For my project, I decided to go to downtown Long Beach and take pictures that expressed the amount of trash that litters the streets. I chose this concept because much of the litter that people leave is that of plastic or paper, both of which are not biodegradable. These items do not break down naturally into the Earth, and are therefore bad for the environment. Additionally, it could also potentially endanger animals, since some creatures may mistakenly attempt to eat napkins or other litter, causing huge life risks to these animals. I have seen many videos of natural life advocates having to put straws, towels, and other items that humans leave behind out of animals, and it is heartbreaking to see these animals suffering because of humans.

I was hoping to convey ideas of how careless, lazy, or even selfish that humans can be at times. Many only care to think about themselves, especially when it comes to littering since they believe that it does not directly affect them. Such as in the first picture displayed, someone knowingly threw away a piece of trach merely a few feet away from a trash can. Furthermore, there are countless trashcans lining the streets of downtown Long Beach, as seen in the pictures, yet people obviously neglect to use them due to the amount of trash still visible near and around the trashcans themselves.

I think I was successful in conveying my ideas about how careless humans can be when it comes to trash. This is mainly due to the fact that the pictures speak for themselves as there are noticeable trashcans right next to lingering trash on the floor. If I had to do this project again, I might have attempted to find larger portions of trash lingering the streets, or maybe even interview people on the streets if they have ever noticed the amount of trash lingering in order to raise awareness of cleaning the streets of Long Beach, and the Earth in general. Lastly, another idea I might like to explore in ‘shocking art’ may be homelessness, since I have always been bothered by the amount of homeless people and the conditions they endure. Personally, I have been to skid row in Los Angeles in November (around Thanksgiving) two years in a row to pass out food, clothing, blankets, water, as well as a few other necessities to help those who could benefit from it.

I chose this story because my cat is very important to me, since I have always wanted to and finally got the chance to adopt Loki last May. He generally does not show affection, and actually loves to scratch and run away from people, especially males that he is not familiar with. Despite this, he does show affections toward me, since he often purrs when I pet him while he rests, will sleep with me, and allows me to hold him for a while until he gets tired of me (all of which he does more with me, instead of my mom). These particular sets of photos are an example of when I move him to sleep with me and he generally will stay and rest instead of leaving like he tends to do with others.

I think I did well capturing how Loki will often sleep in strange positions, especially since my family and I often laugh about how weird and comfortable he looks. Overall, this is definitely one of those moments that I feel love for Loki, since he always somehow finds a way to make me laugh, despite the scratching and sometimes biting he puts me through because I bug him too much. I think the best image in this set would be the fifth one, since it is easily the funniest out of them all and accurately captures him goofy persona that he often takes on. The last image may not be ‘great’ by itself, however it helps to capture my story as it shows how although cats can grow tired of someone holding them (as he did in that image) sometimes it is because they just want to play around you and have fun. Next time, I might try to capture him while I play with him, since I will often attempt to rile him up so he will chase me around the house. Possible other photo stories that would be interesting to tell might be a concert experience, since I have always loved concerts and would love to experience one with a friend, instead of going with an adult family member as I usually do.

Exhibit Information:
Artist: Jean Iwohara
Exhibition: Glass Eyes
Media: paintings, sculpting
Gallery: LBSU School of Art, De Maxine Merlino Gallery
Website: https://jeaniwohara.weebly.com/
Instagram: Instagram.com/jelly.jean

This past week I had the opportunity to speak with Jean Iwohara, an undergraduate CSULB student in the School of Art, specifically the Illustration program. Besides illustrating, Jean loves to sculpt with clay as well, both of which were shown through her featured pieces in her exhibit. The two primary techniques she utilizes in her works are watercolor and gouache. Iwohara aims to create a, “sense of wonder and fantastical narrative through her work”.

This painting is titled “Will You Save Me?” and was made using water colors. The shapes featured in this consist mostly of squares and rectangles, the majority of it having edges and such in a blocky manner. Also, the lines are straight and meant to be fine tuned. The colors displayed are mainly darker shades, such as blues and purples, that contrast nicely upon the white cloud (which has different shades incorporated as well in the shadings). In essence, the colors could be described as muted pastel colors.

