Jaime Morales

This object is significant because it is with me everywhere. It becomes a part of myself as I wear it, carry it, or drink from it. Without it, I would not be complete. From middle school and on, my personal preoccupations were often associated with my appearance. The water bottle is most prominently used in a gym environment during workouts as replenishment. In this sense, it is reminiscent of the gym and how my ultimate goal in drinking water throughout the day and going to the gym is to have an aesthetic appearance. It also has specific measuring lines on the bottle. This could represent my lifestyle as well because, along with my workouts, I quantify and make regiments of or organize many of the things I do in life. the electronic key on it is reminiscent of my gym membership which is what much of my time is occupied with. The house key is reminiscent of home and the love and care of parents. Growing up with loving parents comfortably makes me appreciative of their love and provision of shelter. The Dragonball Z key chain is representative of my general interests in anime.

Water bottle

*Make and Model

Medium: key holder, Dragonball Z collectible key chain, electronic key, and house key

*Dimensions and product information: Length: 17 cm, Width: 7.5 cm; holds 500 mL of liquid

Credit Line: Obtained at a free giveaway during SxSW 2012 for pledging to not use water bottles.

This object holds great significance for many reasons. Not only is it a favorite food, but it is a food I hardly regard as a condiment, given the amount of it I’m able to consume straight out the jar! It is something I always consumed when watching anime or dramas, which is my favorite pass-time. In this sense, it is nostalgic because it will always remind me of my comfort zone at home in front of a computer living the good life. It is also often a food bought for me by my parents, which makes it representative of their love and gift of life to me.

Peanut Butter Jar

Smart Balance Creamy Peanut Butter

Medium: Plastic jar and paper label

*Dimensions and product information: length: 14 cm, Width: 7.7 cm; holds 26 oz of peanut butter.

Credit line: Bought at H-E-B

This guitar pick is significant because it represents my hobby and life of playing live music as part of a band. It represents music in general which has always been a form of self expression. It represents not only playing the bass itself, but also my attempts at singing, songwriting, guitar playing, and composing in general. My preferred instrument, the bass guitar, is also an instrument which is heavily overlooked in music despite the fact that it is an important part of a band. My personality does not reflect an outgoing or strong presence in the same way the bass guitar is noticed less often.

Guitar pick

Dunlop Tortex Pick

Medium: Plastic.

Dimensions and information: Base: 2.5 cm, Height: 3 cm ;1mm thick

Credit line: Found on stage.

While a pair of non-leather shoes is not uncommon, there are significant for many reasons. They represent the vegan lifestyle I live. They represent my appreciation for life in general. These shoes represent this notion because no lives were taken in order to make these shoes as opposed to real leather shoes.

Nonleather shoe

Ragazzi Vegan

Medium: Synthetic materials

Dimensions and Information: Length: 30 cm, Width: 11cm; size 265

Credit line: Ebay order

When a person is always seen by something or seen wearing something, that object usually becomes a part of that person. As if that person would not be in his natural state if he were missing that object, even if it were more natural. I’ve worn glasses since third grade and feel that they help define who I am. It’s as though they themselves are my eyes. Without them, I would not see and perceive life the way that I do.

Glasses

Unnamed brand

Medium: Plastic, glass, acrylic

Dimensions: Length: 13 cm, Width: 14 cm

Guided questions for viewing.

What is the difference between Nude and the Naked?

Naked is an adjective which can describes the complete lack of clothing on a person and has no other meaning beyond lack of clothes, but may imply sexual connotations on a personal level with others. With Nudity, they may be sexualized, but the main difference is that they are meant to be seen. The Nude is a form of art through which nakedness is is utilized by making its models like objects to make a statement about the humanity and flaws or perfection of those models. They are meant to be seen as objects.

How does this effect your current existence in 2013? What choices can be made differently?  How can you look at your current world through a different lens?

My existence is affected because I can look at art depicting  nudity as a way that is not necessarily sexualized, but industrialized. I can understand that it is meant to be seen that way by all, whether it is in movie scenes or other pieces of art. The fact that their is nudity presented in whatever image I may witness is there for a specific reason, not just to be there. Previously, I’d not given nudity much thought as having purpose but only viewed it as a sexual icon in all cases. However, I can now understand it as signifying traits or ideas such as subjectification, purity, weakness, beauty, or shame depending on the artist's intent being conveyed. The concept of Nudity could be argued as a way to accept adult entertainers or pornography. It accepts the sexualization and doesn’t question whether it may be right or wrong. These industries’ models are meant to be naked for their purposes of entertainment.

I would define visual art as a concept which refers to all art that is able to be physically seen, such as paintings or sculptures. It is used a a form of self-expression or interpretation of one’s self or affiliated ideas and concepts.

   Art is important to our society because it defines artists and gives society individuality. A society’s culture and norms can often be recognized by their visual arts. It also fosters creativity and provides for good therapy as a means of self-expression.