Galleries Give Gratification.


Alexander Brest Gallery opening! Featuring Dylan Collins and Jason Lee, Boss Combo.
Tonight I spoke with five people in regards to art, their day to day life, and the fine arts program. I realized that I didn’t really have a process in which I socialize with people, I just walk around and it seems that people with mutual interests seem to gravitate towards each other.
I realized that through this process many of my colleagues struggled with this assignment because they couldn’t confidently interact with others.


Illustration major#1

We spoke about her love for sculpture but how she had a feeling of not being good enough to do it. She told me about her fashion line she created where she paints art on vintage clothing such as jeans jackets and old shirts/ jackets.
She’s a sophomore from Jacksonville.
Illustration / sculpture major #2

We talked about her process of making her art and her vision of the sculptures she creates. I asked her which she preferred more, illustration or sculpture, she thought for a second and said “which ever one pays more”.
The three of us spoke about how art is a tough field to be in unless you take a hold of the reigns and go for it right away. Learning how to network yourself if a great tool to have when being in the field of fine arts. You also have to know how to talk to people and know what they want to hear.

Next I spoke with Jim Benedict (assistant professor of sculpture)
Benedict was a very interesting man from the moment he started speaking. He was very thoughtful with his words and phrasing, he was also very clear in his thoughts which was very refreshing. We talked about how Jacksonville University brings artists to our school and the formula in which the visual art faculty follows as guidelines to do so. Benedict also shared the hopes in which they would like the students to follow from each artist they bring. The visual arts department wants their students to emulate different aspects from each artist and what they have to offer. It was very nice to hear about the different side of the Fine Arts department.

Dylan Collins, one of the two artists who presented their works this evening had some great insight about his process in creating. He spoke loud and clear without a microphone, showing his ability to project as any artist in our field should be able to master. One thing I took away from his experience was that he he gets inspired by something, he starts to create his art, and in time it becomes something completely different than it initially was intended. The story changes from what it once was, a very interesting concept. We do this in music, you may start to solo on a jazz tune with one story or thought in mind, and it morphs into something new.
Collins told the audience that his sculptures came from a number of different animals and materials.

I briefly spoke with the Aramark workers who shared their experience with serving a mass amounts of people and how they were treated by different individuals. Their experiences were partially good, some experiences not great, they were just happy to be getting paid and meeting new people.

At the end of this experience I realized that I was extremely lucky to be as open to new things as I was in this scenario. Being able to so willing to talk to new people and make new experiences was an amazing feeling.

Isabella Martinez Networking Assignment 1

This first networking assignment was a little difficult and intimidating. I started by walking around the gallery and warming up by talking to classmates I already knew. While I was with a couple of peers, someone I didn’t know stopped to look at the sculpture we were admiring. I asked her if she knew what it was supposed to be, and she explained what she’d heard from the artist. From there, my peers hijacked the conversation and I moved on to another part of the exhibit.

I stood by a sculpture. Some guy was near me, and I asked him if he knew what the gallery was about. “Is this all one person’s senior thesis or something? Is this room supposed to be one piece, or are they all separate pieces?” He seemed a little socially anxious. He answered a few of my questions but it didn’t really spark a conversation. I didn’t press him too much.

Most of the people I talked to at the gallery were people I was already familiar with. Sometimes they were peers that I’d had 2 or 3 classes with, but never actually talked to, so it was nice to socialize with them and get to know them better.

Overall this experience was kind of strange. I don’t really like talking to people I don’t know, so this was a step outside my comfort zone. Once I tried talking to people, it wasn’t that bad. All you really have to do is ask questions or act like you’ve never seen a painting before. What is this? Why did the artist make this? What does it mean? The one thing that frustrated me was that most people were kind of closed off. They didn’t really want to talk. Most people showed up with friends, and it was always much harder to approach a group of people, unless you were also there with a friend. It’s kind of a 1:1 ratio. I think it’s harder to network with people from my generation. Growing up with technology and social media has made us less sociable and more introverted. Why talk to someone when you could text or dm them? But after this exercise I recognize the value of face to face networking. I know that in this field, it’s all about who you know, and the more you network, the more people you get to know, and the more opportunities you’ll get. I’m looking forward to the next networking event.

I think next time around, I’ll be a little more adventurous. Talk to more strangers. Maybe I’ll try something on my own, go to an event off campus. Maybe one of those “every single artist” events that WJCT hosts. I’ve always wanted to go, but I’ve been too nervous and intimidated to go. But why the hell not? I think it would be a worthwhile experience.

Networking Assignment 1

Precursor: I didn’t get any one person’s name.

