Malia's Portfolio

In our recent dance project, we used several tools to help us generate and develop our ideas. We started by using brainstorming where everyone shared their thoughts and suggestions for the dance.I was active in the project by taking lead on and helping create the choreography. Yes, I really liked the final outcome.i think that the dance felt cohesive, and put to together really well. In the future, I would focus more on better time management, incorporating more styles because although we finished quickly i think we could have spent more time going over our dance more.

I significantly improved my dribbling and passing skills during this unit. The drills that focused on ball control really helped me maneuver better on the field. I believe I communicated effectively with my team throughout the soccer unit, which contributed to my overall performance.

However, I think I could have been a bit more proactive, such as running to get the ball more often or trying to score goals. Being more active in these areas would have improved my contributions even further. Overall, I found this unit to be fun and engaging, providing a great way to stay active while enhancing my soccer skills.

In this unit, we covered several important topics: Evolution Basics, Evidence, Natural Selection, Adaptation, Fossil Records, Anatomical and Embryological Evidence, Artificial Selection, and Genetic Variation. I feel that I did well in understanding the key concepts of evolution throughout this unit.

I particularly enjoyed learning how fossils and anatomical evidence support the theory of evolution, illustrating how species have changed over time. These examples helped make the concepts clearer and more relatable.

However, I realize that I could have taken advantage of extra help sessions after class to clarify some concepts. Checking in with my teacher more often would have allowed me to reinforce my understanding and improve my grasp of the material.

An exhibition can greatly influence what people think and feel through different experiences. When I interacted with the artwork, I found that each piece made me think about my own feelings and beliefs. For instance, an artwork by El Anatsui made me feel really counted to it because it’s interesting how he can create beautiful art with scarps.

Watching my peers engage with the art added to this experience. Their reactions and discussions created a positve atmosphere where we could share ideas. I noticed that everyone brought their own opinions to the conversation, which led to interesting talks about the meanings behind the art. This showed how the exhibition could bring people together and encourage dialogue about important issues.

Finally, the activities we participated in, like guided tours or hands-on workshops, made the experience even richer. For example, a workshop that let us create our own art using bottle caps and wire helped us feel more involved and allowed us to see how El anatusi works. Overall, the exhibition was a powerful experience that influenced how I thought and felt, showing how art can shape our views and bring us closer together.

1. Cultural Influence on Aesthetic Choices

Kool Koor’s background in the graffiti culture in New York plays a good role in shaping his artistic style and techniques. Growing up in an environment where street art was a great form of expression, he likely developed a strong appreciation for bold colors and dynamic forms. Graffiti often reflects the community’s struggles, hopes, and creativity, and this influence can be seen in Kool Koor’s work. His choice of vibrant colors and expressive lines may come from the atmosphere he grew up in.

2. Environmental Impact on Art Creation

The transition from street art to studio work significantly helps an artist’s creative process and choices. In the streets, an artist like Kool Koor may be influenced by the surroundings the of the environment. This creates a dynamic space for spontaneous inspiration and community interaction. Also working in a classroom or studio offers a more controlled environment, allowing for deeper focus and more controlled of techniques. While trying out Kool Koor’s painting style, I noticed how the structured setting of a classroom influenced my approach to the artwork.

3. Personal Reflection on Aesthetic Development

As I consider my own future artistic choices for a self-portrait mixed media artwork, I recognize that my culture and environment will play a crucial role in shaping my expression. Elements such as traditional patterns, colors, and themes from my heritage can serve as powerful tools to convey my identity. Incorporating aspects like my family stories, local landscapes, or cultural symbols can enrich my artwork and provide a deeper connection to who I am. For example I wrote that a tree is apart of my personal connection because when I was little I used to go on hikes with my dad and I felt very connected nature.

1.What have you learned about Contemporary Dance from our technique classes?

In our technique classes, I’ve learned that Contemporary Dance is all about expressing emotions and ideas through movement, rather than sticking to strict rules or forms.

How is Contemporary Dance different from other styles of dance?

This style encourages creativity, allowing dancers to explore their own unique movements and interpretations. Unlike other dance styles which often focus on specific techniques like ballet is more precise positions or hip-hop’s has a lot of steps, Contemporary Dance blends elements from various genres, making it more fluid and open-ended. If I were to evaluate myself overall on a scale from 1 to 4, I would rate myself a 3. I feel that I’ve made good progress in understanding the basics and expressing myself through out the dance unit. but I know there’s still room for improvement in my technique and confidence.

During our ping pong unit, I learned essential techniques, including proper grip, footwork, and various types of serves and spins. I enjoyed the competitive aspect and saw improvement in my rallying skills and strategic play. To progress further, I plan to focus on practicing my serves to enhance consistency and accuracy, as well as studying opponents’ strategies to better anticipate their moves. Additionally, I think that I should be more focused to help me better my understanding.

I choose question 4 as evidence of my best thinking because that question i think i did well on and i thought that i worked really hard on that question.Throughout this unit i improved the most at showing my work because in other grades i would be use to not showing my work when i got my answers but now i believe i’ve improved more. I feel that i still need to work on my commutation skills because im not the best at asking for help when i need help but i think i need to improve on that because it could really benefit me. Three strengths so far this year would be showing my work, note taking and focusing. Three things i could improve on would be my commutation skills, practicing and seeking help when needed.In the next unit i want to practice more this is important to me because it can be beneficial for and practicing regularly is good.Something that could get in the way of this is my lack of motivation to practice. Something i could do if i get stuck is ask for help with my teacher or one of my peers.