https://1drv.ms/p/c/9f1c3e4f7f8a710b/EVaszkOzc4BIu-KIgwdn_JcBaUfHiQ54aLdAuDCLgYBukA
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
final intervention project - fatima flores
quotes from the book
ch 9: utopia, the art of activism
“The joy of making our own free party instead of paying for over-priced drinks at a club was a lot of fun, but there was a political objective as well: to change people’s perspective about their everyday urban experience.”
ch 3: history, the art of activism
“The Civil Rights Movement taught a generation of activists about the power of image and performance, and these lessons were passed on…”
this is what i know about art
“They ask big questions and propose even bigger solutions. They show us that no matter where we come from or where we’re going, we can all take part in changing the communities around us. Because the possibilities of how we can use our space for good are endless.”
ch 1: the art of activism
“In our workshops, we are interested in finding out about the moment that people decided to become activists or socially-engaged artists, or just to give a damn. We ask them to recall the first time they realized that the world needed changing, and felt stirrings within themselves to be part of that change.”
my project is the concept of a memorial, a living/walking memorial for innocent victims being murdered by police. the idea for my project was to have people write on a piece of tape and put it over my body, while i walk around the mall and sit in the visual arts building. i made two signs, holding one against my shirt and a picket sign to carry in my purse and walk around in public with it. i have chosen this topic because it’s important for people to understand that, innocent people who were murdered by police, for simply, existing, will be forever be forgotten. and, i wanted people to write names of victims that were killed at the hands of police violence, for them to acknowledge that their names are never forgotten. when a piece of tape (with a name written on) is placed on my body, the person that wrote the name, will hopefully feel a sense of sadness, and for them to understand that, the victim will remain in everyone’s heart. i wish that someday, the family of murdered victims, will get their justice and their names will be known.
i published this project, in a semi-busy area at the mall. people have looked over my sign that i made, i got some questionable looks, others walked by and paid no mind, others whispered amongst themselves. it kind of disheartening to see that even with my signs, no one genuinely acknowledges about the amount of black people murdered. the support of the blm movement seemed to dropped drastically, it may be the one of the reasons why i didn’t really receive any feedback or have anyone acknowledge my signs.
this project fits into my professional aspirations, because this can help individuals understand the amount of black people being murdered, that their presence is fading, justice. even in an art class, its important to know that black live do matter. whether it’s representing the victims by painting a mural or writing a poem of the victims. showing that people can remember the victims, how creating art and with meaning behind it, can be considered as performance art.
an artist that influenced me to create this performance was an artist named maya lin, who designed the vietnam veterans memorial in washington d.c. it was really intriguing to to seem maya lin’s memorial, because it’s known to everyone around the world. and, i wanted to incorporate the idea of the memorial, but instead of a statue, i’d make myself be the memorial; people would come up to me, write a name and place the name, so their names are never forgotten. another one of my influences in my project was an artist names hung liu. her gallery, ‘hung liu: living memorial’ is painted portraits of people who were on the verge of being forgotten in life. i thought it was a meaningful gesture, to making paintings of the people being forgotten after they’ve died. the black lives matter movement is a resource that has influenced me to make this project. during the blm protest, in the death of george floyd, activists shouted out names of black people who were killed into a megaphone.
a couple of researches that had helped me the most was black lives matter movement website, black artists that organized an intervention and performances, statistics of the support of the blm movement that had dropped, and the protests of the blm movement during covid and beyond. the reason behind this was, there was so much i haven’t learned about blm. even during george floyd’s murder, the amount of activism from people around the country cared and educated themselves to know that black live matter, supporting grieving families that lost loved ones, supporting black-owned business and etc. and the amount of people seemingly ignoring to educate themselves the importances of blm movement and its resources. even though i’ve learned so much about the movement during my midterm project, i’d like to educate myself more with blm and try in incorporate it in a classroom, one day.
