Wilson Hand Kidde

"Katrina" 

Wilson Hand Kidde has a very interesting type of art. His sculptures are skulls that are “blinged” out/bejeweled just like the one above. This artist started his series of skulls in remembrance of his many friends that died from AIDS. He also experienced a lot of deaths in his lifetime. The skull above ended the series of skulls. This one was called Katrina, and it was made on the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Each of his skulls are jeweled in a different way. From a skull decorated with pearls to a skull decorated with sequin, they are all interesting and oddly glamorous. Which is an interesting way to look at it… Seeing these skulls as a type of glamor, a word that was probably never used to describe something that was associated with death.  Most people are afraid of death. I myself am terrified of the thought. It’s interesting that someone can make a skull look… Beautiful. This is his way of celebrating death and making it look good. I’m not saying I think death is a beautiful thing now. I just saw a different perspective of things associated with death. The artist explores the iconography of death. That is also the objective of the exhibit Morbid Curiosity. Artists tend to find a beauty in death and instead of fearing, they use their art to celebrate it. Wilson Hand Kidde does not only stick to these types of sculptures. He works in a variety of media including painting and photography. I’m sure this artist finds a way to appreciate death because of the skull sculptures.

Memememememeeee

I guess I don't always consciously think about who I am as a person. Last semester identity was a big part of the curriculum but I don't remember being asked to explain the person I am so straightforwardly. To me I want to say my past is kind of a mystery in a sense. My parents are really young and I remember being raised by my grandmother. I remember begging my grandparents for toys and depending on them for caring for me. Yeah my parents were there but I just don't recall them being so involved. My mother says the opposite. But I wanna stick to my own memories and thoughts. Although my grandparents were the ones that raised me I feel like I gained values from everyone around me. My family all dropped out of school, which gave me that determination to finish school and exceed in everything I do. I moved with my parents when I was twelve and felt that they couldn't provide for me and weren't even that involved. Maybe because they weren't really involved in the first place. At the age I was able to get a job I started to depend on no one but myself. I feel that I can have a lot of pride. I hate asking for anything because I do not want to get let down. My boyfriend gives me a lot of support but I don't like asking him for anything. It's not anyone else's job to take care of me. It's my job. It has always been my job and I learned how to deal with it throughout the years. I am a very sensitive person. From sappy movies to seeing other people dealing with hardships, I try to put myself in their shoes and i get quite emotional. It's also hard for me to say no. Even when a person isn't treating me fairly. I usually keep it to myself but it is extremely hard to keep my emotions inside. I can never hold my tears back. So if there's something that bothers me. I cry. Mad, sad, disappointed and even happiness is usually expressed with tears. I hate that. I am also a worrier. I worry about everything. I stress about a lot. And lately I've been trying not too because it doesn't do any good. I procrastinate but I can't go to places without doing the things I am supposed to do. Not only because I do not want to disappoint the instructor but I also do not like being judged and I feel unaccomplished. I may try to act like i don't care about how I look on the outside but I kind of do. I dress up by the way I'm feeling but I usually think about what I'm wearing. So isn't that kind of worrying about how I look? at times I don't care but most of the time I do. I do not want to give people a bad image of me. Like my family and parents friends, I like to look and act my best because I like to be remembered as the fun, cute, cool chick. Well that was when I actually went out with my parents. Now with my boyfriend it's just kind of like keeping up with myself since I still want to impress him. Which makes me think about when I am doing my research. How should I dress or act? Would I be judged? I am hoping I can find some really easygoing people. I still have the image that the people in that area are hardcore not so nice people. Why does that description of people stay on my mind? When thinking of humboldt park I think of puerto ricans that go to Clemente and hate people that are not like them. I know that's not the case at all. I just remember going to Clemente high school one day to support my highschool. I was with a friend who went to Clemente and she had my back. Someone in the school asked what school am I rooting for cause they've never seen me around and I told them. Clemente is not a fan of lane tech. And I hope they still don't have that same thinking. Will I be judged because of the school I go to or what I am associated with? With they not cooperate with me because they'll get the idea that I think I am better than them? Which I really don't because who am I to judge? I know I'm not perfect...

What's that Tatt?

By looking at this tattoo, I have a good feeling that it has to do with with the heart. Heart broken of course. "A Fin" I'm pretty sure that means end in french. (My french skills are failing) I am going to say this persons heart was played with many times and this symbolized them ending the game. The heart looks mechanical... Maybe the person does not know how to love anymore because of all the hurt they have gone through. Now she just feels mechanical and somewhat robotic. She cannot control her heart and feelings anymore.

Judging by this image, this is a girl. She likes to swim and have fun. She probably keeps her guards up. Maybe she just doesn't want love and just wants to have fun. Like those people that just have sex because they are afraid of being in a relationship/being "tied down".  She is young; a teenager. The tattoo might have the symbolism I stated or it can also be possible that it has no meaning to her at all. She probably just liked the design and thought it was cool. She added the swirls to make it look girlier because to me the swirls have no significance at all besides plain decoration.

Humboldt&Me

The Humboldt Park Neighborhood
I say this is a very special community in Chicago. Yeah there are ethnic communities all over the city but the large flags are pretty iconic in my opinion. Maybe it's just me because I lived there or maybe it's because of my Puerto Rican background that makes me believe it is so iconic. This neighborhood has a pretty bad reputation. And right now I am just rambling on...

This is an example of a mural located in Humboldt park. I feel that a lot of people I know that still live in that area is still known to be struggling. My family was also part of that struggling group. I feel like that was a reason that pushed me to the position that I am in now. I am the first in my family to go to college. I am the first to even graduate high school. My whole life I valued education and knew that it would take me to bigger and better things. Honestly, I never really saw beauty in Humboldt Park while I lived there. But when I go back from time to time, (for example: the Puerto Rican festival), I feel proud that I was a part of that community and a part of the culture. They show so much of their culture throughout the streets and I found it fascinating. Something that was once just a part of my everyday life and now I can actually see the beauty in it. I guess with this project it kind of gives me the chance to reconnect with it? And possibly see if the people that are living there today see the beauty in their community or not.