Art and Technology - Assignment Two

Assignment: Watch animation of Opera Madama Butterfly and blog about it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E387c5RAhK4

After watching a different version in class, I was not expecting this animation to have so much ?detail? in it. Not knowing about the story of this Opera besides what we saw in class, this animation displays a woman getting impregnated by a Sailor. He then goes off and returns by ship after the daughter was born. He comes back with a different woman and takes the child away. The mother no longer wants anything to do with her life without her daughter and the sailor and  end up killing herself.

This animation took an interesting/out there approach to the story. One, the child was first born as a fish.. then changed to a child hooked to the mother by an umbilical cord and flying like a kite attached to one another. The father breaks the cord from the mother and takes the child away. The mother tears her skin off of her body and then disassembles herself with tools.

Interesting... not my kind of thing but very interesting to see how people can think of such things.

Big Brothers Big Sisters

After several months of going through the interview process and classes, I am finally a Big Sister! I chose this organization to volunteer at because I wanted to start volunteering with something that can be long term and really have an affect on someone and myself. I couldn't think of one better for myself then Big Brothers Big Sisters. I love children and I miss my family so much and especially getting to see my little sister continue to grow into a young woman. Although the process took a while I can tell that it was well worth the wait! I met my little sister two days ago, her name is Ki'Yana. She is beautiful and very outgoing. She really enjoys playing and baking. We decided that going to a park would be our first thing to do with one another. After the park I plan to bring her back to my place and bake some cupcakes with her to celebrate my birthday together. When she saw that my birthday was this week she was very excited! So I thought she would really enjoy baking cupcakes and making them all different colors. I also went to Michael's and bought some beads and string so we can make bracelets with each others name on it or say sister or something. I will let her choose. I can't wait to start sharing everything about my life with her and really getting to know her. I plan to help her with her reading and writing skills and just be someone she really looks up to.

Art and Technology - Assignment One

Today was my first meeting of ART 211 (Art and Technology) with Professor Santiago Echeverry. I have had a couple other classes led by him; Advanced Digital Art, Online Productions, and Special Problems. Course Description: Art and Technology is a lecture course that will provide a context for the development of art and its interrelations of technology. Students will explore the evolution of multimedia to hypermedia. Emphasis will be placed on the creation and transformation of technology used in the 20th centure, such as radio, computers, television, the internet, and networked environments. Developments will be related to historic art movements.

Class Assignment One - Create Blog - post feelings of the class, what I expect to learn and who I am.


After having Santiago as a professor before, I know and expect that this class will be intense. There have been some crazy experiences in the past with assignments and conversations, but I feel that this class will go above and beyond after hearing what will be presented to us through video and documentaries. We (the students) were "warned" that it may be quit gruesome at times. I guess we will see how that goes... 


I really look forward to being creative and going out of my norm with these projects. I want to view art in other ways, like Santi's example in class, Dada art. Some see it as art and others don't. I want to gain a respect for artists who go out of the ordinary and really see what they are trying to show or say. I want to learn to take my ideas further and challenge myself. I really hope to get the most out of this class as possible so I can learn more ways to be creative and be able to do so for clients. 

A little about myself... I will be 22 in 6 days and sometimes really wish that I was five again  because I am getting very nervous/anxious/freaked out/excited to graduate in May.  All these mixed feelings are a head ache. And I use to wish my life away saying, "I can't wait to grow up!" I can't complain, there are still several things I look forward to in life. This will be a whole new beginning and I have about 4 months to get ready for it! Ok, sorry, back to "about me". I have a wonderful family - my parents, Chris and Connie, 2 brothers, Garrett and Jordan, and a little sister, Allison. I have a boyfriend, Tyler, who also attends UT. I attended Saint Louis Community College at Meramec before attending UT. I didn't care a whole lot for the community college experience, but it was good for me because I really didn't know what I wanted to major in. I had changed my major several times, but I do believe that I am in something that I am passionate about; Digital Art/Graphic Design. 

A White Christmas and Amazing New Years Eve

I'm not sure when the last time I had a white Christmas was. I remember last year it was pretty nice out, however, this Christmas it was gorgeous... white powder everywhere. The view from our kitchen window was beautiful... looking out to the snow on the ground and covering the trees with the lake in the background was a perfect morning to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  After a nice breakfast my family gathered around the tree and opened presents.  Later, my sister, Allison, and I went out to do some sleigh riding in the snow. Then mom and Allison built a snowlady, Sassy Suzzy!

