Project Evaluation

Final Project Pictures

Our last project was wonderful. It was a refreshing thing to see everyone's artwork. When Prof. Rothrock said the last project was open, I was thinking is this a good or bad thing? Its good because we as individual can show what we want to do and do whatever but its bad, because it can be too open and leave a few people lost in the openness. As a result, I think this was a great finishing project. I really liked everyone's concept behind their artwork. A lot of people did based on memories, but I find that memories or your past will always be with you so its common that people would do artwork on that particular subject. As for my evaluation, I was kind of scared of what my classmates might think of it, but it received good things so I'm happy. My project was simple but definitely A LOT of work put into it and I love the result and effect of it. Overall, I enjoyed this project and everyone's artworks. I love Concept Studio and will miss it!!!

Project: Open

I'm a little blank with this project, maybe 'cos its so open. One of my idea is based on using eyes. Growing up, I would hear things like, "The eyes tell a lot about a person or how they feel." "Beauty is in the eye's of the beholder." So I thought what better way to showcased the eyes and emotions/feelings it brings out in people by using photos of people I know and just using the eye area. I would crop around the eye area and create a collage of "eyes" in the letter "I". It would be done in Photoshop and in black and white. So far this is my idea. I'll post up the process work soon.

update 2:

I decided to use photography as my medium, kind of like its my "eyes"
I used 2 old photos of myself and made it "2 into 1" photo. It's kind of hard explaining it in words unless you see the result but I'll try my best to explain it right here. The 2 photo will be cut up and when the viewer look at it to the left side, they'll see one photo, but when they view it on the right, they'll see a different photo. The 1st photo is actually a picture of me being photograph and the 2nd is actually me photographing the viewer. So it goes back to photography being my "eyes" The 1st photo is like the viewer's eye/photo of me, and the 2nd is me seeing/photographing them (viewers). Make sense? I'll be posting the finishing piece soon!

Daily Class Notes: Rothrock

This past Monday, Kristin Rothrock, my teacher showcased how she started in college with art and where she is now with it. I felt this presentation related back to the beginning when she showed us the powerpoint slides that had questions like, "What do you want to do with Art?" I felt her story was so relatable to each student in so many different ways, at least to me, I felt I could relate to it because she was once in our shoe as art students.

I have learned so much in Concept Studio, along with the chance to grow with my classmates and bond with them. I definitely think this is a growing art class that brings us all together. This semester, with all my art classes, I felt almost degraded. By that, I mean with "art being graded". My art being graded, being judged, being critique, being examined and teared down to the core, by outsiders. I'm not saying what can and cannot be done with it. I think its a good and a bad with Art. It's just hard to stand by that line of "Art being graded." Can it truly be graded with an "A, B, C, D, F"? Isn't it all in the eye's of the beholder. I think everyone's aesthetics and view of art are all different. I'm not speaking about my Concept Studio but about one of my other art class I honestly felt like I had to please one of my other art teacher. Like the art I was doing wasn't what she/he wanted or was looking for. The art I was doing, suddenly wasn't "MY" art anymore but became the art I felt my teacher wanted it to be like: my other talented classmates. Art then, wasn't art anymore to me, in it, I felt it was all based on skills and nothing else, sad to say. The grades I were receiving suddenly plunged horribly in that particular art class and honestly, it hurts. Sure it was different, sure I put my heart and time into it, but at the end of the day, I'm no Monet and the grade is what it is (that was a turning point this semester for me). With all that said, it stressed me out to the max because I wanted to enter Art with a clean plate, starting over, trying to rediscover what is it again, and learning to draw, paint, anything, but it wasn't like that. It felt like I had to have GREAT skills/craftsmanship/techniques, I had to be just that good, or I'd failed. It then makes me wonder, is just having the dedication, motivation, passion and love for art not good enough? What is it that I need? I want to learn.

For now, I don't know. I'm still questioning myself with art.
Only time can tell.


Thank you Mrs. Rothrock for this great semester in your class!
Its been great!

Project: Art & Activism

In our group was Vivian and I. We both had previously worked in the past and worked again together on something we both were very passionate about. We chose the topic "Sex Trafficking". I first heard of Sex Trafficking 3 years ago and was intrigued by what kind of business it ran. It was not only disturbing, morally wrong, outrageous but even the story was mortifying and sad to hear from the victims. Ever since then, I've always had a passion to speak out, research or do things about this particular topic because one of the largest sex trafficking business hits where my parents birthplace is, Southeast Asia. We both initially had a lot of ideas and plans but due to the Thanksgiving break and crucial timing we narrowed it down and got straight to the point of it. Some of our ideas were creating a Facebook group to raise an awareness online, having a poll, creating 3 black figures (male, female, child) and putting it both on the hallway of Rowe and outside of Rowe, etc.

