Author: Erika Bell

Oh Hey I Live There…

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One of the many benefits of being a wolverine is the luxury of wandering into The UGLI to grab some movies that I probably don’t need to be wasting time watching, but I do anyway. Recently I ended up grabbing 30 Minutes Or Less, a movie set in my hometown of Grand Rapids, MI. It came out awhile ago, and I was aware that it was filmed in my hometown, I just never got around to watching it. After watching the movie, which was hilarious might I add and I highly recommend to anyone who likes Aziz Ansari, car chases, and craziness, I completely saw my hometown in a different light.

I left Grand Rapids with vigor and hope for the bigger and the better, but after seeing it with explosions I began to see the beauty of the place I left behind, and I’m still not completely sure if it’s because of the explosions or… Anyway, Grand Rapids became this Hollywood set in my eyes. The cinematic look of its downtown, usually scattered with people and bad drivers, became this place with artistic backdrops and beautifully ancient brick buildings, liveliness, and vibrancy.

I don’t know if it’s what they call homesickness, whatever that is, but I like to think that it’s my mind’s recreation of a place that I began to lose excitement for. A local bar became a strip club, the Family Dollar that I’ve graced countless times became a stakeout scene, a gas station next to my old house became a scene where a decision to rob a bank was made, which all added this feeling of excitement for sure, but also this intriguing construction and dimension that I’ve never held Grand Rapids to have.

Sometimes we see the Hollywood lights or the hustle and bustle of New York City as these creative and thriving locations, but we don’t see the beauty and the aspects of interest within the places we live. It took me eighteen years to see Grand Rapids in a new light, but I can confidently say that I’m from the west side…of Michigan that is.

And if you would like to see the beautiful city of GR from your own humble abode, along with some hilarious moments, check out the trailer for 30 Minutes Or Less!

When The Road Gets Rough, Make Good Art

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As I sat on my rock-hard dorm bed, completely unmotivated to continue on with what I needed to do (homework, homework, and more homework), I came across a comic strip whilst I surfed the Internet. It was titled Make Good Art. It gives off the message that when you are struggling with something difficult in your life, art can be used as inspiration to propel you to do something positive with the negative situation.

I thought about my negative situation: not receiving my new phone in the mail and having to wait another two weeks for it (I know can you spell materialistic and doesn’t matter?). But granted, I’ve been putting all of my anticipation and happiness in receiving this one electronic item, and to my great disappointment it’s going to take longer for it to come. Then, as the tears began to stream down (a little exaggeration, but hey), I mustered up enough energy to read this strip, and suddenly I was enlightened by my situation.

After seeing this comic strip I was really able to put into perspective, not only the good that I have in my life, but also the positivity that art can bring to any bad experience. After this realization my spirits were lifted. I became more willing to be productive and more inspired by the outcome. Not completely saying I jumped right into my mountain of homework with enthusiasm, but I did wipe away the dramatic tears, and I was able to find the vast opportunities that could busy me as I awaited my beloved phone.

Comic Strip credited to Neil Gaiman from zenpencils.com

Arts Ink Newbie

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Do you see that? Right there in the distance? It’s long, creative, and full of potential. Oh you give up? It’s a new school year packed with art, culture, and writing here at the University of Michigan! I know, I’m boiling with excitement too!
Let me introduce myself. I’m Erika, a freshman here, and an aspiring writer with a passion for fashion and art culture. I came to U of M looking for an education where I could enhance my writing abilities and discover where I want to go with it. I’m undecided for now, but I know that my appreciation and love for fashion and writing will always drive where ever I want my career to end up.
Now let me be honest, I’m not an artistic genius, nor am I in the music or theater school with a masterful ear and eye for greatness. I’m simply a girl in love with our artistic world. I swoon over masterful pieces and bob my head when I hear greatness. I want to be that person who is able to communicate all that Ann Arbor, and the world has to offer in terms of art, but let’s be honest, i’m just a newbie. I’m going to be learning about this wonderful environment and falling more and more in love with it just like you will. I intend on growing as a writer and as a person that appreciates this artistic world we live in. So please, don’t hold my made up terminology and my “ooh so pretty” against me.
So let me guide you into the realm that most intrigues me, and what you will probably see me writing about week after week. I love Tumblr. I know, one of a billion, but seriously my most inspirational moments come from learning from other people about what they find beautiful in the artistic world. I love Ann Arbor. It’s beauty and its uniqueness is something so different to the state of Michigan, and I feel so inspired by the culture and diversity that I see here everyday. And finally, probably the majority of my posts will come from my randomness. One day I could be all about Italian culture, and the next I could be ranting on about the world’s need to purchase the remake of Carrie.
I’m an intense believer that the art that we create, and the various cultures that surround us are representations of our lives. I feel like we must embrace the beauty that we are surrounded by in order to really be satisfied.
I hope that my perspective on the Arts Ink blog gives you insight into your own journey to creativity because I’m on my own as well. We can grow together! But seriously, finding the fun in art, music, fashion, and culture is the most important lesson I want to be learned here. We all have our different interests and niches, but the enjoyment that comes from simply being more in touch with our creativity can only bring out the best in ourselves.