ArtsXpose #4 – Jazmin Ramirez
Title of Event: Krystal Rodriguez & Jefreid Lotti, Convivir
Date and time of event: Friday, April 7th 5:00 pm
Location of Event: Holmes 103
Type of Event: Exhibit
ArtsXpose #3 – Jazmin Ramirez
Title of Event: Juana Estrada-Hernández
Date and time of event: Tuesday March 21, 2023
Location of Event: Holmes Auditorium
Type of Event: Guest Artist Lecture
1.) Provide a brief detail-oriented technical description or summary of the event you attended. (This section should remain journalistic and should not be reflective of your opinion.)
The artist presentation of Juana Estrada Hernandez was a very informative talk where she talks about her life experiences about migrating to the US from Zacatecas, Mexico. She presented past art pieces from middle school and high school to demonstrate her experiences and development in art. There was a clear transition of her past art to her newer pieces in which she originally drew darker and overwhelming pieces such as the devil masked immigrant crossing into the US. She explained that in the past she was upset that there were many missed opportunities such as going to college since she was not a US citizen. However, after a conversation with her niece, her art pieces started becoming more colorful and informative of where she came from in hopes to educate her niece of their Mexican heritage. She is currently working on pieces that are being used in protests to help causes such as immigration legislation.
2.) Use the section below to write a well-structured paragraph focusing on your personal critical insight / response to the event. How did you interpret or react to what was presented to you?
The presentation was very meaningful and full of stories. I enjoyed listening to the artist and relating to some of her experiences. For example, when she showed the audience the picture of her kitchen in Mexico, I immediately thought of my godmother’s kitchen in Mexico and it looked similar with the yellow painted walls and the dishes piled. The artist did an amazing job sharing her story and experiences with the audience. My favorite two pieces were the prints of her grandfather working on his crops and the birthday party with the piñata in the backyard. I could see myself and my family in these prints since my grandfather would work on his crops in Mexico and have bread and coke for lunch when my grandmother was not able to make him a packed lunch. When I saw the print of the piñata, I immediately heard the spanish piñata song that times how long you can hit the piñata for. It brought back many beautiful memories that as a busy adult one might forget.
3.) What information, ideas, images, etc. most impressed you and why?
I was impressed with how diverse and meaningful her work was. I was impressed that one conversation shifted her perspective on the world and shifted her art into a more hopeful light. The piece I enjoyed the most was the piñata print with the mother and daughter on the wall with pencil drawings. It really showed that a story cannot be contained within an enclosed surface but instead stories are fluid and more diverse that cannot be described in a few sentences.
4.) Overall, how would you rate this event (10 being the most worthwhile)?
Nine
5.) Justify your rating in the question above:
I think her connection to her art was very meaningful and connected with me since my parents are also immigrants who came to the US seeking the American Dream. I really enjoyed how she used quotes from her conversations with her family to describe her art and add value behind each piece. Overall the presentation was amazing.
Project 4 – Jazmin Ramirez
Writing assignment:
I have chosen to work with a horse with details such as its hair being blown by the wind. The way the horse is presented, the sculpture embodies independence, confidence, and freedom. Moreover, I believe it symbolizes an individual’s strength and courage to move forward. The horse reminds me of the west during the troubling times of the US and how many wildlife and free individuals were struggling to remain independent while the US took over the west. The horse seems firm and strong as it is now, but I would like to distort the back to symbolize its trouble’s it has faced in the past. Moreover, I would like to leave the front half as it is to show that the horse is headstrong yet its past (or its behind) was full of uncertainty. That being said, I was thinking of placing an unusual pattern or twisting the horse’s behind to show the uncertainty.
