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The Beginning of the New End by Byshera Moore-Williams
Artist Statement:
I have always been a fan of science fiction. X-Men was one of my favorite shows as a child. I had never worked with it before so I set out to write a science fiction story and make a diorama of one moment in the story. I ended up making a digital image instead for two reasons. One I think that it looks cleaner and more put together. Two I didn't really have time to make and paint all of the parts I would have needed for a diorama. My work incorporates storytelling because I wrote a story that you can draw your own images from and an image that you can make your own story out of. I have gained the knowledge of working with a new genre and another change to improve my digital art skill. I hope that my audience gains some enjoyment and appreciation of the genre the way I always have.
Intro:
The year is 4040. There is a new world order. In 2050 there was an uprising of the third world countries and the impoverished of Americas. The battle resulted in nuclear bombing and air strikes. But those would were once on the bottom came out on top. Now the world is built of an artificial atmosphere and so run buy the fat king and queen. There are now only three classes with three gods. Pigs for the extremely wealthy. Owls for the middle class that is thought to be wise and rats for the lowest class. This is the story of Cyferia a young girl in the Owl class. She, her mother, and her grandfather are on the way to Prince Irose manner so that he and Cyferia may be married.
The beginning of the new end:
Another day in Athasar. Its a perfect seventy five degrees.The factories were making clouds and the cocos had there daily gear tightening before they want off flying just like they did everyday. The glass and bronze egg shaped buggy was making great time to Princes Irose’s manner. Which is to be expected when you are getting pulled my two steel horse, the best that money can buy, there is no reason you shouldn't be. “The road is much smoother here. Don't you think? You could take wonderful walks here. It will be an amazing home Cyferia.” Her mother's words cut through her thoughts. However she was right as they moved closer and closer to the home of Prince Irose the road had become a lot less rough but Cyferia really didn't care how smooth the road was. “Can I keep one of the horses?” She asked her mother is a lethargic voice that matched her mood perfectly.
She was dressed a lot like one would if they were going to see someone down the black river. A long dark grey dress that cover her from neck to hands and a grey lace vale. “Why of course not dear. The Prince will have horse that you can ride.” Her grandfather looked at her mother with the same tiredness that his granddaughter was experiencing from waking at three this morning so that they could make good time. He had been quiet for most of the ride sat next to her facing the front of the buggy. He unlike her mother and herself wore what he always wore. A brown metallic suite with a black tie and a white shirt with his favorite black shoes. Cyferia was wearing a white dress with gold pieces of gears and clocks hanging off her waist. She hated the dress however this is what the so called great Prince Irose had sent her and it was what she wore.
“Cyferia do smile when me meet the Prince.” her mother said as she forced a smile onto her own face. “I wonder if the Fat King and Queen ever roll down their smooth roads.” Cyferia said under her breath. “Why of course not dear they can't risk losing any weight.” Her grandfather whispered to her. They both laughed at their newest inside joke. “Father please do be kind to the Prince. And no making jokes you two, we are honored guest and must act as such.” Once her mother finished her statement she began checking the clocks on her daughters dress to make sure they were on time.
“My poor dumb daughter one would think that you would have more wits about yourself.” Her grandfather paused to pulled out a small gold owl and attached it to Cyferia’s dress. “The rich are nothing that we should fear or respect they are alone here to show that this world is working the way it should be. However we all know it is not and I will never stop scuffing because of the Fat King and Queen or the Fat Prince for that matter.” When her grandfather was done talking he looked out of the glass buggy to see how much longer he had to share space with his youngest child and only grandchild. For even though he loved them both he hated small spaces. “I didn't know we were meeting the Fat Prince.” Cyferia said looking at her mother through her vale. “We’re not. We are meeting one of the noble Princes. Your grandfather was just talking nonsense.” Her mother was obviously upset with what Cyferia grandfather said.
She was one of the only people that thought that the Fat King and Queen were doing any more then sitting up in their castle eating. “It makes sense to me and if it was up to me there would be another rebellion.” both her mother and grandfather looked at her but they were two totally different looks. Her mothers was full of shock and fear, while her grandfathers had a pride full look on his face. “Where did you hear about the rebellion?” Her mother said in her womanly soft yelling voice. She was leaning over so that her face was only a hand space apart from Cyferia. Cyferia took a deep breath and said “Mother your father is 463 years old and you let him watch me when I was young. Don't you think he would tell me about the rebellion. In Owls name stop treating me like a child.” Before her mother could say anything else the buggy stop. The coach robot was at the door opening it up on the left side so that her and her mother could get out first. His blue and gold medal looked worn when it was compared to the gold and bronze five floor home that lay in front of them. “Thank you Aqual. Please be very careful with the bags.” Cyferia said rushing out the buggy and to the door the home. Her mother got out next and then her grandfather last handing the robot something very small. “Aqual please be very careful I’m feeling that something strange is coming.” Aqual looks into his hand and sees a small golden owl. “Oh sir thank you I am honored and of course sir I am always careful.” As the family walked up the long winding steps the robot gathers each of their bags.
