Dear Santiago

Dear Santiago,

I went to your website and read your poems
"Bomb" and "Death" were especially touching
I have seen sufferring and death as of late
You have seen suffering and death before
We all live with sufferring and death throughout our lives
Because we live
Because we are all human
So we grow from it
and we learn from it
and we hurt from it
But we are living
and that is why we share our suffering
So we can keep on living

-Anne

Black and White

For some reason, both of these projects really made me think about the concept of black and white--dark and light--presence versus emptiness, etc. I took a picture of both of the projects together, and I though they looked pretty neat.

I think there is a lot of meaning in the grid project, as what you create by either filling in (or not) can depict something larger. The concept of size is also challenged as smaller boxes can ultimately make up larger boxes.

The Xerox images intrigued me because of the outstanding difference in what was closer and further to the Xerox machine, when I was actually copying. Light means a great deal in this project (as well as dark) as it determines what is highlighted and what is hidden.

Gray is often lacking or overlooked with such extremes of black and white. I think the mind's eye's tendency to look to classify merely black or white can be easily related back to the way we view race in this country. On the same note, it's interesting that once we entirely eliminate color (that which we are not supposed to pay attention to in regard to one's race), we are left with only black and white (which, ironically, more accurately depicts the way we view race).

Xerox Project

Grid Project

Here are some pictures I took of my grid project. My digital camera is broken, so I used my camera phone to take them. I hope you can see them alright!

Christina Hung

I was extremely intrigued by Christina Hung's means of creating art.

She used materials such as neurons from chick embroyos, human cancer cells, and other live cultutres.

I also found the issues Hung manages to touch upon with her work contribute greatly to who she is as an artist. Hung touches on subjects such as feminism, trade, economy and other political issues. It is very unique to find an artist touching on such issues by experimenting with and creating representational pieces through a purely scientific process.

I enjoy Hung's views on boundaries as well. Ironically, the word "culture" and "colony" are both able to assist in representing the worldly ideas of growth and borders in physical and symbolic relation to Hung's art.

Overall, I found Hung's worldly experience to be very inspirational. Her work has been exhibited all over the world, including Germany, and has been published in numerous publications.

Singin' in the Rain

There are obvious differences as well as a few slight similarities in the Gene Kelly and Clockwork Orange versions of "Singin' in the Rain".

I found the Gene Kelly version to be entirely peaceful and pristine. The time period (the early 1950s) lends itself toward pleasure and fullness, as it marks the end of WWII. There was a sense of all things bountiful and no doubt an air of happiness--both in economic and social terms. (People weren't dying anymore!) There is a great sense of "50s classic" showmanship as well, in tune with the male performers of the day, like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.

In contrast, I found the Clockwork Orange rendition of "Singin' in the Rain" to be far from peaceful and pristine. The time period (the early 1970s) honed heavy drug usage. This time period reflects the means Americans were resorting to during the devastating Vietnam War. We see a retro atmosphere in regard to the living space and attire of the characters. In addition, we see the contrast (in attire and atmosphere) of pure white in comparison to red. This signifies that which is good and pristine in comparison to sin and loose morals. We also see sexual behavior which would not have been able to be publically viewed during the time of the Gene Kelly version.

Oddly enough, there are some parallels in the two versions. Both are very definitive of their time period and culture. In addition, we see a sense of showmanship from a primary male figure. Both men dance and wear top hats, so we are at least reminiscent of the classic Gene Kelly version, as we watch the Clockwork Orange version.

Overall, I thought the two renditions of "Singin' in the Rain" might have been the most intriguing thing I have watched in this class thus far. I actually sang the song when I was 12 for a chorus performance, and I have always loved it. To see the song in two entirely different contexts (both of which I had not seen) was extremely interesting!

Bruce Wands

I was intrigued by Bruce Wands presentation. Though I will admit it was a little difficult to pay attention at times, the list of his credentials were impressive enough to make up for it.

I was impressed by the number of works Wands has had published, as well as his large number of international lectures and exhibitions.

Also, I was very drawn in by the fact that Wands is also a musician and a writer. I really appreciate artists who experiment and succeed in different facets of art. I have a lot of appreciation for music as an art form, and I think it says a lot about an artist who looks to explore different forms of art.

I was also able to appreciate the fact that Bruce Wands is a professor who has taught at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. I felt as though this fact contributes to his understanding of us as students as well as his respect for the questions we asked.

Overall, I was glad to have seen Bruce Wands speak, and I consider myself lucky to have listened to and met those who have been a part of Electronics Alive.