Encounter 1:

I walked up to the first sculpture on the left of the gallery opening. I had no clue what I was looking at, but found that nobody else did either. A student stood, staring at the eight-foot-tall sculpture and I stood next to him and asked what a particular piece of the sculpture might have been made from. This triggered a small conversation where we were both perplexed by the creation that stood before us. Dumbfounded and at a loss of words to contribute to keep the conversation going, I moved on to the next piece in the exhibit.

Encounter 2:

The very next sculpture was surrounded by about eight theater/ music theater students. I run around with this group of people on the regular and quickly joined them. We ended up talking in a tight huddle while questioning what we were witnessing and making a game plan for the rest of the assignment.

Encounter 3:

In the back room with the jugs of yellow paint covering the floor, I walked around examining each jug until someone came up to me and noted that they thought the glass pieces were simply painted on the interior, but I corrected them and let them know that the glass jugs were entirely full of bright, yellow paint.

Encounter 4:

I had my wine in my hand; a simple drink, but conversationally perfect nonetheless. I decided to go with the Chardonnay while the person I talked with went with red. We both wished we’d gone with the other as I have a preference with red and she has a taste for white wine. I shared that I got the white wine to pair with the cheese assortment that was provided and she had asked for the red simply to try a free sample since her friends had always suggested she try it.

Encounter 5:

The refreshments station. I hadn’t eaten all day and being that this was free food and I am a broke college student, the food became my priority in the moment. Quantity over quality… A guy wanted to know which cheese was spicy and I pointed it out to him while also suggesting he try dipping it in the hummus, knowing full-and-well that would be nearly vomit-inducing. Needless to say, that was funny to watch.

Networking Assignment 1

Emily Pate

When we first discussed “triangulation” in class, I had no idea what it was, nor had I ever heard the term. After it was explained, however, it made total sense. We do this all the time and in everyday conversation. I don’t have much experience discussing art, so that was the only thing that made me a bit uncomfortable. To prepare, I chatted with a visual art student about how she approaches the openings and what to expect.

            Thursday night, my first conversation was about the wine (go figure.) I chatted with another theatre major about the differences between white and red wines and what makes them different. He just turned twenty one and has no clue what he likes and doesn’t. I steered him in the cabernet direction, and a few minutes later he found me again and thanked me for the recommendation.  While not about the gallery, it was a good warm-up for me and helped get the nerves out.

            My second conversation was with the artist himself. We were looking at a drawing in the first room of the gallery, and I asked him why he preferred colored pencils over ink. We chatted about different mediums and how he thinks pencil brings more character to his quirky works of art. He was super nice and interesting to talk to,but was quickly taken away by a professor with questions of their own.

            Another conversation I had was with a fellow classmate about the middle room of the gallery. We both noticed the cow motif in the naming of the works, and quickly discovered how the sculptures featured body parts. She and I had a great time pondering why the artist used body parts and piping to convey his message and didn’t come up with a solid answer.

            My last conversation was with a music student. We were in the last room with all of the glass wells. At first I was warning him not to accidentally kick one over, which led to a conversation about what exactly was in the wells themselves. I explained that they were filled with a paint/water mix and that it has a more liquid look than just paint by itself.

            I feel like this was a good exercise as an intro to an entrepreneurship class. I find it easy to talk to people, so this wasn’t a stretch to accomplish. If placed in a theater, I think I could have had way more in-depth conversations. We do this as actors after every show with audience members, and that is very easy since we talk about our passions. I suppose the visual artists feel this way about their openings. I think networking is super important to anyone trying to get into the arts, even in obscure or uncomfortable settings.

Emily Pate- LJ 1

What is your unique gift? – Do you believe in it enough to invest everything you have in it?

I am a musical theatre major who is also well-versed in technical work. I could potentially design, direct and star in my own show.

What difference are you trying to make in the world? – How passionate are you about doing this?

I want people to have the courage to make their own artistic choices without fear of ridicule from their peers. I am very passionate about this and constantly tell my classmates to stand strong in their convictions.

How do you define success for yourself? – What challenges do you face in order to create success?

I think success for me is loving what I do at any point in my career. Right now, success would be a career on the stage, but one day it may directing. Theater is super hard to get into and establish yourself in general, so that is the short-term hardship in order to even begin.

What is career vision and a mission?

A career vision in my mind is what I see when I close my eyes and see myself doing with my life. A mission is the philanthropic element that will go along with my vision.

Can you innovate and creates value and successfully communicate that value to intended audiences?

I believe I could if I was proud and passionate about the project.

Do you have a positive attitude?

About most things. If a project/ person is underprepared, I am usually very negative.

Have you set your goals? What is your road map to success? Can you set inspiring and realistic goals?

I have set short term (5 year) goals for myself. I suppose my road map is to create networking and a solid package of audition material in order to be hired. I don’t know if anything in the performing arts is truly realistic at first, but if someone has the gumption anything is possible.

Do you have and/or acquire the necessary expertise to actualize your vision?

