I still cannot believe that it has been three-years since I was last on the floor. I miss it every single day. What I would give for a stretch block or maybe a 5 and 5...maybe. But despite the pain from 14-hour rehearsals, the huge expenses and costs, the long drives to Connecticut, the drama and politics, the non-free weekends, and complaining, marching has made such a huge, positive impact on my life. It helped me understand time-management, responsibility, team work, friendship, trust, and pure happiness (and not to mention how to put fake eyelashes on!) Dedicating 12-years to this activity gave me reasons to look forward to something, to work hard, strive for perfection and excellence, be willing to put blood, sweat, tears, and broken ribs, toes, and fingers on the line for my team, and helped me escape from the realities of life. Today, we celebrate this activity and all that it has done for many other performers like me. Without it, I do not think I'd be who I am today or where I am today.
Alter Ego . Field of View . PhiOmegaVega . Delazure . University of Delaware . Visual Arts Production Company . Newark
For the final project for our Expressions in Nature & Art summer program, we have assigned each student to provide a portfolio of their best work and a written interpretation of their own 'artist's fingerprint.' Here is my portfolio. Enjoy.
Ever
since I was a young child, I have found three passions that I have comfortably
connected with that served as an escape from the realities of the real world –
dance, art, and nature. I draw and dance to capture moments of time I want to
remember, to give myself brain breaks, to find ways to meet new people, and to
release emotion – without them in my life, I would feel bottled up. I consider
myself as a visual artist that can capture moments and things that I see, but
also can feel an emotion and mold it into my own movement and
interpretation.Throughout my life, I
have been able to incorporate these passions into my every day life.
Since
the age of five years old, I have found that being able to express yourself
with your body and music is such a healthy activity not just for your body, but
your soul. Being able to perform on a floor, allow the music to carry you away
into oblivion, and to intertwine a creative collaboration with movement and
tossing of flags and sabres was a way for me to connect to my community. Having
the honor to dance with a group of twenty or more other talented performers
helped me share my love for dance and guard not only with myself, but also with
others who shared the same passion. Performing in front of thousands of people gave
you a rewarding rush, but also gave you the opportunity to connect with your
audience as you performed to them – that was the most rewarding experience any
performer could have.As I performed on
the floor, being able to share a moment in a show with one audience member,
even if it was just a second of locking eyes, was a moment of connectedness and
joy that is truly priceless gift you can give as a dancer.
2011 Alter Ego - Lux AEterna
My second piece reflects my understanding of detail
in the natural world. I sketch and draw to understand concepts, details, and
qualitative characteristics in my surroundings. Considering myself as a field
naturalist and inspired by other naturalists such as the Muries, E.O. Wilson,
John Muir Laws, and David Allen Sibley, I have been able to understand the
place and community by the observations I see and capture of the natural
history that reside there. When I needed some quiet time or a place to hear
myself think, I would resort to the window of my cabin. There, I was able to
sit, relax, and view what ever visited my window. In this piece, these were
birds I had observed outside my cabin window throughout the winter and spring
here on the Kelly Campus. Being able to sit and draw a bird – from the type of
beak, feather color patterns to tail shape helps me understand the types of
birds that are able to thrive in a particular community and how they adapt to a
place. Recording every detail observed through cross-hatching, stippling, and
shading, it helps me get a thorough idea of the local flora and fauna through
texture, depth, and proportion, as well as how the animals differed from other
parts of the country and world.
Kelly Campus Wyoming Birds Outside My Cabin Window
The last piece I am sharing is my Advanced Elements
of Field Ecology Course Design Field Notebook. I believe that not all art is a
framed picture or photograph, a song or a poem. It can be anything, as long as
the artist is proud of the time, dedication, and work they put into creating
it. My field notebook is one of my top pieces of artwork I have created while
out here. Not only are my field sketches from field days enclosed amongst the
pages, but notes, thoughts, and ideas area captured. This is a synthesis of my
learning as a field naturalist here in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem – I
have made connections of the communities that thrive here and the natural flora
and fauna that can live here.
From this morning's self-reflection on identity, I wrote, "Who Am I: I am an artistic, nature-loving, dancer who is not ashamed of wearing patterned pants all the time. I consider myself an educator of the indoor and outdoor classroom that inspires young minds to enjoy the natural world. I can quote the entire Frozen musical soundtrack and movie and does not mind eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches while hiking to the top of a mountain. That is Who I Am." But I also could not help but reminisce of Alter Ego 2012's Show, 'Who Am I' as well! #throwback
