Humanities Final Portfolio 2013

One of SLA’s core values are to be able to reflect on the work you have done. This year I done this have more than your fingers and toes can count, projects that I am proud to call mine. But as a struggling student there are also work  which is not good, but it  have helped me get to the good ones. I have jumped from poetry to sweatshops nearly everything in the past months of working with Mr.Block. The best part of it I didn’t write for a grade I wrote to express what I was feeling.


One day I wrote a journal entry answering a question that was always going threw my head. On the board of our english journal read “​Why do humans so often treat each others badly? And ....  What different thing change this cycle of negative behavior towards others.”  As a child growing up in the 90’s generation I have to deal with those who judge others a lot. I always wonder why something that someone else is doing affects someone else. The kids I have to grow up with leaves me with questions I do not even know if there is an answer to. Something I was raised around is “Sticks and stones may break your bone, but words will never hurt.”  I had a mouth full of things to write down for this journal! One of the ones I loved. (To read everything I wrote you can click here (English Journal 6 ) )


Thew out this year I have learned a general understanding that can make my life easier. The grades you receive never reflect your intelligence, It reflects your work ethic. To me this means that I have way more understanding on something I just don’t express it. I maybe one of the nerves writes I know. I have that general understanding on a topic, but sometimes I don’t always know how to express it. As I grow and I reach my college education level I now know I need to express myself a little more. For my younger cousins and or any other younger person I would love to them to know


I would never imagining learning so much from a teacher who teaching me two different subjects. Mr. Block is my wonderful history and english teacher.  Mr.Block has help me open my eyes in the world in such ways you wouldn't believe it. This has left me with not only understandings on the world but on my own work. As a student who has had a tough time in english and history I would never expect there is not only a fun way to learn but also an understanding way. I knew about the wonderful work Mr.Block has done because of one of his former students, but boy she didn’t inform me about this.


Here is some links to my work https://docs.google.com/a/scienceleadership.org/document/d/1Vb-

https://docs.google.com/a/scienceleadership.org/document/d/1c7s1rJmnZNQzDfwLSu0b_4R33WxZO6tGiBiTmdaEzlo/editMPiK2Q4eMqxk9HRoYKfzCUEmoL-Q-GN1P1pp2yrE/edit

Elementary, My Dear Students.

My element, Antimony, is very interesting. One thing that I found the most interesting was, ancient Egyptians used Antimony in their eye makeup. Also, when antimony is heated, it admits a silvery dust. This dust is described as a magically silver color. So for my project I decided to combine the two. I designed a tile with the Egyptian god of Magic on it. It was also very lucky that this god in particular is always depicted with very eccentric eye makeup designs.
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Screen Shot 2013-06-13 at 12.16.09 AM

Element Project Reflection

​1. Inquiry: I researched my element and it was kind of challenging because my element was a noble gas that didn't do much. After researching for a while I came up with a creative idea for my print. 

2. Research: Like I said before my research was kind of a challenge but after searching for a while I thought about it. I think that my idea was original and creative for such a boring element. 

3. Collaboration: Mrs. Hull helped me a lot because she helped me pick my best idea. She also helped me edit it, after the changes my idea was a lot better. I also helped out some of my classmates if they got confused. 

4. Presentation: My presentation could have been better. If i had switched where the negative space was in my print it would have looked a lot better. In my opinion my colors are not dark enough and it would have been better opposite. 

5. Reflection: When I reflect on my prints I wish that I could re-do them because I think they could have come out a lot better. I think that they were pretty good for my first try though and even though I don't like them, I am proud of them. 
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Cesium

Inquiry
In the beginning, I had no idea what Cesium was. It is not an element that people hear of everyday.

Research
In order to produce a good, informed design, I needed to do some research on what Cesium was used for, when it was discovered etc. 

Collaboration
To make a good design and generate ideas, I worked with others and asked about others designs. This helped to improve my design.

Presentation
For this project, I had to matt to of the prints on a background paper. I also had to take a good picture as part of presentation.

Reflection
Now, I reflect on my project. I look at my project and see how it connects to the five SLA core values. 
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Artist Reflection

Originally, I was supposed to do the project involving negative space, using elements as the topic. The process of the entire thing was pretty good. It mainly involved constant sketching, getting feedback from Ms. Hull, and returning to my sketchbook in order to revise whatever seemed to be out of place in the drawing. This went on for a while. Once it was brought to my attention exactly how the sketches would be used, I panicked, practically dreading art class from that moment on. 

