The last time I vistied MOCA was my senior year of high school. During those times I went to visit the museum becaue they had a discounted rates for students. I have always enjoyed it and loved the museum. Now I get to enjoy the museum again for free since there has been a donor who made it possible to visit for free. I’m glad it’s free because people from all over Los Angeles can now enjoy this museum if they didn’t get a chance to before. This was my favorite visit so far. I was excited to see the Carlos Cruz-Diez instillation, Cromosaturacion. It was so cool to be in that room and enjoy these colors in full brightness. From different perspectives, the colors shifted and changed at different points I was standing. I did walk around some more throughout the museum and saw more art. From sculptures to paintings, this was a great experience and I am excited to go back.

Overall, I enjoyed my visit at Grand Central Market. I went on February 29th which was before the heavy coronavirus scare. I loved how colorful the market was. The neon signs, the chairs, the food, and product provided so much color to the space. It was vibrant and full of life. This is space where people gathered to eat and enjoy a beautiful moment of life. I enoyed capturing the life of Grand Central Market. There so many people of various backgrounds in one space. There was art everywhere. The neon signs were art as they caught your attention right away in the market. The designs are cool and many people pause to look at them. The chairs and setting of the restaurants had color as well that it gave you a bit of a movie feel. The Oscar winning film La La Land even shot a scene at the famous market. There is so much history in the place an I hope everyone visitng can recognize that.

Describe what you tried to do

I tried to dress like a cool professor on voting day. I french tucked my t-shirt with a message, wore a coat, and let my hair down. I usually wear tshirts and pants when I go to school so this was leveling up my outfit. This coat makes me feel really important. It’s like I had somewhere to be at all times.

What were their reactions to you? What did they think your name was? Your major? Did you find them responding to you differently than people ordinarily do?

When I met up with friends they all looked at me confused for a second. Then one of them said, “that outfit is fire.” I did step out of my comfort zone and felt like I was drawing attention to myself with my shirt and the coat. The shirt has words on them like “vote” and the various fashion brands that support the election reform in 2016. This was an important shirt to wear on election day this past Tuesday. My friends and I hung out by the frienship walk on the lower part of campus. As we were sitting there two other mutual friends joined. One friend asked what type of fashion course I am teaching today. The other friend complimented the coat I was wearing. Throughout the time we were hanging out it was an on going joke about my “professor vibes.” We started walking twoards the parking lot at the end of the day some random person complimented my outfit! She said I had great style which made me feel awesome!

Your conclusions about the experience

Overall this experience was great. It got me out of my comfort zone which was good, and I started wearing clothes that me feel and look good. I ejoyed this change of pace! I love fashion and see clothes as a way to express myself. This coat made me feel powerful and also made me look great! I enjoyed the compliemnts and the jokes on them becasue I was confident enough with myself while wearing it.This has given me a boost to wear what I want whenever I want.

Artist: JP Gonzales
Exhibition: Afterburn
Media: Sculpture
Gallery: LBSU School of Art, Gatov Gallery West
Website: None
Instagram: undeadtoothfairy

JP Gonzales is an undergraduate student at California State University, Long Beach. Gonzales working towards obtaining their BFA here at CSULB’s School of Art. Their focus is on sculpture. Gonzales’s work explores the self, connection, pain, and abstraction in their work. For the Afterburn in Gavto West Gallery, Liu showcased a person-like sculpture hanging on the wall with projections over it.

Gonzales’s artwork was one of scariest in the gallery so I was so curious as to what it was about. easily The artwork was positioned on a wall. The mannequin-like sculpture was on the wall. The figure was black and had some sort of wrapping around it. I believe that wrapping was plastic bags. It wrapped over certain parts of the body. The black figure looked like some type of fabric that was put together to mimic a body. There was a plastic bag over it which made me a bit confused. At first look, I was a bit intimidated because I thought I would see a face. The projection over the sculpture tied in the piece well. The protection was a night drive.

