Art is for everyone: Week 5 reflection told through the work of Keith Haring

Keith Haring was one of the original graffiti artists, his works were viewed by millions in the subways and streets of New York before 'hitting it big' and being included in multiple galleries and museums across the world. Haring's work is a true testament of his character, love, peace, and social awareness were his favorite subjects to illustrate. Haring created art for people, the public, and believed that "art is for everyone", like Warhol his goal was to bring art to the masses. When he felt that his work was becoming to popular and expensive for the average person, he opened the POP Shop, were everyday people could continue to view and purchase his work without the 'high class art scene.' Haring's work did not stop at creating art for change, but he also started the Haring foundation to help other that were diagnosed with HIV. His legacy is continued through this foundation and the POP shop, including a website for the social art education of children.  

Haring did not only create public art, he collaborated with the everyday person to create expansive murals, turning the community around him into active participants... 

"The use of commercial projects has enabled me to reach millions of people whom I would not have reached by remaining an unknown artist. I assumed, after all, that the point of making art was to communicate and contribute to culture.”

This week I have become an active participant. The readings by Jenkins and Dean were especially influential, as I found my grove and 'my people'. I am left wondering if I would have been so influenced by reading them at the beginning of the course? But there is no time to dwell on the past, there is so much to learn and do! The biggest take- away thus far, form this week and the entire course is about being truly active. It has changed my perceptions, attitude and outlook, and will probably influence my teaching style. You see, as if struck in the head, I have finally gotten it, you have to play along and try it all out before you can understand it. I thought I was so cool last week making my own gifs, in partial participation mode. Now I understand, and I don't need to make my own to be a part of all this, crazy, that's what all the pre- mades are for, so that you can quickly continue on to the real participation. Sure I still make my own when it is necessary to be super specific, but I can now feel comfortable using someone else's, I've got a PLN to grow. This week I have finally realized the point of all this, like Haring, is to communicate and contribute to culture. 

It's not that there is not things that I still do not agree with, there are evils and things that cannot be stoped, but there is a world or better yet a community of people out there on the web that are just like me, I am not alone and social justice is very prevalent. The web and digital space is much like real life, I was waiting for people to come to me without any effort, but as we all know it is a two way street. You have to put yourself out there, and I think too, that assuming positive intentions and being positive changes others perceptions and your experience. 'Dive in' I think is my new catch phrase, I can't wait to have students experience materials and their own digital selves by do just that. I have learned so                                                                                      much, and though through perturbation, it is all                                                                                          been worth it. 

                "It’s about participation on a big level."

If we are going to change the perceptions of digital space, then we all need to be active participants, we cannot just learn about it and expect things to change. Maha Bali states in her article 'Critical Digital Citizenship: Promoting Empathy and Social Justice Online, "I believe it can, if we use it [web and digital space] thoughtfully and responsibly. It can be a learning tool, connection hub and outlet for change, we just need to believe in it and be active in making that change. I have totally change the way that I perceive digital space, what once I thought was for gamers and tech geeks and star treckers, I have found to be a sounding board for ideas, growth and learning. We are all so connected rather we like it or not, for me it is time to stop fighting and join in. I 'geeked' out this week during the flash mob annotation, I couldn't step away, and when I did, I feigned to come back and see what was posted without me. I have found a hub for aspiring graffiti artist around the world, these people are real change agents, doing what they do like Haring to make a difference and open the world eyes to the endless possibilities that is our human race. It's all about active participation... 

"I don't think art is propaganda; it should be something that liberates the soul, provokes the imagination and encourages people to go further. It celebrates humanity instead of manipulating it. "

Thank you Keith Haring for inspiring myself and many others, not only through your art, but through your acts of humanity and visions of change. 

How does Haring's work inspire you? 

Become an active Participant, Week 5 Reading Reflection

             " People get tired from words" Shamisa Hassani

This week, I finally dove in, I mean all the way- It takes a lot, but as I read Jenkins, and participated in the 'flashmob annotation' of Jeremy Dean's Social reading and writing in the classroom there was just no other way. 

Both the Jenkins and Dean's article's address the ideas that one can not really critique without being an active participant, and I can fully agree. As a spectator to digital technology there are so many unanswered questions, I think that the same holds true for art, how can you really understand if you never try? 

For me this week Jenkin's spelled out all the things that I wanted to hear, there was nuances of social justice, a cry for educational reformation in the means of technology and it addressed the lack of digital training that teachers receive. At every corner, maybe unbeknownst by the author, reference to my beloved C.R.E.E.D standards was made, and I finally felt for the first time in ILT that 'these were my people'. 

