Xerox Art

I was immediately intrigued with this assignment, and so I began looking for art movements or pieces which moved me. I was inspired by Gustav Klimt's The Kiss, for this particular project, partly because of the Xerox copies I made with my eyes shut. The facial expressions reminded me of the woman in the painting, embracing her lover. Furthermore, I knew I could copy my hair in an attempt to emulate Klimt's work. Because I knew our copies had to be black and white, I envisioned a more mysterious, eerie, perhaps even Gothic rendition of the popular painting. To complete this art project, I made several copies and different poses. After I cut all my copies out, I measured the area I wanted my art to take up, before placing the different pieces. In conclusion, I enjoyed creating a Gothic representation of Klimt's The Kiss, and I hope those who view my work will be pleasantly surprised.

Grid Art Response to "Love is Calling"

This project took much thought and effort, and I will admit that it was intimidating from the very beginning of the course. Because I felt uneasy about it, I immediately set to work brainstorming ideas for the project. Initially, I chose to create an image from 900 colored push pins, and I was pleased with the outcome, except for one thing. I did not know how to adequately cover the holes produced from the pins on the back of my board. Luckily, I restarted the process, using a new board, coupled with a new idea. I chose to create my grid art out of multicolored puffballs of varying sizes. First, I measured the board and divided it until I had the 30 squares by 30 squares requirement, before decorating.With the puffballs, I made the image of a rainbow in support of the LGBTQ movement. I found my medium and subject matter relevant and poignant. Yayoi Kusama, the artist behind the exhibit, "Love is Calling," mentioned something that really stuck with me, "We are all dots, you and I." For that reason, I believed the puffballs were appropriate for my grid art. All the seemingly insignificant dots, specks, or cells make up who we are, and I chose to represent that in my art. The rainbow motif reminds us that indeed love is calling. We are called to love and respect one another, regardless of race, creed, religion, or orientation.In conclusion, I created my grid art as a response to the exhibit, "Love is Calling," and with my response I advocated support for the LGBTQ community.

PNG to ASCII Art

The acronym ASCII stands for American Standard of Coded Information Interchange. ASCII art, also known as computer text art, is a unique graphic design technique that uses the ASCII Standard characters, in order to create interesting, often complex images. It is commonly found in online discussion boards, artistic websites, and computer games. There are several converters online for newer individuals to simply create ASCII art by uploading a PNG of their choice.

Enclosed is the PNG to ASCII art subject I chose. As a young woman in the Me Too Movement, I felt it was only right to choose the women's power symbol for this artistic project. I have always been a vocal feminist, unafraid to express my opinions and beliefs. The moment that changed everything for me was when I was tasked to write a research paper on an event of the 1960's and I chose women's liberation. Immediately, I was fascinated by the feminist movement and what it meant for women to unite in their beliefs and demand for their rights. Gloria Steinem was such an inspiration to me as a young girl, and she continues to amaze me with her eloquence and courageous personality.

Feminism is not about being better than men, but rather, recognizing the human rights men and women share, including but not limited to equal pay, voting rights, and job opportunities. It is very frightening to live in a society where people who find the courage to come forward and share their personal stories are often dismissed and written off, citing that these strong women are only hoping for their five seconds of fame. Victims of abuse should be listened to with respect and consideration. Too often individuals disparage those who speak out because instead of coming from a place of compassion, they choose to come from absolutism. The ability to empathize with others is not as revered as it should be, and the reality is that everyone deserves to be heard and validated.

This symbol signifies strength, integrity, independence. I am in sheer awe of the women like Gloria Steinem who paved the way for the feminist movement, and I hope that we as a society will come together to work towards eradicating the glass ceiling and ensuring the reproductive rights all women possess. One quote that has stuck with me is this, "Be the person you needed when you were younger." With that in mind, I hope to collectively corroborate with those around me and create a safer, more compassionate place for future generations.