Before they can make it halfway up the first set of steps they hear a voice form what seems to be the top of the house. “Hello guest, please come no further I will have my butlers come and get you. Welcome to Irose Manner. You will be treated like family from this point on.” As the nameless and faceless voice echo fades into the metallic leaves of the trees four very buff and well maintained robots in what looked like black and white dyed silver were rolling down the steps with large rhinestone pillow in one hand and a snake tray in the other. “Wow, what a way to spend your inheritance.” Cyferia said before the last of the four stopped in front of her. “Hello madam Cyferia. An amethyst pillow with gold trim along with a tray of rose punch and blondes.” She was shocked that so much work had gone into planning out each of these small details. As she sits on the pillow and the robot slowly rolls back up to the door that they had just exited from. Her mother had a pillow of sapphire with white tea and lemon cakes. Her grandfather had a pillow of real feathers and a plate of whiskey and a cigar. Each one the these things must have cost at least a million silver. Cyferia could not even imagine what the inside of the house looked like if this was just the greeting.
As the doors of the manner opened Cyferia was slowly let down for her pillow. The great hall of this house had a very large fireplace plated with diamonds and silver. The artificial fire was one of the elegant that the family had seen. On either end of the fireplace was there was a set of square spiral steps. By the time that Aqual was let down from his coal pillow three young men were standing in front of the family. And the two robots where on either side of them. the one that seemed to be the oldest stood in the center. He was tall at least six foot three. He had tanned olive skin, eyes of night and hair of coal that was well kept. He had light scruff on his jaw line. His larger muscles did seem to make him heavy enough to be thought of as a noble however his clothes said otherwise. He wore black trousers that were well fitted, a lime green button up shirt , a white scarf that was fouled into it and a pair of round black glasses. He looked more like a scholar then a noble. The one of his left looked more like a doll them anything. He was no bigger than 5 feet tall. He had eyes like the river of live a mix of blue and green. His hair was black like coal but his dark skin made his eyes look that much bigger. He was wearing a blue and pink swirled pattern top that looked as it it have been filled with foam in the arms. His pants and shoes matched the pattern. He was the biggest of the three boys. The one on the right of the tallest was only a bit shorter close to 6 foot. He was wearing an all black suite with what looked like a sapphire crusted top under it. His shoes seemed to melt into the gold floor.
“Welcome to Irose Manner.” All three of them said in unison. At bit tired of the show Cyferia steps forward and says “Which one of you is Prince Irose. My mother and I have business with him.” The three boys didn't move for a few moments and then the one in the center finally says “My lady, I'm very sorry if our hospitality has hindered your meeting. My Prince Irose is to my right. and his brother Prince Emat is to be left. I am Ezok their tutor and caretaker.” When he bowed it draw Cyferia’s attention to his bare feet on the gold floor. “Please come with me to the library my lady, we can start the meeting there.” Ezok’s walk was very proud his height only added to what looked like the skillful walk of a knight. The arches of the doorways were decorated with ravens feathers and copper, all five of them. The extremely long hallway have doors between each arch. No one looked at them, ask about them or dared to open one. At the end of the hall there was a door that when from the floor all the way up to the sealing. Ezok reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a key that was almost the same size of Prince Emat. He used the large grey colored key to open the even larger matching colored door. “Welcome to the original library of rats. Here was where the first rebellion of the broken people meetings took place. Every plan that they ever made, decision they ever had, and fight that was ever won, was planned right here along with many other things. The story of the rebellion lives in this very room. Because of the Irose families involvement in the great rebellion they were granted the luxury to build their home around this monument. You do know the story of the rebellion yes Madam Cyferia, Madam Eldema, and Sir Luforus.” They all were very still as Ezok finished his rounds around the oval room moving books back in place and tidying the desk. “The rebellion is not to be taught in schools.” Eldema said looking straight at Ezok. He laughed at the the comment. In fact he was laughing so hard that he was almost doubled over. “Prince Irose if you would be so kind take your brother to the play room. This meeting is going to be a lot longer then I had thought and we would not want him getting antsy, do we.” “Of course brother Ezok I will be back as soon as possible.” The lean body quickly took the little boys hand and left through the large door that the group had entered through. With in seconds the both boys where gone. Ezok moved from the desk to the door closing it only a little and then the auto lock set in. He then moved with the same swiftness he moved to a book that seemed like it belonged in a poor mans house not in the home of a Noble Prince. “With your permission Lady Eldema, I would like to tell you three a story.” As he says the last word he opens the book an a blinding beam of blue-white light eliminated the room. “Yes I mind. My father has filled my daughters head with enough nonsense. I thought we were here to talk about.” She took a long pause. Ezok looked on confused. “I am so sorry. Prince Irose is still much to young to be married off. He is but sixteen and your daughter must be.” “Eighteen.” Cyferia said. Interjecting her self. “If he is not interesting in marriage why did he send me this dumb dress? Why are we here?” Ezok walked back around the table and laid the book on the table. “I need your fathers’ help. The dress was a gift to get you to come. This was not an invitation of marriage. I am afraid I have a much more pressing matter.”
Babcock.Q4.BM.Vulnerability
What did you set out to do?
I set out to discover how people feel about Vulnerability. This word has so often been linked to negative meanings, so I set out to unravel the truth behind being vulnerable. I asked a variety of people what vulnerability feels like, their most vulnerable moments, and what exactly vulnerability is to them. With these responses, I was able to cultivate a new meaning of vulnerability.
How does your work incorporate the art of storytelling?
I think that "vulnerability" is the central component to storytelling. Creating anything and sharing it is being vulnerable. I'm showcasing the stories of anonymous people through their responses and my photo re-creations. In addition to that, I'm also telling the story of vulnerability through the eyes of so many different persepctives. Even deeper, I'm sharing my story as a photographer, and a creator. I'm showing my thought process and ideas.
