Paola Almonte Witness and Legacy Artist Statement

Artist Statement Worksheet

Grade 10

Paola Almonte Witness and Legacy Artist Statement

In my artwork, I’m honoring people that had stereotypes, ranging from TV shows, video games, articles to appearance in race or culture, etc. I’m honoring more about complex female, that have strong personality, and fights back against stereotypes.

I pick the topic about stereotype because I’m a female gamer, and when I see females with “perfect bodies” or females like Princess Peach being dependent on male heroes like Mario, or some females do chores like  Roll from Mega Man staying at home in the game, cleaning while Mega Man goes out and his life fighting for the safety of humanities. Some females don’t even have a goal, like Amy Rose from Sonic the Hedgehog, her only goal in life is to marry Sonic, nothing else. It’s important to me because as much as I love video games, I dislike stereotype in not just video game, but also in life. Many people think Latin people don’t work hard, not intelligent, focuses on love, and other stereotype. I work hard, I’m smart, and I’m Latina. This is very important to others because besides Latina and a stereotypical female in gaming, there are tons of other stereotypes, like African American people being violent, Asians help other students with homework, etc. I have friends who are African American and they’re very sweet and honest, but on the news white police shoot at innocent African American and Latino people, and the court dismiss the shooting as “unsolved” or “a mistake,” etc. One person who is Asian told me someone randomly asked her to help with their math homework, and she doesn’t know how to solve the math equation. People need to stop with stereotypes.  

I have 15 forms, each with their own words describing what the form represent. Then I combined each 5 forms to make into 3 main ideas, which is hard of hearing, “Alert,” gender stereotype, “United,” and School Budget Cut, “Balance.” I chose gender stereotype, originally, the form is very vertical. The original form was very linear, just tall, looks like a totem pole.

But then I made some changes, adding a rectangular base with legs, a hole in the middle of bowling pin shaped clay, and two triangles with a hole in the middle on top of the 2 cubes with an upside down V shape on front, next to the bowling pin with a crown on top. The forms convey my idea of gender type because the words are revolution, scarred, perfect, solidarity and unfair. The base is solidarity, providing sturdiness. The cube is “perfect,” the cube with upside down V represent scarred, society is scarred and deeply rooted in gender stereotype. The bowling pin shape is revolution, and the crown on top has power over everything below, making it unfair. All together, the form stands firm, and stays “united,” the art about gender stereotype.

In class, I had to completely change the form because just adding extra stuff like a big base makes the form boring, and it’s not a great way to use positive and negative space. The form now looks a leaf, with the “stem” having a two line get twisted together, and on the leaf boat, there’s a sphere that looks perfectly round until the top, which has scars everywhere like it’s been stabbed many times. The bottom of the leaf boat is its own base, no big block as a base like before.

After refining the form, the sphere with many deep lines represents scarred, the “twist” around the stem represent revolution adds a twist to something that’s common. Stereotypes themselves are common, but if we fight back against stereotypes, people will realize that each one us are unique in our own way, and that stereotypes shouldn’t define us for who we are.

I would put my monument in a place like Downtown Crossing in Boston, where people go to the mall to buy clothes, games, etc. I want my monument to remind people that they shouldn’t trust in stereotype, get to know the person and their preference, their personality, their unique skills, etc. Don’t just judge someone just because of the stereotype. I want my monument to inspire people to change society by not doing gender stereotypes.

Pictures of my Work in Progress

My Triple Final Projects

Paola Almonte

10th grade

Mr. Edwards 

Term 1

01/20/16

Hello, my name is Paola, I'm a tenth grader, and this is my process for Term 1, in art. I have learned a lot this year in 2016 and last year in 2015. As an artist, I have to use different skills, even use my process carefully. One of my first project I ever did for Term 1 was a big pencil drawing, with the theme Power. I quoted this theme, "I have the power to communicate with signs." I made a college and drew on a huge grid. The second project I did for Term 1 was print making, with the theme of System. I did prints of human body language as a human way of communicating with using your body language. My final and most recent project I did was Maslow's needs, with the theme of Hierarchy. This project, I have to do a couple of thumbnails, then make 5 final drawings from the thumbnails. The media I used were pencil and thick/thin sharpie. This project was questioning the most important needs for humans. 

The process for first project was to make thumbnails, then pick the best thumbnail. I went to the book store to get some magazines, cut out some pictures, and make a college. Then I photocopied the college, and on that copy I drew a grid. Then that grid helped me to create a huge drawing with the "correct proportion." I revised, added some value. I used pencil and broken black power, making the value darker using the brush. That drawing was about a woman signing to another woman in a club. 

The process for the second project was print making. I have to write out on what I would draw, which I decided were body language poses. Then I did 3 observational drawings, two drawings based on a wooden figure, one wire figure. Then I carved only two stamps based on the wood and wire drawing. I couldn't carve the third stamp since I ran out of time. Using colored ink, I spread ink onto the carved warmed up rubber, which was stamp, put it on the paper facedown, and rolled the rubber stamp until the ink sticks to the paper. I peeled out the stamp, and my work was printed. This work was showing that we all can still communicate using body language, and sometimes body language are more powerful than words itself.

The third and final project I did was to do 5 final drawings about what we need in life. I have to make 3-5 thumbnails based on the theme, and then draw the final. I used pencils at first, revised a bit, and then used sharpie over the pencil. The drawing of the boy at camp represents needing oxygen to breathe, the drawing of a girl roller skating represent that she's staying safe using protective pads, the girl feeding her new bird at a pet store represent love and care, the boy playing basketball represent keep working hard and never give up, and finally the drawing about a girl playing a video game about herself that she controls her life. 

I learned a lot from this class, thanks to Mr. Edwards, Elise and my friends. I learned that I can try out new materials, and ended up liking them or not liking them, but knowing that I tried. I also learned about trying out new strategies on art, like using a grid instead of using circles to create the right proportion. I also learned that I should try something new, like using sharpie. I was nervous at first about ruining my drawing, but I went ahead and took the risk. The drawing looked nice with sharpie, but kept mostly pencil.

Some changes I'd like to do with my art projects was for project 1, I wish I made some areas darker, or more lighter, for project 2, I would carve more deeper into my carved stamp to make a more visual printed work,  and finally, for project 3, I would change some drawing's composition to make them look visually more interesting, while others need more value. 

My strength is passing my art in on time, following the process, using lines, and creativity. My weaknesses were not too strong values, similar composition, and not trying out many materials (for project 3). 

My new goals for Term 2 is to try to add some colors to my drawings if possible, try to make the composition at an interesting angle and not flat, and I'll try adding plus improving on values. 

It has been a wonderful experience about thinking more in depth about art. I can't wait to learn more about art in the future and trying to think more deeply, as well! 

Here are some pictures of my final projects I did throughout Term 1! :)

Also, the 3 blue-ish drawings below are light added with blue background to create a better form compared to the original.