Change is Certain

My project has changed. I attempted to do my previous idea, but people were not responding positively. Anything forced usually does not turn out great. Sometimes it takes me a little bit to formulate plans, but it is because I am waiting for something to click. Unfortunately, this has been a slight downfall for me in school. Not too significant, I always pull it off.


So, some of you went to the first documentary, Knowledge is the Beginning" http://www.knowledge-is-the-beginning.com/ But for those who did not, it is about a Orchestra. This particular Orchestra's members consist of men and women from all Israel, Palestine, and all the surrounding Arab countries. It was amazing to see the integration of these people who are really no different from one another. As we are all humans, and politics are not us, but part of our environment.



The music also moved me. How they play so well together, I will never understand. But, it showed that it is possible to get along, and even make something beautiful together. So I wanted to paint a picture, not necessarily for this class, but for my mental health FROM this class! haha. I found a picture of Tyme, a violinist from the East- Western Divan Orchestra, she is from Ramallah. Using the picture as a basic guide, I sketched it up real quick, and decided to paint it.



Immediately I ran into a problem. Color? This was a big problem for me when creating the blog template. When I see a color, I associate it with whatever may be fresh in my mind. For example, I parked on level 4 of the tuttle garage today, the sign was green, so when you say green in the back of MY head I think of my parking spot. Now this is extreme and I know I am a bit strange, but color does this especially when associated with sides of a conflict. If I use more blue, it may seem like Israel is taking over Ramallah, if I use too much red it may seem pro Palestinian, etc... so I have not been So I started painting it with black and white paint only.




As I paint and create this piece, I entertain all of these ideas and thoughts. What makes art move you? What makes it speak? Am I able to make my painting say what I want? Or will it take a life of its own? Should I do a counter painting? I keep adding layers, I have no idea how this will end up. I chose to focus my energy on this painting, but also thoughts and writing. This morning, I woke up and couldn't exactly remember what it even looked like!

to be continued...

What Does Jerusalem Mean To YOU?

Final Project Outline

What Does Jerusalem Mean To YOU?

I. Hard covered book- addressing the general public view of Jerusalem.
1. Black and White portrait
A. Next to a hand written or drawn entry by the sitter

I want to show, in a primary way, what Columbus Ohio's general public thinks of Jerusalem. I will ask random people to take their photograph, then hand them a sketch book in which they have complete freedom to express how they feel about Jerusalem. Or how Jerusalem MAKES them feel. I have done a book like this before, it was "What it means to be American." Flipping through it still has an effect on me, and I've viewed it many many many times. I think a photograph, and hand written expression peels back some sort of veil so we can see the fragility of humanity a little more clearly.

Gas Masks and Puppy Dogs

So after reading chapter 7, "The Promised Gas Masks" and chapter 9, "A Dog's Life" from Suad Amiry's Ramallah Diaries, I left with an interesting insight to the life of a "second class citizen. From curfews, and pointless lines to blatent disrespect, it would be very exhausting dealing with such injustice.

This war journal is a good example of a primary source of documenting history and events to provide the material to feel empathetic towards something one may not be personally experiencing.

Final Project

So- my final project is not exactly developed yet. Dr. H suggested I talk about the making of the blog. I suppose I could write something up describing how hard of a time I had designing it. Technologically, artistically, but also politically unbiased. Maybe some poetry, or a short story of my process could be entertaining. I suppose what I am wondering, is what do you guys want to hear? I like to be creative, so a term paper is not an option for me unless you just don't like me and want me to suffer through it. I understand, I have been absent a lot this quarter, again I would have rather been in class and feeling well. I am getting off topic here. Okay back to the final project. I think I am going to write and see what the paper picks up, but my thesis for whatever will be along the lines of this thought; With something as elusive as peace, how does one go about tip toeing through feelings, rules, logic, beliefs, ideas, dreams... the list goes on, to reach the goal of expression without offending those invloved in the peace making, which in essence, is the globe as a whole. We live in a globalized, imformation (sometimes false) ran society. Meaning, what we do over here, does indeed affect people over there. Wherever here and there is doesnt really matter. I struggled with all of this while working with a blank canvas I needed to activate with a reflection of our own groups culture. Any thoughts or ideas are appreciated.

Traitor To My Own Cause

That's what my friend said to me through text when I informed him of what I had done. You see, I set my alarm for P.M., instead of my buddy A.M. (classic right?) no, not at all. I am pretty disappointed that I didn't get up until just now. I was to get up at 6A.M. to update the blogs also.

But anyways, can't get into my hot tub time machine and make my thumb pay closer attention to quickness of the blackberry roller ball, although that would be cool... However, I could move on and learn a valuable lesson, so that is what I will do.

One thing I want to say about "Channeling Rage" is that I am so very glad we watched it. There were points during the film when my mouth was just...open. New perspectives on old issues tend to do that to me. As they should everyone. I know I was reading but through the raw passion of their lyrics and the beat of the music, I almost felt like I could speak Hebrew and Arabic. Very cool.

The Elusive Search for Peace?

I cant help but sit back and think retrospectively like I am member of each of these nations when I listen to young people pour their entire being into an art like music. I am a big advocate of the underground hip hop scene, and recently learned of more popular Israeli/Palestinian under-grounders. However, it is difficult to find English translations!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRAdM3VWQko&feature=related
Subliminal and Sivian Behnam, Perfect Place

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIo6lyP9tTE
DAM, Born here

A song from each of the rappers from Channels of Rage... Which I am ridiculously stoked, yes stoked, to see on Thursday! All the online clips do not provide English sub titles, so I have been waiting.

A quote from the song "Living from day to day", that features both rappers:

"Already a thousand in the field, carry words like weapons, one more page to the paper, when will the struggle end? I have no other land. People, war is outside, only hip-hop will bring peace."1

This hit me, as did the songs I found from both artists, pretty hard all at once. Peace is what the people want. Greed and selfish desire fuel this conflict. Maybe hip hop and other forms of more creative and expressive art will free the bird from her cage.

The conflict over this particular piece of land is lengthy, but it has hope for it has matured as has means of communication. The old system is being over thrown by a new, globalized version of justice.

But does publicity and media ruin the hope for change with this method of dialogue? According to Qantara.de, Subliminal and Tamer were friends, but "their friendship broke up in the wake of the Intifada."1 A thought that peace is possible, but the next headline you read smashes that thought into pieces, just like the destruction filled history of Jerusalem. If a friendship between two advocates for peace, something tiny compared to the mass of the conflict itself, cannot withstand the pressures of the lens, how can one expect further resolution?

1. http://www.qantara.de/webcom/show_article.php/_c-310/_nr-54/i.html