February 16-March 15, 2015 report
In the almost final rounds.
It's almost the end of this semester, and I feel like I'm just getting started! It took me a while to get semi-comfortable with the program and independent studies. Finding my way around work and personal responsibilities still prove to be a challenge, but through trial and error I'm discovering what works and what should be tossed to the side. For instance, my hectic work schedule of 7:30a-3:30p, at first was thought to be ideal for my spending just a little extra time with the kids. As it turns out it definitely is not conducive as I thought it would be—perpetual beta at play again :-)
The ideas are flowing, but the time is short. I'm hard-pressed to find a way to marry the shortage of time with my need to create what's in my head. I did assign myself a short essay to help fulfill the research component of my experience and also give me a little more knowledge and validity to I'm exploring. Thanks to collaborating with some brilliant folks and a few online meet ups, I'm feeling a more confident in my direction. Here's what I've landed on so far:
The ideas are flowing, but the time is short. I'm hard-pressed to find a way to marry the shortage of time with my need to create what's in my head. I did assign myself a short essay to help fulfill the research component of my experience and also give me a little more knowledge and validity to I'm exploring. Thanks to collaborating with some brilliant folks and a few online meet ups, I'm feeling a more confident in my direction. Here's what I've landed on so far:
Bucket#1: The sketching and the making
Totally inspired by concept of story quilts, and using that as a way to give myself a voice, I continue to make "patches" that give a glimpse into my own life's story. Rather than tell a story in sequential order, I share at random thoughts, ideas, feelings and facts about my self in 12"x12" squares. Below are some biographical sketches I've been working on
She and her hair
She checked her hair in the mirror after I was done. Shaking her head from side to side, she squeals "oooh pretty, Mommy!" Even at two I'm hoping to teach her to LOVE herself and her hair.
I have personally struggled with my own hair and have felt many, many times my natural nappy head wasn't good enough for the mainstream. It took a while, but I love my hair in any state she's in—straight, braided, curly, short, long, etc. However, I'm deliberately keeping my own hair in a natural state to show my daughter that her black, cotton-like tresses are beautiful. Perhaps if I start her off now, she will be confident in loving herself and her curly hairs no matter what style.
Totally inspired by concept of story quilts, and using that as a way to give myself a voice, I continue to make "patches" that give a glimpse into my own life's story. Rather than tell a story in sequential order, I share at random thoughts, ideas, feelings and facts about my self in 12"x12" squares. Below are some biographical sketches I've been working on
She and her hair
She checked her hair in the mirror after I was done. Shaking her head from side to side, she squeals "oooh pretty, Mommy!" Even at two I'm hoping to teach her to LOVE herself and her hair.
I have personally struggled with my own hair and have felt many, many times my natural nappy head wasn't good enough for the mainstream. It took a while, but I love my hair in any state she's in—straight, braided, curly, short, long, etc. However, I'm deliberately keeping my own hair in a natural state to show my daughter that her black, cotton-like tresses are beautiful. Perhaps if I start her off now, she will be confident in loving herself and her curly hairs no matter what style.
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| Anjellah patch. Pencil, cloth, crocheted yarn and fabric pen. |
Sketches in the works:
I spent a fair amount of time working on my essay (which is still not really complete) so the actual making was minimal this time around. I did get a few number sketches and image of patches that want to create hope I'll be able to complete by April's pin up:
The hopes I have...Falling in the same lines of my "Anjellah" patch, this one would focus on my concerns and dreams I have for my son. From him achieving his own dreams to him being not being deemed "hoodlum" because he chooses to wear a hoodie. Planned materials, cloth, pencil and fabric pen.
I wish I could be more than my fears tell me I amThis would be a simple patch work, with just these words. No images, and perhaps no embellishments. Fear and I have an on again, off again relationship. Actually, it's a daily struggle to keep my fears (rational and irrational) in check. The one change I would make to this is to change the word "wish" to "must be" or "going to be." "Wish" sounds too defeatist. Planned materials, cloth, thread.
Grandaddy's brickworkA sketch from a previous packet entry, I want to explore some textures and mimmick the beautiful brick work I photographed during my trip to Charleston.
Love, honor and cherish?This patch would feature simple silhouette shape of a bride and groom (symbolizing me and the hubby) with my vows to him (or maybe an old diary entry about our struggle to truly become "one flesh" this one's ify as I'm not sure how personal I want be about my marriage. Do I need to share everything?
Are you my "master?"Still working out trying to tie in what I think are my "strongholds" or what I feel I'm slave to. As you can see fear rears its ugly head again.
