WSU 1450: Virtual Art Gallery

A Relationship Can Change Like Seasons
Medical Laboratory Services, Major
Sophmore
Digital Media

• Abstract

  The main message I want to portray through my gif, A Relationship can Change like Seasons, is how the people in a relationship can disconnect and reconnect in time. At the beginning, the gif first shows the couple together, then separated, then back together again. This demonstrates Knapp and Vangelisti’s (2006) model of relationship development. Two of the key concepts with this model is that relationship development is not linear and communication behaviors can help us determine which stage a relationship is in.  These concepts apply to my gif because our relationships aren’t perfect.  We fight and disconnect, and sometimes we re-connect.

  As the seasons change in the background, the couple’s relationship changes. The changing seasons symbolize that the process of disconnecting and reconnecting can take months, maybe years. Another artistic element is the clouds in the background. The clouds slowly cover the sun as the couple becomes disconnected. This is because they are losing their light in their life. Then as they become reconnected, the light from the sun shines over them again.

  Another communication element in this gif is shown by the silhouettes’ nonverbal or body language. The man’s arms are out in anger, and the woman has a hand on her head because she is upset. Eye contact is also integrated into the gif. When the couple is fighting, the man is looking at the woman, but the woman is turned away, symbolizing that one person in the relationship may want to work things out. Then in the next clip, they face opposite directions, both partners turned away, indicating that both partners have given up. But later, they both are turned toward each other, making eye contact because they want to reconnect with one another.

  In conclusion, the art exhibit, A Relationship can Change like Seasons, represents the theme of Connect* by showing a couple’s relationship disconnecting then reconnecting over time. As the seasons change, our relationships change too: we form new ones, leave old ones, and most importantly continue the connections we have right now.

"Obstacles"
Criminal Justice, Major
Freshman
Digital Media

• Abstract

  "Obstacles” is the title I chose for my artwork. The world has seen many obstacles within the past year, and they have not been the easiest to overcome. I chose a simple obstacle of a river dividing two groups of people to illustrate this concept. With the COVID-19 pandemic, social injustice, and political upheaval, life has flipped upside down and it feels like a barrier, or a river, has disconnected us from others and from what we consider to be ‘normal activities.’ No matter what obstacles come our way, however, humanity will find a way to overcome the dilemma. When we get disconnected, we can find ways to reconnect in new, innovative ways.

  Communication in group decision making processes are exemplified in this gif. The two groups of people collaborate and cooperate to create a bridge to connect them with each other. They agree that the river separates the two groups, and agree that they need to build a bridge to solve the problem.  The gif focuses on them implementing the solution to achieve the desired outcome of being connected to each other.  Individuals longing to be connected in relationships is a natural part of the human experience.  Collaborating and using their available resources allowed them to solve the problem and reconnect with each other.

  Movement, modeling, and emphasis are the prevalent art concepts that I incorporated in my gif. I enjoy working and creating with my hands. Creating a stop-motion gif took a lot of time and patience. The small, incremental movement positions in each photo are what make the gif flow and convey the message. Modeling allows a tactile aspect to this form of art. I added emphasis to the gif when I changed the camera view to show a piece of wood being chopped in half.

  Legos are perfect objects to represent disconnecting and connecting pieces. They can be used to create an infinite number of visuals and messages. We work together in creating and altering ways of living to accommodate our circumstances. It may not always work at first and will not be very easy but connecting will help us persevere through the hypothetical rivers of life. Overcoming obstacles will make us triumphant and accomplished in the end.

Pure Bliss
Public Health, Major
Freshman
Digital Media

• Abstract

  In this new Covid world, all of us are in need of more connection. I believe my piece Pure Bliss is a great example of many different types of connect*, connecting with nature, with family, with friends, but the one I want to focus on is connecting or reconnecting to fun.   I am afraid our ability to have fun has been buried under the heavy burden of this virus. We all need to take a few moments and reconnect to fun.

   Pure Bliss shows a great movement element.  It creates the impression of action thru snapshots in time.  The movement in this piece is trying to inspire us all to reconnect to fun and forget our worries if only for a moment in time.  Communicating love is a big part of the gif.  Storge love, or love of family is obvious.  Yet, as the group jumps into the water, there is also love for sharing experiences, known as philia love.  Taking time for self, and respecting oneself enough to take time for self care opportunities such as these exemplify philautia love, or self-respect.   Let’s all try to take a few deep breaths and have some fun.

