of the mural is call attention to and shed light on the many beautiful and amazing attributes Chicago posses. The media and techniques used to carry out the mural include spray paint, stencils, and wheat paste. The process to create the stencils began with images of different people varying in size and gesture being transferred to the wall via projector. The images were traced on paper then attached to cardboard to be cut out. The spray paint was misted over the stencil to transfer the image onto the surface. Original photographs from group members were compiled and transformed into collages each containing a central theme. The three collages represent the hidden gems of Chicago found in Art, Architecture and Culture. The digitally produced collages were printed out in sections and to be assembled by the group. Laser ink images and a natural adhesive comprised of four parts water to one part starch are the two integral components of wheatpasting. The adhesive was applied to the surface via a rolling tool called a brayer. The laser ink images were applied over the initial coat of adhesive and then covered with a top layer of adhesive to seal the image. The background of the wall is grey. All stencils, both people and cracks were done in black spray paint. The black is bold and allows for the stenciled sections of the mural to pop out from the grey base. The mural’s color comes from the collages.The collages are where the piece’s core theme lies, the hidden gems of Chicago, and the use of a variety of colors helps to draw the viewer's attention towards it. The mural transforms and impacts the space it occupies by providing it with a visually pleasing and stimulating piece that also contains a deeper message. The mural acts as a tool which allows viewers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of Chicago and its many treasures and gems. The mural impacts the space by providing an important message which is directly related to GCE’s mission. The mural transforms the space by taking bits and pieces of art, culture, and architecture from different areas and neighborhoods of Chicago and compiling them to create a visual representation of Chicago hidden gems.
Each day in class group members claimed certain roles which were essential in staying on track and working towards the completion of the mural. The four roles included artistic director, director of operations, mule, and documentarian. The artistic director was in charge of making sure the work being done aligned with the proposed mural and all work was good quality. The director of operations was a logistical position where the group member would keep time as well as be aware of and reiterate deadlines/due dates. The mule was in charge of retrieving materials necessary for the execution of the mural. The documentarian was in charge of documenting the work period through photo and video. The photos and videos were then shared with the group to then be later used for the making of each students video. My favorite of the four roles was documentarian. I enjoy capturing moments in time and documenting work processes. I was quite effective at documentarian due to my ability to take high quality photos and videos while still working and remaining on track with the project. My least favorite of the four roles was the mule. I didn’t particularly enjoy being the mule as it was boring and time consuming. The constant need to retrieve materials prevented me from fully diving into my work for that particular work period. While I didn’t enjoy the role, I understood the importance of it in completing our mural. If I could change something about the process and experience I would allow for more time in the space to execute the murals. The short window of time we were granted to work in the space prevented us from experimenting more which would have allowed for a better end product. The final mural we created achieved our original goal of creating a beautiful and aesthetic piece of art that contained a powerful and significant message. Our continued hard work and perseverance during the creation process allowed us to create a final mural that transformed and impacted the space in the way we had envisioned.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Come Together
In this Unit 1 action project we created a sketch that addressed a specific need of a community and wrote an artist statement that explained the mural we made. The purpose of this action project was to utilize the power of images to address the needs of a community. In this action project I learned about how disconnected and segregated Chicago is and the full ability and potential murals have in regards to empowering and educating individuals. The most challenging aspect of this action project was figuring out how to visually represent my thoughts and ideas in a non literal but rather abstract form. I am most proud of my perseverance throughout the entirety of the process.
Artist Statement:
MS
Come Together 11” x 14”
11/2015
Digital drawing
Pilsen is a neighborhood located on Chicago’s lower west side. For over 150 years, Pilsen has acted as a point of entry for immigrants. Early on it was primarily Eastern European immigrants that were arriving in Pilsen. In the late 19th century, Pilsen was mostly inhabited by Czech immigrants who named the neighborhood after the city in western Bohemia in the Czech Republic called Plzeň. The population during this time also included other ethnic groups such as Slovaks, Slovenes, Croats, Austrians, Polish and Lithuanians. Beginning in the early 1970’s a shift occurred and the incoming immigrants had become predominantly Latino. Mexicans were forced to move from their previous neighborhood slightly north of Pilsen in order for the construction of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Pilsen’s new residents brought with them a culture and lifestyle that would go on to shape the neighborhood into an integral part of Chicago that it is known for today.
Today, Pilsen acts as a major cultural hub for Mexicans and Latinos alike. Culture thrives in Pilsen and includes artistic treasures nearly everywhere. Murals are one of the most popular and utilized forms of art in Pilsen and have become a major form of communication and beauty for the neighborhood. Murals are found all throughout Pilsen. Common mural locations include public and private walls, sides of homes, and train stations/platforms. There is an overall artistic vibe that is present in the neighborhood. The neighborhood of Pilsen beats with a youthful spirit and is constantly evolving and transforming. The powerful cultural heritage and artistic history Pilsen possess is primarily contained within the small surrounding area. While being a very diverse and large city, Chicago is still extremely segregated. Chicago is a melting pot of a variety of ethnicities and cultures. People tend to gravitate to what is familiar to them while staying away from the unknown. The mural I created is aimed at attempting to bring Chicago closer together and more united. Interconnectivity is an essential component for Chicago’s future. Unity and connection between all 77 Chicago communities allows for the doors of possibility to open. The invisible walls that divide the different neighborhoods need to be demolished and the notion that we are one unit has to be understood and implemented. Chicago is the sum of its neighborhoods. The disconnection of these essential parts greatly reduces Chicago’s potential for success and improvement.
