My research has taken a slight turn from the original plan that I had discussed in my presentation over the winter session. I was looking into the bus schedules and found major resistance and road blocks. With that said, I have decided to still travel the roads, but I will do every road within the radius of both School 12 and School 28; taking note where murals and graffiti are located. The radius will be based off data that I collect from http://www.cityofrochester.gov. I have been looking into the city’s main website to get guidelines on neighborhood zoning. I have also been looking into which zones my schools embody; thus, keeping in mind that we have a lottery system in the district. I will then proceed to show the images to local shop and community members. I was going to give them printed images with questions. I will ask that they respond to the questions via paper or internet (assuming not everyone has internet access). Or if I can personally record responses if they do not have time to write. I will also incorporate student responses. I will show them the images, and then I will record the responses via written or recorded documentation. If I do recording, it will not be video but just audio. I have begun the HREB process. The application is very intimidating. I fear being concise might be an issue, since I feel as though my research is having many “hiccups” already at this point. Overall, I am excited for the art part of the research. I think it is actually starting to bring a little clarity to the process. The writing seems to cause me to slow down with my thoughts and rethink things. I am trying to do both at the same time.
Tag Archives: Melissa
February 6th Studio Progress
This is still exploration with encaustic. This is painting with encaustic wax. All coloration comes from the wax. I will try and finish this one to compare to the pastels.
February 6th Studio Progress
This past Sunday, I went to a six hour workshop on joining pastels and encaustic. The workshop was very meditative, and I am grateful because I think I have found the direction I am going with my work. I started three works where I learned three different techniques under a local artist named Kathryn Bevier. There were several RIT professors that I had the opportunity to speak with there and pick their brains. The results from the workshop where the three artworks attached. The image that has the bubbles is the direction I will be pursuing my final artwork. I will be applying soft pastel images, and then several layers of raw encaustic wax. The last layer I will carve into the wax and then apply a dark oil paint to the surface. I will probably be using oil paint sticks for that. 
SPring/Summer Draft proposal Melissa
Currently my work has been focused mainly around material exploration. This spring semester has started with my continuation in encaustic exploration; the exploration that started at the end of the fall semester and continued on into our winter session. Recently, I have been completing 8×10 inch pieces that involve the incorporation of pan pastels, oil paints, and actually painting with pigmented encaustic. So far, my exploration has resulted in favoring layering Pan Pastels. I want to proceed in this direction with placing a second layer with another image. One image will be a photo transfer and the other will be with the application of more pan pastels. I might also attempt creating transparent layers of encaustic paint over the Pan Pastel. My plan that I worked out over winter might need to be a little altered. The details that will be required for the application of images takes me roughly four hours for one layer with Pan Pastels (not including the second layer that will involve an image transfer or painting). With that said, the numbers of completed final pieces might be hard to accomplish. I am hoping to finish up with material exploration by the 13th of February. Once I complete that, and figure out the method I will be using, I want to collect material images around Rochester.
The images that I will be collecting will pertain to my conceptual focus. I am looking at visual culture within the city of Rochester. The images that I will be utilizing will include two images. Those two images will have some sort of juxtaposition that will in turn hopefully question conceived perceptions the imagery evokes.
Once I have decided on the images that will be used, I still have the intention of removing areas of the encaustic wax to highlight the image below. I will also block out areas on the top layer with cross hatching of layers of colored wax over the encaustic paint. This is intended as a form of beautification to direct the viewers’ eye to areas I perceive to be important to the conceptual theme. This is the more immediate form of encaustic exploration that will take place in the next few weeks.
In Progress Work for Studio January 30th
The work seen here is my progress on one piece and another work started on Masonite. Each encaustic I am starting on Masonite. I have tried both the textured and smooth side. These pieces are test pieces for the final method I will be using for my summer work. Out of the four images, the one image that possess the teapot with layers of wax is the farthest I have been able to get. Each piece is about 8 by 10 inches. They take me quite a bit of time because of the methodic process. I intend on cover that image next and then carving into the wax.
Reading Response to What Artists do (& Say) when they Draw
“Drawing is a tool of thought.” This quote resonated with me since I forget this frequently; especially on a micro level. With my personal artwork, I think of the end result; but, my focus is never on a point or a stroke. I never think about thinking regarding strokes or mark making. The majority of the time I subconsciously make decisions.
Cognitive ethnography struck my curiosity. I would actually like to try this. Watching myself make decisions and then narrating it might bring to light some subconscious decision making. Helping to place more emphasis back on the mark or decision making. This would result in revisiting my work with positive revisions, especially if coworkers or peers are not around to request opinions or thoughts.
Melissa M Final Image of Pan Pastel Drawing Place/Visual Culture
I have finally finished my first drawing dealing with place and visual culture. I have placed two images up that I would love to have your opinions on. I placed neutral colors (white and black) behind the cutout areas. I prefer the black background, but I wanted to have some opinions on which is a stronger composition. 
Work for 11/28/2016 Melissa Mizerak
This time I am adding a little experiment with soft pan pastels and cutouts. I was experimenting with my cutouts and using them as stencils with the pan pastels. I was hoping this would help me work through the negative space in my current drawing. However, I really liked Lindsay B. recommendation about keeping the space negative and intertwining the cutout.
Adding Details with Pan Pastels
Still enjoying the soft pastels and the pan pastels. As I continue on with this image, progress has become slower as I work with the details. I wish I chose a larger format because the pastels do not allow for details with such a small image size. However, I continue on. The car was time consuming, but fun as I lost myself in it. The tree will eventually be cut out and a solid color of an alternative piece of paper will be placed behind it.
Memo #4 Reflecting on Research Process Melissa Mizerak
My research has been focusing on Visual Culture and place. As I have been reading articles on the subject matter, I constantly think about what my students are exposed to through media. I started thinking about one specific article that I read by Kristen Eglinton where she interviews boys through an after-school club called HOPE in NYC about masculinity. As she compiles her research about these boys’ perceptions about masculinity, she sees that many relate it to a ‘gangsta’ stereotype, as the boys call it. Visual culture which portrayed ‘gangstas’ created perceptions that caused youth to define masculinity as: overcoming hardships, violent, having sexist behavior, laid back, and having control or power.
My focus consistently comes back to these boys’ perceptions of ‘gangsta’ with overcoming hardships. I think about this when I see my seventh-grade males who define themselves under this stereotype. Why wouldn’t they want to define themselves this way? Many of them have been witnesses to murder, beaten mothers, sisters, brothers, themselves beaten, and witnesses to illegal acts. Overcoming hardships is what they are trying to do. Many times, in my head, I think if we could expose our youth that have been through hardships to visual culture that displays individuals that have been through similar experiences without the other stereotypes that come along with ‘gangsta’, that we could reduce some of the issues in school. I think what my students are holding onto is the idea of Hope. If they become a ‘gangsta,’ then they can overcome anything.