Artwork: IMAG(E)INE
Title: My Chin Community #2
Size: 36in x 36in Medium: Mixed Media (Digital Manipulation/ Silk Screen Printing) Completion: October 26, 2018 Exhibition Text: My Chin Community was created based on Chin community from my church in Milwaukee. This work defines my definition of community that I am living in. For me, community mean a group of people living in the same area, help one another, care about each others, feel like they belong, share common goals, interests and work together. It was inspired by Baby is Three created by Robyn Denny and Precious Things by Sophy Mariam. Adobe Photoshop CS6 and silk screen printing were used to produce this piece. |
Meaning
There are many meanings and symbols to this art work. The colors red, white and blue are the colors of Chin Flag; I am currently living in a Chin Community. I included Chin flag because we have a little bit of knowledge or a general information by knowing someone's flag. Also, I felt like this is my chance to let others know about this community by creating this piece. Another thing is, the buildings are representing the community. I wanted to make this piece obvious that this is about community. Also, I used the cross because all the Chin people in my community are Christian. We values religion and it plays a big part in this community and in our personal lives. I applied shimmery gold color for the cross because my middle name is "Sui" or "Gold", so I wanted to include myself since I am apart of this community. The main focus of this piece is the "holding hands" to show the togetherness. Togetherness is what brings people together in the first place to create this community. We values sharing both our sad times and good times, being there for each others in any circumstances, and keep the culture and traditions alive for the next generations to come. Also, the symbol of the hot pink flowers are people. There are in different sizes because there are babies, teenagers, young adults, adults, etc. within this community. Even though we all are in different ages, we use our own talents and skills to make this community better regardless of gender or age.
Planning
Inspirations
Denny, Robyn. Baby is Three. Household paint on canvas. 1960. Web. 1 Nov. 2018.
|
My first inspiration was Baby is Three by Robyn Denny. I learned about Color Field in art history during my sophomore year. I found it very interesting that how Color Field artists uses the expressive power of the color while lacking the illustrations in their pieces. The piece Baby is Three created by Robyn Denny was based on a science fiction novel by Theodore Sturgeon which has a central theme of community of blind, deaf and crippled people. I wanted to apply variety of colors that have meanings and related to the theme of community. So, I came up with an idea of applying colors of Chin flag for my background: red, white and blue. I believed that you can tell a person or a community based on their flag. Also, not a lot of people know what Chin Community is, so by presenting a flag could also encourage others to explore about this small community. However, I wanted to include some illustrations to my piece unlike Baby is Three, because my community could not be described just by using colors.
|
Mariam, Sophy. Precious Things. Ink on canvas. Web. 10 Oct. 2018.
|
My second inspiration was Precious Things created by Sophy Mariam. This artist created her piece inspired by her dreams, and her work also tells a story. I wanted to apply things that I find are precious, and valuable for me and my community. I really liked how Sophy used hands to hold flowers to emphasize that these flowers are precious to her. We tend to hold things that are precious or valuable to us just like Sophy’s artwork. So, I cam up with an idea of two people holding hands (the tightly interlocked fingers) to symbolize togetherness; people from my community feels they belong and considered one another as sisters and brothers. Another thing I wanted to include was different sides of similar flowers to my arms to represent variety of ages such as children, teenagers, and adults within in my community. This explained how everyone are involved regardless of their age, gender, talents, or skills. The chose the flowers to be pink, the color of charm, because every person within the community are unique and have their own special talents, skills and abilities to create this community. Togetherness and being involved is what makes the Chin Community unique and special.
|
Research
Chin Flag
|
Blue: Khrihfa ram (Christian Country)
All the Chin people are 100% Christian. Red: Raltha phun (Brave Kind) When looking at the history of Chin people, they are a brave kind of people. White: Thinlung thianghlim (Innocent Mind and Heart) Chin people are known as a people with a clean, innocent heart and mind. Great Hornbill: Dawtnak le zumh awktlak (Love and Loyalty) Great Hornbill shows a love and loyalty towards its kind which represents Chin people being loyal and have a loving and caring heart towards their own kind and for their country. |
Background
The first Chin person who settled first in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was Bawi Kung. He met good new White friends who were helping him to start his own sushi store and a place to stay. Then later on, some other Chin people started to move here from different states and others came here as a refugee from either Malaysia or India through United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). As the number of people started to grow, they looked for a church because Chin people are a hundred percent Christian and it was also to support and help one other since many of the people were suffering from moving to a country where they does not know anyone, the language(English) , cultures, ways of living, etc. Church is where they get a sense of comfort, support, and know that they are not alone. Their first Church name was Milwaukee Chin Baptist Church (MCBC).
