aertsarts

[aertsarts]

Hi Casey,

I understood the concept you approached through your performance and it resonated with me as someone who tends to put up a facade to avoid uncomfortable conversations regarding my true feelings. The repetitive response highlighted how we may be so comfortable with this ambiguous response we may neglect expressing our true feelings/desires, which is something I admired. I noticed the varying facial expressions when you answered and how every “I’m fine” felt different from the last, even with subtle pauses before you spoke and so forth. The small talk could have included other questions that would pry into this idea of “I’m fine”, which would feed into how we’d rather automatically reply with this rather dry response instead of answering the question that is being proposed toward us truthfully. However, you executed this well through a series of repetitive questions that never led to a different answer that would otherwise lead to the “potentially uncomfortable situations” that you had mentioned.

Performance Art Project

I often worry about how much I should be sharing with others about my feelings. How much is too much? Or how much is too little? The way you respond to “how are you?” can dictate an entire conversation, not always for the better. So, the simplest answer is usually “I’m fine.” It’s short, simple, and perfectly ambiguous. 

I wanted to play with the concept of truth in our daily conversations, particularly with the phrase “I’m fine.” I realized that I have repeated that so frequently that it has become an automatic response. It’s a bizarre combination of three words that live in a perpetual gray zone of truth and lies. It’s like a verbal shield to protect me from any potentially uncomfortable situations. I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m fine. But am I?

[aertsarts]

Hi Keyena!

I thoroughly enjoyed your work and what it’s conveying. Especially when our work and personal life began to crush us, we tend to neglect our own well-being, and finding ways to regain ourselves from this rather chaotic world of ours is vital in itself. When watching your performance, the vulnerability of laying in the Zen-tangle itself gave the idea of letting go of what’s around us and I felt this heightened the message of your performance. The drawings weren’t staged nor initially planned, they felt organic, moving with the mind instead of ahead of it. And the way you were laughing, smiling, and overall enjoying the experience really sold the idea of escaping and focusing back on the simple things in life, something I found myself lacking in recent times. As your performance carried on, I expected there to be little to no talking since mediation often requires one to not speak but it did not hinder your performance’s quality nonetheless.

Zen-Tangle Performance Art - Artist Statement

For my Performance, Zen-tangle Art, it is communicated in a personal and social issue. Personally, I struggle to control my anxiety and just recently discovered Zen-tangle art at my work. We have a class called “Social Group” at the high school for special needs kids to help them find ways to manage their emotions and stress. This inspired me as it was calming for me when I participated. It also got my creative juices following again. By merely putting on meditative music and draw away keeps the stress away and re-grounds your soul. It is a social issue in times like this. People are stressed and have their schedules full, financially, emotionally, and physically. Realistically, to stay sane, we need something to help us escape and refocus on the simple and happy things in life. I want the audience to experience how relaxing a Zen-tangle can be even on a bigger scale. Sitting in the warm sun, listening to the birds, and drawing calms the brain from this chaotic world. I believe what people drew reflects their thinking process and their emotions through these patterns. My overarching goal is to radiate peace and calm in our chaotic world, relax and release, and pause time for what matters most.

[aertsarts]

Module 4: Performance Art Project

Lately, I’ve felt so unmotivated to do anything. It was one or two assignments that slipped through my fingers. The more I procrastinated, the more guilt I felt as the days went by. Even my own workspace began to reflect my mental state, cluttered, confused, and a sense of neglect. Although simple in concept, cleaning gave me a feeling of control, removing the weight that plagued me for weeks. The task was tedious, to say the least, but it was very satisfying to see my clean desk again and see everything in its proper place. Sometimes we need to face something head on in order to get that spark going.

