Final intervention Project - Javier Morales

 

Our Fears

During this whole semester I decided to make my projects about an specific topic which our fears and mental health and something more which is to proof that everyone can be an artist, this two things was something that I always thought since I decided to focus my career and my life on art, since one of my biggest weaknesses are my fears it was something that always was behind me and making me to doubt about my skills in art, even on my social skills too making me feel like I’m not able to do a lot of stuff that I always wanted to but at some point of my life I started fighting with it and proving myself that I actually can do any project that I want and the unique thing that is stopping me to do it it’s me my fears was something that it being affecting me since I was little and when I started growing I decided to use it for my projects and starting feeling that I’m strong and I can deal with it and I want to share it with everybody, share that we can use our fears and we have an artistic side even if we are not professionals of it so that’s why my project name is  “Our Fears” which is about as I mentioned before is using our fears for our own benefits as I do I want to open people’s eyes and proof them that everybody is strong and we can do whatever we want and the unique thing that is stopping us it's literally ourselves, now telling people that they can do it it’s not going to work with just telling them because usually people don’t think that they can actually do it so I decided to help them in an easy way to show them how to deal with their fears and make them see that everybody is really talented and creative, so my method was going around Bayonne “The city where I live” with some notepads and asking every person that was around me to write their biggest fear and after that put on any part of my body the reason to put it on my body was to make it eye catching so everybody would ask about it and they would like to try it too so the unique way to make them participate on it was to do something different and something that can really catch attention easily, after I collected all the notes that I can I went home and decided to create an art piece with their fears something representative and very cool for it showing the meaning of our fears and what we can do with them like this art piece and I couldn’t even make it without people’s fears so this art piece was not only mine, it was from everyone.

I liked making this project since I saw so many people had almost the same fears that I have and that was something that was impressive to me, making me see that we are not alone and all pf pus pass almost for the same problems in any way. For this project I took inspiration from Yoko Ono’s performance “Cut Piece” which was making all the audience participate in the presentation and for me was something very impressive on the way she decided to connect with her public. Another inspiration that I took from was the Guerrilla Girls on the way they make to catch people’s attention in a creative way and making the public join them to share the message. Other performance that I found very interesting was “Marina Abramović’s cuts, slaps and whips to conquer pain” which for me is something extreme but it’s something very impressive which was hurting herself proving that the physical damage can be very painful but not as much as mental pain which I found very deep and very impressive. I used Ladies of Midnight Blue as inspiration too from the way how they catch people’s attention playing instruments something that it is very catchy and making them listen maybe my way is way different than theirs, but I like the way how they use their creativity. And the last person that I took inspiration from was Kerry James Marshall’s “A portrait of the Artist As a Shadow of his former self” the way how he represents himself as something “creepy” I found myself identified and even more for this project since it is about the fears and use them for an art piece and one of my fears it’s the mistakes that I made in the past. As my major is graphic design maybe can be tricky to thing if this project can be part for my portfolio but the designs that I decided to make are useful since it is sharing deep messages with my art which is basically one of the main things about graphic design.

Notes

  

People Notes

Painting

Final Intervention Project Draft - Shayna

 

Women's Health

PMDD in women

(Premenstrual Dysphoric disorder)

I decided to choose this topic to raise awareness among everyone but especially women. PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that appears 1 to 2 weeks before your period. PMDD can come with emotional and physical symptoms.  Some of the emotional symptoms are anger, irritability, crying, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, sadness, confusion, and feeling completely out of control. Physical symptoms can be things like swelling, joint and muscle pain, severe fatigue, nausea, and even insomnia. With all these symptoms that a woman has to go through every month, it can impact the quality of our life and our daily functioning. That is why it is so important for women to know this. 

Yoko Ono and Diana Ocholla are the ones who inspired me. Yoko Ono with her artistic performance “cut piece”. She appears vulnerable while people cut pieces of her own clothes, and this reflects when women go through pms or pmdd and feel so vulnerable. 

Also Diana Ocholla who defends the right of women to feel safe wherever we go. This is how women should feel, safe and understood by their menstrual cycle, that we don't have the power to simply not choose to have it and that we're not just acting “weird.”