What do you hope your audience gains from your work?
I hope that my audience begins to appreciate what it means to be vulnerable. Overall, I want them to open their minds to opening themselves up. This may mean: sharing their art with others, sharing their opinions, tackling inner demons, etc. I want people to gain some sort of understanding, whatever it may be. Hopefully, people will be able to relate to this project.
What did you gain from doing this work.
I gained an appreciation for two main things: Being vulnerable and Creating art. The creation of this book entitled more than I thought. I needed to step out of the box and get my creative juices flowing. But through this difficult process, I understood how rewarding it is to create art. You begin to see yourself through a new perspective. Being vulnerable became very important to me. Throughout this process I realized how vulnerable people are every single day of their lives. I also gained a few different perspectives on being vulnerable and allowing your true self to show.
My Story, By Willie Willson
Artist statement:
When I set out to do this project, my goal was to write a story that fulfilled all of my own expectations. I read a lot of books, and some recurring themes in stories have started to get old, so I wanted to write a story that went against these stereotypes. I wanted to create a story that would surprise the reader with it's frankness. I hope that when people read this they feel the same way I did when I created it. I hope they feel like they have no idea where the story is going to go because the possibilities are endless, and nothing is out of the question.
1
Hello, my name’s Adam Daniels, and this is the beginning of my story. I led a pretty normal childhood, up to a point. Then I realized I was a little bit special. This fateful occasion was one morning, when I was about twelve, and had just watched Star Wars. I had just witnessed Yoda lift Luke’s ship right out of a swamp, so of course I was trying to use the force to see if I was a Jedi too. I was a weird kid. Imagine how ecstatic I was when I discovered that I could actually move certain things with my mind. After a while I discovered that I wasn’t actually a Jedi, but a Super who could control metal.
What exactly is a Super, well first I’ll give a little background information. The first recorded super was in 1953, who went by the name of Sally Wershire. She discovered she could fly when she tried to jump over a fence, and almost immediately hit a tree. That didn’t stop her from becoming incredibly famous, as the first human being who could actually fly. From that point onward, the human race was on the lookout for other individuals who possessed the same type of talents.
Well, twelve year old me liked having a trump card over everyone “normal” in the world, so I kept these new powers pretty quiet throughout my early life. I spent a lot of my time trying to figure out exactly what I could do, and it wasn’t until I was fifteen that I got a really clear view of my powers. I had complete control of every piece of metal within a ten foot radius of myself. When I say complete, I mean absolute. I could control individual molecules of iron, steel, titanium, within that radius. It’s true that the more delicate the work I have to do gets, the harder it was, but I could manage.
As soon as I turned 18, I left my house to go to “college”. In actuality I rented an apartment by a junkyard, and spent the next four years of my life exercising and refining my powers. I had no true physical powers, so I did some remodeling of my body. I reinforced all of my bones with titanium, and integrated spring steel into my muscle fibers and my skin cells. The end result was that I came out of those four years an expert in my power, with an incredibly tough body, and a sharp mind.
Now seems like a good time to explain how the world works these days. We have the Hero’s, all the goody goody little kids that always wanted to be superman. We have the Villains, mostly psychotic and power crazy, and then we have a third subgroup of supers that try to ignore their powers and lead a normal life. When I was 22, finished with my training, I was looking into which group to join. Neither group really appealed to me, so I went to a coffee shop to list the pros and cons of each, and hopefully decide.
While I was at this shop, I looked outside and saw a couple of other supers fighting it out in the distance. They were having a merry time, knocking each other through buildings, shooting energy blasts at each other, and in general causing havoc. At that point I realized something quite ingenious. I wouldn’t join either of the groups. I would sell my abilities to the highest bidder for protecting against these supers, and hopefully have a few good fights in the process.
2
I was working security at my third or fourth gig when my entire world changed forever. I was downtown, sitting indoors, wearing a security uniform to blend in with the normal people around me, when two supers started fighting and heading my way. All I could see at first were two shapes surrounded by dust, then there was a blast of energy and they became clear to my eyes. They were two of the highest ranked supers from both sides, Block, and the Mind. Block stood at least 7’2”, and appeared to be a solid 400 pounds of muscle. His powers are pretty simple, but nevertheless incredibly effective. He was incredibly durable and strong. I thing the heaviest object he ever lifted was a couple trains, at once, and that was after those trains had crashed into him going full speed. The Mind was a normal 5’10”, since his powers didn’t affect his physical body, but he was equally deadly. He was the strongest telekinetic known to date, he could move things with his mind. They were both wearing their costumes. Mr. Blocks was a variation of the standard army uniform, sleeveless camouflage top with pants, Mind was just wearing a neatly pressed suit, and of course they both had masks on.
Their fight appeared to be evenly matched, with Mind stopping Block’s fists with his powers, and Block being unaffected by everything Mind threw at him. Neither of them were slowing down, and they were coming to my building, so I decided to get involved. At times like these I’m glad I took the time to remodel those titanium crowbars into arm braces, so I can carry around a little bit of metal with me everywhere I go. For the moment though, I just walked up to the two fighting supers and starter to yell at them.
“Hey, calm down before you break my building!”