[aertsarts]

This is an interesting approach toward intervention and how it intertwines with the personal experiences of others as well as yourself really captures its importance! Your piece seems to have high amounts of energy and time put into its creation, which I admire. The puzzle itself feels like a story that has to be told in order for those who may not understand autism to learn to accept rather than to be aware. Having it placed within several therapy offices heightens the informative aspect of the piece since it is often a place where judgment is set aside. Placing it in a location that relates to your experience as well as a nice personal touch, which I feel gives it more character. Although there wasn't much documentation of other offices where the puzzle resided, it's enough to show the extent of your project. Overall, this work is moving in its message and even resonates with me due to having a younger cousin who was recently diagnosed with autism. I feel you executed it well in showing that people with autism are just as human as anyone else and not treating it as a problem that needs to be solved.

Intervention art (project)

When I was fourteen I received an autism diagnosis, but more recently I have been trying to learn about autism, both in general and what it means for me personally. I’ve found that there are a lot of things I’ve learned that I never stopped to consider before, even after receiving my diagnosis. Because of that, because I feel like autism is something a lot of people fail to consider as being nuanced, I wanted to focus this project on one aspect that tends to be overlooked. The puzzle piece as a symbol of autism holds negative connotations and perpetuates harmful misconceptions, yet it continues to be a popular symbol. Since I placed this piece in the waiting area of a building with several therapy offices, including where I was diagnosed, my intention is that whoever comes across this will take the time to learn more about the puzzle piece in relation to autism and use what they learn to show more acceptance. 

[aertsarts]

Although the project itself is executed by a singular and rather simple material, its strength is highlighted through the words that resonate with the dire situation we're in. Despite how desolate the locations may seem, I feel it compliments and informs the concept of social distancing very well. The simple execution plays into the fact that a blunt and straightforward message is essential when people want to downplay wearing masks. The lack of people feels as if they're ignoring the message completely, even with how bright and obvious you made the message seem. Your documentation is stellar and gives various locations to look at as well as different spaces in which you wrote the words 'wear a damn mask'. However, the temporary existence of the chalk writing itself compels me to believe people will continue to bask in their ignorance, no matter how much we may try and persuade them. Your project showcases the urgency of today's problems in a simple yet effective manner and how we need to put aside our differences for the sake of getting through this pandemic together!

Intervention Art Project 

I have been so surprised at the backlash and anger surrounding wearing masks to help stop the spread of COVID-19. After the governor’s announcement about stricter mask ordinances I wanted to do something to support it. As someone who works in performance sometimes I feel like elementary school where we are all missing recess because a few kids can’t behave. This was the inspiration for the location of my messages, around places that are closed right now because of the pandemic (theatres, sports centers etc.) I hoped that this would exemplify the art . My original plan was to use a stencil and spray chalk to make it look neater, but the spray chalk totally failed and didn’t show up at all, but I didn’t want to use a permanent paint. The written chalk looks a littler sloppier than I would like, but I figured the message was the most important part. I stuck around a few of the places to see people who stopped and looked at my message, but Denver is pretty empty of people these days so there weren’t many. If nothing else I hope my work serves as a reminder of what we are missing due to our own ignorance and stubborn attitudes. 

[aertsarts]

I like your approach toward land art, and mending it mandalas with it adds to the intervention. I’m curious as to why you chose this location to intervene with, is it in front of a specific building, business, or a site that adds to the significance of your piece? Your various angles and distances of which you documented allowed to me see what rocks were meant to be apart of the mandala, due to how camouflaged they seem with the surrounding terrain. Is anyone meant to interact with your work and why? I feel you could've made more mandalas with the same native materials in the same space since the design itself seemed relatively simple. I'm compelled to know more about your thinking process behind this land art, even with my many unanswered questions regarding your work but you took a step in the right direction nonetheless. 

For the project, I went a more land art approach. Materials I used were strictly from the environment. I wanted to make a mandala or something very symmetrical. Using rocks and leaves to create something like a mandala. Luckily it snowed, and I used it to my advantage to create more curves. The ideas was to use things to create something in its surrounding.