I think through real-world experiences I will have a better understanding of how to achieve my vision.

What are your priorities? Can you set priorities?

My priorities are creating a strong package of audition material and executing those auditions. I am very good at prioritizing things, especially when it comes to theater.

What opportunities are you looking for? What opportunities are you creating or intend to create?

Any audition opportunity is a good opportunity. I like to create opportunities for students to audition for shows at JU.

How comfortable are you with uncertainty? What risks are you willing to take?

Theater is all about risk and uncertainty. Soon, I won’t know where my next paycheck is coming from until I book a gig. Risks are part of the job, and I will do anything to further myself.

When facing challenges, do you persevere or do you walk away?

I persevere, especially on things I am super passionate about.

What experience have you learned the most from?

I did a summer stock last year as a lighting operator and assistant. Before the summer, I thought lighting could be an enjoyable backup plan. I absolutely hated it and now I know I won’t want to take another job like it!

What actions are you taking to realize your vision? Are you consistently taking action?

I have successfully pulled off a massive recital for myself that brought together several elements I have learned while at JU, so that was a huge step in the right direction.

How well do you put things in context? Are you able to easily respond to changes in your environment? What’s your best example?

I recently directed a production for Alpha Psi Omega. In order to successfully do this, I took the knowledge gained from directing classes and assisting Kim Beasley and put it into context. I am super flexible when things don’t go my way, so I am usually able to roll with the punches and change calendars and plans to accommodate. 

What is your plan to continually grow and evolve? How have you grown or evolved in the past year or three?

I constantly add tools to my toolbox as a singer and as a professional. I like learning new music styles to sing each year and experiment with them. I also learn new skills in the shop of the theater (such as building, painting, ect.) I learned how to read scenic plans and use sound equipment over my years working in shop. I’ve also learned how to be a scenic charge artist. 

How easy is it for you to reach out to others to ask for support and to offer help?

I often ask for support for APO in the CFA. I am not too proud to admit when something is really complicated or I have little experience doing it. I offer help regularly in shop to new employees as they learn the system as well.

How are you inspiring others to join and/or support your mission in order to create a financially sustainable enterprise that allows you to live your gift and contribute something valuable to society? – If you aren’t currently, how do you intend to?

I am not sure if I am inspiring anyone financially at the moment. I simply don’t have the life experience or chops to do so yet. One day, I hope to create an organization that empowers young artists to rise above negativity and potential financial issues and pursue their dreams.

D.M. Journal Assignment 1

  • If a music entrepreneur’s belief in one’s unique gift, passion for making a difference through music and the willingness to take charge and learn from challenges in order to create success:
  • What is your unique gift? – Do you believe in it enough to invest everything you have in it?

~My unique gift in music is in listening and preparing song forms in the classical romantic genre. As it relates to the particular piece I have the unique ability to shape and mold each piece with a unique and personal character giving life and fresh perspective to old classics. This ability helps to make me listenable and the object of great anticipation to professionals and music enthusiasts alike. I believe that the gift was God given. As I have already spent tens of thousands of dollars honing my craft and do, to this day know that I have given everything I have to my craft, including Faith. My gift requires me to have faith because I have never received a formal education in music, so I missed the fundamental background in music that most of my colleagues had the privilege of acquiring at a young age.

  • What difference are you trying to make in the world? – How passionate are you about doing this?

~My gift is particularly useful in impacting the world as I am able to give my gift virtually anywhere with an acoustic piano. I hope to one day start my own school of the Fine Arts which will specialize in acquiring instruments for youths and interested adults, in order to foster the musical and artist potential of said individuals regardless of social-economic status. I am passionate about doing this because I have come from many hard years of being told that I couldn’t be a pianist and being laughed at even by family members for my interest and insistence on loving to play piano. I am passionate about this because of the combined failures and successes I’ve had on my instrument. And also through the perseverance it took not to give it up. Today, I can easily play some of the most difficult pieces of romantic music known in the world belonging to the piano.

  • How do you define success for yourself? – What challenges do you face in order to create success?

~I define my success through the main scope of not giving up when the going is tough. Success for me is less contingent on the perspectives of others. Doing my best and leaving the day better than i found it is a day well spent. My challenges range from not being able to sight read new music well, to managing a mental disorder called Bipolar 2 which can make me feel depressed and lethargic. Success for me is  two-fold doing what I know God put me here to do regardless of the harsh criticism I face, knowing I’ve given it my best effort. The other part of my success will be dictated by how well I can encourage and teach what I’ve come to know to others in a holistic and future tense.

  • What is career vision and a mission?

~The piano is the only instrument which requires an individual to use both hemispheres of the brain simultaneously. Thus, piano study is pivotal in the development and expansion of musical creation holistically and as it relates to music and the development in the mind. The effects of playing the piano even on occasion are far-reaching. My vision is to make the piano an integral devise for all people desiring to grow intellectually, spiritually and musically. My mission is to glorify God through the scope of performance and giving back to the community with music.

