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Kris Graves

Photographer

I really enjoyed seeing all of Kris Graves work in his presentation. I liked how he was very real about the field and talked about having no money but was still able to make opportunities happen to like open gallery spaces and make books. He also had some great tips on how to make money and to make a book of your work. Among the work, the series called A Queens Affair was one of my favorites. I like it because it has a street photography feel which is my favorite type of photos. I also like the idea of going back to the same places you have photographed in the past to see growth. I think that concept is something I could do with my own photos. I think it would be really interesting to find my own area my town for example and constantly photograph the area because it is too a changing place like Queens. Overall I think the photographs are really well done and beautiful. It is also an ongoing series so I am going to be checking back to see what new photos are being added.

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Amber Hawk Swanson

Sculptor

Amber's presentation was so far one of the most interesting artists I have learned about. I feel like before hearing her speak I had an idea and opinion about sex dolls and how I thought anyone who owned them we weird or creepy. After however, you kind of understand the people who own them and understand why they have them. My favorite piece was the performance of Doll Closet. You hear this man talk about why he got a doll and how he made a secret closet to put her in to use when his wife was away. At the end of listening to it, you really understand his feeling and feel for him because he had to hide who he is. I think after you listen and understand Amber's work you understand and maybe even accept why people own these dolls.

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Ali Miller

Painter

Ali Miller’s paintings blew me away and I really enjoyed the style of painting she had. I myself love artist like Salvador Dali and the surrealism era. I liked the vibrant colors she used in the paintings. I also love how she showed processional photos so you can see her thinking process of the painting. The painting i picked was from her bad habit series called Fly on the Wall. I love the perspective from this painting because it is unique. You are seeing the floor and ceiling at the same time. I also love the care and detail of each chair. Each one is completely different in color and style. This allows for more color and more detail to be added in the piece. Overall I really love Miller’s way of thinking of her paintings and her idea of a hideaway and fears. She has also inspired me to try to paint more and to experiment more in my work in general.

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This sculpture by Jenny Kendler is called Birds Watching. It is a big piece of bird eyes and it is made to experience the glowing and reflections of their eyes. I thought this piece was beautiful because of how it was displayed and how colorful it was. All the eyes were cut out and connected by a thin metal. The middle big eye really catches your attention to the center and then lets your eyes travel to the rest of the piece. After seeing this up close it was amazing to me that there were 100 different bird eyes. I wish I was there at night in the pitch black to see the eyes light up and glow. I think it would also be kind of creepy. I also find this piece unique. I feel in art we are always looking, drawing, painting etc. human eyes. It is cool to see a different species eyes for a change because they are so beautiful.

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Kelsey Elder

Graphic Designer

Kelsey’s presentation was very personal and interesting. He not only shared his artwork but also his work, business and life. It was interesting to hear about someone else's experiences in school and what they did with the opportunities they got. I learned that if there is a chance to study abroad or someone where else, to take it. He also taught me to have a hobby outside your field of work. I think it was really interesting to see someone else’s hobbies especially since it was about something i know nothing about; cars. He has inspired me to work on my hobby more as well as my art and to maybe even start a business. Not being a graphic designer, I really loved his texts he created and was interested in the process it takes to make a font. It was also fun to see how instillation's work and the process it takes to install work.

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Eric Gottesman

Photographer

Eric’s presentation of his work was great. I loved all of his work and found it very meaningful and emotional. I especially loved his work that he did while he was in Ethiopia called Sudden Flowers. I found it really inspiring to go to a different country and work with these people and children to create these beautiful projects. One project that was really emotional and sad was of the letters of the children as if they were writing to their parents who have passed away. I can't even imagine what these children must feel. Although this is sad i am glad they were able to express their feelings in photographs and writing and was able to showcase their work. Overall, his work made me want to take the next chance I get to travel anywhere.  It also made me want to get involved with issues they we face in the world and try to express change and voice truth through art work.

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Rob Swainston

Out of all the amazing work done by Rob Swainston, the who owns the sky work is was my favorite. I really love the line work and how in the 2015 work, how it was presented. I love how it is hung up high and a little see through so you are able to see his clouds and the clouds behind it. I think my favorite part that was said about this work was why it was hand carved. He said he was suggested to do it digitally instead of doing it by hand. I feel like the meaning behind the art would of been lost if it was done by a machine. It would be like a corporation would be creating this piece and a corporation owns the sky. But instead with the choice to do it by hand, it is like he owns the sky. Rob also inspired me to get more into printmaking and to learn all the different ways to make prints.