Create a series of images/text/sound/video to reflect 5 moments that each tells a story/share a memory that has impacted your character. Consider the following:
- What experiences have you had that have helped make you who you are today?
- How can you tell those stories with limited materials? In limited space?
- How can you combine text and image to tell the story?
- How will your audience be able to hear and see and feel the experience?
- What materials will you use? Ink/paint/collage/digital montage?
- Create a description for the set
- You will present these moments in class as well as post images/video/sound and process to your LP.
I wish I could remember more from my childhood. Sadly, I don’t know why but I can’t relate to my friends who recall their preschool friendships. Many of my memories are quite recent.
To bring my collection together with an underlying theme, I reflected on changements that related to our bodies.
(1 & 4) Girl in Hospital Gown// The girl’s body has a lack of wire as the dress frames the figure simply and her hands are crossed where her uterus would be. This emptiness is to reflect on problems (or lack of) that the doctors said that I had of my health.
(2) Prayer// Last year was a huge change for me, but the best. I was saved and became a Christian. My life is so much better now thanks to God’s grace. It is really personal but I am happy to share my testimony to anyone who will listen.
(3) Consciousness// In high school I liked a guy and started actually paying attention to my physical self, so cliché it’s cringy. But it manifested and not until recently did I realize that I had gone through an eating disorder for almost a year. The wire is shaped to contour as breasts, thin stomach, and a large bottom, but she crosses her arms in insecurity.
(5) Little Dancer// Modeled after Degas infamous bronze statue. Whenever I see ballet art or themed items, I get mixed feelings. Part of me loves the beautiful designs- slap a ballet sticker on a notebook and I’ll love it- but at the same time with sadness, I constantly feel or know that I won’t be like that ballerina. I had danced since the age of 3 until moving to New York. Until Sophomore year, I went to a studio that was highly prestigious but anyone who wasn’t on par would be forgotten. I was that girl and I was young and didn’t understand that it wasn’t right. I thought it was just how the way things were. It affected my confidence a lot and carried on even when I switched studios. I felt that I would never be good enough. Luckily, my new teacher was very kind, patient, and encouraging and even though I wouldn’t be pursuing dance as a career, she really inspired me in many ways, in art and my sense of self.
(6) ma mere// The final sculpture is of my mother. She has more wire wrapped around to show her more years of experience. The big round circle is to represent her being pregnant with my younger brother. At that time, I was 6. I feel sad because I don’t remember any of it. Having a new child in the family is such a big milestone, yet I have no recollection of her big belly or of a baby brother. I feel guilty because 6 should be an age old enough to remember this big change. I want to, but I can’t even draw upon “tokens” to make myself believe.
close up detail
thank you to Jared for helping me out with the bases!
