trod1987

[trod1987]

Great job, i could interpret a lot of the stories within your rhymes.  Sounds good, and such a unique way to do it! 

Project 5

[trod1987]

The imagery you've chosen and that you have added reflects the story of Sabrina and Corina really well.  It reflects the deception he hid so well.

“I kept thinking about that story,” she said. ��The one about the devil at the dance. Remember?”

My grandmother told the story often. A beautiful girl disobeys her family by sneaking into a midnight dance. She’s only there for a short time when a good-looking man slinks toward her out of the crowd. She discovers he can dance well, and not just for an Anglo. He twirls her for hours until the girl notices the faces around her, wide-eyed and gape-mouthed. Her arms suddenly burn, then her lower back, and eventually her lips to throat—all the places where the man touched her. She screams as she notices that his feet, like the devil’s, are hooved.

[trod1987]

Artist Statement: Sabrina and Corina project

               There was a lot to process when choosing a specific story for my project.  I did not know exactly what story to pick so I chose a little of all of them.   So many of the stories resonated with me and made me reflect on my own experiences and stories.   Some of the stories I could apply to me, and some to my family members and friends.   The overall message I took away from each story was that of trauma. We all have experienced some sort of trauma that was portrayed in these stories in one way or another, so people in more ways than others.  

               So, the theme I chose for my collage is trauma and the post-traumatic growth that people experience after as part of healing. While there are no exact symbols for trauma, during my research I kept coming across the symbol of healing and symbols that represent calm, strength, and feelings.  Whether you associate it with the red cross, or Greek cross, or the symbol for first aid, they are all symbols of healing.  I feel like although every story had a strong meaning and a common theme of trauma, in the end was some sort of process of healing, moving on, or even becoming a better person.  This overarching post-traumatic growth in the short stories is meaningful to me because it shows that when faced with adversity people can choose to thrive. There is a lot to be said for someone standing up after a trauma to become a better person and reengaging with life in a fulfilling way.

[trod1987]

It seems like so many of us have a story in some way that relates to a story in Sabrina and Corina. I think it shows when so many of us have the same concepts within our work.  Your collage applies to many of the different stories too. 

In the book of short stories by Kali Fajardo-Anstine, I found the story Cheeseman Park beautifully written and painfully relatable. For my final project for this class, I wanted to draw attention to this tale. 

My grandparents grew up in North Denver. I know for a fact, that they roll over in their grave each time someone calls it, “the highlands”. For the narrator to begin the story with a shout out to North Denver, immediately caught my attention. But as I continued reading, I shared more similarities with her than I would ever care to admit. 

I also moved to a west coast city for a brief period of time to escape Colorado only to meet a guy that would break my heart and also force me to call 911, just as Liz did when she moved to California only to fall in love with a married man to do the same. When I moved back to Denver, I turned to the comfort in alcohol and other vices to release built up trauma and pain that I had held in. I also found bizarre comfort in meeting strangers and rebelling against my mother.  

I will never forget that period of my life because it was my darkest ever and the reference in the chapter to how Cheeseman Park used to be a cemetery and how I felt close to death in a controlling and toxic relationship. But because of it, I will always appreciate the best moments. The poppies symbolize those moments. Poppies break through the snow after a long, and dark winter. They rise bright orange and strong. 

“Always remember, this is our home” is a quote Liz’s mother says to her about Denver. When I came to Colorado after returning from this dark time in my life, I could feel that message pulsing through my veins. 

[trod1987]

I really enjoyed your take on the short stories.  The underlying messages with the camera work is really well done.  I too can relate all too well to some of these stories. 

      I related to many characters in the book Sabrina and Corina, by Kali Fajardo-Anstine, but particularly to Sabrina, who seemed lost, due in part to her mixed ethnicity. In response to the story Sabrina and Corina, I reflect upon my own experiences as a mixed-race cousin, in poem/monologue form.       I actually feel now, as an adult, that there is no “pure race” and therefore monologues/poems like mine are simply the tip of the necessary conversation iceberg.                                                        And       Much like an iceberg, the subjects of racial inequality and poverty are not warm and cozy.       All this being said, I present I Am the Lucky One, a performance video.

[trod1987]

Love this collage.  We had similar mind sets to what we experienced reading these stories.  It almost blends together like a single photo.

Adversity and gentrification

[trod1987]

I absolutely love this! So many elements in this that could apply to many of the short stories.  Love the overall composition and Hispanic elements you have.  The values you create throughout the overall piece are great.  Love the border also.