My proposed mural is meant to inspire the reconnection of Chicago one viewer at a time. The use of hand prints was inspired by the hand prints and carvings found in parts of the Chauvet Cave murals in Southern France. The hand prints are also symbolic and representative of connectedness and coming together. The overlapping of the fingers was constructed in order to form a central shape representative of a star which acts as a symbol of wishful thinking and hope for the future. The colors used on the hands all represent a different CTA line which is a powerful and useful resource the city has that literally connects different areas and neighborhoods. The blotched look to the color and the slight appearance of greys on the hands reveals that regardless of what particular neighborhood an individual is from everyone is still the same on the surface and from Chicago. Thin lines from each hand travel across and around the mural until they travel through an abstractly designed ‘weaving machine’ which is representative of the initiative individuals must have in order to begin to create a connected Chicago. The once thin and curvy lines come through the opposite side of the machine transformed into bold intertwined lines. In addition to taking inspiration from the Chauvet Cave mural, I was also inspired by the use of pattern motifs in ancient Egyptian murals. The intertwined lines create a pattern motif that represents a strong, united and connected Chicago. My murals themes include both revolt and tribute. The theme of revolt is present in the sense that I am hoping viewers of the piece will want to uprise against the current situation in our city and make an effort to change something about it. The mural will be next to the 18th st train station in order to paying respect and homage to Pilsen and its wonderful history of murals. It will also be next to the train station to act as a reminder for people coming and going that there is more to Chicago than just their neighborhood and area because the train can literally place you in any off the 77 neighborhoods in Chicago. My goal is that people will be visually stimulated by my mural and impacted in a way that creates a drive within themselves to go out and be proactive about connecting and unifying Chicago one person and one neighborhood at a time.
Artist Statement:
MS
Come Together 11” x 14”
11/2015
Digital drawing
Pilsen is a neighborhood located on Chicago’s lower west side. For over 150 years, Pilsen has acted as a point of entry for immigrants. Early on it was primarily Eastern European immigrants that were arriving in Pilsen. In the late 19th century, Pilsen was mostly inhabited by Czech immigrants who named the neighborhood after the city in western Bohemia in the Czech Republic called Plzeň. The population during this time also included other ethnic groups such as Slovaks, Slovenes, Croats, Austrians, Polish and Lithuanians. Beginning in the early 1970’s a shift occurred and the incoming immigrants had become predominantly Latino. Mexicans were forced to move from their previous neighborhood slightly north of Pilsen in order for the construction of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Pilsen’s new residents brought with them a culture and lifestyle that would go on to shape the neighborhood into an integral part of Chicago that it is known for today.
Today, Pilsen acts as a major cultural hub for Mexicans and Latinos alike. Culture thrives in Pilsen and includes artistic treasures nearly everywhere. Murals are one of the most popular and utilized forms of art in Pilsen and have become a major form of communication and beauty for the neighborhood. Murals are found all throughout Pilsen. Common mural locations include public and private walls, sides of homes, and train stations/platforms. There is an overall artistic vibe that is present in the neighborhood. The neighborhood of Pilsen beats with a youthful spirit and is constantly evolving and transforming. The powerful cultural heritage and artistic history Pilsen possess is primarily contained within the small surrounding area. While being a very diverse and large city, Chicago is still extremely segregated. Chicago is a melting pot of a variety of ethnicities and cultures. People tend to gravitate to what is familiar to them while staying away from the unknown. The mural I created is aimed at attempting to bring Chicago closer together and more united. Interconnectivity is an essential component for Chicago’s future. Unity and connection between all 77 Chicago communities allows for the doors of possibility to open. The invisible walls that divide the different neighborhoods need to be demolished and the notion that we are one unit has to be understood and implemented. Chicago is the sum of its neighborhoods. The disconnection of these essential parts greatly reduces Chicago’s potential for success and improvement.
My proposed mural is meant to inspire the reconnection of Chicago one viewer at a time. The use of hand prints was inspired by the hand prints and carvings found in parts of the Chauvet Cave murals in Southern France. The hand prints are also symbolic and representative of connectedness and coming together. The overlapping of the fingers was constructed in order to form a central shape representative of a star which acts as a symbol of wishful thinking and hope for the future. The colors used on the hands all represent a different CTA line which is a powerful and useful resource the city has that literally connects different areas and neighborhoods. The blotched look to the color and the slight appearance of greys on the hands reveals that regardless of what particular neighborhood an individual is from everyone is still the same on the surface and from Chicago. Thin lines from each hand travel across and around the mural until they travel through an abstractly designed ‘weaving machine’ which is representative of the initiative individuals must have in order to begin to create a connected Chicago. The once thin and curvy lines come through the opposite side of the machine transformed into bold intertwined lines. In addition to taking inspiration from the Chauvet Cave mural, I was also inspired by the use of pattern motifs in ancient Egyptian murals. The intertwined lines create a pattern motif that represents a strong, united and connected Chicago. My murals themes include both revolt and tribute. The theme of revolt is present in the sense that I am hoping viewers of the piece will want to uprise against the current situation in our city and make an effort to change something about it. The mural will be next to the 18th st train station in order to paying respect and homage to Pilsen and its wonderful history of murals. It will also be next to the train station to act as a reminder for people coming and going that there is more to Chicago than just their neighborhood and area because the train can literally place you in any off the 77 neighborhoods in Chicago. My goal is that people will be visually stimulated by my mural and impacted in a way that creates a drive within themselves to go out and be proactive about connecting and unifying Chicago one person and one neighborhood at a time.
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