Final Intervention Draft-Christopher McVicar

Project Overview

My proposed artist intervention project is a mixed-media artwork that explores the complexities of cultural identity, and the struggles of balancing personal heritage with societal expectations. Through the creation of a large-scale butterfly image on canvas, I aim to communicate the themes of transformation and resilience that migrants often face. The butterfly, as a symbol of change, serves as the central motif like how it was used in my first project, reflecting the journey of migration and the adaptation required to fit into new cultural realms. The butterfly will be drawn and collaged with magazine clippings, and fabrics toa fill by me, whereas the negative space within the canvas will be used by others to reflect.

I have chosen this topic because migration is a deeply relevant issue in today's globalized world. People are constantly moving across borders, and many face discrimination, and the challenge of preserving their cultural identity while integrating into unfamiliar places. The intersection of new societies and cultural upbringing is fraught with misrepresentations. This project allows me to express these struggles visually and provide a platform for others to contribute their own experiences. My ultimate objective is to make art that expands beyond my circle.

The form of outreach for this project is a participatory installation that invites audience interaction. By combining a canvas collage with a participatory writing component, I aim to facilitate a dialogue between the artwork and the audience. The collage will feature pieces—each fragment representing a unique experience or cultural marker. The exterior of the butterfly will be left open for the audience to share their thoughts on what "change" means to them.

Message for the Audience

The primary message of this project is the importance of empathy, understanding, and open dialogue in a world that is increasingly divided by cultural, racial, and national borders. The piece speaks to the migrant experience, where the concept of change is not only a personal journey but also a collective challenge to confront biases and stereotypes. The butterfly, both delicate and resilient, embodies the idea that transformation can be both beautiful and difficult, but it is always necessary.

Audience Engagement and Feedback

The outreach and engagement of the audience will take place through the display of the artwork in a public space, specifically as an outdoor installation. The interactive aspect will involve providing markers or pens for visitors to write/draw as they please. This participatory element allows direct confrontation, making their voices an integral part of the artwork. The act of writing encourages dialogue between people from diverse backgrounds.

The feedback I expect to receive will likely vary, with individuals offering personal reflections on their own experiences of migration, transformation, and adaptation to new cultural environments. The collaborative nature of the project ensures that the piece evolves over time, as each person adds their own interpretation of what change means.

Professional Aspirations and Portfolio

This project fits into my professional aspirations as an artist who is committed to using my work as a means of social engagement and cultural reflection. It is aligned with my desire to create art that is not only visually compelling but also addresses important issues such as migration, identity, and social justice. As a professional, I aim to expand my portfolio with works that reflect my interest in interactive, community-driven art. This project will serve as a significant example of how art can serve as a platform for dialogue and reflection, encouraging both individual and collective engagement with critical issues.

Ultimately, this intervention will not only contribute to my portfolio but also establish my reputation as an artist who creates meaningful work that addresses pressing social issues.

Four Artists as Inspiration

Yoko Ono- Specifically for her cut piece. I have great admiration for her comfort being on stage in a vulnerable position. I want to use fabrics and pieces of clothing to create a deeper connection with the audience.

Shaun Leonardo- Although Leonardo is known for his work exploring masculinity and race, I find inspiration for this piece from a performer’s perspective. Shaun Leonardo allows his performance and actions to generate a focal point without much explanation. I aspire to do the same for my intervention.

Marina Abramovic- I find it fascinating how Abramovic explores the psychic relationship between the performer and the mind. She allows audiences to participate without any consequence, heightening creativity and the urge to contribute.

Joseph Beuys- He uses materiality to convey messages. Specifically, with his “End of the 2oth Century” piece using rocks to depict corpses from war experiences. I aim to do the same with the Butterfly Motifs and fabrics to carry messages across space and time.

Three Quotes

“We make sense of our world through symbols and stories at least as much as we do through facts and figures.”

 This quote emphasizes the power of storytelling and symbolism in shaping our understanding of the world, suggesting that emotions, experiences, and narratives often resonate more deeply than mere data. I am inspired by this quote because I value emotional connection with my piece.