In the end, Vivian and I split the process work. Vivian drew and cut out the figure, I drew the words onto the paper and did the cut out of the cuffs. Afterwards we both cut the words and finished the process by placing the pieces onto the hallway in Rowe, 1st Floor.
Overall, though it could have been done better due to the lost of time, I think we both got the message across to the people who walked that hallway. I'm sure it made at least one person thought about it, and that makes quite a difference.

 

Daily Class Notes: Jennifer Wallace

This past week we had a guest visitor, Jennifer Wallace who teaches at UNCC and is a performance artist. In class we all had to perform something that she wanted us to do, such as make noises or do something we wouldn't normally do. I found that performance art was something I didn't expect it to be interesting but was so wrong because I thought it was cool. Her powerpoint of things she did in the past were interesting too. Overall her visit to our class proved to be good!

Daily Class Notes: Ideas

This week we talked about our project and the ideas we were passionate about. There were a lot of interesting topics and I would have loved to do any of the ones listed. Vivian and I decided to collaborate and chose the topic: Sex Trafficking.

Project: Environmental

For this project, I don't know exactly what I am going to do until I visit Reedy Creek Park. As a kid I was connected to nature because I was always outdoor and loved playing outside. However up til this age, I am most definitely not a nature person. The kid in me grew up, I guess. When I see nature now, for example the mountains, I think is beautiful and something about it makes it so peaceful and mesmerizing. One of my ideas was making food or edible stuff out of nature. When I was little, my siblings and relatives would love to play with dirt, grass, leaves, pretty much anything green and pretend we're cooking or making food with mud and it was always cool to see what each of us could make out of it. Note: We never ate it, don't worry =)

UPDATE

I can't say how much this project took me by surprise because every idea I came up with just didn't seem right or good or even to what I hope it would be. In the end, I talked to Vivian about the project and we both decided to collaborate together. We discussed things we did as kids and realized we loved to make snow angels so we thought of the idea of using leaves to make the wings onto the ground. We choose to use 2 different colors because the leaves on the ground were already brown or dead looking and how cool would it be to make the ground pop out with color. Some of the photos on the post is in black and white with the hint of colors from the leaves.

 

Daily Class Notes: Video

Wednesday we were suppose to go to Reedy Creek Park but it rained so it was a video day. I thought the video was interesting. Some of the pieces seemed simple but again, its the thought and process behind it that makes it art. I think as individuals and not just artist we have to accept there are going to be pieces we dislike and like and what is art to us and what isn't. In all honesty, art is simply art. Why kill the joy of something, regardless if we like it or not?

Schukmann & Damon

Pre-Questions for Skip Schukmann

1.  What is the reason he became an environmentalist artist?
2.  Why use nature as a part of art?
3.  How did he get started?

Pre-Questions for Betsy Damon

1. Is there a meaning behind why she uses water?
2. What made her decide to be an environmentalist artist?
3. Where does her inspirations come from?

Post Questions for Skip Schukmann

1.  Is it challenging to face nature?
2.  Does he think of incorporating other elements?
3.  Which one of his artworks does he feel most proud of?

Post Questions for Betsy Damon

1.  How far along does she think she has come?
2.  What else does she plan to do with her art?
3.  Would she work with other environmentalist artist?

Daily Class Notes: Malena Bergmann

We had a class guest speaker this week who was Malena Bergmann. When I first saw her visual art at the Light Factory I thought it was interesting despite not understanding what it was or the meaning behind it. It was great that she told the class how hard it was to create the whole thing even though something that looked so simple could take forever and be hard. I would have never thought it would be that much to create an almost 13minute art but once she told us how much the film was, it made sense why it was so much. I love that she came up with the idea because she had a dream and that she incorporated Mythology a lot into it.

I think as artist we should definitely go out of our comfort level, take risks and try new things. We'll never know if we like it or not or if it could turn into another career.

Project: Consumption

This project threw me way off because it had to be wearable. That was the hardest part about it, made me feel like I was in Project Runway =) So far I think I am going to use a white t-shirt as my canvas to create a map filled with lines and directions. I consume the roads and travel everyday from places to places so that generated this idea. I'm probably going to use staples, jewelry, and make stitches.


Will update soon!


UPDATE: Project Completion


I used masking tape and markers to create the roads onto the gray t-shirt. The overall consumption is roads/paths that we individual take in life, whether it is traveling to get to school or to class. It may seem simple but it was definitely time consuming too because I had to color the masking tape and then wait for it to dry up. Overall, this consumption project was a CHALLENGE! It sure did get everyone in class out of their comfort zone and they all did a wonderful, interesting job. Its always nice to see the finishing pieces and hear what the story is behind it.

