Using A Scanner, Using a Key, Finding A Teacher, Getting Into A Locked Building... not in that order

This post is dedicated to other poor souls, trapped in the 21st century. Souls who, like me, have no idea what a gigabyte is or if that is in fact, how you spell gigabyte. I know from personal experience that surviving in the urban jungle that is our society is very much like fighting your way through a real jungle. There are plenty of things in your way that you cannot identify, and more importantly, you do not know how to use or get around. This horrendous problem started when I was four years old. With little knowledge of the uses of a "power button" I was never able to use my Elmo & Friends Play and Learn Funtime Piano. I used to cry to whomever I was with that the keys were not making any noise. As expected my peers were of little or no help, simply snatching the toy for themselves or giggling and drooling on me.

So I have chosen to take my education by the horns. In order to do that, I must have a full understanding of the baffling gizmos that surround me. So this specific post will focus on how to use a scanner. A machine that comes in handy for most computer related art projects. (Especially those involving graphic design or fine art that must be translated onto a computer.)

Step I
Open Adobe PhotoShop, or a similar program on your computer and make sure that the scanner is plugged into the USB port in the back of your computer tower.
Step II
Go to the top menu bar on the top of your program and click File--Import. Then click on the company name of your scanner which should appear as one of the options under "Import".
Step III
Place image you would like to be scanned on the bed and close the top cover.
Step IV
A box will appear on your screen after you click on the scanner under "Import". Click "Preview" and adjust the dotted line to fit the image you would like to import into PhotoShop.
Step V
Once you have adjusted the settings and chosen the size of the image click scan. Then save the image into your documents. You are done!

For more information on how to use a scanner visit:
http://www.aarp.org/learntech/computers/howto/Articles/a2002-07-16-scan.html

Post-Interview Cool Down

Since finishing the interview with Ms. Liz Sisco, I have learned very much. It is interesting how much you don't know about the people around you. Sisco, a neighbor and family friend was nothing more than a friendly face and carpool mom for the past 5 years. Once I was given the opportunity to learn about her work and personal interest in art it was clear that there was and is much more to her. It makes one wonder what else is out there. Walking home from our Starbucks meeting I surveyed my street. A jogger, some kids on skateboards, what are their stories? I kept my eyes wide, taking in everything I could, all the while attempting to appear as little like I was staring as possible.

I thought the chance to interview someone from the local community was a great experience. I know it definitely opened my eyes to the people around me and the diversity of each person’s story. I don’t think I would have had an opportunity like this at a public school. I think getting out into the real world and familiarizing ourselves with adults and the bigger picture is kind of what our school is about. I am glad I got to be part of this, especially because it was so much fun.

Instructions on How To Speak With an Artist

Well I have finally completed my task of finding an adequate interview-ee for my upcoming interview. Alright, I need to rephrase that. The difficulty of the task assigned was not found in finding an adequate interview-ee, but instead in the deciding between numerous amounts of more than adequate prospects. With the booming, yet sometimes disconnected art community in San Diego county, there were many different possible interview-ees to consider and research. After I looked into a few possible artists, weighed my options, and my time constraint, I made my decision.

I decided to interview Liz Sisco, a former UCSD graphic design and photographic arts professor from San Diego. She is a family friend who I know to be a very talented artist in her work. I thought that as Liz teaches art on a regular bases would be more than qualified to teach me about it. I have drafted my interview questions. They are rather diverse, ranging from her opinions of art and culture, to her personal art teaching philosophy and system. I can't wait for my interview, I know it will be very informative and interesting.

For more information on my interview, keep reading my art blog!

A Tribute to the Commenter, Indonesian Art History

While the progress of finding the perfect interview-ee continues at its sluggish pace I have decided to use my new found Blog Voice as a pathway to knowledge. After discovering that I could receive comments on my posts, it was finally obvious to me how much freedom I have. I can write about virtually anything. I could publish post after post on fun facts of Playdough, or I could write about the wonders of the stop sign, or the elusive Boogyman. While each of these are staggeringly brilliant ideas, I think that I will leave that stroke of brilliance for another blogger. (Perhaps one who is not getting graded each week on the content of their blog.) So instead I have decided to dedicate this post to a very sweet fellow blogger who left me my very first comment a few days ago. In the comment she mentioned that she was Indonesian. Since I would like to do my best to stay consistent with my "Art Blog" theme, I have decided that the next order of business is to enlighten the public on the history of Indonesian art. Allow me to introduce you to the very first Tribute to the Commenter.

While its is widely known that Indonesia was under Dutch rule for many many years, it is not as generally understood that the Dutch influence was what originally sparked the art movement in Indonesia. After many years of fighting, the Indonesian people finally gained their independence and freedom and declared themselves a sovereign nation on August 17, 1945. Although the fight for independence had been won, Indonesia was still exceptionally behind the other nations of the world in terms of technological, political, and cultural advancements. The Indonesians immediately knew what they had to do. The art movement charged forward, each artist determined, if not destined to catch up with industrialized, developed countries.

Revolutionary artists such as Wakidi, Abdullah Surio Subroto, Mas Pirngadi, Basuki Abdullah, Omar Basalamah, Wahdi and others spearheaded the art movement, following in the footsteps of their western counterparts. In the beginning of the art movement, much of the Indonesian art closely resembled Western artwork, for it was their only model of what art should be. Harsh critiques were made by the art societies and classes of Indonesia. They criticized the artists for so closely copying the work of their former depressors. (The Dutch government were no longer demonized in the eyes of the Indonesians, instead it was the Westerners who "imposed" their own traditions upon Indonesian culture.)

By the 1980s, Indonesian experienced its second art boom in 50 years. All over the industrial cities and heavily populated areas of Indonesia, art was making a comeback. There was a great increase in the number of artists, diversity of creations, increase in activities, increase in art collectors, increase in galleries and other 'art houses' such as museums or memorials. The Indonesian art world was making a name for itself. A name that has continued to grow in quantity and quality over the years. Indonesian artwork may have started out with little product to show, but today Indonesian art and culture is highly valued and treasured around the world.

For more information on the History of Indonesian art go to: http://users.skynet.be/network.indonesia/ni3001a32.htm

Too Many Options, The Downside to Finding the Perfect Interview-ee

While preparing for this specific blog post I started wondering whether my audience had ever encountered an obstacle like the one I face now. One would never assume that it would be difficult to interview a working artist. Well, that isn't the difficult part. When assigned the task of interviewing a working artist from San Diego, I was elated. With a passion for art and stories, I couldn't wait to start my research.

As you may have gathered from the title of this post, this was, and still is not as easy as I had imagined. With so many working artists in San Diego, each with their own style and forte, how am I supposed to know which one to interview. When confronted with this type of problem, one usually does some more digging. Well I have done my share of digging and I have to tell you, I am even more lost than before. I wish I could test them out, see if they really worked with me and what I was looking for. (Much like one would try on a pair of pants.) But you can not try on an interview-ee. It's almost as impossible as typing while trying to get ready for school... speaking of which, I should probably go before I get mascara on my keyboard.