[aertsarts]

This project is well executed and seems to have a lot of love, energy, and effort poured into it! The site itself gives room for more engagement and also showcases the spirit of Halloween for all to see, especially at a time like this where we’re too focused on current events that are occurring around us. Your project relies on interactions, which I feel is properly done through the documentation of different people trying out the wings. The wings themselves contrast well against the white garage door as well as the snow, which makes it easier to focus on what is intervening in the space. I admire your project for it doesn't have to be thought-provoking nor deep in its message but rather to let people have fun and enjoy themselves for the holidays in the midst of a wacky year. Bravo!

Intervention Project & Statement

[aertsarts]

Art Intervention Project

“The Lone Tree”

#GetWellSoonColorado

As fires rage on throughout Colorado, millions and millions of trees were taken from the land. In the midst of an already horrible year, a place we call home is becoming charred and lifeless. I created a representation of the life being taken, placing it in the backyard of the place I call home. Its entire construct originates from the parent tree that it resides next to, which has slowly started to wither over the years. Originally, it was meant to be another Halloween decoration, but I felt it had more to tell when the smoke from the fires began to roll out, covering the sky in a thick, suffocating mask. In times like these, I’d like to distance myself from all the chaos that is occurring around us. However, ignoring the damaging flames that wreak havoc on plants, animals, and humans alike, is simply impossible. I hope everyone is taking the necessary precautions and staying out of harm’s way. Get well soon, Colorful Colorado.

[aertsarts]

Intervention Camouflage Exercise

For this exercise, I attempted to make a fake book cover of a comic book I’d like to make in the future and chose to place it on the shelf of a Target. There really wasn’t a “comic book section” so I had to work with what I had. 

[aertsarts]

Your project conveyed our global crisis nicely, and the usage of various figures and individuals, from celebrities to scientists referring to this topic gave it relevance. The introduction gave me time to ease in with the background music and slow camera panning, which I found was a nice touch. It gives a sense of urgency and how we need to take notice before the damage is irreversible. The varying voices all concerned about the same thing really spoke to me and made me realize how important this is toward our survival as a species. One notable “glitch” that I noticed was at 1:01 - 1:05, the quality changed and gave it this blurry sensation. Other than that, your video communicates the idea of global warming and its awareness perfectly.

“All materials sampled in this work are purely for creative non-profit purposes and will be removed at owner’s request." 

Clips Used- 

https://youtu.be/Tb0MC0jFv6M 

https://youtu.be/PbEMSXg5z-E 

https://youtu.be/MmoYStB-Rzw

https://youtu.be/dQLLXyFvQOE 

https://youtu.be/CMOEcUPGi9c 

https://youtu.be/oyaJdQXS95U 

https://youtu.be/P0B6AxeVNY8

https://youtu.be/ndq8VKrhdqs 

https://youtu.be/YRGgbcU7FmI

https://youtu.be/wh0SOnAAk7k 

https://youtu.be/UZq2L_49PBQ

 Artists Statement- 

This video on global warming climate change was something that I made hoping to inspire others to always seek the truth in science. To evoke change in how humans behave and what is happening to our planet. This is such a powerful topic with heavy emotional material and has the potential to wake us up in ways that hopefully can help us see what is really going on. In this video I have included clips of political figures, celebrity interviews, documentary clips, and scientist speaking their own truths in hopes for real change. I included a song in the back ground that I hope made a bigger impact on the feeling when watching the video. This was quite a challenge to make a video of such content in such a short time frame so I hope my message conveys truth and makes each viewer question what they personally can do to make changes.

[aertsarts]

Your project conveyed our global crisis nicely, and the usage of various figures and individuals, from celebrities to scientists referring to this topic gave it relevance. The introduction gave me time to ease in with the background music and slow camera panning, which I found was a nice touch. It gives a sense of urgency and how we need to take notice before the damage is irreversible. The varying voices all concerned about the same thing really spoke to me and made me realize how important this is toward our survival as a species. One notable “glitch” that I noticed was at 1:01 - 1:05, the quality changed and gave it this blurry sensation. Other than that, your video communicates the idea of global warming and its awareness perfectly.

“All materials sampled in this work are purely for creative non-profit purposes and will be removed at owner’s request." 