~Eventually I will undertake the underpinnings of starting a school of music. Currently, I know staff and musicians who have played at the Ritz in Jacksonville among whom Miles J Davis who owns a Jazz lounge downtown. Seeing that the money is available, I will rely on the relationships I’ve built with other musicians and supporters thereof. Another indispensable aspect is working odd jobs in retail or at the University to help fund my plans. The other half is faith in The Lord. God’s word helps me to deal with the uncertainty life brings because in Psalm 139:14 is reads that I am “Wonderfully and fearfully made.” And I know I can do all things because in Ephesians 3:16 reads, “that according to the riches of [GODS] glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” I use Gods word as a foundation because it has existed before us and will exist after I am dead, Matthew 24:35 reads, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

~Now, through working as a private teacher, acquiring a Bachelor’s degree in performance, and volunteering with the community, I am fostering relationships and gratitude which will serve as the foundation of future undertakings. I’ve learned never to base success off of merely my own perspective or understanding. I know that I need others along the way.

  • Can you innovate and create value and successfully communicate that value to intended audiences?

~I value making a positive impact on myself through music. Yes I can innovate and create value through triangulation on a wide variety of topics, given Gods words and through my own personal sufferings and failings. The question here should be, where are be choosing to place our faith?, if it’s in the nation’s economy or even own efforts we in essence choose to be our own God. Why should I have faith only in my own abilities when it is written in, Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen”

~I can communicate a multiverse of different times and cultures through music. Playing piano communicates the passion I have for the music as an individual and creates unity between modern day innovation and thematic atmospheres of times past. It’s just fun!

  • Do you have a positive attitude?

~Absolutely. Even on days when My mental illness presents me with crushing lows. I’ve acquired the amazing ability to smile even when I hurt. I’m able to see how far I’ve come. And I can always simply turn to the Bible and reaffirm it to myself as it is written in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Hope and positivity i believe is a decision, one with immediate rewards. I foster positivity with an attitude of gratitude even for small things, like clean water.

I never rely solely on my own human and finite perspective and understanding of the world around me because it is simply inefficient.

  • Have you set your goals? What is your road map to success? Can you set inspiring and realistic goals?

~I have set my goals primarily in fostering healthy relationships and acquiring a musical degree.

~My road map to success is through the study of God’s word and the honing of my God given musical gift.

~Essentially, I live in a world where anything is possible. Is was unrealistic to think I’d ever acquire a music scholarship on the bases of raw talent with no musical background, but that’s where God came in. I know there are 24 hrs. in a day. So whatever I can achieve in that period including sleep I’ve learned to be content therewith.

  • Do you have and/or acquire the necessary expertise to actualize your vision?

~I believe it takes a village for a vision to be realized and then actualized. I believe the community I’ve come to find in Jacksonville is a quintessential start of actualizing my own vision. My vision is co-dependent on those who have similar values and are willing to invest therein. So even though I do not have many decades of experience I remain opportunistic.

  • What are your priorities? Can you set priorities?

~My first priority is to take care of myself via the managing of my illness, so that I will be at peace enough to see the best in people and forgive those who doubt me.

~I love priorities because often they change from season to season. Setting priorities is as how I’ve gotten so far in my musical education.

~These Priorities help me to take the best immediate actions in order to form the right habits which propel me into success.

  • What opportunities are you looking for? What opportunities are you creating or intend to create?

~I’m looking for opportunities to give back the music I’ve come to know intellectually and spiritually with others.

~I intent to create opportunities for beginners and even learned individuals to see that there is more their gift has to offer society as a whole than meets the eye.

  • How comfortable are you with uncertainty? What risks are you willing to take?

~I’m comfortable with uncertainty in a respectable sense I would suppose as I understand that tomorrow is not guaranteed. Nor is good health or long life promised. I’m willing to stand up and preach God’s words to people I’m not close to and be vulnerable enough to perform music that is bigger than me.

~I have risked everything through the pursuit of music and higher learning. To the point of becoming a social pariah in my family. And escaping preset modern day and traditional statistics and pitfalls. Finding my own way is often uncertain but the pay offs for being different are far reaching and well worth the uncertainty.

  • When facing challenges, do you persevere or do you walk away?

~Very rarely, have I walked away from a challenge. I persevere because nothing is worse than being bored. I believe Challenges make life interesting.

  • What experience have you learned the most from?

~I learned the most from performing for highly skilled peers and professionals in this community. Mostly that I will find the right support and make the right friendships to be respectably sane. Lastly, that there is always room for everyone to grow.

~I’ve had the privilege of supporting my peers in their respective niches in the arts.