Gonzales’s artwork touched on the topics of pain and trauma. The show Afterburn “examines responses to pain held in the body or mind.” In this piece, Gonzales explained that they had just gone through a breakup and this piece was letting go of that part of themselves. The artwork is made out of a Halloween skeleton, fabric, plastic bags, and a projecting video. When Gonzales thought this piece would bring closure to a part of his life. That experience has left their body. Gonzales said that he figures don’t resemble a literal dead body. Instead, it’s more of the emotions carrying the dead body, that’s why they chose the black fabric to resemble that. The addition of the projection was to show how their body felt like it was being dragged in a car.

Overall, I enjoyed this artist conversation! This time the conversation was a bit dark yet I liked hearing Gonzales’ perspective. Life does get ruff sometimes and it isn’t what it seems. There will be dark moments in life. Those darks moments will suck but it’s how we heal that is important. The healing experience can be hard and slow but it does make us stronger. We have art as an outlet to express our feelings!

Why did you choose this idea?

I chose the idea of expect the unexpected! Sometimes I go into things with thoughts and assumptions of what I’m about to see. Then these assumptions are thrown out becasue I create new ones as I witness something in real time. Sometimes we expect art be extravagant. Art can be extravagant but a simple painting can have value as well. Most people will expect a shock from an intense art piece, but here I created shock by being minimal.

What did you hope to communicate?

I hope to communicate that minimal and simple art can have meaning and shock as well. With this piece everyone expects something big! Yet, with this I turn it around to give the viewer something unexpected and it creates a shock and surpise element.

How successful do you think you were?

I believe I was successful. I showed my art piece to my roommate and she gave surprised face, eyes big and mouth open. I told her I was creating an art piece and once she saw my final version she said, “Well that was a surpise I thought it was going to be intense.” I made the unexpected.

What would you do different if you did it again?

If I were to do it again, I would get colored paper to draw on or I would use color when making the art. I would also try to make the art smaller or get a bigger canvas. To take it a step further I would frame it as if it were in a museum.

What is another idea you might explore through “shocking art”?

Another idea I might explore with art would be through sustainability. I would like to see what items I can reuse to creat “shocking art.” People would be surprised at the materials used.

Friendship! (Over a Game of Pool)

Why did you choose this story?

I chose this story because I value friendships and believe that they’re so important in the world. Everyone has a friend they can count on and have fun with. For me personally, these two people in the photos are some of the best people I know. The fact that we can gather for an hour or two to play pool during our busy week is amazing. It shows that we appreciate each other’s company. Friends are always there for you, in the good or bad times. Take care of the ones that are close to you. There’s a lot of negative energy in the world right now, so I wanted to remind everyone to appreciate the small moments with the people you love.

How do you think you did?

I think my pictures came out good for an iPhone Camera. Some photos are blurry but it gives the photo more volume. Blurry photos are kind of like drawing without the use of an eraser. The photos captures the feeling in the moment. I love taking pictures of people and capturing candid, genuine moments. I believe I captured that feeling! The laughs and concentrations during a friendly game of pool is noticeable. The friendship is pure in the first photo and last photo.

Which image do you think is the individually “best” image in your story?

The best image in my story is the one of Vanessa laughing and chalking up her pool stick. I liked that the image is blurry. It shows the depth of emotion in the moment this photo was taken. It also shows that this game is always a good time no matter the competition. What I like about this photo is how the earth tone colors of her clothes standout as the rest of the pool place.

Does your photostory contain an image that you think is not, by itself, a “great” image, but that is nonetheless important because it helps to tell your story?

I think the second photo of my friend Anfrenee could’ve been better. The lighting was not the best. It looks a bit rusty in terms of the colors around him. I took this photo right after the first one because I wanted to show how everyone was in good spirits. Both of them looked serious in the first photo, so I took a candid of him to show how dynamic he is.

What would you do different next time?

Next time I would take more action photos. I didn’t capture enough photos of them playing pool. I tried to but some looked real bad or it just didn’t fit the story. If I would like more action shots in the future then I would use a different camera. I have a digital camera with advance settings to help me capture those moments.

