Art Speak

Hi everybody! So on thursday, we had our first radio broadcast EVER. honestly, i was expecting it to be really awkward and intimidating, but i actually had a great time. The words flowed naturally for me, and I felt like it was easy to be myself. Everyone did a splendid job. I discovered that even when we misspoke, or something not according to plan occured (dropping Natalie's jewelry!!! aaahhh!), it didn't really make a difference to the quality of our interviews. The most important thing was to keep calm and be natural. I also thought that I would run out of things to talk about and there would be awkward silences. But, once I got going, I found that i actually had a lot to say. It was a really fun experience and I can't wait for our next show. 

i enjoyed the radio experience a lot more than i thought i would. it wasn't nearly as awkward or intimidating as i previously thought it would be. this was a pleasant surprise to me. i think my favorite part was just seeing everyone's art though. we all have really different, distinct styles and i think that is amazingly cool and interesting. we should have more times where we get to share and talk about each others art because i am also really interested in the process behind art.

and of course, it was really incredible to actually be on the radio. like people can hear that. wow.

Hello! On Thursday night, we went over to the Mutiny Radio headquarters to be part of the Balkan Vulcan show. Typing this out now, it seems an almost surreal experience. I can't believe that we all were on the radio talking about our art and the internship! Yup, hard to wrap my head around.

Before we went on air, I was very, very, very nervous about being on the radio. I'd like to take the time now to apologize to Marisa for awkwardly squeezing her hand when we first started. Sorry about that, Marisa. But, after the first couple minutes, being in the studio with Leonidas was comfortable. The nerves were gone and we all just started performing. I like the format of radio: being able to perform for an audience without the stress of actually being in front of a large group of people. This dynamic allowed me to take bolder risks and try to just have fun. I think we were all pretty successful in that. I walked out of the studio space with a big smile on my face. I really enjoyed myself!

(The most intimidating microphone in the history of humankind...)

I also loved seeing everyone's art. We all have such different aesthetics and it's so cool to see what you are all creating. Nell, I love your style. Your art is so bold and geometric and clean. Plus, your Parsons installation was amazing. Marisa, you have crazy talent. I loved that your pieces were so beautifully thought out with hard vs. soft dichotomies in each. Cami, your art is so much fun and I think it reflects your personality really well. Your notebook is so personal and beautiful and just so honest. And, you have KIMYE on the cover and what could be better than that?

Overall, Thursday was a blast.

My lovely fellow interns!

-Natalie

i really enjoyed ala's studio because it provided insight on more than just art. his style really resonated with me, but also the incredibly time consuming process behind his art was really inspiring. his stories were also amazing, and i think he mixes art and culture just enough. sometimes when stories are over-applied to art, it seems forced but his work was a good balance between aesthetics and personal experience. it was also amazing that he was a wild-style graffiti artist back in the days where that was the popular style. hearing him talk about his experiences with graffiti made me want to get back into learning about that art form. i really really really enjoyed the visit.

So last sunday, we all took a short trip down to Palo Alto to visit the studio of Ala Ebtekar, an extremely accomplished artist. I've actually never visited someone else's studio before, so this was a new and exciting experience for me. As someone who is highly interested in a career in the arts, I thought that it was very helpful for me to learn a bit about what it is like from someone who really knows. 

We got to walk around his studio and admire all of his beautiful works as he told us stories of how each of the pieces had come to be. I thought all of his stories were amazing, especially the ones that he told us concerning all of the mentors that he had learned from in the past. We also discussed his experience with graffiti and street art. I absolutely love how he ties together old, traditional ideas with fresh, modern techniques. 

I had a lot of at this excursion, and I can't wait for Thursday!

Last Sunday the other interns and I headed to Ala Ebtekar's studio for tasty treats and a conversation with the artist! Before we got there, I was pretty nervous. I'd never been to an artists studio before. However, I was surprised to find Ala Ebtekar's studio to be extremely comfortable and neat (He doesn't think it is, but it sure is a lot cleaner than my room!), and I had a great time drinking matcha while listening to his stories.

Sunday was a good day. Our visit to Ala Ebtekar's studio was interesting, and informative, inspiring, and fun. What stood out to me was the casual and easy nature of the visit, which made it personal and engaging. I loved sitting in his studio with a cup of matcha, listening to Ala speak about his inspirations, his background, graffiti history and politics, and his artwork.

His work, especially the variety of techniques he uses is very distinct. Because of this, there was such diversity in the products: from the long five-panel painting, to the books, to the embossed drawings, to the installations with speakers and sneakers. When we first walked into his space, this work was leaned against the wall. I was immediately drawn to it.

(I got this picture from: http://beautifuldecay.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Ala-Ebtekar-collage2.jpg)

What I find appealing is the difference between how one views the work up close versus far away. From a distance, I see clear, bold lines and color. But, up close, there's a whole other dimension of intricate detail and borders and this mesmerizing galaxy motif. His explanation about this work (and the series) was a great story. Ala talked about science fiction and how it doesn't exist in Iran and the juxtaposition of past, present, and future. In Iran, the genre of science fiction doesn't exist because of a somewhat lack of hope for the future. I also think there's a nostalgia for the past and rich history of Iran. This collection (which the above image is part of) deals with the idea of future which I suppose is the first example Iranian science fiction.

