Anthony Sanchez
Arts Scholar
Pentathalon Semester 1
As an experiential component of College Park Arts Scholars, I attended a selection of five art events during my first semester. These events ranged in art mediums and each sparked dialogue among my peers.
Bad Bunny Livestreamed Concert
September 20, 2020
#Music
As a fan of Bad Bunny, I was thrilled to be able to attend a virtual performance from New York City. I am currently celebrating Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month and this performance added to my celebration from an icon that I admire and respect. I've listened to many of his records, but Yo Perreo Sola has been a recent favorite of mine, and his performance made it much better. He is an inspiration to me because he encourages his supporters to live authentically and challenges the prevalent toxic masculinity in Latinx communities.
La Reina Del Sur Netflix Series
October 3 2020
#Film
This week, I had some free time to catch up on my favorite soap opera. Teresa, who is the protagonist is trying to rescue her daughter from foreign kidnappers, but is required to do some 'favors' for the kidnappers to reclaim her. Currently, I am nearing the end of Season 2, where Teresa finally rescues her daughter, but two U.S. government agents have targeted them and now, they must flee again. This show is by far my favorite for its plot complexity, internationality, and relatability to my Latinx heritage. I am nervous to get to the Season Finale, but hope they make it out alive and safe from their current troubles.
Frida Kahlo: The woman behind the legend
October 23, 2020
#Presentation
Frida Kahlo is an artist that I always heard of, yet never really knew of. This TED Talk gave me the opportunity to learn about a woman that I culturally resonate with and have been curious to know what makes her work so iconic. To learn that disability and her marriage are inspirations found in her work is intriguing, especially her use of portraiture to convey these experiences. Something that I admire about Frida Kahlo's work is her facial hair included in her self-portraits. I respect her work for being intimate, personal, and intentional, and aspire to incorporate this into my own work.
Throwback
November 2020
#Visual Art
I have not had the chance to sit down and draw since last semester. This past week has been one of the few opportunities I have had spare time to spend with myself and I chose to do a self-portrait. I had the opportunity to reminisce about my artistic endeavors in high school and how I miss the lack of pressure from everyday life. I also chose to use charcoal to prepare for my Capstone project that is centered on portraiture using this medium. Getting to draw helped me 'slow-down', yet use my time productively.
Co-Study Sesh
December 12,2020
#Dance
For this session, I had the opportunity to learn about the Pomodoro technique, where studying occurs in increments. I went by 25-minutes of studying followed by a 5-minute break and another 15 minutes of studying. During the break, my host, Gabrielle, invited me to a movement exercise to a Dua Lipa track. This technique is actually better than my current approach to studying because I feel like I can look forward to a break, rather than dreading hours worth of studying at a time. I will use this technique during my Finals review for this Semester.
Pentathalon Semester 2
As an experiential component of College Park Arts Scholars, I attended a selection of five art events during my first semester. These events ranged in art mediums and each sparked dialogue among my peers.
The Weeknd's Pepsi Super Bowl LV Halftime Show
February 7, 2021
#Music
Back in 2017, I had the opportunity to attend The Weeknd's Starboy Tour at the Verizon Arena in Washington, D.C. It was a phenomenal performance and when I heard he would headline the Super Bowl Halftime Show, I was excited. He delivered a great performance with some of his biggest hits, such as Can't Feel My Face and Blinding Lights. Although there were rumors of other possible surprise guest performers, I believe he outdid himself.Â
Getting to experience this performance reminds me of my appreciation for performance arts and musicians. Through various Art Scholars' experiences, I have learned to cherish art for more than what I think it is. I have always found it difficult to participate in performance arts, but have developed a great respect for entertainers and hope to view/attend other performances in the future.
What is the butt tuba and why is it in medieval art?