The exhibit itself has an anxiety theme and considers the different internal and external forces that explain that energy. Upon speaking with Jean Iwhhara, she revealed the ideas she explored in this specific painting. The title “Will You Save Me?” is meant to be a question for a high power, or which ever god one prays to, and therefore this painting is based on religious anxiety. This is hinted at by the heavenly space that is created by the clouds and blue sky in the background. It questions if their higher power will pull through and answer their calling or pleads. She also clarified that the painting takes on more of a Buddhist perspective, not a Christian one, and the multiple arms are meant to represent a level below Buddha. Lastly, the pose itself of the girl is meant to be constricting and anxious.

All in all, this painting was the one that stood out to me because of the questioning title and the intense components in it. After revealing that it was meant to question religion, I was able to relate the piece to myself. Most people question their beliefs and religion at one point in their lives. Analyzing the painting myself, I found an interest in the artist’s choice to illustrate chains to hold the cloud, instead of rather ropes or some other fiber. I took the chains as yet another form of constricting the girl in the painting, as if the heavens have the capacity to hold down and control someone in terms of their faith and hopes. In addition, I noticed the girl’s hair is long and at some points wraps around her arms and wrists. I interpreted this as the idea that your thoughts, especially concerning doubts and uncertainties, can control yourself–almost as if youre a slave to your own mind and your life is ran by your negative thoughts and anxieties. Even the expression on the girl’s face seems to be lost in her own thoughts, as if her eyes are glazed over and she has no grip on reality. Each of the ideas I have presented here I definitely relate to, especially since I went through the process of making my first holy communion and confirmation in my Catholic church and had often found myself questioning the lessons and information we received throughout. It is natural to question your beliefs, and anxiety towards the thought of a higher power or afterlife are apart of that.

Shown in the images above are the drawings that I attempted to make. Overall, I did have a rather nice time during the ‘Drinking and Drawing’ activity, however it wasn’t the drawing itself that made it fun, it was meeting a few new people and the having fulfilling conversations that made it a good time. As for the drawing, the first image I drew was the tree and I found myself wanting to perfect it, however it did not come out the way I wanted (realistic and clear cut was what I was going for), which ultimately discouraged me and I wanted to get the other drawings over with. Based on the fact that I am some what of a perfectionist, I would say that drawing is sometimes frustrating for me because when something doesn’t come out as good or the way I envisioned it to be, it bothers me. Despite this, I don’t mind drawing, actually I might even say I enjoy it–mainly when it comes to things that aren’t meant to be realistic, especially doodles. I most likely will not try to sit down and draw something with the purpose of it being realistic or to come out professionally, but I will most definitely continue to draw, since as I mentioned, I love to doodle. I completely agree that practicing for hours and hours on end would allow one to improve their drawing skills, especially learning different techniques and to find your unique style that suites myself.

My major as of now is pre-criminal justice, and sketching is definitely apart of the law system through sketch artist that are used for a victim to describe a criminal. The hoe is that the drawing will accurate enough that went sent to the general public, people would recognize said criminal and be able to report them to the police. To put it simply, sketching is used in the criminal justice system to help both the general public and the police to recognize and catch criminals.

I do believe that drawing can be a language, just as painting can be a language. Both are similar in the sense that one can draw or paint something that express a possible emotion or idea and such that their words cannot.

My group members and I decided to tape this section off of a brick wall. We noticed these bricks had been stained white and had a rather rough texture, due to what seemed to be weathering, in comparison to the bricks just above the top taped horizontal line, which were smooth. Explaining to the rest of the class, we offered many explanations as to what these bricks could be interpreted as. For instance, it could symbolize that all humans are simply bricks in a wall, blending in until acts of nature and society around them make their mark, making them into individuals with their own uniqueness and traits. In addition, I offered that it could represent how time often leaves its mark, changing somethings beauty and meaning overtime. Also, it could symbolize that nature will always prevail over mankind and its creations, as the bricks being stained and worn down by nature will continue overtime until it is nothing but rubble.

The white stained bricks could have possibly been art before we taped it off; it depends on the onlooker. In a sense, it was art beforehand, but it could’ve ran down to the fact that the general public did not take the time to stop and notice the stained bricks and attempt to give it meaning, as we had. In that scenario, it wouldn’t have been considered art before we had taped it. Furthermore, this also applies to the question if it will remain art after the tape is removed–the people is our class may perceive it as art now that we had pointed it out and framed it–bringing their attention to it. Despite this, others still may not see this as art on their day to day as they pass by it.

In my opinion, art can lay in the object itself, however it is more dependent on the person who perceives it to see the value and meaning in a piece that truly makes it ‘art’. So, in essence, all items can be art, but not all are perceived or recognized as art to the general public–which makes some objects ‘art’ and others ‘not art’. Individuals may know when objects are art when it makes them feel a sensation or emotion, or that they can grab a piece of wisdom or interpret to hold meaning when they analyze it.

