Final Post

This class exceeded my expectations for I had unknowingly been craving more than a creative outlet. I was in band from third to twelfth grade, sang in a choir, took an art class, and danced in a dance troupe before this class yet I never realized how the arts have kept me sane until I entered this class.

Last academic school year was difficult for me. I was a working student organizer in a serious relationship while trying to maintain a leadership position in a pre-health organization and my GPA so I can be competitive for medical school. I lost touch with my creative side and gave up one of my biggest passions, dancing. I felt unbalanced. I struggled to be alone and release my stress, anger, sadness and joy. I lost a big part of myself so I am grateful that I took this class. I feel more confident about creating art and will continue to practice.

Overall, my biggest gains from this class are the connections I felt with some of the artists, especially Laura Molina and her Naked Dave Series because she validated my feelings about my past partners. Learning about her could not have come at a better time. She also confirmed that art can heal and my assignments became an outlet during moments of emotional turmoil so this last class was bittersweet for me. I will miss having the space to learn more about Chicana artists, my peers, art, and myself. But, I will always remember the best lesson I learned from my peers- art is a process, beautifully messy, personal, healing, and another way of knowing about yourself and others. 

Much love,

Janel Preciado