(These responses may be full articles or excerpts)
Kiah Drayton
I like to think that my visual art's culture is something I celebrate everyday when I draw. My visual art's culture is when I express myself through color pencils, pastels, paint, ink and paper. It doesn't matter what type of paper, all that matters is what I make out of it. My culture is something that can't be taught, but molded into some thing powerful and beautiful. It is practiced everyday, sometimes for hours. Being a visual artist is an amazing feeling. It is challenging but when you break through those challenges you'll find it was worth it every time. When I get to use my imagination and life as my inspiration I am happy, some might say fulfilled. When I see my artwork finished, put together like a puzzle, I smile because I know that I did it and no one else could have. Being a visual art's major is totally different from all of the other art majors because visual arts majors can express themselves freely. The rules are limited by what we as visual artists allow ourselves to do. Other majors are really structured and yes sometimes structure is a good thing, but being a visual art major allows you to take risks and to challenge yourself. To be able to fail and grow from that failure, to learn what it really means to be a visual artist.
Christian Gonzalez
There are many things that make visual art different from other majors but one specific thing is that Visual Art is a bit more liberating in the way one works. In Dance or theater there are certain specifics as to how one has to do things. Like in theater you are not able to read too fast or one gets confused. In dance you have to follow choreography (in most cases) or the entire dance gets thrown off. In visual arts one has the free choice of choosing what movement your
art can take or what words or feelings you wish it to interpret.
Ianna Thornquist
In VA, the work space is respected because each student is sharing the studio amongst twenty others at times. The atmosphere is subtle and quiet when class is in session. Working can be strenuous and teachers understand that, so there is definitely a period of time towards the end of class where students and even the teachers can loosen up a bit.
It feels refreshing to be a VA. I love the atmosphere, most of the students, and all of my teachers. The faculty is just as supportive as my previous years as a music major. However, VA faculty really pushes their students beyond the limits and towards the possibilities. For example, you might turn in a homework assignment that you are proud of and spent a pretty decent time working on it. On the other hand, your teacher can see through what is on paper and encourage you to focus on certain areas you may have missed.
It feels okay to be critiqued by your peers. You don’t get criticized, but you do get help by someone viewing your work from a different perspective. There is also no competitive tension between students. Your work is respected as long as you show your effort through it. You put in what you get out, and everyone in the department can visually understand that.
Patricia Rizzo
Being a VA is a special commitment. This major is so different from the other majors at the Boston Arts Academy because of not what we do physically, but of what we do emotionally. What we do with our talents is fun and also very hard to work at. With being a VA we have many requirements and many commitments to show people at our school we are good and that we deserve to be here to learn from the best.
Yoselin Rodriguez
VA culture means we see things with different eyes, we feel with different hands. In this culture we share the ability of making a simple drawing and a big landscape with the same pencil, also of making a big piece of artwork with clay or any other tool we have to give a big message.
To be a VA is the best thing to be. It makes me feel special because I know that not everybody has the ability that we do; not only draw stick figures, but to put everything we see on a piece of paper. This also makes me feel proud of myself and of the people that share this with me.
Takii Samuels
A Visual Artist is a person with a trained eye who creates art using their mind, body, and spirit. Visual Artists pour their heart into their art... A visual Artist is a story teller, poet, a writer, a director, and more... Every time I make art it's a relief. I feel infatuated with art and being a Visual Artist. It's a gift, a great feeling that I use everyday... Being a Visual Artist is the best feeling I ever felt.
Joshua Pimentel
The definition of a VA to me is a person who expresses his or her feeling through visual art. Visual artists could be anyone in the world. If you have a passion for arts you are considered a VA.
Quela Jules
What's different about being a VA is the social aspect of class. I truly believe that we are a stronger community because we socialize, critique, and respect each other... There is a range of skill in this department. At first it is intimidating, being the best from your old class and facing all new talent. Then you realize it's not a competition. It is not easy to not compare yourself to other people. The best way to improve is to feed off other people's talent.
Quonedell Brown
As a Visual Artist I think our major is way different from other majors. I think we use our minds a little bit more to come up with things more creatively abstract. What we do is not always literal. When you look at a VA's artwork, it can mean many things. You'll have to think a lot to figure it out.
