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FINAL PROCESS BINDER!!!

Here are my final sketches that inspired my four pieces to present at Academic Showcase. I completed the poster to represent the survey that I created, showing the responses that people had about the UMD community. I thought it was important to represent the answers visually as a way to show my inspiration for the artwork that I made. 

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Advising Meeting #2

CPSA250:                       Conference Report

Fill this form out in its entirety & submit it via email to all three of the Arts Scholars faculty (Jess, Harold, and Bimbola) within 48 hours of your conference. Copy this information over to your Scholars Tumblr site as well (tagged as CPSA Capstone Advising). Failure to submit this form on time will result in losing half the points for the meeting process!

NAME: Briley Hebner

ADVISOR: Bimbola

MEETING DATE & TIME: Wednesday April 11th, 2018 @ 3pm

In 3-4 sentences, please describe what was discussed during your meeting.

We talked about my place in the project and how much I have accumulated through the interviews/google survey and what I needed to do before Arts Fest.  Because I have been so busy the project is not what I originally intended, but I am beginning the process of painting and executing the visual themes. Bimbola told me that the most important thing now is to just work hard and paint until I have a product that I am proud of, and to not be constrained to a specific number of paintings in my head.

In 3-4 sentences, please explain what the next steps you will take with your project will be. 

Looking ahead, I only have about a week before ArtsFest and I need to continue painting and forming a series of visual pieces that represent the themes from the google survey. Then I need to form and edit my artist statement and labels and submit those online by the 25th. Because I am not doing a poster I need to practice an outline of information that I want to talk about when I show my work so that people can see the research that I did beyond the paintings.

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Process Binder #4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhtX808X62E

This week I am attempting to organize my materials and the responses that I have gotten on my google survey from people on campus. Watching a video promoted by the Scholars Community I thought it would be a good idea to investigate what the goal of Scholars was to its current and future students and compare that to responses I got on the survey. In the next week I hope to finalize sketches and transfer them to canvas so that I can begin painting next weekend. 

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Today I went to the Cherry Blossom exhibit at the Artechouse in DC. It was my first experience with interactive visual art that allowed each individual to paint and create their own story within a moment in time. Using large projectors and sensors they had these beautiful and colorful images of butterflies, fish, and flowers floating across the walls, and each person could move their arms in front of the walls and have colored streaks mimic the same motion. Using alternative technology to physical mediums like paint or colored pencils, people were able to visually express themselves without impacting the art beyond a few seconds. I thought the calming music created a meditative environment and there were bean bag chairs that incorporated an aspect of comfort and ease into the piece. Surprisingly there were also a lot of children under the age of 10 in the exhibit and the wide space available made it accessible to a range of ages and interests. It was a fun way to get people involved and connected to art that would otherwise feel like art is too separated from their lives. Highly recommend. 

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Today I went to UMD’s Archives in Hornbake Library. It was a really unique experience that showed a behind the scenes look into the university and moments of history throughout the past. Ranging from old literature from all around the world to film and fine art, there were artifacts not only about the university, but many famous people and moments in time. My favorite part was the old yearbooks and scrapbooks that showed the fashion trends since the school began, the shift from white males to the diverse institution that it is today, and how the spirit of Maryland evolve over time. There were paintings and sculptures made by students in the past that showed the pride for the school, and even film of the Queen of England that came to watch her first football game here at the University. Overall I really loved the tour because it showed the social and cultural trends shift over time through the art and expression of different people, and the existence of the archives shows that people really do care about preserving history through different art forms. 

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Process Binder #3 : Critical Response

Statements of meaning:

I really like how you based your project off of an observation you already had about campus.

I think that adding the survey aspect was a really good idea so you could collect more data.

Artist as questioner:

1. Do you think that the form of interviews (survey/ in person) will be proficient enough to get the response that I want?

I think that the survey was definitely a good addition but the interviews will end up being the most important. In regards to adding another form, I’m not sure what else you could do because these are the best ways to get people opinions, by directly asking them.

2. Besides the visual artwork that I will present at Arts Fest, do you think that there is a better way to present it/ another form of art I should incorporate?  

