A Pseudoname.

For my Open Media class, we have to create what's called a "time based" art project.  This is art that's created over a period of time.  The mediums and options are endless so I'm going to explain to you my proposal and what I'm doing.

Two things I've been doing since I was young are:

1.  writing in my diary

2. creating websites

I've had many diaries and journals I've been keeping since I was seven years old.  Writing is always something I've been passionate about;  I find it very therapeutic.  It's a way of remembering my past and keeping memories alive/vivid.  It's such a treat being able to flip through the years and read about how I felt during different situations.  

When I was younger, I remember a few times that I would make up stories and then write about them in my diary.  I'd make up stories about my life to inevitably intertwine them into my memories.  I guess I thought that if I wrote them down, it would be believed to have happened and to be true.  Nothing big.  It was always small things - small things that I wanted - like having a boy ask me to dance.  It was a rare occurrence when I was 12 years old, but I remember specifically writing in my diary that many boys were fighting over the opportunity to dance with me.  True?  Not at all, but writing it made me feel good about myself; It gave me the opportunity to slip into another life/identity.

It's a known face that people assume the internet is legit and a reliable source; Really, people are oblivious to the fact that you can't always believe what you read.  This is a fact I'm going to be playing off with for my art project.

So, for my project, I've created a "fake" website reflecting a whole new identity.  It's beefed up with blogs and videos.  I want to convince my visitors into believing that my identity actually exists.  I'm striving to have people caught up into the drama and life I'm creating for myself.  I want them to feel my pain and to feel my happiness.  My visitors will follow along and dig through the life of my fake persona.  

I'll wait a bit before linking you the website, or perhaps if you do some digging you can stumble across it on your own!

"Fine Arts Students Aren't Smart!"

I was hanging with a group of my friends, discussing exams and the arrival of summer break. When asked what exams I have and when, I responded "I have one exam on the 18th." Eyes rolled and they muttered, "fine arts students" under their breath.

Allow me to rant:

1. Nothing drives me more insane than overhearing conversations that involve rants about how unfair it is that Fine Arts students don't have to deal with the same amount of stress that other students do.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

2. OK, maybe one thing drives me more insane - and that is overhearing Fine Arts students saying things like, "Oh, don't ask me to figure out math - I'm a Fine Arts student." "It's OK if I can't spell that word, I'm a Fine Arts student."

OK SERIOUSLY. If you've said one of the quotes above and you're a fine arts student, then please don't bother reading the rest of this entry. If you have said one of the quotes above, you make it OK for people to place such stereotypes on us "Fine Arts students".

1. Math was my best subject in school.
2. I'm a grammar fanatic.
3. I was on the honor roll for the six years that make up junior high and high school.

I'm good at painting and drawing like some people may be good at chemistry or physics. Just because I'm in the Fine Arts program does NOT mean the workload isn't as stressful. Art is also a chore when it comes to assignments; there are standards to be met and the stress level is high.

"Oh, Fine Arts students don't have it as rough because THEY don't write exams."

We've written exams before. We know what it's like to study and prepare for an exam. Have you made a portfolio before?

My point exactly. A lot of people have no idea what it's like to dedicate yourself and time completely into making a portfolio for three studio classes. I'm not saying it involves more work than studying for an exam - AT ALL - I'm saying the work is equivalent.

We're just as stressed as people studying for exams.

Back in the sack!

So, the Great Big Sea weekend was the most epic weekend I've experienced in a while. I had so much fun and I was surely disappointed when it came to an end.


Here's all of the girls before going out on Friday night.


Me and my favorites, before heading to the GBS concert.


If you ever get a chance to see these guys, you definitely should!

Now, I'm going to give you some of the best advice you'll ever hear. If you go out or away for a weekend, set yourself a limit of money to spend. Now, take that money out of your account and put it in your wallet. Next, lock up both of your debit card and any credit card you may have. If you bring your plastic money with you, I guarantee you'll spend a lot more than what you had initially intended. I spent a ridiculous amount of money more than I'd anticipated, but it was one of the best weekends I've had in a long time.

We went out to Maxwell's Plum for supper and drinks. The guys had been watching hockey and were going to meet us there. We were waiting a bit, so we decided to order some fancy drinks and appetizers. When the guys arrived, my boyfriend - as well as my friend, Meg's boyfriend - decided to be sweet gentlemen and told us not to worry about our bills; They said they would cover the cost of our dinners/drinks.


As you can tell from the expression on their faces, they quickly regretted offering to pay when the costs were ridiculously high. Their mouths dropped to the floor and we hauled out our cameras to take pictures.

---

So, I've basically been living in the studio since I got back to Sackville. I'm trying to get as much work done as I can so I'm not stressing out a week before classes end, trying to catch up. As much as I've been working, I'm still a little lagged behind but I found comfort in knowing everyone else in my classes is in the exact same boat.


Here's one of my turtle paintings I did for my Open Media class.

