Category: Writing Journal

All in all, I really enjoyed this class. I really love how the class combined the culture and history of Mexico and art, two of my interests. I also loved my research paper topic. I thought it combined a lot of issues we discussed in class, such as authorization of art, and also gave me a chance to learn more about my home. 

Even past this class, I feel I have already begun to continue to explore the questions we have asked throughout the course to real life. The other day, I was discussing with a studio art major senior here about the purpose of art and what is considered art. We talked about the event where a man dropped his glasses in the Modern Museum of Art and everyone thought his glasses were one of the exhibitions. She mentioned that she has noticed that those were are more outspoken receive more recognition for their artwork during critiques. She also talked about her struggle with artists who put meaning into their art versus those who do not or those who just make up a story after they have made their piece.

I also recently attended a performance for a music composition class. The six students in the class composed a piece that was performed in Rollins Chapel. For some of them, a string trio performed the piece, using unconventional methods to make sound with their instruments. For others, students used video game music to create a piece. And finally, two students had a performing art piece. During the two pieces, I recalled what we talked about in class with performing art.

I feel that I will continue to draw from what we have learned in our class and continue to see that in real life. When I go to Montreal, I hope to view the street art there and apply what I have learned. I also hope that when I return home, I will revisit University Avenue and Clarion Alley and view these streets with a new eye. 

During my final draft, I pieced together my research on Palo Alto with my research on San Francisco, which I focused on in my third response paper. I expanded my points and research on both and compared the two cities. 

Again, I changed my topic a little bit by shifting the focus from how the cities shape the art to who controls the art in these two cities. I believe that in Palo Alto, the art belongs to the government rather than the artist. In San Francisco, the art belongs to the original artist. 

I also added more to my essay after talking with my professor about my rough draft. He suggested I include more information about Los Tres Grandes in California and more background on mural art in California. I did more research in the two book sources I have by Drescher and Lee, which focus on the history of mural art in San Francisco. In my research paper, I added a paragraph about Rivera’s influence on mural art and about how he lead the path to more controversial art in San Francisco. I also talked about community art, which they mention in Drescher’s book, and how community art is specific and tailored towards a community whereas public art is more broad. 

The group activity that had the biggest impact on my paper was our visit to the Hovey Murals. Before this visit, I strongly believed that the censorship of art is always incorrect. When writing my research paper and while researching, I believed that America was wrong in restricting these artists’ voices by placing requirements on them and choosing what the public would actually see. 

However, my view changed after seeing and talking about the Hovey Murals. I was shocked to find out that the Hovey Murals used to be in a dining hall, where upperclassmen and professors would come often to eat. I think that was really disturbing to me, especially since the images in the mural were already so offensive. 

After being in the mural room, I could understand why the college would choose to mediate the murals. They chose to mediate it as to not spread the message that the way the Native Americans were treated in the Hovey Murals is acceptable. If they let anyone view the murals, it could spread the wrong message that the murals are an acceptable way for Dartmouth students to act. However, if they did not let anyone view the murals, Dartmouth would be hiding part of its history. But because they allow this meditated viewing of the mural, they are accepting, owning up to the past, and learning from their mistakes.

After our visit, I realized that not all censorship is bad, such as with the Hovey Murals. This changed my opinion in my research paper. Instead of criticizing the censorship of art in Palo Alto or San Francisco, I shifted my focus to how the cities shape the art, instead of whether it is good or bad.

During the first draft of my research paper, this is when I first began doing more in-depth research on the artists of Palo Alto and San Francisco. For my first draft, I focused more on the artists of Palo Alto, Greg Brown and Mohamed Soumah. I chose these two artists based on their murals, the Pedestrian Series by Brown in University Avenue and Under the Sun by Soumah in California Avenue. These are both artworks that I have personally seen, and that was my main reason for choosing them.

I knew, just from my experience viewing them, that these works were less provocative and controversial than the works in San Francisco. Often, I passed by these murals without a second glance as they seemed to blend in with the lively streets. 

Both streets are filled with locals for various reasons, mainly for a meal. I often visit University Avenue, especially if I have to go to Stanford University. The street is just a short walk away, and perfect for dinner or dessert. I’ve been to the street various times for meals, a stroll, for a college interview, and even to meet a Dartmouth alumnus. As for California Avenue, it is extremely similar; I go for a stroll or a meal. Both sunny streets are bustling with families and friends on a lazy stroll or in search of a quaint restaurant. 

I believe that both murals, harmless, playful, and positive, fit the city well. They both support the purpose of the street: for a peaceful afternoon. The art blends in a serves as a nice view for the passersby. They do not provoke but just please the eye. 

I think this is because the art is curated by the government. The city government wants to promote a safe, secure, and family-friendly setting. This has to be reflected by the art. If the art is violent or controversial, it would disturb the peace and happiness of the city. 

I have always been interested in visual arts. Ever since I was young, I began taking traditional art classes, focusing in on my techniques in painting and graphite. Slowly, with my switch to different art teachers and just by growing up and going to middle and high school, I became exposed to more and more art forms. I worked with composition and charcoal. Then onto printmaking with cardboard. During my final years of high school, I experimented with sculptures and installations. I even made a small business selling screen printed shirt and started my summer job as a caricature artist. 

But when people asked me what type of art I liked, I still wasn’t sure how to answer. I think I enjoy modern and contemporary art; at least I preferred it to spending hours in a museum with solely oil paints and still life. I enjoyed experiencing the various art in the Bay Area, from the sculptures I pass on my daily drives, viewing my friends’ artworks in the studio, and going to museums in San Francisco, like the De Young, Legion of Honor, and Modern Museum of Art. Although these are places and artworks were familiar to me, in reality, I knew little about the work itself.

That is why, my topic is the street art near my home. I am from San Jose, California, but I chose the street art of Palo Alto and San Francisco to explore. I want to know my home even better by knowing about the art in it. These two cities are ones I visit very often, and I hope that the next time I go home, I’ll be able to view them in a different light.