Plaster body cast

Click picture to enlarge.

 I just came back to my dorm after doing a Plaster of Paris body cast of the backside of my body.  This is a record that I would have usually written in my sketchbook, but instead, I am posting this as a blog post.

For Form Study, we are doing Process Art.
Process Art is a type of artwork where the artist's intention is to focus on the process, and not know/control the end product.  For example, and artist might do the process of "to rip", and he would rip sheet-metal with tools.  Or, she might do "to heat", and she would apply a torch to glass bottles.

I have mixed thoughts about Process Art.  On one hand, it can be commendable  but on the other hand, it can be easy to "cop-out" (compared to Non-Process Art).
I chose the verb "to sleep".

My other "to sleep" project is to sleep on different piece of large sheet of brown craft-paper every night for a week, then pin up the 7 pieces of paper on a wall.
For my class, I am only required to do this one project; I am not required to do this body cast project.

I listened to Chopin when preparing the cast, and Dark Side of the Moon (and Live at Pompeii) when mixing the plaster and waiting.

A teacher/professor, I'll call her "C", helped me with this project.

-Lay down craft-paper on table
-Lay wooden boards, size of body, on table
-Lay craft-paper on the boards
-Put smaller boards upright around big boards (that are covered in craft-paper)
-Use clay to fill gaps between boards, and to stable boards upright (and together)
-Mix plaster (1 bag) and pour into wooden container.  Repeat this step
-Cover body with much Vaseline, wear inexpensive swim-suit, wear (latex) swim cap
-When plaster is in putty-stage, carefully try to evenly distribute your weight as you lay in the plaster
-Don't move for at least 30 min.
-Plaster will get warm/hot
-Wait until all plaster gets warm/hot, then wait 5-10 min
-Remove yourself from plaster

I made the mistake of using oil and body-lotion, instead of Vaseline, so I got stuck in the plaster.  It hurt to remove my legs, back, shoulders, and especially my neck, where some of my hair that didn't get into the swim-cap got stuck.  This was painful.  I had to have some of my hair cut out.

When I was laying in the plaster, practicing my process "to sleep", I thought that it felt like I was in a tomb.

"C" put a white sheet of craft-paper over me, except for my head, when I was cold and asked her if she could do that.  Later, she was the one to put the whole sheet over my head.  I did this because I thought that it would be an interesting experience.  I found it to be a strange feeling, to be half encased in plaster, with a white sheet of paper over me.  It also helped keep the chill off.  I think that this could feel claustrophobic to certain people (I didn't feel claustrophobia).  See photo 2.

"C" explained this study, done by an autistic woman, about animals.  Her study's result was that (all) animals like to be encased/hidden/hugged to feel safe.
Chicken though narrow passageway to slaughterhouse, is more humane.
That's why dogs like to be under the kitchen table.

I still have to cast my top half, and then cast my head.

Inspirations and related texts:

"Human" by The Killers

"To be, or not to be" Hamlet 3/1 by William Shakespeare

Stand-up act

Yesterday, 20Sept, Thursday night, and hour before an Open Mic Night at MassArt, my roommates tell me that they're going to attend the event.  So, I said that I wanted to do a stand-up act.  They supported me to do it.

As the show was closer to happening, I became more nervous.  I am scared of public speaking.  Also, I didn't know what I would say (the content) for a stand-up act.  Later, I chose to talk about how confusing Boston has been for me.

At the location of the performance, a gallery where every piece of artwork was upside-down, I talked to the guy running it, and I got to be one of the first acts.  I wanted to get it over with.  I was very nervous.

I got in front of the audience, it was quite a few people, and started talking.  I think my voice was shaking.  But, I got through some stories, and the audience laughed, and seemed to enjoy it.

I left the show early to go back to my dorm to get space.

I said something around the lines of:

I'm a Freshman, I just moved to Boston from Maine, and it's confusing to me.  Like, this room (the upside-down artwork gallery), I've never been here before, and everything is upside-down.  I'm think that there's a deeper meaning to this (I gestured to the artwork), but I don't get it.  I find it confusing.

It's like the other day, I was with family, and we were driving around Boston (this part, I mixed two stories together), but no one knows where anything is.  I asked about ten people how to get to Landmark Center, and no one knew.  Even adults who've lived here didn't know.  Or, they/people would tell me different things.  I don't know.  I'm not good at directions, anyways.  But, in the car, we'll see my dorm, it's right there, but every street is a "one-way", so it took a while to get there.

Yesterday, I went to an Outdoors Club meeting.  Afterwards, I saw that Student Development (office) was open, so I went there to get information about Student Government (SGA).  The man at the desk said that the SGA meeting just started, and that they had just finished introductions.  I went into the room, and they asked me: my name, grade, major, pronoun, and super-power.  I told them my name, that I didn't know what my intended major would be, that my pronoun is "Fay", because in English (class), a first-name is a pronoun, and that my super-power would be able to play an instrument mildly well.  They were really nice, they pulled up a chair for me and everything.  But, as the meeting progressed, I realized that it wasn't a Student Government meeting, it was the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA).  I get these acronyms confused... SGA, GSA...

I have Form Study class, and each person had a different assignment. The first part of my project was the make a paper-mache cereal-bowel, for the second part I chose to make a full-sized human sculpture, and then our teacher gave each of us an additional assignment specific to our projects. She told one person to clean up the lines in his project, and told someone else to add more to her project, and she asked me to figure out what it means to be human. That's a difficult question.

I don't know, I'm new here in Boston, and it's been confusing.

"Human"

Click picture to enlarge.

On the first week of school, for Form Study, we were assigned to follow a strict set of rules; each student had a different set of DIY instructions.  Mine was a bowl made of strips of paper glued together.

