Final Video Project

Sight

This was a very creative project and most likely a preview of our future reality.  We are doing all of this now with our iPhones.  Technology is already moving toward this reality with Google Glass and Oculus Rift only the beginning.  We are currently moving from technology in our hands to outside our heads and soon will be moving into our heads.  This project also shows how the integration of technology into our bodies could be disastrous.  I guess we can only wait and see where technology leads us in the future.  As fast as things are changing, it will definitely happen in our lifetimes.  I don't think I would want to be that connected all the time but I would try it.  I would wait until all the bugs are worked out before I would give it a chance. 

Golan Levin Interview

This interview provided a lot of useful information on new technologies that I wasn't aware of.  It was also a very creative interview with the visual effects.  The best question asked was if art degrees have any value.  I ask myself that sometimes but I always answer yes they do have value.  There is always value in learning new skills and new technologies.  I think the biggest value is the connections made while going to school.  A good network with other artists is very valuable for people who plan on making art a career.  A degree in art is not for everyone.  Most people who pursue an art degree are born with artistic talent and do it for the love of art.  Some people are stupid and should have pursued the art degree when they were younger instead of joining the military.  But I feel like it is never too late to pursue a dream and learn new things.

Electronic - The Knife + Fever Ray

Fever Ray, aka Karin Dreijer Andersson, formed The Knife with her brother Olof Dreijer.  They are a Swedish electronic duo.  Fever Ray released one solo album and that is how I discovered her and The Knife.  Her self-titled solo album is a mesmerizing work of art.  This is one of the few albums that I love every song.  The eerie sounds she creates are nothing like I have ever heard before in music.  Her videos are loaded with imagery that complement her music.  She also combines performance art with her music.  Her award acceptance speech is legendary.  It is the first time anyone accepted an award with grunting and a melting face.  I saw the viral video of her acceptance grunt and was immediately drawn to her.

Girl Power - Imogen Heap

Imogen Heap is one of my favorite artists and relies heavily on technology to create her music.  She includes a lot of looping and voice manipulation in her songs.  Her song "Hide and Seek" is a beautiful work of art made with only a keyboard and her voice.  She has a very kooky style and is definitely a precursor to Lady Gaga's crazy outfits.  Over the past couple of years she has been experimenting with musical gloves with amazing results. 

Punk - Pussy Riot

Pussy Riot has revitalized the Punk genre with their arrest and prison sentences for expressing themselves.  They are a mix of punk and performance art as they protest against the brutal crackdown in the Soviet Union.  They are very courageous as they risk their lives for their art.   Also, Pussy Riot has to be the best band name in the history of music.

 

New Wave - Duran Duran

You can't talk about New Wave without mentioning Duran Duran.  They were one of the most successful bands from the British Invasion with a string of hits in the 80s.  I was into the hair bands during the 80s but will admit Duran Duran was my guilty pleasure.  Their music relied heavily on synthesizers for their signature sound and were also categorized as Synthpop.  Unlike a lot of the bands from the 80s who have broken up, Duran Duran is still together making new music and touring.

Techno - Rednex

I discovered Rednex while I was living in Germany in the 1990s.  They were very successful in Germany and "Cotton Eye Joe" was a huge hit.  The first time I heard it, I was at a carnival in Nurnberg.  It was playing on one of the rides that was spinning very fast and it was awesome.  I had never heard anything like it before.  Rednex is very unique because their music is a blend of techno with folk and bluegrass.  I don't think any band had done that before and it was very different and I am always attracted to stuff that is different.  It has been over twenty years since I first heard them and I still listen to them today.  Their videos are nothing but over-the-top silliness.  

The Smiths

The Smiths were one of the best bands from Britain in the 1980s.  Some people compared them to the Beatles and they were very successful with their blend of new wave and indie rock.  I don't recall hearing much from them when I was growing up on the 80s but I discovered them later on.  Even though they were only together for a short period of time, they gained a cult following which still exists today.  Their lead singer, Morrissey, had a very successful solo career after the band broke up.  He continues to tour and there are always rumors of a reunion of The Smiths.  I like Morrissey because he makes great music and is an outspoken supporter of animal rights and vegetarianism.  One of my favorite songs by The Smiths is "Meat is Murder."  I like it because Morrissey is expressing his true feelings through his music.

 

 

Massive Attack

I had never heard of Massive Attack until I saw their video in class.  I guess I was too lost in the heavy metal scene of the 80s and 90s to discover some great music and amazing videos.  I really got lost in the imagery of the "Karmacoma" video.  The music was great, but the video was better.  I have watched several more of their videos and get the same feeling.  I like the video imagery better than the music.  The videos are a work of art and seem like they had finished the video images first and then added music.  I watched some of their live shows and it does seem something is missing without the videos.  I probably would not have given them a second listen if I had just heard the music.