~I’ve learned that I am far more capable and competent than I had previously thought in previous years. I’ve learned NEVER to doubt myself.

  • What actions are you taking to realize your vision? Are you consistently taking action?

~I’m taking a class which asks me difficult questions. I’m consistently practicing even on days when I hate it passionately.

  • How well do you put things in context? Are you able to easily respond to changes in your environment? What’s your best example?

~I would say I’m very good at putting things into context. For example, when playing earlier forms of music I get to play time-traveler. If I’m playing Bach, I can research and envision what his actual music may have sounded like. This information allows me understand that long held out notes and contrasting tones are unnecessary and unrealistic to Bach’s original vision. Historically Bach didn’t have the powerful piano forte we are used to hearing today, so when playing his music, I can take that into consideration and understand that he relied more on musical elements such as meter and harmony more than loudness or variation of tone/color and held notes. This helps me in a dynamic way as it frees me from my own artist bias.

  • What is your plan to continually grow and evolve? How have you grown or evolved in there past year or three?

~My plans is to stay in school for as long as possible, even to the masters level if possible. In the past three years I’ve grown exponentially in technical ability and intellectualizing of different song forms for the Piano-forte.

  • How easy is it for you to reach out to others to ask for support and to offer help?

~Very easy especially in the area of the piano and it’s technique. For example my entire church community knows i teach piano part-time. Every so often I have people contacting me looking for help with other instruments. Even though piano is my primary i can certainly shed light on musical fundamentals like theory as well as pointing people to other people/sources where they can find out more about their topic.

  • How are you inspiring others to join and/or support your mission in order to create a financially sustainable enterprise that allows you to live your gift and contribute something valuable to society? – If you aren’t currently, how do you intend to?

~I inspire my community by volunteering my time at Shands hospital and nursing homes across Jacksonville. I also am a part of a church that supports me in every way including financially at some points. I intend on using my success to build others around me by never forgetting my humble background and staying true to the level of excellence fostered by favorite professors and peers.

Learning Journal I

What is your unique gift? – Do you believe in it enough to invest everything you have in it? 

  • My unique gift is tenacity and empathy. Yes, because in the end these are traits that are not limited to musical talent. 

What difference are you trying to make in the world? – How passionate are you about doing this? 

  • I’m trying to nurture the ears of musicians and their audiences. I’m devoting my life to it. 

How do you define success for yourself? – What challenges do you face in order to create success? 

  • When I die, I want to people to not only remember, study me and talk about my music. But to also remember me as someone who inspired them and pass on my teachings to the next generation of musicians. I deal with everyday challenge: Finances, housing, steady income and health. These are manageable, but sometimes hard to overcome.  

What is career vision and a mission? 

  • I envision my career to be dedicated to performance, production and education. My mission is to gain a comprehensive understand of music and life to take into the professional world where people can hire me for just about any music related job.  

Can you innovate and creates value and successfully communicate that value to intended audiences? 

  • I believe I can. 

Do you have a positive attitude? 

  • Yes, unless I am strongly against something. 

Have you set your goals? What is your road map to success? Can you set inspiring and realistic goals? 

  • Yes, short term goals. My road map to success is to implement what I learn from my instructors and pave my own way. Yes, I can set inspiring and realistic goals.  

Do you have and/or acquire the necessary expertise to actualize your vision? 

  • These are in development! 

What are your priorities? Can you set priorities? 

  • My priorities are to succeed academically, leave a long-lasting impression on my mentors and to graduate and go to grad school. Yes, I can set priorities.  

What opportunities are you looking for? What opportunities are you creating or intend to create? 

  • I’m looking to travel with groups, collaborate on people’s projects, inspire people and musicians. I think taking everything that I’m learning in school and apply it to my professional goals will create the opportunities I’m looking for.  

How comfortable are you with uncertainty? What risks are you willing to take? 

  • I am comfortable with it. I’m good at finding the diamond in the rough. The risks I’m willing to take directly apply to whatever is presented to me at that moment and time.  

When facing challenges, do you persevere, or do you walk away? 

  • I persevere.  

What experience have you learned the most from? 

  • Being baker acted in 2017.  

What actions are you taking to realize your vision? Are you consistently taking action? 

  • Achieve equal wellness in areas of, emotional/mental, financial, social, occupational, physical, intellectual and environmental health. Yes, day to day.  

How well do you put things in context? Are you able to easily respond to changes in your environment? What’s your best example? 

  • I believe there are somethings I understand and others I don’t. I am adaptable. My best example was becoming a music major when people told me I wouldn’t make it.  

What is your plan to continually grow and evolve? How have you grown or evolved in their past year or three? 

  • My plan to continually grow is to build upon what I learn and apply it to further reach and preserve my goals. In the last 3 years I went from being depressed and confused about my life and future to being on track and having the right elements and mindset to succeed.  