I suppose that something other than objects could be art; someone may describe their lover as ‘art’. Again, art is something than can provoke emotions or interpreted with meaning. So, yes, the viewers’ experience is what makes one consider if something is art, and if one takes the time to really analyze it, they can find what it means to them or how it could have beauty. Just like bricks in a wall, time and the viewer work hand in hand to create and perceive something as art.

Creating my own finger painting was a unique experience that I haven’t done since my early childhood. Despite this seeming a childish task to do, I rather enjoyed it for the carefree nature of it. It was actually much easier than I initially expected, since I was admittedly a bit caught up in the fact that the painting had to have a specific subject or resemble something in the beginning, but once I dipped my hands in the paint I found myself creating whatever my hands allowed me to. Not only was the activity nostalgic, but it was also cathartic and soothing in the sense that I could paint softly and roughly when I felt like it. The phrase “feel the paint” was true in that sense, as well as feeling the texture and converting that into different shapes or smudges on the paper. The painting I created definitely could possibly be similar to others I have seen that are regarded as ‘art’, since paintings with splashes, colors, and other techniques of painting are usually seen as an artists’ expression of emotion on a canvas.

To end, when I was creating the painting, I had no real goal or subject in mind. I merely dipped my fingers and began touching the canvas–in both soft touches and rough patting. Whatever I felt like doing, my hands were free to create and represent. After I was done, I did manage to find meaning in what I had created. For instance, in one of the corners is a blob of mainly yellow paint, but I took it as a shining light or beacon of innocence and purity in the midst of the chaos of the painting, and the slight instances of blue or green mixed on its edges could represent that there will always be forces attempting to take ones light, but maintaining that purity is important and requires strong will to do so. Concluding, finding meaning in a finger painting that began with no purpose represents the general public finding meaning in different paintings or forms of art on their own, despite what an artists’ true intentions were–and the meaning that one gives it is what makes a piece hold value and be considered ‘art’.

Performing maintenance art around the USU area went well. It was nice to see the students in our class stand around and work together to clean our campus and the sculpture, while also enjoying themselves with friends and socializing. This was especially true for me since I did even meet a few new people and carry nice conversations. Ukeles cleaning the steps of an art museum is different than Serra flinging molten lead against a wall since Serra’s may seem more intense, however Ukeles may seem to hold less meaning since a general audience may see it as “cleaning” and basic womens’ work. On the other hand, they are similar in the sense that both artists are expressing themselves and ideas through creative means–which is art. Both works are art in that sense. Ukeles’ Maintenance Art performance at the Wadsworth Atheneum is considered art in my opinion, since Ukeles is doing an act that is reflective of the words and ideas in her work. The fact that her performance took place in an art museum does not make it art, however it may clarify it for a general audience. To explain, if Ukeles had been performing anywhere in the public, no one would view the act as art since most wouldn’t recognize it as expressing ideas that she wrote about. But the fact that it was performed in an art museum gives the clarification since it is set up as an exhibit with, what I am assuming, to be some type of information in some format that explains what the artist is doing or reflecting during her performance. Furthermore, if she had merely been performing this job for 6 months it would not be considered art, since she most likely wouldn’t be performing it for alternate reasons besides the fact that it is a job and a part of basic day to day acts. What makes an act art is the meaning, purpose, or intentions behind the making it is given by the creator; acts expressing or reflecting an idea, feeling, etc. is what makes an act art. Based on this, it is the intention of the person performing it that makes an act art, however the acceptance of that act or object as art is mainly up to the general public to spread its meaning and perhaps even give it their own meaning. Therefore, anything can be art, such as a painting of a house or on canvas, as long as someone perceives it in a way to hold meaning. Ukeles and Lopez have made me think a bit differently about “Women’s Work” since I always have valued what women do, but both just took it to another level in terms of the extent of what women do and how much it shouldn’t be overlooked. “Women’s work” is art in certain situations and depending on the person perceiving it. For example, a person may see a child being taken care of by their mother as art in the sense that not every mother has an obligation to their children, but someone else may see that as a basic duty that a women must complete.

A star that I would get down on my hands and knees to clean would perhaps be Robert Downey Jr., since I have always admired him, not only for his role as ‘Tony Stark’ in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also for his journey as an individual, from being addicted to drugs and overcoming it to become one of the greatest, respected, and most well-known actors in the industry today.