This live version of "Karmacoma" would have been better if they had projected the video images in the background.

 

 Massive Attack - "Karmacoma" Live

The video for "Teardrop" was very creative, but like the other videos, I enjoyed the video imagery more than the music. 

 

Massive Attack - "Teardrop"

 

Performance Art Comments

The performance art pieces were all very creative and well-done for first attempts at performance art.  Andrea had a great idea integrating her major, Creative Advertising, into her performance by allowing people to write their favorite slogans on her body.  Bryan's performance of being connected to his electronic devices was an excellent representation of MIS.  Katelyn's was the best interpretation of anti-advertising with her sign.  I like the way she recorded her performance from across the street.  Leah's was excellent with the participation of the people walking on Bayshore.  My favorites were done by Spencer and Kirby.  Spencer did a very creative piece with communication by string and cups.  He picked a perfect location with lots of foot traffic.  Kirby did an excellent job by immersing herself in the story as a Journalism major.  She created the story with the body on the sidewalk and participating by doing the chalk outline.

Performance Art

I decided to put myself in a sand sculpture for my performance art.  I thought a shark eating me alive would be a graphic image and would work well since I am a graphic design major.  It also represents the way I feel sometimes since I'm an older student attending college.   I decided to do it at Fort De Soto Beach and it was my first attempt at sand sculpture and performance art.  I immediately had problems with the sand holding together but finally got a good feel for the amount of sand and water to mix.  The sand sculpture took about two hours to complete and I spent another thirty minutes posing with the shark and allowing others to participate.  I posed with my head inside the shark and then posed with a torn, bloodied shirt inside his jaws.  It was a conversation piece on the beach with many people.  This is the first time I have ever had so many strangers come by and talk to me at the beach.  My shark turned into a photo op as many people stopped to get a picture with their head inside the shark's mouth.  I had stressed about this assignment since day one when I saw it on the syllabus but I stressed out for no reason.  It was a very enjoyable experience and I got to know a lot of new people.

I was very worried at this point if it would work.  I was starting to think of back-up plans.

I was feeling much better after the mouth did not collapse.  That was the hardest part to do and took several attempts and lots of water.

This was the first pose.  I could hear lots of people walking by and laughing.

I'm sure this picture is on her Facebook.

This is the second pose with my shredded and bloodied shirt.

Photo op!!

This lady had more than water in her cooler and she had been drinking lots of it.

Northern Soul

I think the reason for this underground dance music was explained in the video when it showed The Osmonds.  If that is the music being played on the radio, it would drive people to an underground club scene to listen to good music.  I think it is also about rebelling against the "in" music at the time.  There will always be groups of people who don't fit in and want to be different.  The Northern Soul scene gave them the opportunity to be different and be around like-minded people.  If those people did not exist, we would still be suffering with the same old crappy music.

Graphene

If all they say is true about graphene, then it would be the next evolution in electronics to continue making them smaller. Electronics have continued to shrink over the years from large bulky items to small, thin devices. I guess graphene answers the question of how small and thin can they go. Some of the items mentioned in the article are very intriguing and one is a little scary. I like the idea of the cell phone battery that stays charged for a week but I don't like the idea of a very thin cell phone. I would probably lose mine on a daily basis. I would like to see a graphene television that I can stick on my wall. I am fascinated by what graphene could do in the art world. It could really take body art to another level. I don't like the idea of a graphene implant to monitor my body. I would try the thin electronic devices but would not want any of it in my body.

Videoartes.com

I chose three videos from the 3D category. All of these have amazing special effects but each offers their own uniqueness. World Builder tells a beautiful story as a man creates objects from nothing with his hands and movements. It also incorporates a love story. It does a lot in only nine minutes. In One's Heart is a very short clip at less than a minute but it packs lots of imagery and story in that short period. This movie is a very artistic piece with the nesting dolls and text. My favorite is Auto Drums. This one creates a beautiful musical compilation with new and unique instruments.

World Builder from BranitVFX on Vimeo.

In One's Heart (INDISOULS 2nd exhibition, Feeling) from ifworks on Vimeo.

Auto Drums from Bob on Vimeo.

TR 808 Songs

The Beastie Boys:  "Brass Monkey"

Whitney Houston:  "I Wanna Dance With Somebody"

Marvin Gaye:  "Sexual Healing"

Video Mapping

This one was a very creative project with lots of interesting images.  It has some very realistic illusions with the building crumbling down.  It looked so real I had to refocus on the actual building to make sure it was still standing.

I like the combination of video mapping and dancers in this example.  The use of color and the dancing movements produce lots of energy in the performance.  I liked when the dancers changed from real to projection and then back to real again.

This was a very creative advertisement for the BMW Series 3.  The mapping on the car combined with the background video created a very realistic illusion of driving down a road. 

