It was a lot concentrated into one day, which completed the important task of giving us a lot to talk about. The "Straighlaced" video, C.J. Pascoe, the Poetry Slam, and Susan Stryker left me stunned with all this new information and fascinated by this "spectrum" I never truly believed in. Even just the simple fact that a day for Gender and Sexuality was planned at Riverdale sparked some good dialogue in the discussion group I was part of.
As for my own personal reaction, I feel I was just taking in a lot of information and enjoying it. I appreciated each part of the day in it's own way: the morning video for giving a lot of honest perspective and opened my eyes to genders I never knew existed, Pascoe for the jaw-dropping stories and her sense of humor,the Poetry Slam for just being a poetry slam (LOVE IT), and Stryker for her very unique story. Hearing everything was easy for me; I was interested throughout the whole day, and really liked hearing what other people thought in our discussion groups....even though I wish more voices spoke. But I understand that it was a lot for one day, and not all the conversations had to happen directly after. This is definitely the kind of thing that will pour into the rest of the year and will hopefully encourage more people to speak out when topics on gender and sexuality return.
I only struggled when it came to articulating my thoughts on the role Riverdale plays in the world of non-conventional genders and everything other than heterosexuality. I still don't have a full grasp on it. Maybe I will as conversations continue....
How do I know for sure that this day was valuable? It served as an inspiration for a huge art project I'm very excited to start.
Good day, and very good for Riverdale.
:)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
The Whitney
The Projects in Contemporary Art class went on a trip yesterday to the Whitney Museum of American Art. We went specifically for the Christian Marclay exhibit but then got to wander around. I ended up seeing the Charles Burchfield's paintings, Lee Friedlande: America by Car, and this year's biennials.
Christian Marclay's exhibit was very music oriented, but in a visual way. It included a rack or clothes that have musical notations, along with other collections of pieces or paper, advertisements, bills, etc. that have music notes on them. He did an interesting project where he put black music sheets around Berlin for people to fill in and dedicated a part of this exhibit to what people wrote/drew. There were bells, cutouts from comic books, a room with comfy couches and music he made, and more. I have a friend who's very into music and the image of music notes, and I'm taking her this weekend.
I've never seen anything like Charles Burchfield's paintings. Look him up. And he was also a great writer. They quoted from his journal (and I wrote it down): "How is it possible to make people understand that artists are not interested in art?". Genius.
America by Car is a collection of photos taken from the driver's seat of a car, just the way you'd see it with your eyes and not at all trying to exclude the parts of the car that would be in your line of vision.
The most compelling of all was a piece in the Biennials exhibit by Glenn Ligon that was on a primed, white door that said "I do not feel colored." over and over again in black. (Zora Neale Hurston said it.) It starts out clear and gets smudgier as it goes down. Metaphors!
Oh! And there was also a chalk board that looked like music sheets to mirror the Marclay's Berlin project.
So now I'm afraid that Art Museums might become an addiction.
:)
p.s.- I worked at the Bronx Museum of the Arts this summer (yes, there is an art museum in the Bronx) and I miss it.
Christian Marclay's exhibit was very music oriented, but in a visual way. It included a rack or clothes that have musical notations, along with other collections of pieces or paper, advertisements, bills, etc. that have music notes on them. He did an interesting project where he put black music sheets around Berlin for people to fill in and dedicated a part of this exhibit to what people wrote/drew. There were bells, cutouts from comic books, a room with comfy couches and music he made, and more. I have a friend who's very into music and the image of music notes, and I'm taking her this weekend.
I've never seen anything like Charles Burchfield's paintings. Look him up. And he was also a great writer. They quoted from his journal (and I wrote it down): "How is it possible to make people understand that artists are not interested in art?". Genius.
America by Car is a collection of photos taken from the driver's seat of a car, just the way you'd see it with your eyes and not at all trying to exclude the parts of the car that would be in your line of vision.
The most compelling of all was a piece in the Biennials exhibit by Glenn Ligon that was on a primed, white door that said "I do not feel colored." over and over again in black. (Zora Neale Hurston said it.) It starts out clear and gets smudgier as it goes down. Metaphors!
Oh! And there was also a chalk board that looked like music sheets to mirror the Marclay's Berlin project.
So now I'm afraid that Art Museums might become an addiction.
:)
p.s.- I worked at the Bronx Museum of the Arts this summer (yes, there is an art museum in the Bronx) and I miss it.
HOLA
was AWESOME, very chill and started off with a fun vibe for the rest of the year. We've already got some great assembly ideas forming. And I have to point out, since it doesn't happen often, that we've got two white people, one black, and one asian. Love it!
