My project aims to show the complex situations a Christian gay faces. The person struggles between one’s belief and sexual orientation, bearing pressures from oneself, other Christians and the gay group. Many traditional Christians believe homosexuality is sin and they exclude Christian gays no matter how close they were. Some ordinary people show confusion and shock toward the existence of Christian gay. Gay group holds a very sensitive and subtle attitude toward Christian gays.
People hold the stereotype that Christians have bias on gay and they should not be close to gays. My goal is to let the people be aware of the existence of Christian gays and the struggles they are facing because the stereotypes people have towards them. Like I said in the Genius Grant Proposal, I hope the project could eliminate or change the stereotype and help to reduce the pressure that the Christian gay group is bearing.
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Brainstroming
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I did two collages of the series. They are all at the stage that stuck in struggles. The left one show the Chrsitian lesbian finds her homosexuality and is limited by the words in bible. The right one shows the Christian lesbian has a tendency to her homosexuality part. The numbers under the collage are in the form of “sequence-version”, like the left one means it is the second collage that I made and it is the sixth version.
2-6
1-3
Here are the pictures of folds that all the versions of these two collages.
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Problem
I encountered dilemma that I got confused by my research and don’t want to have real, detailed specific faces or figures in my collages. I thought I wanted to express the emotional stuffs that are hard to be expressed and kind of be blocked by images that already existed. The problem was solved by communicating with Bryan and he recommended some artists and artworks for me to see. These artworks are realistic but they don’t keep viewers attention on the images themselves. They make people thinking about the purpose that the creators trying to express. I learnt the point form those works and kept working and modifying my collages.
Feedback
—Take care of the composition of the whole image, like the outline and the positions of different parts.
—Get to explore the textures.
For the upcoming week
—do some deeper research about the artists that Bryan recommended and try to figure out the purposed the creators want to express.
—explore different materials to get textures and try to combine them with the collage
Time Estimate
—explore different materials to get different textures 3h
—a complete a finished postcard that has both the collage and the texture on it. 1.5h
—finish all the collages, have at least 5 pieces 5h
Pics in M&J Trimming
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What I worked on last week was selecting printing paper, printing out one completed collage, buying materials used for texture making and trying to apply texture on the back.
zipper
safety pins
pompons
glitter
button
The challenges I ran into were the paper could only fit in the machine in the design lab which all the reservations are full. And I stuck with the collage making. The way I solved this problem/dilemma was walking in to wait for the printing machine and trying to put different image elements together. What I need to do next is keeping making collages and print them nicely on the correct paper after trying. Then apply textures on the postcard. If I have time, I will make a box consisted of textures and collages.
This is the printed out piece with sand paper I added on the back.
sand paper on the back
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What I heard in group critique from Riya was change the red line around the figure. It was helpful because details are important and I do want the lines to emphasize the human figure instead of draw too much attention on itself. And Delores gave me one suggestion that I am excited about: making a box that have different textures inside and collages outside. I love it because it is like a small experiencing installation that encourage people to interact with my work. Bryan gave me feedbacks that it would be nice if I could make both the single postcards pieces and the experiencing box; to make the extended textures beyond the postcard (ribbons, pins) so that people would get in close touch with them. I love these ideas because the postcard area shouldn’t limit the textures and having extended textures would be so cool.
I need to research for activities and images to carry on my collages. They could be protest, parade or struggle stories. I need to buy papers to try which one is the best for printing my work at Stample or Paper Presentation.
Time Estimate:
Further research — 3h
Make new digital collages — 4h
Adjust all the digital collages — 1.5h
Buy paper and try print — 1h
Print all the single collages — 1h
Apply textures — 4h
Buy box materials and make the box — 4h
Budget plan — 1h
Make PPT — 2h
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I did the new collages and modified the old ones.
There is one failed collage because the image is famous and too recognizable. So I abandoned that idea of using art photography. The image of the fold below is the resources that I planned to use.
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I printed all the collages and applied different materials. There are two pictures of the whole design process.
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Final presenation
I made the slideshow and present in front of the class. I introduced the stereotype and the problems that cause the situation. Then I presented my pieces one by one while all the class is around me. At last people shared about their comments and thoughts and Bryan and Eric gave me nice feedbacks.
pieces set up in the class
I told the class about my concept.
People touched the sand paper on the back of one piece.
Classmates passed my works.
I told the class about the material choices and what did them stand for.
Other documents
Genius Grant Proposal
Genius Grant – Project Statement-1lkfsvd
Bibliorgraphy
Short Bibliography Draft-xx74fi
Budget
Final Reflection Questions
- What I learned from combining research with making a project was the research part was a great support for develop the idea and provided reference when making works. Project with a well done research is usually meaningful, not superficial.
- What I learned about my content through this medium exploration was the forms of showing the struggles of Christian gays are super rich and can combined all senses. To people who are not gays or Christians, it will be better if the work interact with them and go beyond visual. There is a bright possibility of develop my own visual language of this stereotype.
- Writing the Genius Grant Proposal was helpful for making the Studio project because it made the goal clear. I was clear about my purpose of doing this project and who are my audience. The proposal guilded my directions.
- What I learned about myself as an artist/designer during this project: Firstly, the visual languages are so rich and full of possibilities that I should push myself and make myself thinking about what could make my work better. Never afraid of trying new ideas. Secondly, making a project proposal is a great idea and it is of great help to guide myself and make sure I am clear about the goals. Thirdly, time management is important. Sometimes it is hard to estimate the time I need during some steps.