Cameras

The Evolution of the Camera

Technology plays such an integral part in every day life, whether it is acknowledged or not. With the aid of technology, people are capable of exchanging thoughts, ideas, images and information in real time via email, text, and so much more. In many cases, all of one’s work relies solely on one’s ability to access the internet. Technology has shaped how students learn and how employees work and interact with one another, but technology is not limited to strictly educational or business purposes. With the advent of the camera, the way individuals observe the world around them has changed significantly. Thanks to the invention of the camera, people are now able to capture important moments forever. In addition to photography, cameras paved the way to the art of cinematography. The history of the camera provides insight into the amazing developments of the 21^st century and perhaps insight into the progress that is to come.

The earliest version of the camera was known as the “camera obscura.”  Ibn Al-Haytham first created the camera obscura to study optics. His invention illustrated how images could be projected using light. This innovative new technique inspired artists to use the camera obscura in their art. With the camera obscura artists were able to create proportional, realistic pieces. In addition to the camera obscura, magic lanterns were also popular. Magic lanterns allowed people to project images onto bigger surfaces, including glass slides. Entertainment soon changed as a result of this newfound technique (The History of Photography: Pinholes and Polaroids to Digital Images).

Joseph Nicephore Niepce is accredited with developing the first photograph using the camera obscura in 1827. He began experimenting with photography by placing engravings onto bitumen coated metal plates, which he would then expose to light. After a given amount of time, an image would emerge from the solvent treated plate. This was a great leap for photography; however, the images produced through this method would inevitably fade away (The History of Photography: Pinholes and Polaroids to Digital Images).

Cameras have continued to innovate their technology, creating an endearing and permanent impression on the world of today. There are a vast array of products which have cameras as part of their repertoire of modern resourcefulness. Before cell phones became the predominate way of capturing an image, digital cameras were the vacation must have. Now everyone has the features of a camera safely stored in their pocket. Still others choose smart watches to take pictures. Today Polaroids have made a comeback, finding their way into most every young adult’s life, greatly shaping the way memories are documented. Finally, there is the ever-watchful drone. An apparatus with the capabilities of photography and flight, all in one.  From cell phone cameras, to tablets, body cameras, Go Pros, and drones, there is no telling what exciting new developments are waiting to be discovered in the world of technology and photography.

There is no telling what lies in store for the future of photography, but one thing is for certain, cameras have forever shaped the human experience. I believe technology will find ways to improve pictures of cells, x-rays, and ultrasounds. Specifically, technology may be making strides to include cameras inside of refrigerators, so consumers can use a mobile app to view what is inside their fridge or freezer, while grocery shopping. Cameras dominate the entertainment industry, allowing for wonderful feature films, timeless classics, and breathtaking documentaries, for all to enjoy. Additionally, cameras have found a permanent place as both a leisure activity, and professional occupation. Photography allows individuals to express themselves and capture the world around them. Phones, computers, and cameras are being updated every day. New products with photographic developments are sure to become introduced to the public soon.

Works Cited
    “The History of Photography: Pinholes and Polaroids to Digital Images.” ThoughtCo. 
ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-photography-and-the-camera1992331October 1, 2018.

Flip Book

Enclosed is a link to the flip book I created. I had a lot of fun during the artistic process. In fact, it was rather cathartic. I was able to really look inside myself, examine my thoughts, and draw what I was feeling, what came to mind. Artistic freedom is so liberating. For the book itself, I thought a monochromatic, simple theme would better suit my purpose and artistic vision. The book I chose was a little over 400 pages, and because the book's size slowed down the animation, I chose to make more than 200 pages to help the viewer better see what was happening in each frame. A great deal of my work was inspired by still life images I saw from art exhibitions in my previous school. Every year, the art students would host an exhibition with their works from their first day of the class, till their big artistic debut, highlighting the ups and downs they experienced in their creative processes. I was always moved by the amount of work involved in their pieces and the commitment they had to their visions.

This was a fantastic experience that allowed me to think differently then I am asked in my other classes. Admittedly, this was my first time creating a flip book, and I know very little about what animation entails, but I worked diligently for a week, pursuing ideas that came to me, and finally executing them on paper.  I welcome all the other challenging projects that are to come, and I cannot wait to see what flip books my peers have created. I hope those who view this video enjoy the flip book.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmuz34aq46U