 

Daily Class Notes: Class Discussion

Today in class we discussed the artists Thomas Kinkade and Vanessa Beecroft. It was interesting to find that a lot of the students agreed with each other espcially about Thomas Kinkade. I think he is a great person who sure knows how to market himself and get his message across to people with his artworks. I think his work IS art. In general, I don't think art can truly be define and I think that's the point. Art is Life. In life, we will have to deal with things we like, dislike, agree and disagree and that's what makes us human and different from each other. I don't necessarily dislike or like his artworks, though I do know its not my cup of tea. I recalled one student saying how when you become a sellout, people automatically starts hating on you. I think that's wrong to simply hate someone or their work because of their sucess level is overrated or you've seen it way too much. I do agree that when something is so "in-your-face" all the time that you'll start to get tired of seeing it, but that's not the point of it not being art because whose to say it is or it isn't. Art is art.

As for Beecroft, she seems interesting. I like the idea that she uses so many models, that makes them look like mannequins and she makes them stand for a long time until you start to notice them getting tired. I have to agree that she's kind of mocking us humans and media that beauty doesn't last forever and for us to not have just a "certain" type of beauty in mind.

Overall, this class discussion was great and insightful. I always wonder how it would be like if our questions were answered by the artist themselves. It could possibly be that, that is the point, to simply just question.

Text Notes: Kinkade & Beecroft

Pre-Questions for Thomas Kinkade

1. Why so much detail?
   
2. Does the usage of color mean anything?
   
3. Does his painting represent anything in particular?
   

Pre-Questions for Vanessa Beecroft

1. What does she want her audience to get out of her art?
   
2. Does she only do performance art?
   
3. What is art?
   

Notes: Thomas Kinkade

• Kinkade wants everyone to own his work
• Mass produces his works
• A very wealthy man who earns 5% of his net sales
• His faith in his religion is put into his artwork
  

Notes: Vanessa Beecroft

• Born in Italy
• Uses female models for her performance artworks
• She doesn't pose or uses herself as part of her artwork
• Though it talked about her being beautiful, she struggled with anorexia

Post Questions for Thomas Kinkade

1. In what ways does he think his artwork has effected the world?
   
2. Which of his "artwork" bring him the most in sales?
   
3. What is he in it MORE, for the money or love of it?
   

Post Questions for Vanessa Beecroft

1. Why only use female? Why not males too?
   
2. Any art showcases for the general public?
   
3. What is her purpose or reasons behind the way she does her art?
   

Daily Class Notes: Movies

I like this week's Art 21 video, especially Michael Ray Charles. His artworks are really intriguing and I like that he's satirical in his work of art. The feel of the music playing gives his part of the video a nice touch since he does base his artwork in past advertisements.

We watched another film called "Helvetica" and I thought it was really interesting since I'll be concentrating in Graphic Design. I've always loved Typography so it was really cool that Helvetica IS part of our everyday life whether we notice it or not.

Our next project is based on Consumption, it has to be wearable/body object. We can use products such as clothing, food, etc to help us. But unfortunately I have no idea and don't know where to start because it has to be wearable. When I think of wearable I automatically think of clothes and I actually want to stay out of that. This project really makes me think of Project Runway when Heidi Klum or Tim Gunn tells them what objects or what they're allow to only use. But I guess I'll have to try my best to make it work! This will be interesting and def. out of my comfort zone.

Extra Credit: Jennifer E. Price

This past Tuesday I was able to attend Jennifer E. Price's presentation and lecturer, an artist in the United Kingdom who's work primarily focuses on printmaking. I actually met Jennifer at the Intergraphica club and talked to her about what is printmaking? As I had no clue to what it was or its purposes. This presentation that she gave was very insightful and helpful to all artists. I always worried about after getting a degree and being thrown into the real world, how it'll feel or be like? She explained her journey of overcoming obstacles, such as facing rejection in the challenging art world, to her near death experience and to simply coordinating her own exhibition despite having a horrible cold.

Though she was a great artist and very passionate about what she does, it was the fact she was real. She was a heavy drinker in her college days, suffered from multiple personality disorder and like every other person in this world, she had to face every day life with the struggle with little or no money. She worked and faced all these obstacles to finally get to where she is now. Its amazing how one grows. I can't forget when she mentioned that she nearly faced death and thought to herself that she couldn't die because she didn't do anything to be remembered for. Strange how she felt exactly the same way I feel. It not only motivates me but pushes me more to strive for being better and by doing something I love and hoping to be remembered for something great.