You could include interview transcripts (this isn’t art but I think it’d be interesting) and then highlight words/phrases that you felt were significant and used for the painting.

You’d have to ask the people you’re interviewing if they're ok with this, but you could take a nice pic of them in their favorite spot on campus and include everyone’s photo in a collage.

Neutral questions:

1. Will you include your own opinions in the piece?

I’m not sure, I think I will as I interpret the stories and opinions I hear because it’s going to be translated into my own artistic project.

2. What kind of mediums and what kind of canvas/surface will your painting be on?

Mostly canvas and acrylic, but potentially watercolor on paper or canvas as well.

3. Do you have any ideas about what direction you’re headed in terms of the subject of the painting?

I think I may use points on campus or the general human form to create a story of what people are thinking and feeling at UMD.

Opinion Time:

1. I think that this is a great way for you to reflect on your own campus experience as sort of a journal.

2. I think this is going to be really interesting for viewers; people will really enjoy seeing it/end result.

3. I think it would be cool (time allowing) if you did a quick painting now, just reflecting your views, and then comparing that to the final painting and see how they are similar/different.

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Last night I saw the movie Black Panther. It was a beautiful cinematic moment for several reasons; it had an amazing cast that for the first time in Marvel history was majority African American, it highlighted specific African cultures through ornate costumes, and the soundtrack was a culmination of hip hop and trap that really complimented the urban vibe. I loved how it incorporated different languages, countries, and traditions into one concept that celebrates the black community. Overall the movie was really beautiful and creative with outlandish technology and futuristic graphics that made Wakanda so unique. 

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Process Binder Check #2

I have been working on solidifying my questions for interviews through a google survey and made a flyer to send out to the scholars community. Both are attached below. 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSebUNQwIIEhBmJ40KhF8RwZmY3oLDLmKuHjAP5ycUPL5mAQ9A/viewform 

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I attended a Drag Show at the Town Danceboutique in DC. I have watched drag performances on television but I have never seen a show in person. I thought it was a really fun and exciting experience because these women have incredible talent in dance, makeup, and theatre. They are able to transform themselves into a new persona using artfully done foundation and eye makeup along with body suits, hair pieces, and intricate costumes that complete the look. This is an art form because each person creates and becomes a character that they design through a specific personality and lens of fashion. When they come out on stage they become that character and use a selection of music to convey energy to the audience and involve them in the experience. 

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Process Binder Entry #1

Defining a community

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Learning Agreement

CPSA 250: College Park Arts Scholars Capstone: Solo Project, Spring 2018

Name: Briley Hebner

Email: bhebner@terpmail.umd.edu

Advisor: Bimbola

Weekly Meeting Time: Wednesday 2 pm

Purpose/Mission Statement:

The goal of this project is to learn more about the foundations of community at the University of Maryland. The result will be a visual display of the different stories that students have about the university and how the university has affected them on a personal level. I want to showcase students as the main event and learn more about my peers through the production process. In a large university, the students are always seen as one entity, but with 30,000 people they are so much more than that. I hope to gain skills from social interactions and have a better understanding of the diversity that makes the community so attractive.

Learning Objectives:

Develop a list of intuitive questions that will help a person describe their definition of a community.

Select a pool of interviewees that is diverse (in culture, background, socioeconomic status, etc.) and schedule interviews/record responses.

Compile responses into a visual flow chart according to theme.

Begin sketching potential ideas using themes from the board, then choose final sketches.

Choose a medium inspired by the information from the interviews to properly represent each sketch, then execute the paintings.

Present the paintings at arts fest with a statement describing the purpose of each piece.

Workshop Process:

Initially I will need to define what community means to me, and research the different pillars of a community in general. Once I can specify the foundations of a community at the most basic level, I can attempt to outline it through a series of questions that I can ask my peers. I will need time for interviews and compiling the results into an understandable grouping of themes. I plan to create an online survey, as well as a flyer to invite people to complete my questions either online or in person. The goal is to collect as diverse a population as I can, in order to truly represent the population at the University of Maryland and all of its complexities. As I translate it into a visual product I will need paint (acrylic, watercolor, tempera), pens, graphite, and canvas that are chosen based on a connection to each of the individual stories. I want my art to be inspired by the things I learn from my peers and have that showcased, versus me predetermining what the end product should be. My final presentation will be a showcase of my paintings with a statement under each piece defining community in that point of view. I am also considering including some form of audio that plays different responses in a verbal form accompanying my visual artwork. Throughout the process I will keep track of my research and information from interviews organized by date and subject. I will also Stay organized with a semester schedule at the front of the binder dictating personal due dates for different aspects of the project so that I remain on task. Overall the binder will document the stories of my peers and show the progression of an individual idea into a collaborative piece of art. 

