My 5th visit with the St. Francis house

On my final day to visit the people of st. Francis house I showed up around 12:45 pm on a Tuesday and made my self available for conversations with anyone willing to participate with me for my art project. I noticed that there was as many people that there usually is when I visit. After I noticed that I just went up to the people that I saw and had some great conversations but even though I had the great conversation with the great people I still could not get them to take a picture for me even though I told, the reasoning behind that. One conversation that opened my eyes was with this man who politely turned my request down but he told me I should talk to this man I normally see just sleeping at on of the benches infront of the cafeteria. I asked the man why I should and he said because this is the place he sleeps in between his three jobs he has just to support him self. After hearing this I was blessed to have the life that I have now. Since I could not find a subject for that day I showed up on Friday around 12 o'clock and was fortunate to talk to some more awesome people and got a individual to be in my project. The first person who volunteered was a 19 year old named Brandon who is a hardworking kid that is in a unfortunate situation. He told me he is determined to get out of this mess and go to school. He also told me that he enjoys playing the guitar and owns a 1989 fender guitar, and also enjoys listening to country music. I also met a man who has issues with memory, he never told me his name but said he would love to be in my art project because he loves art. He also has a strong passion for God and the Christian life style, and wants to spend the rest of his life spreading the word of Jesus. I'm conflicted on if I should use him because I feel he might have forgotten who I was and why I took his picture. I would love to continue this project because I felt like even though I didn't get everyone's picture I created a bond with the people there and felt like my project embodied what the St. Francis house is.

My fourth visit with the St. Francis house

On my fourth visit with the St. Francis house I showed up around 1:30pm to conduct my art project. Hopefully today by talking to a few people I can find various individuals to be in my art project. The first group of people that I talked to were talking about a church choir and how great they sounded collectively, after they were done talking about that I then asked if anyone would be willing to have their photo taken for my art project. Most people respectively declined. After that I then proceeded to talk to a man who was willing to participate in my project but he was not willing to tell me his name, we only talked for a brief moment but we really just talked about books and why reading is so important. He said that reading is not only a great way to get some knowledge but it is also a good way to have an adventure without going anywhere physically. After he left I went walking around the area if I could find any more people that would be interested. I then met another man who I talked to for about 45 minutes and he has had a very interesting life where he told me that he lived in Hawaii and studied at the University of Hawaii and graduated with every environmental major and had a biology minor. He studied the geological formations in Hawaii, like the time he studied next to one of the volcanoes for months on end. He also studied the different birds and fish, he told me about the time he was published in a magazine for discovering 5 new species of small Hawaiian fish and they didn't use his real name but gave him the name diver #2. He also has a back ground in construction and being a electrician. All in all this man was cultured and had a great amount of knowledge, when I asked if I could photograph him he said yeah sure but get me while I'm walking away and that really shocked me. After spending this day I noticed people love to talk but when it comes to getting their photo taken they become nervous and shy away. This has what made this project challenging but I'm really excited to see the outcomes. I will post my project pieces so far into another blogpost.

My 3rd visit with the St. Francis house

I showed up around 11:30 am and was determined to get an individual for my project. Most of the people were enjoying their lunch inside the cafeteria. I was lucky enough to talk and meet a man by the name of Henry. He was in a hurry to catch the bus and make it home so he could relax in his pool. He said I had 5 minutes to have a conversation but I managed to stretch it out to 15 minute. We talked about his days as being an architect, his favorite sports team being the Dallas Cowboys because that team was apart of his life since he was a kid. We also talked about the upcoming final four games and how he wants Oklahoma to win it all because that is the region that he's from. Toward the end of the conversation a navy blue El Camino showed up and Henry said he would love to own it, and how he was in his twenties and owned a 1964 Chevy SS and loved it like a woman he stated. All in all my conversation with Henry was very refreshing. Once Henry left I felt the need to find another individual for my art project, as time progressed most people were to shy to be in the photograph. I then met a single mother that lives at the St Francis house  and they were willing to be in the project. I asked the woman if she wanted me to take her photograph but insisted her daughter to be in the picture and her name was Aliyannah who was two years old and enjoyed playing outside like swinging on her swing, or just running around outside/chasing lizards she also enjoys coloring, and just making a mess her mother stated. 

Henry

Aliyannah

My 2nd visit with the St Francis house

On my 2nd visit with the St. Francis i showed up around 1:00 pm and immediately talked to people about my idea of taking their photograph, and then creating a collage around their photograph. Some were timid, and other people could of cared a less about my project. My project has shifted from creating a collaborative sculpture with the people of St. Francis to creating a collage  portrait of that particular individual with their interest surrounding their portrait that I will transfer on to a canvas. I was planning on giving them their collage portraits back if they wanted them but if they don't want them I will gladly keep them. As time progressed it was hard to find people that were willing to participate in this project, but I was not ready to call it quits just that quick. During my visit there was a event in the cafeteria going on so most of the people were in there, I asked people coming out if they would be willing but no one said yes. After about 2 hours I decided that today was not my day, next week I plan on getting a few volunteers to participate.