Disconnecting From The Social Darkness
Health Care Administration, Major
Sophmore
Digital Media, Mix Media

• Abstract

  Disconnecting from the Social Darkness. The reason choose Disconnecting from the Social Darkness as my main point for the piece of art was because social media is becoming the darkness of today’s society instead of something that can help you and bring brightness into your life. I started with my model sitting, looking at her tablet and slowly having notifications pop up like world news, text messages, “likes” from social media platforms, and notifications from different apps. While she is getting these notifications, she is throwing her tablet away from her. As she does so, the world becomes brighter around her and she becomes happier with her life. The art piece is showing disconnecting from social media and showing how it can darken your life if it becomes your main focus. When we focus too much on social media in our lives, we become distracted from more positive things we could be doing in the world such as communicating with friends, family, coworkers, and significant others.

  As far as communication goes, many researchers indicate that we should focus more on our face-to-face relationships than our online ones. A survey report funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicates that “teens who spend more time than average on screen activities are more likely to be unhappy and those who spend more time on nonscreen activities are more likely to be happy” (Enger, 2019, online).

  Contrast is one of the art principles used in the gif. I took frame by frame photos of my girlfriend looking at her iPad. That portion of the gif is darker, showing the darkness and gloom that comes with too much social media. In contract, when she throws away her ipad, the darkness turns into light, representing the brightness that is in her world.

Lost, Then Found
General Studies
Sophmore
Digital

• Abstract

  Throughout our individual lives, there are moments when we feel alone, lost and undecided.  Not knowing what to do, where to go, or who to turn to can negatively impact our self concept.  Yet, that heavy weight of darkness can be lifted when we recognize the importance of loved ones and friends and their relationships in our lives. According to Rawlins (1992), healthy relationships involve someone you can talk to, someone you can depend on for help and emotional support, and someone you can participate in activities and have fun with. Reciprocal relationships, solid interpersonal relationships between people who are equals with a shared sense of loyalty and commitment, are especially important in troubled times. “These relationships develop over time and withstand external changes such as geographic separation or other commitments.  Reciprocal relationships are what most people would consider the ideal for best friends” (Vangelisti & Perlman, 2006, p. 103). 

  Lost, then Found is a representation of the importance of connection for everyone who has doubts, worries, and uncertainties.  Often, these things create disconnections that may not be intentional, yet are perceived as such. Thankfully, the people with whom we share a reciprocal relationship, know us and love us, in spite of real or perceived problems. Through our interactions with them, we are able to connect with others, and ultimately find ourselves through that connection.  When we find ourselves, we are then able to appreciate the little things and also connect with the beauty around us.

  This gif uses color as the foundational principle of art.  I used hues of black and dark blue to symbolize feelings of despair and uncertainty. In contrast, when the depressed person was able to connect with their friend, I used warm colors, including a bright yellow and orange sun to demonstrate warmth and light. Objects with warm colors tend to appear more energetic and exciting (Flye, 2011), which is consistent with the effects of the reciprocal relationship depicted in the gif.

Heart Strings
Elementary Education, Major
Sophmore
Digital

• Abstract

  Connections are vital to humans, much like water and air. Without them, we would be nothing. That is one major theme that I attempted to demonstrate through my art piece. Often when someone promotes a certain feeling or emotion within us, we claim that they are “pulling at our heart strings”, which explains why the strings form the shape of a heart.  As such, I named my art Heart Strings. This art piece relates to the theme Connect* because a string connects each nail to another. The string shows that one connection leads to another, and another, and so on. One connection leads us to others that we can bond with.

  The art concept that I chose to use in this project is line. Line is used to direct you to what is important in a piece. The lines themselves are symbolic of the theme. They also embody the whole gif because they are what creates the shape.