These ideas made me think a bit about the American attitude towards time. I feel like there's a constant push forward, without really acknowledging or longing for the past. Plus, people always talk about "living in the now." But what does that mean? I've wrestled with this thought for a little bit and the only conclusion I can make is that we need balance. We need to find this Iranian attitude of respecting and honoring the past, while also appreciating the present, and planning for the future. But how do we achieve this? I'm going to sleep on this question.

What do you think?

Anyways, I really enjoyed the visit. (Sorry for the non sequitur transition)

Natalie

Thursday was pretty crazy, seeing the Cyrus Cylinder was very cool. In all honesty, I wasn't quite sure what it was, until Thursday night, but I'm glad I know now. Walking through the different rooms, and being able to piece together events and facts about the Cyrus Cylinder was startlingly impressive. When we reached the room with Ala Ebtekar's work, I was shocked. Being there was very ethereal and quite frankly, spooky, the room was dark, and the only light seemed to be coming out of the glowing display of iPads and other electronics. At first, everyone seemed to be gathered in bunches next to the walls, no one wanted to come closer, but it was amazing to watch as the audience slowly began to approach the electronics. I think we were all a little unnerved/amazed at the same time. My favorite part was listening to the storytellers, tell us the history of the Cylinder. It's much more interesting than being in a history class for some reason, as we were able to really go deep inside of the story, rather than just skimming through some facts. 

Anyway, cylinder.us is a nice website, but a little empty. I wish there were more interviews with the students. One thing I liked was being able to click on the top right symbol and finding more information about the Cyrus Cylinder and Ala Ebtekar. The site is well-organized and simple, which is definitely something I can appreciate compared to other websites I've been to which are absolutely packed full of stuff. It's easy to understand, which I think is the most important.

The Artists Drawing Club is something that I don't think is universally appealing for teens, yet could be in the future. One thing, is that a lot of students have a busy schedule, and some are not even interested in art. However, I do believe if a chunk of teenagers get involved, they will be able to slowly persuade other teens to join. One thing I've noticed about teens in general, is that they often like to copy other teens. What I guess I'm saying is, if someone is really enjoying themselves here, the word will definitely spread. Eventually kids who aren't even interested in art in the first place, will join. 

I would definitely invite other kids I know to come join me, mostly because I enjoy sharing things I love with my friends. I'm not sure if my friends would join originally, but I definitely think they would come if I asked them. 

Lastly, teens love free stuff. They love the idea of saving money as well as getting something in return. Now, I don't mean giving out free iPads or anything like that, but free food is always a good idea. Also, The Artists Drawing Club, should be promoted to teens as a way to relax and enjoy themselves. Kinda like seeing a movie. 

Yes, I only got the reflection of the Cyrus Cylinder. That was a complete accident. I'm not very good at taking photos. :(

Hi you guys! So I had a lot of fun on Thursday and overall I found it to be an exciting and educational experience. Normally, I'm honestly not the type to take much interest in ancient history, and so I was surprised to find how intriguing all the stories and showcases were. This event allowed me to look upon thousand year old ideas with a refreshing, modern point of view. 

On the topic of Cylinder.us, I must say that the site is very well organized and is very clear. I think it's good for those who want to find out more about the projects surrounding the cylinder, and also explanations behind these projects. 

As I said, overall, I really enjoyed the program. My favorite part was definitely the storytelling aspect of the program. The storytellers were enthusiastic, interesting, and extremely knowledgeable. I also especially liked the interactive parts of the program which included writing down messages for future generations. It's these kind of things that allow people to really feel like they are a part of the art, and not just passive observers. 

I think that the Artists Drawing Club could potentially be something that teens would be interested in. However, as a student that attends a highly academically driven school, I don't think that teens would attend these events because it takes place on thursdays and extends late into the evening. Also, the Artists Drawing Club needs to be better advertised. This can be done by placing ads in school bulletins or distributing flyers at schools. 

(sorry! i don't have a picture this time, my phone camera is so unreliable. I'll be sure to bring my legit camera tomorrow!!)

-Marisa

i think cylindr.us is really interesting because it ties ancient art and artifacts in with modern day problems that we'd like to solve. its almost a social justice piece while still being artistic.

in response to the program, i really enjoyed the soundscape because it was something i have never witnessed before. even just looking at ala ebketar's use of old and new technology was amazing. i also liked the interactive piece where we wrote down what we would do if we were king/queen of the universe because it kinda tests your knowledge and understanding of what cyrus did while still being fun. it's definitely an interesting learning piece.

i'm not sure artists drawing club has universal appeal to teens. many of the teens i know aren't interested in art, so they wouldn't be particularly interested in something like what we witnessed thursday. but for kids who are into art, i think they would enjoy artists drawing club. there are a couple friends who i would invite, but only if i think they would enjoy the subject matter on that particular day.

this might sound weird, but free food is always an appeal to teens. it really works. 

-nell