Are there other Photo Stories you might like to tell?

I would love to do a photo stories about families. I love community and the feeling of togetherness. That’s why I chose to do friendship because it’s special to feel that special connection with someone. With families I would love to see the different cultures and dynamics of families during dinners. Food is a staple for families, so I would capture the different styles, people, and customs during a dinner. I would chose a family from a different culture to learn about traditions, family dynamics, and love.

Artist: Yucen Liu
Exhibition: Metal Group Show
Media: Copper, Brass, and Sand
Gallery: LBSU School of Art, Gatov Gallery West
Website: None
Instagram: yucen_metalsmith

Yucen Liu is a third-year graduate student at California State University, Long Beach. Liu is a student in the School of Art working towards an MFA in 3D Media. Her focus is on metalsmithing and jewelry. She obtained her BFA at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Liu’s work explores the ideas of family, connection, and togetherness in her work. For the Metal Group Show in Gavto West Gallery, Liu showcased her artwork called, “Mom said if I accidentally ate a watermelon seed.”

Liu’s artwork was placed in the center of the gallery so it easily caught my attention when I walked in. The artwork was placed on a cubic display. In the photo above you see the head of a bear appearing from the black sand. On top, of the bear’s head, you see a flower starting to grow. The bear, sand, and flower are so shiny! The bear is made out of copper and has such great details on it. It’s around bear head with mouth, ears, nose, and eyes. The color of the bear is mostly bronze/gold like colors and black for eyes and inside the ears. It also has some strokes to mimic fur on the bear. The bear looks smooth while it is contrasted by the black sand. At first, I was confused by what it was since from afar it didn’t look like sand. Once I got close I saw the grain-like textures and the dark black color of it. This sand is around the bear so it seems like it’s popping out its head. On top of the bear’s head, there are four skinny stems made out of copper or brass. At the very top, some flowers were made in either copper or brass. The flowers are in the colors brownish-bronze, gold, and black. They also look shiny and have lined detail. The bear and flowers look like they were made to perfection and include every detail as if it were real.

Lui’s “Mom said if I accidentally ate a watermelon seed” is a narrative art piece, specifically a memory from her childhood and growing up in another country. Lui left her home ten years ago to pursue an education in the U.S. She is an only child, so the transition was hard. While she was growing up she felt very lonely, so her parents got her stuff animals as companions. The reason she chose to make a bear because animals give her a feeling of love, security, and family values. She sees a part of her home in these animals. Lui hasn’t seen her parents in about ten years so to fill in the blank she makes animal sculptures that reminds her of her childhood. It brings her back to those moments she had with her parents. Lui’s artwork is personal to her, but she also feels like she’s sharing her childhood memories with others who have similar stories like hers. The main message she wants to deliver with others is comfort. She wants her work to comfort people.

Overall, I enjoyed my first artist conversation experience. Every time I go into museums I always wondered what art piece meant. Now in this experience, I talked to the artist and got to know their work! Lui’s artwork resonated with me because I know what it’slike being away from your family. As a first-generation college student, I moved away from my family to go to CSULB. I can always find little things in the world that remind me of them. For example, every time I see the Los Angeles Lakers hat I think of my dad’s hat. The reason I gravitated towards it in the first place was its brightness and the bear looked friendly. I have always liked bears as a kid so I was amazed that someone made it out of copper. I love that she wants to comfort others with her work. I left the art exhibit with a warm and happy feeling.

Post your 6 sketches

Was it fun? Was it frustrating? Do you like to draw? Will you ever try again?

It was fun to sit outside and draw. It felt nice becasue there was sun and many objects to choose from. It wasn’t frustrating at all. I enjoyed sitting by coffeebean and drawing trees, cups, and people in my area. I like to draw because I believe it’s an easy way for someone to express themselves. I will definitly try again becasue being outide makes me more creative.

Do you think if you practiced for 100 hours, or 1,000, that you would get a lot better?

