Tag: art

Mixed on Campus #16 – Alice Conner

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Name: Alice Conner
Mix: Japanese & White-American
Major & Year: Industrial Engineering; Junior

Q: How has being mixed affected your campus experience?

A: My racial identity and the racial/ethnic identities of other mixed people are often scrutinized by others. People choose to accept or not accept my racial identity based on when it is convenient for them. Constant scrutiny on my appearance and the validity of my experiences is alienating, exhausting, and psychologically distressing. How you look is not a choice. Before joining the student organization Mixed@Michigan, I did not have the vocabulary to defend myself and other mixed people. People did not listen to me until I educated myself, even if all I learned were the “proper” words to explain what I already knew was true. Mixed people should be heard even without statistics and well-spoken words.

Q: What do you wish more people knew about the mixed experience?

A: I believe a lot of the prejudice towards mixed people is a result of ignorance, which is why it’s so important for mixed people to be able to speak about their own struggles and experiences. I want people to understand that the mixed experience is a real lived experience and not just an interesting debate topic. I’m tired of hearing arguments on whether or not a mixed person is allowed to identify with or represent a specific racial identity based on the percentages of their racial makeup and opinions on what the person looks like. How a mixed person is perceived by others will depend on the mixed person, the person perceiving them, AND on the context of the situation. In the end, monoracial people do not have authority on how a mixed person chooses to identify.

+1: Mixed people are not buffers between different racial categories. People should not be measured and judged based on their perceived proximity to whiteness. Oppression is often discussed in binary terms (a person either experiences it or they don’t), but reality is not so easily categorized. Mixed people are used to this idea– they are good at tolerating contradiction and ambiguity.

Q: What is your proudest moment?

A: I’m very proud of this project. What I wanted to do with Mixed on Campus was provide other mixed people with the opportunity to speak up about things they might not have been able to before. I’m very grateful for all the responses I’ve received and the opportunity to use my platform to provide a voice to the mixed community at this university. Mixed@Michigan is a club in which we are bonded not through a specific racial or ethnic identity but because we have all experienced what it means to not fit into the monoracial paradigm of racial purity that society expects. We are able to support each other and provide a safe space free of judgement and questioning. There is so much diversity in experiences within the mixed identity and I wanted to be able to show that by providing other mixed people with the chance to tell their story.

Mixed on Campus was inspired by the Humans of New York project. The purpose of Mixed on Campus is to give a voice to this university’s mixed community and shed light on its members. Being mixed means to be multiracial, multiethnic, and/or a transnational adoptee. Through Mixed on Campus, mixed students have the opportunity to have their portrait drawn and share their experiences!

Fiber Fridays #5: Arduino + Processing

rissaw Leave a comment

Hey everyone,
This week I am super excited to show you a sustainability + ecological project I and my partner Yueshan Jiang have been working on in my creative coding class for our final.

This semester I have been focusing on how to make my fiber arts more interactive for the viewer. I initially learned how to code using Processing, an artist focused programming language. I learned how to be able to manipulate images, create video games etc. Later in the semester us students were taught how to use an Arduino kit to wire interact art installations.

I’ve had an extremely fun time learning these skills and find them really useful to incorporate into my artwork.

Yueshan and I have created this sculpture together to shed more light on the current global climate crisis and it’s relationship to the ocean.

“Our world is currently suffering a global climate crisis. Our oceans are raising in temperature, killing off sea life. The warming oceans cause thermal stress which causes coral bleaching and infectious disease. Sea levels rising also leads to sediments smothering coral. The intention of this interactive experience is to feel a connection between human and sea life. Intended to be immersive and interactive, this piece promotes human impact on the climate crisis as well as instills empathy for our ocean life. ”

How it works: (Stripped straight from our proposal)
“We will use the ultrasonic sensor to pick up on human movement. The closer the viewer is to the coral, the more violent the wave in the background becomes. The light in the central coral sculpture will turn a threatening color. Audio will increase causing the viewer to feel tense. As the viewer moves away, the color returns calm, as does the visual and audio being presented. This sensor will take this information and send it to the Arduino, which will tell processing how to change the visual. The Arduino is responsible for changing the light colors in the sculpture. “

I recently declared a minor in geology and the earth is becoming ever more important to me. I appreciate all the work that Yueshan has helped put into this project, taking on primarily the coding aspects.