Clips Used- 

https://youtu.be/Tb0MC0jFv6M 

https://youtu.be/PbEMSXg5z-E 

https://youtu.be/MmoYStB-Rzw

https://youtu.be/dQLLXyFvQOE 

https://youtu.be/CMOEcUPGi9c 

https://youtu.be/oyaJdQXS95U 

https://youtu.be/P0B6AxeVNY8

https://youtu.be/ndq8VKrhdqs 

https://youtu.be/YRGgbcU7FmI

https://youtu.be/wh0SOnAAk7k 

https://youtu.be/UZq2L_49PBQ

 Artists Statement- 

This video on global warming climate change was something that I made hoping to inspire others to always seek the truth in science. To evoke change in how humans behave and what is happening to our planet. This is such a powerful topic with heavy emotional material and has the potential to wake us up in ways that hopefully can help us see what is really going on. In this video I have included clips of political figures, celebrity interviews, documentary clips, and scientist speaking their own truths in hopes for real change. I included a song in the back ground that I hope made a bigger impact on the feeling when watching the video. This was quite a challenge to make a video of such content in such a short time frame so I hope my message conveys truth and makes each viewer question what they personally can do to make changes.

[aertsarts]

When it comes to murders and unsolved cases, it is often a subject people tend to avoid. The constant reciting of “those women” gave insight into the lives of these indigenous women and how they were belittled. The clips provided complemented the subject matter and sheds light on the unseen genocide happening within the Canadian borders. I felt I was watching a crime investigation program. Your editing had no notable glitches or errors and it made me aware of a crisis that I wasn’t thoroughly informed about. Although the repetition of the audio clip used throughout your video gave significance to the subject, I felt it may have been repeated a bit too much, but that’s just my personal preference. Overall, I enjoyed the video itself and it subverted the original content to raise awareness of a crime that is happening right below our noses.

Canada’s Missing and Murdered Women and Girls

All materials sampled in this work are purely for  creative non-profit purposes and will be removed at owner’s request.

 As a true crime addict, I am always knee deep in podcasts and documentaries about various murders, missing people, and unsolved mysteries. And while there seems to be endless content on white female victims of crime, there is a noticeable lack of coverage on victims who are people of color. In both Canada and the United States, indigenous women and girls go missing or are murdered at an astonishing rate. According to a Vice News article (linked below), 1,186 First Nations women in Canada had been missing or murdered within the last 30 years. However, other reports claim the number is much higher. 

 Much like the United States, Canada is plagued with systematic racism that has left countless First Nation families still seeking justice for their loved ones. For this project, I hoped to bring some attention towards what has finally been declared as a genocide by the Canadian government. I encourage you all to read the CBC’s page dedicated to Missing and Murdered women. https://www.cbc.ca/missingandmurdered/ 

Sources: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz63Vppw3gE&t=2s  Vice News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFCzG3d5wb4 EX-RCMP by CBC news https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcSnbXmJ9V0 Understanding Aboriginal Identity 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DLZgG15c-o AJ missing and murdered https://www.npr.org/2019/06/03/729258906/genocide-has-been-committed-against-indigenous-women-and-girls-canadian-panel-sa NPR article https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_Rrgd_eNhE&t=52s Police Commissioner https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FydzIzkndA&t=24s Death at Residential Schools https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UH7dU66u4g The Mariner’s Revenge Song by the Decemberists https://www.vice.com/da/article/bn57vd/hundreds-of-aboriginal-women-are-being-murdered-in-canada-and-no-one-knows-why-0000311-v21n5 Vice Article (mentioned in artist statement) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWCYw8Ilk7g Felicia Solomon’s Story

[aertsarts]

From the last time I saw it, there were hardly any changes other than the additions toward the end. The video itself is an attempt to reflect on how social distancing affects us or social interactions can repress negatives thoughts we have, but I still feel there was more that could have been done to subvert the original material to further communicate that. I enjoyed the usage of music videos and it made the visual component of your video interesting. The background music is present throughout your video yet it made it difficult to hear the native audio of the original clips if it was present of course. And I felt you recorded your project through another device so I’m unsure of why you made that choice. Nonetheless, I enjoyed watching it and your editing was executed well!

