2/28

 Towards a Curatorial Activism

Quote:" It speaks directly to racist stereotypes, colonial mythologies, land rights, commodification of indigeneity by the art market, violence against Aborigines, and to Austracism, in particular."

- This quote suggests that a particular piece of art or expression directly addresses various issues related to racism, colonialism, land rights, and the exploitation of Indigenous culture by the art market. It also touches on the violence experienced by Indigenous peoples. In simpler terms, it means that the artwork confronts harmful stereotypes and myths, while also shedding light on the struggles and injustices faced by Indigenous communities in Australia. Overall, it seems to emphasize the importance of art as a tool for social commentary and raising awareness about these pressing issues.

Quote: “As a hegemonic discourse, the current art system privileges white male creativity to the exclusion of everyone else”

- This quote says that in the art world, white men's creativity is valued the most, leaving out everyone else. It suggests that other artists, especially those who aren't white or male, don't get as much attention or opportunities. So, it's pointing out how the art world favors white men and doesn't give equal chances to everyone.

What is Curatorial Activism?

Quote: "Others are organizing large monographic exhibitions of artists who have been historically overlooked..."

- These exhibitions are showcasing the work of artists who may have been ignored or underappreciated in the past. They aim to shine a spotlight on these artists' contributions to art history and give them the recognition they deserve. By organizing these exhibitions, people are bringing attention to diverse voices and perspectives in the art world, enriching our understanding of artistic expression.

Quote “These are not issues from the past, folks. This is now. We are living and working in an art world that cares little about racism and sexism.”

-Racism and sexism are still big problems in the art world today. It's not just something that happened in the past. The speaker believes that not enough is being done to deal with these issues right now. They're saying that we need to pay more attention to these problems and work to make things better for everyone in the art world.

Curatorial activism means using art exhibits to talk about important social and political topics. To make art and art history better, we should show more art from different kinds of people and talk about different experiences. In the future, I hope art will be for everyone, with more people able to join in and share their ideas and stories through art.

This is what I know about art

 

This is what I know About Art

1.       “Taught me that my voice was a powerful one…It was not enough to be angry. I had to be strategic."

-  Realizing the power of one's voice involves more than just expressing anger. It's about being strategic and thoughtful in how one uses that voice to bring about change. This understanding highlights the importance of planning and strategy in advocating for beliefs and making a meaningful impact.

2. “For so many young people of color, we feel like we don't have the luxury of exploring the liberal arts-society tells us that we have to take coursework to become high earners to make valuable contributions to the world."

-Many young people of color feel pressured to prioritize practical, high-earning career paths over exploring liberal arts education. Society often emphasizes the importance of financial success over personal interests or passions. This pressure can limit opportunities for personal growth and self-expression, as individuals may feel constrained by societal expectations. It's crucial to recognize the value of diverse educational pursuits and challenge the notion that success is solely defined by monetary gain. Encouraging young people, regardless of background, to explore their interests and pursue their passions can lead to a more fulfilling and well-rounded society.

3.“Real talk- working at a small and under-resourced art institution was a powerful, humbling experience."

-Working at a small and under-resourced art institution can teach valuable lessons and be a humbling experience for anyone involved. It means that even though there might not be a lot of money or resources, the work is still meaningful and impactful. "Real talk" shows honesty about the challenges faced in these situations. It also highlights the dedication and hard work required to keep the institution running despite limitations. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of supporting smaller institutions within the art community. Overall, the quote reflects an appreciation for the opportunity to learn and grow in such an environment.

This artwork is interesting to me because it gives a glimpse into Basquiat's thoughts and feelings. The colors and symbols he uses are bold and grab your attention. Plus, his self-portraits make you think about important issues like race and identity.

Chapter 1

 Chapter 1

1. “If we are going to be effective as artistic activists, we need to operate on real terrain, not on the basis of the democratic fantasy of the European coffee house.”

- This quote suggests that to be successful as artistic activists, we must engage with real-world issues instead of relying on idealistic notions of change like those found in European coffee house discussions. In simpler terms, it means that effective activism requires action in the real world, not just talking in comfortable settings. It's emphasizing the importance of taking concrete steps to address social issues rather than simply discussing them in cozy environments. Making a difference involves getting involved in real-life situations and advocating for change actively.