Then I continued to read and participate, and this doesn't mean just liking things on Twitter, I began to leave comments, and started to build what I now know as a 'PLN'. Just as Jenkins' suggested, I had to put myself out there to really understand what was going on. Completely less threatening as the work of Hassani, I mean no one has sent any threats, there is only digital embarrassment (which I have not had any either- that I know of). These action are what changes our perceptions of the digital world. As administration continues to deny the use of phones as tools, while there is no technology otherwise, I say make them dive in, I doubt that they have, otherwise they would understand. 

Common Ground

It seems to be a common thought or feeling in all the readings including Maha Bali's Digital Citizenship, that there is a known factor missing; responsibility. This equates to lack if interest in the digital, teaching teaching digital technology and becoming a connected classroom, and social justice and equity in this digital age. So my question is who is doing anything about it? When will something be done about it? All this access to millions of like minded digital thinkers, great conversations, but I think there needs to be action. Teacher's need to have digital preparedness in their teacher ed programs, or through PD ( Even better, they should be exposed to building their own PLN) We need to press on, people. Hassani did not quit when the projects became to big or too dangerous, she now creates 'Dreaming graffiti' where she adds her graffiti to images of the walls rather than the walls were it would have been to dangerous for her to complete her work.throughout conversations in the readings, multiple people posted about the lack of technology,  I now feel inspired to go beyond what I have and find another way. 

Community

The word stuck out in Jenkins reading, the digital realm is just a huge community. One that I previously had turned my head to , instead of looking at the possibilities. Part of building community is building relationships, relationships with people and the product that we are using. In Both readings this week, I was reminded that the digital community in that aspect is no different than my own teacher, life and family community. Why couldn't the work that I do exist in digital? It is simple, because I was not willing to dive in, to really understand and participate like an active member. 

Creating change is easy, it takes a single action. Hassani creates change by creating beautiful masterpieces of graffiti on the walls of her community and through images to build awareness and 'erase the bad' in her community. Her work touches people around the world, through digital media. What is your change, how do you use digital technology for positive?  

Girl Power, Badass Graffiti and wisdom: A digital Story Critique

It is so inspiring to hear a story like this, (and this is not the only one you will find) Shamsia Hassani takes what is a devistating situation and creates beauty for all to see using a medium that is transforming the way we think about art. 

The creators: 

The video itself is produced by The Creators Project, a digital project that was launched in 2009, with the help of Intel, to bring to life the many creative visionaries of the world, doing and creating works that change peoples lives and perceptions. Boasting more than 600 creators world wide, the project hosts a daily video, commentary, comments, and a YouTube channel. Creators include: David Bowie, Florence and the Machine, Daft Punk among many others from multiple disciplines. 

Digital Literacy: 

I have always been a fan of the Creators Project, until now I never understood the digital reach that the project has, with multiple outputs the artists stories are able to be heard and commented on in a variety of settings making it possible for anyone to participate in the comments, no matter their level of digital participation. As the video is shot in person, the participation of the viewer becomes first hand, as if you are sitting there with Shamsia, the videography is excellent, zooming in and out of the story and the works created. The subtitles are added to clarify the language, and are not distracting, a short intro builds interest for the viewer along with context that is important to viewing the film. 

There is really nothing that I would change, except making it mandatory that students watch at least one a week and become active participants by leaving a comment- 

The work of The Creators Project and artist like Shamsia is so important to the social progress of new art forms and social justice in the world we live in. In the video Shamsia comments on the burka, and how so many people think that the removal of burka's would fix the injustices that happen to women in her country, in all of her wisdom and worldly knowledge she states that the women of Afghanistan would still be there, it's not the burka that does these things to women, it is the surrounding society, you have to change society not a piece of clothing. 

Her amazing talents and protest against life in the Middle East are so inspiring, here is a girl that can loose her life for what she does, and she continues, trying to lift the spirits of her community. She is a participant in life to a fuller extent than many of us will ever be able to acknowledge. She has elevated an art form beyond the confines of high art street art, all the while reminding us what 'being human' really looks like.   

As graffiti becomes 'street art' there are still many that believe it to be a 'lesser' art form, I believe that the impact is far grater than any Picasso hanging in the Louvre', graffiti is work for all to see, the question is how do maintain it, and save it, or should it be? 

Check out the Creators Project @

http://youtube.com/user/TheCreatorsPr...