We were all warned that linoleum cutters were these sharp, almost dangerous if used incorrectly tools. Now, had this been before, I would've jumped at the chance at attempting to use something with such risk added onto it. However, as soon as the warning stretched onto the fact that if you were to accidentally lose control of the blade, and it happened to puncture the skin, the results seemed fatal. Avoiding giving off some entire life story over a blog post, I considered the tool to be a personal danger. After an email session with Hull, followed by a pretty long conversation, I was in the clear to do something less, sharp, if you will, and was allowed to do a few simple sketches. I decided to draw a few pictures in the style of manga. In a way, they actually correlate to the essential questions and core values.

Inquiry: 
Before being able to do this mini-project, a few questions had to be asked. 'Why do you feel as though you aren't able to complete the element project?' 'What would be most helpful to you, as a student?' And, 'What would make you feel more comfortable,' were just a few pieces to this value. 

Research: 
I poured a lot of research into this, beforehand. Learning how to draw different hairstyles, eyes, expressions, and facial features were some of the basics, before I moved into a few more advanced topics, such as keeping everything aligned, and giving the characters a more animated look. 

Collaboration: 
Throughout the project, I collaborated with both my teachers, and my peers. The various critiques I'd ask from people probably had to be my biggest source of this value. 

Presentation: 
Each drawing has been, 'presented,' to someone at least once. By posting them online, one could also consider that a form of presentation.

Reflection: 
This very blog post! Thinking of what exactly were my highest and weakest points within the project also helped greatly within the creation of the reflection. 
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Element Project Reflection

Inquiry:
I created my own questions about my element. Also from those questions we started our research and used the information from that to make a drawing.

Research:
I did some research on the element that was assigned to me, so I could have a better knowledge of that element. One thing I learned was that Krypton is a noble gas. 

Collaboration:
I asked my fellow peers about how to use certain tools that were given to us. We all worked together to finish this assignment and helped one another understand new knowledge.                                                      

Presentation:
I made my element more presentable by adding a green border. Which was made out of construction paper. By doing this we made the project more appealing to the eye. 

Reflection:
I enjoyed this assignment very much because we got to work with new materials. We also learned about new information about our elements while creating art. 

Inquiry: 
I had to ask myself what exactly was I doing, I had to make sure that I was following directions.
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Element Project

In this project we had to incorperate the five values. I believe that research is incorperated in this project, because we had to do research on our elements to be able to know what type of design to make. Collaboration was included in this project, because we had to paint the tiles and this took collaboration, because we all had to work together. Presentation: we didn't stand up and present, but we did present by uploading our element print pictures. This is a reflection, what I'm writing is me reflecting on everything I've done over the process of this project. Inquiry is something we needed for this project. 
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Photo on 6-11-13 at 11.10 AM

Element Project

Research: I had do do some research on my element to find out more about it. I did not know what strontium was or did before I was assigned this project 

Collaboration: At first, I was confused about what was even going on. I had to ask alot of people different questions to figure it out.                                                                   

Presentation: I had to make my projects look nice. Doing this project was not good enough, but the final product had to be nice to get me a good grade


Reflection: For reflection, I had to think about all I did at the end to make sure that it was following the criteria. It took some time to do a checkoff but at the end it was all complete.

Inquiry: I had to ask myself what exactly was I doing, I had to make sure that I was following directions.

Element Project

Inquiry: There were many questions that I had about the project but didn’t ask. These questions weren’t asked because they were eventually answered during the process. 


Research: Because I had questions the best way to answer them was with research. Through research I was able to answer all of my questions. 


Collaboration: During this project I had to collaborate with others for help and to help. Helping them with painting and them helping me with carving. 


Presentation: This print will be on the school walls and on this blog below the reflection. The print was made with effort and creativity. 


Reflection: Even though I find my design interesting if I did this project again it would be different. I would think of something else that has to do with fluorine. 

