Visual Studies 280 / Fall 2017 / Student Blog

This week's word was one that I definitely struggled with. I had difficulty trying to conjure images that I could represent and which evoked the word. One image that kept coming to mind was that of a concrete seawall with tide marks along it. Perhaps this was because my current studio site is on a coast and we are dealing with a deteriorating seawall or that the constant interplay between high and low tide often reveals the ephemeral nature of our coasts and the life that is created through each cycle. Nevertheless, I am yet unsure if I am fond of the piece I created this week and perhaps that is a lesson in and of itself.

Ever feel like you're drowning and there's no way to resurface? How about feeling that you can barely stay afloat and everything around you seems to be falling apart? That feeling of running on fumes after having little sleep is a true and very real feeling. Last week was the epitome of all of these statements. Rarely do I take breaks but last week, I just knew I needed to because there was no way I was going to make it to the weekend. Mind and body both quit on me and all that was left at some points was sheer will power and the endless thought of not being seen as a quitter. I'll admit that this was definitely a personal struggle that I've only been reconciling myself with in the last few days. The words SAVE and FREE are very relevant to how my week started and how it eventually ended. From that feeling of falling into the abyss under stormy weather to resurfacing with clear skies and a bright golden sky, I think I am finally at rest and at peace. Set Free. ...

This week's word immediately reminded me of a trip I took two summers ago to Kenya with a research group of mine. On that trip we got to visit the beach in Mombasa a few times as part of a relaxation exercise. Upon hearing the word "Meet," I immediately flashed back to the moment when I was standing on the porch, of one of the restaurants we were at, watching the waves lap along the shore. When we first arrived, the shoreline seemed so far away, almost at the breaks. As time passed on the tide slowly rose and the water began to get closer to where we were. As the water appeared, the sand began to disappear. The photo I decided to show this week was taking during those moments as I walked along the shore trying to negotiate those areas where there was only a few feet of sand to walk on between the water's edge and the rocky coastline. Its horizon line and the placement of the boats brought back memories of how the boats were once sitting on the bottom but began to rise...

The word for this week, "HOLD" was a rather challenging one for me. For some odd reason, I did not have a clear image of what "HOLD" could be visually. I stared at the swan for a while and did not arrive at much. My image for the week is an exploration of what one can do when they have no idea where to start.

The word "Reach" immediately reminded me of the LA cityscape. The complete overlay of the grid stretching from the hills to the ocean is often times broken up by the skyward seeking spotlights of Hollywood. These two trademarks of L.A. may sometimes seem at odds but in other ways complement each other really well.

In thinking about this week's word, " Long ," I am reminded of an excerpt from Maya Angelou's " Caged Bird " that I would like to share. The caged bird sings    with a fearful trill    of things unknown    but longed for still    and his tune is heard    on the distant hill    for the caged bird    sings of freedom. 

I come from privilege An understanding that I have always been allowed to dream and empowered to follow those dreams An immigrant story that has created opportunities I never imagined And which continues to produce new ways for me to improve Where having the right to free speech means little if you don’t exercise that right But also having an understanding that what you say means something and your words have influence. I come from a culture of resilience Just a part of where I have been and how I have come to be.