Resources:

Bacon, Jono. The Art of Community. 1st ed. ed., Sebastop ol, Calif., O’Reilly Media, 2009.

Collier, Mack. “How do YOU define Community?” The Viral Garden. 4 Oct. 2006.

Coutts, Glen, and Timo Jokela. Art Community and Environment:     Educational Perspectives. Bristol, UK, Intellect, 2008.

Kirkpatrick, Frank G. The Ethics of Community. Oxford, BIackwell, 2001.

Mcknight, Matthew L, et al. “Communities of Place? New Evidence for the Role of Distance and Population Size in Community Attachment.” Rural     Sociology, vol. 82, no. 2, 2017, pp. 291-317., doi:10.1111/ruso. 12123.

United Nations. Office for Public Administration. Public Administration Aspects of Community Development Programmes. New York, 1959.

“Making Two Worlds Work.” Women’s Health

“Mission and Vision Statement.” City of College Park, Maryland Government. 

Project Timeline:

Week 1 (2/7 & 2/8)

Faculty Meeting #1

Review Learning Agreement

*turn in Advisor Conference Report

*schedule meeting time (week 4 & 5)

-       Research  

-       Outline  questions for interviews

-       Turn  in Process Binder #1

Week 2 (2/14 & 2/15)

*edit Learning Agreement and turn in on ELMS & Tumblr

Prepare a first look presentation for capstone

-       Fine  tune interview questions and think about interviewees

-       Turn  in Process Binder #2

Week 3 (2/21 & 2/22)

In class presentations & peer feedback

-       Contact  interviewees and set up meeting times

-       Turn  in Process Binder #3

Week 4 (2/28 & 3/1)

In class presentations & peer feedback

-       Buy  materials for the final product

-       Conduct  interviews and record responses

-       Turn  in Process Binder #4

Week 5 (3/7 & 3/8)

-       Conduct  Interviews and record responses

-       Turn  in Process Binder #5

Week 6 (3/14 & 3/15)

Faculty Meeting #2

*turn in Advisor Conference Report

*Schedule meeting time (week 6 & 8)

Prepare a presentation for capstone updating on progress

-       Finish  conducting interviews and record responses

Week 7 (3/21 & 3/22)

SPRING BREAK

Week 8 (3/28 & 3/29)

Academic Showcase Overview

-       Compile  responses into a visual grouping of themes

-       Begin  sketches for final product

Week 9 (4/4 & 4/5)

NO IN- CLASS MEETING

-       Choose  final three sketches and begin sketching onto canvas

-       Choose  a medium for each of the three pieces

Week 10 (4/12 & 4/13)

Second Look Presentations and Peer review (week 1)

-       Continue  working on final pieces

Week 11 (4/19 & 4/20)

Second Look Presentations and Peer review (week 2)

-       Continue  working on final pieces

Week 12 (4/26 & 4/27)

Final preparation and Problem Solving for Arts Fest

-       Finish  paintings

-       Develop  statements describing the theme of each piece

PRESENTATION & EXHIBITION: ArtsFest Saturday, April 28th

Week 13 (5/2 & 5/3)

Academic Showcase Presentations: Final Dress Rehearsal

*sign up for faculty advising meetings

Week 14 (5/4)

ACADEMIC SHOWCASE: Friday, May 4th

Present final Capstone Project

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CPSA250:                       Conference Report

NAME: Briley Hebner

ADVISOR: Bimbola

MEETING DATE & TIME: 2/7/18 @ 1pm

 In 3-4 sentences, please describe what was discussed during your meeting.