Doña Sebastiana

Sabrina & Corina by Kali Fajardo-Anstine shares any new viewer what its like from her eyes and others. During the first chapter titled “Sugar Babies” I was quickly drawn in when the young boys accidently dug up some bones near their town. Further long within the chapter, it was Robbie and his visions that drew in my inspiration for this final work. When Robbie was explaining how he wasn’t scared when he discovered the bones but more so scared of the skeleton lady that was at the foot of hid bed one night. His grandmother explained that he might have seen Doña Sebastiana. In other words, lady reaper. I went and did some more research about this lady reaper and found out that  … “She is more a symbol of mortality and penance, a bleak reminder of our fragile and sinful state. The Aztec figure known as the “Lady of the Dead,” presided over such celebrations…”* This lady reaper is known for protection and watches over those who need it. With this notion I wanted to create what I would think Doña Sebastiana would look like. I also wanted to incorporate some natural Colorado elements.

If I were to take more time on this piece, I would mess around some more with watercolor. It is a hard element and I feel like I could have done better for the boarder and her head piece/hair. I also wish my photos would have picked up on the gold highlights more then presenting them in a pale yellow tone. Over all I am pleased with this outcome and Happy to finish strong.

It was an interesting semester, but I am happy to be apart of this class and still be able to see everyone’s work. I hope everyone enjoys their break and stays safe. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧ *:･ﾟ✧

For the artwork I did a mix-media. I used watercolor, ink wash, acrylic paint, and pen ink.

*https://delgadoarts.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/dona-sebastiana-lady-sebastian/#:~:text=She%20is%20an%20unusual%20figure,our%20fragile%20and%20sinful%20state.&text=The%20Aztec%20figure%20known%20as,%2C%E2%80%9D%20presided%20over%20such%20celebrations.

[trod1987]

Reading and Response 5: Sabrina and Corrina

             While reading the short stories of Sabrina and Corrina, I could relate in some way to each short story.  Each story revolved around some sort of trauma or traumatic experience the person was involved with.  Aside from the storylines, the descriptions were well done so that you could visualize every detail and character.  Many of these stories revolved around Hispanic heritage and are something that I can relate to personally.  From normal struggles of life, to poverty, to sexism, to racism, to abandonment, every story had a different experience that we all could relate to in some way.  As I read through them, I could connect people in my life with the people I was reading about.

            The one that had the most meaning to me was the short story Galapago.  While my grandma never had to deal with killing anyone, the struggle of growing old and choosing a home was a real struggle in my family.  My family fought with my grandma, along with each other in choosing what to do as my grandmother grew older and needed more care. While my grandpa died back in 1993, my grandmother lived alone for most of the remainder of her life.  It was when she started injuring herself and was put on oxygen is when my family started to pressure her into a home.  As stubborn as she was, she refused and as much as everyone loved her it caused a lot of family tension.  Her house and belongings meant a lot to her and she ultimately wanted one of us grandchildren to buy the house when she passed.  Unfortunately, that never became possible.  Most of the stories in Sabrina and Corrina did not have a conclusion, and left the reader hoping the characters had found their happy endings. In my case, I drive by that house daily and I made so many memories in it and now I tell myself that someone else is making their family memories there.  

[trod1987]

I am with everyone and it made me hungry watching this.  I feel like this kind of work is overlooked or underappreciated.  Sometimes people forget what it is like behind the scenes and forget what kind of work goes into preparing their food. 

One Minute:

For my one minute project i felt like I should do something that i am experienced in and can accomplish under one minute. I chose to do a task at my job, Chicken-N-Spice. Being a shift manager i have many duties in the front line and the back line. This task of making our signature and famous chicken cheese fries is done in our back. I cut up the chicken into bite sized chunks and then drizzle our creamy and rich american cheese over the top of the potato wedges. Adding the 2 together topping it off with a cup of jalapeños. This was a very fun project becuase it allows the artist to create something they enjoy and something they know.

[trod1987]

Like people have mentioned, this is a very powerful message you pull off great. the color really pulls the whole thing together.   I'm sure we can all relate on some level of what this sequence is about.  Really well done.

One Minute Performance

I choose to do a series of photos for this assignment about depression. I think during this time right now a lot of people can relate, and to be totally honest it was kicking my butt this past week. It made it difficult to focus and hard to concentrate on my responsibilities. I admit I was a bit apprehensive to make this happen. I already don’t like being in front of camera and to show myself in setting of vulnerability was nerve wracking. However this exercise actually helped, and served as a bit of an outlet for me. Usually I like to paint or something of that sorts to deal with these things but the motivation has been hard to reach. I choose to use the blue lights to set the mood of sadness. I was in front of my door because those moods make it feel as if I’m trapped in a room. Also the white door served as a nice background. I set up a video camera and started thinking about all the things that have been getting to me. I took screenshots of the more intense moments I was thinking about. Which is what I am presenting to you today. 

[trod1987]

Sounds good, and sounds like you freestyle a lot.  You have a lot of messages within the performance. It felt like you were having fun then got very serious.  Hard to critique a performance of a gift someone has, but sounds good.  Keep doing you.

