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A lot has changed in Power Point since the last time I used it, or maybe it was because I was using a mac...either way, I had to rethink my strategies. My problems with making the Power Point was that I didn't know how to customize each page so that they could have a different look, so they all have the same style. I did manage to make variations but they're still basically the same.I feel as though I didn't display enough work from Computers which I thought of as the highlight of the presentation. It makes sense though, because I've gone to high school for four years and have only been at Tyler for a semester.I'm really excited to see everyone's work and for people to see my work. It will be interesting.
As far as my book is concerned, I'm initially pleased with myself that I worked through the process of actually making it a reality, getting the materials and the money and the images (I had misplaced my flash drive). Seeing the final product pleased me though. It had the look that I was going for, and enough information to show the viewer that this was a real study.If I could do anything differently, I would probably have a little better quality pictures for all of them because for some I didn't figure out until late on how to get a better quality print. There were also some inconsistencies just due to the lack of materials. The piece itself is an exploration of coins and displaying their beauty as artifacts, sculptures, and little windows to history and experiences. My materials were chosen to enhance that goal. Overall, I think it worked out nicely
There isn't much to say about this one other than I enjoyed it as usual. Melinda's work, though formally interesting was geared more towards craft artists though I did enjoy her bags and merchandise. I really like the idea of getting your work out there which seems to be the theme of all of these lectures, but how to get it done is still a little bit of a mystery. The internet, definitely but even that doesn't seem like a sure way to be seen.
Last Friday I went to First Friday again but this time my group focused a little more on abstract art galleries and pottery. I really enjoyed it. The pottery was beautifully made. It was a dinner wear theme. Each of the collections had a very interesting design, though I was even more impressed with the restaurant collection of the Tyler students in the lobby. We saw a very interesting collection of artwork where the artist, I'm assuming female, created these very intricate and intense paintings with a collection and cluster of patterns and vibrant colors and imagery, with very soft and mystical backgrounds. I figured she was trying to recreate the chaotic technicolor and overwhelming information of the world, though balanced with a nexis-like background, giving order and peace.
This multicolored coin has the ability to take Philadelphians anywhere they would like to go on mass transit. They're expensive little coins, basically worth $1.48 depending on where they're purchased from.
I went to the special 7pm edition of the lecture. I was very pleased that I went. Brett was a very interesting guy who captivated me from pretty much the beginning. He told us all to take three breaths together. We didn't know why but we all did. Then he told us that that was a collaboration, people coming together to make something happen as a community. It was a very profound example.His work fascinated me, how quickly he could produce these spray painted works, how intriguing they were. I really loved all the stories he told about being active in the community with art and creating these collaborative pieces with his friend.For the audience, he made us create a rubric that we would judge the artwork that he showed us based on our definitions of community and soul. It was entertaining and refreshing. He had many profound statements to make that night. He believed in true interactions with the audience which made his presentation all the more engaging. He works the same way with his art work now, engaging the community by making them the models or making them create the work themselves, the way that they want to but also as a community.
What happened at Tienanmen Square was a complete disaster. I couldn't and can not fathom what occurred. Communist China, it seemed, wanted nothing but to keep control of everything. At the mere mention of Democracy, China took charge and tried to stop it. The protests for Democracy and change lasted for seven weeks and ended on June 4th in Tienanmen Square where a massacre ensued on both June 4th and the day before. Government soldiers shot openly into the public, first so that they would disperse and later, it appeared, just because they were still there. On the day that Tank Man halted the tank, soldiers fired at a large crowd's retreating back for over a dozen times.What frightens and intrigues me is the censorship of the incident that is still in motion. After the massacre, the government tried to cover it up. No one could talk about it basically. Anything and/or anyone that alluded to the incident was flushed out. People were either exiled, imprisoned, or executed. Many books were destroyed and newspaper stopped. The government obliterated all traces of the incident, only giving a slither of the tale they wanted to tell.Now, no one who came after the Tienanmen Square incident really knows what happened there. If they do know anything it's from what the government allowed or hearsay. People in other countries know more about what happened in China more than Chinese people do. The government insists that a massacre didn't occur. They insist that they did the right thing.
Because I have an obsession with coins.
I used an image from one of Audrey Kawasaki's paintings and the picture of my best friend Derrick at the beach.
