Artist as Activist Reflection

For this project I chose to explore the issue of the negative effects that the media (specifically newspapers and magazines) can have on women's self esteem.  I was motivated by what I was seeing on the covers of magazines and tabloids: loud advertisements for how to improve your figure, lose weight, "look your best", etc.  In addition, these publications reveal celebrity gossip, giving certain people unwanted publicity by portraying them in a negative light.  I often feel sympathetic towards the subjects of inappropriate gossip.  The subjects of my piece portray a distance and neutrality and introspectiveness through their expressions, as if they were caused to doubt themselves based on the negative influence from hegemonic ideas spread by the media.  This influence makes many women feel like they need to conform to a certain definition.

One of the only things that changed over the course of my project was the background content of each image.  Originally I had planned to use pages and blurbs cut out from magazines behind the images, but I found that using newspaper instead would be more dramatic and wouldn't detract from the subject as much.  I found that I liked newspaper better because (although magazine pages would be a little more relevant) the straight, regulated, unvarying, uniform layout of newsprint serves as a symbol for that which is defined as normal.  When someone breaks the "normal" mold, it causes chaos.  

I was interested in going beyond my usual criteria for projects.  Rather than constraining myself to only using photography, I used my "home" medium as a basis to create a finished product.  I photographed each subject and printed the image over newsprint using the printing press.  I found this to be an enlightening experience using mixed media, and hope to continue working with the printing press in the future.  

Cross Polination Final Reflection

I had to alter my original plan for this project because of time constraints.  I had planned to make an aquarium-like scene with a box-shaped frame, but instead I printed a photo and offset some features of thew photo with foam core board to make it 3 dimensional.  Now my project doesn't have as much of a marine landscape as I had imagined, but it still references exploration and scientific discovery with the scuba diver.  Something I did differently this time than in any other previous work is to include irony in my composition with the diver sitting at a grand piano.  I think it was successful.

If I had to change my concept I would have put my photo in a shadowbox type frame to make it look more finished.

Working with Beth was a really positive experience.  She gave me some valuable feedback and supported my decision to alter the objective of my project.  Overall, it was a privilege to work with such a talented and insightful artist as she is.

Texture Block Pairings

First pairing: newspaper, boot polish, baling twine

The papery texture of the newspaper paired with the smoothness of the shoe polish and the coarseness of the baling twine is really intriguing to me.  There seems to be a common gray and black color scheme that is interrupted by the bright electric blue of the twine, creating a handsome, eye popping contrast.

The second pairing has probably the most contrast of all.  The smooth, natural green of the leaves next to the snowy white styrofoam and the shredded paper is visually appealing.  I think I may use the styrofoam texture in my project.

Third pairing: I like these textures together because I associate them in my mind since I found them all at the stables.  The consistency of each is very different, and I intentionally left the plywood unpainted because its similar to the color of the wood that the barn is built from, and creates a kind of context for the textures.