Title: Rat Trapped In A Cage
Media: Black and White film Photography using 400 iso film
Camera: 35mm Pentax K1000
Award: JMU’s Undergraduate Art Show placed “Runner Up”
Digitally scanned using Kodak mobile film scanner
I was walking around the JMU arboretum when I stumbled upon this scene. I figured it would be a cool photo inside of it so I lifted the gate that you can see in the photo and crawled under it. Then I got inside and took a photo in the other direction; however, as soon as I turned around I saw this scene. I knew I had to capture this scene. This dystopian feeling of being trapped underground and the feeling of hope quickly dissolving as you realize that you are so close to freedom but unable to escape. That is the immediate feeling I get when I look at this photograph and the reason why I named it “Rat Trapped In A Cage”
Title: Chair of Masks
Media: Black and White film Photography using 400 iso film
Camera: 35mm Pentax K1000
Digitally Scanned using Kodak mobile film scanner
“The Chair Of Masks” was created during the pandemic where everyone had to wear a mask. Going to school at JMU was no exception. We had the first two weeks on campus and then it went completely virtual. This piece represents the overwhelming amount of masks that was either provided or that you had to personally buy. As well as, the different types of masks available and the arguments on which was the most effective mask.
Title: Battle Between Votes
Media: Black and White film Photography using 400 iso film
Camera: 35mm Pentax K1000
Digitally Scanned using Kodak mobile film scanner
This piece was created during the 2020 Election: Trump VS Biden Presidential Campaign. No matter which side won, they would have to deal with the most pressing issue, Covid-19, as well as developing a vaccine. I added a small detail that unless you paid really good attention to you would miss. I have most all of the pieces on the board, representing everyday people; however, there are two pieces missing. Both the queens are not present. I will leave that to your interpretation of what that small detail means.
Title: Isolation and Restrictions Due to Covid-19
This is a book that I did for my photography class. The class was called An introduction to Black and White Film Photography. At the end of the semester, we had to create a book and we got to choose the topic. I chose Isolation and restrictions due to Covid-19. With this topic I did go into some deep topics ranging from: social distancing and taping up areas so you can’t access them to more serious topics like loneness and feeling isolated from the world, being effected politically and religiously; as well as, depression and suicide.
Each week, after I decided on the topic of my project, I went about different ideas that related to isolation and restrictions that was happening around me. I went from the typical masks but also the signage that stores had/ what stores did to stop the spread. The medical aspect with CVS stores offering free tests, how the pandemic affected businesses and the working class, bracelets that indicated that you have been tested in the hospital, how movie theaters were during the pandemic and the months following when they reopened, how it has effected both on the religious and political realms, the mental toll it took to be isolated and alone in the world/in your home, and finally how people behaved even when they may be the only person around.
Personally, I think it turned out pretty good and definitely conveyed the emotional, physical and psychological toll that the pandemic created. Below is a link to the flipsnap, where you can view the book; also, you can access it by clicking on the image to the right.
Title: Twisted Fairy Tale
Media Painting
Size: two 11″ X 14″ canvas
We all know the story of Red Riding Hood, this piece was my take on the story. This depicts the final battle between The wolf and Red Riding Hood. It takes place in the woods during the winter season and there is a trail of blood from both of them leading to the middle. I have gotten a couple different opinions on what this scene depicts but what I was going for was both a physical and psychological battle, where both the wolf and the girl reside in the same body. By day she is human but by night she is a beast and this depicts the struggle between the two.
Title: Internal Exposure
36′ X 36′ Canvas
This piece is a big canvas and we had to paint what represents us. I had a little bit of trouble with this one for a couple of reasons. First of which is its difficult to come up with things that represent you and how to articulate them into a cohesive painting. The second things is that this was a giant square and I’ve never done anything this big nor as a square.
