My studio and seminar projects are about the mythology of dreamcatchers. In seminar, I started my research which based off the dreamcatcher and its history that relates to the legend of Ojibwe tribe. For studio, I am using the sources I found in seminar research and interpret with my ideas into an interior element work.
I came up with my word web in the class, and nine different combinations came out eventually. I created nine versions of drawings in the sketchbook; later I selected my favorite one. While I was planning to embody my pictures in reality, I read through the article that I researched in seminar. According to “How Dreamcatchers Went from Sacred Tradition to the Malls of America,” the author has addressed the phenomenon of society shifting the Native American traditions to a modern spiritual need. The article was making me think of making an interior element which applies to everyone and convince them with one single purpose. Dreamcatcher was meant to protect the children, but the adults in the present need that spirit too. So this idea even made me like my initial choice more. The dreamcatchers are gathering together and net with each other; it’s like a huge finishing net underneath, which symbolizing a dreamcatcher system and capable of collecting more beautiful wishes.
Finally, I finished my Dreamcatcher Net. The body is made out of lines only in white and red. Viewing the work from bellow, you will be able to see the complicated twined shapes; observing the Net from above, the light illuminates the net’s dramatic shadow, which gives more contrasts of the form itself.
Bridge 5 Reflection———–
Over the semester, I have adopted an interesting learning method, which is connecting the studio class and the seminar class together, and cooperate with two studying outcomes. In general, the “Bridges” from the two classes went well in my first year experience. I have expanded several objects that involved fine arts and digital designs; during the process of making works, I have collaborated thoughts from each class and rethink on my concepts and actual physical forms. The Bridge study provides me more chances on selecting a specific direction to follow through, From each beginning of a project, the themes have tied up to the research objects, and two class periods each week give us time to concentrate on refining either our ideas or process writing. What I feel is needed in the Bridge study, is that getting feedbacks from each project’s results. Sometimes we started the Bridge at the beginning of class, but we did not end it well as we started it. What is our goal of accomplishing the work? For course requirements, or for the further studies with improvements? Personally speaking, I think that ending each Bridge with developing further possibilities and prepare for the next one is as important as starting brainstorming at the beginning of each projects,
In Bridge 4, I held different ideas of making a work relates to mythology and spirituality. I was thinking about combining the ancient Greek myth with dreamcatchers, and expand the form of that work from a dreamcatcher into something else. Later in the research of seminar class, I found out that my subjects are too similar but kind non-related to each other. If I ever started with combing the two elements form different culture, it would leave a broader field of researches. So I took off the part of the Greek myth, instead focusing on the origins of dreamcatcher and the legend of the tribe which it belongs to. I felt my topic was much more unified and stronger in making out of a physical form; in seminar, I looked up for specific sources and collected helpful legends to enrich my projects in both classes.
Bridge 4 is referring to our interests in researching and making meaningful things. We chose the topic and media that we wanted to collaborate with, and it reflects our particular preference of working in process some kind how. I love to explore the mood of experiencing in the dreamlike realm. It gives me space for imaginations for all kinds of possibilities and security. The project of Dreamcatcher Net reflects my good wishes for the audiences and the surreal aspects of mundane space. As exploring the dreamland on my mind, I find the calmness which enable me to create more art piece that goes beyond my past. I wish that I will be able to work with more hands-on works and to enhance my skills in solving problems and creating splendid works. Lastly, I would continue to adopt methods of studying, train my ideas as conceptual ones.