Facebook: http://fb.com/thecreatorsproject
Twitter: http://twitter.com/creatorsproject
Tumblr: http://thecreatorsproject.tumblr.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/creators_project

Mashing it up: Change, Graffiti and a great flick

By now you should know that I am not a great rule follower. I let my kids listen to their music with explicit lyrics during class, allow the use of phones, deviate from the crap curriculum that the district has laid out for use of a more creative states (NYC and WA)that hold art to the highest standard. So the same should be expected as I complete another assignment, in my own way, following instructions, kind of.  Sometimes it is hard to really follow the directions explicitly and keep your focus on the topic at hand. My focus is street art/public art and Social Justice, which I hope you have sensed in my previous posts. 

The assignment: 

Mash up two iconic movie scenes, aim to be subtle. So here's a girl that loves vintage cars, the attire, hair and music. Really I should have been my grandmother's child not my mothers. So there are only a few movies to choose from: Grease( the first one of course), Dazed and Confused, and American Graffiti. Being that one of my focuses is on graffiti, I had to bring one more Brit onto the American scene. The clip is from American Graffiti, and the graffiti is from Banksy. A little play on words I suppose, American Graffiti, British artist, Graffiti in two contexts... You get it, right? 

I suppose I could have follow the directions explicitly, and grabbed some graffiti from West Side Story, but that only came to mind just as I was writing this blog, and that perhaps would have been too subtle or too obvious.  

What you see: 

I used Ps and a film still from American Graffiti, here pictured is Charles Martin Smith "Toad", and Candy Clark as 'Debbie', appropriately they sit and ponder what will come of their relationship as things and time changes as they go off to college. If you are not familiar with the film, it is the perfect stereotypical example of white middle class America set in the 1960's. 

The original picture had a few things to take out: trash can and the reflection in the window of the trash can, to fit the graffiti in. After multiple layers, cutting and re-imaging a bit of the scene, I could place the graffiti in place, using a new layer and changing the opacity helps to create the 'realness', along with a little dodging and burning to re-create highlights and shadows. 

Original Images: 

I picked Banksy's work specifically because of his normal commentary on current society. The sign being held in the graffiti, " keep your coins, I want change".  Even deeper than thinking about departing a relationship, I thought I would throw a little irony in the picture, as that is what they should be thinking about, but of course the actors surrounding removes them from any real cause for deep critical thought on the current progress of society at the time.    

Staying Grounded, Revisiting history and Reflecting: week 4

El Vendedor De Alcatraces, Diego Rivera 1941

It is important that from time to time we stop and remind ourselves what it is that we are seeking, what is it that we hope to contribute and obtain in our daily interactions with the world that we live in. In reaching the mid point of this digital story class, I found my self looking back to the beginning of my new career, the choice that I have made and the promises that I made to my self as an educator. 

Cargador de Flores, Diego Rivera 1935

Looking at Murals, Graffiti and public art, it would be nearly a cardinal sin not to mention the fore fathers, or 'Los Tres Grandes".  As one of the three, Rivera help to create a social and artistic movement that gave way to the public murals and works that we enjoy today. His work reminds me that here, in the every day, and in this class, there is a heavy burden to carry. We can not forget that the we as a society are still not much further than we were in Rivera's day. In conversations this week I am reminded of that burden, not as something that pains me, but something that I am proud to be apart of. Social awareness was the goal of Rivera, with each mural and fresco completed he brought more attention the the working class Chicano and Latino peoples of the United States and Mexico, their fight for equity and better life, and a continuance of culture without bias and prejudice. In every thing there is a chance to be critical and question that that has been done. During the Chicano mural movement, women were oppressed and depicted as sex symbols and house wives rather than strong contributors to society. Women then did not just acknowledge that there was an injustice, they spoke up, got involved and started creating their own murals.They took action, and that is what we need to continue to do today in digital affinity spaces. 

Throughout conversations, I believe that I have stayed true to my commitment for social justice, but it is apparent that I may need to speak even louder. Though it was bell hooks that said' We judge on the basis of what somebody looks like, skin color, whether we think they're beautiful or not. That space on the Internet allows you to converse with somebody with none of those things involved. " we still need to realize that this digital affinity is a majoritarian space, harbored by a hegmonic ideals and class biases.I love the idea that this digital affinity space does allow for a multitude of people to become connected without bias, but we have to also be reminded who is using the spaces. We talk about digital literacies that are only obtainable by those afforded the ability to participate. Working in a title one, low income 78% Free and reduced lunch school, I can tell you from being on the front lines that my students have no idea, have no access, and are struggling to be literate in the every day, let alone some affinity space. So as you hear 'platitude', ask your self what you are doing, or are you even aware that there is an issue.

