Semester 3

Arts TRYathlon #1: Arts Scholars Event

Welcome Back Event (9/5, Arts Scholars, Sweet StART)

#visualart #dance #jewlery

The Sweet StART event was an event that got Arts Scholars ready and excited for the beginning of the new school year. For the Freshman, it was also a place to connect with the other arts scholars that they may not know yet. As a sophomore, I went to catch up with some of my Arts Scholars friends by eating Maryland Dairy ice cream and creating a new bracelet.

For my bracelet I used thin stretchy clear string with small assorted colored beads. I decided to only use the colors white and gray because I wanted to display a message within the bracelet. I thought it would be a cool idea to write my name in morse code on the bracelet. To the naked eye someone might just look at the bracelet and see a random pattern but to those who ask and know, they are able to see that there is a hidden message behind it. For instance, this bracelet and the idea of morse code was definitely shaped by history. Morse code was a way of communication used during wars to get information around the country before cell phones existed. It was mostly used to transport military messages during World War II and the Vietnam War. Now that cell phones and other faster ways of communicating exist, morse code is a technology of the past. By producing this bracelet, I was able to draw from history in a new and unique way. I decided to do morse code because I had seen other people wearing necklaces with morse code on them and thought that it would be a cool idea to do the same thing. Although I don't fully understand morse code it was a cool way for me to use something I have never used before in an artistic way. The use of morse code in my bracelet drew from history by displaying a message in a language that isn't used very often. I definitely want to make more bracelets with hidden morse code meanings behind them.

Arts TRYathlon #2: Choose Your Own Adventure

Maker Mixer (10/8, Arts Scholars, Shrink & Link)

#visualart, #expression #socialize

The shrink and link event was a maker mixer hosted by TA Natalie. For this event there was shrinky dink paper that everyone at the event could use to draw on and create small key chains or trinkets. The shrinky dink paper feels like a thicker parchment paper that you can draw on. This paper shrinks down in size when you put it in the oven. These are good for getting details on smaller things since the paper shrinks down in size.

For my shrinky dinks I decided to make a New Jersey, "work hard play hard," and a dinosaur key chain. Although these are all things that I relate to; New Jersey being where I'm from, a quote that I use and a dinosaur because I like dinosaurs, these shrinky dinks could also be used as a catalyst for social change. Since these can be used as key chains, someone could put a social issue symbol or saying that they relate to on a key chain. On a college campus if this key chain is on the person's backpack, a lot of students around campus will be able to see the key chain. For example, if someone wanted to stand up for the No Kings protest, on the shinrky dink, they could draw a crown with a x over it to symbolize no kings. They could then put this on their backpack so that the social change they believe in is represented around campus. Although this is a small way to show change, it is still a way to get word out about issues that people believe in.

Arts TRYathlon #3: Choose Your Own Adventure

Art Documentary (10/23, AXO House, Abstract: The Art of Design)

#visualart, #music #film, #presentation.

My friends and I wanted to watch a documentary since we had been watching a lot of shows together but wanted something that wasn't actors playing characters. We had scrolled through Netflix and found the documentary Abstract: The Art of Design and we decided to watch it. I have never watched a documentary like this before, but I really enjoyed it. I love how it dove into the behind the scenes of many different art forms. I like how each episode focused on a specific different type of art and how it's design and design process influences everyday things. Through this documentary I learned that art is an experience for the viewer and the way different art is designed can communicate a message to the audience.

One person that talked about their design work was Graphic Designer Paula Scher. She explained the background behind graphic design and why she loves what she does. She works in Public Theater and uses different text layouts to make designs feel loud and dramatic. Her work communicates through bold typography and color to capture different energies that she is trying to convey. Another person that uses their work to communicate a message to their audience is Architect Bjarke Ingels. He explains that architecture is not just building buildings but telling a story through space and form just like many other types of artwork. As an architecture major it was cool to see another point of view on design and how it works with Ingel's work. Ingels focuses on sustainability and connecting housing and nature through 8 House gives a message to the audience that humans are still connected to Earth and should stay connected.

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