Drawings using Illustrator! (Expressive, Representational & Abstract)

Pattern Photo Slideshow

Slide Show of My Afternoon at Devil's Pool

Response to copyright TED talk

I enjoyed this TED talk about copyright that we watched in class.  I found it interested how he built up his argument very slowly, starting with examples and stories, setting the scene of the topic he was discussing and providing us with background information and history.  He was clear and to the point, but was thorough in that he took his time before blatantly stating his main argument.
His presentation spoke to me personally too, because when I first started posting pictures of my own artwork to facebook and self promoting art sites such as Redbubble.com, I was excited and eager to get my stuff out there because I wanted to see what reaction would come of it.  Also I was trying to sell my work for the first time.  After a while however, I started to pull back a little and wasn't so sure how comfortable I was letting go of my hard work and creations.  I did not know if I should trust the public to ask before downloading or printing etc.. my art. I once saw that someone had saved a picture of my photographed work and manipulated it in photoshop and reposted it in their own album.  I immediately felt uneasy and angry that he had "stolen" my work.  However, after a while and after I had come to some new realizations, I realized that it's ok.
The minute an artist shows their work to a new pair of eyes, it no longer belongs to only the artist.  Art is meant to be shared.  Sure a piece begins as the artist's personal expression of their emotions or ideas, but it then becomes open to interpretation.  I think artist's should be generous with their work, and though they're the creators, shouldn't claim ownership of their art. Art in all it's forms, makes the world a much more complex and beautiful place, and shouldn't have restrictions.  I agree with the TED talk

An Afternoon at Devil's Pool

So for this assignment of experiencing a different part of Philly, I went to A swimming hole called Devil's Pool around Mt. Airy. It's only 8 miles away from Temple's campus and a 20 minute drive.  I just really wanted to do something in nature and get out of the city feel without having to drive a long way.  So I researched swimming holes in PA and this one was the closest.

It was such a great find because I had no idea there was this breathtaking secluded place immersed in the woods only 8 miles from my trash infested street.  It was a breath of fresh air literally and figuratively to be there for the afternoon with some of my friends.  I invited 3 of my friends to come and we hiked and jumped off a huge rock into the river and swam.  It was so refreshing and a great time to relax together and enjoy the end of summer.  There were alot of people there swimming and drinking  beer enjoying the long holiday weekend.  My friend Olivia tried to go off the rope swing and failed, entertaining onlookers.

After swimming for a while and talking a little to the other groups there, we sat on some towels we brought and smoked Leah's hookah.  It was really fun to be in the woods, leaning against a tree right by such a beautiful landscape and river, smoking hookah and chatting with my best friends.  The best part is that this was a completely free outing, and was so close to school, yet seemed like a completely different world.