Above: Matthew Day Jackson Something Ancient, Something New… on YouTube…
See also:
by Joe Meiser
Above: Matthew Day Jackson Something Ancient, Something New… on YouTube…
See also:
The object I chose is a small green teapot. Teapots were originally used to steep tea leaves and boiled water or were later used to boil water and to be poured over tea bags into tea cups. Teapots today can symbolize storytelling and friendship, as tea is often enjoyed in the company of friends or family over chats. Tea also used to be a symbol of wealth, as it was an imported luxury that only the wealthy could afford to drink.
Teapots remind me of the use of china, the translucent glazed pottery made into plates and cups used and invented by the Chinese. It also reminds me of the trade of tea through the East India company, where tea and teapots were traded from China to the UK and British colonies. Lastly it reminds me of the Boston tea party, where colonists dumped tea into the Boston harbor as an act of rebellion against the British.
I want to explore the idea that the first models of teapots used to crack and explode due to the hot water and the thin walls of the pot. I could maybe symbolize this by smashing a teapot mold then putting it back together. I also want to explore the idea that tea and teapots symbolized wealth, as I could maybe paint the teapots gold. Lastly, I want to explore the connotation to the Boston Tea Party by maybe making the molds out of wax, then melt the wax in a way to make it look like the teapots are being dumped or melted into a body of water.
by Kate Zellers
My original object is a statue of a gold bald eagle. It is used in many ways to represent people’s freedom, love for the nation, and those who have served in the military, or a combination of these. When the eagle is displayed, especially in a personal setting in today’s political climate, it has a right leaning connotation. When I see the display of patriotism, I feel the right-wing nationalism. To me it is a blinded idolization of our nation, not able to hear the faults and changes that could be made to be better. To me, as a Navy girlfriend I have a love and empathy for those who serve and have served the country in that I have a glimpse into the understanding of the sacrifices they go through. I think that the government is flawed, has a terrible past of colonization and has a continued oppression of many peoples through policy, systems, individual actions, and environmental work. In my project I would like to use the multiple to show the views of what the eagle represents – to me it is the love for those who serve as well as the disdain and fear of right-wing nationalism.
Part 1: Writing Assignment
The object that I chose to work with is a cat, which is a fluffy and lazy animal. I believe cats symbolize cunning, grace and independence. Cats remind of Egyptian culture and how people worship the sphinx as a powerful ruler watching over them and protecting them. Overall I want my project to relate to the fact that cats are independent creatures. I want to explore the idea of cats being rulers and watching over others. One of my ideas is having a bunch of cats gathered around with one cat ruler watching over them being their leader. I want to refrain from cats being rulers of people, but rather being rulers of the same species.
Part 3: Sketches