This is technically the coin with the most intrinsic value in my collection. The Golden Dollar Sacagawea coin. It was given to me by my brother. I noticed something peculiar though. It doesn't have a date. This could mean it's either counterfeit or...something else.
A similar incident like the one with the Bermuda coin occurred with this Australian one. Queen Elizabeth, the queen of England is featured on the currency of many countries which I wasn't aware of. A key difference though, from Canada: the coin had a different backing and it wasn't as decorative or as delicate.
This is the old version of the penny before the year 1960. They're heavier because they consist of more dense metals. I first noted the difference in the pennies in the 6th grade and have been collecting them every since.
In Baltimore there is the Walters Art Museum where many historic paintings are exhibited. I have only gone there a couple of times though the last time I was home last week I visited there again. I find that looking at great masterful work gives me inspiration to create "masterful" work myself. It's not always the case.The Walters is a four floor building with each floor holding different objects, either from different periods in history or different specialty exhibits. I really enjoy going to the first and third floor. The third floor has a lot of Baroque and Romantic art works. I saw my first Ingres there. The first floor has a series of rooms that I love to look through even though the lighting and orientation of the works isn't satisfactory. Most of these works are more than likely from the Late Renaissance to the Romantic period. The detailed paintings and smooth surfaces of the portrait and still life fascinate me with the craft and skill and compositional consideration as well as conceptual maturity and thoroughness. Along with paintings there are sculptures and maps and old furniture that are really beautiful and elegant. I love looking at these because they hold an air of mystery about them.
Like the other lectures, I found this one interesting. He was a lively man who actually works in the Tyler metals and jewelery department. He made a lot of jokes and was very charismatic and outgoing which helped engage the audience. I was pleased with how aesthetically pleasing his work was. It seemed as though his earlier jewelery might have been inspired by hair rollers though I'm not sure. It impressed everyone that he had a level of fame about him, from working to create work for the queen to celebrities on MTV. It added to this cool persona that captivated us. His later work integrated himself in an interesting way with creating sculptures based on his blood pressure.He also spoke of the nervousness that artists feel, and the uncertainty that becomes the measure of success for us. I don't know how I feel about that. I agree though is this how it should be? Should artists continue to feel this worry to become successful. I myself feel the same worry because, like him, I've experienced the same foundation that stripped me of all cockiness and certainty, leaving me hesitant and insecure in some ways and it's spilled over to my everyday life. The natural process after this stripping down of the ego would be to build it back up but that hasn't exactly happened for me yet.
Some people thought this lecture wasn't interesting, I disagreed. Eileen Neff's sense of composition and balance was astounding. I loved the work with the furniture and the overall illusionist approach to realism. The concept of outside spaces and inside spaces intrigued me. I'd never thought about it but seeing it put together in various ways held my interest. I loved the different media choices which I hear also included cinema.The entire collection read cohesively. In the end it was like a revelation, starting with the end table and the world. It was very well put together.Others argued that what she did didn't exactly require skill. I disagree with that as well. What she does not only requires technical skill but a sort of mental and conceptual discipline that comes with time and maturity. It appears at first that any of us could do some of her work but in truth we can't because, as simple as it appears, we haven't thought of it and how her work was composed and thought out and finished was at a level way beyond a foundation student with budding technical skills.
A more sophisticated Chuck E Cheese coin of sorts, the Arcade Currency. In some places this currency is interchangeable with quarters to play games. When they started using these coins I'm not sure, but they're quickly becoming irrelevant in the gaming world. I snagged this golden coin before it became obsolete. 
I spotted this coin on one of my step brother's bottles during the summer. Seeing as he's half Dominican, it made sense for him to have it. I "tricked" him into giving it to me, feigning an innocent interest.
I did two though I don't really like the second one.
This lecture interested me today. It gave me some ideas for myself.I listened while also editing my novel and what she said really helped me as an author and a writer. She said she was just an artist and that we should have fun doing this. We should go outside of the box. We should strive to create characters with our work and with those characters we should be able to communicate. She said that it's about movement and taking from the body. We should take what we love from every aspect of life and change it and give it character and influence. I agree. It gave me a sense of clarity. We are creating characters when we work, whether it be with literal characters in a still life or more abstract characters in other works. For a long time I've never understood the point of abstraction other than physical beauty, but I've been given a taste to why and how it's done. It intrigued me.