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| also decided to post on instagram |
resources:
- https://blacklivesmatter.com/our-history/
- https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/miranda/la-ca-cm-year-end-black-lives-matter-artists-20161218-story.html
- https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/miranda/la-ca-cm-year-end-black-lives-matter-artists-20161218-story.html
- https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/06/14/support-for-the-black-lives-matter-movement-has-dropped-considerably-from-its-peak-in-2020/
- https://blog.artsper.com/en/a-closer-look/art-movements-en/blm-art/
Raf's Final Project
This became less of a performance art project, and more about learning about not only how crazy people can sound, but also what people have gone through. I wanted to start highlighting the absurdity in people, both attitude-wise and experience. While I wasn't able to get many people to interact with me, I managed to make do with the footage I have. I chose to put these two conversations together, to juxtapose logic and absurdity, while also keeping both people somewhat anonymous.
https://youtu.be/6Ndrhl8AScg
When it came to the project, I thought of the following artists when designing my plan; Marina Abramović, Yoko Ono, and Shaun Leonardo. I did not have the scale that all of these artists achieved, but they way they did their performance art made me think about what kind of message the audience is supposed to get, and how to achieve that through the performance. Marina for her endurance to stay in one place, Yoko Ono for the abstract thought and plan to achieve that idea, and Shaun Leonardo's focus on expression, gesture, and the need to put himself into his performance.
"When we operate solely from our own experiences, interests, perspectives, and comforts, we miss a lot."
This quote underscores the importance of stepping outside our personal bubbles. In activism and art, relying solely on one's perspective can lead to a narrow understanding of complex issues. Embracing diverse viewpoints enhances empathy and effectiveness in creating meaningful change.
"This discomfort is part of growth."
Engaging with unfamiliar ideas or challenging situations can be uncomfortable, but it's through this discomfort that growth occurs. For artists and activists, pushing beyond comfort zones is essential to develop deeper insights and foster transformative experiences.
"We often act on autopilot, making associations and following patterns that have worked for us in the past."
This observation highlights how habitual behaviors can limit innovation. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward conscious change, allowing activists and artists to break free from routines and approach problems with fresh perspectives.
"As artistic activists we need to always think of our audience."
Self-awareness extends to understanding how one's work is perceived. Considering the audience ensures that the message resonates and prompts the desired response, making the activism more impactful.
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Final Intervention- George Ghattas
My Intervention project is about “Police Brutality” and the reason why I chose this topic is mainly because of how I am a Criminal Justice major, and as someone looking to go forward as some type of law enforcement for their career police brutality is definitely something I would like to change in any kind of law enforcement. My message to everyone about police brutality is to show individuals how something like this can cause major problems to the departments, fellow officers, and even the government. In my intervention, I sat down with my family members and showed them a short video of a police officers body camera during a stop, the things that were said and done during this video should of been handled differently, looking at how my family members were watching this video and how they reacted was the same way I reacted when I first research about police brutality. My family members took a blank piece of paper and wrote their thoughts about what they thought and what they saw during this short video, and as that I did not see what they wrote but I will read it for the first time during our class period.
I did not have any inspiration from my artists, but something that inspired me to do more research about this certain topic was my criminal justice course classes that I had attended. Watching body cam footage and doing research about this really showed me how there are so much that we can change in being police officers so that we can have respect from the community and fellow innocent individuals.
Quotes:
Q1 “Due to the mimes, and other creative tactics, traffic fatalities dropped in Bogota by over 50 percent”
R1: This quote helps with my intervention because of how sometimes random people can try to help our community by doing what law enforcement is supposed to do but they do it to keep the community safe.
Q2 “If this kind of space doesn’t exist in your home or workplace, find another location”
R2: I chose this quote because when I first read it I thought about the police department, and what I thought about was how once you go in the department and everything around you or everyone around you is not trying to help for a change I can try to relocate to a different police department.
Q3: “We all have a creative routine”
R3: This quote is true and actually stuck to me because of how I do the same thing everyday from when I wake up. I have a set routine for myself everyday, and that is how I start my day and feel energized to continue it.
Q4: “We all need to be able to have silly thoughts and say stupid things and not feel judged”
R4: I choose this quote because I myself am a silly person and say a lot of dumb things, and that's something that will never change in me even when I am in law enforcement. I see it as if I am a fun and outgoing person and can be silly but also professionally speaking with individuals things can really go smoothly and not de-escalate.
References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awTkSgHdVA4
Final Intervention - Christopher Cruz
“Ballot Box of Two Stances”
My intervention is focused on the goal of creating communication between men and women regarding abortion rights. In the pictures below, participants were handed a slip with a question witten inside along with a pledge. Then I explain to the participants that they must read the questions to themselves without telling me and then place the slips into a box that has one side For Complacency and the other For Woman. Lastly, I asked how they felt about the question without telling me what the question was. The purpose of this was to see if it caused a change in participants' perspectives or thoughts by making them answer this question internally. Some of the participants' responses to the question varied and just like my research, the responses were from different parts of the spectrum.