They were so startled that they just stopped fighting to stare at me for a second, then completely ignored me and continued to fight. I shrugged, and used my power to melt the titanium I kept around my left arm into a spear, then caused it to accelerate to 900 mph towards Mr. Block. I don’t have control over the spear after it leaves my sphere of influence, so I only did this when I was sure I wouldn’t hit anything important. It actually managed to knock him back a few feet, and again both of the supers stared at me. No one was supposed to be able to do that. But then no one had ever met me.
I smiled, then used my power to melt the other arm brace down into a sword, held in my right hand. Your probably thinking, why would you use a sword? This sword was rather special. It had taken me a while to perfect, but eventually I figured out that since I had complete molecular control over metals, I could create something with an edge a single molecule wide. This required a lot of concentration, and while I did it I couldn’t use my power for anything else, but with that sword I could cut through literally anything.
Block didn’t know this so he just smiled wickedly at me, stepped forward, and aimed a punch directly at my face, hoping to finish me off quickly and get back to his fight. All of his strength made him cocky, which in turn mad me angry. I dodged under his punch, then cut of his arm at the elbow. It took him a full second to realize what I had done, to realize that someone had actually hurt him, then he started screaming. I never liked screaming, so I cut his head off.
The Mind was dumbfounded that anyone could have taken Block out that easily, but that didn’t stop him from wanting to take a crack at me. Villains always were crazy. He started throwing telekinetic blasts of power at me, which I kept dodging. His complete confidence in his power made him easily predictable, and eventually I was able to get him within my radius of power. I stopped maintaining my swords edge so I would have enough concentration to pull of this next trick, and then I tore all of the iron from Minds body. As he toppled to the ground, I started to walk to talk to my employer, and tell him to get ready for the news crews.
3
Later that day, after endless attempts of the paparazzi to get an interview with me and a couple of hearings about “manslaughter”, I was sitting in my apartment eating Cheerios when I heard a knock on the door. I peeked through the doorknob and saw another rather famous super. He called himself Bolt, and he was one of the only supers around who could shoot lightning out of his hands. He was a teammate of Mr. Blocks, and was known for being an honor obsessed idiot. Seeing him in my hallway, I realized he was probably here for revenge, so I shrugged, and reached to unlock the door. As I did this, I used my power to activate my “home defense system”. Basically I keep a bucket of metal dust in a corner, then when I need it I can control it however I want.
On this occasion I spread the dust out around me in a circle, too thin to actually see. It would appear to Bolt that I was unarmed, when in actuality I basically had a circle of death ready and waiting for him.
I stepped out into the hallway with Bolt, and as he opened his mouth to probably give a speech I spoke up,
“Hey, so can we take this outside? I don’t want to have to find a new apartment.”
I guess buildings tended to break around him too, because he was very understanding of that sentiment. I walked down the hallway and got in the elevator, holding the door open for him. He got in, and we got to spend the next minute or so awkwardly listening to elevator music. Yay. When we got to the bottom floor, I got out of the elevator and walked outside, with Bolt right behind me. All the way I made sure to keep the cloud of metal particles floating around me.
We walked outside and started towards a section of grass outside the back of my building. When we got there, I turned to look at Bolt clearly for the first time. He was average height, stood with the posture of a victim of religious schooling, and the air crackled around him with electricity.
“Is it true that you decapitated Mr. Block?”
Wow, this one doesn’t mince words.
“Yeah, after he tried to punch me to Mars.”
“You interrupted a fight between honorable foes and used trickery to overcome an obviously superior foe. I’m here to avenge him, prepare yourself for death.”
With that he lifted his hands, and proceeded to attempt to electrocute me. Only problem was that the air was so full of metal particles the electricity just ended up dissipating almost immediately. Oh man, his face was priceless, I wish I had brought my cheerios with me, just to rub it in.
Bolt was still a hero though, so of course he attempted the exact same thing, just with more power. The blast of electricity that he unleashed could have powered New York for a month. If it hit me I would be dead. But I simply molded a few of the particles in the air around me into a lightning rod, which took care of that. At this point, I started to get angry. This guy just came in to my house and tried to kill me, all for just protecting myself. I don’t let stuff like that slide, so I retaliated. Violently.
I moved all of the particles in the air around me into a circular motion, each one moving at several hundred miles per hour. The effect was a circle of destruction that ate up anything it came in contact with. Then I walked forward. Bolt attempted to blast his way through the spinning mass, but it wasn’t having any effect. It did, however, help with the one problem with this use of my power. It told me where he was. I just sprinted at him, using my metal enhanced muscles to reach speeds of 50 mph. I literally ran through him, the cloud following me turning him into a fine spray of red. It sounded remarkably like a blender. I had to make sure to stop before running into anything I didn’t want to destroy, then I walked back into my building to shower, and think about what I should do next.
4
In the shower, I concluded that at this point I was probably screwed. I had already been directly responsible for three supers, and had effectively pissed off everyone that mattered. This became even more apparent when I turned on the TV, and switched it to a news station. It started out as the usual, some small woman describing the horror of some fast food chain, when it got interrupted by a screen with the letters M&L on it. It then switched out to a camera, showing two incredibly imposing figures that are impossible to not recognize.They were Michael and Lucifer, and they took their names from the angels they each personify.