For the second part of the project, we were told to keep one element/idea from the first part, to use in the second part.  I kept the rule of strips of paper glued/paper-mached.  We were also told to use a rule/idea from another student's project; I choose the rule of interlocking cardboard.  Otherwise, I had the freedom to do what I wanted to.

I also went on a trip around the school to find where most of the paper recycling is kept (Tower 4th floor, I think).

With this, I made a life-sized human sculpture (aprox. 5'7", or 171cm).  The inside structure is interlocking cardboard, it's pretty strong.  Gaps are filled with crumpled recycled paper, held together by duct-tape.  Then, it's paper-mached a few layers, and painted a bluish-white.

I had originally meant for my "Human" to be more realistically proportioned/shaped, but I was limited by my experience in this material, and by my (less than) one week time limit.  Since it began to look less human, I worked with that, and continued to try to make it look less human by painting a bluish-white.

"Human" can stand-up on its own, though I don't let it free-stand when I'm not there, because I'm afraid that it'll fall.

Overall, it was almost too big of a project to take on.

Hands/Feet

Above, are two photos of the view from my drawing class, at 9AM.  The building in the pictures look out at Smith Hall, the dorm that I live in.  Since the Smith Hall building is an asymmetrical triangle, from the drawing-classroom, Smith Hall appears larger than it really is.

I enjoy mornings.  Since all of my classes are morning classes, I wake up when the city begins to wake up, and before the sun is high.  I have a cup of coffee with breakfast every morning, and look outside at the school (the North/East-building [I'm not sure what it's really called] is the older part of the school), and at the few trees that are by the building.  Every few minutes, there is the sound of the T-stop (train stop) directly in front of my dorm, and the sounds of cars in traffic.

Last Wednesday, I turned in my Drawing homework assignment, to draw the: right hand, left foot, and  right foot, five drawings per extremity, drawing with the left-hand (I'm right-handed), without looking the paper, and spend 30-minutes per drawing.
I was only able to spend 10-20 minutes per drawing, and when I met with my advisor (about scheduling), I talked to him about this assignment.
When I turned my drawing in on Wednesday, I was the only student who did the right (who understood the assignment).

The lesson of this assignment was the following:
To practice intense focus
To sync your eye-movement to hand-movement
To loose the "ego" of trying to draw a recognizable hand/foot

Apple picking

    

I had signed up for this trip, we left at 9AM and returned at 4PM, it involved:

School-bus ride to Ipswich (MA), about an hour long

Short hayride, some people were afraid of all of the bees

Pick your own peck of apples, I filled the bag and then some with mostly Cortland apples

A few hours to roam the Orchard's store and see animals.  There were several aggressive free-roaming geese.  I took most of my photos here.

Go to a beach for two hours.

I took photos while I was there for my Visual Language homework (12 black/white abstract photographs inspired by the word "converse".  The photos in this post are not part of my project.)

Classes

My schedule for this semester.

Visual Language: This class applies academic/formal terms to art, and requires attention to observe and to utilize this language (ie. assemblage, composition, negative space, etc).  For homework, I have to write a 1-page paper and do a powerpoint presentation about an artist of my choice, and turn a concrete (not literarily) thing/object into abstract; I don't find this difficult, because I've practiced this type of thinking in the past.  What I haven't done much is to integrate culture and history to my artwork.

Form Study: My homework is to make the Bird's Nest Bowl from Woman's Day Magazine, watch DIY videos, think about this experience, for this class.  I think that future projects will be the hardest part.

Intro to Western Art: The professor sounds like David Sedaris, and both are funny.  The class is held in the auditorium, with almost all of the incoming class, about 490 students.  The professor stands up on the stage, and he talks while presenting an image-based (not text-based) slideshow.  Homework is to read part of the textbook and write a 1-page paper about a single piece of artwork in a local art museum; I'm looking forward to writing this paper.

Out of Arabia (seminar): Lecture-based.  We're learning about Arabian architecture/art and how it relates to their cultural mindset (ie. veiling/covering the Kaaba for respect and humbleness seems to relate to veiling people).  Homework is to read two articles.

Intro to Film and Video: The class is in a special film screening/viewing room (absorbs sounds, black room). Our future project is to work in pairs to take the "portrait" of a person or a place.

Drawing: I think that this will be my most difficult class.  We cannot listen to music in class.  Our professor talks a lot, in metaphors, and he is intense about the parts of the drawing process.  Homework is considered one of the shortest assignment: 6 hours blind contour drawing done with the opposite hand that we draw with.  At least 5 drawings of each foot, and of the hand; about 30 min. per drawing. He says that for these first two weeks, the drawings (end result) don't matter (he used a different phrase than this), and that our focus/observation on the object is key.

MFA: Ori Gersht

I walked to the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) today to see Ori Gersht's exhibition.  MFA: Ori Gersht

Some of his pieces, especially: Pomegranate (video), Big Bang (video), and a frame from Big Bang (very large print, Big Bang frame).

I found his pieces beautiful/pleasant at first, then violent/gory/disgusting/injust, afterwords

I took notes in my sketchbook about his gallery and ended up filling-up/finishing my sketchbook!  Now I'm on my next sketchbook.

Before going to the MFA, I bought a big, metal, rolling-cart.


Click on images to make them bigger.

 

First day class

My first class happened today.  It was Form Study, from 8AM-1PM (or 12PM, today).  It went in this order:
Professor introduced the class
We paired-up, by name, interview the other person, then present the person to the class
Professor explained the syllabus
We walked to Landmark.  Not suppose to speak, had to be aware of surroundings.
We checked out the "cage" (where you can sign-out tools and equipment)
Each person got instructions for a project
Class ended an hour early

I found out that I will only have 5 more Form Study classes this semester, because 2 classes are on holidays/days-off.

