The profiles, which have been collected at https://rebeccaspiess.com/humans-of-phoenix-pg/, were created from subjects I met at coffee shops, art galleries, on study abroad trips and through personal research. The only criteria for inclusion in the project was their connection to Phoenix. Additionally, because of the digital nature of the portraits, I have included timelapse videos showing the process of creating each image on my YouTube channel, called Rebecca Spiess.
I want the “Humans of Phoenix” project to be like speed-dating the city, getting to know the stories and the people you might pass on the street. People love to get a glimpse into the lives of others. I love the thrill of meeting new people with great stories, and I want the readers of this project to get that satisfaction as well. And hopefully, I want these narratives to engage readers in a way that elicits empathy, understanding and excitement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5osMYze5138
In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of the novel SARS-CoV-2, otherwise referred to as COVID-19, to be an international pandemic. Ensuing health regulations around the world forced the cease of international traveling, reduced domestic travel, implemented mandatory stay-at-home orders and asked many to wear face masks in public areas. Students, workers, and many in the public sphere switched from in-person interactions to online platforms, operating remotely from their respective homes. The shift to virtual platforms has since greatly impacted arts programs and professions. Whereas the nature of music and art production rely upon the collaboration between people, often in the same room, the forced shift to virtual platforms created an upheaval for artists to re-imagine their work.
Though the transition from in-person to virtual collaboration seemed abrupt and unwanted, it opened up opportunities to create new projects that otherwise may not have happened. “Cross-Disciplinary Arts Collaboration on a Virtual Platform” took advantage of the ubiquitous shift to virtual collaboration of art disciplines. This project combined poetry, music, dance and visual art to create a unique piece that might not have been possible through strictly in-person collaboration. The goal of this project was to amplify the meaning and impact of music through the addition of words (poetry), movement (dance), and visuals (artwork).
Every day, the earth’s oceans are being destroyed. Pollution, fishing, sonar, and many other man-made factors have caused detrimental effects to the most crucial of the ocean’s ecosystems. While more individuals are becoming aware of these problems, additional support is needed to help protect the ocean’s many unique creatures. The purpose of this honors thesis exhibition is to continue to shine light on human negligence towards threatened ocean creatures. The three artworks in this thesis show the descent of diversity and life of these marine creatures over time. By showcasing the different ways in which whales, rays, and corals have been affected by human impact, this thesis and subsequent art pieces will help to continue to enhance one’s understanding of the importance of marine conservation.