The above picture was taken by rahul Kheraj.

Medium of the Art

This is a photo of myself with a painting done by Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama. The painting was created using acrylic paint on a canvas. I was drawn to this painting because in person the painting has a unique texture; the paint is raised off of the canvas to create a three dimensional image, which was something I did not know you could do with paint. In order to create such an effect there must be layers upon layers of paint, which I imagine must have taken a very long time to dry. In the end this piece was chosen because I was drawn to the pattern of the piece and the texture.

Design of the Museum

This is the entrance to the "Mirror, Mirror... Portraits of Frida Kahlo" exhibit. This exhibit was several walls dedicated to portraits of Frida. The walls formed an "L" shape and when you entered the exhibit you were able to go in either direction. Once you chose a direction it guided you to follow the shape until you had viewed all of the portraits of Kahlo. Another reason that this exhibit was my favorite in the museum was because it had a video biography playing for guests to watch. This was one of the few interactive elements of the museum and was very appealing to me.

Arts and Core Values

These four photos immediately drew my attention because all four are by separate artists with different backgrounds, but all of the pictures have a similar theme. They all feature a woman or women, and this is appealing to me because being a woman is such an important part of my life. When I viewed these photos, I immediately asked Rahul to take my picture because I knew I loved these pieces. I was attracted to the women because they seemed strong and independent; all of my life I have wanted to be someone who is independent and self-sufficient. Looking at these pictures I felt encouraged to be the person that I have always wanted to be, and I feel they are a testament to the fact that women will endure in the face of adversary.

Art and The Good Life

This photo is taken with traditional masks used in celebrations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This relates to living the good life because it is important that we recognize the differences of other cultures. The Harn museum is preserving the diverse cultures of Africa by including different artworks from various regions. The entire "Elusive Spirits: African Masquerades" exhibit made me extremely happy because often times Africa is lumped in as a singular culture, but I was pleased to see that the Harn showcases several different African cultures. By celebrating the differences and creating an area dedicated to them, the Harn helps me to reach the good life by making it easier to appreciate cultures other than my own.