Sketches:
Metaphorms – Jazmin Ramirez
Step 1 – Writing assignment:
Part A
“Sometimes your best decisions are the ones that make no sense at all” (HIMYM, 2005). This is one of my favorite quotes that I live by. I will never forget the night that changed my life. I was in my room writing my AP Lit essay right after an interview for the Posse Scholarship in which I then received a phone call from LA. I answered the phone and it was the Posse office informing me that I received the scholarship and I would be able to move to the east coast if I choose to accept. I froze and I came to the conclusion that I would accept. After finishing the conversation with the Posse office, I ran downstairs to let my parents know that I received the scholarship and we all burst into tears. My father was so proud of me for being able to accomplish something so big and become independent but my mother was crying tears of sadness because it was the first time I would be leaving home. I am originally from Long Beach, CA and I have never been to the east coast. This would be the first time I would be leaving home and be away from my family for a long period of time. At that moment I thought I made the craziest decision to move away from home to a place where I had never been before and leave my family and friends behind. When I told my sister that I would be moving to the east coast for college, she immediately hugged me and told me she was proud of me and incredibly sad that she will lose her Netflix buddy. I then called my family from Mexico to inform them about the news and they were all cheering for me and telling me to follow my dreams and make them proud, no pressure. Looking back, I am grateful for making that decision to come to Bucknell even though I have been put through many hardships at Bucknell because through all those hard times, I have always come out on the other side a bit stronger.
Part B:
- Decisions
- Home
- Unknown
- Adventure
- Hardships
- Growth
- Family
- Independence
- Strength
- Opportunity
Step 3 – Writing assignment:
Domestic Carnival – Jazmin Ramirez
Immediate Response:
When first seeing the piece, I immediately thought of the carnival due to the lights placed on the piece. Once I realized that the piece was displaying a dinner table, I then thought of a family going to a carnival which brought happy memories. The piece is placed on a moveable base which is ideal since carnivals are on the move and don’t stay in one place. Once I saw the wheels, I then thought of families who are always on the move looking for their next adventure or crazy story.
Objective Description:
The piece by Jason Ferguson has a dinner table placed on a moveable wooden trailer. The table connects to the wooden chairs via steel beams similar to a carnival ride. The beams and table have carnival lights which are blue, orange, and yellow colored. The wooden table seems to be placed on an electronic base which allows the chairs to move around the table in a circular motion. The trailer has steel triangles placed around the exterior to emulate the carnival aesthetic.
Technical Decisions:
Ferguson chose to place his piece on a moveable trailer to emphasize the carnival theme. Moreover, the artist places his piece in a low lit room to allow the colorful carnival lights to illuminate the exhibit, which is inside. The table and chairs are placed above the trailer to visualize the temporary carnival and symbolize a carnival ride which is elevated for the riders to see below them. Moreover, the artist places the chairs all in various heights to view the motion of the chairs similar to a carnival ride.
The Work in the World:
The piece reveals the fun yet craziness of a family. The carnival is a time and place where people have fun and randomness is unleashed. Furthermore, the carnival theme fits well with a family since life is like a carousel, it goes around and around and sometimes it seems like it never stops or it seems too short, depending on who is riding. This piece by Jason Ferguson is very interesting since it could bring joy to the audience through the bright colorful lights yet highlight the significance of family. Moreover, the family dynamic could change depending on the room and setting the piece is placed in, symbolizing that families are complex and always changing just like in real life.
The Story it Tells:
The piece is called Domestic Carnival which is an ongoing project that takes specific rooms of the home and presents them as amusement park rides. The artist places the piece in a dark room with foreboding music and two hundred pulsing lights. The artist engineered the piece like a carnival ride and moves like one. When I first saw this piece I thought it was fun and interesting but the more I examined the piece, the more I realized that the piece is meant to point out the significance of the family and how in each room in the house the dynamic of the family could vary.
Anthony Cervino ArtXpose #2
Title of Event: Anthony Cervino, Six Second Delay
Date and time of event: Thursday January 26th 6:00 pm
Location of Event: Holmes
Type of Event: Exhibit
Anthony Cervino ArtXpose #1
Title of Event: Anthony Cervino, Six Second Delay
Date and time of event: Thursday January 26th 5:00 pm
Location of Event: Holmes AuditoriumType of Event: Guest Artist Lecture
1.) Provide a brief detail-oriented technical description or summary of the event you attended. (This section should remain journalistic and should not be reflective of your opinion.)
Anthony Cervino gave an hour and 5 minute long lecture with roughly 15 minutes of questing afterward. During the lecture, Professor Cervino from Dickinson College spoke from text and personal experience about some of his art pieces. The presentation was filled with images of his various pieces and some inspiration. He also showed images of the art studio located near Dickinson College where he brings the community together through art.
