These were my students when I taught in China last summer. I believe this is a true image of myself. I have a heart for a Asia and specifically China, and being there made me so happy. I loved teaching the children and loved being immersed in the culture. My true self comes out when I am in Asia!

Masked Film

I wanted to relate the video to something similar to the bronze serpent. Rather than looking at the image, I wanted the people to dance around the image. I wanted to emphasize a sort of tribal theme in which I juxtaposed tribal with modern. The tribal face paint and the black dresses were meant to create a contrast. Additionally, the dancing man in a suitcase was also meant to convey the contrasting themes.

MASKS

1.

I would say my mask relates more to the pe-modern. It was designed to appear very theatrical and to emulate the natural world. It was very interesting to photograph the mask because in away, it removed me from the image. Yes, it is me behind the mask, but the mask itself covers up most recognition. I was in the image but freed from the viewer. I no longer bore my persona, but rather, that of something else. While some say removing the mask creates freedom, I would say that in some cases, putting the mask on can do the same.

2.

I would say it very much relates to the ideal portrait. Nature is where I feel closest to God. In thinking about how I wanted my mask to look, I wanted to incorporate nature. My mask is my real self in many ways. I am a broken human being (the chards of glass) but am made one in Christ (the mask as a whole). As mentioned above, masks can be a source of security in an insecure world, however, they can also be a reality which depicts the ideal being who we aspire to be. I want to be close to God and nature often serves as my mask.

PORTRAITS

So these are my portraits of Abby. One is considered ideal and one real. The first one is intended to somewhat dreamlike. The soft colors and tilted foreground almost make it appear to be from a fantastic world. Almost like Alice in Wonderland. Abby said she loved balloons and Ithink they accurately represent her personality.
The next one is considered "real". While we intended for Abby to originally just get a little dirty from the flour, she wound up putting the blender up to her head. It is a little ominous, however, the more I thought about real and what it means, the more I thought it might represent "being mixed up in the head" or som
ething along those lines.

The idea I had behind the pictures (and I don't know how y'all interpreted it in class) was to contrast the clean cut, "Well put together" look with the covered with mud and dirt look. Honestly, I think it could be interpreted both ways in term

s of which is the ideal and which is the real.

In thinking about how the media and culture relates to these images I thought of how our culture and media are very keen on telling us to keep our masks on. In thinking about Rear Window I think about how the people being watched would probably be horrified knowing what other people saw them doing when no one else was looking or, when they acted like their true self. Our media pushes for masks to stay on at all times. It is not good to bring your problems out in the open for everyone to see. Rather, our culture emphasizes putting your best self forward and if that means suppressing your true self and hiding it behind a mask, so be it. I think specifically about the picture with dirt on my face. Dirt is unclean and messy. It is better swept under the mask or covered up by a false identity.

I love being outside and getting my hands dirty. I feel closest to God when I am in creation and surrounded by the Creator. Therefore, one might think that the dirty picture is actually the ideal.

However, one could also assume that being "Well put together" is ideal. When we go to get our picture taking for a real portrait (say a senior portrait), most of time we try and look our best and not cover ourselves with dirt. I really like these pictures and I think they work well for the assignment.

The piece I chose is by Bansky. Bansky is a British graffiti artist who often paints social critique art works. I thought this piece was very similar in relation to Abby's ideal picture. Not only because of the balloon, but also because of the message is portrays, one of hope. Both images are somewhat dreamlike.

Abby and I worked very well together. We really just had a fun time taking funny pictures. Abby let me throw flour all over her and I scrubbed mud on my face. We were both willing to listen to one another and each of us took suggestions and advice. Both of us were willing to do what the other thought was best, but we were each willing to listen for other ideas.

LANDSCAPE/EARTHWORK

I took this image when I was in Honduras over spring break. Like I said before, when I think of a landscape, I think of a pure and untouched scene. While there was trash all around where I was standing, the landscape itself is set apart from all of that. It envelops all trash and impurity and absorbs it into itself. I believe the landscape is mysterious and unknowing. The entire idea of a landscape in limiting that which the viewer sees. For me, a true landscape cannot be contained in a photograph or painting; it has to be experienced by the viewer.

In how this differs from my earthwork piece, one is a portrayal of pure nature and one is a contrast. Ou

r earthwork project served as a critique of how we have tainted nature and tried to fit it into ou

r own artificial landscape.

I have always been closest to God when I reside in nature. God's original intent was for us to live in and amongst nature. We were born into a garden and mandated to tend it ourselves. We have been called to be continually interacting with nature, whether that be through tilling the earth or observing the beauty of the fields. Nature is a part of who we are.

