Hunter Stone's Artist Statement

My creative inspiration is a result of my contemplation of human psychology and a desire to fight for social justice.

The fact that the human condition involves such great depths of sadness and enormous heights of happiness is fascinating to me; although most of our lives are often spent somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, my art is often a direct response to one of these two sides of the emotional spectrum. On one hand, I am inspired by the beauty of both human nature, our capacity for love, sympathy, and kindness, as well as “mother nature”--the incredible aesthetic that is the physical world we live in. But on the other hand, I can’t help but struggle with understanding how such ugliness (as is seen everyday in the news) can coexist with such beauty. My art often acts as therapy for me--a way for me to create order out of the chaos both without and within my mind.

I’m inspired by political artists who use art in order to raise awareness about societal issues, inspire activism, and, hopefully, bring about meaningful change in their society. Personally, I’m particularly interested in art that raises questions about human rights issues, such as the wage gender gap, body policing, sexual harassment/assault, racial stereotyping/discrimination, the prison industrial complex, and war. For specifics, see Tatyana Fazlalizadeh’s “Stop Telling Women to Smile” project, Eugene Jarecki’s film “The House I Live In”, and Jessica Valenti’s book The Purity Myth.

I use lots of different media--ink drawing, painting, embroidery, photography, video, and creative writing. Moving forward, I will be moving my art out of the small sphere of my immediate friends and family and into the larger space of the public. While the internet is efficient at this, I would also like to focus on print publications and street art, which can directly interact with the people of NYC.

Jose Cacanindin's Artist Statement

This is the statement of an artist in transit. I have never been a visually-oriented person. This semester I continue struggling to navigate the visual language and weighted cultural symbols with which to communicate a longing for permanence, the ecstasy of fantasy, and queer horror. As an aspiring media creator, whether it's through humor or silence, I want to produce work that deeply resonates with viewers in an emotionally and intellectually visceral way that reveals the frailties of the status quo in both liberating laughter and debilitating despair; the same way John Waters' Female Trouble did for me when I first watched it.

Joanne Mariano - Artist Statement

Bringing hope and meaning into everyday people's lives is what drives me as an impending film major. There is just something fascinating about the human body, the human mind, and its soul. Not only am I intrigued by the different cultures and beliefs around the world, but the interaction from one person to another is what captivates me. Having grown up in New York City my whole life, I have always been surrounded by such a great diversity. I have noticed, every day, the struggle that people go through, from seeing the poor begging for change, to my own middle-class parents who are pressured to make ends meet in order to pay for rent and school tuition. I want to help heal the unspoken brokenness and loneliness people may feel within the silence of their hearts.

After losing a friend of mine to a car accident, I have realized how much life is really worth protecting and preserving. I want to help people know how much of a blessing it is to be alive and to not take it for granted. I want to reassure people that they matter and that their lives are worth more than what they make of them. I do not know exactly where my film projects will take me, but I plan to take a strong, positive approach that will hopefully elicit inspirational emotions within my viewers.

Top of the Rock - January 24, 2013

Quentin Jackson 160 Blog

At a very young age I was exposed to violence on the big screen. My mother sheltered nothing from me as a young moviegoer. It's the drama that forever possesses me, the hieght of emotion portrayed in motion picture that gives the audience that tingle in the spine, that suspense that draws you at the edge of your seat. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I graduated High School, but it dawned on me that film and the masters who controlled its spectrum was all that I know. I have an uncanny memory of credits to Hollywood giants and their achievements. These statements are debatable in discussion but what’s true is at 5 years old Stephen King’s Misery was my first movie, and I was mesmerized. Kathy Bates and her ruthlessness made horror thriller one of the most important challenges to achieve when I've finally reached the title of Director.  It is a dream realized after interning as a Production Assistant for Clifton Bell at The GhettoNerd Network. Once an intern for the iconic film director Spike Lee my experience with Mr. Bell challenged me as I watch him capture history with a Digital Red One camera. I knew that this dream isn’t far-fetched but very possible for me.

After receiving my A.A. in Communication in media arts degree I started a small media company, which gained profound experience in interviewing, promoting, and networking.  Media being an ever-growing entity because the Internet and its application devices, my love for feature film, no excuse me my hunger for film continues. Being a Freelance photographer and videographer has nurtured my client services skills to elevate from hip-hop artists to celebrity socialite. Now interning for one of the top post-houses in New York, I’m learning tech support and post-production operation from the film industries seasoned veterans. It only makes me more anxious and humble to receive the gems given to me by the artists at Harbor Picture Company.

Maya Shor- artist statement!

I am an aspiring media maker in search of the hidden wonders of the world, that we ignore or pass by in our fast paced lives. I search for the weird looking trees, and the funny looking people, and the polka dotted skies. I hope to inspire others to look at life through different lenses.The advent of the digital age has allowed aspiring artists like me to explore anything and everything.

I am a photo-freak. I always have my camera close at hand. If an unexpected animal darts across the road, I am ready. If a Willow tree sways in the violent winds, I am ready. If a small child giggles over their first ice cream cone, I am ready. My hope is to catch the little moments. Moments that might seem trivial to others but are fascinating to me.

I see the brick in the wall that’s a different shade than the others. I see the flower in the grass that has one less petal than its companions. My eyes are attuned to the outliers. I see what stands out. I see the ugly amongst the beautiful and I see the beautiful amongst the ugly.

In this day and age, all it takes is one click on a cellphone, a digital camera or even a tablet to create a lasting memory. There is no reason to miss one weird moment or funny moment or sad moment. I believe in documenting everything because everything is worth documenting.

Watch out world, Im coming for you!

I have attached two photos of mine below. Enjoy!

Welcome

Welcome to Film/Med 160

Last semester reference:

http://filmmed160.blogspot.com/