2. "You will have your own unique story of what led you step off the curb. Whatever it was, it was likely a powerful experience even better than you can explain it, and words (or even images) may feel inadequate for capturing it."

- This quote says that artistic activism worries that art's ability to create change isn't always used properly. It means that even though art can influence society and highlight important problems, this power isn't always taken advantage of. From an activist perspective, it's a reminder to use art more effectively to bring about social change. It emphasizes the importance of artists and activists working together to address important issues and motivate people to take action.

This picture of a "whites only water fountain" is art activism because it challenges racial discrimination. It reminds people of the unfair treatment based on race in the past, and it encourages discussions about racism today. The image aims to make people think about equality and the need to fight against discrimination.

Week 2

 

"Love Is in the Air" by Banksy is a powerful artwork that immediately grabs your attention. At first, it looks like a scene of protest, with someone ready to throw something. But if you look closer, you see they're throwing flowers, not something harmful. This small change completely changes the story. Instead of violence, it's about spreading love and hope. The protester chooses to express their feelings peacefully, which is really different from what we usually see in protests. It makes us think about how we can make our voices heard without causing harm.

An Introduction to Activist Art

1. "Paula Rego‘s ‘Abortion Series’ from 1998 is a fitting example of art that had a direct political impact. When a referendum to legalize abortion in Portugal failed in 1998, the artist created a series of paintings that highlighted the fear, pain, and danger of illegal abortions. Her artworks had a great impact and were partly responsible for changing public opinion in favor of legalized abortions during the second referendum in 2007."

- Paula Rego's 'Abortion Series' showed how art can change laws. She painted about illegal abortions after Portugal said no to legalizing abortion in 1998. Her paintings made people understand the pain of illegal abortions. They helped change minds, and in 2007, Portugal allowed abortion.

2. “When the public is looking away from suffering that could be prevented or does not want to be confronted with it, activist art often creates a dialogue and forces people to think about these problems.” 

- When people ignore suffering or don't want to see it, activist art steps in. It starts conversations and makes people think about the problems they're ignoring.

Why Artistic Activism?

1. “Artistic activism stimulates a culture of creativity.”

- This quote highlights the idea that artistic activism not only addresses social issues but also inspires creativity within society as a whole. When artists use their creativity to advocate for change, it encourages others to think outside the box and find innovative ways to engage with important issues. By blending artistry with activism, individuals are encouraged to explore new perspectives, challenge norms, and ultimately contribute to a more dynamic and inclusive cultural landscape.

2. "Social change doesn’t just happen, it happens because people decide to make change."

- This quote emphasizes that social change isn't automatic; it occurs when people actively choose to create change through their actions and decisions.

THE 25 INFLUENTIAL WORKS

1. "'Manifestos don't work,' Finkelstein recently wrote. 'Sentences barely do. You need sound bites, catchphrases, crafted in plain language...'"

- This quote suggests that concise and straightforward messaging, like sound bites and catchphrases, is more effective in communication than lengthy manifestos or complex sentences.

2. "'Americans,' Luna once said, 'like romance more than they like the truth.'"

- This quote implies that Americans often prefer romanticized stories over plain truths. They might be more interested in emotionally appealing tales than facing harsh realities. My opinion is that while emotional stories can captivate people, it's essential to remember the importance of truth. Balancing engaging narratives with factual accuracy is key for a well-informed society.

Three poems

spring

go outside and you'll see

the cherry blossoms bloom in the middle of march

it seems like springs near

but it doesn't feel like spring here

blue

i have no clue, i see in hues

you’d still be in my life

if you wanted to 

i feel blue without you

only when i'm comfortable

can we sit for a second

and i can tell you about my day

we'll be in my room

so i can look you in the eye

Performance Art

 Marventz Adrien

Doris Cacoilo

03/27/2024

                                                                Performance Art

   We live in the century where racism against black people still exist so is the discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community. and due to this fact, not everyone can freely express themselves or be true to who they are. So for this project I was inspired by Yoko Ono's performance Art. "CUT PIECE," created in 1964 and Ben Jones's piece, "Deliver the Funk." in 1980. I combined these two powerful pieces to address these continuing issues, creating a dialogue about the struggles that continue into this century. 

