Background:
- Bachelors at the School of Visual Arts in New York (photograpy)
- MFA in film making
Film making:
- documentary photographer
- documentary film
     RAISING APPALACHIA - mountain top strip mining
Short films:
- organizing shots in a poetic way, focus is on the feelings being evoked
- COLOR, FORM, POETRY

When watching the films that Freyer made I thought it was interesting that the main focus was not on telling a story, but on evoking a feeling. For me this is a difficult idea to grasp because as I am painting and drawing something I am constantly making up stories for each aspect even if I do not tell any one it. I think that is why I found abstract art so be unfulfilling. Never the less her work definatly generated an emotion. I also was interested in the extream differences that were present in the films she made. 

The art of Michelle Basic Hendry speaks to me because of her focus on dilapidated and decaying buildings, which is where I started out when I began drawing seriously. I appreciate her focus on the exaggerated composition and overall style that keeps the paintings from being photo realistic, but still making them have a high level of realism. In order to get her art seen in galleries, Hendry developed relationships with a handful of galleries and organizations and had repeat exhibitions with them. Although she does not have a wide range of galleries supporting her work, the ones that do helped Hendry get opportunities and allowed her name to grow overtime. 

While I do understand how social practice art comes from a good place and is intended to help different communities, but I find when reading the articles there is a note of hypocrasy and condescention in this art form. The articles also bring to attention the fact that there are more useful and helpful ways that the funding can provide for the community rather than what appears to be using the community to prove a point. Nevertheless the readings left me with a few questions: Are these artists coming from a place of hypocrasy and condescention? Are there better ways to help communities in need? Are these projects art or simply activism?

Addressing the first question, Are these artists coming from a place of hypocrasy and condescention? I would say that the artists may not intend the art to be so but it certaintly comes off that way. For example, the Gramschi Monument, while providing a place for community, was based around a Marxist political theorist. The community that he was serving, most likely had no idea who Gramschi is. By making this project to help the community based off of someone they know nothing about, to me at least seems condescending, and it would have been more meaningful if the monument was based off of someone important to the community or had something to do with the project like a community activist.

The issue of whether the communities could be served better was addressed by the articles in many ways. At one point the article states "As agents of change, social-practice projects can seem wanting: the scale is often small, the works are temporary, and success may depend on the charisma of a single artist." (How the Art of Social Practice is Changing the World, One Row House at a Time). I think that this points to one of the major issues with social practice art, it usually gives temporary change and have little far reaching effects. Another issue that was brought up was “What if instead of building the Gramsci Monument, Hirschhorn had proposed building the Gramsci Charter School? . . . Far-fetched, I know, but one of the many possible projects that might have resulted in a deeper collaboration between Hirschhorn and the residents of the Forest Houses" (How the Art of Social Practice is Changing the World, One Row House at a Time). I have to agree that sometimes there are better ways to help the effected community, that involves them and provides lasting change.

One idea inadvertantly brought up by the second article inadvertantly came from this quote: "In Detroit a contemporary-art museum is completing a monument to an
influential artist that will not feature his work but will instead provide food,
haircuts, education programs and other social services to the general public​" (Outside the Citadel). Here the project while sounding helpful and impactful for the community, it does not sound like art. Rather it sounds like a project by a local group or church to help the community. What about this project was art? From the way I see it there is nothing inherently artistic or creative about this project. It is a kind action, but I would not say it is art. 

I am on my third attempt of this project and have found the method I will be using for the final project. I first tried to carve the apple into the shape of a brain - this did not work well. After some more research I decided to cut into the side and that seemed to work on my scrap apple. I also have drawn out the overall layout for the pictures I will be taking over time.