  The communication principle expressed is connection through love, specifically, the Philia type of love. This type of love arises through shared experiences. There is only one string used throughout the whole project and, like mentioned above, each nail is connected through it. The connection between two nails then outreaches to others which represents shared networks. Schmitz (2012) states that “research shows that shared social networks are one of the strongest predictors of whether or not a relationship will continue or terminate” (online). Those shared relationships are just as important as our close relationships. Ultimately, through this art piece, I wanted to stress the importance of having multiple connections and the beautiful things that can be accomplished through them.

Missing The Big Picture
Health Care Administration
Sophmore
Digital Media

• Abstract

  The title of my Piece is Missing the Big Picture; rather than smiling and laughing with others most are too consumed with selecting the right tag to market their photo. It is a common occurrence, when my boyfriend and I are out getting food that, we see a couple sitting across from one another, both phones up in the air blocking their view, and not paying any attention to one another, because both are too preoccupied with the world’s view of their lives rather than what is sitting right in front of them.

  To demonstrate this concept I took a photo using a phone camera, and the image is taken of my phone capturing a photo of my boyfriend sitting across from me, as we would for dinner. The phone image is through Instagram, and I furthered the concept of time wasted by having the continuation of the photo going through the filters system. From there as each photo goes through the filters I started to blur out the background in order to really show how much a scene is cropped by the camera on the phone rather than what is in front of our eyes. As the filters flip through I added the text, “Don’t let the small screening dis”connect*” you,” because there are some powerful relationships we can maintain over social media, but there are also many that are severed by it as well.

  The communication part of my exhibit was based on social constructivism, “focuses on an individual’s learning that takes place because of his or her interactions in a group.” (wikipedia, 2020) There is so much more value receiving support from a face to face reaction rather than strictly social media’s influence. Everyone wants to be desired by their spouse or peers, however it shouldn't be a foundation that it must be advertised in order for that opinion to be genuine. If a relationship is founded early on behind a screen, there is no indication that it would ever stop if both parties aren’t on board.

Connecting Through Walls
Web Development
Junior
Digital Media

• Abstract

  When we think of making connections, usually we think of the people we see and spend time with, in person. However, we live in the age of electronic technology, where people can send messages, talk to each other, and even see each other whenever and from wherever they want. Many people are even building new connections online, thanks to modern technology, and real friendships between people with common interests from all over the world are being built.

  The art piece that I made, “Connecting Through Walls”, shows the passing of a paper between a group of friends that says where each of us are from. We also pass each other various items along with the paper to represent our other common interests to give a “physical” representation of us connecting through the walls on the screen, represented by the boxes of the video chat. The communication concept that relates to this piece is connecting through social media. We all met online by connecting through our common interest in playing Dungeons and Dragons during our free time. Through an online medium, we were able to build a genuine friendship, miles away from each other. In the art piece, the art element of movement was the most important to create this gif since it is a stop motion piece. I made sure that we had frames of us in between actions, like grabbing an object off screen or bringing our hands back after passing each other something. Doing this also makes use of space by making use of the camera’s frame to give the illusion that we are passing objects to one another.

Day And Night?
Nursing, Major | Family Studies, Minor
Digital Media

• Abstract

  This piece is my personal story of how I felt before quarantine and before the Coronavirus, and then how I feel I have connected with myself after and with what was truly important to me. I battle mental illnesses and was constantly overwhelmed by everything around me and always felt behind. I have titled this day and night as the change to me feels as the phrase suggests “day and night” meaning a sharp contrast and difference. Unlike the phrase may seem however, this did not happen in 24 hours. My piece is about a process, one still developing, that is a very complex piece with many layers and interpretations that can come from this (in every aspect: art, communication, and our theme Connect*). Even though the happier, sunnier image is masked, they can see clearly. Whereas the darker image represented by the moon is blindfolded, even though unmasked. Between the moon and the sun, there are a variety of hidden images. These include, drawings of the COVID virus, squiggly lines to represent earthquakes, fire, and the Black Lives Matter movement symbol. There is also an American flag to represent the turmoil in politics and a clock symbolizing this occurred over time, and is still occurring.

  A big element of communication that is found in this piece is symbolism. There is the symbolism in the phrase “day and night” and the symbolism of a moon and a sun. Other interpretations/symbolism can be found within, such as how you can be connecting with God or a higher power as the girl in the sun is looking heavenward, Another is the symbolism or interpretation of the sparkles in the corners: on the left side, they are single and separated, and on the right side, they are connected. There are also the symbols of radiating lines, this shows connection—like a Wi-fi signal. Even the mask connecting withing the movement of the gif is symbolic as the two lines are coming together. I picked the color of blue for the mask because that’s the color of a stereotypical mask.

