This course has pushed me artistically and challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone, use unfamiliar mediums, and work harmoniously with others.
Beginning with the Derive project, I was not quite sure what I wanted to do or how to approach the project. I remember the first group critique on the canvas I created, and how afterward, I felt I had a much stronger direction to how I wanted to approach part two. I created a video game, and although not as technically advanced or detailed as I would like it to be, I felt that because of hearing the feedback of other’s I was able to find a medium to better express my ideas.
In the Environmental Portrait, Nile and I were continuously pushing each other, not only with how our projects would be presented, but how to tell a story and narration of each other that was authentic to each. The greatest challenge for me in this project was wondering if she would like it, or felt that it fully expressed who she is on the inside. I chose to express this through clothes, ironically something very exterior and often deemed “superficial”. If felt that the progression from the first video to the installation of her closet with the small handkerchiefs was important; tangibility was key to this project. Being able to touch, feel, and even explore her clothes made the experience of looking at a portrait of her much more accurate than watching a video.
In Pere Lachaise, I often found myself reflecting on what the definition of art really is. Writing and acting in a sitcom, cross-dressing as a California surfer dude in a cemetery, creating GIFs and memes to post on Twitter, making a social media campaign for Instagram, and in-class posing as a PBS-esque daytime television host, were firstly all things that I could not or would not have done without the support of my group and also made me question what art can be. Looking back at the project, I am not incredibly proud of the resolution of the work (particularly my representation of a man — I do not make a good man), but what I am proud of is the time and commitment all four of us put into the project and the concepts it forced us to think about. I left the project having a stronger direction for what I really wanted to create.
For the Remake, downloading Tinder and going on a date with a stranger was at first a little exciting, and then a little daunting. I found Tinder tedious, repetitive, and after I had the date, I was relieved. I thought the entire process of working on the project was actually quite smooth, and each group member took their work seriously. I think this was the project that challenged me the most artistically because it was the project that challenged me the most personally. I’ve learned how as an artist, it is important to have the ability to remove yourself from a situation in order to create art — as an actor does in their art — but also that art has to be personal to be meaningful.
Overall, I’ve not only learned a lot from this course but I have also enjoyed it to. I have enjoyed coming to class, discussing and sharing with other students, and having the freedom to get my hands a little bit dirty and create projects of all different meanings and mediums while under the requirements of the assignments.