Michael was about 6 foot, and was one of the most beautiful people ever to walk the earth. His skin shone healthily, and you could sense the vitality pouring off of him, making him seem that much more human. He had huge golden wings, growing out of his back to drape majestically at his sides. Lucifer was almost his complete opposite. He was taller than Michael, close to 7 feet tall, and grotesquely muscular. His skin was black and leathery, even cracked in some places. Whereas Michaels face was beautifully angry, Lucifers was permanently twisted into a sadistic smile. He also had wings, but these were demented. They were jet black, twisted and broken, with too many shard edges and curves to be considered healthy.
As supers, they were even more terrible. Both had super strength, could fly on their wings, and had durability, but their individual powers were even worse. Michael could control light, bend it, concentrate it into lasers, you name it he could accomplish it. Lucifer had control over darkness. It followed him wherever he went, always exuding dark emotions, oozing from him into the world. They worked as the heads of their respective sides, Heroes and Villains, good and bad. They were perpetually fighting each other, since they were the only ones who could hope to match the others skills. Seeing them together meant trouble.
Michael stepped forward to speak first, with a voice that sounded of authority and calm self confidence.
“Hello, people of Earth. My brother Lucifer and I would like to take this time to bring someone to your attention, someone who has succeeded in angering both my brother and I. This someone is Adam Daniels. You may know him as the rogue super who has recently killed Bolt, Mr. Block, and the Incredible Mind. We have deemed him a danger to society, and have decided to take immediate action.”
Now Lucifer stepped forward to speak, and the sound that came forward was the equivalent of a machine gun firing forks at a chalk board. His voice was full of barely suppressed rage, madness, and pain.
“We have decided that we will get involved in taking care of this little man, Adam. If you know who, what, or where he is contact us immediately. To Adam I would like to give a small warning. We’re coming for you, and when we find you it won’t be pleasant.”
With that, the announcement shut off and returned to the news. I sat back, stunned. I had somehow attracted the attention of the worlds two most powerful and demented supers, I was officially rogue, and everyone now knew who I was. At that moment I discovered what true panic was, and then my house exploded.
As I was flying through the air, I had time to ponder why building I stay around keep breaking, and then my fall ended with me crashing into a nice and comfy mini van roof. I groggily pulled myself out of the van, and looked up. There in the sky, were the two angels. Sure didn’t take long for someone to rat me out. Michael was burning, bright as a sun, and Lucifer was next to him, lurching sickeningly through the air on his disturbing wings.
They landed thirty feet away from me, and that’s when I knew I was seriously outclassed. As soon as Lucifer landed, he stood up and laughed maniacally, then charged. I barely had time to sit up when he was on me, punching me repeatedly. Each fist was wrapped in darkness, which added just that extra zing that they needed to wake me up. I used my power to reach out to the minivan under me, and used it’s metal to create a suit of armor for me. This new suit proved effective at taking most of the force out of Lucifers punches, which let me gather my ability one more time and create my sword.
With it’s edge as shard as I could make it, I swung at Lucifer, and succeeded in lopping off one of his wings. He screeched in terror and anger, retreating now behind his brother. Michael didn’t bother to use his hands, instead his eyes started to brighten with a light that I didn’t think could possibly be anything beneficial to my health. I therefore stepped out of the back of the armor, but left it standing as a distraction. Then I sprinted around a nearby car to wait and see what would happen.
Michael’s eyes finally became as bright as two suns, and then the light coalesced into two laser beams that tore through my empty armor. It melted the entire top half off, but when Michael stepped forward to see if he hit me I ran out again, aiming to cut him in half. I swung, and managed to cut off both of his wings, and I was treated to another scream of anger and loss.
At this point I knew I was pushing my luck to stay around, so I fashioned my sword into a type of surfboard, stepped onto it, and made it fly into the air with me firmly attached to it. Since I had removed their wings, Michael and Lucifer couldn’t follow me, and I could get away easily. Flying away, into the night, I finally realized that I would never become a super anything. Not a Hero, not a Villain. I would become something new, something other. At least I wouldn’t have to work security anymore.
First Product: Amanda, Lexus, Kilah, Zaria, and Katherine
Threads- Q4 Benchmark
Poem:
Threads pulling pushing aching across the story
Ideas tugging
through my mind
piercing through
one piece
then two
Hold
everything
together
now pull
piece by piece
coming together
ideas coming together pushing pulling aching.
What did you set out to do?
I wanted to find a way to incorporate storytelling into quilt-making. I decided that I wanted to keep it simple and include words in this process. My goal was to show people, including myself, how the process of storytelling was similar to the process of quilt making.
- How does your work incorporate the art of storytelling?
I hope my work incorporates the art of storytelling by exploring the story that happens when a creator is making their story. It is also incorporating storytelling because it is the result of a story.
- What do you hope your audience gains from your work?
- What did you gain from doing this work.
Q4 BM
siragallows.wix.com/radiant-darkness
Guide To The World's Most Outrageous Creatures Q4 BM
Stories_Hunt
Here We Go Again
And there we were. At it again. Laying next to each other imagining the possibilities of each other. Exploring each other. I could never explain it. As I inhaled her aroma, enticed by her beauty, her bare skin carressing against mine. “Babe”, she would say. Her lips would slowly whistle my name. Our bodies were in sync once more. My body glided like a razor to freshly shaved legs right above her. She was just a childhood friend, I would tell her this. I know her body. I always give her that fresh feeling and glow right after. I explore her.