  There are many aspects of art that can be found. One is in contrast and lines. There is a hidden line from the eyes of both of the girls. They’re in a straight linear path that connects them as you travel from one to the other. Along the lines of lines, I also incorporate line sketches with the gold to show depth and give shadow to the girls and their hair. The contrast is in the dark blue/purple against the golden yellow. This was purposefully chosen as they are contrasting colors which will make both colors stand out against each other. The moon has more darker colors whereas the sun incorporates the warmer colors. This contrast goes gradually from one corner to the other. This piece was meant to make your eyes travel and the story also travels with the movement of the blindfold to the story of events to the mask. This is a fun part about art; there are a more interpretations, principles, and hidden symbolism that can be found as you look closer.

Recharging
Microbiology, Major | Chemistry, Minor
Senior
Digital, GIF

• Abstract

  This piece is simple and very relatable. It begins with me scrolling through social media on my tablet. I then plug it in, put it away, and play a game with a friend. I named this piece recharging for two reasons. The first is that I plug my tablet in to charge it, but the second is a little more subtle. If you look at my facial expressions throughout the gif, you can see that I go from emotionless to excited. This represents an emotional recharge. By putting the tablet away, both the tablet and I were able to stop draining each other and recharge.

  Our theme this semester was connect. As the course went on, my eyes were opened to how important connecting is. In a world dominated by smartphones and social media, we are more connected than ever, but at times, that connection can be superficial. We must take time to emotionally recharge and connect face to face.

  This piece represents two models of communication. In the beginning, it starts with the interaction model then it transitions to the transaction model. My friend and I could communicate but we were not reading each other’s body language. In the end, we were communicating fully. This is evident by watching how our emotions change throughout the gif. If you look closely at my friend, you can see that he gets happier as I get happier. This is called emotional contagion.

  One aspect of art in this piece is shadow. In the beginning, the room is dark. That was to represent me being drained, but as time went on, the light grew brighter until the end when sunlight was filling the room, and everything was bright and visible. This was meant to represent an emotional recharge.

  These two concepts intersect to convey a message. That message is that if we put away our electronics and connect with each other, our spirits will be recharged. Our days will be brighter, and we will be happier. I hope that the viewer of this will remember this the next time they are in public and decide to pull out their phone. I hope they will decide to put their phone down and really try to communicate and connect with those around them.

Essentially Oblique
Marketing
Sophomore
Digital Media

• Abstract

  A visual that has had a lasting impact on my mind when looking for the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with was a structure of a triangle. I am a Christian and have always believed in God and Jesus Christ and it has always been a priority for me to find someone who loves God and follows Jesus Christ. The journey of developing a relationship with God and Jesus Christ is a process and different for everyone.

  The 3 lines represented in this gif are connecting God to each of us as individuals and to each other forming a triangle in the end. The reason I titled this piece “Essentially Oblique” is that the triangle is the most essential part of this connection. As we go throughout life the lines, or these connections, elongate and shorten themselves. Not only is this connection for this life, but through the power of Jesus Christ can be forever.

  When I thought about what my ideal husband would be like, that was an essential requirement for me. I wanted him to have a personal and strong relationship with God. From there we could begin to connect to one another. This was one of the first things I thought of when presented with the concept of Connect*. At the beginning of the semester I initially wanted to focus on our connection with God and in addition the connection I was forming with my then fiancé. Through communication skills we were able to better connect to one another and agree to the life journey of marriage. It takes effort on both sides of a relationship in order to create a healthy line of communication. Some of the artistic elements I used involved the concept of light and line. The light is drawn from the top of the images representing God and brought closer to us showing God integration in our relationship. As for line, it represents the connection between God and us.

Connecting Through Walls
General Studies
Freshman
Mixed Media

• Abstract

  Walking Through Generations was inspired by my family’s extensive military service. Dating from the civil war to today’s campaigns, I am the 27 th person to serve in the United States military from my father’s side of the family alone. The first picture is of my grandpa who served in WWII in the Pacific Theater as an Army Scout. The second photo is of my Dad (far right) who serves now in the Army Reserves. He has deployed multiple times to different areas in the Middle East. Then lastly is me in a training exercise, developing my skills with the MK 19 40mm Grenade Launcher.