I chose this subject because abortion rights are an essential right to all women whether young or old. With Roe v. Wade overturned, women have lost access to an important and life changing process that helps women. To add, I chose this subject because I was asked a question about what I would do in a situation where my partner wanted an abortion.
I did not have any inspiration from any artist, but I was inspired by voting. The problem with people nowadays is that they don't even think when they vote. This is what led me to create the slips of paper with a pledge and turn my shoe box into a ballot box.
My shoe box used as a ballot box.
Quotes:
Q1: "Another important goal of activist art is to create awareness of existing political and social issues. When the public is looking away from suffering that could be prevented or does not want to be confronted with it, activist art often creates a dialogue and forces people to think about these problems"
R1: This feel especially true as we are in a time where we are suffering and people are looking away from the issues instead of thinking and bringing awareness to these issues.
Q2: "But having a goal in mind allows us to orient ourselves in the right direction".
This makes me think of my intervention. I had a goal which I felt like it put me in the right direction. Having a goal has really helped decide how to go about my intervention. Also, having a goal that is specific but ambiguous allows room for various avenues to try with the goal in mind.
Q3: “The most radical art is not protest art but works that take us to another place, envision a different way of seeing, perhaps a different way of feeling.”
R3: This perfectly fits with my intervention. With it and the question I asked, I got to see how it altered people's perception of what they were doing, how, and how much or less they did.
Q4: “We seem to spend much more of our time and attention focusing
on what keeps us down instead of looking up.”
R4: This is true with the current time. There is so much going wrong and people spend a lot of time focusing so much in a negative manner that we ignore the alternatives and the positive aspects that can be explored.
References
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49240582
https://www.cato.org/commentary/complicated-place-men-abortion-debates
Final Project: Mohamed Camara
Silent Dressing Room: A Performance on Body Dysmorphia
For my art and activism project, I chose to focus on body dysmorphia, a subject that deeply affects millions yet often remains misunderstood or dismissed. My project is a performance-based video titled Silent Dressing Room, in which I repeatedly change outfits in front of a mirror, visibly dissatisfied and anxious with each look. Over this silent performance, an audio track plays, expressing intrusive thoughts that people struggling with body image might experience: “I’m not enough,” “I look terrible,” “Why can’t I just be normal?” These phrases continue even after the video cuts to black, symbolizing how body dysmorphia is not just a visual or physical issue; it’s a persistent mental battle that lingers, even when no one is watching.
I chose this topic because body dysmorphia is something that affects people across all demographics, regardless of gender, fitness level, or background. We live in a culture flooded with idealized bodies on social media, manipulated images, and endless commentary on appearance. Even those who seem confident, people who go to the gym, influencers, and even children, struggle with unrealistic expectations. The fact that young kids are considering plastic surgery before they've finished growing shows how deeply rooted and harmful this pressure has become. I wanted to use performance art as a way to give shape to an invisible experience. By externalizing this inner conflict, I aimed to foster empathy and connection, showing that although the experience isolates, those who suffer are not alone.
The message for my audience is twofold: first, that body dysmorphia is real and deeply mental, and second, that there’s a shared experience in this struggle. While the piece may feel grim, it’s also meant to offer a sense of solidarity. By watching the video, I hope people will recognize their own thoughts in the audio or see a friend’s experience mirrored in the performance. The distorted visuals match the distorted perception we often carry about ourselves; nothing is clear, and everything feels off, no matter how much we change on the outside.
I shared the video via a link with friends. In person, the silent atmosphere in the room made the impact of the piece even more intense. Viewers were quiet and reflective, with some sharing afterward that the performance reminded them of their own self-critical thoughts or experiences with body shame. Online, a few people messaged me saying how much they appreciated the honesty and vulnerability of the piece. One person even said, “This made me feel seen.” That, to me, is the most meaningful kind of feedback.
Professionally, this project fits perfectly into my aspirations as both a designer and someone who wants to use art as a form of emotional storytelling and social commentary. While I’m pursuing a career in UI/UX and visual design, projects like this help expand my portfolio in ways that highlight empathy, narrative, and human-centered thinking. The performative and multimedia aspects of this piece also allow me to show my range beyond static design work, demonstrating that I can blend concept, emotion, and execution into a powerful message.