On our walk, I learned to not wear heels.

My first assignment is from Woman's Day Magazine.  It's instructions on how to make a bird's nest bowl, an arts and crafts project.  My professor wants us to experience what it's like to conform to strict rules, and what it's like for "people who usually don't do art" to make art.  Bird's Nest Bowl

It's an interesting concept to have art students follow strict rules, but I don't like to do these types of arts-and-crafts projects.  I think that we could've been assigned a different type of project.

After class and lunch, I took a 30 min. (power) nap, and walked to Kennedy and Tower, both are part of MassArt, to sign up for Apple Picking and a comedy event, and to figure out some other things.  Then I went to Landmark, 15 min. away, to Staples to get the card-stock for my Bird's Nest, and Shaws for food and trash/recycle bins.  It was all pretty heavy to carry back to my dorm.

Later, I went to the MassArt library (only art/reference books), Wentworth library (very little fiction books), and Wentworth cafeteria to bring food back to my dorm.  I checked out a lot of books, so that was also heavy to carry.  The books are about design, sociology/psychology, and a couple classic fictions.  There doesn't seem to be leisure books here.

My roommates and I don't like social events, and even though I tried several social events, I still prefer being by myself (ie. walking to Landmark alone, listening to music).  Especially in the city here, to be alone is more of a rarity, because there are so many people.

In the US

I am in Maine.  There were multiple complications with my flights, but I'm here.

I am packing for college now.

Dance, typhoon

I've been practicing dancing with the Neili High School dance club.  The students in this club are super nice, and there is always a student showing me what to do.  We practice under an overpass.  At 3PM, classes end, and we roll out 6 mirrors from the basement/parking-lot, and get the speakers.  An iPad holds the music.  We start with stretches and exercises.  Then, we break off into the group that rehearses the dance-routine, and the group that I'm in, to practice some basic footwork and exercises.

I have attended 3 practices, from 3-6PM, 6 days a week.  It's a 30 minute trip to NLHS (walking and train-ride).

On 2August (Thursday) was a typhoon, so there was no practice.  I couldn't go that day anyways, because I had previously done 2 consecutive days of practice, and my body was recovering; I couldn't really move; I was a zombie that day.
At night, I took some pictures of the outside, from inside.  Above is one of the photos that I took that night.  I enjoy looking outside at night, especially when there's a storm.

I'm practicing the arm-wave now.  My flexibility is better than before, and I have more strength.

NLHS dance performance

Flower painting 3

This is an observational watercolor.  I painted too many lightly-tinted (watered down) layers.  But, the sketch of it works.

Swim

On Wednesday, I swam 60 laps (3000m, almost 2 miles) in under 2 hours.  The next few days, I was sore from the exercise.

Saturday (yesterday), I swam 66 laps (2 miles) in 2 hours.  I bought/brought a counter to click for each lap.

I think that 2 hours is a while to swim 60-66 laps.

I was muscularly able to do the swim, but it was difficult in a cardiovascular way.  I had to take many breaks to catch my breath, and to cough less.  I coughed most of the time that I swam.

It feels great to swim this distance!  I had thought that I could only do 10 laps.

I plan on working at swimming 66 laps.  I don't want to increase the number of laps until my breathing gets better.

I wish that I could listen to music underwater.

Flower painting 2

Drawing and painting the last flower watercolor was fun, so I wanted to paint another flower watercolor.  This one is not based off of a photograph.

Yesterday morning, I walked to the farmer's market, a 2 minute walk, to buy some flowers.  I chose the ones that had the fewest petals, because I didn't want to paint many petals.  I thought that fewer, larger petals would make it easier to begin to learn paint 3D.

I chose two strands/things of flowers, and one greenery.  I don't know flower-speak.

At home, I positioned the flowers/leaves.  Some parts of the plants were tied to be in a certain position, and I casted a bright light on it (from the left).  Then, I lightly sketched it out (large shapes to details).

After lunch, I put down a base-color/base-coat.  I think that the base-color has two roles: to make it easier for the artist to distinguish what is what (the grey sketch is hard to follow), and to cover for any parts that the artist might later forget to paint.

At night, I painted most of it.

To get a "complicated color" (to make colors look more "artistic"), add any different color to the main-color.
Or, seldom wash the paint-pallet; the older-colors dry up, and the newer-colors mix with some of the random older-colors to get a "complicated color".  I do this so I that don't have to wash the pallet much, and to get more "artistic" colors.
To get a more "natural" color (to tone the main-color down): add a little of the opposite color to the main-color.  Or, add sepia/tan to the main-color.

Things can be added or omitted.  I left out a purple flower in this painting (it was above the bottom pink-flower.

Realistic paintings look more realistic from a distance.  Close-up, this painting looks a bit abstract.

Clear thinking is key.  You have to know where a leaf begins/ends, even if you can't see it, then make it up where the leaf is placed, and remember.

Everything casts a shadow.

Don't outline.

I think that the red-parts were successful, and the rest of it could've been done differently.

I think that the purple-flower petals in both of the red-boxes are the best because of there are shadows.

This week

We're joined here with George Will and Donna Brazile, in This Week, at the round table... 

Wednesday, from noon to night, I was with a few students/friends in Taipei.  We saw a Lego exhibition of lego art by the artist Nathan Sawaya.
See "Popular": http://brickartist.com/category/gallery/
I missed the Salvador Dali exhibition, because I met up late with them, but I'm planning on seeing that gallery.
Later, we took a 90 minute bus-ride to a place, and had lunch at a casual restaurant.  Each dish was 40yuan (aprox. $1.50) for a good serving of rice-porridge or oolong noodles in soup.  I had noodles, and the cook made a vegetarian version for me.

