PENTATHLON

Semester 2

As an experiential component of College Park Arts Scholars, I attended a selection of five art events during my first semester. These events ranged in art mediums and each sparked dialogue among my peers.

PENTATHLON 1: ENCANTO

Event Logistics 2.5.22, Movie Streaming (Disney+)

Pentathlon category #film

Today, I watched Encanto, a Colombian based cultural story that tells the tale of a broken family and how it mends itself together. This happens as a result of a girl - Mirabel - lacking magical powers unlike the rest of her family and who recognizes the burden of different types of generational trauma among her siblings and cousins.

This movie reminded me that simple movies with small stakes (just a family and a house) can be just as powerful - or even more powerful - as "grander" movies.

When I saw this movie, I believed it to be Disney's best in years. I was shocked at the animation/artistic value, especially during Surface Pressure. The transitions and lively scenes depicting what it's like to be crushed under the weight of familial pressure was just one of the film's greatest strengths.

This movie tremendously changed my view of the arts in terms of me letting go of perfectionism, or at least setting that goal in mind moving forward. A particular character - Isabella - has the power to grow flowers, but since she was so focused on being perfect, she restricted herself to growing one type of flower - roses. She was attempting to please everyone around her and act as the golden child - in her perspective, she didn't have room to explore just in case she makes a mistake. However, Mirabel helps her realize her true power and branches out - one is truly limitless if not chained by the expectations of perfections. Therefore, I learned that it is more important to make art itself than make art perfect. It reminded me that steadily making progress with each piece is more important than making each individual piece "perfect". This message is especially relevant to me as an Immersive Media Design major - if I am going to make art that influences people, then I must branch out and constantly ask myself questions about the nature of art (since this is a growing field). My art will simply become stagnant if I'm not willing to take risks even at the expense of making art people won't enjoy.

PENTATHLON 2: ALINA COLLINS MALDANO ~ NO SALGAS CON EL PELO MOJADO (2 FOR 1)

Event Logistics 12.10.22 - CCC 1100, Art Scholars

Pentathlon category #Presentation, #ArtScholars

On February 10th, 2022, I went to the Concert in the Quad to see a presentation regarding Latino generational trauma. Though I am not of Latin descent, this presentation still impacted me in meaningful ways. Even though I knew she had acting experience, I was still blown away at how she brought to the surface the personalities of the women she interviewed.
Upon viewing this presentation, I learned how generational trauma can be revealed through expressing oneself through the arts, or by empathizing through a collective cultural experience. I learned that art can be influenced by enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, especially upon viewing Collin's interpretations of her interviewee's responses. She approached every family with such empathy and non-judgement that my questions were answered on how each participant was willing to answer and reveal their deepest trauamas. After the event, I came to the conclusion that the art within this presentation wouldn't have been meaningful if Collins was distant/disconnected from the topic or her interviewees. Her presentation reinforced the crucial role that empathy has in art, or at least the willingness to understand the topic of the art you are creating. This is not only important in deepening artistic messages, but it also lets an audience of all races and backgrounds empathize or learn something applicable from a presentation being centered on the Latin experience.
Questions I pondered after the event included how different cultures process generational trauma differently - I wonder how people of Indian backgrounds would've responded different to Collin's same questions.

PENTATHLON 3: STORYBOARDING

Event Logistics: 3.7.22, Art Scholars, Home, Storyboarding

Pentathlon category #Visual Art

For my latest art project, I decided to make a storyboard and turn it into a one page comic. This was my first time trying out storyboarding, but the idea of storyboarding, making scenes, and creating characters is enticing enough for me to see it as a first option career. The process of this project was a bit of a rollercoaster for me - even though I aspire to be an artist, I have a bad habit of almost never finishing the projects I start, so I predicted from the very beginning I was going to scrap this piece.
However, surprisingly, this was not the case. When I was half-way done with this project, I lost motivation to keep drawing as I hit a hurdle - a hurdle where I couldn't figure out how to finish the panel, in terms of setting, placement of the character, lighting, and dialogue (if I decide to put it). Usually when I hit a hurdle like this, I feel like quitting way too early, even though it's a problem I can fix. My biggest mistake in this mindset is thinking there must be one right answer to my hurdle, when there are many. I also don't even need to hit the right answer - I can be wrong and allow feedback from others. The realization of this paired with accountability partners boosted my motivation to finish. I had established a few contacts whom I promised I would have a storyboarding piece in a set amount of time, so I didn't want to let them down either. I learned that if I make it a habit to finish every single project I start, no matter how big or small, there is an opportunity to learn with each drawing I do, no matter how good or bad the result. In this particular project, I am proud of the lighting and how the watercolor backgrounds blend into purple as they move down the piece - I will definitely continue to use this ombre effect in my future storyboards.

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PENTATHLON 4: FLOWER PAINTING

Event Logistics 4.2.22, Art Scholars, Belair Lounge, flower painting

Pentathlon category #visual art

For my next pentathlon event, I decided to paint with my peer mentor group with Reshma. I thought this event to be the perfect release since I had a midterm earlier that morning. Going into this event, I didn't have a plan in mind on what to paint. However, I soon decided to paint some flowers to go with my room aesthetic. I usually am not inclined to paint as I consider myself clumsy (my hands are quite shaky) but I overcame these fears and ended up being satisfied with my end result. Painting with other people, as I've discovered, takes the weight off with the need to be perfect - after all, the whole point of the event was to destress. Through this event, I've also connected with my mentees, but it was mostly us calmly painting to disco music.
Though I am not particularly fond of painting, this event reminded me that painting with others can serve as an outlet for stress or frustration. After this event concluded, I made the decision that I wanted to add more paintings to my dorm to liven up the space, because I am a firm believer that my living space should be a sanctuary that I feel most comforted in. Even though I go home on the weekends, I experience bouts of homesickness, and to resolve this, I think I need my dorm to remind me of the things I love, such as art. I already put the flower painting on the wall, and my dorm feels like a much nicer space to be in even after I small addition. I also learned that it s important that once in a while I see art as a creative outlet instead of work, even though I am planning on making it my career.

PENTATHLON 5:

2 for 1 - Alina Collins Maldano