- \n
- Earbuds(very important, I listen to music and watch stuff on my phone, these are very worn out and slightly broken but they do their job; Update- they have now broken and I have purchased a new pair)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Jeans(I wear the same two pairs of jeans every week, I feel it\u2019s part of my style)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Pink eraser(make a lot of mistakes, as an artist it\u2019s an important tool to me)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Sweatshirt(I wear this very often, it\u2019s comfortable and it makes me feel comfortable when I\u2019m not feeling great)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Guitar(given to me by my dad, he encouraged me to start playing)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Sunglasses(bring on trips and when I go on outings with family)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Pencils(like to carry them around, much more preferred than pen)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Tiny keyboard piano(played it often as a child, it\u2019s what peaked my interest in music\/piano)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Laptop(not only do I use it for schoolwork, but I like to type, and I even used to program games on it)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Backpack with wheels(rolled these things around school for like six years of my life, made me feel pretty dorky)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Hat(used to wear all the time at middle school)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Blank piece of paper(I always have with me in case I want to doodle something)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Mints(would always buy these at a gas station during trips, reminds me of traveling)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Horchata(classic hispanic drink I\u2019m really fond of, comes from my culture)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Gorillaz Now Now shirt(got it at my first concert)<\/span><\/li>\n
- sandals(wear them all the time at home, and when we go to the beach, reminds me of just relaxing)<\/span><\/li>\n
- A Round 1 game card for the arcade(I go to the arcade sometimes with my brothers, and it\u2019s always fun)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Library card(I love reading, finding new books there)<\/span><\/li>\n
- 3DS(a video game console which holds some of my favorite games, sometimes I just like to sit and play)<\/span><\/li>\n
- Pin collection(my mom sort of had me start it as a kid, and now I have a variety of pins from all the places we went)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Personal Museum<\/h2>\n
One of the annual field trips for Freestyle is a trip to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art(SF MOMA), in which we look at different pieces of artwork and complete certain tasks. For juniors, it is to find an art piece and write an ekphrastic work. For seniors such as myself, it is to find several different pieces of art and identify which we respond to most and why, with a few that strike a relate with us and a few that do not. The following is my own Museum curation.<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"Art](\"https:\/\/www.freestyleacademy.rocks\/~AteneaD\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/1.jpeg\")
Night Clerk at the Young Hotel, 1982-1983. Mixed media. Edward Kienholz and Nancy Reddin Kienholz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n I would display this piece because it reflects the values of inspiration and art, and I think those values are essential since I love to create stories, and it is an important aspect of who I am. Creating an environment such as the one above, which includes contemporary country music from a radio, immerses viewers in the world, which is what I strive to do when making my own stories. It really stuck out to me as I passed by, and felt like the most unique out of all the pieces. I could already tell a story from all the details and how it all came together, and that sort of cohesiveness is important to me. I really like that they even used an actual lobby with real signs for it\u2019s unsettling atmosphere, and took direct inspiration and tried to recreate that feel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.freestyleacademy.rocks\/~AteneaD\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2.jpeg\")
Untitled, 1978. Acrylic paint on canvas. Sam Francis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n I would display this piece. I really appreciate the flow of this piece, and the contrast between the white and the exploding colors. It makes it seem like the squares are almost floating, and I could not help but think of creativity bursting from the back of one\u2019s head when I first saw the art. Thus, it demonstrates values of creativity and ingenuity, which I think are fairly important, since I am very keen on storytelling.The blending of all the colors is also very appealing to look at. Overall, an excellent picture of self expression, which is something I think is important in art.<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.freestyleacademy.rocks\/~AteneaD\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/3-e1571864094925.jpeg\")
Twilight, 1956. Oil on canvas. Norman Lewis.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n I would display this piece. This piece uses a lot of dark colors, but looking closely, I am able to see a shipwreck, which succeeds in communicating a story to me. While it is soothing, it also feels ominous, and I like the way the atmosphere is portrayed. This art represents values of experience with the way it is demonstrating the scene, and experience is important to me since that is a good source for inspiration in making stories. I also think it\u2019s important to learn about the experiences in general, and the art helps me get a sense of the emotions from the particular experience depicted. Communication is key.<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.freestyleacademy.rocks\/~AteneaD\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/4-e1571864172894.jpeg\")