That’s what I have for this week, I excited to show you next Friday some Christmas gift crochet ideas!

-Marissa

Yueshan’s Instagram:
@jyueshan_

Mixed on Campus #15 – Giana Mae

Alice Conner Leave a comment

Name: Giana Mae
Mix: Filipina, Mexican, Polish, Italian
Major & Year: Business; Junior

I am the Director of Event Planning for Michigan Esports

Q: What do you wish more people knew about the mixed experience?

A: The percentage of your mix does not determine how you identify. I am often met with the uncomfortable question “what percent are you” as an attempt to see how much I can relate to a person. I find this extremely inaccurate to how I was raised. I can be proud of my culture and how I grew up even if my blood percentage is less than reflected. I want people to know that to be mix does not mean you accurately align with your blood at all times.

Q: What kind of person do you aspire to be?

A: I aspire to be someone who can be counted on by others. I know how hard it can be to handle something all on your own. Whether it is at home or in the workplace I want to help carry the load. I have noticed the competitive spirits of some people, which can be draining. We can get so absorbed in grind culture and “making it” that we forget to lean on others and accept help when necessary. I want to be someone that others come to for advice and can be trusted.

Q: Who is the most influential person in your life?

A: The most influential person in my life is my older sister. She always seems like she has everything figured out and is one of the hardest working people I know. She enjoys the little things in life. I can see her living out the life I want. This helps me when my dreams feel like a reach or unattainable.

Mixed on Campus was inspired by the Humans of New York project. The purpose of Mixed on Campus is to give a voice to this university’s mixed community and shed light on its members. Being mixed means to be multiracial, multiethnic, and/or a transnational adoptee. Through Mixed on Campus, mixed students have the opportunity to have their portrait drawn and share their experiences!

MediaScape Musings # 7 : Missing Piece

dsuart Leave a comment

Hello everyone!! As we approach the end of the semester, I wanted to take a moment to extend warm regards and share a unique collaborative endeavor that has been brewing in one of our classes, involving students from the PAT, Stamps, and Dance departments.

Titled “Missing Piece,” this project is more than just a performance; it combines live performance art, dance movements, and live piano interludes. What makes it truly special is the active involvement of our audience. We’ve extended an invitation for them to bring objects of personal significance, items that hold meaning and significance to them, and seamlessly incorporate these objects into the fabric of the performance itself.

As we eagerly await the culmination of this project, I can’t help but anticipate the final recorded performance. It promises to be a testament to the power of collective creativity and the magic that ensues when diverse talents intertwine to create something truly special.

Stay tuned for the final performance video, as it’s sure to encapsulate the essence of our collaborative efforts and the meaning behind “Missing Piece.”

Industrious Illustrating #49 – Paper Printing

Robin Leave a comment

Did I say “next week” in my last column? Oops. I kinda forgot that Thanksgiving break was coming up, and then I ended up too busy with personal life stuff to actually make this post. Anyway, now I’m making this quick-ish overview of paper terms and types for making prints!

When making prints on paper of your artwork, something important to keep in mind is paper weight (which is almost always equivalent to thickness). Thicker paper is sturdier and harder to damage or bend, which both keeps your stock safer and also feels better for your customers compared to receiving a super thin paper print. Usually the way to evaluate printing company paper weight is through points, which is a whole number version of how many fractions of an inch thick the paper is. For example, 12pt cardstock is .012 inches thick. There’s also other ways of evaluating weight such as pounds or gsm (grams per square meter) that sometimes show up, but I’m less familiar with how those work.

A sampling of papers with different gsm. Source: samedayrushprinting.com

There’s also a myriad of different paper types available for printing, but the ones used most often for poster prints are text and cardstock. Text paper is thinner paper similar to office printing paper or the pages of a book, while cardstock (also known as cover stock) is closer to the paper used for a greeting card or the cover of a softcover book. There’s also giclee, which is an archival-quality paper used for more expensive fine art prints that are meant to last, but I don’t use it since the per-unit cost is much higher than cardstock and my customer base prefers relatively affordable posters.