It has been six years. Everytime I heard her breathe slowly and softly, her body at relaxation my body goes limp. I was there again, body limp, penis hard. And this is honestly just a diary of a typical guy. I can not explain how much I love sex with her and only her. I tell myself that even though she was “just a friend” she was all I want now. “Slow this time?”, I usually say to her.
We connect eyes, lock our fingers together so that slowly, but suddenly I am back to dominating her body and thoughts. I have a hold on her. I know she was not mine, but in those moment we always share something together. Some days after we would handle my “limp moments”, I keep to myself. I sit there alone in my room, skateboard, hit the vapors and just feel chill. I would catch myself attaching myself to her, addicted to her.
I would catch her slipping into her emotions, but over the months she became much more logical. It scares me. But I will never understand her, yet I never have cared to. She is she, and I am I. We will never fully understand each other’s thoughts. That is what brought her back to me each time, fight after fight. It would always be a misunderstanding.
We have been seeing each other for a while now. I loved that she comes and go. We tried a relationship before and it did not work. I hated the institutionalized ideas of a label or being called her boyfriend. Shit, I am just too young to settle down. I hate to let her down, but I can not stand committing myself. She was due to go soon anyways.
Let me introduce myself.
I am just an 18 year old guy. I do not know what love is. I do not even think I love myself. We stopped saying I love you back when we were 15. Occasionally she will tell me that she loves me. I know she does, I just feel weird about love.
She is leaving in just a month. And last time that is why she left, because I hated the fact that I knew she had to go. I always imagine us slipping us in our old ways when we are not together. I am not binded to her nor she is binded to me. That is the most beautiful part about it. I allow her to go out and explore the world, as she allows me to. I adore her and our bond. I will allow her to explore other people too, I want to taste the salt in her mouth, victory that her vocal cords have yet to scream, and the trail of the people she passes by to get to me. The treacherous moments without me and the battles that allow us by each other sides is what I yearn for. However, I do not expect them.
I know that there is a possibility she will leave and never come back. So as I lay there tonight, and our fingers intertwine, this time is no different. She whispers to me “Babel”. I grasps her sides, pull her close, and press my lips against hers. This time I allow myself to breathe, inhale her aroma, leaning her head against my chest as she plays in my hair. I say to her, “Will you come visit?”. Immediately she responds “Of course I will, I will call you every night crying telling you I miss you”. I reply, “You’re gonna leave me here all lonely and shit”.
Either way she is going to go. I have no say. I do not know whether I will explore others, or whether she will, too. Now is all that she is giving me, now I will take, now I will give. Until we both are granted to love again, even if I am stuck loving someone else.
Wake Up, Wake Up
Waking up this morning was a struggle
And the depths of my thoughts submerged me
Consumed me
Self infliction
So my predilect for happiness kicked in
and I slowly digressed from the thoughts
where you inevitably lie
Yet again I can not help it
Lying to myself
Justifying "us"
even though I know that there is only you
and then there is me
And you continue to be on the walls of my mind
Attached
As if you were the flower to my dirt
Where you suddenly seem to have bloomed
And I suddenly seen to remember that flowers are not my thing
That I hate them and never seem to engulf myself in their beauty
And I slowly begin to have tsunami tides in my eyes
Watering my thoughts
So that they can grow, only greater than they were before
but I stop
and remind myself
that I am the dirt
Used to create such a beautiful disaster
However, I can not seem to stomp on you
Pull you out of the dirt where I know that you can grow
Because I provide you with the nutrients
As if I am your food for thought
And so instead I decide to leave you there
Plant new seeds in my dirt
Because I know that they will grow
So I will crowd my garden
Until there is no longer room left for youSeparation
We were inseparable for years on end. I knew that she was someone who I wanted in the moment. But i could not promise our future moments. I was okay with that. Wrapped up all she and I could be right now. But it was on a gloomy day where we decided we no longer wanted to be confined by the ways of each other. I could hear the subtle ways she would push me away and I would do the same to her. Her actions and her voice as it was all composed of hesitation. I had known her, I had known I. But there is nothing like losing two instead of losing one.
A Love Like This
His hand glided against my skin. I know it sounds sexual, but he knew how to please me. Satisfying it was. It was hand on mine, that got me everytime. Where our eyes met, as I indulged in his chestnut brown eyes. And see, he was not my lover, per say. Little would even imagine that from the way that it sounds, but he is my father. My father held my hand, as my small hand fit into his large palm scooped up by his fingers.
My father held my hand like no other, a bond in which could not be rectified. This was our time together, and few of it is what we had together. He would give me a father-daughter glare and that is what gave me hope. He was the man that I looked up to, confided in. He was the only man I had ever trusted. I confided in him, and I hoped that this would not hinder but help my abilities to have a strong bond with someone else in life. So as his hand softly carressed at the inside of my palm, I could not help but stay.
It was simply satisfying. I did not have to be reassured by his words, or his glares, or his actions towards me. I did nothing but believe. I made him greater than just a person to me. It was interesting and years later, here I am with his hands gliding against my skin. Yet this time it is not my father, but the man I am giving my body and soul to. As I look him in the eye, it is a similar love to which I learned with my father. A first trust, bond, and form of energy I was able to extend.