Several artists and projects have influenced this work. Tania Bruguera inspired me with her belief that political art should have consequences. Her performance pieces often place viewers in uncomfortable yet revealing positions. Marina Abramović’s endurance-based work, especially The Artist Is Present, influenced my choice to let silence and repetition speak volumes. Yoko Ono's cut piece was also meaningful. Lastly, Martha Rosler’s "Semiotics of the Kitchen, 1975" also influenced seeing her performance of being in the kitchen set a lightbulb in my head and inspired this performance.
Quotes
Q: “Art is useful. Through art we can start building a world that works differently.”
R: This quote reminds us that art isn’t just for decoration or entertainment; it’s a tool for change. Art can help us envision and begin shaping a better, more inclusive world by challenging norms, sparking dialogue, and inspiring imagination.
Q: "As a political artist, I always want my work to have consequences."
R: This made me reflect on the importance of empathy in art. By recreating the feeling of a lived experience, Bruguera forces the audience out of passive observation and into emotional understanding. It’s a reminder that performance art can create direct, visceral connections that news or media often fail to deliver.
Q: "Artists and activists are always operating within a cultural context. In order to be heard and understood, an activist needs to learn how to use popular culture, but they also need to know how to transform it so that it speaks to and for their own cause."
R: This quote stresses the importance of understanding the cultural landscape to make activism effective. Popular culture is a tool; it can reinforce dominant narratives or be subverted to challenge them. This is particularly relevant today, when social media, music, and memes can spread activist messages.
References/Inspirations
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| Freedom Trash Can |
Intervention Final Project - Aileen Herrera Ojeda
Intervention Final Project:
For my final project I wanted to continue with the topic of immigration with the message of empathy. As we've thoroughly discussed in class empathy is at the root of all activisms. It should be at the core of humanity and sadly it isn't, and the has become very apparent in how people are speaking about marginalized communities. Immigration is not something that is unique to only the Latino community, but we are seen as a scapegoat for almost every problem. "The artist once said that her biggest inspiration was injustice in the world." (Stefanie Graf). So, my message with this project was a mix of empathy and immigration. The immigration part was mainly shown through symbolism; I did not want too outright talk about immigration since I knew I wanted to perform this outside of the safety of campus and did not want to encounter ignorant people. "The boundary slippage of artistic activism works equally well in repressive regimes where overt political protest is prohibited, yet artistic practices are tolerated." (Duncombe, Lambert).
In my midterm I used the imagery of the monarch butterfly that is associated with immigration, it symbolizes the beauty of the right to move and live freely. “Undocubus activists forged an association between human immigration and a natural and majestic migration, reframing the image of a population unjustly feared and routinely degraded. Who, after all, can be enraged at a butterfly?” (Duncombe, Lambert, 22). I continued this imagery in my final through the stickers and wings I made. In this project I decided to walk around New York City while wearing butterfly wings and handing out stickers to convey this message. I did not want to stick to one specific place because the whole point is that you should be able to move anywhere, not be stuck one singular place. I made 3 stickers, the pink one "Be Empathic", blue one "Be the Voice for those who Can't Use Theirs" and lastly the orange one, "Immigrants are Human". My boyfriend joined in, having a set of wings of his own and he helped me hand out stickers as well. While handing these out, a lot of people were open to taking them, but a few were just not interested, even after hearing they were free, which I found odd. My mom told me that people probably were apprehensive to take the stickers or engage with us because they thought we were giving out religious or cult propaganda which I thought was funny. Some people read the message and liked it, others complimented our wings or asked if we were bees or butterflies. Overall, it was pretty fun.
My main inspirations were the Guerilla Girls, calling out the sexism and racism that is seen in museum mainly through their attention-grabbing gorilla masks. I wanted to do the same by grabbing people's attention with my butterfly wings to further my message. Another inspiration was the Chinese couple who took their wedding photos in gas masks as a way to protest the smog in Beijing. The reason this inspired me was simply because of the fact that it was a performance, something that wasn't outright telling you, but you understood with symbolism. And lastly Undocubus, was a big inspiration because of their fight for better immigration processes.
Lastly, this project fits into my art portfolio pretty well since everything I made was art based and very much my aesthetic. Even though it's not the usual topics I talk about it was a helpful start to the kind of messaging I want in my work.
Real quick I want to thank my mom and boyfriend for helping with overall ideas and especially the wings, I really couldn't have done it without them and their encouragement!!
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