Thursday, I biked about a mile to the English school, that hasn't been used for a few years.  I brought my sketchbook and laptop.  When I got there, I played Turisas (folk/death metal), and drew pictures for about an hour.  I drew 6 pages (I can usually only draw 1-2 pages in a day).  Then I biked back home, and took a break from drawing.  Later that night, I drew another 2.5 pages, listening to Lady Gaga and Britney Spears.  It was mentally tiring to draw.
I found that my drawings while listening to metal looks different than drawings when listening to Gaga/Spears.

Friday was the first time that I met up with 2 high school students to swim at their high school.  They swim from about 7AM-9AM every Wednesday and Friday.  I'm trying to take up this activity because I usually exercise.

Saturday, I finished my flower watercolor.  It took 2 classes, 4 hours total.  It's about 4'x2', and based off of a photograph.  Since I used a photo, I don't think highly of this painting.  I want to get some real flowers and paint them using watercolor.

Yesterday, I visited a Buddhist organization that reuses things, based on the belief that most things can be reused.  It's a recycling and redistribution place, similar to the idea of the Salvation Army.

I found out today that parmansan cheese is not vegetarian.

30 Challenge

The challenge was originally called "The 30 Day Challenge".  It was posted on the facebook MassArt class of 2016 group.  You're suppose to draw one thing everyday for 30 days.  I draw 30 things in 2 days, because I didn't want to wait 30 days.

The 30 Day Challenge

NTU hospital

My family member went to the hospital yesterday morning.  He will be there for a four days to receive heart surgery.  He has not received the surgery yet.
I did not visit him yesterday in Taipei.  This afternoon, at around 4PM, I will go up to visit him.

My sister just left to spend the day visiting a children's clothing shop, to make a DIY fabric doll.  She might go swimming too.

I'm reading a book My Year with Eleanor: A Memoir by Noelle Hancock.  I enjoy it.  The story is about a woman who devotes a year to face at least one fear everyday.

Kaoshung

I visited Kaoshung from Monday through Tuesday, so there were few tourists.  There are some non-Asian people there.

Since we drove down the right side of Taiwan, it was relatively easy to orientate, since the mountains are in the middle of the country, and oceans on the outside.

Car trip to Kaoshung.

I enjoyed looking at the mountains.

Old Japanese-style train station, left from Japan's takeover of Taiwan.

A cafe on a mountain.  We were the only ones there.

The view from the cafe.

My hotel room overlooked "Love River" (translates better in Chinese).

Photo taken from ground-view.

I sketched this view from the 17th floor of our room.

Streetview

This photo was taken 30June.

The word "motorscooter" in Chinese translates to "motor-vehicle/motor-car".  In English, I'm more used to calling them "motorcycles".  I have never seen an American motorcycle in Taiwan.


This view is familiar to me: company signs jutting out, other motoscooter, but this particular picture has few people in it.

There are many inexpensive food places here.  There are so many informal (and formal) sit-down restaurants, and vendors out.  It's basically impossible to go hungry.
Almost every morning (7AM) there are merchants selling super fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats.  The fruits and vegetables and fish might have been picked earlier in the morning, and the chickens are alive in cages.  I think that the farmer's markets are lively; I like them.
An 8 piece vegetarian sushi costs about 4-5$ in Maine, but costs 40yuan (about 1.50$ here).
Cafe's seem to be popular here with 18-30 year old.

I've found that many people here do not wait.  For example, someone is more likely to stay a few moments to hold open a door for you, whereas this doesn't happen (often) in Taiwan.

English school

Second floor classroom.

On 7July I visited the closed-down English school.  It felt strange to be in these rooms that I used to walk into.  The building is mostly empty, except for some stacks of English books.  And, the enclosed garden outside is overrun by plants again (last year, it was cleared, and weed-cloth was laid-down).

Jinguashi

I visited Jinguashi a few days ago.  It's a 2 hour drive from where I'm staying.  It has mountains very close to the ocean.
I took some photos at what used to be a fish farm.  There was some washed up trash, but the rest of the environment was nice.

I'm not sure what my plans are for the rest of this Summer.  I hope to visit the National Palace soon, and I might take some classes in art or dance.  I have a list of places that I hope to visit, so I'm working on that.

Yingge

I visited Yingge with my aunt and grandfather yesterday, about a 30 minute drive from Toayuan.  It was a Sunday, and we arrived at around 4PM.  There were many tourists, and it was still hot (at 4PM).  Yinggee is a ceramics town.  We walked on Old Street, a looping street with many ceramics shops, upscale and low.

There is a very small shop that sells reproduced vintage candy on Old Street.  I visited this place and bought what looked like matchboxes, thinking that it was candy, since there are many candies wrapped-up to look like household things.  But, when I opened it, it was matches.


I have been reading Digital Fortress by Dan Brown.  It's captivating, with multiple characters interwoven together by the situation.

Taipei

I traveled with my aunt by car to Taipei, a 45 minute drive from Taoyuan, to her work at CTS (news production company).  We brought sushi for breakfast, about 40NTD (about 1.50$)--this was in addition to my bread/cheese and fruit breakfast.  I have been trying to eat as much of the fruit here as I can, because it's fresh and
I used my laptop there for the most part.  After, one of my aunt's colleague took me outside to show me to Eslite Bookstore, a 5-story bookstore open 24 hours.  In Eslite, the colleague left, and my aunt met up with me at one of the dining areas there for lunch.
Inside of Eslite

Afterwords, I took the metro and train back to the house.  The metro ride was a few minutes, then I changed vehicles to take the train.  I took my time to find the train, and I had a some trouble finding it.  When I did make it on the train, I stood for the 45 minute ride (in heels).  After, I walked 15 minutes to the house.