Incision, 1958-1960. Oil and string on canvas mounted on board. Jay DeFeo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n I would not display this piece since I do not really identify with it. I feel it reflects natural, raw, gritty values, and it does not speak to me. I also do not like the way it looks, and while I am aware it is supposed to resemble a landslide, but it looks unappealing to me.I like more artistic pieces that include a mix of attractive colors that flow together. The mud does not really work for me, so the lack of flow and appealing colors. It does not feel creative for me.<\/span><\/p>\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.freestyleacademy.rocks\/~AteneaD\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/5.jpeg\")
Moths II, 1948. Aluminum, steel, paint. Alexander Calder.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n ![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.freestyleacademy.rocks\/~AteneaD\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/7.jpeg\")
Moths II, 1948. Aluminum, steel, paint. Alexander Calder.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n I would not want this in my museum because it feels more stiff, and more rigid. It is supposed to display a feeling of progression, demonstrating values of adaptability and evolution. Those are values I somewhat identify with, but I don\u2019t particularly respond with the way it was represented. Perhaps if it was more fluid it might be more appealing to me, achieving that using less sharper shapes and smooth lines or shapes like circles. But with the way it is, it does not really show who I am.<\/span><\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/h3>\n
I definitely think I have my own tastes and biases which factor in heavily to my selections, and I did choose bearing in mind that this art would need to reflect values of myself. I think I was successful. I am a creative person who turns to art as a way to express myself, often finding my ideas in story form and communicating ideas and emotions that I feel. The art I decided upon really resonated with me, and I was able to pick up on a story or a message right away, and it stuck with me. The pieces I didn\u2019t like so much did not appear to be presented in an attractive way, and I was left desiring more, and felt a lack of communication with the art. They presented different values that I also did not feel resounded with me. I think I really strive for communication in my art, and making it as appealing and entertaining for the viewer as possible. It needs to have a flow, but also stick out, inspired from experiences and displayed in an interesting way.<\/span><\/p>\n
Lyrical Essay<\/h2>\n
In English we also worked on a lyrical essay, which is to say a poetic type of narrative of sorts, surrounding a person’s identity. We had to interview someone and learn about their challenges and struggles. I interviewed my father about his experience moving here to the United States from Mexico. This is the first finished draft:<\/p>\n
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You step off the Greyhound, an almost 21 year old, with a technician degree and strange, foreign streets in front of you. You\u2019re overwhelmed with the sensation of uncertainty, but you feel safe. Your family is waiting for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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Your dad, though you haven\u2019t seen him for years, has been working silently but diligently in the United States. He is commended for his punctuality and effort, so he is rewarded with a green card, for him and the rest of your family. As soon as you step off the bus you go to sign the papers so that you can begin living in the United States. But since you don\u2019t know the language too well, and you don\u2019t have experience in your field, so you have to start from the bottom. You don\u2019t mind, since you have a lot more opportunities than you do in Mexico. You start working right away.<\/span><\/p>\n
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You\u2019re washing dishes and cleaning tables. Your brother in law works in a restaurant, and he was able to get you this job as a busboy. Wiping the counter clean, you hear an elderly man call you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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His mouth moves,<\/span><\/p>\n
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But the noises are indistinguishable.<\/span><\/p>\n
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You can\u2019t understand his words. No one else is around to help. You\u2019re only able to give him a blank look of confusion. He starts to realize your dilemma.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He responds with an understanding tone, yet he repeats\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
those odd words\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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that don\u2019t translate in your head.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\u201cWhat?\u201d You try to respond with the limited range of vocabulary you have, still unable to distinguish the sounds.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He speaks again and points to the machine, the coffee machine. The gesture finally clicks in your mind and you pick up his empty cup. He points to the kind of coffee that he wants, and you struggle a little, but he seems to understand your struggle. You finally hand him the cup of coffee, but he doesn\u2019t drink from it.<\/span><\/p>\n
