Arts Ink Newbie

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.

Anything I can do, you can do better

*sniff sniff*

This is my last official post for a while.  The school year is ending and I’ll be abroad next Fall in fabulous New Zealand.  I’ll try to send you guys updates on the foreign art scene once in awhile. I’m going to miss writing for arts,ink.  It’s a great job that has encouraged me to explore such fabulous things throughout the year.

I’m hoping to spend this summer not actually looking for new art, but creating it.  My muse has sadly been chained to a chair in horrendously orange corner of my mind for most of the school year to give me a chance to actually get my assignments done, but come Tuesday her constraints will rust and she’ll be able to burst free from prison (with more grace than Superman could ever muster).  I’m expecting to spend good portions of next week sitting in a corner of the Espresso on State St and just write.  I managed to spit out 50K words in Nov and am aiming to write at least 75K this summer.  (I could try my November pace, but my muse was so tired she actually willing donned those chains and has yet to return to that still as yet unfinished story)

I also am hoping to do at least one photo shoot and spend an hour a day on a mural I’ve wanted to get started on ever since last year.  Who knows if I’ll succeed (most of my New Years resolutions have gone up in smoke) but I’m willing to try and make this a productive summer.  I mean, playing Frisbee and going to Ben and Jerry’s almost every day is a great summer plan, but what will you have to show for it at the end?  100+ pictures, all so similar that your entire summer could fit on a single page in a scrapbook?  Trust me, having a completed work of art work will make you feel much for accomplished.

Thus I challenge you to create something this summer.  It can be a single poem, it can be a collage of leaves from every town you visit, or maybe you just produce a sketch book full of doodles.  Either way, I want to hear about it.  And look on the bright side, you get to actually cheat and do some of the work come the Fall semester cuz I won’t be here to know any better ^_~

So far well (for now).  May you have a great summer full of good times and good art.  I’m curious to see what you all create.

Your muse chainer,

Jenny