Individuals with darker skin tones and different sexual identity often face unfair treatment just for being themselves. Due to this fact I believe it is essential to address the issue. Police brutality has been an issue for an extended period in the United States; however, the killing of black civilians continues to happen. According to the police brutality center, "statistic shows In 2023, police shot and killed 1160 people, up from 1097 in 2022. The numbers have steadily risen since 2017, when 987 people lost their lives in police shootings." While civilians of all races have been victims of police brutality, police continue to shoot and kill Black Americans at a higher rate than any other ethnicity". With some of the high-profile killings by police being George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Daunte Wright.  

 It has been a similar story for the LGBTQ+ community, The members of this community often receive unfair treatment from others who do not support them, which is very inconsiderate. I believe that we are in the era where everyone should be allowed to make their own decision on being who they want to be without being judged and receiving hate from others. unfortunately, this is not the case. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), "In 2022,  the Anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes were up sharply from the prior year, with a 13.8% increase in reports based on sexual orientation and a 32.9% jump in reported hate crimes based on gender identity.”  

I put together both pieces to create this performance not only to show my admiration for the original pieces and the message behind them but also to send my message, which is about the continued struggles many face in expressing their true identities due to societal restrictions on Race, Color and Gender identity. My performance features a colorful shirt, symbolizing the rich diversity within the black community and the diverse range of identities within the LGBTQ+ community. Through this performance, I aim to highlight the urgency for societal progress. It is a call to action emphasizing that the time has come to tolerate, appreciate, and respect individuals for being their authentic selves without condition.  

Video: https://youtu.be/y9Xcr8jw7V0?si=f7ZuDmtQte7rolK-

Work citied:

https://policebrutalitycenter.org/police-brutality/high-profile-killings/

https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/fbis-annual-crime-report-amid-state-of-emergency-anti-lgbtq-hate-crimes-hit-staggering-record-highs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Sa1y-PAAzE 

Intervention #2 - Gianni Rivera

https://youtu.be/o6BLXzYVHCc?si=UElGFYABljRgdXGR

     I interviewed 2 people regarding particular topics. In my second intervention, I asked about topics similar to my first intervention that highlight how food has become increasingly expensive throughout the years. I asked three questions of the participants: Firstly, are you afraid of the potential inability to buy a house in the future. Secondly, what are first-generation students' difficulties, and how future college students will not be able to afford their own place to live due to how expensive housing is becoming. Thirdly, do you think the American dream is still attainable? I received incredibly detailed and well-thought-out responses.

    The responses to the three questions were packed with information. For the first question, the first participant said that time was the main tool that allowed a house to be bought. In her particular situation, she did not fear buying a house as a single mother. It seems that time allows one to save and invest or have connections, which, as my theory goes, allows greater opportunities. While she was rather optimistic about the potential inability to buy a house, the other individual indicated some anxiety regarding the housing market. According to the second participant, the housing market has "not been that great," that is to say, prices have gone up. However, he also mentioned that his career may give him an edge in the market. Generally, the opinion of this interviewee was negative. Moving on, the second question, which was two difficulties faced by first-generation students, was answered adequately as well. The first participant, who is a single mother, generally said that a lack of support was a difficulty, Moreover, having a child presented some difficulties, which can be viewed as lacking support. On the other hand, the student said that loneliness was a major difficulty for first-generation college students. The second difficulty that the student proposed was a lack of time management skills. Freshmen, in his eyes, typically do not possess the adequate discipline and experience to handle large workloads. In the final question, the mother, quite passionately, said that the American dream was not possible due to current economic stresses. This includes the increase in prices for foodstuffs, the increase in house prices, and perhaps a lack of opportunities (although this is more implied). A similar mindset was present in the second participant.  

