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Arts TRYathlon #1: "What Is Art" Inspiration
Arts TRYathlon #1: "What Is Art" Inspiration
Digital Clarice Inspiration Drawing (02/15/26, Home)
#digitalclarice, #inspiration, #whatisarttoyou, #flowers
Prompt: In what ways did this event challenge and/or affirm your definitions of what counts as art?
On Sunday, February 15, 2026, I watched a short film called "What Is Art?" by Sophia Lee at the Digital Clarice and used that as inspiration to create a sketch of what art is to me. I had a bit of trouble with this assignment because I didn’t know what to do or what event to attend since it was last-minute. But I ended up enjoying this assignment way more than I expected. In the first semester of Arts Scholars, we learned a lot about what exactly art is and what it means to people. After this short film, it was very inspiring, not only because it expanded my perspective on what art is, but also because it unexpectedly inspired me for my capstone project as well. Growing up, I found flowers to be very beautiful, from the way they grow, how they smell, and the variety of different kinds. Flowers inspire me because of how beautiful they are and their purpose. We constantly walk past flowers growing on the side of the road, but giving someone a flower can brighten their day. So initially, art to me is anything as long as I view it as art and it evokes an emotion. So sketching a variety of flowers is something I really enjoyed. I started with the placement of flowers, not meant to fill the paper but to emphasize the flowers themselves. I also sketched out a dragon that isn’t finished yet, not for any specific reason, but because I wanted to challenge myself to create more complex art. To answer one of the prompts, this assignment affirms my definition of what counts as art. One of the interviewees in the film said, "I see art wandering around outside, like the flowers," and "Art is anything you want art to be." That is art to me.
Arts TRYathlon #2: Peer Mentor Event
Arts TRYathlon #2: Peer Mentor Event
Mentor Event Exhibition: "Then, Now, and Tomorrow: CAPP New Acquisitions" (03/9/26, Stamp Art Gallery)
#gallery, #exhibition, #history, #modernart, #empathyart, #mentorsarethebest
Prompt: In what ways did this event help you (i.e., the audience) build empathy through art?
On Monday, March 9, 2026, two other peer mentors, Daisy and Colin, and I attended the Stamp Gallery as part of an event we had planned together. We had invited our mentees, but only one was able to come. We stayed for about 30 minutes looking at different art pieces and the ways they were made. Some of the art was about preserving history and sharing immigrant stories, which honestly made me really emotional. There was also an artwork with two robots talking to each other, wired to have a conversation, which was very unusual and modern-like. To answer the prompt, this experience helped me build empathy through art because it made me see and understand experiences and what people go through, even if it wasn't my experience. I looked at artworks that showed motherhood, grief, and pride in being an immigrant, and it made me think about how far people go to build a life for themselves and their families. Even the robot art piece got me thinking about how technology is part of our lives now, and it made me reflect on our current timeline and society. In Arts Scholars, we talk about how art can help people understand different perspectives, and this experience really showed me that. Art is supposed to make you feel something, and with this experience, I felt a lot of sadness, admiration, curiosity, and empathy. It reminded me how powerful art can be in helping people connect with others' stories and experiences, and I am glad I got to experience this with my friends.
Arts TRYathlon #3: Maker Mixer
Arts TRYathlon #3: Maker Mixer
"Stick with Me" - TA Vanessa (03/06/26, Bel Air Lounge)
#firstmakermixer, #stickers, #community, #fun, #arts&crafts
Prompt: How does this event illustrate the ways art can function as a mechanism for building community?
On Friday, March 6, 2026, I attended the maker mixer hosted by TA Vanessa called "Stick with Me." During this event, I got to make a variety of stickers using cut-out magazines, wax paper, and tape. This experience also helped me with my capstone project, which is a sticker-based medium. I ended up meeting one of my mentees there, and we had a fun time making different stickers and catching up. I started by cutting out images or words from magazines that could become stickers, like a smiley face or funny phrases like "chocolate" or "the billion dollar idea…" I also saw other people using images of cute animals and colorful patterns. To answer the prompt, I really enjoyed this maker mixer because I love hands-on art, but it also showed me how art can help build community. As a commuter, I sometimes struggled to feel like I belonged on campus, but over time, I've built a strong community with people like the TAs, Kaylin, Val, Vanessa, and my mentees. This event gave us a chance to connect, make art together in a kind of therapeutic way, and catch up, even with how busy everyone's schedules have been this semester. Art is not just about making something meaningful, it can also be about connecting with people, sharing experiences, and building a sense of community.
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