Since the trial version of the program I was using has a huge watermark on all the frames, some of the color in this storyboard will be off from the actual video’s. Storyboard scene 1-4 and 12-16 will be also slightly different from the actual because the trial version could only hold up to a certain number of frames and I made some changes after Thanksgiving (I imported most of the stills into the official version of the program that a friend had). I had to buy it and so I’m waiting for the code. But here’s the storyboard (click for larger version).
As you can see, the basic conflict is between representatives of Heaven and Hell. The theme deals with the fragility of human life, irony, and the universal occurrence of death. But I put a humorous twist at the end because simply, you never know what can happen.
Title: Petals of Sin
Artist: Chelsea Zhou
Overlapping circular metal frame laced with jagged teeth, this sculpture combines techniques of composition and color alternation to produce an abstract version of Christ’s crown of thorns. The red centerpiece, made up of a red cut up can with spiky extrusions, symbolize the bloodshed for the sins. Despite its religious elements, this project is open to interpretation.
With the wire, I created a circular frame that consisted of concentric ovals and overlapping “orbitals”. Then I cut my cans into sharp triangular pieces that are made to resemble thorns. I choose blue as my main color scheme but I made sure to alternate between shades of blue can pieces and silver can pieces. I bent the triangles around the wire frame so they would form little thorns coming out of the wire. I can’t really describe it well so here are some photos:
I finished this today but I forgot to take photos of the final piece but it basically look like a more complex version of the one in the pictures, except there is a red centerpiece that spikes out. Although this project is supposed to be abtract, I want it to be a distorted version of the”crown” of Christ. I plan to name my project “Petals of Sin”.
By depicting the division caused by the Berlin Wall as well as the desperation to unite, this collage (titled ” Wie viel längere?” ) deals with the emotional impact of the infamous barrier. Graphic elements such as the hands reaching skyward and the leaping figures all convey a passionate sense of longing–longing for freedom from this oppressive divide. The woman,shown peeking through the gap in the wall, asks: “how much longer?”. The man receiving her question is silent; his unusual prison uniform, made up of the words “brother, son, lover, etc” in 4 languages, betrays his symbolic imprisonment in this common struggle. Some emerge defeated, as portrayed by the damaged hearts; others emerge united, as shown in the jubilant filmstrip. But keep in mind that this is not an eulogy of a tragic era but a celebration of its end.
My last post lacked some images so here they are. The first one is the shot of the hands that I described in my previous post; I collaged together a bunch of hands, an empty basket, and an image of the Berlin Wall. I wanted to convey a sense of desperation and longing. Those hands are reaching skyward for something that is denied by the barrier. That “something” is different for each person; there is a heart in the upper right corner and its center is an example of what some people desire. Perhaps it’s freedom, perhaps it’s a reunion, perhaps it’s love. :]
The second shot is of the couple that I talked about in my last post. I drew a man looking through the gap in the wall wearing a prison-uniform with stripes collaged of the words “brother, father, son, lover, etc” in 4 different languages. This is a symbol of the common struggle faced by 
the divided German people.
These pics are all I’m going to post since I do not want to give too much away :p My collage is basically completed with the exception of the mounting and some glueing.
So far most of my collage is being done on Photoshop. My central theme is the emotional impact of the Berlin Wall—the torn families and division that this barrier caused. Thus, the center image is a couple, griped by desperation, looking at each other through a tiny hole in the wall. I’m also in the process of photoshopping hands together; these hands are reaching up towards to receive food and supplies that are being sent over the wall. Some hands are shown holding a basket. I want to collage to not only express how difficult the lives of people are made by the wall but also to celebrate its downfall. Therefore, I’m putting together a film strip (in Ps) that’s depicting the reunion of separated people.
When I was browsing through Romare Bearden’s collection, this piece caught my eye with its seemingly chaotic layout and contrasting colors. A wide variety of textures, ranging from wood-like to flat colors, is employed. I believe that Bearden was trying to convey the emotions of the subject(man in the center) through this use of extreme contrasts. Because most of Bearden’s work is themed around the plight of African Americans in the South, it’s reasonable to assume that this man featured in the collage is a farm laborer. It seems that much of what is around him gives off the impression of poverty. For instance, the house behind him is collaged of a wide range of wooden textures. This arrangement makes the cabin appear flimsy and not whole, as if it could shatter into pieces any minute. Bearden also made the man’s face distorted and chaotic through the use of several shades of color. Due to this contrast, the man’s face betrays a feeling of melancholy and sadness. The title-Tomorrw I May be Far Away- reveals further info regarding the subject; the wistful way he’s looking out to the world and the train the background are all clues, hinting that he desires to get away from his unhappy life. This is the story of a broken man, longing, hoping for a better life.
When I was examining Charles Sparkman’s photographic display, a few pieces captured my interest. I was never a fan of macabre or horror themed art but these eerie compositions stood out among the rest. The level of “darkness” conveyed in the art is of a tolerable level, at least for my standards. I loved the light/dark contrast and the play of shadows in each of the photos. The first piece, which is of a lonely cottage shrouded in the shadows of the trees, appears haunted. The shadows on the ground crawl like spider veins while the dark shrubs against the side of the house seem like blood stains. Perhaps my imagination is taking this a bit far but that’s hardly surprising. The whole piece just gives off a gloomy and dissipated feel—of decay and desperation. The windows and door are devoid of light as if they’re sucking the very essence of life out of the atmosphere.
Similarly, the next photo also conveys a feeling of isolation and spookiness in general. Here we have the cliché of the scary cemetery enclosed by overgrown trees. In this instance, the contrast of lights and darks make the trees seem bare and the branches like skeletal fingers. The arrangement of the metal fence posts gives the impression of sharp ragged teeth that would probably make people suffering from aichmophobia wince. Overall, I loved the slight hair-raising effects of these two photos. It’s really fascinating how art can impact the human psyche and how an assumed theme can open my eyes to details in the photo that I would not have noticed before.
As you can see, the basic conflict is between representatives of Heaven and Hell. The theme deals with the fragility of human life, irony, and the universal occurrence of death. But I put a humorous twist at the end because simply, you never know what can happen.