just add love

Embarrassing objects

The Fake Flyer

For this art assignment I decided to go back to basics and share advice through a PSA about a timeless tradition that appears to be facing extinction, thanks to modern technology; letter writing. 

The cost of living in a fast-paced world where everything seems to be easily watered down, is that it is easy to lose sight of the beauty in simple things. To express ourselves by interacting our minds with a piece of paper through handwriting carries something profound and irreplaceable in it. We need to be reminded of that from time to time. 

Constructed landscape; frozen water drops

I have a strong fascination with water. I love it in all its forms and especially when it takes an uncommon natural form such as a drop and changes from one state to another such as from liquid to solid. Among the things that intrigue me about water are its ability to be intimate and the fact that it does not always have to cover a large surface area to make an impact. 

For these reasons I recreated a frozen raindrop(s) using dishwasher foam and a sponge. I set my camera to a very slow shutter and turned on my flashlight to capture the drop(s) in motion. I had to be extremely patient to get the shot because it required several tries and focused manipulation. 190 frames later I finally chose my favorite one. 

Body in Place

1. The Martha Rivers Ingram statue at the commons.

2. The statue was erected as a symbolic gesture to honor the generous philanthropist and esteemed business woman for her work during her time as the chair-woman of the board of trustees at Vanderbilt. What many might not know is that Martha has also shown great support for the arts by donating a cutting edge E. Bronson Ingram Studio Arts Centre, as well as the Martha Rivers Ingram Performing Arts Centre. In addition, The Vanderbilt Blair School of Music has been the recipient of $300 million of Ingram company stock, a record for any university in the United States. This statue (place) represents three things: a passion for the arts and how they benefit humanity especially in areas of mental health and education.

Litema, pronounced 'Di-te-ma

A form of Sesotho mural art composed of decorative geometric patterns, commonly associated with the Sesotho tradition practised in Lesotho and the Free State region of South Africa. Litema are generated on the outer walls of mud houses specifically by Basotho women using their fingers or objects that have teeth in them to engrave, paint, relief mould or create mosaics. These patterns are scratched into a cocktail of fresh clay and dung plaster, preferably while wet. Modern designers incorporate dyes into their creations although this is not typically the case in many places.

Litema resemble objects from the natural world such as ploughed fields, plants or animals because of their cultural meanings related to fertility, cultivation. Some designers take it as far as drawing clan totems (a sacred object or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people) as a way of showing respect for the ancestors. Litema are not permanent, they decay in the sun or may be washed away by a heavy rain. It is common for women of an entire village to apply litema on special occasions such as a wedding or a religious ceremony. The tradition of Litema is such an integral part of our culture that our heritage blankets are made unique by the fact that they feature these special designs.

 My own tradition involves the burning of incense. It is my way of calming my senses and in a way sitting in communion with my ancestors. I especially enjoy watching the stick burn because in my eyes the ashes create beautiful patterns that could pass for art. I often picture the ash and how it falls off onto the incense tray as my own version of Litema for a number of reasons: fire speaks to me because it is my element. Ash is a reminder that things never really die because life is energy and energy is neither created nor destroyed. Not only does the burning of incense engage my senses, it also relieves me of tensions and stress by helping me to cultivate positive energy, all the while we are led to believe that burning things is always bad. More personally, my maternal grandmother was the one who introduced me to incense as a child, and every time I burn it, I literally feel her presence and her memory is nothing short of fresh and alive.

1. Find someone you think could never understand your perspective

Elizeo Joseph Odu

2. Ask that person for help with your problem

I want to get a tattoo, should I?

3. Do what they say

Please see the video

4. Document your experience

Elizeo said to write and so here goes: