Lopez, Julian

 Hi everyone! My name is Julian (he/they) and I'm a third year here at UCLA. I study Art at the School of Arts and Architecture, aiming to minor in Visual and Performing Arts Education (VAPAE). Though I'm an artist here, my main/only medium is photography, reason you may ask? I'm simply just not as skillful in other forms of mediums, but I did begin sketching/drawing a lot more than I did ever in my life. Painting is another medium I'm slowly assimilating into since I want to do more hands-on art that can potentially invigorate my photography. 

I'm from one of the prettiest cities, my city being San Diego! I impulsively transferred from my previous school to a performing arts school my junior year. I began getting into art my freshman year of high school and decided that's what I want to pursue. Which, of course, played a major role in me transferring schools. There I began to improve and gain skills that I did not receive from the former due to the underfunded art department. Attending a well funded, magnet school, I became more aware of the adversities students faced due to low funding; for example, the previous school repeated the exact same course material every year in the art department; not allowing room for growth.

As I became more aware of the disadvantages and implications targeted/placed on certain groups of people, I wanted to educate myself and stay informed. Though it's a lot more complicated since there are a lot of intersectionalities. 

Though I'm Latinx, I'm not as well versed/informed of such art, artists, activists, etc. in the Chicanx/Latinx culture. This year, I want to change that. I desire to learn more about the culture I share amongst others and become a well rounded artist and being. This course caught my attention for that particular reason, I want to learn and navigate what interests me. I'm looking forward to this course!