When creating my counter factual identity I wanted to stray away from my usual look. Which I describe as a mellow rockstar, I usually wear tipped jeans with a neutral colored top. I thought of making an outfit that a person with a skateboard would have worn.
The reactions were not much different to my usual interactions with others. Which may have to do with the colors I were because are neutral. I had never asked what people think my name is, but the people I asked said I looked like an Eric, Adrain or Ricardo. Regardless, of what I wear I am usually confused with an art major despite being a business major. Other than that people thought I was an engineering major.
Looking back my two “different” outfits were as different as I thought which is making considering more colors and styles. Though I do recognize that one’s outfit has a lot to do with how view someone. There often times I dress formally and the way I am treated is much better than with my normal clothes.
Many times people are concerned with issues that happened around them. My observation is that it mostly a reaction to what others think like a fad. Like having to awe with any small pet automatically tainting a genuine reaction with there was even one. In the case of my drawing many are concerned with others having to bathe in dirty water while in most western nations we use clean water in our restrooms. I chose this idea because often want to change things without realizing our own privileges and/or contributions to an issue. I believe that I was successful in displaying the concern for clean water for everyone without realizing our utilization of this clean water. Though if I had to do this again I may have added more images and symbols because I feel that this idea is applicable to other issues. Another idea I would probably express is affection within a culture and how they may seem weird to other cultures.
Oscar Pearson is an undergraduate student at CSULB school of art working toward his BFA in drawing and painting. As his major implies most of his works consist of charcoal and oil paintings. He has artistic endeavors outside of school, as an exhibition in As We Dwell DTLA March 9th with other artist who are trying to raise funds for the Hong Kong protests. He has many portraits of people done in Charcoal.
“A drop in the bucket” left image and “this train” right image
”A drop in the Bucket” is a large painting that is black and white. The shading and flow of the charcoal gives a sense being near. More so, the texture of the seats looks as if it would have the feel of the real seats. “This Train”uses vibrant colors that gives the feeling of one being on the train during noon. The nonlinear shapes he utilizes on the seat designs feels familiar which is odd because they have no clear pattern or cadence.
The title of the exhibition, Near Far gives insight to what Oscar Pearson explores in both paintings. It is exploring distance through the observer and what seems close or far. Oscar explains how in the train people have a place to get to, though everyone in the train are traveling together. The feelings when riding are kept to the individual themselves, but one is simultaneously experiencing similar things to those in the train. In this case the other passengers seem far but in reality they can be closer than one may think.
As a person who rides the train both paintings seemed very real as I were in the train. Especially, the seats since charcoal has a particular texture that does not distribute equally. Providing a very close resemblance to the cloth on the seats. Provide the ideas of the artist I was more aware of the people. They seem relatively far but when I think about where they might be headed the more I see they can be very similar. This has allowed me to appreciate the pieces even more because they feel like an experience.
As a commuter from Los Angeles there is many things to see in the almost two hours it takes. There are many like me but I’m unsure if they think the same or don’t even pay attention to the outside. For me the many places remind me about lessons that I have been learned or currently learning. For me I chose this because I often reflect on things I see and how they can relate to my experience.
Photograph of the Metro station were I “officially” leave Los Angeles. It was also the place were I landed an internship that changed on my perspective on education and future.
I was very fortunate to land an internship in Downtown L.A. where I had conversations with very successful lawyers and attorneys. Long story short it motivated me to elevate my education, which eventually lead me have the opportunity to be accepted to California State Long Beach.
Near the the second spot there are many large manufacturers. This particular building says “Can Do”
For me this phrase on the building means that things don’t happen without desire or a dream. To build this company someone or a group of people that they could do, and they did.
This photo of Downtown L.A. shows two different worlds. One is where the high rise buildings and the second being everything around it, where majority of workers having different aspirations than the other.
Often times I have felt stuck thinking I could not get out. But this image represents of how my efforts will hand me on either side. Not that one side is better but one has more rewards.
More along the commute we see many houses they have minor differences but ultimately look very similar.
To me this image represents resistance against complacency because I admire the desire to be different. To be honest this image would not be strong its own but help explains values have lead me to where I am now.
Thus an image where there are train tracks leading in another direction. Also there are many trailer trucks that various things.
This represents that there isn’t just one true way of doing something. Many I have given up because a certain approach did not work, but did not even try another. These are often the times that made me stronger because I knew that never again did I want to not try without knowing what would have happened.
This image of me approaching my last stop on the train. Outside tracks and manufacturing warehouses can be seen.
Similar to the beginning one can spot tons of warehouses. To me this means we can do many or pretend like we did many things but fall in similar circumstances. This means that learning is what propels one forward because many actions are useless without purpose. More so, the many paths there are like the freeway and tracks reinforce my earlier lesson that there many ways of getting somewhere.
Personally I believe that my story could have been much better. Many things I was saying were true but felt like I was reaching, attempting to relate it to the image. For this reason I would have taken pictures outside of the buses as well. Though I liked the image of Downtown where the high rises are in the center because I feel it captures many stories. Though this was very interesting, I would be interested in covering the many people that are in Hollywood, due being filled with many different people.
Graduate student Yichih Wang is working for her MFA in metal and jewelry at California State University Long Beach. The artist really enjoys making jewelry and most of her pieces are made of metal. The piece that I saw was in the metal group show at the student galleries. It was pendant light that had cutouts of shapes of many things. it was very interesting to me as I never see a light with the intention to represent something.