2.) Use the section below to write a well-structured paragraph focusing on your personal critical insight / response to the event. How did you interpret or react to what was presented to you?
Anthony Cervino is a sculptor who uses his work for storytelling. He is very confident in his work and revealed an emotional connection with most of his pieces. For example, the Archimorph (the two house piece) reveals the codependency with his spouse since they have been married for over 25 years. Throughout the presentation, Cervino invited the audience into his perspective by sharing stories of impactful/inspiring things he has obtained in his life. For instance, I thought it was very interesting that he collected multiple VCRs tapes of Doctor Who just for the commercials that were only seen live. At the end of the Q&A session, Cervino describes that he does not change or redo the figurines in his pieces, but instead he shifts its meaning to fit in the new era.
3.) What information, ideas, images, etc. most impressed you and why?
I was impressed with how diverse his work was. Most of his work he presentented had an Americana vibe, yet the different forms (structural vs figurines pieces) of work impressed me the most.
4.) Overall, how would you rate this event (10 being the most worthwhile)?
(10 / 9 / 8 / 7 / 6 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 )
Eight
5.) Justify your rating in the question above:
I think he was very clear and informative with his presentation and shared personal anecdotes with the audience. He did switch from reading text off the computer and talking freely to the audience which was interesting to see.
Jazmin Ramirez The Nature of Being
Nature of Being by Jason J Ferguson
Immediate Response:
At first glance, the piece seems gloomy and depressing. The format the artist positioned the skeleton seems sad since it is in the fetal position. The arms crossed suggest it is comforting itself from something sad or traumatic that might have happened. The positioning of the head on the platform reveals that the skeleton is in pain and requires assistance to keep its chin up. Moreover, the color the artist decided to use can represent the depression the skeleton might be going through. The circular piece in the background could represent the emotions the individual might be experiencing.
Objective Description:
The piece by Jason Ferguson centralizes on a gray plastic skeleton. The skeleton is placed on a platform that is approximately 6 inches above the floor. The skeleton is in the fetal position with its arms crossed supporting the legs, which are against its chest. The skeleton is holding its legs as if it were hugging itself and using the platform as a pillow to support its head. Hanging above in the background is a circular illuminated painting that has four colors: light blue as the background, amethyst purple as a cloud around the center, orange, and a small circle of yellow like the sun.
Technical Decisions:
Ferguson chose to place his piece on a platform that rises the piece around 6 inches from the ground. The room in which the work is displayed is empty, leaving Ferguson’s work the center of attention. I believe it is meant to symbolize the loneliness the individual feels in hard times. The lights are directly above the skeleton which could represent all eyes on them, feeling the pressure of others leading the skeleton to feel overwhelmed. Moreover, the positioning the artist chose to display the skeleton reveals its overwhelming feelings as well as a gloomy/lonely feeling.
The Work in the World:
As mentioned before, the piece reveals a sense of loneliness or sadness that all humans feel. The artist could be revealing what he is feeling through the positioning of the skeleton. The way the artist decided to place the skeleton implies that he might be feeling a sadness that only one can understand through expressions or visual representations. This work could relate to individuals who may be suffering in silence, those who hide their pain and loneliness from the external world.
The Story it Tells:
The piece is a full scale complete replica of Ferguson’s skeletal system generated from EOS, CBCT, MRI, and CT scans in 2016. From all the imaging and multiple medical scans, the artist was able to 3D print all 206 bones. The circular display hanging in the back is actually a monitor which reveals the 3D animations of the artist’s bones. Initially, the piece seemed to be a sad/lonely piece; however, after discovering that various medical scans were done in order to complete the artwork, it became clear that the piece was about understanding what’s inside. The message behind the work could be interpreted as the artist understanding pain or experiences that come with aging and accepting that one day all humans will be a part of nature.
Reference: https://www.jasonjferguson.com/work/the-nature-of-being
Jazmin Ramirez
My name is Jazmin Ramirez and I am a senior Mechanical Engineering major.
I enjoy the outdoors, going on hikes, and riding my bike. On campus I am a Garman Guide as well as the President of the Maker’s Society.
The reason I am taking this class is to expand my interest in building and designing new things. I am a very hands-on person who loves to work with machines and CAD and I’m very excited to learn around 3D sculptures.