We have a bigger classroom, more people, some diversity, good energy, empanadas, and it just all makes me happy. I. AM. SO. EXCITED.
Most of the crazy HOLA seniors.
I know that picture makes you want to visit. Feel free to stop by!
:)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Columbus
On my way home, I made a new friend. :D
The name is Columbus, and yes, he is posing for me. ;)
The poor thing was scared of the doors, so it hung around for a couple of stops. Then, when its stop came, it hesitated, but I nice man helped him out....by scaring it. Meanwhile, I'm having the time of my life (and the people with me, Tarik and Arianna, are so uncapitivated) since I've never seen a pigeon in a subway. Arianna helped me name him, though. So silly, but very good times.
:)
Monday, September 20, 2010
Be Brave
I've been carrying my camera around in my bag for the past week and have only taken it out a couple of times. I LOVE my new camera and I LOVE taking photos, but I guess I've been being shy about it. No worries; I'm slowly gaining the courage. Oh! Also, I'm going to have to gain the courage to invite interesting people into my blog. I know I have to in order to make the best out of this and to feel more comfortable. Just having this blog in general is pretty scary since most people at RCS hardly know me. If you didn't, now you will!
I was nervous about this, but everyone has been so supportive. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Let's hope you can meet my camera tomorrow.
:)
p.s.- I also adore writing. Let's hope I put something up....one day....maybe.
I was nervous about this, but everyone has been so supportive. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Let's hope you can meet my camera tomorrow.
:)
p.s.- I also adore writing. Let's hope I put something up....one day....maybe.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Chalk Mural @ Lower School
For the new Projects in Contemporary Art class, we did a chalk mural at the Lower School on Friday that says "Welcome" using negative space. Very cool. (It was also my first time at the Lower School..eek)
first full week of classes
I'm writing this on a a Sunday, when I realize that I've been avoiding work all weekend and have let it pile up. So my mind can only think in lists (like this list of stuff I have to get done). Since that's my only way of processing thoughts right now, I'll make a list of phrases that describe the first week of school:
- making the classic mistake of thinking it's Week 1
- slowly remembering everyone's name
- having a REALLY hard time getting homework done
- HOLA SIGN-UPS AT ACTIVITY FAIR! made the happiest I was all week....We got a little over 40 people signed up, and I think the majority of them wasn't to just get cookies :p
- ILS blew my mind
- hating the new schedule
- re-thinking a class or two
- made coffee officially part of my daily routine (but no more than one serving a day!)
- missing hanging out, the Mountain School, and warm nights.
- wondering who decided that all the best TV shows have to start when school starts
- piling on too much and filling in those frees...not good.
- We are the least intimidating seniors EVER. haha
- trying my very hardest to not take a nap when I get home :/....still working on that
- telling everyone who comes into my room how that whole stacks of (ILS) books on my dresser is only for one class and seeing their reactions
- pulling out my SAT book when I can't sleep...so that I can get sleepy. lol
- having to cut everything short because I have so much to do. like NOW!
P.S.- My goal is to have a new post everyday. They'll be short for the most part because I don't have much time and because I don't want to take too much of yours and want you to keep reading. They will include writing, quotes, photos, videos, anything. I'll be as real as possible with tons of variety.
keep reading pleeeease!
- making the classic mistake of thinking it's Week 1
- slowly remembering everyone's name
- having a REALLY hard time getting homework done
- HOLA SIGN-UPS AT ACTIVITY FAIR! made the happiest I was all week....We got a little over 40 people signed up, and I think the majority of them wasn't to just get cookies :p
- ILS blew my mind
- hating the new schedule
- re-thinking a class or two
- made coffee officially part of my daily routine (but no more than one serving a day!)
- missing hanging out, the Mountain School, and warm nights.
- wondering who decided that all the best TV shows have to start when school starts
- piling on too much and filling in those frees...not good.
- We are the least intimidating seniors EVER. haha
- trying my very hardest to not take a nap when I get home :/....still working on that
- telling everyone who comes into my room how that whole stacks of (ILS) books on my dresser is only for one class and seeing their reactions
- pulling out my SAT book when I can't sleep...so that I can get sleepy. lol
- having to cut everything short because I have so much to do. like NOW!
P.S.- My goal is to have a new post everyday. They'll be short for the most part because I don't have much time and because I don't want to take too much of yours and want you to keep reading. They will include writing, quotes, photos, videos, anything. I'll be as real as possible with tons of variety.
keep reading pleeeease!
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