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\u201cYou know, I\u2019ve been watching, you\u2019re doing a good job\u2026 just uh-\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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you need to speak English.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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You are able to pick up on what he\u2019s saying, and you nod. \u201cYes,\u201d you reply. He speaks again.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cJust remember this phrase, I want you to learn this. Just repeat it:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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if you want to do it,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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you can do it.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So you repeat it for him,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
want to\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
do it,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
you can<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u00a0do it.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the first phrase you learn. The words come out a lot more different from your mouth than his, but he looks to be satisfied.<\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
\u201cJust keep working hard, and I\u2019m sure you\u2019re going to do better, and you\u2019re going to make it. Just remember that, what I showed you, what I taught you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You take up a new job as a janitor, and you\u2019re put to clean restrooms. You haven\u2019t mastered the language yet, but you can clean the bathrooms really good. You leave it spotless and fresh every night, and your manager starts to notice. He praises you and offers you a promotion to work and supervise in the night crew, and report to him.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
speak English\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
very well,\u201d you tell him. He gives an understanding smile.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s okay. We\u2019ll manage to understand each other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You go to school to learn English, but it\u2019s hard to focus. You\u2019re working two jobs, sixteen hours a day, and you have to drive your sister to school. You sleep very little between the homework and all your responsibilities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
You quit school after a couple months, deciding to experience the world beyond the books.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Wearing a uniform, keys jingle as you park the cars in the hotel\u2019s lot. You blink and you are removing the sticky tape from your fingers and using it to seal up the box, dropping them off in the van. It doesn\u2019t last for long. You finally find your place working as an electronic technician, as time progresses you have a warmer, less timid approach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Someone mentions the weather to you. You respond,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
and you ask them out\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
for a coffee sometime.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.freestyleacademy.rocks\/~AteneaD\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/on-a-limb-nancy-merkle.jpg\")
On a Limb, by Nancy Merkle. Created with professional grade oil paints on a 6×6 inch stretched canvas.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n
Personal Mandala- Perceive<\/h2>\n
In Digital Media we were asked to create a mandala. The mandala appears as a circle containing repeating shapes within it that go around the center. For the Mandala Project, we learned how to configure the program Adobe Illustrator so that it would be possible to repeat the shapes we drew on different slices that evenly divided the circle. It was easy afterwards, and I just tried to use shapes and organized it in a way that I thought represented myself. These decisions involved making more complicated things kept towards the center and space on the outside since I keep to myself. After the black and white mandala was done, our teacher Mr. Flo used a machine to laser print it out on the material we liked from the options available. I chose wood, since that I feel suits me better than anything too flashy. We also made an additional colored mandala and created a video showing the process of creating the mandala. Then we had a reflection on the project as a whole, and integrated it into an augmented reality(AR) image using a program called Zappar. That is the lightning symbol that is seen in the corner of the image of the engraved mandala.<\/span><\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.freestyleacademy.rocks\/~AteneaD\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/16-Slices-Mandala.png\")
The black and white mandala I created using Adobe Illustrator is pictured above.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.freestyleacademy.rocks\/~AteneaD\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/AteneaD-Engraved-Mandala.jpg\")
This is an image of my design for the black and white mandala laser engraved onto wood.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n <\/p>\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.freestyleacademy.rocks\/~AteneaD\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/AteneaD-ColoredMandala.jpg\")
The colored mandala I created using Adobe Illustrator is pictured above.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t - Jeans(I wear the same two pairs of jeans every week, I feel it\u2019s part of my style)<\/span><\/li>\n