Update: Identity Project

My Identity Thesis Project I have decided to use only paper. The background is in newspaper, I will be creating an embroidery from my Hmong culture background and within that is a maze. Surrounding the sign is collages of feminists things such as Tampon labels, or food label ingredients because in life, there are a lot of things that makeup who we are. I chose paper as a form because growing up, it was known in my tradition that "Females" were less valued and they're not powerful or that they're not worth anything. And that relates to paper because though money is made from paper, just regular paper isn't worth anything or valued for.


I'll be sure to update this post with photos this weekend!

UPDATE:

Instead of doing the maze and collages of backgrounds, I was going to draw 3 figures that look like male, they're dressed in suits but have their heads covered with the embroidery of my culture on it so it covers the faces. I am going to use 18x24 drawing paper, the background would be pink to symbolize being a female. Somewhere on the paper would be the words, "Accept me now" with a huge question mark behind the words. I'm using pencil to draw out the 3 figures because unlike pens or markers, they don't leave a permanent mark, signifying that in this world, females aren't expected to leave any mark behind, though there are traces even when being erased. I know this is a big last minute change but the more I thought on my project, more and more ideas started coming. Its crazy!

 

UPDATE End Result:

 

I noticed I changed the way I wanted to do my Identity Project quite a few times. In the end I didn't add the words because I wanted the project to speak for itself instead of adding words to it. Overall, I thought I did good for the first project. Not only that but the class I thought did wonderful. I feel this project really opened all of us up to each other and created that comfort in the class. Also I'm glad this project gave us all the chance to share a part of ourselves and a part of our lives together even though quite a lot of them were deeply personal. 

Text Notes: Kentridge & Goldin

Pre-Questions for William Kentridge

1. Why document residue of abuses with the emotional complexity of amnesty?
2. Why is it in black and white only?
3. How do you make documenting a part of your everyday life?

Pre-Questions for Nan Goldin

1. How do one withstand the test of time?
2. How did you get started with photographing yourself and friends?
3. How does one differentiate themselves from just taking a "regular" photo?

Notes: William Kentridge

• Born in Johannesburg, South Africa
• His artworks seems to have a great deal with politics in South Africa
• When he was young he saw a photo with a person's head blown off and that has left an impression from then onward
• He works with all sorts of medium
• His experiences from his childhood to growing up shows in his artworks a lot

Notes: Nan Goldin

• Impacted by the death of her friends and drug usage
• Her sister committed suicide and she ran away from home at a young age
• In the beginning her pictures were not seen by the public but by the people whom she had taken pictures of but later, everyone was able to view them and it became a hit
• She searches for the intimacy she lost with her sister
• Was in an abusive relationship that had her hospitalized

Post Questions for William Kentridge

1. Out of all your mediums, which is your favorite and why?
2. If you were not living in South Africa, where would you like to live?
3. Is everything based on real life experiences or events?

Post Questions for Nan Goldin

1. How come you had no intention of becoming a career artist even though you did so much with photographing?
2. Are you still looking for that intimacy you lost with your sister?
3. Is any of your friends still struggling with drugs or other life threatening situations?

Project: Identity

5 Touchpoints

1. I moved a lot my childhood
2. Being a female
3. My Dad and I never seeing eye to eye
4. After graduating high school, I took a year off to think what I really wanted to do with my life
5. And lastly, changing the fact maybe I didn't want to be a cartoonist but incorporate everything I loved into Graphic Design


Adjectives

1. Difficult
2. Expectations
3. Struggles
4. Disappointment
5. Standards
6. Label
7. Worthless
8. Mainstream
9. Ordinary
10. Predominant


Metaphors

1. A roomful of clones
2. A women window shopping, looking through glasses of how she should portray herself to be
3. A global map or globe of Earth, having the females dress in their traditional clothing with strings attached and connected to each of them
4. A girl looking at a mirror to reflect what is expected of her
5. A maze of expectations to complete to get out




- MV

New Beginnings...

The start of Concept Studio feels great. I am excited for the challenges and risks I want to take. I feel as an artist you shouldn't limit yourself to just one thing but try something new, for you never know what works for you and what doesn't. There were some questions on the powerpoint that Prof. Rothrock showed that was very interesting and I find myself always asking the same questions from time to time.

For me, art is life. I chose art because I couldn't see myself in anything but making and simply living art. I tried imagining myself in an office job, working 8-5 inside a cubicle doing something I don't love or have a care in the world for and that just isn't me and I know for a fact I wouldn't be happy at all.

The last question on the powerpoint was "What do you want to do with Art?"
I think I'm still trying to find the gist of that answer but for now, it's still changing and evolving for the time.
I look forward to this class and learning more about art.

Now its onto the 10 page autobiography and reading about artists!


-MV