Elemental Print

My element was Cerium​ and I did a print about neon signs because Cerium is in neon signs. 
Inquiry- I was questioning about my element and trying to find what my element did. 
Research- I researched everything about my element and found what my element did. 
Collaboration- I collaborated with my peers about what type of design I should use. 
Presentation- I presented the matted print to Ms. Hull.
Reflection- I reflected as I printed more prints because the paint would stick in the lines of the block and so I thought that if I would do it again, I would make sure that the lines I carved are deep enough.
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Elemental Printmaking!

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Inquiry
I asked myself, "what does the element krypton make up?" I also asked if there is anything unique about my element and how to design it.

Research
I looked up what krypton makes, such as neon lights and camera flashes. I researched what the history behind krypton and how it was discovered. 

Collaboration
I asked my friends what they thought of my design. I collaborated with them on what design to carve and I helped them choose

Presentation
I presented my final pieces, one matted and one not. I matted a few, and chose the best one to give to Mrs. Hull.

Reflection
Looking back at what I did I am proud. I loved how my prints turned out and my carving turned out nice. 

Titanium Serge Mass Prints

​Inquiry: What is Titanium and how is it used? How can I incorporate titanium into art?

Research: I looked up what is made out of titanium.

Collaboration: I helped others with their prints.

Presentation: The picture bellow.

Reflection: This is the reflection. 
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Humanities Final Portfolio 2013

Embarrassed, I am. This year was a flunk. Do I regret anything? Of course I do, but I'm not going to sit here and sob about it the last week of school. A repeated action of lying, bickering, and for what? To be sitting here in my loneliness of bad grades and avoided relationships. I haven't been a good sport, but I am only human.

One of my favorite quotes is, "Grades don't reflect intelligence, they reflect work ethic." A quote bringing a high self-esteem to a person who feels as though he doesn't have a meaning. A purpose. The honest truth is that I don't feel intelligent. I know I don't have a great work ethic, and my grades show that, but even if recognition for a completed assignment is given, it's not enough. There are still pieces of the puzzle missing.

Walking into Sophomore year was simple. Put a smile on, pay attention, do the work, get good grades. Simple.  Just like everything else. But, soon after I discovered how lenient I "thought" my teachers were, the slacking began. It's true when the students say, "You can't spell Slacker without SLA!" I was a slacker. Still am, at times. Considering the fact that I was so dedicated to passing and making an impression, it baffled me that my grades started to slip, and it confused me even more when I didn't care.

I generated creative ideas for each assignment that was given to me, I just never followed through. Week-after-week, month-after-month, it was nothing but disappointments. Ones from my teachers, ones from my parents, ones from myself. Tackling something that is outside of your box is more than changeling. It's mind-juggling. Every idea was extraordinary. Something that would give me a 20/20. I was excited. Filled with joy when that final thought was created. But, procrastination took over and molded me into something that I wasn't. I would say that Social Media is to blame, but actually, I am to blame. Everything is/was my decision. I decided to not turn in work; I decided to leave class for 30 minutes. No one is going to force me to do anything. It's my responsibility to make sure I am doing the best I can, and none of my capability and potential was shown through the half-ass effort.

This past school year has been an adventure. It wasn't a pleasant one, but I can't change the past and most certainly will not dwell in it. My journey has taught me the value things may have.  I envied people who were better at things than I was. I'm not skilled in math. I'm not skilled in Spanish, but that's okay. Piers of mine who received A's in classes, that I got a C in, were just trying to the best of their ability. I'm strong in many things that straight A students aren't, and thats valuable. I have to know that I'm not going to be Superman at everything, so I can't beat myself up over something that can't be altered. I may have messed up a few times, but I know how to fix the mistakes. Writing this short essay, made me realize the importance and significance of my talents and where they can lead me. I am an individual who sees things metaphorically and artistically. I can't compute variables in an equation and I can't translate a sentence only using a Spanish dictionary. From now on, I know to try my best and be the person I truly am, because it's the only thing that will be my aid in the following journeys.


Quarter Four Artwork - Max Amar-Olkus

​This quarter I worked on my photography, mostly. I also worked on some mixed media pieces. For the most part I like to think my photography is greatly inspired by painting and is composed in a way that makes some of the shots seem very painterly. The one painting I made this quarter was based on a picture I took of my little brother. It is just a portrait shot but I converted it into a stencil and it is very mysterious.