This is a piece by Martin Johnson Heade. Heade is known for his paintings of natural settings

such as landscapes or seascapes and I felt that this piece was very accurate in communicating with both of my pieces. Nature is fragile. It is to be treasured and cherished and I

feel that Heade brings this out through his works.

Our group functioned very well together. We each contributed unique ideas and everyone's voices were heard. The creative design students were very good in helping us with design strategies while the photographers gave each other suggestions and advice. Overall, the group was ideal for performing the project we did.

Getting Lost

GOD

Mary as the Dalit Mother by Jyoti Sahi

1944

Oil

This painting has much symbolism. The word Dalit is the word used in the Indian caste system for untouchables. Mary is surrounded by wheat and on top of a grinding stone. In the Indian culture the grinding stone has two parts, the "mother stone" and the "baby stone". This could perhaps symbolize the relationship between Mary and Christ. Additionally, the wheat may refer to the brokenness of sinners.

I chose this painting because I have a deep love for Asian culture. I feel that oftentimes Christian art can become very Eurocentric and leave out a large amount of its Eastern influence. The painting is absolutely beautiful in the way it symbolizes Mary and Christ as normal and even untouchable. It further reminds me of Christ's humanity and how he chose to live his life on earth as normal. In looking at this I think about Nathaniel's response to Christ's birth, "Nazareth!" exclaimed Nathanael. "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" "Come and see for yourself," Philip replied. Something good indeed came from Nazareth, the greatest gift for humanity. Christ humbled himself to an untouchable position for us.

I believe this painting is very true. It speaks of Christ's humility and humanity and highlights the symbolism of Indian culture.

GOD

Sistine Madonna by Raphael

1513-1514

Oil on Canvas

High Renaissance

This painting was commissioned as an alter piece by monks from the Monastery of Sisto. This was the last painting Raphael completed on his own before his death. The painting depicts Mary with Christ in hand with Saint Sisto and Saint Barbara to the sides. Toward the bottom rest two cherubs, which are perhaps some of the most iconic angels depicted in art.

I find the painting very intriguing. Saint Barbara and Saint Sixtus were both martyrs in the early 3rd century. I find interesting to see the veneration Raphael gives them in addition to Christ and Madonna. Additionally, we have a copy of this painting at home and I can always remember noticing the cherubs when I was younger and thinking how innocent and childish they were. Besides the fact that this piece has been greatly tainted and desensitized by our modern culture, I feel that it offers much for the viewer. The beauty and Mary and Christ evoke emotions of admiration and affection.

I find the image to be very true. It is inspiring to see those who died for Christ are in the presence of Christ. In light of the fact that Christ is still a child is somewhat false in terms of the time line of what's going on, but besides that the painting speaks truth to the love of Christ and the beauty of heaven. Christ is on display in the piece, as he should be.

God

“Come, let us return to the LORD.

He has torn us to pieces

but he will heal us;

he has injured us

but he will bind up our wounds."

"Let us acknowledge the LORD;

let us press on to acknowledge him.

As surely as the sun rises,

he will appear;

he will come to us like the winter rains,

like the spring rains that water the earth.”

-Hosea 6:1&3

Thoughts.

At first glance I noticed a girl wearing all white, holding a mask, and standing in front of a chalkboard. I took the white outfit and chalkboard to symbolize a blank slate or canvas. In 2011 we can make our bodies into anything we want them to be, which is what I think the mask symbolizes. We have a true self, a true body, and we can choose to let this be and be seen; or we can become what we want the world to see or what we think the world wants to see. I like the position of the girl's mask, because it makes me wonder if she is about to put it on or take it off. Is she about to plunge in or come up for air? I also love the highlighting of the green in the center because it naturally draws my eyes, and I have to work a little bit to look at the girl. The placement of the girl on the left third line was a good composition technique.

The Body

So this was my interpretation of the body. I had my friend Meghan dress in all white and stand in front of a chalk board. I will let you all interpret how you think.

My intentions were to describe the body as slate which is constantly changing and discovering new things. The mask was meant to elude to the many personas we take on depending on which "slate" we stand in front of. So in some ways our bodies leave profound marks on those we interact with and are constantly changing based on their environment. Here the body is, in a sense, very vulnerable; the mask is off. The board has remnants of marks on it, meaning that our bodies are in constant interaction with the changing times.

God

So I know this is pretty cliche but I absolutely love the Creation of Adam by Michelangelo. I believe it is the essence of God's grace and love. God is gently reaching out to Adam to instill in him the breath of life. Additionally, I believe Michelangelo did an amazing job at capturing the idea of being "created in the image of God". For me this painting evokes many emotions and typifies God and his power.