    Many college students who dorm (Live alone) are very lonely because they usually have no one to talk to and their family members aren't there in person to support them. Usually, people who do dorm live in a different country so being in a whole new country can also be a big change for them, "As a first-generation college student, not a single day goes by that I do not think about my family and consider their sacrifices. For my family and I, attending college is the highest honor. While some may say “no pressure” when it comes to grades and coursework, that’s simply not true. There will always be pressure." (IBRAHIM). Obtaining the American dream becomes harder and harder with the years going by. Stuff doesn't seem to be getting cheaper only more expensive. The main goal of the American Dream is obtaining a house that you can all yours, but knowing how things are going that doesn't seem like a thing you can achieve anymore. "It finds that in 2022, as rents spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, a record half of U.S. renters paid more than 30% of their income for rent and utilities. Nearly half of those people were severely cost-burdened, paying more than 50% of their income." (Ludden). This is just rent people have to pay just imagine how houses are, and if you are paying that much how are you supposed to save up to even buy a house of your own if all your paychecks go to rent and food. 2 items that have increased drastically in price.

My friend who lives in Texas went to the Philippines to do her studies in college but is usually really lonely there since it's a whole different country and she isn't much familiar over there. She cant really call with her parents much because of the huge gap in time zones

Sources:

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/25/1225957874/housing-unaffordable-for-record-half-all-u-s-renters-study-finds#:~:text=Jennifer%20Ludden-,Housing%20is%20now%20unaffordable%20for%20a%20record,all%20U.S.%20renters%2C%20study%20finds&text=Matt%20Rourke%2FAP-,A%20new%20Harvard%20University%20report%20finds%20that%20housing%20was%20unaffordable,help%20those%20who%20struggle%20most.

https://www.activeminds.org/blog/a-double-life-the-thoughts-of-a-first-generation-college-student/

Performance Art: LLDM

     The purpose of my intervention was simply to spark curiosity in the public and spread awareness about my cause, so that people can look into it further on their own. For my piece, I set up a poster and speaker in Central Park, and sat and stood dressed in my attire with a baby toy for onlookers. This is to represent all crimes against children and women and other injustices committed by LLDM, a group I excommunicated from. I realized that just my performance alone wouldn’t be enough necessarily for members of the general public to understand, so I also created a poster and flyers for this piece. My goal of spreading awareness was influenced by page 90 of our textbook, in which the principle titled “don’t preach, teach” is exemplified, “ This confusion was intentional. using parables like these, Jesus created an opening for his audience to make the message their own…[he] asked listeners to puzzle through their mysteries and meanings. One can imagine the scene following one of Jesus's impromptu teachings, people walking away, debating among themselves what exactly this wacky holy man meant.” Given the low context nature of my cause towards the general public, I wanted to create a scene that would cause people to be shocked, stare, and look up names and pictures from the flyers. I chose central park to try to spread awareness to where some of the most privileged of new yorkers can be found and try to spark the conversation amongst another group.

     I took inspiration from multiple sources including our textbook, the videos from class, as well as my own personal knowledge of movements and fused them together to try and create a piece that can be both artistic and activist in performance. From page 109 in our textbook, I was specifically moved by the principle titled “make the invisible visible” by suggesting, “...by dramatizing those aspects of reality that are hard to see, or that we are reluctant to look at, we can make the invisible visible,” which is what I attempted to do here by creating an emphasis on people who are generally considered invisible such as women and children. I also took inspiration from performances done by Shaun Leonardo’s focusing on expression for latinos and generational trauma through his fashion and emotional releases amongst other performances which inspired me to incorporate what this means to me as someone coming from a similar background. From prior knowledge, I was also influenced by Red Rebel Brigade which fights against climate change with some similar expressive approaches in attire and femininity. I took some inspiration from guerrilla girls, whom we talked about in the beginning of the semester. I wanted to keep anonymity for my own safety but also for intrigue and to cause the onlookers to look up what certain things may mean. I also wanted to incorporate the use of graphics in this project and create a statement piece comparing the leader of LLDM, Nasson Joaquin Garcia, and his associate Alondra Ocampos to the famous case that has been in the news for several years now of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. 

    The video, which was cut down to only around 3 minutes long, included the public performance in which there were many stares, gawks, some pictures taken. However, nobody felt comfortable enough to approach me during the almost 30 minute long performance in central park. My partner, who was behind the camera, was offering flyers out to people but no one had taken, which we chose to cut out because it was generally very awkward, so unfortunately, it was not really a success in central park as we kinda just were freezing outside for about an hour total as we set up, performed, and took down. Off camera and on our way back to Jersey, I was still in my attire and hadn’t brought a bag or anything to put the poster away so I was just holding it as we walked through West New York. Here we were approached by one woman who was aware of LLDM, but not the crimes associated with them and she was very shocked to say the least when she learned what happened, but overall supportive and curious to learn more it seemed. So, I would consider it a partial success, but the experiment overall gave me much more to consider when I try this again in the future.

https://youtu.be/ivi1nNWSVAs?si=tsHXrA-c5iAJEPHA

Three poems

 

Think before you give.