If you want personal recommendations, the paper I use from Catprint is specifically their Light Cardstock – Satin, which I feel has a good balance of sturdiness, light-weightness, and a finish that subtly enhances the artwork (I’m not sponsored, but I definitely wouldn’t turn down a sponsorship if I got an email about it). I’ve also tried 12pt gloss cardstock from Greko Printing (a Michigan-local printing shop) and found it similar in thickness and quality to Catprint’s Light Cardstock Satin, so that’s a valid alternative if you want to support local.

The print I made with Greko is on the left, while the print I made with Catprint is on the right. Greko’s feels slightly thicker, but otherwise the two prints are quite comparable.

If you print at home or (as a Stamps student) in the Digital Printing Lab using an Epson printer — which is a valid option if you prefer total control over your prints and can tolerate wrangling the printer yourself — Epson typically makes several types of papers that are good for art prints. I personally liked their matte premium presentation paper the most — their non-premium paper is way too thin and light for my liking, and I didn’t really like how the gloss finish on their gloss papers made my artwork look overly shiny. They’re typically available in packs of 25 or 50 online in various sizes (usually 8.5×11″ or 11×17″), and they even have some extra premium options like a canvas finish or extra thick paper that I’ve never tried but might elevate your prints.

Don’t make my mistake — make sure that the paper you’re getting has the “Premium” at the top!

Honestly, the best advice I can give in the end is to order a sample pack (usually either free or at a small cost) from the printing company you’re interested in to actually see and feel for yourself which paper type would work best with your own artwork. Enjoy having your artwork physically sit in your hands as a custom print!

In terms of next week’s topic, maybe I’ll go back to showing and talking about my own artwork, since it’s been a few weeks of just talking about art business-related topics. Of course, I’d like to hear if you guys want me to cover anything specific in the future!

Mixed on Campus #14 – Sophia Singh

Alice Conner Leave a comment

Name: Sophia Singh
Mix: Indian & Serbian
Major & Year: Neuroscience; Sophomore

Q: How has being mixed affected your campus experience?

A: People are very quick to assume, and simultaneously, dismiss who/what I am based on my appearance. It’s very disappointing, because I thought that narrative would change from the South (where I grew up) when I moved here for college, but it really hasn’t. Ignorance and micro aggressions permeate every part of this student body still, and it has created an overall sense of weariness.

Q: What do you wish more people knew about the mixed experience?

A: It has been so difficult to grow up in a society that has forced you to put yourself in one box or the other. It’s so jarring at times, because I’m not “Indian enough” for some , but also not “white enough” for others. Growing up not being able to place yourself into any singular category makes you really question yourself and who you are. I still go into doctor’s offices today that place emphasis on “only checking one” in the race section.

Q: What is your proudest moment?

A: The moment I truly learned to love myself and the cultures I represent. Being born and raised in Louisiana has definitely been a interesting experience, tainted with the underlying forceful assimilation into white southern culture. It’s something I will never be, but it took me until middle school to truly appreciate the unique experience I have from having a Sikh-Indian father and Serbian mother. It’s something I am so extremely proud of, because I have seen the sacrifices they have made to get to where they are, and the sacrifices they have made to be together. Why wouldn’t I be proud of how I represent that?

Q: What are you most anxious about right now?

A: I think the general trend of “backwardness” we see going on in the United States right now. It’s naive to ignore the rise of the ultra- conservative right in this moment, and it’s something we should all, as a modern society, be more wary of. There is going to be a lot on the line in this next election, and I fear the most basic fundamental rights for every marginalized group will be at risk.

Q: What kind of person do you aspire to be?

A: I aspire to be seen as someone who has spent a lifetime being kind and helpful. There is nothing more rewarding in this life than helping as many people as you can, in any way possible. Most importantly, to have led a life filled with kindness. It costs so much more to be mean, so why not approach everything with kindness?

Mixed on Campus was inspired by the Humans of New York project. The purpose of Mixed on Campus is to give a voice to this university’s mixed community and shed light on its members. Being mixed means to be multiracial, multiethnic, and/or a transnational adoptee. Through Mixed on Campus, mixed students have the opportunity to have their portrait drawn and share their experiences!