 

“Artists and activists are always operating within a cultural context. To be heard and understood, an activist needs to know how to use popular culture, but they also need to know how to transform it so that it speaks to and for their own cause.”

Artists must not only engage with the prevailing cultural context but also subvert it to amplify their own message, ensuring it resonates with, and drives change in society. Interpretation is key, and I value others’ interpretations for the outcome of this project.

“We are always drawing from repositories of words, images, and meanings that already exist.”

Nothing is original. The only exciting thing about contemporary art is that it is up to artists to be resourceful and push concepts further to communicate messages.

Links:

Shaun Leonardo | Art21

 

Marina Abramović | Art21

 

The 25 Most Influential Works of American Protest Art Since World War II - The New York Times

 

Art as Activism: How Protest Art Challenges the Status Quo | MyArtBroker | Article

 

First Intervention Performance

Intervention 1

Final Intervention Project Draft - David Gonzalez

 Title: Lotus for Trades Men

Throughout the world 90% of men work dangerous jobs, working in the harshest of conditions, working the longest of hours, to make this impossible system thrive in our community. Warehousing, electricians, plumbers, oil rig workers, enlisted military. I always see it in my workplace, managing people, working with them in the harshest conditions. Whether a person is undocumented or not it takes massive courage and perseverance to perform in these jobs daily and yearly. I have lost more coworkers and friends to drugs abuse, suicide, and being threatened with deportation. For my project I want to create a poster of the statistics of what workers go through daily and make a lotus flower for each of them under the company I work for. I will show my poster to people, to bring light on what is going on underneath, and bring a bit more morale.

Final Intervention Project Draft - Andrew Diaz

Title: Artistic Justice

 I believe that activist artists deserve more recognition and justice in society. For this project I plan to group an audience and show them a sign why they think activist artists more deserve more praise then they do now. Giving each audience member a note card and have then write down their own opinions on the topic one by one and after they're done I will tape it up to the wall. Lastly I’ll let the audience explain and expand more about the opinions that they wrote down as they’re being filmed.

The purpose of the project is that Activist artists are almost never talked about from anyone, constant overshadow by other topics that have gained more attention. I have gained a lot of respect for every activist artist who are still doing their best to protect the world from corruption. We look at the work of courageous people who are utilizing their imagination and artistic skills to question norms, raise voices, and create a better future. These artists, who range from political cartoonists to avant-garde photographers, are starting debates, stimulating ideas, and pushing societal change but never getting enough credit for what they do for a living.

In my research the artists that inspired this project are Yoko Ono for her infamous “Cut Piece” performance and Frida Kahlo, for her unwavering, vibrantly colored self-portraits that address issues like death, the human body, and identity. These two are probably the best examples of underrated artists that deserve more recognition in my opinion. Such great talents that drive activism and inspiring many others to rise up against the norm.

In the book “The Art of Activism”, one of the quotes states that “We’ve also learned that artistic activism works particularly well in repressive regimes where overt political protest is prohibited, yet artistic practices are tolerated or even celebrated”. I chose this quote to demonstrate that activism artists are just as important than other artists whether it’s sculpting, drawing, painting or performing. They still deserve to be heard too especially with all the hard work they’ve done and hopefully benefit more members to join against the corrupted political system of today’s world.

Research Links 

https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/artists-activists-using-creativity-for-change/

https://www.1000museums.com/art-as-activism/

https://wagingnonviolence.org/2021/12/why-activists-need-art-to-create-social-change/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Frida-Kahlo

Rocco Francisco - Final Intervention Project DRAFT

 Mental Health Piece Draft

Mental Health Piece from November 20, 2024

How are you doing?

Think of someone important to you. 

Tell them you appreciate them, and ask them if they are okay.

When was the last time someone checked on you?

How does that make you feel?

How are you really doing?

*What is your project? Why you have chosen this topic and form of outreach?

    My project is an expansion of my performance art intervention from November 20th, 2024. My topic is that of mental health, and is explored through short instruction and interviewing. This is important to me, as mental health is an aspect of life that should never be overlooked, yet often gets lost on both a personal and outward level.  