All materials sampled in this work are purely for  creative non-profit purposes and will be removed at owner’s request

I want to correlate this idea back to how the “stay at home” order forced people to stop moving and reflect on their lives in their own company. COVID 19 has slowed down everyone’s fast paced reality, and isolation with the self makes people think about all of there life choices/decisions up to this point. whether they reflect on the good or bad moments they’ve been through, having to uncover those memories with the self. I want to capture more of how people use social gatherings to repress any problems/issues/negative emotions/ negative situations they’re going through. I want to explore more of the dark side of what social connection can do if you never get the chance to cut out time for yourself.

Source Credit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-M1AtrxztU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh2LWWORoiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmWWqogr_r8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmk1aHU0768

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3Qzzggn–s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJQP7kiw5Fk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K09_5IsgGe8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or3U2rXxvQw

[aertsarts]

The meaning of “Happily Ever After” is put into question in your video and I found myself relating to the message. Especially when it flipped between the standard fairy-tale endings to the grim reality we sometimes face, it gives this realization that happiness in western society is this obscure concept we’re unable to grasp. There were no technical errors or noticeable glitches, your transitions were super-cut which I feel matched this constant flicker between reality and fantasy.

Happiness - Not So Happily Ever After Final Project

As humans, we tend to put so much emphasis on being happy and happiness, and we tend to think that when we are unhappy, there is something wrong. This past summer, I read a book called, Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett. The book talks about how we should allow ourselves to feel and recognize every emotion, and how our emotions aren’t bad, even when we feel the negative ones. In western society, we put so much attention on how life should be and how we should feel. We believe that we will live “Happily ever after” if we do certain things or have certain things. The reality is, constant happiness is not something we can achieve, and learning to accept other emotions than happiness is essential to our wellbeing. With this work, I want to show how we as a society are taught unrealistic expectations of happiness, and no matter whether we are famous, or whether we have everything we could ever desire, it is still possible to feel dissatisfied and unhappy, because happiness does not come from materialism and what we have but rather it comes from inside. 

[aertsarts]

Module 2: Video Remix Project

Death Is More Than A Storytelling Device

Death is a recurring storytelling device within various narratives. It could involve the death of a character, having it motivate the plot or the main lead may be dead themselves. Whatever the case may be, it represents a human experience that can affect us at any moment. Especially in Burton's films, his gothic style mends well with the otherwise uncomfortable subject we're all prone to. This inspired me because of how prevalent it was within the films. In addition, I recently had to cope with the death of my beloved dog. It taught me how invaluable time is and how I took it for granted. It is part of the human experience, at some point we'll hit our limit. But this shouldn't hinder what occurs now, what lives we live, and how we choose to live them. Death, whether through personal experience or a fabricated story, can be devastating to witness. The stories I chose utilize death as a way to represent the human experience, no matter how fictional the characters or the world they inhabit may seem. It's more than a storytelling device, rather it is something we'll, unfortunately, encounter throughout lives.

All materials sampled in this work are purely for creative non-profit purposes and will be removed at the owner's request.

Works cited:

(Clips and Audio)

9 (2009) - All Deaths [60FPS] (Bluray) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUh19S86Ke0

Lydia Deetz scenepack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuuqzkZ5MtY

Frankenweenie "Sparky is Alive" Clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAcI2WAN17I

Vincent & Frankenweenie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rcPe9sojpc

Frankenweenie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFwux5Q7VAs

Nightmare Before Christmas - Jack's Lament HQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouAt_5UO83s

Beetlejuice(1988) - The Accident Of The Maitlands https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZZcJ4zjP6o

(Music)

With a Smile on My Lips | Holly Beats https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcnLekXJjpY

[aertsarts]

(Module 2) Exercise B: Music Video

All materials sampled in this work are purely for creative non-profit purposes and will be removed at owner's request.

