Ideally I would...
Honestly if I was completely released from the constraints of the architecture school program, I would join the peace corp and be an artist the rest of my life. First of all, this is a fantasy… or reality for those who can eliminate the factors of money and time. And second, it might sound cliché and seemingly impossible for a girl that has a darn right girly blog, but it is true!
The other day at lunch, one of my friends randomly commented on the way I dress, “you are either at one end of the spectrum or the other.� So for those who only see me “put together� believe it or not, this is what I would do.
Let me start by ranting about what is so appealing about the Peace Corps. For a girl who loves to travel, these are just some of the countries I would like to go and experience: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Libya, The Republic of Macedonia, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Venezuela, Zimbabwe… I can travel the world and help someone out at the same time. Programs include education, youth outreach, HIV/AIDS assistance, health and environmental.
Although the housing situations look less desirable than what I am lucky to have now, I would give up the extra commodities of my current life just to be able to taste other cultures and get to experience the places not only for their “Top Ten Tourist Attractions.�
And as a way to document my experiences, I would keep a journal of daily situations and things I learned, quotes I enjoyed, sparks of inspiration, etc. And in my way of dealing with that, I would like to create art that is personal yet that others can learn from and gain an understanding of my experience. In my life, my work already concerns social commentary from my environment...
Usually Wednesday nights are grueling after a 3.5 lecture on the basic concepts of art, yet today I left inspired. We watched a documentary called Voice to Vision III (there are four documentaries), and it focuses on David Feinberg working with two Romanian holocaust survivors and two Rwandan genocide survivors expressing their stories through art. The finished pieces reveal their story in a miraculous and talkative way. Another important point it hit on was that someone can hold onto their memories, but it is up to them to reach out and teach others about what they feel is important... and art is my way of doing so.
* Left: painting created by holocaust survivors
* Right: painting created by genocide survivors
As I have mentioned in previous blogging, my mission work experiences are what have stuck with me… the fear, sadness, unstoppable laughter, relationship bonds, etc. They have let me see the realities the poor face everyday. They have let me help someone in someway. They have given me the determination and curiosity to succeed and learn more about society. It is in those circumstances that I do not need the Guess Jeans or mascara to make me feel important/comfortable in society… it’s the humbling affect that allows me to interact with those I normally wouldn’t and help them as they help me become more globally aware. And in this way (as well as exhibitions of my masterpieces to be created) that I will effect the surrounding environment. And to me, that’s peachy.