Would you give your heart away?

When your heart can be destroyed.

Or use your brain to keep your heart installed.

 

Soft or strong

Are you a petal?

Can you be broken off and never be put back together?

Or you're a tree that stands tall and feels the breeze that won’t even break a piece.

Mental 

Are you free or trapped?

Are you in the dark or light?

Keep your mind sharp and clear of the dark. 

 

 

A moment shared through connection- Giselle Verdin 3/27

https://youtube.com/shorts/hGHCZqmBNTY

link^ 

 For my intervention I choose to follow the same inspiration of Marina Abramovic's project. I was able to use the help of my mother and my little sister. My mom is an "old fashion hispanic" and typically expects the best from all of her children and wants us to be successful. Due to this my mom has applied academic pressure to each one of my siblings including me. This has caused us to be very fearful of her and afraid of messing up.Students' mental health, general wellbeing, and academic achievement can all suffer greatly from academic pressure. Stress-related symptoms including sleeplessness, exhaustion, headaches, or mood swings might result from it. Academic burnout, depression, and anxiety disorders can all be made more likely by prolonged academic strain.

The aim of the project "Presence: A Shared Moment of Connection" is to provide a genuine and significant human connection experience in a public place. Through the chance to participate in a small but meaningful act of presence with one another, this performance intervention seeks to counter the dominant culture of isolation and detachment. In the video above you can see how my little sister is tired and drained from the judgement of my mom as she always has to try her best especially since she is the youngest after all because the rest of us are all grown up and she is on her own. 

The initiative aims to promote empathy, understanding, and a sense of common humanity by asking participants to sit face-to-face in silence while maintaining eye contact. "Presence" provides a space for people to slow down, be totally present, and establish deeper connections with others in a society that is frequently defined by activity, distractions, and digital communication. It's critical for parents to provide a loving, secure space for their kids to express themselves, make errors, and grow from setbacks. Children's anxieties of failing their parents can be reduced and their general well-being and resilience can be enhanced by fostering open communication, delivering constructive criticism, and showing them unconditional love and acceptance. 

The quote from The Art of Activism, "Art has the power to challenge the status quo and provoke critical thought on social issues." pg 72 implies that by providing alternate viewpoints, stories, and interpretations of reality, art may question and challenge established standards. Art has the ability to upend complacency and provoke thought about presumptions, customs, and hierarchies of power that could be oppressive or unfair. Another important quote from chapter 4, "The power of solidarity lies in our ability to stand together, united in our pursuit of justice." pg 92. This expression highlights the value of teamwork and group effort. It implies that when people band together and support one another, they may do more with more influence and efficacy. People's voices, resources, and power are amplified when they stand together, which increases the likelihood that injustices will be acknowledged and rectified.

imagine peace

My performance is based on Yoko Ono on her “Imagine Peace” Project.  I got inspired to do my project based on this because I see how countries are suffering, the community, many people are facing personal problems that can’t even have peace within themselves.  For example Palestine is going through such a horrible time now and all we see is babies dying, families dying and animals, palestinian don’t even have food for them. It is not fair that there is so much money for other things but we can't help Palestine that is in need. It is world wide that is going through “war”, I wanted to bring out peace awareness, and let people express their feelings. Harmony in the world means being nice to everyone and working together to fix issues without fighting. By communicating with one another, appreciating diverse viewpoints, and lending a hand to those in need, we can achieve this. It is important to take on injustice and show respect for all individuals, no matter who they are.  Through cultivating peace and working together, we can build a more joyful and secure global environment appropriate to peaceful coexistence. 

