Above is a piece of my artwork that was displayed in the Identity Art Show. Titled, Broken Into Pieces, it symbolizes the way we scrutinize ourselves and rip ourselves apart. What we need to realize, is that these pieces aside from ourselves are nothing more than an eye, a nose, an ear, etc. It is who we uniquely are that sets us apart. We should embrace our differences and love ourselves no matter what.
This is a mixed media piece fusing photography, paint, newspaper and digital graphics to create a montage on canvas.
This image is titled, What Defines You? The ambiguous figure allows the viewer to place themselves inside, asking who they are and what they ultimately let define them. This image was also selected for the Identity Art Show. The manner in which this image is framed really draws the viewer inward. Matted with a mirror instead of tradition mat board, the viewer can actually see themselves.
Artist statement: The camera, to me, seems to be the most honest means of expression. The beauty of the photograph is that an individual can capture a moment of someone, something or even themselves as it will never be again. There is something so poetic to think that the way we are captured on one piece of paper will never be exactly the way we are again. Being able to take photographs digitally has allowed me to take photography to a new level. This is possible by being able to use digital photo art and manipulation. I aim to take images, frozen in time, and create statements, express inner emotion, and cultivate new ideas within the viewer.
It's almost June... where has the time gone?! I noticed I am not nearly as good at keeping up with this blog as I had hoped. I think about it time and time again, but in reality I just don't have time to sit down and write something more than just the happenings of my day. Personally, I find that to be quite boring. I also think it is humorous that this photo blog of mine contains an unhealthy amount of cell phone pictures. I understand the convenience and all, but photography is part of my major. Not to mention that I own a lot of really nice camera equipment. So maybe I can turn this into more of an art photo blog with random conversation provoking thoughts... haha, or maybe not. Well here is the recent story of my life:
I decided to take summer classes to accelerate my graduation date. So far the classes are fun. My teachers for the summer are really nice and allow me to work class around work and vacation. The summer semester is broken into two 6 week sessions. The first session is happening now and I am taking a drawing class. I only have to take four weeks of it because Matt and I had planned to go hiking near Asheville, NC before I had signed up. Luckily, the teacher needed to make a student quota to have the class so he is letting me make up the rest up when I get back from vacation. The second session starts the day after we return from NC. I am taking an accelerated photo workshop and an acceleration digital art workshop. I am really excited about both classes. I really like the teachers, and I think I will really benefit from having the opportunity to work with each of them on a one to one basis. I am also taking an art history class to start chipping away at those required hours.
Work is going really well. I just got a promotion two weeks ago. I am coordinating a new program that is starting at our office. It is a really neat treatment combining photic stimulation with audio and visual reward. It is geared to help maximize the use of the whole brain giving people a drug free alternative to fight things like depression, anxiety, ADD, addiction, etc... If you want to know more about it, just ask me. It is really cool, and I know more about the brain than I ever thought I would! Plus the really neat thing about this position is I get to travel to a training conference in four months! The usually hold them in California or Florida, and Matt gets to go with me! EXCITING!!!
Family is doing well. My mom just had her gallbladder removed last Wednesday. She did really well. She had two large gallstones that were causing her a lot of pain. She was relieved to have them out! Now I am working on getting her on a healthy diet. She honestly thinks she can drink Ensure all day and get enough proteins and vitamins and minerals. I think that it is a load of crap, but she won't listen to me. I won't even get into that right now. Um... oh yeah my sister Cheryl is getting married on August 16th. Should be a lot of fun. I got my dress for it the other day. The color reminds me of the inside of a cucumber. Yeppp....
We are getting ready to go on vacation in 2 weeks! I cannot wait!!!!!! We are going to go all over the place it seems like. For the first part we will be in Wilmington, NC. Our friends are letting us stay at their house while they are in Peru. So we are going to enjoy the beach for a few days. Then we are going to head in to Hendersonville which is not far from Asheville. We are going to do a lot of hiking, some kayaking and whatever we find that looks like fun. I am really excited! Then from here we are going to go into Tennessee and enjoy some of the Great Smokies near Gatlinburg. We will be gone for 2 weeks, and Lord knows we need it.
Other than that, Matt is doing well. Working hard for the money, so hard for it honey...
Happy Memorial Day! Hopefully everyone has sunshine and some good BBQ to eat! :)
Till next time...