*What is your message for the audience? 

    My message for the audience is to pay attention to mental health. You can help the people you care about, and it's also important to make sure you're okay too.

*How did you reach an audience (ie "publish" the project)? How did the audience engage with the project? What feedback have you received?

    I plan to reach an audience by both having people participate and by having my video available for viewing online.

*How does this project fit into your professional aspirations and your portfolio?

    I simultaneously have a personal interest in video creation and art, and also am taking a degree in graphic design. Creating this project helps me in these fields while also allowing me to explore an emotional topic that I am passionate about.

*What artists or other projects have influenced or inspired your own project? List 4+ artists that connect with your project with brief explanations of why they connect or inspired your own project.

*What research has helped you inform this project? List 5+ resources that informed or inspired your project in a resource list at the end of your project summary.

    My project is an expansion of a previously explored topic. I plan to use the footage I had already obtained, as well as new footage from both active participation and candid footage to use for filmmaking elements. For those I can record either new footage or have a second session with, these elements will be combined together. 

    I am currently in the process of obtaining footage and converting it into compatible files at home; the editing work will be done outside of class on my home computer. I am also drafting black and white typographic posters using snippets from interviews.

The process of encoding recorded files to make them compatible with my editing software.

Early example of a typography draft.

Final Intervention Project Draft- Kelly Bartko

So for my project I chose to expand and dive deeper into my idea of relaxing and reflecting. I'm going to and have already started creating a sit down style video of people going through my steps and instructions then asking them after how they feel about it. So I will start the video out with a little description saying the same thing to everyone. I’m going to give you some instructions then ask you some questions related to relaxing and reflecting. Then I will get into my Steps. Step 1. Get comfortable and relax. 2. Think of someone that makes you happy. 3. Once you smile or 5 minutes have passed you are done, Time starts now. My goal is for them to think of positive memories and times and smile before 5 minutes comes. Once this portion is over I'm going to ask questions like how do you feel right now? Who did you think of? What memorie or time made you feel this way? And lastly, Does this person know how important they are to your happiness? If not, I encourage you to tell them. I chose this topic because I feel like we never really have the time to stop and think about what makes us happy so I wanted to give people opportunities to have these moments.

Final Intervention Project Draft- Ashleigh Hall

 For this project, I wish to go to an axe throwing establishment and have people come up to where we are to talk about the election, or about their mental health, or about how the election results are contributing to the status of their mental health. I want people to use their anger and their fear on the target. Let out their screams, or their thoughts. I want people to get mad and use that anger to bring up a discussion. I am very intrigued by the idea of taking something and destroying it. I once destroyed a piece of wood when I went axe throwing and I am curious as to whether or not the anger of others will be enough to break the board and metaphorically break the wall and barrier of political discussions. Some people may not feel like they are free to speak on what they wish to speak on when it comes to politics in fear of sparking outrage and debate, This intervention would be welcoming and inviting to rage and debate, and I wish for it to be something that is either eye opening or at the very least allowing others to potentially understand the points of view that the people in their lives are trying to make. 

PERFORMANCE ART INTERVENTION POST- KELLY BARTKO

I believe performance art is a physical type of art that makes you wonder or forces you to think deeper about something. It's more about having a goal or something that you want to convey in the end and the best way to make that possible. It has to have an audience or be recorded in a way that will get a reaction out of them. 

READ: Widewalls | Yoko Ono - A Groundbreaking Artist, Activist and Fighter 

“Activist for peace and human rights since the 1960s, a versatile persona and performer, courageous and unrelenting woman fighter, Yoko Ono still stands proud and strong after decades of misconception, misunderstanding and unfairness.” I liked this quote because I feel like it shows a glimpse at the impact she had and for what she changed. Proving that we are always going to have to fight to some degree about these topics like world peace and basic human rights. It should not be this way but sadly it is, maybe one day we will be past this and will be able to worry about other issues other than basic human rights. 

“Throughout the Beatles’ break up and fall out between the members, Yoko Ono and John Lennon pursued their anti-war goals and dedicated their lives to the causem and released the, now legendary, single Imagine.” I feel like now reading it i'm like okay they worked on their goals together but to think about it being 1971 changes the whole perspective on what their message truly means. It was a different time and different things were represented out there so for them to be very public and represent what they believe in is very admirable. 