I got to spend a couple more days with the family and then headed back for Tampa. Tyler and I both had a lay over in Atlanta and actually had the same flight from Atlanta to Tampa. :) This was unplanned! I was so excited to see him when I got off the first flight and he was waiting for me at the gate. We sat together on the next flight and then grabbed a cab and headed to my place. We then enjoyed a wonderful meal together at P.F.Changs. We had a great night together, nothing crazy but was great being back together. 

Since then.. We went over to Tyler's aunts house on the east coast to spend time with his parents and sister. We had a great time, gorgeous weather and beautiful beach. We built an awesome sand castle.  

This has been a great month break, but now I have a week until school is back in session. Last Semester as an Undergrad!!! WHoooHooo! 

Lyrics

With a lot of songs, I find it being the beat of the music rather the lyrics that I really like. However, one songs lyrics have really stuck and has such great meaning and is very touching to me, that I find myself listening to it several times a day. Shockingly, these lyrics come from a singer that I'm not very fond of, as he is much younger. However, I know that the younger girls are crazy for him and I must admit he is a cutie! It's Justin Bieber - Pray. Click the video to listen and really pay attention to his message. I hope you enjoy it! Warning: the video is even more touching than just hearing it... lol

Over It...

I use to blame growing up in such a small town as an excuse to drink on the weekends because there was "nothing else to do". However, as I have turned 21 I have found myself to drink less than I ever have then when I started in high school. Almost 22 now, and really find it as an annoying excuse that really makes little to no sense at all. Really, your wasting your time and your life on something that what.. Can only cause damage than good? Yes, you may throw out a couple dance moves, sing some karaoke, carry on a conversation, or loosen up after some drinks but when does it become too much? Is it just my hometown or do other people find every little excuse or something to bet on to take another shot or get one after the other on drinks? I believe it is anywhere! As I have moved from Ste. Genevieve to St. Louis to Tampa, FL, I have seen it everywhere.

I want to live my life to remember what I did the night before. I want to enjoy a night of bowling with a group of people where drinks aren't having to be distributed and shots aren't encouraged or "forced". I want to go home knowing that the driver is sober, the passengers are safe, and everyone can make it home without passing out or having to stop on the side of the road to throw it all up.

I'm not saying I'm better than someone who chooses to take that shot or drink three or ten more drinks than I do... I'm just saying that I have chosen a new path for myself and really want to enjoy life without a "buzzz".  I enjoy my glass of wine every now and then or the occasional beers, but when I go out, I don't have the need to get drunk or feel that shot after shot has to be shoved down my throat every time. Everyone has their own opinions on drinking.. but right now this is my place to blog.. and this is my opinion. You are welcome to comment your opinions.

Life your life to the fullest... with no regrets. Enjoy it! You only have one.

Co-Pilot For The Evening

After a couple of days of not knowing when I'd make it home.. Grandpa finally received a call at noon from our pilot, Ed, while we were on a walk in downtown Clermont, stating that the ice had began to melt and he would be leaving for Florida in an hour.  You could see it in Grandma's face that she became overwhelmed with joy, as she was panicking that we may not make it home for our BIG Drury Christmas party this Sunday.  However, how could a party go on without us? ha! I had faith and I knew my momma was praying for that sun to come out and it happened!  So grandpa, grandma, and I turned around to walk back to the car and headed back to their house to finish their packing and then made our way to the Kissimmee airport.  Sadly we were leaving on a gorgeous day (77 degrees, warmest it's been in a while). After Ed's arrival, we packed our stuff into the plane, filled the tanks, and headed into what was going to be 23 degrees when touching ground. I got into the plane, climbed into the co-pilots seat, strapped myself in, and put on the the headphone and mic. I was ready to go! Until I looked at everything in front of me and was scared to move because I may hit something... As Ed began to start everything and get ready for take off I was so excited to see what all he had to do and couldn't believe that when we started to move he was steering with his feet rather than with his hands.  I guess I learn something new everyday, because I had no clue they had those steering things for their feet. It was a whole new experience and it makes me wish I knew how to fly. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity because I have always wanted to see someone fly a plane and be right there in the action.

After 3hrs and 23min we landed safely in Farmington, MO. My dad was standing on the runway waiting for us and my mom and sister were in the car. It was a great welcome home! We went and enjoyed a late night dinner at the Pasta House and then made our way home.  Now I sit here in the kitchen by my mom and she works on Allison's winter volleyball schedule (mom's the coach) and dad lies on the coach watching SNL. It's great to be in the presence of family again!