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[maitri-scholars]

one world together at home, april 18

I attended a virtual concert last month, because the concerts I wanted to attend were cancelled. It was nice to see so many artists perform at once- almost like a mini music festival. This screenshot was of Taylor Swift performing “Soon You’ll Get Better,” which I was surprised to hear her sing. It was a very touching performance, as were many of the others that night. It definitely lifted my spirits in this time where live music isn’t totally accessible, and I really appreciated the opportunity to hear a bunch of great artists sing live.

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art challenge, march 28

I decided to try this challenge I saw on Tik Tok, where you draw random blobs and shapes then create faces out of them. It was difficult to come up with creative ways to make these into faces, but I think I did a good job at it. This was definitely a fun challenge to do and I completely recommend it.

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demetrius harmon, feb 27

I went to Demetrius Harmon’s presentation for SEE’s spring talk. He talked about his own personal experience with mental health and his family. His mindset on growth through these experiences, and his thoughts on death, were extremely eye opening. Not only was his presentation inspirational, but his jokes were funny throughout. He was such a kind and inspiring person, and attending this presentation made me want to go to more speeches and talks of this sort, which is something I don’t typically do.

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silver linings jars, feb 26

I went to Coffee & Crafts for the first time this week, and I made myself a silver linings jar. I hadn’t been able to make it to one of these events, but I really enjoyed it. I haven’t decorated a jar in a few years, but I. I do a lot of collages, so this was a new way to use those same techniques. I really enjoyed this event as it gave me a chance to relax with some friends and try something new.

[maitri-scholars]

miss americana, jan 31

I decided to go see Taylor Swift’s documentary “Miss Americana” at the Alamo Drafthouse in Ashburn, VA last month. I might be a little biased, but it easily became one of my favorite films. It showcases Swift’s struggle with stardom and gives so much background to her love life and political situation, which I felt was much needed. I loved seeing the creation of her Lover album, and the way she takes criticism and validation. I feel the movie really humanized one of the biggest stars of the time, and is a must see for even those who aren’t fans.

[maitri-scholars]

dance class, nov 7

My friends and I went to a hip hop dance class put on by Phunktions here at UMD. Unfortunately, we forgot to take pictures so this is the song we learned a dance to. Dance is an art I am not used to, so attending this class was outside my comfort zone. It was really fun to try something new, and I definitely want to try another dance class. It also helped me find new music and I got to see many people try this dance, whether they knew what they were doing or were new to dance like me.

[maitri-scholars]

john mulaney, oct. 30

I was able to attend the John Mulaney homecoming show last Wednesday with my friends from art scholars. I’d been looking forward to the show all year, and it definitely lived up to my expectations. Comedy is a difficult art form, and John Mulaney handles it so gracefully- he is careful to not cross the line from funny to offensive. Everyone I was with was laughing, and it made me want to attend more comedy shows in the future.

[maitri-scholars]

museum of women in the arts, sept. 21

My friends and I decided to go to the Museum of Women in the Arts. I had never even heard of this museum, but it was one of my favorites and I want to go back. There were many incredible exhibits, but the museum closed early for a wedding. I was in awe of the architecture of the building; it would be a stunning place to hold a wedding. My favorite painting was La Llamada by Remedios Varo, pictured third. Visual arts is my usual medium, so viewing and analyzing the art was easy and inspiring for me.

[maitri-scholars]

jazz professors, sept. 13

At NextNow Fest, I went to a fourth event, a performance by the Jazz Professors. I had never been to a jazz concert or performance before, so this was a new experience for me. The band was talented and I enjoyed listening to them. I am not a musician, nor do I listen to jazz, so it didn’t really relate to my art. It was a new form of art for me to experience, so it fit with the point of Art Scholars.

[maitri-scholars]

next now fest 2019

At NextNOW Fest, I attended the Jim Henson exhibit, the Artechouse interactive experience, Turned On (Read Receipts), and the Jazz Professors. I’d never seen a live jazz band before, so that was a new but fun experience. I learned that I actually like jazz because it is fun to dance to.

I also got to see how Artechouse worked, which was my favorite exhibit because it was interactive. Moving the water around was exciting and fascinating; I felt like I was part of Avatar. It definitely sparked my curiosity about how Artechouse exhibits work and made me want to visit the museum. 

Read Receipts was purely paintings, but had the essence of collage. By using multiple layers, like the text bubbles and the fridge letters, the artist mixed painting with some aspects of collage, even if she didn’t actually use collage. Collaboration pushes the boundaries of art, and gives the art world something new and fresh to work with. Art evolves with society, and by combining disciplines, art is able to grow and change with the new generations of artists.

[maitri-scholars]

josh peck @ stamp, sept 6

Seeing Josh Peck was such an exciting experience, especially since I didn’t think I’d be able to go. I was able to get an extra ticket from my friend to see Josh Peck’s interview. He was incredibly funny, and seemed to be more comfortable turning the interview into a stand-up-esque format. Peck talked about his acting career, how it started and where it is going. Acting as a form of art was never my biggest interest, but this presentation was intriguing and piqued my interest.