  This piece is representative of the course theme of connection as it expresses my desire to deeply connect with my family, both living and deceased. By connecting with my ancestors and family members through the lens of our shared military experiences, I can be inspired by their accomplishments and confidently accept any task put before me. This in turn gives me a better understanding of who I am and where I come from.

  The piece utilizes the communication concept of environment to communicate to the viewer the passing of time and generational gaps between photos. The art concepts of color and contrast also support this communication concept, as the quality of color and clarity of each photo improves with each generation. In spite of the obvious connection I share with them, the blurriness and lack of contrast in my grandpas and father’s photos also symbolize my inability to fully understand their sacrifices as clearly as I see my present.

The Hands Of Reconnection
Nursing
Junior
Digital Media, Including Photographs

• Abstract

  The ability to connect is one of the most important traits you could have. This allows you to communicate and build relationships with strangers, coworkers, family, and friends. It also helps in achieving your goals, avoiding miscommunication, and being able to analyze and learn from mistakes (Communication Principles). The piece I have created solely focuses on the ability to reconnect. Often in life we tend to focus on how many relationships we can build or have built. The more we “connect” the more we feel valued or have a sense of purpose. What about those relationships that we have already built though? Are those being maintained? Or have those relationships just been added to our endless unmeaningful collection?

  The Hands of Reconnect brings together hands of past relationships that I have been able to reestablish and reconnect. The idea of this piece came to me when I was forced to realize how important all relationships truly are. These hands are formed to not only come together but to move in a way like a loading wheel. I wanted the focus point of this art piece to be in the center of the circle. This is to show the hands coming together by connecting and the motion of the piece to symbolize reconnecting (Movement.). It is never too late to reconnect with those relationships that you have once built.

Herstory
Organizational Communication | History | Public History
Freshman
Digital Media

• Abstract

  When analyzing the importance of history, there is one overarching theme that you simply cannot ignore - the forming of identity. In A Primer in Communication Studies, “Our identities are formed through processes that started before we were born and will continue after we are gone”. Each of us belong to something, whether it be our ethnicity, location, or gender. A common misconception is that history is just something that you find in a textbook, but that’s not the case. History is something we carry within us; it is the stories our parents told us as children, where we were born and raised, it is the values that we carry with us through our lives. It’s essential to know our past to understand who we are in the present. Mary Jane Collier also supported this idea in her text, “Communication Competence Problematics in Ethnic Friendships,” stating that our history is one of the most important factors in developing our social identities.

  Herstory is a piece that aims to communicate a short visual history of influential women who have shaped my identity - Angela Davis, a civil rights activist and author, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of only four female Supreme Court justices, Martha P. Johnson, an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and Frida Kahlo, one of the greatest mexican artists known for her resilience. These are all women who have left their mark on history with their remarkable talent and intelligence, while still overcoming the various challenges thrown at them. By incorporating myself in the artwork, I aim to showcase my deep personal connection in my identity to these stories and values. The alignment of the portraits visually communicates the narrative of how womanhood and perseverance connect many individuals despite physical differences.

Hand in Hand
Medical Laboratory Services, Major
Sophmore
Digital Media

• Abstract

  Worldwide quarantine and the Covid pandemic forced our technologically dependent society indoors in a way no one has seen in many years. This has caused many people to find new ways to connect in a time where connection is lacking. One such way of connecting has made a remarkable resurgence amongst individuals and groups alike, going outdoors and exploring nature like they’ve never done before. People are hiking, camping, buying kayaks and experiencing the world outside of their homes and cell phones in an attempt to connect in the
  socially distant era we currently live in. My piece shows the coming together of hands and nature to portray society finding a new sense of connection with the world and each other through the exploration of the outdoors.

  The brightness of the sun shining through the leaves with reds, oranges and yellows adds a sense of warmth and intensity that invites and welcomes, as well as promises of a bright new future to come. Two separate hands coming together in a scene surrounded by nature portrays the connection one can find with self and others through the medium of the outdoors. A scene like this can give someone a sense of calmness and hope, during these stressful times where we spend the majority of our time locked up indoors, isolated with technology as our only outlets.