READ: Hispanic Executive | Interview with Shaun Leonardo - Performance, Pedagogy, and Philosophy 

“I’m glad, because I think it probably was intimidating for a lot of young minds. Yes. I offer that narrative with the recognition that, over my life and professional career, I have witnessed young people be easily derailed when they don’t see themselves in the representation of who is creating.” As a white female I feel like it isnt my place to talk about representation but it truly does matter and I love how this quote took a second to acknowledge it. Representation is very important for children growing up because they are able to see someone like them with a goal and something to look forward to achieving. “I attribute my work ethic to them. However, it was in the mentality of striving for the best that I was also taught that success meant economic stability and mobility. And so art wasn’t really within my vision as a child: I never quite know what inspired me, other than the moments where I did see and take in art. I don’t know what drove me to identify as an artist because it wasn’t within my familial background…” I think this quote makes him very relatable and real. Sometimes artists don’t think they are artists and wanting to be the best in what you do and having that work ethic is what people can look up to. Having someone that is that real and willing to tell the whole truth is a great example of what kind of role models people need these days.

Attached is a picture of my idea for my performance piece. Ideally it is a nice sunny day when I do this. I want my audience to be random people walking by as I sit and relax and reflect myself. The setting should be somewhere people feel comfortable and can sit down outside. I feel like today we as society are very go go go and do not have time to stop and think so my thought was to change that and give people and opportunity to do that. So my instructions were to get comfortable and think about someone that makes them and then hopefully they would think about memories and experiences and naturally smiled due to their happy memories connected to them.

Performance Art Activism Post - Wendy Vega Alva

 WHAT IS PERFORMANCE ART?

- Performance art is a creative form of art where the artist uses their body, actions, and sometimes even the audience to express an idea or tell a story. A mix of theater and visual art. Unlike traditional art, performance art is live and can happen anywhere such as galleries, public streets and online. They might use props, music, or just their movements to convey a message or evoke emotions. It truly is all about the experience and interactions between the artist and the audience. 

WIDEWALLS : Yoko Ono - A Groundbreaking Artist, Activist, and Fighter

1) "As she explained, art represents a way of showing people how you can think, and even though some people think of it as a beautiful wallpaper that you can sell, Yoko Ono rather perceives it as a direct connection with activism."

This quote highlights the different ethics of art as perceived by different people. On one hand, some individuals see art simply as a decorative object, a "beautiful wallpaper" that can be commercialized and sold. On the other hand, Yoko Ono views art as a strong foundation for activism and social change. For her, art is not just about aesthetics but about conveying messages, provoking thought, and inspiring action. It serves as a direct connection between the artist's ideas and audience, encouraging them to think critically and engage with important issues. 

2) "Her idea that physical presence of the artist could communicate far more forcefully than a mediated representation influenced generations of future artists."

Yoko Ono believes that her presence has a unique and powerful ability to communicate emotions and messages more effectively than any mediated form, such as photographs or videos. In "Cut Piece", Ono sat patiently on stage, allowing the audience to approach and cut pieces of her clothing. This direct, physical interaction created a raw and immediate connection between the artist and the audience, emphasizing vulnerability, trust and the dynamics of power. This approach has influenced many future artists to explore live performance and direct engagement as a means to convey their messages more forcefully and authentically. 

Hispanic Executive : Interview with Shaun Leonardo - Performance, Pedagogy, and Philosophy

1) "The workshop, the platform of teaching and learning, is in and of itself the performance. It doesn't lead to anther output or product."

This quote suggest that the workshop is not just a preparatory stage but is itself a significant event. this means that the act of engaging participants in a workshop is a powerful form of activism. The process of teaching, learning, and interacting within the workshop creates a space for dialogue, awareness, and transformation. it emphasizes that the experience and the interactions during the workshop are themselves valuable and impactful, rather than focusing on producing a separate end product. This approach can empower participants, foster community, and drive social change directly through the participatory and experiential nature of the workshop.