Effortless
Easily just getting your way with me
Because nothing stimulates me more than your mind
There is something about your creativity
a hint of spontaneity
that makes me wonders what is next
I often get lost in you
A mystery you are
And you do it without even knowing you are or even trying, for that matter
Effortless I say
because no matter how many times you say my name it sounds right
There is a deliberate flow in your words and conversations with me
Forced would be considered a clouded judgement, a fabrication
You are like the clouds to the sky, easily just moving along
but there is no effort
and so again I will call you effortless
because you are sometimes like a spring day
and drench me in your rain
and somehow I just want to run in the rain, spin, twirl, and jump in puddles.
you can even be like a winter's day
Mounding me in your snow, piled high, freezing me to death
but I find a way to just indulge in the beauty, by either playing or just staring all day
but other days I just want to stay inside
Love you from a distance
Cover myself up with layers and layers, so you can not get through to me
Because you are effortless
You do not try to love me
But I seem to be addicted to you
From your multiple layers
Surprise filling
hard exterior
I know you are not the best for me
and that is the most thrilling part
You excite me
Provide me with a rush
and I simply want you
But then again, candy, spring, and winter seem to just as much as you do for me.
Giving me a peace of mind. And these things I learn to let go, although time after time I have repeatedly welcome them again. Willingly or unwillingly, because sometimes the effortless ability to captivate me is all I can ask for.
And even through all of your effortless, I always seem to justify you, find beauty in your cracks, or even in places where I never thought to look before.
And I wonder if that is why I keep you around.
Math Benchmark Podcast #2
(Chapter Three, Chapter Four, and Chapter Five)
Group Members:
Lexy Babcock
Goldie Robins
Jessica Maiorano
Gabby Santaniello
What Our Group Discussed:
We discussed Chapters 3 to 5.
How We Discussed It:
We mostly stayed in chronological order and went through each of the following chapters: 3, 4, and 5. For each chapter, we tried to pull out some different ideas and examples from the book. Some individual group members picked out things that others didn't notice.
Any Points of Conflict/Disagreement In Discussion:
We mostly agreed. We had a few points of discussing an idea to better the understanding of another group member.
Questions answered:
- Choose one of the quotations inside the front cover and discuss how it relates to the Introduction.
- Put the second paragraph on Page 18 (“A river cannot….”) into your own words.
- Which kind of “average” (statisticians call all three “measures of central tendency”) would give me the best way to compare the performance of two classes of a required math course? Why?
*ALSO, We are going to include the articles in the next podcast with chapter 6 discussion.
Negative Space
Art Stool/ Negative space drawing
1. What is negative space? Negative space in this photo is the blue paper.
2. Why use negative space? The negative space makes the photo more interesting and it gives the paper levels of creativeness.
3. How can negative space be used in photography? We can use negative space in photography to display more than one photo. We can also use it to add a better color scheme.
4. What is the best way to take advantage of negative space? The best way to take advantage of negative space is to have a hidden drawing on the blue paper that someone couldn't see unless you told them about.
1. What is negative space? Negative space in this drawing is everything but the stool.
2. Why use negative space? I used negative space so my stool could stand out more.
3. How can negative space be used in photography? Negative space could be used in photography to portray different illusions.
4. What is the best way to take advantage of negative space? Best way to take advantage of negative space is to use it as something that is unique. Like make a picture three d with negative space.
Q4 Benchmark!
- I set out to make a dedication to someone very important to me, who I lost this past November. He was always telling stories so I wanted to share some of the ones that stuck with me.
- My work incorporates the art of storytelling because this whole project is me sharing stories about his life. Also, the times that we shared together when he was telling me and I was just sitting there listening to him.
- I hope that my audience learns all about the type of man that my pop was and they love him just from the stories that I shared.
- From doing this project I also gained some more stories that he shared with my mom and my grandma. This project didn't even feel like work because I loved what the topic was and that made it all the better.
Q3&4 Benchmark
Selfies
Negative Space
2.One should use negative space so it can enhance It cab affect the overall "composition" of your art work. It can also greatly improve your ability to create more successful pieces of artwork.
3. Negative space can be used in photography because it is a concept that's been used in art, design, architecture, and sculpture for hundreds of years. It's equally useful in photography, and can be used to turn an average photo into an outstanding one.One can use it to see shapes and sizes more effectively, and produce better images and pictures.
4. The best way to take advantage of negative space is by when we have to design something that’s difficult or something that’s not very familiar to us. Pretend that you have the lovely task of drawing your grandmother’s beautiful, wrinkly feet. Rather than focusing on the details, such as the wrinkles, toes, and nails, start looking at the unfamiliar negative spaces, such as the spaces between her toes, the distance from the ground of each toe. This will make the most regular things seem more unique and better.
5. We can see the chair on page 34, even though it is actually not drawn because the frame outside of it is what they have drawn not the object itself but the things around. Creating the same image but in a different and more special way; that you technically don't even make!
TaylorXiminesCapstone
Name: Taylor Ximines
Mentor Name: Ms. Martin
My capstone is about making my community aware about what Breast Cancer is, and I made a team for the 2014 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure that was on Mother's Day.