  The type of communication model my piece portrays, is a transmission model. The piece is a linear, one way process in hopes that the receiver would understand that I’m trying to show my intended correlation of nature and connection in modern epidemic times, although, with this communication model the receiver is open to interpret the piece in whatever way they see fit, which may or may not be my intended point. There is no way for me to know exactly how or if someone even sees the piece, let alone the way I intended it to be.

The Distance Between Us
General Studies, Major | Nursing, Minor
Sophmore
Digital Media

• Abstract

  My gif is several pictures of my husband and I standing apart then coming together. I layered a grayscale in the middle and add color as we come together until it is just us hugging and full of color. This piece helps us understand Connect* by connecting through love and relationships. In the gif it is my husband and I, we love each other, and we are in a relationship. We are apart in the beginning and then end in a hug.

  One communication concept in my gif is love, specifically eros, or romantic love, which is communicated nonverbally through proxemics (Hall, 1963). Proxemics focuses on the use of space. In the gif we are apart, representing social space. As we move together, we move to personal space, then end in a hug, which communicates the closeness of our relationship because we are in one another’s intimate space. One art concept in my gif is color. Separating my husband and I is a layered grayscale. When we get closer together the color surrounding us gets added and expands.

  How these concepts intersect is the grayscale shows that in between us is bland and not colorful and communicates how there is no life, no color, and no happiness with the distance. When we finally come together it is colorful, bright, and happy.

   

DateNight
Project Design and Development, Major
Junior
Digital

• Abstract

  This is DateNight. Yes, the activity of doing things in the evening with someone with whom you’re romantically involved is two separate words; but even the title couldn’t be separated. This piece is everything you would do in person: Having dinner together, playing games together, reading together, sharing a movie together and simply coexisting. However, the only difference is to show how you can connect through the internet the same way - even if you are apart! The shots are made to frame the date as if it was a video chat over the internet, buffering as if either side has a bad connection to the internet at their homes. Every slide presents a different activity that bridges the gap.

  As my girlfriend and I took the pictures, we were in our own spaces taking similar images talking over video chat. I later matched both halves of the pictures to show that we were in the same room and on the same couch. I also included a few ‘buffering’ shots and a loading circle to show how either half of the image is a side to the video chat call. Parts of the images still come close to matching and giving the effect of being in the same room. The couches, computers and tables are aligned to give the effect of being the same shared objects. The date night is made to be in the same room with two different rooms.

  This piece shows connection with this present day in mind. Being in quarantine has separated people from face-to-face social activities and instead, has required them to conduct most of their work and lots of their social activities through zoom or discord - including dating.
  If both people in a relationship try to make it work, they can move online as well. Nothing can stop a connection between people. And when you do connect, it’s as if you’re in the same room.

  This piece shows how to maintain connection in relationships through activities - even in the face of COVID. The behaviors from both people demonstrate that the relationship is in the intensifying stage in Knapp and Vangelisti’s Relationship Development Model (2014). The intensifying stage is characterized by communication behaviors where the couple spends more time together, whether they are in person or online. Every activity is clear to see and viewers likely know that both people are doing things together in a shared space - even though it is virtual. The activities are familiar to the couple, and it seems clear that the context was previously established. This frequent communication behavior intensifies the connection between the two people.

  With art principles I made sure to optimize space, lines, color and texture. You can see space through the depth of the room and how both people stay in their area of the couch. Lines are utilized with how the top edges of the laptops align, the people involved are looking at each
  other showing that they share the space and looking at the laptop(s) as if it is the same movie they are watching together. Color demonstrates the contrast between the different rooms, tables and couches. The images change texture and resolution to show the struggling connection. In
  spite of these differences, the rooms come together becoming one single room, one single couch and one single table.

Enigma
Marketing
Freshman
Photographs

• Abstract

  The title of my art piece is Enigma. To give some background about myself and the title of my art piece, I have commonly been identified as many different ethnicities. I can tell that it has been confusing for people because I have been mistaken for being Filipino, Hawiian, and most common, Latina. I am half Caucasian and half Samoan, often contrary to others’ perception of me.

