Sophia Martinez

Sophia Martinez-Project 4 (Part 3)

Sophia Martinez- Project 4 (Step 2)

I have chosen to work with a sculpture that depicts Hermes seated on a rock. Hermes is a messenger of the gods who traditionally symbolizes freedom and travel. The statue reminds me of Greek mythology; more specifically, “herma” in Greek stands for a heap of stones. This association, along with the physical nature of the sculpture, reminds me of classic stone sculptures. I want to resist the idea that Hermes represents freedom and movement while simultaneously exploring the idea of “herma” representing stone. My approach will transform Hermes’ lower half into the stone he is sitting on. To achieve this, I plan to primarily use the sculpt tool to shape parts of the sculpture into rock-like texture. In addition, I may need to change the fill type to get a more flat geometric look for parts of the sculpture.

Sophia Martinez-Samek (ELC) ArtsXpose

Title of Event: Slow Looking
Date & Time of Event: Wednesday, October 9th 1:50 pm
Location of Event: Samek Art Museum (ELC)
Type of event: Walk Around Museum

(My Favorite Piece in the Gallery)

Sophia Martinez-Carlos Barberena ArtsXpose

Title of Event: Carlos Barberena Artist Talk (Making Art in Dangerous Times)

Date and time of event: Wednesday, October 2nd, 3:00 pm

Location of Event: Hislop Family Auditorium, Holmes Hall

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.)

Carlo Barberena gave around an hour-long lecture with an additional twenty minutes of questions afterward. During the lecture, he spoke about how art has always been a big part of his life. He showed works from 2008 to his work in progress, which he is completing through the Ekard Artists in Residence Program in Bucknell’s art barn. In addition, Carlos showed a short, few-minute video of his printmaking process and all the steps he takes to complete one of his relief prints.

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?

It was evident that Carlos is very skilled and passionate about his craft of printmaking. Carlos seemed to struggle with articulating his comments, thoughts, and ideas about his own work. However, I really enjoyed the video he included that showcased his process, as I have never seen this in any of the artist’s talks I have attended in the past. A highlight of his lecture was his own journey with art and the struggles he faced regarding being exiled from his home country. In addition, his work elicited powerful emotions due to the style and colors he utilized. The pieces that stood out the most to me were within the NRDC x Just SEEDS Expo, as these pieces addressed climate change, fossil fuel use, clean water, biodiversity, and environmental justice. What I found most interesting and inspiring is that he wants to work more with the community in regard to his art, and I haven’t heard many artists express this hope.

3.) What information, ideas, images, etc. most impressed you and why?

I was most impressed by how his own personal story about being dispersed from Nicaragua really influenced his art. In addition, I was very impressed that all his works have a distinct style. All the pieces he showed within his presentation are monotoned prints utilizing a hatching technique to shade.

4.) Overall, how would you rate this event (10 being the most worthwhile)?

(10 / 9 / 8 / 7 / 6 / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1 )

Seven

5.) Justify your rating in the question above:

Carlos’s pieces carry great emotion and tackle issues of social, political, and environmental justice. In addition, his personal story is very raw and real, making his work that much more meaningful. However, it seemed he wasn’t prepared for his talk and struggled to articulate his thoughts and ideas.

Sophia Martinez- Step 2: 5 Objects-hiking boots, nalgene bottle, tree(s), campfire, Mount Elebert

Sophia Martinez-Metaphorms Part A and B

When I consider all the pivotal moments in my life, I usually reflect on the time when I attended the High Mountain Institute during my junior year of high school. The High Mountain Institute (HMI) is a selective semester school in Colorado that blends academics with an appreciation for the natural world. To attend this school, I had to move across the country, leaving my high school, friends, and family. It was there that I experienced outdoor learning while hiking for 18 days in both the backcountry of Colorado and Utah. At HMI, I matured and endured many physical and mental challenges that allowed me to grow. However, the most significant obstacle I faced was hiking up Mount Elbert, the highest summit of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. That 14,439-foot journey was one of the most trying and rewarding experiences of my life. It taught me the importance of perseverance and the reward of never giving up. In the case of Mount Elbert, the reward was the once-in-a-lifetime view of Colorado. In addition, at HMI, I learned and observed environmental degradation firsthand. This experience made me even more environmentally conscious and eager to raise awareness as it exposed me to issues surrounding forest fires, acid mine drainage, and biodiversity loss. Learning alongside individuals who protect and preserve the environment and reduce their carbon footprint made me want to emulate them. HMI has shaped my future career journey within sustainability and has given me numerous life lessons.

-Mountain/mountain range

-Hiking boots

-Trees/wood

-Nalgene/ waterbottle

-Walking stick

-Leave No Trace(LNT)/ Footprints

-Campfire

-Backpack

-mountain goats

-Sunrise and Sunset