I have not been taking many photos.

Huǒ lóng guǒ

This is preparing "dragon fruit", or pitaya, for consumption.  I have been eating up to a few of these a day.

Ba-la

I have been eating a lot of fruit in Taiwan.  This is a picture of ba-la, or guava; I like it.

Rain

It has been raining in Taiwan since I arrived here.  (Including the previous past 3-4 weeks of rain in Maine, this is my 5th week of rain.)  Tomorrow, the typhoon is predicted to hit this area.  So, it will rain a lot tomorrow.  I am tired of constant rain.  However, rain makes it cooler here.


I have not gone out much; I've gone out very few times since I arrived here.  I have been talking to my family, knitting, and interneting.


I always miss eating cheese when I am in Taiwan, so I have gotten cheese.


I finished a book today titled Room by Emma Donoghue.  I thought that it was interesting and emotionally powerful; very thought provoking.

Now I'm over jet-lag, not sick, and the typhoon will be over in two days: I plan on doing things.  I would like to visit the National Palace Museum and go swimming most.


Tomorrow, students from Ohio will visit NLHS.  I plan on visiting them.
This year, Taiwanese students visited my high school; I spoke Chinese to them.  Now, American students will visit NL high school, and I will speak English to them.

Taiwan

I'm in Taiwan now.  My things are unpacked.  I'm about to go to bed.  I am very comfortable and tired.

Portland

I got very little sleep last night.  I had breakfast with coffee and Ibuprofen (because I'm sick).  I'm worried that my ears will be very painful during take-off/landing, because I have congestion.

I am in the Portland Maine airport.
-I was allowed to check in two luggages, so I'm bringing it (49lb and 38lb).
-On my person (carry-on), I have a backpack: travel pillow, laptop (movies), iPod, food, thermos, cellphone.  It's has weight, but it's compact.  So far, I enjoy traveling "lightly", without a large carry-on.
-I'm pretty comfortable wearing pajama pants, an exercise shirt, and socks with sandals.  It's allowed fashion-wise, because the socks and sandals are both black.  Everything I'm wearing is black; I kind of feel like college-version of 007.
-I'll probably sleep on this flight.
-I'm not looking forward to the 5 hour layover in Chicago.  I don't like to wait when nothing is happening (it's fine to wait while traveling in a vehicle); it feels purposeless.
-There are some people here.  It feels like it's about to get busier in the airport here.
-Another flight (Washington-Dulles) is boarding at my gate now; I'm on the next flight.
-I have an air-travel concept (that would benefit me).  Instead of paying by person, you go in weight increments.  So, if the limit is 250lb: a 100lb person could have 150lb of stuff, or a 200lb person would have 50lb of stuff.  This would benefit people with less weight.  Overall, it's not a practical idea.

(I think that these times are local times of the destination.)
Depart from Portland to Chicago - 5:52AM.
Arrive in Chicago - 7:36AM
Depart from Chicago - 12:53PM
Arrive in Narita - 3:30PM
Depart from Narita - 6:10PM
Arrive in Taipei - 8:45PM

Graduation

I am happy and grateful that my family attend graduation.  It means so much to me that they were there.

Graduation dinner, the night before graduation was yummy and I loved seeing my family.  We had Thai food.

Graduation occurred.  It felt like it took a while, but it was nice overall.  I received my diploma.  Now, I'm a graduate; this seems surreal.  It hasn't sunk in yet.

After graduation was a reception for the new graduates, family, and friends.

After the reception, the graduates went to Gym C, where we each received a bag, each labeled with a name.  It had a big towel and sweater, both labeled with our high school name.  There were make-your-own subways there, snacks, and water.  We changed from our graduation clothes into more comfortable clothes.  Then, we separated into 4 groups, for the 4 buses.
We drove 2 hours to a mountain adventure place in New Hampshire.  My friends played an intense game of life on someone's phone, and we talked.  I was tired during this ride, so I was half-asleep.  There were 3 rides open to us, and I was bitten by many bugs.  I didn't care for this place, nor did most of the students, but we were only there for 2 hours.
Then we drove for 15 minutes to have a buffet dinner at an indoor water park.  After dinner, there were different things to do.  With friends, I did: swimming, hot tub, arcading, made smores by an outdoor fire, and watched a movie.  We left at 2:00AM.
And, we drove to a secret destination in Maine.  For the 2 hour ride back to Maine, some of my friends talked, while the other graduates were asleep (on the bus).  I wasn't too tired for this ride.  We went to the beach, where there was a bonfire; the donuts and coffee were 40 minutes late.  The bonfire was a nice touch, something that the school "owed us" (according to the chaperoned there) because the school did not allow a bonfire during Homecoming this year.
Then we got back to the school at 6:00AM.  I slept until 2:00PM, and then wrote this entry.

Now, I am mixed up with time.  My internal clock says that it's about 10AM, while it's 2:30PM, and I have to get used to the 12 hour difference in Taiwan soon.  I'm leaving for Taiwan in about 36 hours.

Count down

I am counting down the days.  3 more days of classes.
5 June - last day of school
10 June - graduation
12 June - go to Taiwan (tentative)
Yesterday, seniors got yearbooks (and other grades had to wait until today to receive them).
We haven't been doing anything in classes, except for math.  Tomorrow, we have a calculus test in math, and I will turn in my last French packet in for extra credit.  In art, we have a group project due next Tuesday.  I have no motivation to work in school.
The art project is in a group of four.  This is challenge #4.  We must choose 2 inspirations from 4 choices: 2 from the ICA and 2 from the MFA.
5June-9June is marching practice, from 7:45 to about 11:00.  I do not want to do marching practice because it's boring.  I just want to graduate and receive my diploma.
I hope that graduation day is outdoors and that there is nice weather.  But, right now, the forecast predicts cloudy/some-rain.
In Taiwan, I hope to spend some time at Nei-Le High School, travel different places in Taiwan to take pictures, practice dancing, and go grocery shopping in the farmers' markets in the morning.