For my independent project in my painting class I'm doing a series of turtle paintings. I think I'm going to paint four of them, each 1 x 2 feet. I finished one so far and I really like how it's turning out. I'll post pictures as soon as the set is complete. After that project, I have one more independent project to do. I enjoy indepedent projects because the boundaries are infinite. That's the same boat I'm going to be in next year, in fourth year, so it allows me to get in that mind frame. It really pushes me, as an artist, to think freely and paint freely. I'm not exactly sure if I want to keep going with the turtle theme - but we'll see how this next project goes.

Anyway, I better go get some work done.

Ciao!

When I'm up, I can't get down.

So, I'm in Halifax and words can't describe my excitement. I left Sackville this morning on the bus and arrived in Halifax three hours later. I'm sitting in my friends', Andrew and Meg's apartment surrounded by eight of my friends. The guys are clumped around the TV, sipping beer and playing NHL on the x-box; The girls are sprawled out on the couches, listening to Great Big Sea, and gossiping. We have about four hours before we head out to the concert. That means we have four hours to eat some pizza, get ready, and have some drinks.

It's only Thursday but I know the weekend is going to be great. Sackville is a great location because I'm able to get away to Halifax (where a lot of my friends happen to be) and it's only a three hour bus ride away.

We've been counting down to this concert for months now and I can't believe the day is actually here. Already, the sun is starting to shine a little brighter and I can feel its warmth increase each day we get closer to the summer. I've drawn the conclusion I'm ridiculously anxious to move out of my current house and move into my new one. We got another oil bill today - $92 each. We just paid another oil bill less than two weeks ago, on top of an electric bill, and the rent. Next year our apartment is only going to be $400 each per month - everything included and I CANNOT WAIT to not have to worry about bills every two weeks. It will be a major load off.

But the fact that I can feel Spring coming around the corner is getting me excited. I've already started packing to move. My friends think I'm crazy to start packing so early; However, it's not the same as the last two years. The last two years I was in residence and all of my stuff was confined to a small space which was my dorm room. This year, all of my stuff is sprawled out all over the house in every room. It's going to take me a while to gather it all up, sort it, and pack it. So, I've started now to avoid "stress overload" as the end of April gets closer.

Alright, I think it's time for me to join in on the singing of Great Big Sea songs to get me pumped for the concert.

I'll be sure to post lots of pictures.

Have a good weekend, folks!

Weight Loss Challenge

So, you've probably heard of the freshman 15 and perhaps you feel invincible. I was pretty oblivious to it and pretended to be. But let me tell you...

There's nobody stopping you from eating the unhealthy choices cooked in meal hall every time you have to have to eat. There's nobody stopping you from grabbing that delicious dessert topped with extra whipped cream. There's nobody stopping you from grabbing a second dessert, and you really have no idea how tempting it is until you're in this situation.

Other factors contribute to those unwanted pounds:

• Late night snack at meal hall
• Unhealthy munchies stored in your dorm room
• Lack of exercise (walking to your classes doesn't count as exercise)
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol

When away at university, you have to take control and become more responsible about your health and eating habits.

There is a gym on campus, but some people (like myself) may find it intimidating to try to shed the pounds surrounded by people who I'd give anything to look like.

My roommates and I decided to do a 14-day weight loss challenge to see who can lose the most weight in two weeks. This is my fourth day into it and I've lost three pounds already! I've been doing the cabbage soup diet which claims to have you lose ten pounds in a week. I've tried this particular diet several times before but this is the first time I've actually been sticking with it. My roommate, Leah, and I also do a workout down in our basement every day. You can get some really great workout videos and, this way, you don't have to worry about having to go to the gym. Our workouts last about 90 minutes a day.


Eric, creating the chart where we monitor our weight each day.

The soup - the bane of my existence right now.

I've been feeling fantastic! It was extremely hard the first two days to avoid grabbing the leftover bag of chips in the cupboard but I'm doing great now. It's definitely more motivating having people do this with you. I probably would've given up if it wasn't for the challenge we created. I'm not sure I'll be able to look at cabbage again after this week...

The cabbage soup diet helps improve your urinary and digestive system which means you can lose weight faster. During the diet, you tend to urinate more because you're getting rid of toxins and other bacteria in the body. The soup is full of Vitamin C which boosts the immune system and energy levels. If you're interested you can check out the recipe and meal plan here It's probably one of the most reliable and affordable diets out there.

Anyway, I better go head down to the kitchen and warm up some soup!

Music is my cure.

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in awhile. I had an amazing break in the Cape but it was very very busy. What should have only been a nine hour bus ride turned into twelve hours because there were so many people traveling home for the break. I was a bit bitter but happy to be back on the island when I finally was.