Liberating education consists in acts of cognition, not transferrals of information.Paulo Friere

Hands of Dr. Moore, Diego Rivera 1940

As I continue to carve my ideals and practises of digital literacy, this week I started a plight to not use any pre-made gif's. Teaching myself the practise and re-learning Ps has given me a new light, reassurance in my own creativity and confidence that I can than interweave messages of social justice as I see needed.Through the insight of a fellow scholar I have become a little more critical of the daily creates, and hope to complete one every day, using my interest in both art and social justice as a platform to be more outspoken.

Annotating publicly, this week felt a little uneasy, as you read through the scholarly posts, one begins to question their own articulation and verbal expression, it is a lot easier to blog a post that is only commented on in the after. As I continue to shape an online persona, that is still authentic and doesn't stray to far from my real self, I try to not be intimidated, and remind my self of my own education, and experience that shape my conversations. 

Though art and a visit to the DAM, I have learned to use a stop motion app that is incredible, easy and quite possible to master and create professional quality work.  There are so many things that I have learned that I would love to transfer to to my classroom, but how, when the technology is not there to support it and the ever present gap in education based on social economics continues to keep my students in poverty. It is a little frustrating...

Still wondering...

I am not really sure that I am annotating correctly, I mean in my group, really I just try to find  a link that works, and that is done, and easy to find... I try to not comment on the same peoples work week after week, maybe this is best practice, perhaps not? I think that I have figured out hypothesis.is, but then again, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of feedback on anything, I love that we have broken down that barrier between teacher and student, but... so I would also rate myself at the end of the course as the teacher/student?

The readings continue to challenge my previous notions and create a lot of thought and emotion, which is good, but I am still unsure about the suggested readings, it seems like the group is directed to one, or that we all are just choosing the same one?

A little more Christo; Reading Response week 4

"Right now, the digital is relevant, present, and is that thing that seems to provide the most interesting possibilities and the most contentious challenges in the scholarship and practice of teaching and learning"-Sean Michael Morris, 2016

Wrapped in Reichstag, Berlin Germany- Christo, 1995

I couldn't agree more, in fact I am a huge advocate for the teaching of technology and 21st century preparedness. The simple fact remains, that our current education system, so wrapped up in testing and scores, does not allow for the exploration necessary, the technology to experiment or the professional development for it to be taught responsibly or critically. Leaving our students to plunder through digital affinities without knowledge of responsibility or really understand the impact of their words and images strewn across screens in endless reaching possibilities. Not to mention the ever growing educational gap between social and economic classes, the haves technology and the have no technology. In a world that is changing with such speed, we can not expect an equitable playing field when exposure is so greatly adverse from school to school. Like the early works of Christo, the idea is grand, and beautiful. Digital literacy for me continues to hold a certain mystique and grandeur, an invitation to something that has not been done before, but how long will it last, and as many question the Christo's work and the impact it has on it's surrounding, I too wonder about this 'new literacy'. Will students still become great writers with self editing and publication. I am not sure that our students today even encompass the socio-emotional skills to take and learn from the criticism that will hopefully be posted to their writing. 

Don't get me wrong...

At first glance, one might say that the Parliament building in Berlin was a beautiful building, as it is, and that covering in a sheath of fabric, the end product was not as esthetically pleasing. And here is where we have to dive in deep, just as we do with this digital literacy. On the outside the Reichstag looks like a enormous building, covered and blowing in the wind, the building becomes a political cry for a new Germany, all at once the viewer is transported to envision a new, softer, and complete Germany. It is the background and understanding that make Wrapped in Reichstag so mesmerizing, as is my growing understanding of digital literacies. 

Davies and Merchant explain blogging as a new literacy, the inside look gives a better understanding behind the uses and purpose of blogging, and as the paragraphs unfold, the sheath is removed and my digital literacy experience becomes more like Christo's latest works, where things are not covered, but layered and added to the current environment.

The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005 

 Overwhelmed with the onslaught of newness, it is in Morris's blog that I am able to see the beauty in what digital literacy can be. Like walking through each gate, reading Morris's work helps keep me grounded and understanding, that it is all a choice, and that we are still human, and it is that writing that keeps my gates open to the possibilities of this new era. 

