My Open House!

My little weenie, Oscar, outside my house.

Family sitting on the steps with the front door open.

The back corner of my house and my neighbor's trees.

My bedroom corner.....the clean one!  

Finally, Something I Enjoyed

This last week, I decided to go to a dance rehearsal with my boyfriend. Once in the HHP building, though, we passed some of our other friends in a dance class. Being friends with the teacher, Caitlin Spencer, we asked what they were doing. [roller coaster] It sounded fun and I asked if I could go with them instead of going to the rehearsal. We ended up on College Ave. with a bucket of chalk. Within this last semester of IARC, this was the first time that it was nice and sunny outside at a time that I wasn't in studio. (usually, it is either, cold, windy, raining, or a combination of the three) Caitlin, the instructor, was developing a site specific performance, that was meant to engage the audience and the dancers [behind] in the space.

We started out writing down words or sentences describing feelings and instances about how people interact in an environment and the concept of a personal space affects proximity of people. [i feel uncomfortable] Then we took some of the strongest words and ideas and wrote them in chalk inside of the grey circle in front of Jackson Library. In the center of the circle, we colored the center stone to celebrate the point. [ahead]

For the performance, the audience gathered at the start of College Ave. across from the Music Building. One of the dancers, Dominique, was with them. [i-40] The rest of us were stationed at the opposite end of the walkway, near Spring Garden. On cue, Dominique began to draw a chalk-line down the center of College Ave. Unsure, the audience followed her. Simultaneously, we began to make our way towards the grey circle, drawing designs on the pavement on the way, all the while calling out words and quotes from our previous brainstorm. [don't make eye contact] The closer the audience got to us, still following a silent Dominique, the more aware they were of what we were saying as well as our movements.

When we all met at the center circle, we formed a ring around it, with the dancers facing the audience. [really] Dominique stepped into the circle, stepped on the center block and began circulating through the circle. The rest of us followed her example, stepping on the center block, all the while calling out words which the viewers could now see were written inside the circle. [strangers] Then we moved out of the circle and began to move throughout the audience- weaving in and out of their personal spaces. Then, we all lined up on on the chalk-line that was drawn by Dominique. [hold hands] As we moved down the line, we focused on repeating the words as we tried to erase the line with our feet and hands. The audience was left to follow us, watching as we erased the very path that they had originally followed to meet us. [erase]

This performance was very fun, interesting and informative. With it, we investigated how people are willing to follow someone simply because the assert some presence of authority, as did Dominique. People also will follow by example, such as the audience did when we created a ring around the circle. It was exhilarating focusing on how we perceive our personal spaces and how we behave in groups, especially when we have little or no instruction. [idk]

When we started the process, I was immediately reminded of the pathways, edges and boundaries project. We were supposed to study people in the parking lot environment and how they interacted with the space. The performance I did, though, was equally as informative, but instead of relying on the subject having to choose their own pathway, we actually applied our own visual cues for the subject to base their actions on.

It was a great experience for me and I took a lot of good inspiration from it that I can definitely apply to my designs. (and it was through the dance department, not iarc!) Experiences like this are often the best learning opportunities, especially when you don't know what exactly you're getting into.

New Drink!

You might not think so at first, but this drink is soooo good! It has carbonated water, grape juice and lemon juice. It really tastes like lemon juice but in a good way! The only drawback is that it costs two dollars and it isn't a lot of liquid. It is definitely worth trying, though. Link!

Dance Rehearsal and Logos

Sleeping Beauty

Spur of the Moment

Neal's Dead Fish

I've always had an undeveloped fascination for drawing fish. When I happened across Neal's dead fish bagged on his table, I though it was a perfect time to capture something I've always loved without having to worry about them moving!
I also drew what they might look like if they were still alive and in their jar.

Just ignore Dr, Count Frankenstomache, if you will.

Forney I05

For months now I have been searching for an excuse to check out the Forney building since it has been remodeled. When I got my computer last week, I discovered that I had to go there to have the people in there do something to it. Apparently the ITS people have claimed the once-dilapidated building as their new headquarters. Inside it is very nice and I loved the barrel ceiling! While I was waiting for them to download stuff to my laptop I drew the interior of the room. (Notice that I included a person in the space!)

Suzanne! Look what you've done to me!!!

Lexington Youth Theatre

I drew these sketches while attending an LYT dance bootcamp. They are a mirror and two views of the wall sconces that were in the studio.

Museum of History, Raleigh

On Saturday, my friends and I went to Raleigh, NC, to see our friend Kelsie perform. She is a dance major at UNCG and she was dancing for the Dwayne Cyrus company. The performance was at the history museum and it was an interpretive reenactment of the A&T sit-ins that occurred at the Woolworth in Greensboro back in the sixties, I believe. It was wonderful and I tried to capture as many gestures as I could so that I can develop them later.
The show that was on before them I missed. All that I got to see were the people exiting the stage. Included in the members was a long precession of women carrying tall umbrellas. I thought it was very interesting and I wanted to jot it down too.

Drama, Snakes and a Lovely View

Currently, my boyfriend is assistant choreographer for Lexington Youth Theatre's production of High School Musical II. I go with him to practices and this week I had my sketchbook.
Next is a drawing of Medusa that I did when I first got my newest sketchbook. Medusa is my all time favorite art subject and I have won many contests with her!
Thirdly is a partial view from my studio window. Though at first I was reluctant to change desks, I feel I have greatly upgraded without moving far at all.