  I resonated the most with the idea of connecting with others, and with ourselves. Through Enigma, I display that connecting with people begins with me connecting to myself. I learned how important it is to acknowledge my diverse background with ties to Germany, England, Ireland, Poland, and Samoa, and how knowing who I am can help others recognize me more thoroughly and authentically. My classmate Jessalyn Watson’s assignment titled, “Reinventing Myself”, described a metaphor of an “open door” and how being open to other people is valuable and can create lasting relationships (Watson).

  When others make assumptions of me, I do not feel like their figurative “door” is “open” to me and who I really am (Watson). Transactional communication considers the context is a major influence on the content and impact of communication. Factors such as social, physical, cultural, and relational context will have an impact on how I am viewed by others. My ethnicity is visually perplexing to those who do not know me. Because they won’t know my background, my ethnicity may be an enigma to them, and their perceptions of me may not align with the reality of who I am.

  The constant movement of the flags around my photo reveals new information about my true ethnicity. If the art piece was a still photo, the motion of the flags would not give my audience an exciting new outlook on what I am made of.

  Connecting with others requires honesty, communication, and openness from all people. Making assumptions about ethnicities, art, nature, and many more aspects of our life will limit our true understanding of what and who we are.

Socially Connected?
Pre-Engineering
Sophomore
Digital, GIF

• Abstract

  The thinking behind this piece, ‘Socially Connected?’, began one day when I looked at my screen time on my phone for social media apps. After reviewing that I was spending numerous hours a day on social media, I decided that it was time to disconnect from social media, and reconnect socially with others. Virtual communication can only do so much, and we have especially learned that in the midst of a pandemic with online classes and physical distancing.

  With the theme of the course being connect*, I was able to understand more about disconnecting from the distractions of social media which can sometimes plague the communication in our lives, leading to depression, isolation, and even suicide (Enger, 2019). Through disconnecting from the things that can take us away from reality, we can find ourselves better connected with the face-to-face relationships we have or want to have.

  The form of art I integrated into this piece was movement. From the regret of being on social media too much, to turning off the tv, and to walking away, movement helps to get the art forms interacted with the drive to change being taught through communication. This intersection allows for the message to get across that it is time to disconnect from the things that distract us in our lives and connect us with the things that matter most.

Connections With The Finer Things
General Studies
Freshman
Digital Media

• Abstract

  Our course theme is connect*. I chose to express this by showing my connections and experiences. Connections start with communication, that in turn, leads to the development of relationships. The connections I am showing are my friends, my family, and my loved ones. Through our discussions, I gained a greater understanding of how much we connect with people and the importance of connecting, especially with limitations COVID has created.

  Knapp and Vangelisti (2007) explain that relational needs help us achieve the social relating that is essential to us as humans. For me, this information clicked right then. We need our family, friends, and our loved ones to survive mentally and to live a happy life. In our lives, we will always use non-verbal and verbal communication skills to interact with people and to make and break connections with the people we interact with.

  The art principle I used in my piece is lines. I used lines to separate the pictures and to bring them back together again as a whole.

  As I was completing my .gif, I thought about intersections of art and communication. The first thing I noticed was the intersections of the pieces as they came together. I feel that the intersections of the pieces complete the art, and they also act as the completion of a conversation. When the picture is completed and the words friends, family, and love come across the screen, they are a perfect representation of the intersections of art and communication.

Fear Less
General Education
Freshman
Digital Media

• Abstract

  Welcome everyone and thank you for your interest in my gallery exhibit! My name is Cody Vine, and the title of my piece is Fear Less. I chose this title based on feelings I had with my own life experiences at this moment in time. Skydiving was something that interested me in my younger years, but I am completely terrified of heights! It was declared that on my 30 th birthday, I was going, and nothing was getting in my way! Not even my deepest fears!

  This piece informs my understanding of our course theme “Connect*”, in the sense that I chose to focus on connecting with self. All too often, we get caught up in a routine that limits our abilities to thrive. Part of the excitement in life is overcoming obstacles and growing from those experiences. If we allow fear of the unknown to hold us back, we are limiting our own connections - connections to be made are out there! It is up to us to make them!