On another level, I do not like to count-down.  I think that each day should have an additive-quality, that each day gives, instead of counting-down each day, with every day considered as "in the way".

Good/Bad

I do not believe that there are bad people.  Alternatively, I believe that there are good people.  By "good", I mean, with beneficial intentions.  Maybe it's a lie that I tell myself, for ignorance is bliss, but I don't think that this is it.  I do believe that all people are good.

A common example might be: would Hitler be considered "bad"?  While I don't consider his actions during the Holocaust "good", I don't believe that he was a "bad" person, though I consider his actions very "bad".

I prefer to be able to find harmony with all people.  I don't think that a person can inherently be bad, or become bad.  All things considered, this doesn't make me more trusting of people in general, nor does it mean that I like all people.  It means that I do not see any person as "bad".  This also means that I do not hate anyone.  I dislike/disappointed/disgusted by many actions of people, but I don't hate anyone.  No one is "bad" to me.

Done IB, sick, film

I finished all of my IB exams today, by taking two French SL exams.  I am so relieved.  I have no more major work for academics anymore.  :)

I have been in physical pain today; my whole body hurts.  This might be from the meningitis vaccination that I got yesterday.  My arm, where I got the shot, hurts the most.

I will begin filming tomorrow, for my comedy/satire film titled "Spy Club".  I am excited to begin filming.

Challenge 1

Our (IB) art class is doing challenges through the rest of the year.  We wrote a word (I wrote, "self image vs. others' image", "corruption", etc)  For the first challenge, we had three words to use to individually create a piece due the following class.  For the first word, everyone got the same word "watercolor".  Then, for myself, I got the words "monochromatic" and "blindness".
These three words (watercolor, monochromatic, blindness) have similarities and differences.  I wasn't sure how to use one-color with blindness.  Wouldn't the blind not be able to see any colors/thing?  Then, I thought about another kind of blindness: ignorance and unknowing.  I thought about this colored-water experiment, that people taste different flavors based on color (while the drink itself is the same, besides being different colors).  So, colored water--this would be different than using watercolors, and I could expose my strength if I used something other than painting; I am better at conceptual art and some sculpture.  I would recreate that experiment, but I didn't want to copy it.  I decided to use one-color (blue food coloring) and alter it with more/less water to dye ratio, with black (food coloring), and with white (soymilk).  I put each liquid in a different glass, because I didn't want to use the same glasses, and I took pictures.
The second part of this piece was to bottle each color, and severely tape the bottles together, only to expose a small window to show the color.
Monochromatic: it's all blue.
Watercolor: it's color in water.
Blindness: it's all the same liquid.  The blind can tell this (truth) most easily.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78806292@N07/

The IB Biology exams, Paper 1 and Paper 2, happened today at noon.  I think that they went okay.  Tomorrow is the last IB Biology exam, Paper 3.

History exam 2

I finished the second history exam today.  It was to write three essays.  I think that I did well on two essays, and I did poorly on one essay, because I mixed up information about Korea with Vietnam.

Prom

Prom happened last night.  It was at the Nonantum Resort.  The theme was the good/evil garden, but there were not many decorations around that theme, but it was lovely.  There was a photobooth, with the photos online instead of printed out; I took some pictures with friends with the photobooth.  The foods were fruits and sweets, there was a lemonade fountain.  For the first part of Prom, I wore the duct-tape dress and 6.5 inch (16.5 cm) shoes, and then I switched to a red dress and shorter heels.  Near the end of Prom, there were hamburgers; I didn't have any.  I have no skill dancing, but I danced.

History exam 1

I just finished a 2.5 hour history exam (Papers 1 and 2).  The rest of history will be 2.5 hours on Monday (Paper 3).  Then, biology and French, and that will be it.  I am mentally wiped-out from taking this exam today.  It was difficult.  I hope that I did okay, but I'm not sure.

Tonight, I have work.  After work, I think that I'll have the energy of a brick.

Tomorrow is Prom.  I hope that the duct-tape clothes get finished in time.

Duct-Tape prom dress

I have been working on this dress for about a month.  I worked on it today, and a month ago.  Prom is this Saturday; I hope my friend and I finished both this dress and his duct-tape outfit.
The shoes should be kind of difficult.  Sewing the zipper is also hard to do, because sewing-machines are not meant for going through layers of duct-tape (and the strong Gorilla Tape/black-tape).  I have the corsage, earrings, and a headband done; these are simple.
I listen to driven music when I do this.
It reminds me of Lady Gaga's dress.
http://blogmedia.jaludo.com/titter/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Lady-Gaga-grey-silver-dress.jpg

The past few days, I had 3 consecutive IB exams (English, 2 math), filming/photographing Mr. KHS, photographing May Day, and work.  Those 5 days were a blur and tiring.

I have more IB exams to do, and I will study those.  Much studying is done in school, because my teachers dedicate class-time for studying; about 7 hours in school studying.  When I get home, I feel tired from that/this.  I still take many breaks, and work changing things up because work requires a different type of thinking, the way art also requires a different mindset.  I have been pretty tired, but it's all good. :)

Paul Klee, Meaning in art

Paul Klee, artist, 1879-1940, Swiss.
"Primitive art, surrealism, cubism, and children's art all seem blended into his small-scale, delicate paintings, watercolors, and drawings." (Web Museum, Paris)
That is all that I want to say about Klee himself; his past childhood and adulthood do not interest me right now.

