Category — Artistic Encounters
Urban Bush Women
Performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Urban Bush women displayed African American culture and traditions as well as the struggle that came with African Diaspora, migration of Africans to America and later on to the world, through expressive dance performances. For many members of the audience like me, it was difficult to understand the story of the dance performance. Only in the end did I realize that there was no plot. Without sufficient introduction in the beginning of the performance, Urban Bush women confused its audience. [Read more →]
December 21, 2008 2 Comments
Childhood
The theme of my collage is childhood. Though I came to America when I was 11 years old, I still have fresh memories of my childhood in China. What I remember the most was the old culture of China that helped to shape the person I am today, especially my elementary school. Separated from my parents, I lived in the city alone for the four years before I came to America. [Read more →]
December 21, 2008 3 Comments
A Weaving of Cultures
When I envisioned the two words “Cultural Encounters,” what came to mind was the metaphor often used to describe America – the melting pot of all cultures. What better way to represent a country than its flag? I took a more direct method in going about replicating this melting pot; I wove together the American flag using tidbits of other cultures throughout the world, resulting in a flag, while unique in its design, is very much the flag that I grew up to love, that is, the United States of America. [Read more →]
December 18, 2008 Comments Off on A Weaving of Cultures
Limerick
{slight technical difficulty. just turn your computers 90 degrees}
I like to make pretty things
Involving sharp teeth and butterfly wings
There is a scene of a lovely girl
Blowing balloons around the world
From the picture fantasy sings
December 17, 2008 3 Comments
Street Photography: Vandalism of Staten Island
All throughout our world vandalism can be found almost anywhere. We may have to look a little harder and dig a little deeper, but no matter what anyone tells you, vandalism is always around. Whether it is graffiti on the wall of the corner drug store or defacing a park bench, vandalism is a crime that has been plaguing places all over the world for years. This crime can be especially seen in the five boroughs of New York. Living and growing up in Staten Island, I wanted to focus on the ever-growing problem of vandalism around my home. [Read more →]
December 16, 2008 2 Comments
The Cage
I titled my collage “The Cage” because I feel that there are two different parts to me. This duality is demonstrated by my mixed use of media and dimensions. I choose first off to put a set of red lips the same proportions as mine. I feel that they are literally the feature that stands out the most in mean and I betray most of my emotions by twisting and scrunching them up by turns. I choose a woodcarving I made to symbolize my ability to create something beautiful out of a simple block of wood using my hands and a chisel. It serves as a pedestal of sorts for my lips as my creativity holds up my sensitivity.
December 16, 2008 1 Comment
CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH
A supposedly wise man had once said, “What makes any endeavor worthy of pursuit is not that it will uphold our original prejudices but that it will enlighten us.” I often limited that ideology to science, which I considered to be the only field where such drastically different results could be yielded. After having done this project, however, I believe that one’s worldly prejudices can be just as easily changed with genuinely insightful thinking. [Read more →]
December 16, 2008 1 Comment
Identity
In a place like New York City, cultural diversity flourishes. With the theme of cultural encounters in mind, I decided to make my collage revolve around my personal cultural encounter between American and Chinese culture. I am known as an ABC, an American-born-Chinese. For a time in my life, I actually thought of myself as two parts participating in a competition. Both ethnicities, it seemed, were trying to win me over to their side. I felt like I was often stuck in between, much like the hyphen in the word “Chinese-American”. In this collage, I explored the different cultures and values that I grew up with. [Read more →]
December 16, 2008 2 Comments
Street Photography: Forced Advertising
As I prepared to undertake my street photography project, I found myself wondering about what topic I should choose. After much thought and conversation with others I decided to try and document the vast amount of forced advertising in New York City. I chose to focus on the posters that are plastered on walls and construction sites throughout Manhattan. I really wanted to show that the posters assault those who walk the streets of New York City with their size and their repetitious nature. [Read more →]
December 16, 2008 1 Comment
Roger Federer: Path of a Champion
My collage shows some of the defining moments of Roger Federer’s career. Roger has already established himself as one of the best tennis players to ever live. While his career is far from over, there have already been defining moments along his champion’s path. In my collage I have chosen four specific moments to chronicle his career. [Read more →]
December 16, 2008 1 Comment