Anthony Sanchez
Arts Scholar
Semester 3
Over the past semester in the College Park Art Scholars Program, my appreciation for creativity has expanded and has offered special learning experiences. In my opinion, art can reshape or recontextualize an understanding of our learned history, biases, and beliefs by welcoming absent, overlooked, and neglected voices that are much needed in extensive conversations. From these voices empowered by art, productive discussions to address the concerns for the greater good of society. This semester, I had the honor and privilege to attend the Bomba Workshop hosted by Ivelisse Diaz, which focused on the history and practice of Afro-Puerto Rican music and dance. She is that much-needed voice that advocates for the liberation and uplifting of oppressed communities through Bomba, which has served as an inspiration for my creative endeavors to be purposeful. The creative process has been central to my work this semester in the Arts program, especially pertaining to my Individual Capstone project. An effective strategy I learned in initiating my creative strategies is collaboration with peers. During “TA Time”, I had the opportunity to thoughtfully think about my interests for the Capstone project through questions and feedback from those in my group, which encouraged me to better guide my artistic goals. As for effectively implementing feedback for revision of ideas to provide depth and clarity, I think it is best to detach oneself from the ideas followed by critical interpretation of given feedback. After submitting different “studies” for the Capstone project and receiving feedback, I learned I could best grow from it by preventing the internalization of feedback, while considering given feedback as constructive and productive for improving initial ideas.
During the last few months, the Black Lives Matter movement has developed and advanced the conversation of the continued structures and systems that oppress Black Lives. A monumental mural on the Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington D.C. serves as an artistic mechanism that voices the Black experience and affirms the pursuits of activism. I firmly stand with this movement and the mural sent a simple, yet powerful message to a country that thrives on the structures of racism and is silent in instances of injustice. From what I recall, my involvement in the Arts program did not facilitate my understanding of this mural, but it did encourage my appreciation and value for art as a form of activism.
An Arts Supporting Course that relates back to my experience in the Arts Scholars program is WMST250. This Women’s Studies course had an interest in the arts, specifically writing, and the overlap of intersectionality that factors into the work of women. As for its connection with the knowledge learned in College Park Arts Scholars, WMST250 often discussed topics surrounding power and identity, which relates back to conversations of art as a form of expression and empowerment in Colloquium. A specific example of this from WMST250 is readings by an author named Una titled “Becoming Unbecoming”, a graphic novel, that details the impact of misogyny and sexism on a young girl’s life. Similarly in Colloquium, I was able to listen to guest speakers and how art has served as an outlet to express their voices, experience, opinions, and much more.
This past semester, getting to interact with my fellow Arts Scholars has enhanced my learning tremendously. Despite not being on campus and being in large introductory courses, Colloquium was the only time I felt connected to my education and establishment of community that has been absent from most of my remote learning experience. Specifically, the time dedicated to open conversations with Teaching Assistants and fellow Scholars at the end of class offered the reassurance that I am not alone and I will persevere. Also, this community constantly served as a reminder that I need to practice self-care to be successful in my learning. Whether it be Moments of Zen at the end of class or available mental health resources, I found my Arts community to be of great support in my academic journey.
As for what I have contributed to the Arts program, I have been able to offer genuine constructive feedback to several peers with the intent of sparking thoughts or ideas. I believe that one can learn from their peers and when the opportunity to do so was available, I ensured that I offered feedback worth considering. This past semester, I feel that I have been enlightened by my experience in the Arts Scholars program. A moment that highlights this enlightenment is my virtual field trip, Fandango, and how art has never been defined by one person, but is built and developed by many with their own uniqueness to create something special. I found that exploring perspectives different from my own helps me better understand how someone else navigates the world and what I can learn from that.
Semester 4: Program Synthesis
Upon reviewing my ePortfolio, I can immediately notice growth in the thoroughness and depth of ideas manifested through published content. Specifically, the innovation found in my Capstone idea at a glance on the ePortfolio page with my initial proposal to my finalized Capstone product. My artist statement signals growth in professional communication skills through structural support via secondary sources and showcasing my creative process. Also, my Pentathlon is another example of growth in presenting my independent artistic endeavors among the five categories in an insightful manner that both shares and reflects the experiences I underwent to mature my perception of art. To this point, an opportunity that altered my perception of art has been my participation in ArtsFest 2020 and 2021. Getting to see the work of my peers, especially their individual Capstones, introduced the intimacy attributed to everyone’s own creative form of expression that I never felt previously. It has been interesting getting to engage in conversation with fellow artists, who dedicate time and energy to their craft to develop a final product catered to a specific audience, and be able to learn from one another. Another opportunity that improved my perception of art has been instances of peer review and feedback. In my opinion, I find that art can be very personal and boundaries could interfere with how we respond to third-party input. However, getting to participate in peer exchanges to question, comment, and praise individual work has made me realize the importance of constructively uplifting and supporting artists in initiating dialogue solely about the work that can encourage revision and growth in drafted ideas.
My Capstone incorporates the experiences and knowledge I have learned in Arts Scholars. Primarily, the importance of art being a tool used for change. Being involved in various field trips, including Fandango and chArma, offered both a historical and present tense use of art as a tool for liberation and expression that intersects with culture and community. My project, The G.W.O.R.L.S, explored the role of black and brown women’s participation in Hip-Hop culture and how imperative it is to empower their voices. With interviewing as a primary research method, I was able to foster a conversation of appreciation and admiration for three female rappers and their craftsmanship behind their lyricism. This experience, along with the supporting portraits I developed, allowed me to use my creativity combined with other’s contributions to deliver a project that empowers and uplifts women in music. Also, getting to present my work in progress helped sharpen my communication skills of effectively sharing my ideas with a structural approach. In doing so, I was able to highlight advancements and pose questions that incite my audience to engage with my creative process, which also emphasizes the role of collaboration proactively used in Scholars that significantly enhanced my initial proposal.
After two years of participating in Arts Scholars, I have been able to learn about various artistic disciplines, notably music production and photography through student-led workshops. I have typically been skeptical of integrating technology with art. However, getting to use software as a medium for music production taught me to embrace this skepticism. I was able to learn the importance of being an active listener and the role of instrumentals that builds on a producer’s competency. In the Photojournalism workshop, I learned about different techniques to showcase skill and enhance quality of images that can convey a message or be aesthetically pleasing. Both workshops have encouraged me to try, fail, and succeed by exposing myself to unfamiliar art forms that has broadened my abilities as an artist.
An instance where I feel I was able to effectively collaborate with others with a unique outlook on the arts is my involvement in the 2021 Photojournalism workshop. Getting to apply the skills I learned and participating in a forum with my peers to discuss our approach to photography gave me the opportunity to rethink or strengthen my perception of the skill, while also offering feedback to collectively grow in this discipline. Each student captured unique things, each of which may or may have not had a story, but it was always personal to them. This furthered my understanding of how art serves as a mediary for community, regardless of what each individual brings with them.
As for my future, I believe Art Scholars has ripened my eagerness to learn from others and about myself. This program has compelled me to continue my pursuit for learning and growing as I do, as a way of becoming both a better artist and person. The most valuable takeaway from this program was the community I joined, in spite of unique circumstances, and how you can learn just as much from them as you would anywhere else. With my experience, I hope to continue to initiate dialogue, challenge the way I think, or involve change. Also, I hope to integrate and embrace my creativity into my career prospects, as I find it fulfilling to have an outlet where professionalism meets artistry. I am beyond grateful to have had this opportunity to learn more about others and myself, and hope others find it as fulfilling, if not more, as I did.