It's still too hard to look at: 1967 Arbutus Ave.
This patch would the hardest to create because it's very hard for me to not look at and not break down. The two buildings in the photograph are the church and house my late maternal grandfather built in 1967. It's also a place where I spent a great deal of my childhood along with my siblings and cousins. The house (foreground) was sold after my grandmother decided to move out of the neighborhood. The building has since been abandoned is now condemned. Rumor has it that junkies break in and use there. My grandmother still runs the church though. But I cannot physically go to visit because it's too painful to see my childhood safe haven in such a horrible state.
Bucket #2: Who died and made you validation King, anyway?
Personal validation and worth—
This "bucket" focuses on a topic or theme that keeps creeping up over and over again throughout my studies. The idea of this "great legitimizer"—someone who has the authority to deem what is considered good and what's not. I assigned myself a small essay to explore who this topic and to investigate why we as artists find it hard to value our own work. My classmate asked in her previous packet submission "who am I to assign value to the work I am doing?" She lamented that she didn't totally trust herself as one who should legitimize/validate her own path.
Bucket #2: Who died and made you validation King, anyway?
Personal validation and worth—
This "bucket" focuses on a topic or theme that keeps creeping up over and over again throughout my studies. The idea of this "great legitimizer"—someone who has the authority to deem what is considered good and what's not. I assigned myself a small essay to explore who this topic and to investigate why we as artists find it hard to value our own work. My classmate asked in her previous packet submission "who am I to assign value to the work I am doing?" She lamented that she didn't totally trust herself as one who should legitimize/validate her own path.
I readily admit that I struggle with those same thoughts. Partly because the type of work I'm isn't really graphic design work, though I'm employing the design elements to create the work. What I'm doing could very easily seen as more craft than art(side question: why the separation of the two to begin with?) So, I'm attempting to find answers to that question: Who AM I to assign value to my work? Does her/his opinion really matter in the end? Is my work still valuable even if no one else thinks it is?
Meeting of the minds.
I was introduced to Leslie Tane, a member of the very first graduating class. We scheduled a video chat to discuss ways she successfully managed working, raising a family and going through the program. However, our conversation focused on where I am at this moment in the program, the stresses ans struggles of wanting to produce more than time allows. Our meeting was actually good practice for me to speak intelligently about my thought process and rationale behind the quilt patches I'm creating. Leslie reassured me that where I am in this point of the semester is pretty much where I should be. It's a season of exploration, trial and error and showing where I am along the way. She even share some ideas on how I could present my works during the spring semester.
After our conversation, Leslie introduced me to another VCFA graduate Julie Sittler via email. Julie's gradate thesis centered around craft vs. graphic design. Basically where I'm hovering in my current studies. She was kind enough to send me her thesis, which is AMAZING to say at the very least. It's also s a good jumping off point for where I think I'm trying to go. During our e-mail exchange, Julie advised that "experimentation work is by far much more interesting, even if it is not complete," and that the work I show at the pin up, is finished only if I say it is. And right now, I truly don't think that I'm done exploring craft, storytelling, culture and validation. The results of my studies may take on a different form, but I've only really just got started.
I was introduced to Leslie Tane, a member of the very first graduating class. We scheduled a video chat to discuss ways she successfully managed working, raising a family and going through the program. However, our conversation focused on where I am at this moment in the program, the stresses ans struggles of wanting to produce more than time allows. Our meeting was actually good practice for me to speak intelligently about my thought process and rationale behind the quilt patches I'm creating. Leslie reassured me that where I am in this point of the semester is pretty much where I should be. It's a season of exploration, trial and error and showing where I am along the way. She even share some ideas on how I could present my works during the spring semester.
After our conversation, Leslie introduced me to another VCFA graduate Julie Sittler via email. Julie's gradate thesis centered around craft vs. graphic design. Basically where I'm hovering in my current studies. She was kind enough to send me her thesis, which is AMAZING to say at the very least. It's also s a good jumping off point for where I think I'm trying to go. During our e-mail exchange, Julie advised that "experimentation work is by far much more interesting, even if it is not complete," and that the work I show at the pin up, is finished only if I say it is. And right now, I truly don't think that I'm done exploring craft, storytelling, culture and validation. The results of my studies may take on a different form, but I've only really just got started.
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November 2014 (text only)
December 2014
January 2015
February 2015
Download bucket reports in PDF
November 2014 (text only)
December 2014
January 2015
February 2015
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