How easy is it for you to reach out to others to ask for support and to offer help? 

  • Yes. I wasn’t always that way.  

How are you inspiring others to join and/or support your mission in order to create a financially sustainable enterprise that allows you to live your gift and contribute something valuable to society? – If you aren’t currently, how do you intend to? 

  • I attribute a lot of my success from the lessons I learned as a wrestler. In wrestling, success is 10% winning matches and 90% how you prepare. I must constantly remind myself of how I used to be and apply it to who I am now. I want to try and help people understand what hard work really it is how pays off in the end. 

Drew Mowatt Art Gallery 1

Art opening at the Alexander Brest Gallery

          I went into this assignment with the intense desire to start drinking wine as soon as physically possible as it was another long day practicing on my instrument. Grant Oliver and I had got to the classroom building located at Nelms at approximately 4:30pm. Not to our surprise none of our peers nor the professor were present. So we walked off, whimsically chatting about our families and recital plans. Once I entered the Fine Art’s building I located a friend worker of mine named Lady ‘D’. We worked together on the JU catering staff. I observed the setup with which I was well acquainted. Tables dressed in JU’s finest apparel are what immediately became the forefront of my attention. Wedges of cheese, sliced meats and random dessert items were all stereo-typically displayed underneath risers that found place underneath colored clothes of yellow, green and white. Lady D informed me that she couldn’t serve me just yet, but agreed to leave me some wine underneath the counter for later. Immediately my spirits became ignited as I found her response to me asking her what she thought about the art hilarious. She simply replied, “I don’t know looks fine. I just hope these mutha-fuckas leave a good tip today!” I laughed smugly not wanting to disclose how much of a reaction she actually got out of me and promptly left her a tip.

            Outside of the dance practice room I spotted a cute young woman. We made eye contact, so I went to sit next to her. She said her name was Shanti. Shanti was a thin but comely looking person with big brown eyes and chocolate dark skin. In her eyes I sensed the spark and zeal of an artist in training. As she gazed into the vacant gallery I couldn’t help but ask her a few questions. After a few flirtatious compliments and ice breakers between us I remembered the assignment. So I began asking her about why she was there. Shanti, began to explain that she was an arts major specializing in animation and design. She was at the gallery to draw from the sculptures on display. I asked her what she drew the most inspiration from. She told me all about how music, community, and competition inspired her the most. We discussed our values to which I expressed my difficulties finding a place among so many other artists. She then said, “I have been drawing from a young age. Somehow I knew it was what I was supposed to do. I guess I get to be who I am in my own right through creativity.” We then talked lavishly about being the best person we thought we could be through the pursuit of higher learning and art. We talked about our family heritage and pushing through depressing seasons as artists. Shanti shared that the most amazing aspect of the visual arts is the component of individual interpretation. She found the most rewarding aspect was that art could be what you made it. I agreed. The conclusion of our discussion was that art was good for the sake of art. Art could be both subversive and immersive.

            The actual event began. I spotted my professor and most of my peers as they seemed to saunter out of the woodwork. I then almost ran into a rather heavy set man, with a few star struck looking young ladies following quickly behind him. He greeted me with a smile and walked past me as if I was a number. The young ladies lagging behind then told me his name was Jim Benedict the head art director and spokesman for the show. And I thought, “Interesting…”. Since it wasn’t particularly crowded I made sure to make eye contact with Mr. Benedict as I would see him go to and fro somewhat with purpose somewhat without. Unexpectedly he shook my hand and asked me my name and I casually told him a bit about myself in a short somewhat disengaged way. He then walked off in pursuit of his next objective. Later on the show was in full bloom with peers and professors scattered about the gallery. The first artist I spoke with was a man named Dylan Collins. As I peered at his strangely phallic and eccentric sculptor I couldn’t help but bombard him with questions before my other classmates had enough sense to realize he was the sculptor. He then explained that the project took him years and that he had taken no break in order to finish the work in time for the event. He told me that his technique infused the classical fundamentals of sculpture with ‘bio-morphism’, and multi colored art and science graphic mapping systems. Mr Collins, “I am a self-taught blacksmith so I have an array of different materials I’ve issued including: steel, rubber and aluminum. The objective was to use hybrid human and animal anatomical ideas and infuse them with sculpture to create real world and fantastic mixes.” His intention was to display ambiguous anatomical models which maintained a skewed form to portray the humor and ambiguity of his own imagination. I thought his creation were rather distinguished, strangely sexual, and brilliant.

            Next I went deeper inside the exhibit and found another one of Mr Collins’ works titles “Hey Diddle, Diddle”. This was a drawing and if I had to describe the piece I would say that it represented many differing paths to definitive epiphany moments. These moments are highlighted and given life by discernible visual representations of animals and human innovations. A closed system of abstractness and individual randomness. The way he gave this work a voice and a character I found absolutely puzzling and brilliant.