2) " In the poetics of the text, I'm asking an individual to not only create their own associations with their lived experience but also imagine that same movement embodied by a very different person."

This quote encourages individuals to engage deeply with a text by connecting it to their own personal experiences and then extending that empathy to understand how someone else, with a different background or perspective, might experience the same situation. This approach is powerful because it fosters empathy and understanding across diverse groups of people. By asking participants ro imagine and embody the experiences of others, it breaks down barriers and promotes a sense of shared humanity. this can lead to a greater solidarity and motivation to address social injustices, as people come more aware of and connected to the struggles and experiences of others. 

FINAL INTERVENTION PROJECT - Kobi-Lee Sanchez

I intend to try the same interview project for my Final Intervention Project; however, instead of doing it in public, where people may be afraid to talk about their experiences and loved ones. I will instead approach my friends and family to assist with my intervention project.  

My research will be based on my friends, Michael and Laura; my previous boss, Patrick; my best friend's mom, Beata; and my Uncle, Marlon.

I will provide the same information on Project 2025:

"Project 2025 is a federal policy agenda and blueprint to restructure the executive branch. It is a playbook of actions to be taken within the first 180 days in office. 

 

President Trump has called for the “largest deportation program in American history.”

 

Project 2025 plans to:

 

Allow Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to use “expedited removal” to remove any immigrants found within the United States.

 

Actively use the military to control the border and prevent access to America.

 

They desire to expand and create more “Detention” Centers that can hold up to 100,000 people. Those held will face mandatory deportation, which can take months or even years.

 

Likely to eliminate over 15 VISA categories such as DREAMERS, Active Asylum, Temporary Protected Status, Cuban Permanent Residence, and more.

 

Eliminate Spousal Citizenship

Eliminate Birthright Citizenship"

My inspiration for this project would most likely be Undocubus, which shares the quote, "No Papers, No Fear, ride for justice." Undocubus connects my project the strongest because it allows undocumented immigrants to travel stress-free on a tour of the world. This civil disobedience enables countless immigrants to hold power against the government due to the fear that has been instilled in immigrants who are undocumented.  

http://nopapersnofear.org/

https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf

 

 

Final Intervention Project - Ricky Ochoa

 Title: A Piece of Mind.

Socio-Political Topic - Autism

Engaging with an audience includes role reversals, fourth-wall breaks, and making the audience part of the experience.

Clips: I would use the video Meditation to add fourth wall break dialogue and some new video clips to show the immersion of the inner mind. The latest video clips, however, haven’t been confirmed yet.

Why you have chosen this topic and form of outreach?

I chose Autism because I want to spread awareness of this condition and help ordinary people understand how we think and behave. I chose YouTube as a form of outreach because it’s easier to find and reach out to others faster.

Clips: I would use the video Meditation to add fourth wall break dialogue and some new video clips to show the immersion of the inner mind. The latest video clips, however, haven’t been confirmed yet.

What I am trying to convey: The camera shows the audience the perspective of autism while explaining their conditions and inner workings. My friend Samuel and I will use dialogue to explain our condition to the audience. When it comes to autism, it’s like a movie that plays on and on, and you're a part of the show. It’s often known to be our inner worlds where we think and imagine many fictional or real-life scenarios, but they are frequently linked. It happens involuntarily without awareness because we constantly think as observers. We are detached from reality and learning to connect with the world around us with a thirst for knowledge. Getting to know us better to understand how we see the world and treating us usually would make us uncomfortable because our perspectives are different compared to people without autism. Include us as part of a new perspective you didn’t know about. Not all autistic people are incredibly gifted, so don’t generalize us for autism. It is patronizing to generalize everyone with autism as being extremely talented at one thing. We have other talents, too; some people have multiple as well as other facets that come with autism besides skills.

How does this project fit into your professional aspirations and your portfolio?

I engage the audience with my projects, professional aspirations, and portfolio. I used the video Meditation to add a fourth wall break dialogue and some new video clips to show the immersion of the inner mind. The latest video clips, however, haven’t been confirmed yet. This also taught me how to engage an audience by using dialogue to help the audience, as well as myself, understand what we are saying without making it dull.