  This piece demonstrates connecting with ones self through meeting and overcoming fears. When we are able to connect with ourselves, we are able to develop a more positive self concept because we know who we are and we can communicate more effectively. Bandura (1997) states that “self efficacy refers to the judgments that people make about their ability to perform tasks within specific contexts”. Facing the challenge of jumping from a plane created more positive perceptions of my own self-efficacy, which positively influenced my self concept, which in turn, influences my communication in a positive way.

  One art concept that has always been a favorite of mine is the concept of line. I felt obligated to put lines in my piece to create an emphasis. Most of the lines used in my piece are bold, hard lines. These emphasize the bold decision I made to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. The lines I chose to outline myself with in the piece are several different weights and harnesses. Implied lines can be seen zigzagging as I move back and forth across the background. Both the concepts of communication and the art concepts in my piece create an intersection that conveys a message of an anxious, daring experience! That intersection is then connected when I conquer my fears and put myself in that scenario.

Family Importance
General Studies
Freshman
Digital

• Abstract

  My art piece addresses the idea that connecting with your family is one of the most important things that we can do in this life. The photos were from a family photoshoot with my cousin, down in Provo in July. The photos were taken two weeks before my brother was scheduled to leave on his church mission, on July 20th. The photos in the gif helped me understand the concepts taught in the course, by illustrating the idea that art and communication are in everything we do.

  The theme for the class is Connect*, and with the photos, I realized how important it is to find connections with the people in my own family. Art can be found in almost anything. My piece represents art as a love for people in my life. I have found that I would not want my life to have different siblings or different parents. I have seen all of the good that they have been able to teach me, and how I can teach them. Communication is evident in my piece of art, not only through a quote from a movie about families (Coco), but also through what lies ahead in our futures. After these photos were taken, my brother left on his mission reassignment to North Carolina. We are able to communicate with him every Monday and Thursday and talk about what’s happening in our lives. Technology has been a blessing for those who have family members far away.

Sprout
General Studies
Freshman
Digital

• Abstract

  I titled my piece, Sprout, because it depicts a tree sprouting out of the ground and a person grabbing on to the tree and soaring into the sky as the tree grows. There isn't a lot of background information. I just wanted to create something cool that was supported by a communication principle.

  This gif informs my understanding of the course theme because, for the person to achieve great heights (figuratively and literally), they needed to connect with the environment around them. In context of this class specifically, we needed to connect with others and different art pieces and principles to get the necessary tasks done and to complete the assignments.

  I tried to communicate a message with this gif, the message being that connections are needed to get through life, even if it's a bit wobbly at times.
  One art concept I think stands out is the lines because they're constantly shifting slightly from frame to frame because I had to redraw each scene for each frame, only altering a little bit at a time.

  Both concepts contribute to how I wanted to convey a message. The lines being a little shaky resemble how life can be shaky at times, but if we're still staying mostly on course, we'll be on our way up to achieve our goals and generally succeed in life.

Perceived Aloneness
Microbiology
Sophmore
Digital Media

• Abstract

  This piece portrays a scene in which someone who felt alone was actually not alone. It turns out, all they had to do was simply look around to recognize that they were not alone. I chose this topic because everyone has felt or at least knows someone who has felt alone and disconnected. I treasure my friends and my family, and I feel that the relationships and connections we create are the most important things in our life.

  This media is about realizing the connections that we have. The piece informs us about connect* by explaining that there is always a connection. It is easy to feel disconnected and that no one is there. We may be required to step back and think about those who care for us and are cheering us on before we can recognize them. A lot of loneliness and feelings of disconnect are self-created. There really are people who are near us who love and are willing to help us.

  I choose to use atmospheric perspective as my art concept. The horizon and distant objects begin to mesh and have an atmospheric haze. They become harder to distinguish. We cannot allow our connections to others to fade and become indistinguishable.

  Communicationally, relational needs are being portrayed in this piece. As humans, we need to maintain social bonds and interpersonal relationships. These two concepts further my idea of “perceived aloneness.” The haziness of the background shows how at times we feel like we are in a fog or state of limbo. The communication principle is shown by the first individual feeling alone but finding that he really was not. There was a connection all along. We all have connections which at times may feel hazy or nonexistent, but they are there.