Karen Phung
I feel proud to be a VA. I come to class every morning wondering whats going to happen today. Since there are not many visual artists around, I feel the need to stand out and represent. Plus, being a VA for me is kind of like being in a dream. I'm on a fine line between reality and dreaming.
Visual artists are different from others because it is not a performing art. We showcase our talents through the images we create with our hands. When an audience looks at the work we do, they are not looking at what we can or can't do, but us... It is true that we may not stand in the spotlight. However, we are the shadows that make the world beautiful. We are different because we can make a difference.
Christian Gonzalez
There are many things that make visual art different from other majors but one specific thing is that Visual Art is a bit more liberating in the way one works. In Dance or theater there are certain specifics as to how one has to do things. Like in theater you are not able to read too fast or one gets confused. In dance you have to follow choreography (in most cases) or the entire dance gets thrown off. In visual arts one has the free choice of choosing what movement your
art can take or what words or feelings you wish it to interpret.
Ianna Thornquist
In VA, the work space is respected because each student is sharing the studio amongst twenty others at times. The atmosphere is subtle and quiet when class is in session. Working can be strenuous and teachers understand that, so there is definitely a period of time towards the end of class where students and even the teachers can loosen up a bit.
It feels refreshing to be a VA. I love the atmosphere, most of the students, and all of my teachers. The faculty is just as supportive as my previous years as a music major. However, VA faculty really pushes their students beyond the limits and towards the possibilities. For example, you might turn in a homework assignment that you are proud of and spent a pretty decent time working on it. On the other hand, your teacher can see through what is on paper and encourage you to focus on certain areas you may have missed.
It feels okay to be critiqued by your peers. You don’t get criticized, but you do get help by someone viewing your work from a different perspective. There is also no competitive tension between students. Your work is respected as long as you show your effort through it. You put in what you get out, and everyone in the department can visually understand that.
Patricia Rizzo
Being a VA is a special commitment. This major is so different from the other majors at the Boston Arts Academy because of not what we do physically, but of what we do emotionally. What we do with our talents is fun and also very hard to work at. With being a VA we have many requirements and many commitments to show people at our school we are good and that we deserve to be here to learn from the best.
Yoselin Rodriguez
VA culture means we see things with different eyes, we feel with different hands. In this culture we share the ability of making a simple drawing and a big landscape with the same pencil, also of making a big piece of artwork with clay or any other tool we have to give a big message.
To be a VA is the best thing to be. It makes me feel special because I know that not everybody has the ability that we do; not only draw stick figures, but to put everything we see on a piece of paper. This also makes me feel proud of myself and of the people that share this with me.
Takii Samuels
A Visual Artist is a person with a trained eye who creates art using their mind, body, and spirit. Visual Artists pour their heart into their art... A visual Artist is a story teller, poet, a writer, a director, and more... Every time I make art it's a relief. I feel infatuated with art and being a Visual Artist. It's a gift, a great feeling that I use everyday... Being a Visual Artist is the best feeling I ever felt.
Joshua Pimentel
The definition of a VA to me is a person who expresses his or her feeling through visual art. Visual artists could be anyone in the world. If you have a passion for arts you are considered a VA.
Quela Jules
What's different about being a VA is the social aspect of class. I truly believe that we are a stronger community because we socialize, critique, and respect each other... There is a range of skill in this department. At first it is intimidating, being the best from your old class and facing all new talent. Then you realize it's not a competition. It is not easy to not compare yourself to other people. The best way to improve is to feed off other people's talent.
Quonedell Brown
As a Visual Artist I think our major is way different from other majors. I think we use our minds a little bit more to come up with things more creatively abstract. What we do is not always literal. When you look at a VA's artwork, it can mean many things. You'll have to think a lot to figure it out.
Karen Phung
I feel proud to be a VA. I come to class every morning wondering whats going to happen today. Since there are not many visual artists around, I feel the need to stand out and represent. Plus, being a VA for me is kind of like being in a dream. I'm on a fine line between reality and dreaming.
Visual artists are different from others because it is not a performing art. We showcase our talents through the images we create with our hands. When an audience looks at the work we do, they are not looking at what we can or can't do, but us... It is true that we may not stand in the spotlight. However, we are the shadows that make the world beautiful. We are different because we can make a difference.