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"Portrait of Lucien" 
Fiber board, Spray Paint, Marker pen, Acrylic ink
Max Amar-Olkus

Here is the link to the photography I've done this quarter
http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxamar-olkus/

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061213105752

Oxygen Print

Inquiry
We asked questions about our element.

Research
We had to research our element to find out cool information about it. My element was oxygen.

Collaboration
I help other people with their prints because I was more experienced.

Presentation
We had to make this blog to present what we did.

Reflection
This is the reflection
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Prints

​Inquiry "What is negative space?" is the first question Ms. Hull asked. We had to figure out through different methods the answer to that question. Research Through the different methods we learned the difference between negative space and positive space. I figured it out the most through the print. Collaboration I had to collaborate with many people to get some ideas of what to create for my print. It was a very hard decision my peers helped me through. Presentation The presentation wasn't very formal but throughout the process and going through it together my classmates and I saw what isbest for us and our ways.
The presentation wasn't very formal but throughout the process and going through it together my classmates and I saw what each other did and what they could do better and throughout the period of time working on the project we figured out best methods for everything. Reflection When I reflect on this I love it more and more and I never love my art sothroughout this I have learned that printmaking may be the way to go.
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Negative Space

Negative Space is basically the part that is not the object. If you outline the object and color it in the part that is not colored in is the negative space. In the cut out the negative space is the paper I did not quitThe drawings have negative space in the part not drawn on. To see negative space the artist can see what they need to take out or draw on.This technique helps most of the time because of the way your eye can pick up on the shapes found in the negative or positive space.

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Negative Space Three Sketches


A. What is negative space (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of it) Negative space is the space of a drawing where other things are not there. In other words, it is the space around and in between an object. 



 B. Explain how you found negative space in 1. your cut out?, 2. in your still life drawing? I found negative space by drawing the space that is not the object but the space that is around or intertwined with the object. 



C. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space? It helps an artist to see in negative space because it gives artists different perspectives on art and their drawings, therefore they can expand upon the depth of their drawings. 



D. Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not? Seeing in negative space does enhance drawings because it helps artists see the difference of positive and negative space, as a result the artist can use both at will, enhancing their masterpieces. 


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Element Print


Inquiry: This project made us think about different ways to carve our block of linoleum. We all had to choose what we wanted are drawing to be on our block of linoleum.  


Research: For this project we had to research the element that we were given and find information that could be turned into a drawing. Furthermore we had to find the atomic number and the symbol for our element. 


Collaboration: Throughout this project we all talked about what we thought would be cool for our drawing for our print. We also talked about the different ways to print our drawings on the final piece of paper.     


Presentation: For this project we had to print our drawings on a final piece of paper. We also had to take a picture of our final print and had to make sure that the photo had the proper lighting.   


Reflection: At the end of the project I thought about what I could have done differently for this project. Furthermore I looked at my final product and made sure that it was the product that I wanted.       
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Chlorine

Inquiry
While I understood a few uses of chlorine, I was not clear on the widespread application of the element. It took some inquiry to push beyond the stereotypical clorox bottle, and discover uses of chlorine from public sanitation and the production of plastics to chemical warfare. Many of these were truly shocking.

Research
Inquiry provides the drive for research. With my questions as to chlorine's real world applications in mind, I hit the web. My perusing led me from the CDC website to that of CNN, and allowed me to achieve a fuller understanding of chlorine's history. Fact: Chlorine bombs were used by insurgent forces against United States forces and Iraqis alike during the Iraq War. Fact: The german scientist who began using chlorine solutions to deodorize the hands of surgeons, had the wonderful name of Ignaz Semmelweis.

Collaboration
Most of the collaboration of this project was during the printing period, in spite of a few of my classmate's pestering. I was impressed by our efficient and coordinated cleaning routine afterwards.


Presentation
I tried to incorporate the lettering and numbering of my design into the visual image, as opposed to having it overlayed, out of context. This method was hindered slightly by my issues representing differences in value and texture in the linoleum. 

Reflection
While I don't see this piece as my best work, or even close to my best work, it provided an opportunity for some interesting reflection. The project allowed me an opportunity to consider the ways in which we can convey information visually, and how juxtaposition of different forms of communication (visual and written) can display more complete messages than these forms on their own.