My break consisted of putting off all the work I brought home to do, relaxing, seeing friends, taking 30 minute long showers, having ridiculously hot bubble baths, eating delicious home cooked meals, and sleeping in past noon. I was home for ten days but it really felt I was only home for a weekend. However, I cannot believe it's now March and there are only six weeks left of classes. I know it's going to fly by; It always does.

I'm going to the Great Big Sea concert in Halifax next weekend; So, that's a little something to look forward to to help break up the next month. I was blaring GBS in the kitchen yesterday while washing the dishes when my roommate asked who they were. You've got to be kidding me. I looked at her with my mouth wide open. I grew up with this band and they've been the vital soundtrack of my life for years. Many of their songs bring back specific memories of my life. Isn't it amazing when a song can do that?

Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls, for example. A beautifully written song, both lyrically and instrumentally. This is one we can all relate to; It was a favorite of all of ours. I'm sure that we all get flashbacks from the elementary school dances in which it was blared over the speakers, as we stood awkwardly waiting for our crushes to ask us to waltz.

75% of my life consists of getting lost in music. Sometimes I'm fairly certain I love it more than art. Music is an art form by itself. I never go anywhere without my iPod in my pocket. One time, I went to the dentist and realized I forget it and a nauseating feeling overtook me. I really felt lost and didn't think I could get through the hour of drilling holes in my mouth without having my music to get soaked up into.

There's a song for every mood you're in. Sometimes I find myself muddling through lyrics of songs on the internet for hours. I've been writing down lines from lyrics of songs in a little black book for years; Each is sorted by different mood categories. There's something comforting about getting lost in lyrics that you can relate to. It's therapeutic. Maybe it's because I find a hard time expressing exactly how I feel into words, and when it's already done for me it's so rewarding.

Music is my way of escaping into another world when I don't want to deal with this one for a little while.

What is art?

What is art?

My definitions of what art can be have been shaped and hammered over the past three years since I've been here at MtA. For my Fine Arts Seminar class, I have to assemble a presentation on an artist I like, and an artist that I don't like.

I've been pondering a lot about this over the past few weeks, as my opinions have changed and will continue to change throughout my life. I've decided to sort of play on that concept.

Before I came to Mount Allison University, my mind was very one-tracked when it came to art. I was very close minded about anything other than realism. When I was 12 years old, I took private art lessons from Cape Breton artist, Marie Moore every week and continued to do so for seven years. When I first showed up in her art class in 1999, her instructions right away were to rummage through a shelf of photographs, magazines, articles, etc. to find a picture that I liked. Her next instruction was to draw it - "exactly" what I saw. Throughout the seven years with Marie, every week consisted of the same thing. I worked on an image I found on the shelf and would either draw or paint it. Marie taught me to regurgitate on paper and canvas exactly what I saw. Marie taught me to paint and draw like her. Marie taught all her students to paint this way. I was surrounded by artists in my private class who all thought this way. I wasn't exposed to anything else. To me, this is what art was. For years, I would inevitably shut down anything that wasn't representational art. Anything else was absurd and irrational to me; I absolutely hated it...

...until I came here.

When I came here, I was bombarded with other peoples' perspectives on art - including students and professors. I learned about the different movements and styles; at first it was overwhelming but I slowly, but surely, grew a fascination for the different art realms. Now, art to me is about taking risks and exploring outside the box. My art very much became about this. I was influenced, shaped and hammered by the artists around me which has pushed me to experiment. My mind is no longer one-tracked, it branches off onto so many different roads it is staggering... but exciting at the same time.

So, you may or may not be surprised to learn that the artist I'm choosing that I "don't like" is Marie Moore. Who is Marie Moore? If you go in any house around Cape Breton you will find at least one Marie Moore print. She paints what the public likes... what the public likes to hang above their fireplaces. She succumbs to the pressures of society to make a living. She very much works within her box. She bases her art on nostalgia, creating paintings that people in Cape Breton can relate to; The Fortress of Louisbourg, The Canso Causeway, Moxham Castle, etc.

But who is Marie Moore? You look at one if her prints, and you see just what it is... a pretty picture, a realistic depiction of Sydney's famous castle... but who is Marie Moore? She in no way conveys herself, feelings or emotions into her artworks. It is what it is. Realistic depictions. Sure, they may be aesthetically pleasing but for the most part it stops there. There's no gazing at works like these and getting lost in them. The process of admiring works like these stops at the surface. The conclusion is already drawn and mapped out for you. You have nothing to interpret.

I'd rather paint what I want rather than what the public wants. I, now, believe that art loses some sort of value after it has been reprinted hundreds of times. Even browsing numerous Facebook photo albums, I see Marie Moore prints hung out over peoples' walls. But WHO is Marie Moore?

Art to me, now, is about taking risks... is about painting more than what you see. It's about painting how you feel, and if people can appreciate art driven on this level than that's truly an accomplishment for its maker. I've learned that I will do everything in my power not to succumb to the pressures of society, painting what other people want. I will paint what I want, and if people love that - then that's amazing.