I decided to go outside and ask people to draw or write their visions of peace, I gave them a market so they could express their emotions, hopes and dreams. Many people didn’t want to do it, and many ignored me, and others were willing to get recorded and others did it but without getting recorded. For someone that is an introvert and is hard to approach people it was really challenging, and uncomfortable, but at the same time I felt good that I was doing something different. It took me around 2 hours walking around asking people if they wanted to help me do a school project. It wasn’t easy at all. Something I got from doing this project is that now days we avoid to talk to strangers, and be social with others, I believe this happened after covid 19 happened everyone stopped being social, ans scared to meet new people since there is so many violence happening, human sexual trafficking, It is so understandable to not let a stranger record you because who knows what would they do with those videos. 

Imagine if we actually bring peace to the universe, Imagine if we actually bring humanity back and we protect one another, we  don’t  let war to keep happening, we stop harassment, child sexual abuse, hate, starvation, animal abuse  and many other bad things that we see on our daily lives. It seems like something so hard to do because we can’t ever have actual peace in our universe, but I believe one day we will be able to have actual peace. I believe our universe is in need of love, there are so many people that have an empty soul and heart, and that affects our community. People all over the world are still moved by Yoko Ono's "Imagine Peace" project to think about how important peace is and what they can do to promote peace and integration in their own communities and beyond. Through her lifelong dedication to peace action and artistic expression, Ono's legacy shows how art has the power to change things and make the world a better place for everyone.

https://youtu.be/CavFK3fqPp4

El Sacrificio De Omoa

 For my second intervention, I'm going to do a continuation of the first intervention which was about the struggles for an immigrant. 

    My cousin, Alejandro, was a victim of capitalism the way I see it. His mom, my tia Norma, wasn't financially prepared to raise a child all on her own. With my mom and other aunts leaving to America, tia Norma had no other choice but to join them so she can be able to afford a life for both her and her child. Alejandro was a sensitive kid, with a heart of gold and all the love to give. He used to call me his little sister because before my mom moved to America, she used to help care for him the most. He was loved immensely by our family and the community around him–his death left a stain in all our hearts.     

    The sad part of this is that many immigrant families are forced to leave their loved ones behind to chase the dream that they're after. Many are able to fight against capitalism and make it out successfully, while others struggle to make ends meet. To be born and raised in America is to have a privilege not many have but even then we're stuck behind our own struggles because, well, if you're not rich it's 10x harder to make things work. As an immigrant, you have to work even harder than that because you're starting from 0. My parents spent the first 10 years of their life in America working dead end jobs, making little to nothing all while facing racism from their colleagues. My tia Norma worked day and night shifts to only be able to send enough money for Alejandro back in Honduras. I continuously ask myself: is a better life worth leaving behind your present life?

    For the intervention, I took inspiration from Marina Ambromavic's: The Artist is Present and created my own version of it. Instead of sitting in front of an audience, I sat in the middle of my room, photos of my family surrounding me, and I wrote in my journal and felt every feeling I had towards the trauma of losing a close family member. In the video, I added the song "Vaya Con Dios" by Freddy Fender which was the song my grandfather played at my cousins funeral. In the video, I showcased a couple of photos from my family's archives: one of the house my cousin lived in, one of my cousin as a kid with his friends, one of my grandma and one of me and Alejandro's brother, Miguel. I also came up with a poem titled "Sacrificio de Omoa" which translates to Omoa's Sacrifice which is where my cousin and rest of my family grew up.With this poem, I sent it to my best friend who grew up in Morocco and I asked about her and her family's experience with moving to America. 

Sacrificio De Omoa

Extra Credit March 14

 I didn't read the part where we had to take a selfie of us at the talk but LOL I was there I promise

Intervention

 Here is my video 

I explore the impact of presence in my video project, inspired by Marina Abramovic's "The Artist is Present.". I followed her example, inviting museum visitors to sit across from her in silence. By asking questions that make you think critically and challenging kids to a game of basketball, I actively engaged the local community. I believe it's ok to have fun while making activist art.

In addition to taking inspiration from Abramovic's work, my video also acts as an intervention in Jersey City's daily life. I challenged the norm with games and conversation, not by remaining silent. I believe this represents Abramovic's belief in the transformative power of presence. My willingness to engage with locals, my aura in the local community, exemplifies this principle, as she says.

The question I asked a local resident may seem absurd at first, but it actually serves a deeper purpose. Although seemingly absurd, the question I posed to a local resident had a deeper meaning. Two disparate realities must be reconciled - the importance of Black History Month and the tragic reality of canine cancer. Similar to Abramovic's silent stare, this question urges individuals to examine their priorities and values.