In 2011, my family and I settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and started to attend MCBC church. Of course, our lives was less difficult as many others who came here before us. This is because they already know and learned how things works by their own experiences. This church members took care of not just my family, but also other new families. Many of my friends were here about three or four years before me.
As the number of Chin people grow, MCBC was started to divided into three different churches; MCBC, CCBC, and ECBC. However, all of these three churches were combined to celebrate Chin National Day on every February. My family and I currently attend ECBC church. This ECBC church community is where I belong and called my home.
In 2011, my family and I settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and started to attend MCBC church. Of course, our lives was less difficult as many others who came here before us. This is because they already know and learned how things works by their own experiences. This church members took care of not just my family, but also other new families. Many of my friends were here about three or four years before me.
As the number of Chin people grow, MCBC was started to divided into three different churches; MCBC, CCBC, and ECBC. However, all of these three churches were combined to celebrate Chin National Day on every February. My family and I currently attend ECBC church. This ECBC church community is where I belong and called my home.
Planning Sketches and Collecting Images
First, I brainstorm what I wanted to include for this piece after listening to the presentation for this project. I came up with different community: Chin community, Reagan community, etc. Then, I ended up choosing Chin community based on my church because I am most familiar with this. Then, I started to think about what makes community? What is community? What are the values, culture, people, and tradition that make up this Chin community? After that I came up with my own definition n of what I think is community.
|
After knowing what I wanted to do, I searched for my inspirations. Before I began my sketches, I took a couple of photos of my friend holding hands. I did this first because I am not good at drawing, so I thought taking pictures would help me to start my sketches. Also, this is the best one out of all the pictures that I took for this particular piece.
|
After taking the pictures, I started sketching. I drew things that I wanted to include in my piece such as the hands holding, Chin flag and the cross for my stencil. I also colored them just to see if they are organize and clean.
|
This sketch is the final piece that I decided where everything will be placed. I combined all my sketches and placed them where I think they belong best. I also annotated or described what each piece or color symbolize or represent.
|
Experimentation/ Techniques
Before I started to work on my background for my piece, I did some experiments using the Adobe Photoshop CS6 just to know the tools that I was not familiar with. Since I wanted to create a flag with three different colors, I needed to create three similar rectangular shape. I created this rectangular shapes by using "Rectangle Tool" to produce that shapes. Then I clicked on "Fill" to color them in.
|
Another thing that I wanted to include for my piece is the same shape of flower. So, I used "Custom Shape Tool" to created the flower that they already have. So, I applied that flower and clicked on "Fill" to color in the shapes.
|
I also wanted to use a brush just to fill in a shape or something. So, I used "Brush Tool" to choose the brush tip that that I want. I experimented with different types of brushes and sizes to see the differences and similarities. I just randomly played with the tools that I have never use and learned what kind of tools are available for me and could apply for my piece.
|
Process
First, I created a 36inx36in background canvas with 200 resolution using Adobe Photoshop. Then, I created three rectangular shapes using the "Rectangle Tool" and clicked on "Fill" to color each boxes with different colors. I also used "Posterize" to smooth the edges of the rectangles to make them even.
|
Next, I used "Quick Selection Tool" to select the hands that I wanted and clicked "Refine edge" to fix the edges and to make sure that I completely selected all the parts that I needs.
|
Then, I used the rectangular shapes to create buildings. To produce these, I used " Rectangle Tool" to construct the buildings. After that, I added details such as windows and shadings using the "Brush Tool." I also used this tool to draw the yellow sun, bright green grass, and the blue sky.
|
After that, I wanted to apply flowers on the right hand. So, I used "Custom Shape Tool" to create the flower that they already have. So, I applied the flowers in different sizes and clicked on "Fill" to switch their color to hot pink. Also, this is my final piece for the background.
|
After printing my background, I cut the stencil. Then, we went to MIAD to work on this piece. To apply this stencil to your piece, first, I taped all the edges of a stencil on top of the "screen frame" and then, flipped it to the back side.