There’s a saying that goes, “pratice makes perfect.” I totally agree with this saying becasue the more I pratice the more I know how to draw. With repetition I can improve my skills and get better at drawing. I would pratice for 1000 hours because I am dedicated to my craft.

What is your major? Can you think of any ways that simple sketching of some kind could be useful in your major?

I am a Communication Studies Major and Journalism Minor. I can think of implementing sketching when I am working events. For example, if I need to layout a floor plan I can easily sketch it out to visualize the event.

Is Drawing a Language?  Can drawings say  things that are hard to say with words?

I believe drawing is a language becasue as words tell stories, so can drawings. There is always some sort of message in a drawing. Depending on the artist, the drawing can say things that are hard to say with words. Messages can be more powerful when visualized.

Do you like to draw?

I actually do like to draw! I know I’m not the best, but I love drawing whatever chracters or thoughts that come to mind. I usually draw when I am on a break from working on homework, waiting for class to start, or when I am bored.

Is your drawing so awful that you just can’t stand to look at it?

My drawings aren’t awful at all. I can always look at them and see what I created. Whether it’s a random chartoon, a mini self portrait, or a some scenery I am proud of what I drew. I take a step back and enjoy the final product.

Who speaks more than one language?

I speak more than one language!

How many languages do you speak?

I speak two languages. I speak Spanish and English.

Do you find that different languages enable different thought?

I do find that different languages enable different thoughts. For example, when I am speaking to a customer in Spanish my brain automatically switches my thoughts to Spanish. When I speak to a customer in English then I switch back to English thoughts. As someone mentioned in class today, I do pray in Spanish when I go to church in Spanish. When I go to church in English then I pray in English. In addition I have noticed that my Spanish thoughts relove more around family and togetherness. While my English thoughts are present when I am doing individual tasks.

Have you seen or made a drawing that said things difficult to say in words?

I do not think I have seen a drawing that is difficult to say in words. When I do I will make sure to update this response.

Where do I find Art?

Art can be found in various places like school, buildings, museums, coffee cups, or on the internet. In my perspective art is a unique form of expression. It can come in many forms but it would depend on the person viewing art. For example, I can find art in the street, murals, graffti, or paintings. But if a person sees graffti as vandalism, then they do not see it as finding art.

What am I looking for?

When I am looking for art I am looking for shapes, colors, story, material, and figures. The art I find has a either has one or multiple of these content. Art carries color the most. If something has color and catches my eye I will look at it and see if it’s any kind of art.

How do I know it is Art?

I know it’s art becasue there’s usually the signtature of an artist either at the bottom of the art piece or somewhere near it. Sometimes art is seen differently in another person’s eyes so it will depend on the person and thier own perspective.

Is Art just everything? What isn’t Art?

Art isn’t everything. Art i suppose to have creativity, imagination, and uniquess. Art is also usually in a visual form. A plastic water bottle, a shovel, a classroom, or a car isn’tare becasue those are all things that people see in their daily lives in different forms. If something with color, a form of expression, or visual catches your attention then it is art in your eyes.

What is a Curator?

A curator is someone who sets the tone, vibe, and mood of an event or gallery. They must have art knowledge in order to do their job. I have seen the word curator used in creative spaces to say a person has secifically hand selected items for an event. This can be the same in art gallerys as a curator can select a theme or topic of the show. Then they may help in selecting the art pieces thar best fit the theme to overall set a vibe for the night.

Is a Curator different from an Artist?

A curator is different than an artist becasue a curator doesn’t make art. As I stated above, the curator can have art knowledge but what they is not art. An artsit acutally put their ideas out into this world and expresses them though visual forms.

Has Social Media killed Loitering?

I believe social media has “killed” loitering because most days people are always on their phones. Whether they’re by themselves and with their friends they’re on their phones checking social media. I rarley see anyone standing around just hanging out without a phone.

What is a Flâneur?

A Flaneur would be anyone hanging out and strolls around with or without others. This person would also not use their phone when hanging out.