The pendant wasn’t very large, probably a foot in diameter. The color was bronze on the outside shell but the inside looked more yellow. Perhaps it appeared to be yellow because of the light inside. The power cord was connected to a square that then connected to the cylindrical shell of the light. Based on my first observations I saw clouds and what appeared to be wind. Also, due to the light inside the cutout shapes illuminated on to the nearest wall.
Asking what the artist wanted to explore with the piece. The light was the representation of the sun and the many things it illuminates around it. Many times when looking at the sun many see clouds floating. While the sun illuminates mostly the ocean it shines based on the waters reflection. Asking where the artist where they draw inspiration. It became more evident when looking at the artist’s Instagram that a big inspiration for their pieces is nature. From birds, leaves and clouds nature is a big inspiration.
It was a very interesting use of a light. For millions of years the only source of light was the sun. Now it is not very much appreciated because we are able to create our own lights. But for many years it has been vital to mother nature in so many ways. I believe that this pendant light is a very beautiful and unique way of expressing that. It resonated with me because as humans we don’t appreciate nature because of our technology. But if it weren’t for nature their would be no technology for the humans to create.
Was it fun? Was it frustrating? Do you like to draw? Will you ever try again?
I believe it was was very fun because I can gauge the details I pick up when I see something. It was a bit frustrating not being able to draw because I’m not the best at drawing. I enjoy drawing and definitely want to get better, so I will make sure I practice frequently.
Do you think if you practiced for 100 hours, or 1,000, that you would get a lot better?
I believe that if I practice at least 100 hours I will not have the urge to erase and my drawings will look more realistic.
What is your major? Can you think of any ways that simple sketching of some kind could be useful in your major?
I am a business major, I believe that drawing a product that has not been done will be very useful. This being that I do not depend on an artist, saving time as a result.
The object is the ivy growing on the canvas being the tree. The ivy is small and is growing upwards. The green leaves start at the bottom right which gives the impression that it will spread to the top left. The growth of the ivy was going upwards which reminds me of grass spreading. This gives the observer the feeling of curiosity of where the ivy will go. The theme is of nature using anything as a canvas even nature itself. The beauty of nature to expand on its own.
I believe that the object was art before I placed the tape, because the ivy was placed intentionally by the campus. The ivy was placed to beautify the campus and it was not removed from the tree. It seemed the gardeners wanted nature to take its course. Due to this removing the tape it remains art.
Art is not found in the object, as I believe it depends on a person who wants to use it as a representation of either an emotion or thing. I believe that it can be found when the object can represent a bigger idea. Or evokes an emotion for being indigestible for our minds. Therefore I believe art does not necessarily have to be an object because art can evoke emotion by itself.
I believe that art is based on the experience of the viewer. My experience with this being that no one notices palm trees, until someone is outside of Los Angeles. Yet in many representations of Los Angeles can include a number of palm trees. As a viewer we chose what we pay attention to, and allow us to impact our emotions and ideas based on previous experiences we can compare it to.
My Experience finger painting was much better than I expected as I enjoyed the end project. It was easy for me because I knew what I wanted to express. I wanted to express sharp and strong emotions which shows on my finger painting, meeting my expectations. More so, I am not too confident with my painting skills though I felt the way I was able to use my hands allowed me to be in control. If I had to sum up my piece to myself it felt right because I did not want the patterns or colors to feel saturated. It was liberating due to having a physical representation of how I felt. Inspiring because I enjoyed how the colors mixed and came together, which left me wanting to do more paintings.
Performing Maintenance art felt unusual to me because I had no intentions or purpose through my performance. Besides that I grew an appreciation of the NOW sculpture by getting up close. Usually, I appreciate the sculpture from afar on my way to another class. Never had I seen the sculpture through the inside and up close.
I believe that Mierle Laderman Ukeles had a different intention than Richard Serra. More so, I believe the way it is done, Mierle is a statement of an idea (women’s roles) in society while Richard to capture an emotion or moment. Both were meant to be analyzed as they are both art and meant to evoke a reaction.
Mierle’s Maintence Art is art because her intention to perceived as such. Being she did not expect nothing in exchange than peoples attention to what an idea says she should be doing for being a women. Being at the museum doesn’t make it art because regardless it would be the background not subject. If Mierle were to be hired for long and kept the intention to represent something for the public it would have still been art. I believe intention makes art because a wire isn’t art until it isn’t intended to be either having it be showcased or reproducing it through another medium.
I believe a noun or verb is simply art because if everything is art nothing would be art. The intention to display something as a representation of anything is art. For the same reason having a painting just so a house doesn’t feel empty is not art. If there is no intention on a canvas or reason to display it isn’t art.
I believe both Mierle and Jennifer made me think about the reality of inequality and it’s strong presence. Reason being that if there was no inequality issue both artist would not have grounds for their performance. For that same reason work that women do is not art until it is chosen to be represented. Labeling it “Women’s work” solidifies as art because it could have been simply labeled work.
Personally, I would not clean anyone’s star because I believe there are better ways of honoring people. Also, I don’t like the attraction of having stars people can step on. Which I believe that intself defeats the purpose of cleaning it.
Carlos Huerta Reyes' Portfolio 