Erin Willcox
Arts Scholar
Pentathalon Semester 1
Fill the Page 9/17/20
#visualart
I chose to begin my pentathlon events by picking a single color and filling a page with drawings. I chose to use the color purple because we are now moving into the fall which makes me enjoy the more darker colors, such as red, browns, and purples. Being able to create a fun doodle page was both relaxing and engaging because I needed to think of different ideas and objects to fill the 30 X 12 in page. I have learned in Art Scholars to follow what passion you have and to make thoughtful decisions in the direction you want to take them, so I really enjoyed this art prompt because it gave me freedom to position and choose the objects I wanted to draw. In my major we do a lot of diagrams and labeling to try to remember different anatomical parts, so knowing how to use color and drawing to my advantage will make the process of learning in my major easier.
Pentathalon Semester 2
2/6/2021, Unnatural causes: Bad Sugar, Kanopy
#Film
I decided to watch a documentary of the surgence of diabetes in the Pima and Tohono O'odham Indians of southern Arizona, where there were no known cases in the past. The documentary goes further to discuss how the manifestation of diabetes is seen worldwide and is common in communities that lost their “land, culture, and work”. Being in a society that is in better economic and education standing it is very easy for Americans to understand the causes and effects of high blood sugar and diabetes. However, after watching this documentary it has come to my attention that another cause of the increase in this disease is the displacement of minority groups from lifestyles and cultures that prevented them from becoming obese and sick, such as how the Pima had shifted their lifestyle of living off the river to unhealthy mainstream food because of the damming of their river . Therefore, diabetes is not only a medical issue ,but a cultural and financial issue because this documentary shows that popularly practiced culture is moving towards unhealthier eating and activities and that impoverished families are unable to afford healthy food. Having this documentary shows the importance of information to have different ways of being transmitted so that it’s messages may reach minority groups that are underrepresented and undereducated. This documentary gave me great insight to how art, science, and communication work together to get its message across effectively.
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2/26/2021, Dance in the Sun, streaming
#Dance
In this recorded film, Shirley Clarke, the director, combined scenery through her dancer Danial Nagrins movements, almost appearing mid air or motion to transport from the theatre stage to a beachy shore. Background of this film indicates that Clarke received little recognition for her work from Film historians due to her sex stating how, “Had she been a man, film historians would have long ago placed her in the pantheon of great auteurs”. Which brings up the topic of how some art was casted aside because people of that time viewed it to be lower class, value, or quality. This critique of what is considered outstanding pieces becomes limited to what the majority or rather few people believe to be art, leading to less recognition of artists based on race, gender, and class. This is an opposite take of what art is in the Art scholars program because from my experience the Art scholars cherish and believe that diversity and uniqueness of pieces is what makes art beautiful. Due to the fact that my major, pre-professional Animal Science, is science based there is little room for uniqueness or creativity and there is always a “right” answer that has to be supported. However with art, in modern times, you can take up a new technique and create a piece that you and others can find interesting and unique with little critique of it being “wrong” or not art. This shift of what is considered art has allowed more diverse perspectives to be made and more art to be observed and enjoyed by everyone.
Self-Portrait (Pencil)
#VisualArt 3/19/21
While creating a self portrait for the first time, I gained a new perspective about my artistic creativity and quality. Throughout my life, and I’m sure others can agree, I have compared my worth and value of my work to other art and have come away disappointed in myself. I would have amazing creative ideas and then become frustrated when they wouldn’t appear on paper like I wanted to. Drawing this portrait with only a pencil forced me to stay in the moment and look at the flaws I saw in my portrait and think, is this a bad work of mine? And I realized that the work I created was the best quality I could give and that there is nothing else out there like this portrait because I made it. Sometimes in Art scholars, I become nervous with trying new art styles and forms because in many instances I would compare my work to others and feel like I came up short. However, through my experiences, I see that being creative and anything I create has value in itself. Each person's unique conception of the same topics, forms, or colors makes it so that you can not compare art and describe one as “perfect” or “better” than another. I struggled with my self-image sometimes, so completing a new art project makes me feel better about myself because I am proud of what I created. I am learning that art is not about making the best product that everyone else likes, it’s about making creative work that you feel proud of.
L’Elisir d’Amore, Opera
April 10, 2021 #Music
Today I have watched my first ever Opera performance and was pleasantly surprised with how entertaining it has been. The L’Elisir d’Amore with soprano Pretty Yende was not only well sung, but the viewing platform I watched allowed great quality recording and subtitles to enjoy the lyrics and story that the opera holds. This performance brings up a great discussion about the use of modern technology and access to enhance the viewing and experience of live art. While Opera has a long history and is considered a fine art, it is usually difficult for a larger and younger audience to listen and view it because of expense and time. However with increased technology, Opera is now available to a wider audience without lowering the quality of the performance. This allows for more people to enjoy art that is “old, and stuffy” and brings it into a “new and exciting” experience. The overall artistic aspect of Opera with both music, acting, and costume design also plays into the idea of how modern techniques and methods allow for more immersive and enchanting performances. While viewing art in person will always add to the art, it is important to take a part of and enjoy the changes that art is allowed to take form in modern time and future.
The Mask
4/24/21 #Visual Art
I have created a collage in the form of a mask sticking with a simple white background and bright colors to bring out the typical facial features. Throughout my journey of creating art I have begun to see that the image that the artist creates will always be different from those who just view it. As an artist i think we form a connection to our works and understand all of the context and detail that we put into the idea of our art. However, many people just view the art as they see and don't see the same context or ideas. The art is almost like a mask that the artist wears that simultaneously shares a story, but blocks the emotion and context. The uniqueness of art is its changing meaning from person to person, which makes art alive and living years after the artist is gone. There are also time when the artist did not intend for their work to be masterpieces and those works are what the public cherishes as the epitome of fine art. What I have enjoyed about Arts Scholars is that we get to experience fine art, casual art, art that we have made, and art that we only get to see. Being able to experience art and experience being an artist has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of how I interpret the world around me and how I can be interpreted by others.