For my Capstone I wanted to do something that would actually be special to me. I did not want to do a project that wouldn't be meaningful to me. So I started to think about issues that affect me gender, culture, race, and age wise. And something that seemed to be a common factor among those were breast cancer. For me personally my family has been affected by the disease, and I know for millions of other people it has to. I wanted to make a difference in anyway that I could. So my initial plan was to recruit students to join the team that I would make to participate in the race that took place on Mother's Day. The process for this Capstone was one that was long and hard at times. Things did not always turn out like I wanted them to. It took a lot of patience on my end to carry through with what I wanted my project to be. In the end I did make a team for SLA for the Race for the Cure and did the walk/run. I learned along the way that things to do not always happen like I want them to. That no matter what we always have to remember what the end goal for everything is. I hope that by me starting this somebody in the years to come can do the Race for the Cure under the SLA team; as well as help to take steps toward finding the cure for breast cancer.
Bibliography
"WebMD Breast Cancer Center: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Genes, Staging, Tests, and Treatments." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2014. -
This source basically explains what breast cancer is. It tells about the disease and what it does. I used this source to explain to people exactly what breast cancer is. Some people may be unsure about what it is. So I used this resource because WebMD is one of the most credible online medical journals. So I can be almost one hundred percent sure that the information on here is non bias and correct.
2. "What Is Breast Cancer?" Www.nationalbreastcancer.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2014.
This is the website for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. I used this website as a source for breast examinations. One of the main ways to see if you have breast cancer is to have an examination done. It could be done at home or at a doctors office. This website explains each step and what to do when it comes to checking to see if you have breast cancer.
3. "50 Fundraising Ideas." 50 Fundraising Ideas. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Jan. 2014.
This website gives 50 ways on how to fundraise. For my project I will need to raise money in order to make my team for the walk. Having money is something I will need in order to make my team. But since I am not rich I must receive donations and get money my own way while trying to put my team together. So this website has given me some new ideas on how to raise that money.
4. "The Big Pink Footprint:." Susan G Komen Philadelphia. 27 Jan. 2014
<http://komenphiladelphia.org/>-
This is the website for the Susan G Komen Philadelphia Chapter. This is probably my most important source. It tells me what to do when it comes to making my own team. As well as giving me resources to people that will help me. When I do the walk I will need to be registered with them and they will tell me exactly what to do. So this is my most important website for doing my whole project.
5. "What are the key statistics about breast cancer?" What are the key statistics about breast cancer? 26 Jan. 2014 <http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-key-statistics>.
This websites gives the most recent statistics when it comes to breast cancer. I used this because I will need to tell people just how serious of a problem this disease is. That somebody they know has breast cancer or will develop it statistically speaking. So doing this walk.run is something that is needed to help support research for this disease.
6. Schawbel, Dan. "5 Ways to Network in the Real World." 5 Ways to Network in the Real World. 27 Jan. 2014 <http://www.theladders.com/career-advice/5-ways-to-network-in-real-world>.
This source gives various ways to network. It includes whether it be on social media, or by people that I know. It gives key details and tips on how to make my circle bigger. Networking is something that I will need to do for this Capstone. The more participants I get, the more sponsors, and the more money that can be raised for my Capstone.
7. Kelly. "Welcome." Inspirational Breast Cancer Survivor Stories | Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. 27 Jan. 2014 <http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MSABC_FY13_StoriesOfHope>.
This is a story about a woman named Kelly. She talked about how breast cancer ran in her family and that she always did early screening and got regular mammograms. But that she still unexpectedly developed an aggressive breast cancer. But through different foundations and walks that the money raised helped her get the treatments to get rid of it. This can be used to show why my Capstone is important. That most families will be affected by this cancer and it is important to keep making teams who do walks and races to raise money to help people.
8. "Financial Information." Susan G. Komen®. 25 Jan. 2014
<http://ww5.komen.org/AboutUs/FinancialInformation.html>.
This source is very important for this project. A big part of my Capstone is the fundraising. That in order to make my team and do the walk/run on Mother's Day we have to raise the money. But I do not want to raise the money and then not see where the money is going. Or have other people committed to my team and not know exactly where their finances are going. So this source shows the Susan G Komen's finances for all of the past years. And it also explains how the finances are distributed back to breast cancer research and treatment.
9. "Corporate Partners and Sponsors." Susan G. Komen®. 27 Jan. 2014 <http://ww5.komen.org/allCorporatePartners.aspx>.
This is a source that tells just how big the Susan G Komen foundation is. There are a lot of breast cancer foundations. I wanted to make sure that for my Capstone I picked one that was renowned and very well known. So this is just a list of so many other famous companies that sponsor the Komen Foundation and are their partners. This just reassures my team and I that we are actually working with the biggest breast cancer foundation, and it will do the maximum amount of help.
10. "Careers / Internships / Volunteering." Susan G. Komen®. 27 Jan. 2014
<http://ww5.komen.org/GetInvolved/Careers.html>.
This is a source telling how else to get involved. I do not want my Capstone to be the only time that people are involved with this important topic. During and after my Capstone I still want people to care about Breast Cancer Awareness; including myself. So if people want to find out how they can still volunteer this is the source for it. Or even if somebody wants to continue this same Capstone idea by having a team for next year's walk then this is the source for them.
Negative Spanish Reflection
Reflection
Negative Space Reflection
Negative Space
A. What is negative space (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of it)
Negative space is the background of an object in a picture.
B. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your stool drawing?
I found negative space in my cut because I had two different colors and the purple was the space in the background. In the stool drawing the white space surrounding the table,stool and plant.
C. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?
If you can get rid of the object in the picture or look around the object you can find the negative space.
D. How is negative space useful in creating art?
It helps to see where your drawing will go or the right size for the object.