What artists or other projects have influenced or inspired your own project? List 4+ artists that connect with your project with brief explanations of why they connect or inspired your own project.

Four artists that connect to me: 

1. Yoko Ono: For her performance art “Cut Piece,” she sits on the floor and lets the audience cut her clothes, which makes the audience a part of the performance. I like how she sat down and did nothing, so I used that for the act of “A Piece of Mind.”

2. Nick Cave: The sound suits were intriguing because he explained how they represent a sense of discarding and using these objects to create a suit. However, for me, they represent a feeling of inner limbo during the imagination process autistic people go through.

3. Stephen Wiltshire: He is autistic and has a different art medium to express himself: drawing. My medium is analyzing entertainment films, shows, and video games and writing comics. We have a common interest in art, and our experiences debunk the myth that autistic people are good at only one thing.

4. Lee Krasner: Her painting Sun Woman was made through the trauma she went through from a husband who was addicted to alcohol to betrayal and even the loss of her husband to suicide. The painting is described as wild, exuberant, and dancing around chaotically. This helped me understand how to explain my speeches by connecting them to what I feel and experience as an autistic person.

What research has helped you inform this project? List 5+ resources that informed or inspired your project in a resource list at the end of your project summary.

I researched Yoko Ono, Nick Cave, Stephen Wiltshire, Lee Krasner, and the National Institute of Mental Health, using my personal experiences. These resources have helped me be informed about “A Piece of Mind.” Yoko Ono’s cute piece inspired me to sit down and meditate on a couch rather than on the floor. Nick Cave’s sound suits inspired me to let ourselves drift off into our minds. Lee Krasner helped me be in tune with my feelings and put that into words. I relate to Stephen Wiltshire because he had autism like me, and I discovered he had a talent for drawing London buildings. In contrast, I had a talent for analyzing entertainment media and writing comics. The National Institute of Mental Health explains how Autistic individuals experience the world around them, which helped me in my work.

Final Intervention Project Draft - Juan Ferreira

 For my final project I will be touching on the subject of “Why public zoos are beneficial” when some others say why they are not. I will be justifying why they actually are (with research evidence backing up my reasoning). I plan to have a powerpoint presentation and photos attending the Turtle Back zoo with my activist poster supporting the cause! Some research/reasons behind my presentation are that Zoos can help save endangered species and promote breeding/Rehabilitate endangered animals. Other reasons are that Zoos can be educational institutions, providing valuable information about animals from all over the world; Taking your little ones to the zoo is also a great time to talk to them about our animal companions, and how important it is to be kind to them; Thanks to years of research, we now know that visiting a zoo is actually good for one’s mental and physical health. Finally another reason as to why zoos are beneficial is because some say that the way animals are displayed in zoos can reinforce the idea that humans are superior to the natural world. Some inspiration for this idea are from Kimberly Drew’s experiences of working at a museum, which is similar to a zoo (which is a live museum in itself). Just her being around the atmosphere and learning some of the background of her work is inspiration enough to make me want to act out and learn firsthand at a zoo (or live museum). The first quote comes from page 47 of the “This is what I know about art” book and it says “It was as if Ferguson wasn’t a reality for my coworkers. Granted, you’re not ‘supposed’  to talk about religion or politics at work, but police aren't ‘supposed’ to murder unarmed Black people, either. The rules I knew suddenly stopped making sense.” This quote shows to me the exact type of person Kimberly Drew is, someone who we all need in the workplace who questions social norms and confronts things that need to be said out loud. The second piece that inspires my idea is the Undocubus bus by the group of undocumented immigrant activists who bought an old bus and decorated it with images of brightly colored monarch butterflies. This uses animals directly into their use of protest activist art and gives more reasoning behind their message. Using animals gives the bus more life and exemplifies the importance of all animals from bugs to mammals. The quote I have taken from the reading for this is on page 30 saying “Donning butterfly wings at their events, and with butterfly designs covering their bus and emblazoned on their shirts, the Undocubus activists forged an association between human immigration and a natural and majestic migration, reframing the image of a population unjustly feared and routinely degraded. Who, after all, can be enraged at a butterfly?”.

