#trissadodson

For my first materials project representing “body,” I used paper bags as a type of vessel or container. However, I got feedback that I didn’t really use those bags in a way that contained much. For my final project, I PUT ALL THE THINGS INTO A PAPER BAG and tried to express my relief that the semester was over. :)

Treating my every day thoughts and activities like an art project, provided me the necessary distance to observe my own behaviors and recognize areas to improve.

In this song, I blended some of my audio recordings with sampled sound clips. The last ArtWorks song represented a few of the group member’s favorite sounds, however my favorite sounds weren’t included with them! My inclusion in the song was represented by the overall organization and manipulation of the sounds, however, I wanted to include my aesthetic preferences into this song as well. One of those preferences manifested as a recording of a construction site near my apartment. By using the hand-recorded sounds and including my own favorite sounds, I felt like this process brought me closer towards “building” a better understanding of the ArtWorks group and of this media. 

Everyone in the group seemed really open to being included in my sound project. It was particularly encouraging to use this project as a way to break the ice with the newcomers to the open studio, but it was also a casual way to get to know the returning members better. 

Using my collage process as a guide, I began thinking of more ways I could compose a song. With visual art, I typically just collect pieces I’m drawn to and then intuitively arrange them, but how do I arrange them? Sometimes the individual fragments mesh to create one whole image, and other times, each piece stands out at different moments and creates a narrative within the imagery. This was my attempt at storytelling.

I’ve mostly been sampling other artist’s songs and combining them with my own sounds. Due to the lack of technical ability to play the instruments I love to hear (plus not actually owning any instruments), I tried experimenting with makings sounds only derived from my voice. I felt ridiculous making sounds without the accompaniment of any music and eventually just went with it. After several different takes, it was actually liberating to make silly noises and my self-consciousness took a more intentional, comedic form. 

Instead of exclusively using clips from other people’s music, I’ve tried incorporating my own sounds into the mix (”mumble” from Day 2). I still have this disjointed aesthetic in mind, although I’ve abandoned all ideas of producing “good music!” Instead, I’ve mainly focused on how the sounds can be altered in Audacity. As an artist, it’s a very uncomfortable feeling to be in a creative world in which I can’t fully actualize my ideas!  

This bag represents my experience with a female body. Growing up, I turned to magazines to understand “womanhood.” I would rip and cut out images that I identified with, although I never felt like the images that were usually portrayed fully embodied how I felt towards my own body and my experience as “female.” I also wrote words that have in some way influenced my understanding of my body as a woman.