Week 1 Blog

Hi everybody! My name is Szonya(pronounced Sonya) Shackelford. My preferred pronouns are she, her, and hers. I am a fourth year transfer student here at UCLA and my major is Central and Eastern European Languages and Cultures.  While my major focuses on a different part of the world's language and culture, I have always had a deep interest in learning about all different cultures as well as a curiosity for art. My grandparents on both sides of my family have always stressed the importance of the arts and made a conscious or an unconscious effort to introduce me to many different forms of art. I also have very talented artistic friends who teach me new things and inspire me. 

I am part of the lucky few in this class who have had the pleasure of taking Professor Lopez before in her censored art class and I am looking forward to learning more of the extensive knowledge she has to offer. The censored art class was my first real art class in my higher education career and was very compelling and hooked me to it. Outside of her censored art class, some of my academic experiences with art include general education art courses in middle, high school and an informal lower division college introductory art class. Although this is a very limited background, I am eager to learn more and continue to explore. Since I was in one of her classes before, I know a few artists and famous works in general and a bit about Chicano/a art but I would like to dive deeper and be exposed to more artists and works. Some of my favorites were Enrique Chagoya, Sally Mann and Alma Lopez. It is an honor to be learning with you all and I am looking forward to our future enriching conversations, discussions and reading your blog posts!