Embracing Your Season of Growth

 

                              

  

Embracing Your Season of Growth  

I used various materials I had available at home, including paint, braiding hair, tape, cutouts from a magazine, and lint from my dryer. To create my artwork, I incorporated these elements to construct images. For example, I braided the hair, added cutouts from a magazine, and incorporated words that inspired me. I also used lint from my dryer to symbolize clothing, collected some flowers from outside, and painted the background blue, yellow, and green.

 Q1. “Kahlo suffered extensively for much of her life, and the most moving section of the show is devoted to her ecosystem of medical devices. But Kahlo did not conceal her pain, revealing her casts and leather braces with metal buckles in her work and turning her plaster corsets into art.”

 This quote about Frida Kahlo's artwork resonates with my project because it's all about my personal journey of growth and resilience, showcasing the struggles I've faced over the years. I've gone from viewing life as something dictated by everyone else's timelines and expectations to learning how to love and trust myself. The magazine cutouts on my poster play a crucial role in conveying this message. They include the phrase "she felt pain. Then received love. Since then, giving up is not possible." This mirrors my journey, where I've overcome pain and hardship, just like Kahlo did, and didn't let it define me. I've embraced the possibility of receiving love, understanding that it's always within me.

 

Q2.“Despite her struggles, she persevered and continued to work hard, achieving great things in her career and life. She proved that strength and resilience can come from within and that she can be broken down and still achieve great things.”

 This quote about Frida represents perseverance and inner strength strongly resonates with my project. It reminds me of my journey and how I've faced and overcome challenges to achieve success. I put symbols like hair and a crown on my poster, which also symbolizes my hair business, "Crownedbybri." The crown made from magazine cutouts of flowers represents growth and transformation. I've come a long way from leaving college to pursue cosmetology school and working in an African braiding shop. I've managed to make enough money to go back to school and support myself, which truly reflects self-reliance and determination.

 

Q3.“People have described her as broken and fragile, but she was strong and accomplished a tremendous amount in her lifetime.”

This quote about Frida Kahlo's artwork resonates with my project because my project is all about breaking stereotypes and proving that appearances can be deceiving. I've faced judgments and labels, and people might have perceived me as fragile or limited in what I could achieve. However, just like Frida, I've proven them wrong.

 

How does your project address the themes we have been discussing?  

 My artwork represents my psychological identity by expressing my personal journey and growth. The materials I used, the choice of symbols like the hair and crown, and the magazine cutouts with inspiring words all combine to tell a story about my self-discovery, resilience, and the transformation of my identity. My project touches on social and psychological aspects by challenging stereotypes and societal perceptions. Just like Frida Kahlo's art defied how people saw her, my project challenges the idea that appearances can define a person. It sends a message about empowerment and breaking free from societal expectations.

Surrealism is evident in my project through the creative use of materials and symbols. Surrealism often involves unexpected or dreamlike elements, and my combination of braiding hair, lint, magazine cutouts, and other materials creates a unique, imaginative composition.

 

How does contemporary media play a role in identity, cultural and societal norms?     

 Contemporary media, like TV, social media, and movies, affects how we see ourselves, our culture, and what's normal in society. It can shape our identity by showing us different ideas and lifestyles, and it can influence what we think is right or wrong. So, it's like a big mirror reflecting who we are and what we believe, but it can also change how we see ourselves and what we think is normal in the world.

 

 How do these influence our view of ourselves and each other?  

They can make us feel good or bad about ourselves, and they can shape our opinions of others. So, they're like a big voice in our heads, telling us what's good and bad, and how we should see ourselves and those around us.

 

 How are these themes addressed in the work of the artists we learned?                    

These themes are like the big ideas that artists like Frida Kahlo and Wangechi Mutu explore in their artwork. They look at who they are and where they come from, and they talk about society and how people see each other. It's like they're using their art to have a big conversation with all of us about these important topics, showing their own experiences and what they think about the world.

Explain your project and its meaning.   

In my project, I'm saying that appearances can be deceiving. People might look at me and think one thing, but I'm showing that I'm way more than what they see on the surface. It's like I'm breaking stereotypes and proving that I'm strong and capable. And the way I put everything together in my artwork is like a dream, with unexpected and imaginative things that invite people to think and feel. It's a way for me to share my personal story and creativity with others in a way that's different and thoughtful.

 

What artist(s) inspired your project?   

 Frida Kahlo and Wangechi Mutu inspired my project in powerful ways. Just like Frida Kahlo, who used her art to express her personal struggles and challenges, I wanted to use my project to tell my own story of growth and resilience. Her openness about her pain and her ability to turn adversity into art inspired me to use my project as a way to share my journey.

Similarly, Wangechi Mutu's creativity and the way she combines unexpected elements in her art influenced how I approached my project. Her ability to convey deep messages through unique materials and symbols encouraged me to use things like hair, magazine cutouts, and more to create a meaningful composition. Both of these artists taught me that art can be a powerful way to express personal experiences, break stereotypes, and convey messages that go beyond words.

 

 How did advertising and fashion images influence or get addressed in your piece?   

 In my piece, I used magazine cutouts to challenge these ideas. By including these cutouts in a creative way, I wanted to show that we can go beyond the images of beauty and style presented in ads and fashion. I aimed to say that we are all unique and don't need to conform to those standards, which often don't reflect reality. So, my project addresses the influence of advertising and fashion by presenting a different, more authentic perspective of self-identity and personal growth.

 How does your project speak to your identity and your relationship to media images?

My project reflects who I am and my connection to media images. It tells a story about my journey and how I see myself, which might be different from how media images often portray people. By using materials like magazine cutouts and symbols, I'm showing that my identity goes beyond what's shown in the media. It's like my way of saying that I don't have to fit into the molds or expectations created by these images. So, my project speaks to my unique identity and how I relate to the media's influence on how people see themselves and others.