Research:

https://www.jamesborrell.com/8-reasons-that-zoos-are-critically-important-for-conservation/#:~:text=The%20Californian%20Condor%2C%20only%2023,than%20400%20in%20the%20wild.

https://twpark.com/blog/5-remarkable-health-benefits-of-visiting-an-animal-zoo/#:~:text=Zoos%20have%20been%20around%20for,mood%20and%20enhance%20healthy%20habits.

https://www.procon.org/headlines/zoos-top-3-pros-and-cons/#:~:text=Turabian%20(9th%20ed.-,Pro%201,manuscripts%20between%201993%20and%202013.

https://hoschtonanimalhospital.com/blog/2022/06/16/5-reasons-zoos-and-aquariums-are-important/

Performance Art Intervention - Shayna Pullo

 Chapter 3 

“A great deal of activism and political art is directed toward criticizing what we don’t like. Occasionally it suggests the steps we might need to take to change things. But sometimes the best way to bring the world we want into being is to act “as if” it is already here.” page 102

I totally agree with this quote, I think that a healthy and smooth way to transition to the change that we want is to already act as if is already happening.

“By dramatizing those aspects of reality that are hard to see, or that we are reluctant to look at, we can make the invisible visible.” page 109

I love this quote because it feels like a moment of realization for all of us. The need to “dramatize” our problems as society to be seen sounds scary because it's something that happens every day, but we often don't try to help or “step out of the curb”, but at the same time I find it beautiful that more people are not scared to speak up anymore to defend others or them self. 

Chapter 4

  “Culture is all around us” page 132 

Culture is the reason why society is the way they are now. We need to comprehend the culture that is all around us, to be able to change society for the better we need to “ hack” the Culture.

“Either way, we are producing Culture in order to influence culture.”

It’s really important to be self-aware of our culture to be able to make changes where it is need to. Artist activist has the power to influence society and change it.

Art Performance Piece:

My performance art explores the experiences of women during their menstrual cycles. For many years, I believed that the only significant change I would face was managing blood flow for five days each month. However, about a year ago, I realized that our bodies undergo a full menstrual cycle throughout the entire month, with negative symptoms lasting for approximately two weeks.

During the week leading up to menstruation, we experience the "luteal phase," characterized by hormonal fluctuations that can lead to mood changes, bloating, skin issues, and fluctuations in energy levels, among other symptoms. Once menstruation begins, these symptoms often persist and can be accompanied by additional issues such as cramps, headaches, fatigue, acne, and digestive problems.

Despite enduring these symptoms for two weeks, women are still expected to maintain their daily routines and work commitments. A study conducted by UVA Health has shown that menstrual symptoms can significantly impact women's professional lives, affecting their energy levels, mood, concentration, and overall interest in their work. 

My video is a representation of how woman has to maintain her daily routine, for example the gym. I am someone who loves to take care of her body, health, mental health, and the gym has helped me a lot on that. Which is why that the gym now is a fundamental part of my everyday routine.

link to my Performance Art Video

Yoko Ono, Cut Piece 1964

This piece was first performed in Tokyo in 1964, and was performed at least four more times in Japan, London and the United States. Ono kneels on an empty stage with a pair of scissors in front of her. Yoko Ono stays quiet the whole time, she says that she gets into trance, so she doesn't feel frightened. Yoko ono invites her audience to participate, the audience starts cutting pieces of her clothing, this performance art is about how people treat other people in a vulnerable position as Yoko Ono. The reason why Yoko Ono stays quite while people are cutting her clothes is to show them that there is a whole world, that could exist by being peaceful.

Diana Ocholla

Diana Ocholla lives in South Africa, Ocholla is a dancer, storyteller, performance, choreographer. Ocholla expresses that by the gender-based violence in South Africa, she wanted to channel her fear with dance. She created a performance, Ocholla starting by talking to different women and saving those conversation to files. She with another five women made a performance in a street corner, they pick that place because usually that place are not safe for women. She says that after their dance performance, they felt so powerful after expressing their feelings in a dance with public.