The basketball game I played with my brothers is another way that I intervened in their lives. A moment of connection and joy, a break from the usual flow of life. It was obvious to me that I made an impact when they asked me for my YouTube channel. If you sit opposite me, see what happens if we connect with our eyes. In my opinion, the connection is not formed through a silent stare, but through play.

My video intervention is a powerful form of activist art. It's a testament to the power of showing up in our communities and engaging with others. We must normalize getting out of our comfort zones while showing the good that comes out of it, like playing a friendly game of basketball with locals.It's a reminder, in Abramović’s words, that “the energy coming from the audience…just goes through me.” Throughout my video, I attempt to channel the energy of my community, creating distinct and impactful piece of performance art as a result.

Get out your head!

https://youtube.com/shorts/8kWXJtmn5KU?feature=share

The mind can be a dangerous place if you don’t get the help you need. You get trapped in your thoughts; you don’t even notice anything else. You just want to escape your mind, but you can’t. It’s eating you up inside and making you go insane. Especially when something keeps replaying in your mind that you wish it could stop. Your own mind can break you into many pieces worse than an enemy.

 We overthink a lot because we tend to fear the outcome of things or to make mistakes. If we make mistakes, we tend to beat ourselves up about it. We say to ourselves,” Why do we do this? I’m so dumb for that, etc.” There’s a time when we have to see that we are just humans and it’s okay to make mistakes. We have to learn how to be easier on ourselves especially when it comes to our mental. So that’s why I made this intervention. To let people know to get out of their heads break through that barrier that holding them inside and go talk to somebody if they need to. Don’t stay trapped in that dark space.

“While we are all trapped within the prison house of culture, we have also developed tricks to help us escape.” (chapter 4, pg.146) Many of us get trapped in a bad mental state due to the homes we come from. At some point in life, we can’t keep our minds stuck in that toxic place, we have to break free and escape. There’s therapy, meditation, you can journal, and much more. Don’t stay in that head space, it’s not healthy. My intervention is perfect for art activism. My intervention states a message that tells people to break through the dark side they are fighting in their head, you will be so much happier after. Chapter 3 states,” We lose a lot more often than we win, and even when we win, we have to fight against the very next day to hold on to the little we gained.” It’s not going to be easy to get out of your head, it takes time to fix your mind. Just remember that every day is a process and take it step by step.

 

 

                                              Passing through 

Saburo Murakami was my inspiration. 

Performance Art: Memorial

 I decided to do a performance art about Palestine as a reminder that we should not forget the atrocities that are happening in Gaza. I am not Palestinian, nor do I know anyone who is personally. But when I see videos of Gaza destroyed and politicians doing nothing; I can’t help feeling overwhelmed by it. Almost every week, I hear something terrible that is happening to the Palestinians and there is still no end to this genocide. Most people can agree that what Israel is doing wrong, yet some people stubbornly hold their beliefs thinking they are right, "As artistic activists, we can choose tactics that hold up a mirror to things that people either cannot or do not want to see lives locked away behind prison walls, wars in distant countries, or abstract forces like endemic poverty or structural racism” (Duncombe & Lambert 147). Putting the names of the deceased in a beautiful sky for my painting represents them going to a better place. They were good people, and many children lost their childhoods because the world leaders failed to take action. My canvas can’t fit all of their names, but I can at least write some.

To prepare for this performance; I needed flowers and candles for the circle outside of the art building. I planned to throw the flowers in the circle and put candles around me while I worked on my painting. When I sat in the middle of the circle, some people came to look at what I was doing, and one person asked me about it. It wasn't much but I'm happy I attracted some attention from this experience. It was a good day to do this intervention but the longer I did it the more agonizing it became. I intentionally set up some rules for myself for it to feel irritating and slightly painful.

1. Don't eat

2. Don't drink water

3. Don't get up

I ate something early in the morning and I drank water before I left my house, but I did this performance in the afternoon for 2 hours. Even though it wasn't too hot that day; I started to feel the heat due to being surrounded by rocks exposed to the sun. I could not get up from the circle because if I did, I would give up on the painting out of exhaustion. The purpose of this was to feel a small fraction of what the Palestinians are facing without food, water, and shelter from the weather.