We talked about how I can expand the scope of my research process and extend the opportunity to a wide range of students. By eliminating bias, I can achieve responses that are more accurate to the entire UMD population and create a project that discusses diversity at a larger scale. We also discussed how I can make my final product more flexible depending on the type of material I use or the number of pieces in general. Lastly, we reviewed my work timeline to see how I can be better prepared to complete my project over the course of the semester. 

In 3-4 sentences, please explain what the next steps you will take with your project will be.

After this meeting I plan to expand my research to oral communication as well as historic aspects of a community, so that I can learn to approach interviews with an open form of communication to encourage natural responses. I want to figure out how to invite a wide population of people to respond to my questions so that there is a diverse population represented among my sample. I plan to create a flyer and an online google survey so that I can obtain general and anonymous responses as well as personal responses during one-on-one interviews. Working towards the final project, I plan to sketch throughout the semester when I am inspired and determine the final number and size of the pieces by the themes that are revealed with peoples conversations. 

Please use the space below to indicate any further questions, concerns, or confusions that were NOT addressed during the meeting.

I have no questions at this time.

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After recently returning from an Environmental Stewardship program to the Bahamas, I had the opportunity to attend a showing of the film “Chasing Coral” at the local Greenbelt Theatre. The film documents the bleaching of coral at three locations around the world to show that it is not one person’s problem; its a global epidemic. I think it was really successful in connecting people to the issues through its beautiful photos and videos of the coral growth over a period of several months. With specially-made time-lapse cameras they were able to show the vibrant colors of the coral and the fish living there in a way that most people do not get to see in their own lives. It was sadly beautiful as the colors left the reefs overtime to become white (dead), but they managed to document an amazing phenomenon of the coral turning bright neon colors before they died. I liked the personal connection between the photographer and the filming of the coral because it shows that art can be a really impactful way to share information. Accompanied with soft instrumental music there was a build of emotion throughout the film as it transitioned from deep tones to lighter tones as they got towards the end of the movie. I think that was a really proactive way to show the depth of the problem, but create a lighter and happier ending point so that people could leave with a connection that did not seem negative. In this case the documentary did a really good job showing the beauty of the natural world through photography, videography, and a sound score, in a medium that could become virally acceptable. 

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Tonight I went to the free screening of Dunkirk at the Hoff Theatre. I did not really know much about the film other than the fact that it was about World War 2. I really enjoyed the cinematography and how the overall tone of the movie was loud even though the sound was often quiet. Throughout the film there was more play-time of soft music and bombs than there were of actually speaking and conversations. The music and the cool colors created a dark tone of fear and hopelessness that transported viewers into the actual experiences of the soldiers. I think that it was a story that captured the youth of the men fighting along with their will to live and find their home through it all. One of my favorite moments was when they all saw a familiar boat or plane come near and all of the men would cheer out in glee for just a few moments of familiarity. It was very well done and I would highly recommend it to a friend. 

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Today I had the opportunity to attend the Concert in Close Quarters featuring Jaimeo Brown. It was really fun seeing and experiencing a new form of music in such a close environment. I have never heard music that was so expressive without a lead singer adding to the songs. The integration of work songs with various electronic sounds and then classic instruments like the drums and guitar create a sense of modern jazz that is really intriguing. With the ability to actually talk to the band members and get their story on how they create music enhanced the understanding and interpretation of the music beyond a normal audience-band relationship. 

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Last night I had the amazing opportunity to attend Kesha’s Rainbow Tour at the Fillmore in Silver Spring Maryland. I have never attended a concert that was in such a small venue but it was by far my favorite music performance thus far. The excitement of seeing one of my favorite artists up close and personal was something that I will always remember and really cherish. She had a great performance and involved the audience with her heartfelt speeches and dedication to inclusiveness for all people. 

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I visited the Smithsonian American Art Museum in DC with my Peer Mentee group and I really had a great time viewing the art from all different movements in the past several hundred years. Its really interesting to see the contrast between classical paintings and sculptures with modern graffiti and photography. I think its a really valuable experience to see how art has evolved within the country and acknowledge the risk-taking that occurred to really change the face of fine art. It was also really fun seeing the freshman experience the museum for the first time and be interested in seeing all of the different styles and themes.