February 28, 2020
#Presentation
In this TED Talk, Michelle Brown, the narrator, delves into the medieval art form of illuminated manuscripts. From viewing this presentation, I learned that many public figures, including nuns and monks, were among those responsible for bizarre depictions that supplement a text. Notably, the presentation showcases depictions of a nude man playing the tuba with his butt or a knight in combat with a massive snail. Although they may have no relevance or meaning today, the depictions often told a story and offered insight for those of the Middle Ages and their artists. After viewing this TED Talk, a question I still ponder is if the varying medieval artists share a common agenda or purpose in developing these manuscripts and who the intended audience was. I find it interesting that this art form has a different value than what it may have now, yet their legacy travels beyond their time period. After viewing this TED Talk, I am reminded of the varying interpretations and value that art can have for different people, and how it can be representative of the artist responsible. An example that came to mind when viewing this TED Talk is the rise in popularity of memes and what it has meant for younger generations. Memes are similar to the illuminated manuscripts in that their creators use imaging and editing that bring humor or joy to their younger audiences, yet a more mature audience may find no value or understanding of what they mean. This exemplifies how art is assessed and approached differently, but does not dismiss the creativity behind the work.
Art Therapy Exercise: Journaling Loss
March 21, 2020
#Visual Art
A week before Spring Break, I had my first experience with loss. My family has always shown interest in getting a dog and on March 7th, we welcomed Vanilla, a 2-month old boxer puppy, into our family. Everyone immediately showered her with love and affection; however, we noticed she seemed frightened and startled by many things. The same evening we got her, she would whimper and struggle with digestive complications. On our visit to the veterinarian the following day, my family was informed of a viral infection she contracted and has been suffering for weeks. Although there were treatment options, none of which guaranteed recovery and were very costly, we made the difficult decisions to put her down. Despite knowing her for two days, I grew attached and am disheartened her time with us was very short. For this Pentathlon event, I choose to remember and cherish the few memories I made with Vanilla. I drew an outline of what she looked like and with colored pencils, created an aura-like surrounding. Based on the Emotions Color Wheel, blue and green are two colors that best characterize the grief and joy I got to experience, making it the appropriate color choice for the aura in my drawing. It has been about two weeks since she passed, but completing this project gave me a chance to process and appreciate the impact Vanilla bestowed on me. This therapeutic exercise offered a unique opportunity to learn about the unexpected celebration of life, where I can look back on the positive difference a being has made and do so via creative ventures. Art therapy has never been something I particularly sought after; but upon completing this activity, I have found a new outlet to explore my thoughts and emotions in a healthy productive approach.
Netflix: Selena: The Series
April 11, 2021
#Film
This past week has been my most stressful yet. From taking a midterm to scheduling a vaccine appointment to celebrating my cousin’s 21st birthday, I have not had the opportunity to unwind and relax. For this weekend, I decided to finish watching the Selena Series on Netflix. What initially started as an opportunity to view the show became a reflection of how Selena and I share parallels in several regards to our experiences. Although I am not an aspiring musician, I feel connected to Selena’s ambition with the support and encouragement from her family to pursue her dreams. One particular part of the series that reminded me of my CPSA250 class is how Selena was willing to ‘kill her darlings’ in an effort to advance her music career in the Tejano music industry. Selena was adamant about making English records and music; however, the public response did not live up to her expectations, so she agreed to move on to promote herself as a Spanish vocalist. Getting to start this series reminds me of the creative process and its importance over a finished product. Selena came from humble beginnings and with the support of her father and family band, she began to assert her presence as an artist, but everyone was reminded about the importance of what followed and not what they have done. Similar to the creative process, it involves patience and determination to make progress, but it does not necessarily have to stop there.
Art Therapy: Coloring
April 25, 2021
#Visual Art
Following my Capstone submission, I thought it would be best to relax and take an opportunity to do another art therapy project, as the previous one I have done gave me an opportunity to isolate myself with my thoughts. I chose to do a coloring page of space, considering astronomy was a big interest I had in middle school. As I was coloring, I began to feel nostalgic. It took me back to a desk in a classroom at my elementary school, where kids were grouped into four and recess was something to look forward to. It brought me back to the competitive nature of kids to see who was the best colorer and calling someone out if they went out of the lines. I reminisce about how little responsibility I had and how simple things were then, yet I have grown so much. I think about my childhood memories and how I have been led up to this point, a first generation Latinx college student from Baltimore City that is two years away from obtaining his first Bachelor’s degree and continuing to move forward. I think about my journey as an artist and the skills I have gained to create things. Getting to color allowed me a brief opportunity to disconnect, something that has been a struggle for me since I have started college. It gave me the opportunity to look back and look forward, and for that, I am grateful.