Meaning in art
There are two particular pieces of him that I enjoy.  I don't think that the titles are too important, and I don't think that the factors that brought him to create these pieces are significant either.  Being a "meaning" nihilist, I will take the perspective of no-meaning besides the physical piece of artworks themselves.  The "meaning" behind these pieces are not important (right now).  I do not like the little tags next to art that give/add significance to the piece; if the art is good enough, it doesn't need a paragraph to explain why it's special.  For example, at a gallery showing John Lennon's artwork, I thought that the art took very little skill, I didn't think that they were good, but the little-pieces of paper next to each piece described the inspiration and meaning of the piece.  Unless I'm considering the artist as a person, I don't care why an artist created a piece.  Art has to be good enough to "stand on it's own", without the pointless labels that tell the viewer about the importance.  Anyone can make up a meaning, but there are only a few pieces that are good enough as themselves.
I will critique two pieces by Paul Klee.

"Ancient Sound, Abstract On Black" 1925
http://www.sai.msu.su/wm/paint/auth/klee/klee.ancient-sound.jpg
This piece just cuts the dark in an unusual way with a tilted area/line of lightness, that contrasts the darkness.  This contrast creates complexity.  The lights and the darks mix, while all a similar range of hues.  The greens turn to blacks, and the greens turns to browns then to yellows.  Each block of color is rich, textures and hues.  The organic-form of the grid is a human-element; it makes this piece easier to connect to.  How can a person not connect to the imperfect, non-straight lines?  This shows two things: that it was created by human, showing skill, and this shows a humanness that people connect to emotionally.  And, the darkness almost creates a border; this shows control.  This control is foiled/contrasted by the human-elements.  The piece itself is done on a square canvas/paper/something; a square is perfect, all four sides the same, and people are attracted to perfect things.  In effect, all of these techniques bring perfection and human-imperfections into one piece, so both parts can exhibit their "best" traits.  This causes the viewer to be attracted to, and have an emotional response to this piece, because it is so human, and so perfect, and also well executed with its perfections and imperfections, so the viewer feels a complexity, including: attraction to perfection, attachment to the human-imperfections, comfort with the natural hues/colors, mix of emotions from either sight moving up or down (depending on if the viewer looks up or down the bright area/line), and the hues/colors themselves are rich that it grabs the viewer.  I highly enjoy this piece.  It does not feel pretentious, it does not have that cliche "human form" hidden in it; the piece feels understated, and I respect understatements.  The piece is 15"15"; I'm not sure if I would prefer this as a smaller or bigger piece.  My only criticism is that I'm not sure if some of the textures on the mid/top/left seems pretentious, otherwise, I wouldn't change anything.


"Highway and Byways" 1929
http://www.sai.msu.su/wm/paint/auth/klee/klee.highway-byways.jpg
This piece is just pretty.  I like to look at it.  Again, there are human-imperfections, by the imperfect lines and coloring; this connects the viewer the piece.  I feel that the dark splotches of colors (maybe where the canvas/something is dented) seems pretentious; I don't like that.  I do not like things that intentionally creates imperfections (like French Country furniture with the white paint slightly sanded off).  This type of intentional attempt at creating human-imperfections is dishonest.  However, I don't know what Klee's intent was, and that isn't the point right now.  The importance, is how the piece is to the me, the viewer, right now.  I enjoy seeing those hues/colors; light-turquoise looks well with the reddish-orange, yellow, and opaque-green..  Also, the horizontal lines on the top give an unusual horizon-line.  It looks tribal, human, with intents of design.  It shoes rhythm (with the lines that the shapes form).  The hues are fun and serious, or trust-worthy. It's not pretentious (except maybe the texture).  I like this piece a little less than "Ancient Sound..."

Housing, Prepare IB Exam

I sent in the form for Smith Hall yesterday.
http://inside.massart.edu/Documents/inside.massart.edu/campus_life/Smith%20Hall%20Facilities%20and%20Floorplans(1).pdf

My first IB exam occurs tomorrow.  It is for English, and it will be a "blind passage".

My schedule is busy, as there are IB exams and graduation events to fulfill.  I will continue to work; this changes the pace of things, and it changing the type of thinking that I usually have.

I hope to leave Taiwan as soon as possible, but I'm not sure if I have to take any KHS final exams.  If I do, Taiwan will have to be delayed.  If not, I can leave on 12June.

Europe Fashion

Left to right: Sweden, France, Norway, USA.

On my way down to MassArt, I began designing clothing designs inspired by European Countries.  Many aspects of inspirations for these designs are stereotypes.  The models are not meant to look like real people, but are humanoid-shapes.
Sweden: Casual business.  Hat juts out like traditional Swedish head-covering.
France: Traditional-related elegance.  Exaggerate bust and hips.  She looks like a thumb-tack.
Norway: Northern Winter nature-related.  Rope-like clothing is coarse.
USA: Depending on value of color of clothing, the bust/waist can be exaggerated or understated.

The USA model is handicapped by her too-high shoes, so show ridiculousness of the very high heals in fashion.  Personally, I enjoy fashion design, but not the social-lifestyle (of fashion) because emotions/morals are commonly mixed-up with design.  Much of "high" fashion is not meant for wear; it is designed for the art. Likewise, the models are not meant to be people on the runway, they are hangers.  However, in some cases, I like to think of models as people, and fashion as clothing for people to wear.  For example, with the Community/Charity Fashion shows that I had designs in, I knew the models and my take on that fashion was that models are people, so designed/created clothing with this mindset.  But, the thoughts that models are hangers or friends are extremes, there is also the gray areas.

