Masked Identity

When I first started my mask I wasn't sure exactly where I wanted to go with it. I knew I wanted it to have circular and organic shapes, so I started out with the long cylinder. Once that part was made it inspired me to show movement throughout the rest of the piece.

In Process:

Final Pictures:

This picture seemed to be the most effective. Since my mask is so organic I wanted it to seem like the mask was in a way breaking away from what is normal which is what all the straight lines represent. The image is pushed even further because the color contrast is so apparent. 

 

                Drawings

Switcheroo Response

Cindy Sherman elaborately transforms herself into hundreds of different people and showcased the photographs at the Museum of Modern Art. The concept seemed interesting but it didn't fully hit me how elaborate she transformed herself until Etgar Keret mentioned that he didn't realize it was the same person in every photograph until the 3rd exhibit full of her portraits.
What took the exhibition even further was when an "upper middle class lady" approached Ira Glass and Kere, claiming to be Cindy Sherman and stated that she comes to the exhibit everyday to see how people react. Soon after initiating the conversation the women said that she actually wasn't Cindy Sherman. Whether or not it really was Cindy is unknown, but either way I think this is a really cool idea. This brings the artists actual persona into her art pieces, and makes it unique since it is more than just looking at art, it is an experience as well. When Glass called Sherman at the end and she concluded that it wasn't her at the exhibit I found it disappointing because it seemed like such a creative idea.

Touch, A Natural History of the Senses Responses

THE FEELING BUBBLE
This short passage shows a unique perspective on what skin truly is. Our skin is so much more than what represents us, yet what it represents consumes us. Our skin is what makes everyone unique and recognizable, it is also what we critique and try to improve most. When things like lotion or sunburns come to mind, I think of skin; but when body organs do skin would never cross my mind. The fact that skin is "the largest organ on the body" astonishes me beyond belief. What fathom's me the most though is that something so vital for the humankind to live becomes only important to define our individual persona's. The way Dianne Ackerman describes skin is extremely interesting and sophisticated, she explores a journey of thoughts that I have never  explored.

WHAT IS A TOUCH?
Ackerman starts this passage off by stating "touch is the oldest sense, and the most urgent." This immediately grabbed my attention to see what would come next. She then goes on to talk about texture and the way we perceive it. She describes how wearing clothes is only noticeable at first and then our body adjusts to the feeling. This is an amazing thing that our bodies can do that is never thought of or appreciated because it is such a normal feeling. As I read this passage I became more aware of the way my clothes feel against my body. My white cotton feels almost non existent, but my tight skinny jeans seem all of a sudden uncomfortable and scratchy. I have gone the entire day, or better yet my entire life without ever realizing how unbelievably well our bodies can adjust to things that our constantly touching the surface. Our bodies are working around the clock, sending receptors to our brain to give us the many different sensations from touch and we don't even realize. 

THE INNER CLIMATE 
The way Ackerman starts this passage by describing her garden with vivid details really puts you in the setting. She characterizes the pavonia tigridias appearence "as an iris that married a day lily and went to a fiesta" which is very specific yet still leaves the flowers appearance to your imagination. As I engorged myself in these vivid details of the garden, I was carefully brought to an idea of touch that relates to the garden in an unexpected way. Hot and cold receptors receptors were discussed along with heat sensors. Ackerman stated that mosquito's have heat receptors and are drawn to warmer bodies. This related to me personally because I am extremely warm blooded and am almost always cold. Ironically enough mosquito's rarely ever bite me. I also found it interesting that frost bite happens to our hands and feet to protect our vital organs. I always thought that our hands and feet were the first thing to freeze because they are the most exposed. The human body is a truly brilliant creation and I think this shows a great example of one of the many things our body is doing to protect us. The passage is ended with interesting insight of Ackerman's life that ties into temperature.

Paper Stacking

In Progress:

Finished:

When doing my paper stacking project the biggest obstacle I faces was trying to get the grooves to match with the real pumpkin. I also had trouble with the indention at the top where the stem went. I solved these problems by shaving the paper down using the dremel tool. Something I found unique about my final project was that since I used minimal glue you can see each layer of the paper.

 

Non representational:
For my nonrepresentational piece I was inspired by shells which then led to interest in spiral staircases. I created this spiraling organic piece and then added blue and green to it which I though made it look like a representation of ocean waves. Once this was complete I still felt like the piece was unfinished and needed something more so I attached a smaller version of the spiral with clear string to make it seem as if it is hanging free.

Drawings

Paper Stacking inspiration