Marina Abramovic's silent sitting at the MOMA and Zainab Al-Qolaq paintings about the loss of family in the genocide. I admire Abramovic's will and dedication for sitting in a chair from the opening and the closing of the museum without getting up. I thought doing something similar would help my performance stand out a little more. Zainab Al-Qolaq is a Palestinian artist who survived Israeli bombs, but 22 members of her family died. She creates art in honor of them and she painted the events she witnessed when she was still in Gaza. Although those artworks were created last year, they can still apply to what is happening now.

 How I started out

Performance Art Video

The video was originally 30 minutes long, but it was too much to download. Even after I ended the video, I continued to work on my painting. 

The Results

“Art is powerful. It’s a way we can express our understanding of the world as it is and articulate our visions for how it could be. In this way, all art is political, whether the artist intends it to be or not” (Duncombe & Lambert 137). I don't know if this could be considered political but there are not many news networks that will address the deaths of these people without bias and censorship. I intend to keep this artwork and improve its quality over time.

Cites:

The Art of Activism, Your All-Purpose Guide to Making the Impossible Possible

'A corpse in a gown': Palestinian artist Zainab al-Qolaq on losing 22 family members | Middle East Eye

Marina Abramovic’s Silent Sitting at MoMA Reaches Finale - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Cutting Ties with Insecurities

 

https://youtube.com/shorts/vHA17mP8-gk?feature=share

Are you feeling like you are not good enough or falling behind in life? It's a common feeling that many people in their 20s experience. It's easy to let negative thoughts about ourselves fill us with anxiety, sadness, and anger. Lately, I have found myself looking back at old pictures and reminiscing about how much easier life was back then, how I looked thinner, or how my hair was healthier. But if I could go back in time and tell my past self that I would miss them in the future, I think my past self would have just laughed. It's important to stop being so hard on ourselves and appreciate the present moment. We spend so much time being harsh on ourselves that we let the moment pass us by, and we will eventually miss ourselves from that moment. So let's take a moment to appreciate ourselves and the present, and not worry about the past or future. Let's be kind to ourselves and embrace the journey we are on. 

Spring Cleaning: Letting Go of Clothes That No Longer Serve Me. Spring is the perfect time for cleaning, I decided to do some spring cleaning in my closet. I tend to clean out my drawers and throw out anything that doesn't serve me anymore. With this particular cleaning, I always tend to find clothes that I forgot I even had. Sometimes I find clothes that I can't believe even fit me at a time. My normal thought process is, "I'll save it, and when I lose weight, I'll be able to wear it again." The truth is, I'll probably never be able to wear those clothes again. My body is not the same as when I was 18. My diet has changed, my schedule has changed, and my body is growing and developing. But how lucky am I that my body loves me enough to keep growing and helps me wake up in the morning? How lucky am I that I am able to afford food, and most importantly, how lucky was I to get the opportunity to grow? As a teenager, I could eat whatever I wanted and not feel guilty. I was able to enjoy a night out with my friends and not have to worry about how I looked in those jeans or that top. Letting go of clothes that no longer serve me is a reminder that my body is constantly changing, and that's okay. It's a reminder to appreciate my body for what it is and what it does for me every day. It's a reminder to let go of the past and embrace the present. And most importantly, it's a reminder to be grateful for all that I have and all that I am. 

For my second intervention, I took inspiration from Yoko Ono's cutting clothes; with the clothes, I decided to get rid of them. In her video, Yoko Ono allowed people to cut however much they wanted, allowing them complete control. I decided to twist that and give "myself" control instead of other people. I wrote down how old I was and a specific memory of that article of clothing and the size I had my sister ( representing a younger version of me ) cut the clothing. I chose my sister because she is a confident 12-year-old who is not afraid to wear what she wants or speak out about her opinion, something I wish I could do. My sister reminds me of me with this intervention. I hope to remind her to appreciate the present instead of focusing on tomorrow. This intervention took place in my house , on a sunny day, many moms going for their daily walk passed by. My mom was always able to watch through the kitchen window. It was essential for me for women to be able to watch this because many of them, especially new moms, are hoping to get back in shape, as for my mom, who struggled and continues to struggle with her body after three kids.