Carousel Creative Response

As a concluding assignment for my "Crafting the Vision" class, students were expected to select a work from the student art show then provide a creative response or a critique of the piece.

I enhanced and restored a carousel image that I had taken at Eldridge Park after being inspired by Julia Tighe's lively painting of carousel horses. Her piece inspired me with its lifelike quality, as the horses seem to be galloping as if they weren't in a fixed position.  It is what I deem to be the ideal depiction of a merry-go-round at night, with its vibrant colors and bright lights standing apart from the darkness.  I wanted my image to imitate this concept, as the original photo of the indoor, unused, stagnant merry-go-round lacked the lifelike quality that a carousel should possess.

ORIGINAL

ENHANCED

This isn't it.

            He kissed me hard, but not with vehement passion.  He clumsily yanked at my silvery belt buckle, struggling at first to release the metal prong from the punctured leather, but promptly jerking the belt harder and thrusting the encumbering parts aside.  He unfastened the button of my ivory shorts so hastily that I barely took notice until he crudely pulled them off and flung them onto the disheveled pile of other stray garments on the floor.  He stopped the stripping long enough to shoot me a grim smirk, savagely staring at me with his hardened hazel eyes.  I tensely averted my gaze, instead fixing my eyes upon the bright fuchsia bow that adorned my silky lace panties.

_____

            The little girl scampered around the flower garden, following the mother as she watered the blooming perennial plants with her faithful watering can that early summer evening.  The mother graciously smiled down at her as she stooped to sniff a tuft of purple buds on the little lilac bush.  Her damp, freshly-washed hair, holding the highlights of afternoon sun and smelling of fruity detangler spray, hung loosely down her back as she crouched close to the fresh mulch.  She balanced her agile frame on her sturdy heels without grazing her just-lathered-in-sudsy-soap skin against the dirty ground.  The mother playfully sprayed her arm with a drizzle of water that evoked a giggly shriek and backwards leap from the little girl.  She was steadied by the mother’s unwavering arms and drawn in for a snug warm hug and ticklish butterfly kisses upon her rosy cheeks.  The mother set the little girl lightly back on her feet and smoothed out the wrinkles in her petite white tank top.  The little girl stood still for the most part, fiddling only with the tiny pastel-pink bow at the midpoint of the slow-sloping neckline of her tank-top.

_____

            I swiftly slid out from beneath his sturdy body, my steady feet landing firmly on the floor.  I snatched up my garments and slid them on as I glided towards the door.  “Where are you going?” he asked as he lunged forward, with confusion, annoyance, and insistence in his voice.  I whipped around sharply, staring at him with fiery eyes.  “I remember what love is like,” I said.  “This isn’t it.”  Without pausing even for a moment to hear a response, I swung open the door and strode out to find the love that I knew was out there, somewhere.

Manual Transmission

In response to the following creative writing prompt from my "Crafting the Vision" class, I created a comical dialogue between two high school students on the topic of "manual transmission."

"For your journal next week, write a short essay about 'manual transmission.'  Although you might have an image popping into your mind from just hearing the word, I have included definitions of "manual" and "transmission" to get you to think and react.  I am not looking for a specific answer, but for YOUR answer.  How long?  As long as you want it to be.

manual

adjective

1. physical, human, done by semi-skilled and unskilled manual work

2. hand-operated, hand, non-automatic.  There is a manual pump to get rid of water.

noun

handbook, guide, instructions, bible, guidebook, workbook, enchiridion (rare) the instruction manual

transmission

noun

1. transfer, spread, spreading, communication, passing on, circulation, dispatch, relaying, mediation, imparting, diffusion, transference, dissemination, conveyance, channeling the transmission of knowledge and skills

2. broadcasting, showing, putting out, relaying, sending.  The transmission of the programme was brought forward.

3. programme, broadcast, show, production, telecast.  A webcast is a transmission using the internet."

_________

Lydia: Hey Jake! Do you wanna join Manual Transmission Club? It’s really neat and everyone is getting involved!

Jake: Manual transmission? What do you guys do, install transmissions into cars while learning to drive standard?

Lydia: Do I look like a mechanic?

Jake: I don’t know about your hidden talents. Oh wait, I get it.  You started a group to do snazzy handshakes with. Is the purpose to share companionship, or germs?

Lydia: That’s so fifth grade Jake.

Jake: Whatever you say, but I could swear I saw you fist-bumping Danielle just the other day. My last guess: you talented members put your deepest, darkest thoughts onto paper then sit in a tight circle and read your poetic words aloud.

Lydia: And…you’re wrong again. I appreciate the effort though. We transmit manuals dude. It’s kind of an obvious concept.

Jake: …I don’t get it.

Lydia: Well here, let me read you our mission statement.

“Manual Transmission Club, formed with the intention of enhancing each individual’s random knowledge, is committed to the sharing of all types of manuals, including (but not limited to) how-to-guides, step-by-step instructions, social and religious regulations, health and lifestyle enhancing tips, installation processes, building guides, and a plethora of other focused manuals. By increasing awareness and intelligence of a variety of subjects, individuals become significantly more well-rounded and prepared for unexpected situations.”

Lydia (continued): Jake, I think you would be a great contributor to the group. Your knowledge of sailing and boating regulations would surely help each of us at some point in our lives. For example, when I’m abundantly wealthy with three yachts, I’ll benefit from knowing how to dock them and maintain their superior structures.

Jake: I was honestly buying this up until the part where you get rich. Then I noticed the falseness of your pleas. I’m sorry Lydia, but I’ve got to get going.

Lydia: Wait! Remember when your date Hannah left prom early last year, because she was “sick?” The only thing she was “sick” of was your absolutely ridiculous dance moves, Jake. I was embarrassed for her.

Jake: (blushing) What does that—

Lydia: (interrupting) What does that have to do with anything, you ask? There are manuals for that, Jake. You can get help. It’s not too late to fix this.

Jake: (mumbling with defeat) Where do I sign up?

Lydia sheds a victorious grin, reaching for her group list to add her newest recruit.

Depictions of Elmira, NY

 

I photographed and edited the above images to capture depictions pertaining to my experience in Elmira, NY.

Animation Exploration

Below is the first animation I created, in which I altered minor elements of George Seurat's painting entitled Bathers in Asnieres and added a reflective filter for effect.

The next animation I developed took more time and effort, consisting of nearly 100 frames, multiple moving parts, and accommodating audio clips.  I moved each leg of Giuseppe Arcimboldo's black horned animal to replicate the motion of walking through the grass of The English Landscape by George Hodan.

A Wild of Nothing

 During my "Electronic Art Studio" class, I layered four of my own outdoor images of differing opacity to create "a wild of nothing" in which all the photos blend together harmoniously.