Moving along

Much like navigating the 7,503 gates of saffron fabric through Central Park, Morris's post reminds me that it is me who decides, and though technology is before us, I can choose to weave in and out through the multitude of apps, sites and spheres as I choose. Whereas The Gates have been removed, digital era is here to stay, and like my passion for the arts and widening peoples understanding and acceptance for all kinds of art, I think too, that I will grow to be passionate about technology as it has so much to offer. Through this Autoethnography, I know that there is still much to learn, discover and accept. 

Walking on water, unsure but ethereal

Floating Piers, Iseo Italy, 2016

Echoing through both readings by Morris, and Davies and Merchant, is the shift of power of the educator. This can and has made me a little nervous, navigating through this new experience being allowed to be right or wrong based on my own assumptions, is a bit what people must be feeling as they walk across Christo's latest feature. Sure it is completely safe, but it is something so new, there are so many people doing it, everyone moving at a different speed. I will have to dream about being a part of the Floating Piers, but try to stroll along this adventure in digital literacy with an open mind, which is sometimes hard, as unlike Christo's work that leaves no presence after being dismantled, everything that we do here is this digital affinity seems to be forever. Will everyone like what I write, believe what I post, agree, probably not. Christo has caught plenty of flack in his day for his work, but true to himself and always authentic in his work, each piece through not permanent spans time through peoples stories, films, and blogs. Perhaps that should be the goal of a blogger, that people will remember and continue the story past the digital pages, with the same pride and tenacity for evoking thought, discovery and exploration of the event at hand. 

It appears to be monumental only because it's art- Christo

Creative or Crap? Christo's latest use of Fabric and digital media that ensures his success: A digital story Critique

“€˜The Floating Piers”€™ on Lake Iseo by the Bulgarian artist Christo on June 8, 2016, in Iseo, Italy.

The obscure artist Christo has done it again, transforming the here into the now, transcending nature to another realm, creating a heaven on earth for all to enjoy. To his amusement I am sure, the critics are a buzz, and Christo's work takes over digital media without him even posting a single word. As usual, the green devil is at work... 

Just in case you are wondering, it is not the 16.8 million dollar budget that the project required for completion, no, Christo funds that himself. The people complaining are expounded by the popularity of the attraction, and pissed because Christo refuses to charge to view and experience his work, so no one is profiting, no one, and that in this 21st century seems to get some peoples goat. I found this article posted to my FB wall and my Twitter, along with seeing it on the Huff stream, all which have been posted a multitude of times along with being tapped into by again by individual viewers, and as the article suggests, the digital media attention is only drawing more people to the installation to take a peak for themselves. 

The article: 

Priscilla Frank, arts writer for the Huffington Post, speaks on behalf of what seems to be a critic in mentioning the experience as 'offering viewers an admittedly useless but utterly enchanting aesthetic experience for free. " As if viewing anything does something magical that you take physically with you, I am not sure what she was expecting. The installation, speaks words to consumerism, the environment, and ethereal connection. You are allowed or maybe abled to now 'walk on water' with out disrupting the natural flow of the environment, is that not enough. Oh and is just so happens that it is Beautiful, absolutely beautiful.

Literary Dimensions:

Coming from the Huff, of course the article is left for the reader to make meaning and takes on multiple persona's to give the full story, though slightly swayed by the author there is plenty of room for ones own identity to take poll on the event at hand. Though you can't participate by leaving a comment, I am sure Frank has received plenty of emails from both sides weighing in. It is unclear if the author has actually been to the cite, (actually, I can guess that she hasn't, or that she is just not a fan),and of course participation by the public in reality is the problem, overwhelming popularity of the installment has left eager viewers waiting and some times stranded.( This is really the concern of the critics, boo-hoo, have you ever been to the Louve? Ok, me neither, but I hear it can take all day to get in, and do you get to take anything but the experience home, no.) 

Modifications:

Because the posts comes from " a newsworthy' kind of site, there are no comments, though I wish there were, especially for this article it would be interesting to see the participation in the comments from all sides, especially because Christo is famous for chiming in. In this aspect a bit of the interaction is lost, but because of the nature of the topic and the artist, I do think that people probably continue to explore thereafter. 

Frank did include a multitude of images, that tell the story literally from beginning to end, I found the pictures of the production even more intriguing that the finished product, and hope that these images will too encourage readers to look more into the work of the artist. 

During the life size test at Montecolino- Christo, Iseo, Italy.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/is-christos-latest-masterpiece-a-major-waste-of-money_us_57714901e4b0f168323a2f7a

http://www.teachthought.com/pedagogy/literacy/5-dimensions-of-critical-digital-literacy/

http://christojeanneclaude.net/