            Next I approached a grizzly looking short man with tattoos all over his arms further into the exhibit. This man was already being harassed by some of my coolest peers. Immediately I thought, “This has to be the other artist here.” I was right. He gave me a hearty handshake. By this time I was feeling charismatic on my 3rd glass of wine. Jason Lee, another sculptor began excitedly explaining his artistic process. I realized his works were vastly different from Mr Collins’ masterpieces. Unlike Mr Collins, Mr Lees’ works had a more definitive theme. Out of all the works his sculptures seemed to provoke the most wonder. It all came together as the man began to elaborate on what inspiration he had drawn from to form his masterpiece. His sculpture seemed to display vivid memories with solid bright neon colors, given structure by everyday things like houses and neighborhoods. He then explained, “I loved the punk rock skateboard culture of the 80’s. It’s how I grew up. These pieces aren’t to convey any specific meaning or narrative as much as they are just a visual representation of my compounded experiences. I embrace being a sculptor, and not being limited by material, that’s why I’ve used so many different materials from woods, metals, to ceramics to clay. I’ve used personal experience to give the work a unified identity.” Grateful for his lengthy response to my questions I walked away feeling like I had more than satisfied my assignment as a networking student.

            Through this experience I acquired an expanded understanding of what a sculpture can encapsulate. And a new found respect for those who spend countless hours like me honing a craft they don’t fully understand. The experience definitely reinforced my love for the creative arts and refreshed my overall appreciation for sculpture.

Marissa – Learning Journal Assignment I

What is your unique gift? – Do you believe in it enough to invest everything you have in it?

In terms of the business end of the things, I believe my unique gift is a combination of my curiosity/endless pursuit of knowledge and my lack of willingness to become complacent. I very much so believe in it enough to invest everything I have in it.

What difference are you trying to make in the world? – How passionate are you about doing this?

Honestly, the difference I’m trying to make in this world isn’t directly connected to my professional goals. I don’t believe I can make one big impact on the entire world, but I believe that I can create a domino effect by doing what I can to make the people I do have the honor of interacting with feel loved and know kindness. I think the connection this can have to my professional goals is by pursuing companies that are mindful of their impact on the world around them.

I’m rather passionate about all of this to the extent that I think about my actions towards others on a daily basis, but I’m not so passionate about it that I’m pursuing a career with the Peace Corps.

How do you define success for yourself? – What challenges do you face in order to create success?

Because I can’t stand stagnancy, I define success as growth in numbers and/or positive feedback to innovative or new initiatives.

One of the bigger challenges that may be faced in order to create my definition of success is that people are uncontrolled variables, it’s impossible to always satisfy people and get that positive feedback. In times like those just mentioned, I think it’s most important to reflect on the experience, take note of the lessons learned and grow from that. My personal success can’t be found if I don’t keep moving forward.

What is career vision and a mission?

Career vision is an individual’s statement of the major accomplishments they hope to attain or the lasting impacts they hope to make within their career. The mission, I believe, is the practical terms as to how the individual intends to attain their vision and why. The mission is more action oriented.

Can you innovate and create value and successfully communicate that value to intended audiences?

I do believe I can innovate, create value and successfully communicate it to the intended audiences. Of course it may be impossible to achieve 100% of the time, but I know with my mindset I’ll be making the best effort to.

I will be able to do this by being conscientious and educated in the innovations being made. The innovations would have purpose and meet needs of audiences; whether it be known or unknown needs they had.

Do you have a positive attitude?

I do have a generally positive attitude when it comes to being around people. I try my best to keep any negativity I might have to myself, as I don’t believe in rubbing off bad energy on other people.

Have you set your goals? What is your road map to success? Can you set inspiring and realistic goals?

I don’t have a large list of long term goals, but I do have a small list of goals for the next 5 years. I think long term goals are finicky, as future circumstances are so unpredictable. Having my first goal accomplished makes the remaining goals on my list feel more attainable. I have a job with a reputable company filled with accomplished professionals, my roadmap from here is to learn as much as I can from the people I’ll have the pleasure of working with as well as to say yes to assignments. I want to 1) gain as much knowledge as I can and 2) build a strong resume of accomplishments so that I may be a desirable team mate.

Do you have and/or acquire the necessary expertise to actualize your vision?

I believe I’ll be continuously acquiring the expertise needed to actualize my vision.

What are your priorities? Can you set priorities?

My current priorities include finishing my final semester of college/graduating, preparing for my job by gaining as much pertinent knowledge as I can, finding an apartment for post-graduation that meets my needs,

What opportunities are you looking for? What opportunities are you creating or intend to create?

This is a little broad. I am very interested in a combination of sales, marketing and data analysis opportunities. Another response, would be that I’m very interested in opportunities to travel to new places.  On a career level, I can’t think of opportunities I intend to create. In regards to traveling, I’ve created opportunities to travel through the my relationships with people.