1st visit with St Francis house

I showed up at around 12 and went to go talk to Aaron about it being my first day. It was around lunch time and I talked to people while they were waiting in line to get food on what I wanted to initially do for the St. Francis house. I told people about my idea of creating a sculpture that embodies what St Francis is all about. I told them that I wanted to use materials such as recyclables or found items. Most people that I talked to about the sculpture I wanted them to participate with me on the sculpture. I wanted everyone's fingerprints on it, adding diversity to the project. Even though this is my first idea I talked to a few people outside playing chess, and they would enjoy doing spray paint. Most people that I tried talking to seemed distant but hopefully while doing this project it brings them in to participate in what ever I decide to do.

Sculpture references

My 5th visit at the COA

-Today was my final visit to the COA memory enhancement class, and it was somewhat of a sad day. I got to develop relationships with the people there and it sucked knowing it was my last day.

-I got there at my normal time at around 12 and they were ready to eat lunch and they were eating baked ziti, Bruce offered  me some and it was phenomenal.

-After lunch it was time for cookies and coffee, and then followed by a walk.

-Once everyone got back from the walk it was time for me to do my art project with the group.

My project is a memory based questionnaire that is art related.

-I asked them 30+ questions for example.

1.) Did the Greeks or the Romans build the Colosseum?

2.) What Renaissance artist created the "David" sculpture in Florence Italy?

3.) What Foreign country gave the United States the Statue of Liberty as a gift of friendship?

4.) What Beatles artist/singer married the famous multimedia Japanese artist Yoko Ono?

5.) (True or False) Was Jackson Pollack considered an abstract artist?

6.) What colors does an artist need to mix to create the color orange?

7.) What post-impressionist painter created the landscape painting called the "The Starry Night?"

8.) What is the renowned artist first name, when his last name is Da Vinci?

9.) What is a painting, drawing, photograph of a person depicting only the face or head&shoulders called?

10.) What kind of emotions does Edvard Munch "The Scream" painting portray?

-I showed them pictures of the artwork if need be.

- What really shocked me was that they were engaged, participating, and that they enjoyed it. They wanted me to go back and continue this because of the fact that they were all so involved. I honestly wasn't expecting to have as good as a time as I did.

My 4th visit at the COA

On my 4th visit I got there at around lunch time and the group was eating prime rib with mashed potatoes and collard greens.

-I told Robin and Bruce that I was ready to give them a rough draft of the memory game that I will have the final product next weekend.

After they had coffee and cookies, they went on their walk and once they got back I was going to present my rough draft to the group.

-The questions I asked for my rough draft are:

1. What would a painter normally paint with on a canvas? Answer: Paint brush

2. What part of the world is the great pyramids located? Answer: Egypt

3. Where would a person or a group of people go to observe significant artworks from artist around the world? Answer: A Museum

4. What is the world famous and renowned artist first name with their last name being Picasso? Answer: Pablo

5. What colors would need to be mixed to get to the color green if one needed to paint grass? Answer: Yellow&blue

6. What artist is known for his recreation and depictions of the Campell soup cans and Marilyn Monroe? Answer: Andy Warhol

7. (True or False) If an artist wanted to make a color lighter would they have to add white? Answer: True

-To my suprise the group was getting involved and even getting the answers correct. This made me excited about my project too see all the outcomes the group was going to do next week.

Robin and Bruce loved my idea and how the group was participating.

-After my activity, they continued with the normal routine with the activity of the day being "Making sense of senses"

-After that it was time for relaxation time.

My 3rd Visit With The COA

-Showed up at around lunch time and the group was eating macaroni and cheese with a side of vegetables.

-After lunch I was going to talk with Bruce and Robin which are the leaders in the program about possible ideas that I could conduct with the group or conduct a solo project with a volunteer out of the group.

After talking to both Bruce and Robin about what project would be best to do. I wanted to get the group involved as much as I could so we came up with a conclusion of doing a group project similar to the activities that they do on the white board

-Today's topic is "Remembering With Words".

-The group worked on long term and short term memory, worked on naming states with just the beginning of the first letter of the states name, naming all 50 states. Also Bruce asked 20 or more questions that came from the groups time period that would help them freshen their memory.

-Once the activity "Remembering with Words" was complete, the group went into another room for relaxation time.

My 2nd visit with the COA

For my second visit with the COA memory enhancement class I tried to be more involved and not so much an observer.

Instead of sitting in the back during lunch time, I sat with the group and began to conversations with the people surrounding me.

I was even given some lunch to eat with them.

After eating lunch, that was time for the group to go their walk which is followed by coffee and cookies.

Once the cookies and coffee time was done it was time for their Wednesday activity.

We started out counting down from 100-0, and even for me it was kind of hard to remember the numbers.

While other games were being played I was trying to form a art activity that could be similar to their routine.

To wrap up the day the group did their relaxation activity until their rides showed up 

1st meeting with the COA

-Came in during lunch hours, and everyone is eating Lima beans, sweet tomatoes, and fried chicken.

-Listened to Jack Jones and other similar artists.

-They always complemented on how great the food was so I naturally wanted some.

-Thought about making a card game using the concept of the meals the group has previously eaten for my project.

-Or maybe use the music being played and combine the groups memories associated with that particular song.

-After the lunch, the group went on a walk, then once they were finished had some coffee&cookies.

-After cookies&coffee, they have a daily activity that is based on a topic....Wednesday's topic was communicating with words.

-Once the activity was done, the group breaks off to go to the rest room. Then followed by a relaxation activity.

-I participated in the relaxation activity and it was soothing.