Difficulty of Art

I believe that there is sometimes a stigma that art is easy.  While some artwork is "easy" to create (lacking skill), not all art is "easy".
Then, to the person who enjoys art, is art "easy"?  To the francophone, is French "easy"?  To the science-lover, is science "easy"?  Certain art (or areas in French or science) can seem easier to do for some people, and certain areas are very difficult.
In my experience with art and biology, both subjects that I enjoy, to me, both subjects are difficult.  Maybe, art is usually harder because there is no limit.  Contrasting, biology has a limit; there is a quantitative point (can be measured using numbers) to be reached, so it is clearly understood what the goal is.  But, art generally doesn't have this limit, so I find it difficult to know what the goal is, because the goal is ever higher.
Ultimately, art can be "easy", but I would not find enjoyment or respect with this, so art is difficult for me.

MassArt Visit

I visited MassArt yesterday for the second time, for a morning tour at 10AM.  The tour was inspiring and pleasant, it lasted about 1.5 hours, and the tour group itself was small (11 people).

I was in Boston until 7PM.  My parents and I visited: Admissions, Financial Aid, and Housing.  This was mentally and physically tiring.

The result of this visit was a deposit put down for MassArt.  I'm going!  From my perspective, going to a school for art seems surrealistic.  I still have a difficult time wrapping my mind around the concept that I can go to school to improve my art and knowledge in that area, enough to use art on a professional level.  This means that I am supported to pursue what I have a passion for.  Throughout my education, art has never before been given this platform.  Now, this is another marker on/in this journey.

Scholarship Tired

I took off work tonight to work on scholarships.

Today, I have read/browsed through over 130 scholarships, filled out 29 scholarships, and written one essay (4 more essays to go).  I have finished 24 scholarship applications.
Looking back, I have 131.8 hours of community service (for the four years at high school).

I have found a time, and registered to visit MassArt next Thursday.  I hope this visit inspires my joGa.

It's 10PM; I am tired.

Someone from Taiwan just sent me a song (We Are Young - Fun).  It takes my mind off of academics (and from a bad book that I'm suppose to read by Monday).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8zslGAqy5k

EDIT: 22April2012
I have written 4 more draft essays.

Scholarships, Projects, Visit MassArt, IB

Working on scholarship applications that are due soon (this Tuesday) and some academic assignments.  There are different requirements for different scholarship applications.  I would also like to use the CSS-Profile to search for other/more scholarships.

So, I am putting aside other projects:
Restaurant mural (approximately 3'x4.5') - 40% done
Pink Floyd painting (4'x5') - 90% done, just have to fix the hands
Duct tape dress - 15-20% done
Metal/Noir designs

I plan on visiting MassArt again, soon, with family.

IB has internal exams (assessed by my high school teachers), and external exams (assessed by teachers in other countries).  I think that I have completed all internal exams, and I know that I have completed all exams and assessment for IB Art.
I will prepare for the following exams, for the IB Diploma:
2May: English (blind passage, 2 hrs)
3May: Math (1.5 hrs)
4May: Math (1.5 hrs)
9May: English (use books to support thesis, 2 hrs)
11May: History (1hr)
            History (1.5 hrs)
14May: History (2.5 hrs)
17May: Biology (45 min)
            Biology (75 min)
18May: Biology (1 hr)
21May: French (1.5 hrs)
22May: French (1.5 hrs)
I love this.  The most difficult will be all of them.

Duct Tape Prom Dress

This is the design for the duct tape prom dress for the "Stuck at Prom" scholarship contest.

It's inspired by Death Metal (Turisas) and Film Noir concentration/series that I'm working on.

I have a base for the top, and a long sheet done.  I have the shoes that need the platform and extended heal.  It's probably 15-20% done.

This might be a continuation of my tape obsession, or my "tape fetish" (HS art teacher).

Death Metal and Film Noir

I am working on a series of clothing inspired by Death Metal, specifically music by Turisas, and by Film Noir.

I did some research on both subjects, and found similarities and differences.  Both are similar in: glamour (use of lights in Noir, and over-the-top sentiments of Metal), solitary, and dark tone.  The main difference between the two has to do with expressing feelings.  While Noir attempts to repress stress, or succumb to corruption, Metal protests stress/corruption.  And, (to me) Turisas is about rising up to overcoming challenges.

So, I am taking these themes, mostly the resilience/toughness of Metal and blending it with the elegance of Noir.

The picture above is the first piece in this series.  It's more Noir than Metal.  I have been working on pieces that are more Metal.

End of an Empire - Turisas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHaDCcaoeWA

Also by Turisas:
Midnight Sunrise
Sahi Waari
Fear the Fear
Stand Up and Fight
The March of the Varangian Guard

MassArt letter

I sent in my portfolio and information to MassArt on April 10 (Tuesday).  The MassArt letter came in the mail April 15 (Sunday).  The letter was printed on April 12 (Thursday).  I got in.

Then, I wasn't sure what to do next.  To me, there were two options: to go to MassArt the coming Fall, or to defer for a year as a gap year in Taiwan.

I would like to take a gap year for several reasons.  I miss my family in Taiwan, I miss the Taiwanese culture, I am burnt out from the IB Diploma programme from High School, and I would like to explore art by myself and not through a "rigid" education system.

P. suggested that I go to school this coming Fall for one semester, then choose whether or not to stay for the rest of the year, or to take a leave to go to Taiwan (for the gap year).

P's idea is the most appealing, so I will precede by planning to go to MassArt this Fall.

However, I still want to spend as much time as possible in Taiwan, so I would like to fly to Taiwan as soon as I graduate High School, and stay there until school starts at MassArt.

I'm not sure what I will be doing in Taiwan.  I will get to see my family and friends.  I would like to refresh myself from the stress of High School.  I might travel around Taiwan, visit the National Palace Museum, take photographs of old/new Taiwan, hang out with Taiwanese high school students, and look for English tutoring opportunities.