This link is an article about Victoria's Secret and their plans to downsize the number of stores they currently have. This article was written by a reporter from WGAL News 8. I frequently use this news source as they are local to where I live and they are careful to verify the information they publish.

I chose the theme of friendship because I have been having some difficulty with friends recently. I'm less than two months away from graduation and the handful of friends that I've made at HU have been gradually removed from my life. Most of it stems from petty personal grievances they have against me and instead of discussing it like mature adults, their choice was to ignore me and move on *insert eye roll*. Since spring break started, I decided to focus all of my energy on caring for the lovely people in my life who do love me. I celebrated my birthday over the break with one friend, my best human friend who baked me a cake and hung up decorations.

However, my dog best friend is still in Tennessee, 10 long hours away. I've been missing her a lot lately. It fascinates me how humans and animals can connect even though no words can be exchanged. 

When I fly home, I'm bombarded with cries and barks of excitement. Marleigh loves going out into the woods with me for agility training. Not only does she love the exercise, but she enjoys working alongside me. She doesn't hold a grudge. She "complains" slightly, but doesn't try to hurt me deliberately with her actions. 

She doesn't make me feel less than. She can be so much fun! Even though she cannot verbalize her thoughts, Marleigh can sense when my mood changes or when I'm stressed and she'll just lie near me to let me know she's there. My dog has definitely taught me a few lessons on friendship too.

She's been with me through thick and thin over these 11 years and we've accomplished so much together. The love a dog has for their person is unconditional and it truly saddens me that their lifespan is smaller than ours. This picture specifically means a lot to me as it was taken at my childhood home in New Jersey and Marleigh actually looked at the camera (which is a huge accomplishment on its own)! 

I love watching  Empire because the characters are all extremely dramatic with their own personal flaws. I enjoy watching them discover and solve problems that are not my own. The three sons (pictured at the end of the line) usually have drama between one another. It is usually a battle for fame or the throne of the family's record label "empire." In other instances, the brothers would team up to remove their own father from power as he would use them as pawns for shady business tactics. Taraji Henson, known as 'Cookie' Lyon in the show, loves getting involved in both her ex-husband's and children's drama to hopefully defuse the situations. It is almost always a mess, but the drama and unforeseen consequences of their actions are what keep me tuning in.

Image retrieved from https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/436005

One theme I am considering for my final project is "Our Ocean World" The theme interests me because we have a class at the university by the same name (that I never got to take) and I kind of always had an interest in marine science. The ocean has a natural beauty that is unlike any other naturally occurring environment. It can be considered so basic (as it's just water), however, it holds many secrets deep within it and it compliments adjacent land perfectly. The Calm Sea (1869) would be a great addition to the ocean world exhibit as this painting was done in the summer when the tide would recede. I chose this painting as it has such a tranquil, idyllic composition, which masks the ocean's dark, vengeful properties it can sometimes demonstrate.

Douglas, A. (1928). Congo [Gouache and pencil on paper board]. 

Image retrieved from https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/youth_beauty

Another theme I am considering for my final project is "music in art." The theme interests me because music is integral to the preservation and sustainability of dynamic culture through sound. I am intrigued by how artists capture the effects of music like energy and mood. Congo (1928) was originally an illustration for a novel. It depicts heavy emotions and rhythmic expression within the people dancing to the jazz music. During the era this illustration was drawn, the African-American community was finally getting the opportunity to shape their passion and influences from Western African culture and folk songs developed during slavery. This work is a testament to all of the pioneers of jazz who wanted to express the joy, heartache, and culture of black people in post-slavery America.

 

One artwork I would feature in my exhibition, Our Ocean World, would be Meditation by the Sea (1860). The mystery behind this painting makes the talent behind the unidentified artist even more fascinating to those who view it. The creator would utilize space to change the viewer’s perspective, forming a vastness on the beach as the ocean itself stretches into the distance, infinitely. The curls in the waves and even the foam washed onto the sand take on a meticulously carved shape. Even the solitary figure overlooking the dwarfing body of water suggests symbolism of overwhelming conflicts that might have been occurring at the time of creation.

 

New York City is arguably one of the most famous destinations in the world. Historically, the city is known for its trading and developing infrastructure. During the massive influx of European immigration, New York City gradually evolved into the place we know today. The “true” New Yorkers who were born and raised there are extremely prideful of their roots and experiences. They will represent their borough until their dying breath. In terms of branding, NYC is the most diverse city on earth as it is home to every culture. Over 40 million tourists visit NYC each year. Every language and food could be found among its eight million residents too from Korean fried chicken to Guyanese curry shrimp. The aspect that makes NYC even more diverse and vibrant is that people who represent countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and so forth can live alongside one another in harmony.

 

One image that caught my eye this week was a photograph of the resort Iberostar Rose Hall Beach. It is in beautiful, scenic Montego Bay, Jamaica. This was a photo taken by the resort’s photographers as material for travel advertising. I believe this image is extremely effective and impactful as an advertisement because the quality and editing of this image make it attractive to the sight. This photo also highlights the raw, natural beauty of the Jamaican beaches. The photographer can focus on and the utilization of space., allowing the gorgeous ocean to be featured properly. Another art element accounted for in this photo is the manipulation of color and absorption. The main attractions at the Iberostar resort are water related and a major reason for the guest’s visits.

 

This week I read an article about how the costume designer for Black Panther (2018) developed her designs for each character. I read this article to give a more insightful response for our weekly class discussion about identity in art. A main element in this news article was about how Ruth Carter traveled to different African countries multiple times to seek out authentic patterns. One of her focuses was to find designs that are linked to traditional tribal cultures of African nations prior to the influence from Western colonization. I did know some of this information as I kept in the loop on news about the movie last year prior to its premiere. However, I was unaware about Carter’s subtle touches on T’Challa’s wardrobe, like the significance of the triangular patterns on his panther suit.