Of Pea-sized Bladders and "Artivistas"

Kapatids,

May I just say that I'm really upset right now, because this is my third attempt to post this entry, and it keeps on malfunctioning! None of it is saved either, so I'd have to start from scratch all over again. UGH technology! I miss it when we all used to turn in notes. Tangible notes.

I apologize for the lateness of this blog. I try to be up to date as much as possible, but it's been really difficult. ESPECIALLY, when your computer keeps failing on you.

Bitter feelings aside, I'll be including 1.) LKC workshop reflection, and 2.) Art in Activism workshop reflection , in this one long and chunky blog.
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LKC in DC.

I'm sorry I was late, and had to hold up the workshop because I had to pee. My bladder was exploding. I really think it would've been cool if we were early...as a matter of fact, we could've done the entire iternship workshop at LKC. That way, we'll save travel time.

So, 1968 is one crazy year. I've had lectures about it from my Ethnic Studies classes, but we didn't go over it in such great detail. For one thing, I didn't know that there were white progressive folks (whose name escapes me right now) who organized with other organizations of color. That, I thought was amazing, and it makes me wonder why there isn't much of that going on today.

I also loved the images from Sergio's powerpoint. They told stories that no words can ever tell. I needed those photographs to inspire me, and remind me why I'm in photojournalism in the first place.

The workshop was such a refresher, and it made me hella want to live in 1968!

I just remember thinking: Man, why aren't we as fired up as they were back then? We have the same issues today with all the budget cats, taxes going to military arms instead of education, the World Bank's greedy ass making poor people even hungrier... Why isn't everyone else as agitated and angry WITH us?

I feel like everyone was more sensitive back in the days. We've all gotten so jaded now because we're at a time when we can enjoy the luxury of having more choices--choices that folks from 1968 helped us claim. Had it not been for them, we wouldn't have such comfort in the first place. I understand that their work doesn't end there either. We owe it to them and our kids to continue the legacy--to develop OUR own legacy today.

Anyway, here's my kultural piece, in dedication to our PRESENT:


Truth by ~FayeYAHEY on deviantART

Because I am NOT about to pay thousands of dollars for MY RIGHT to higher education--and I ain't about to have my kid go through the same agony.
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Artivista is not just Mike Luat's other name...

I believe he shares it with other "artivistas" who use art as their form of activism. Artist + Aktivista = Artivista. Get it? Yes, Mike Luat is the one who rose to fame with that name, but I think it can be shared to many kasamas who do kultural work.

I liked the workshop, but I did feel like it was lacking of visuals. I mean, for an art presentation, it sure didn't have that many images. (I'm an honest kid; just gotta say what I have to say. Hope y'all don't mind.)

I appreciate the thoroughness of the powerpoint, but I wish we'd have actual examples of the art that we went over. Honestly, I still don't know what scientific art is, and I wish we had various examples to help us understand it better.

I also wish that we had kultural artists to come and speak as well. Like Artivista (Mike) for example. Maybe even Jessicka Antonio.

It's really cool to see art as something that's produced by kasamas--folks like us--and not by people who have the money to go to an art class, studying Monet, and sucha sucha.

Art is so much more than validating your work through how much money it makes. It's more than just selling it to bourgeois art connoisseurs who have hella moolah. They'll probably use it for brags in their next house party, too. That takes away from the essence of why you made your art in the first place. If you make art for the money--then what is it REALLY for? Do you still do it to express yourself if you paint for someone by request? Hm.

To me, art can turn a blank canvas into stories of love, pain and struggle. It's a piece of poetry that can amplify even the smallest voice; an ode to those who can't hear; a picture portrait of those who are invisible. You do it because it's your outlet of frustration (or something), not because it's your job.

I still hope we get to do something artsy next workshop! Art really does help us become more vulnerable, and I feel like that's something that can help us get to know each other a little bit better. Maybe it'll help us bond even more.

Anyway, this is my art piece. I couldn't find anything else that was fitting for this entry, so I just chose this:

Antique Belief by ~FayeYAHEY on deviantART


FYI, I'm a self-proclaimed Agnostic, who used to be a devoted Catholic. Well, I was only "devoted" because I was made to feel that I have to. It's like that in the Philippines. I wish I was kidding. =(



Ingat!
Faye from the Bay