|
Next, I applied shimmery gold color on the top part of the screen frame. Then, I used "squeegee" to spread the paint back and forth.
|
Reflection
Critique
The background turned out to be grate since I am familiar with the tools that I was using. I used Photoshop for my digital college and did a lot of experiments with the tools which helped me to have a better understand of the tools. Since, this is my second piece that I created using silk screen printing, it turned out to better than my first piece. I was proud that I did not make any mistakes that I made for my first piece. So, I developed a long the way. The only challenge that I faced while making this was placing my final piece to dry to a safe place: where there is less people. I did have enough space to dry my piece, however working with others and moving around too much make final piece a little bit messy. Other than that, it all good because I was prepared and learned from my mistakes from my first piece.
Compare and Contrast
"Baby is Three" Robyn Denny, 1960
|
Similarities
|
Differences
|
"My Chin Community"
Jacinta Tial, 2018 |
"Precious Things" Sophy Mariam
|
Similarities
|
Differences
|
"My Chin Community"
Jacinta Tial, 2018 |
ACT Responses
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
Robyn Denny's piece only used colors to create a meaning, theme, or a story without using any illustrations. I applied his ways of thinking to my work that color could have a deeper meaning or symbol than just being a color. Also, Sophy Mariam portrayed what she thinks is precious to her, the flowers. She was also inspired by her dreams and want to share it to others. So, I wanted to share my piece to others about things that are precious to me, my Chin community.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my research talks about where and how Robyn Denny get his inspiration. He was actually inspired by a science fiction novel by Theodore Sturgeon. His piece present a central theme is a community of handicaps; together, they add up to unexpected physical power. Also, the author of Sophy's work was also herself. She talks about where and how she get her inspiration from, her dream. Also, she talks about how each of her piece has their own meaning and how happy she isto share her works with others.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
While researching my inspiration, I discovered that Color Field artists wanted to employ the expressive color while lacking illustrative. Their works are usually large expanses of mural-sized colors.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central themes around my inspirational research are the community, and togetherness.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading my research, I inferred Colored Filed artists' works must have some kind of meaning or story, not just a color on top of each other. I found out their works really do have deeper theme and meaning, not just a painting with layers of colors.
Robyn Denny's piece only used colors to create a meaning, theme, or a story without using any illustrations. I applied his ways of thinking to my work that color could have a deeper meaning or symbol than just being a color. Also, Sophy Mariam portrayed what she thinks is precious to her, the flowers. She was also inspired by her dreams and want to share it to others. So, I wanted to share my piece to others about things that are precious to me, my Chin community.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The author of my research talks about where and how Robyn Denny get his inspiration. He was actually inspired by a science fiction novel by Theodore Sturgeon. His piece present a central theme is a community of handicaps; together, they add up to unexpected physical power. Also, the author of Sophy's work was also herself. She talks about where and how she get her inspiration from, her dream. Also, she talks about how each of her piece has their own meaning and how happy she isto share her works with others.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
While researching my inspiration, I discovered that Color Field artists wanted to employ the expressive color while lacking illustrative. Their works are usually large expanses of mural-sized colors.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central themes around my inspirational research are the community, and togetherness.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
While reading my research, I inferred Colored Filed artists' works must have some kind of meaning or story, not just a color on top of each other. I found out their works really do have deeper theme and meaning, not just a painting with layers of colors.
Citation
Sophymariam. (n.d.). Precious Things Canvas Print by sophymariam. Retrieved October 30, 2018, from https://society6.com/product/precious-things1380014_stretched-canvas?sku=s6-9314881p16a6v28
Tate. (n.d.). 'Baby is Three', Robyn Denny, 1960. Retrieved November 1, 2018, from https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/denny-baby-is-three-t01730
Xumarov. (n.d.). Chinland. Retrieved November 6, 2018, from https://www.deviantart.com/xumarov/art/Chinland-325020334
Tate. (n.d.). 'Baby is Three', Robyn Denny, 1960. Retrieved November 1, 2018, from https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/denny-baby-is-three-t01730
Xumarov. (n.d.). Chinland. Retrieved November 6, 2018, from https://www.deviantart.com/xumarov/art/Chinland-325020334