Now to explain what this piece entails. Beginning with the camera, a huge part of my identity is being a photographer and an artist so I wanted it to encompass the entire piece with its leading line from the bottom right to the top left. The book represents that I like to read and lose myself into the world that the author creates. The bird and rose coming out of the book are two of my photos that I painted. I wanted them to be like they are jumping out of the book making the imaginary reality. The howling wolf because I like wolves, its also represents my personality. I made the wolf blue to represent a calming persona and that I am a night owl. The reel wrapped around the wolf, it is my take on a DNA strand further enforcing the idea that this is me in my entirety and that photography is huge part of my identity. At the end of the reel is the Aquarius sign, I feel like being an Aquarius has shaped my being and personality. I have experienced a couple things that makes me believe in the zodiac signs representing your characteristics. Now for some of the colors. The reel changes colors as it progresses onward, the reason behind this is to represent that as individuals we change as time progresses and we capture the memories that surround us. We keep this colorful reel inside our brains as we remember how beautiful this world truly is. The background is more of an artistic aspect. Red and blue make purple; however, it also represents that things aren’t quite as simple as black and white but if you mix them together you get a whole new perspective. The colors of the book is to represent the landscapes that the photographs are emerging out of. The rose and the bird’s colors were more of me trying to not clash with the other colors.
Title: Capturing of Light
This is an installation piece that I created and designed using the concepts of Ann Hamilton’s works of art. A good representation of the comparison is her Body Object Series specifically #13 (Toothpick Suit). On the left is a still image of the installation while on the right is a video of how to interact with the installation.
This is a shirt that I broke many CD’s and hot glued them to the shirt. The concept is that as you move around the installation with a light shining onto the shirt. You, the viewer, create an array of colors and reflections that light up the room and make your own art by interacting with the installation.
Title: Tribal Mask
For the project, I had to create a mask to either protect or intimidate someone. We were given free reign on what we can do; however, somewhere we had to incorporate a piece of a marching band hat. My piece was the headband.
With this project I took a more Native American approach using the turkey feather and the other feathers surrounding the headband. For years I have been creating projects with can tabs. I figured this would be a perfect opportunity to use them in a productive way. I kind of took the approach of being both intimidating and protection. Which leads me to the masks. I wanted to cover everything but my eyes, thus creating the intimidating factor but also using the masks as a protection to ward off individuals.
Title: Paper Camera Sculpture
Material: paper, tape, paint, aluminum foil, can tab, string, bottle cap, bottle, bubble wrap, aluminum seal
This camera’s body is made entirely out of paper and tape. The lens is made out of a plastic bottle and bubble wrap. The led screen is the aluminum foil, the strap is the string made from a mask, the shutter speed is made from the aluminum seal, the dial is the bottle cap and the viewfinder the can tab.
This camera’s size is the size of an actual camera and it stands on its own. I used one of my cameras as reference to build up this camera. I used a lot of paper and tape to build it and make it a solid structure.
Title: Komodo Dragon Habitat
Material: Coffee can, Coffee beans, leaves, fallen leaves, tree branch, pencils, yarn, tape, glue and can tabs
This project we had to research an animal and create a habitat for them. I chose the Komodo Dragon, the reason behind that is I wanted to learn more about them plus its something that would be interesting and exciting to create.
The first thing you need to know about Komodo Dragon’s are that they are cannibals, they will eat there own kind just because they are hungry. When they give birth they burrow underground and lay their eggs and then leave the nest so they don’t eat their eggs. Once they are born the baby Komodo Dragons climb trees and hang out there until they become big enough and strong enough to survive from the adult Komodo Dragons.
Now to the structure of this sculpture. The coffee can represents both above ground and underground. I came up with this idea based on ant farm containers. being able to see the dragons underneath and on top. The coffee beans represents the eggs that are underground. the tree branch is the trees that they climb after they are born. The pencils represent the branches of the tree and the can tabs and yarn are the leaves of a tree. I taped the tree branch onto the canister and then hot glued the fallen leaves surrounding it. I also glued the green leaves representing grass.
Title: Big Brother is Watching
This project was an interesting one. The skit is cheesy but it makes the point. This is an installation of a dystopian world using modern technology.
The concept is based off of 1984 and how “Big Brother” is constantly watching and monitoring you; as well as, gathering an archive of all your personal records and information.
The modern take on this concept is using zoom. The entire video is through a zoom call. This invisible entity makes himself known that your life is in his hands and he has access to all your information; as well as, every electronical device around you. That this entity can turn on your cameras on your devices and watch you without your knowledge.