How comfortable are you with uncertainty? What risks are you willing to take?

Every now and then I do find myself worried about the future, but I’ve learned to embrace uncertainty because certainty can be very limiting. For the most part I believe I take calculated risks, but I’m willing to take financial risks and move to new cities for career opportunities.

When facing challenges, do you persevere or do you walk away?

If I face a challenge, I will persevere and try to find solutions because adversity can bring growth or wisdom. If the situation is toxic/unhealthy/degrading then I believe it is appropriate to walk away.

What experience have you learned the most from?

The year of 2018 was filled with the most educational experiences for me. Overall, I believe my experience as the president of an organization that governs 160+ women taught me the most. To name a few things it taught me my style of leadership, how to be diplomatic, how to manage many tasks and delegate work, how to manage a group of people, and how to sustain and positive organizational culture.

What actions are you taking to realize your vision? Are you consistently taking action?

The actions that I’ve taken and continue to take to realize my vision is staying outside of my comfort zone in terms of leadership/professional roles to see where I excel and what interests me. I’ve been consistently taking actions like this since my freshman year of highschool and have learned so much about my aspirations because of it.

How well do you put things in context? Are you able to easily respond to changes in your environment? What’s your best example?

On a scale of 1-10 (1 being bad, 10 being great), I’d rate myself an 8 at putting things in context and responding to changes in my environment. This was another skill that my experience as president of an organization allowed me to hone.

An example of my ability to respond to changes in my environment was during a recruitment event ran by my organization. With recruitment there are 160+ existing members that need to be managed on the recruiter side and then 100+ potential new members that need to be managed on the recruitee side. Recruitment is also a very scheduled, meticulous and organized event so combining that with the large number of people being managed, it’s not hard to imagine that unpredictable changes may come about. During the first round of events, there was a miscommunication and a girl was placed in the wrong group – which created an issue with group rotations which can also be detrimental to the sororities recruiting. With this happening, it was extremely stressful as it meant for myself and my Vice President of Recruitment to crunch numbers and rearrange schedules as soon as possible. We were able to stay focused on the best way to adapt the schedule and it was smooth flowing again.

What is your plan to continually grow and evolve? How have you grown or evolved in there past year or three?

Very similar to my response on realizing my vision, my plan to continually grow and evolve is by stepping out of my comfort zone and challenging myself by being in unusual situations for myself. Three years ago I was afraid to speak up, didn’t believe in myself, didn’t have the experience or knowledge to feel confident in having a voice in organizations. In the past three years I’ve evolved tremendously from taking on such diverse leadership experiences that have revealed to me skills and traits I never imagined having. I went from being someone afraid to give an opinion in their organization to being president of an organization and helping the people I lead find their voice.

How easy is it for you to reach out to others to ask for support and to offer help?

I used to be very reluctant to ask for support, not out of pride but out of fear of being a burden. Again, my role as president allowed me to find comfort in asking for support and learn the value of teamwork. I’m very big on offering help to people, a little too much actually.

How are you inspiring others to join and/or support your mission in order to create a financially sustainable enterprise that allows you to live your gift and contribute something valuable to society? – If you aren’t currently, how do you intend to?

I believe I have a large group of supporters and I believe that’s because I’m sincere, humble, transparent, knowledgeable and mutually supportive. I think something about being authentic in my relationships with people, makes it easy for them to want to support me and join me in my aspirations.

Marissa – Networking Assignment I

For the art opening on January 10th, I didn’t do very much to prepare in advance for networking. There was really only one thing that I was mindful of when getting ready, which was to make sure I had a purse or pockets to hold my belongings so that I had free hands to shake.

My goal for the event was to talk to at least five people I didn’t know, which turned out to be way easier to achieve and less intimidating than I thought it’d be. It didn’t take too long for me to lose track of the number of people I had conversations with. The reason I believe I had so much opportunity to meet so many different people was because of my tendency to linger at pieces, not purposely but just because I was very curious. The most interesting things I’d learn from people was their interpretation of the pieces in the gallery. More specifically, there was this visual art student whose theory on the theme of the gallery really enhanced my experience. After speaking with her, I was able to take more of a lead in my conversations with people since most of us were pretty confused.

I think there are two big things I can do to improve the next time we do this activity: research the opening and introduce myself more. These are both things that I find essential and silly that I didn’t do the first time around. If I research the event more, for instance what is being featured and who is attending (if applicable), then I’ll have be able to have stronger and more educated conversations. The whole point of networking is to make connections, which is hard to fully accomplish without a name to the face. If I did make a lasting impression on someone I’ll just be “that girl at the art opening” if I don’t introduce myself, so I definitely need to be more mindful of that.

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