4D Additional One Minute Performance

[trod1987]

I really enjoyed this performance.  It felt very meaningful and powerful. The artist statement showed that.  It is very sad that people are afraid of what they do not understand.  This is one of my favorites from class.

Performance Art: I am not oppressed.

Following what’s going on in the world, as a Muslim, I felt obligated to talk about this and especially in the way I love most: through my work.

I am a proud Muslim. As this proud Muslim, I can tell you that my religion in no way calls for violence and murder; in fact, it calls for peace, equality and love between everyone, Muslim or not. Everything you see about Muslims is what the government and political system wants you to see...

Please, I only ask this of you. DO NOT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE ON MEDIA! I cannot stress how important this is to me. The world is protraying Muslims as terrorists, ignorant and uneducated people, when in fact we are civilized humans just like you! This portrayal actually makes it so hard for us to fight this Islamophobia we face daily and live among everyone else. I cannot tell you how many times Muslims were beaten up, killed and harrased for being Muslims. Since when was abusing people for their religion okay?

It’s 2020 and there is a concentration camp in China, trapping millions of Muslims, brainwashing them out of Islam. FAMILIES ARE BEING TORN APART JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE MUSLIMS! They are forced to drink alcohol and eat pork (considered as sins in Islam), sleep with each other without marriage (also considered a sin) and are banned from prayer. You may not agree with our beliefs, but for sure you can agree that terrorizing people in this way just because they have different beliefs IS NOT OKAY!

My main focus was the Hijab; for those of you who don’t know, a Hijab is a veil wrapped around the woman’s head, along with dressing modestly. It is a way to show loyalty to our religion and obedience to God, similar to nuns. I have one question for you: why is it when you see a nun you have this immense respect for her, but when you see a Hijabi, you think she’s oppressed or “forced to wear it”. My mom is a Hijabi and the ammount of stares she gets when we go out is raging!

Please I do not ask of you to believe in what we believe in, but we are all entitled to believe in whatever we want and respect others who don’t as well. All I humbly ask is PLEASE do your own research; do not believe everything you see on social media!

If you’ve made it this far THANK YOU SO MUCH! I appreciate you giving time for this so so so much!

[trod1987]

I really loved the ambiance and sound to this performance.  It really catches the mood on what it is supposed to be about.  Even the camera going in and out of focus makes this piece really interesting.  

Artist Statement: Project 4

For this project I wanted to use ambiguity to convey an idea. Looking out over the city led to me thinking about all those who are suffering right now. The recent rise of Covid cases in Denver reminded me how many people have been affected world wide. The numbers are astounding and reflected on the piece of paper in the video. The first number represents the total number of global cases and the second number represents total deaths. I chose to make the video simple and tracked to somber music to convey the emotions that I’m sure we’re all feeling these days. 

[trod1987]

As a fellow gamer, i like your review.  I also was trying to think of a way to incorporate gaming into my performance but it never ended up happening.  Reviews like this come in handy when determining what to buy. 

1 minute performance

[trod1987]

Artist Statement:

For me, performance art is not an artform that comes naturally.  I am usually behind the camera filming.  I like to think that I am a jack of many trades but a master of none, so thinking of a “performance” that would involve me was out of my comfort zone.  My whole life has revolved around cars and racing; and drawing comes natural to me.   My parents tell me stories of when I was young, I would draw cars and “hot rods” on the chalk boards at school.  I plan to try and get as close as I can to mastering one of my passions which is drawing by attending the art program at MSU Denver. I have a vivid imagination, and I like to build cars in my head.  Transferring my ideas and my inspirations to paper comes easily to me.  

[trod1987]

Technical Exercise 4: Verb list

To Remember

To Bond

To Love

To Reflect

---------------

To Feel

To Flow

To Grasp

To Apply

To Experiment

To Dream

To Imply

To Lose

To Miss

To Drag

To Draw

To Encourage

To Teach

To Laugh

To Sleep

To Learn

[trod1987]

Love it.  We have similar interests in cars and racing.  I haven’t seen all of ken blocks videos but if this a mix of them all you did a good job making it look like a single video.   Feel like you could have thrown in a fade out so it just didn't come to an abrupt end though. 

Art Project 3

The Art of Drifting

If you haven’t been following my recent posts, you can tell I’m a fan of cars but in this video it’s about the “Art of Drifting” and drifting is a driving technique where the driver intentionally oversteers and the car loses traction but the driver is maintaining control and is driving the car throughout the corner. I love drifting because my favorite car movie (Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift) which I’ve made GIFs on basically started my love for this sport. This video represents the “Art of Drifting” perfectly in my opinion which why I chose it and hopefully it demonstrates to you how a driving technique can become an art of motorsport.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bkX5VkZg8U&t=41s