Credit to works cited:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6MfQ... (Soul Eater - Pumpkin Halloween Cannon)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfSOz... (Soul Eater -Official English Dub clip: Episode 5-On DVD 2010)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJcqU... (Soul Eater Clip - Jack the Ripper - Now on Cartoon Network)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdYhA... (Soul Eater -Official English Dub clip: Episode 5 Clip 2-On DVD 2/9/10)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJcqU... (Soul Eater Clip - Jack the Ripper - Now on Cartoon Network)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9ccC... (Soul Eater Complete Series -- Happy Halloween! - Official Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYy4L... (Soul Eater - DWMA introduction)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ky51s... (Crazy - AMV)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3bTb... (AMV Soul Eater - Battle with Madness)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooWkA... (Grimes - Kill V. Maim)

Soul Eater is an anime series produced by Bones, Aniplex, Dentsu, Media Factory, and TV Tokyo. The anime is based on the Soul Eater manga series created by Atsushi Ohkubo.

Kill V. Maim is a song produced by Grimes and featured on their album "Art Angels".

I do not own "Soul Eater" or the song "Kill V. Maim by Grimes", all materials belong to their respective owners.

I really enjoyed doing this project, since I got to use one of my favorite shows of all time! My entire motive was to capture the show’s crazy and unique style, and I felt the song I utilized fit perfectly. Criticism is welcome!

[aertsarts]

Module 2: Video Artist Links

Bjourn Melhus - Still Men Out There

Everything from the audio to the subtle flickers of the television screens, it managed to convey a story without the usage of images. It tells a grim reality we live in, which is magnified through the colors that are broadcasted, from a gleaming white to an enflared red. I loved how the lights flickered to the music, gunfire, and voices, mimicking their pauses which personified the t.v’s in a way.

Christian Marclay - The Clock

Let me start by saying that I’m fairly young, so many of these films I’m very unfamiliar with. Still, the constant fixture on the clocks within the films presented made me question why 12:05 is so relevant. The range of films and where they’re established proved it wasn’t simply a one time thing.

Sam Taylor Wood - Still Life

Although the subject remained static, the elasped time captured the change of appearance of the fruit over time. Nothing too gratifying or shocking, but the simplicity keeps it a nice pace that’s easy to follow. 

Bill Viola - The Quintet of the Astonished

The range of expressions and how they continued to unfold throughout the video keep my eyes wondering. I caught myself looking at each of their faces as they changed, almost like a holographic card. The extremity of the emotions varied yet were unique. Not only did their faces communicate that specific emotion, their body language, hand gestures and even contact with each other leveled the emotion they were trying to convey.

Dara Birnbaum - Technology/Transformation: Wonder Woman

The premise itself seemed simple enough until the editing and constant transitions of Wonder Woman spinning and random explosions kept replaying. I’ll admit, I enjoy the vintage style this piece retains and how it utilizes many aspects from the original 1975 Wonder Woman. 

Brent Green - Carlin

At first, I felt unsettled and unable to keep up with the story that was being laid out in front of me. Yet the more I watched, it begin to evoke a strong sense of tragedy, one that I could relate to. The choice of pursuing stop motion gave life to the otherwise lifeless puppets and other man-made props. Mixing in the poetic sayings with the low strum of a guitar heightened the tensions within the setting. In the end, it left me feeling hollow as the camera reeled back from the torn-down home.

Heavy Industries - Cunninglus in North Korea

Bold and explicit, the constant shift of text in line with the beat of the background music left me needing to pause in order to absorb what I had watched. The message that was being broadcasted felt forced, like some kind of propaganda that North Korea would use to entice people. This video was meant to be in your face, with no red herrings.

Shirin Neshat - Roja

This video felt personal, with the camera having the character look directly at you, the viewer. I found myself watching solely to see what unfolds. The entire premise seemed unpredictable, that guessing what would happen next would be a foolish idea. The deeper meaning behind the cinematography felt like a feeling of dissapointment, the younger woman sought out to find an escape from her mistakes yet realizing they’ve caught up to her.