Commercials and Propaganda

I think the line between commercials and propaganda has been blurred.  Propaganda has typically been used as a political tool but commercials seem to be pushing an agenda toward the public.  Commercials are now used to not only advertise a product but they are used to create demand and sometimes pure insanity for a product.  Commercials are used to make people believe they have to get the latest car, clothes, shoes or electronic devices to be a part of the "in crowd".  Black Friday ads are a great example of the monster that advertising has created.  It is insane that people will camp out a week before something goes on sale just to get a "deal".  Why would people give up a week of their life just to get a sale item?  I would never go to that extreme but I do remember being effected by commercials during my Saturday morning cartoons when I was a child.  I had to have those toys and that sugary cereal with the toys inside.  Now I despise commercials and have no use for them.  The majority of my television watching is on my DVR so I can fast forward through the commercials.  I guess commercials can be considered propaganda since they are trying to influence and persuade the viewer to buy something.  It seems to be working since people are willing to camp out and wait for days to get an item. 

Xerox Projects

The class was very creative with their xerox projects.  My favorite pieces were made by Gina, Holly and Katelyn.  Gina's dress was an amazing wearable work of art.  Her use of the loofah sponge created a beautiful texture.  I liked Holly's use of good and bad items radiating around her face with her face being pulled to the good side and away from the dark side.  There was a lot of thought put into her piece as she exposed part of herself.  My favorite was Katelyn's project.  She took the project to another level by experimenting with her dog.

I Wish to Say

I read the letters from Florida and they reflected a variety of opinions from anger to innocence.  Sheryl Oring allowed ordinary people to share their feelings and be heard when their voices probably would never be heard.  It is a very expressive work of art that shows how divided the United States has become because of politics and endless wars.  I doubt if it will make a difference but the postcards allow citizen's voices to be heard by many people around the world.  Unfortunately, the ones that need to hear it are out of touch and won't hear the voices.  The best postcards were by the children.  Their voices was a refreshing break from the monotony of the political letters.  I enjoyed the innocence of their questions and statements.

Performance Art

I have never been a big fan of performance art but I am slowly gaining an appreciation of the art form.  My view changed after watching Marina Abramovic's performance of The Artist is Present at the MoMA.  I could feel the emotion when she opened her eyes to see Ulay after many years apart.  It was a very emotional moment that broke the barrier between artist and viewer.  It touched me in a way no artwork has ever touched me before.  It was an unexpected feeling.

I'll probably never be a fan of some of the performance art.  The vomiting, defecating, pissing and bleeding is just not for me.  I understand that it is influenced by things happening in the world but it seems more about shock value than art.  I saw no artistic value in the recent performance when Millie Brown vomited on Lady Gaga.  It was more of a cry for attention of a fading star.

I will admit our performance art project had me worried when I read about it the first week of class. I'm not worried about it now after watching the other artists.  They have inspired me and I have a great idea for my project.  Hopefully, I can translate the idea in my head into a great performance art piece.

Xerox Project

This is my xerox project titled Hangman (Pieces of Me).  It was inspired by the Billie Holiday song Strange Fruit and the performance art piece with the same title with the man suspended in a tree.  It was made with paper mache wrapped around balloons.  I tried different types of paste starting with flour and water which worked but was very messy.  After making a mess with that paste, I switched to a mixture of Elmer's glue and water which worked much better and wasn't as messy. 

Grid Art

This is my self-portrait grid art project made from 10,836 hole punches.  The size is 24"x36".

Dada Mainfesto

The Dada Manifesto is a great representation of Dada because it is five pages about nothing.  Dada is nothing!  The manifesto is nothing!  As soon as it starts to make a little sense, it makes no sense.  The manifesto reads like it was written by a mentally disturbed person.  Some sentences are complete but some have many random words inserted which make no sense.  There were a few words that stood out.  The manifesto mentioned excrement, chicken manure and diarrhea.  Those words were appropriate because this was literally a piece of shit.

Persuasive Games

I like the idea of using games for education and corporate learning.  I hate the idea of using them for anything related to politics or advertising.  As an education tool, I would play a game but would not even consider playing if I knew it was advertising or politics.  This site had some games that I would consider playing.  I like the ideas behind the games Planet in Peril: Animal Rescue and Windfall - Wind Farms.  Unfortunately, Animal Rescue was no longer available to play and I lost interest in Windfall after about a minute of playing it.  I wanted to try Colorfall but the link did not work and I could not find it in the App Store.  Persuasive Games really needs to update their website to fix the broken links and delete the games no longer available.  It is a great idea but I am not impressed with their website.  I would not visit it again.

Video Game Revolution

This video provided an interesting and very informative history of video games.  It was fascinating to see how video games have evolved from one blip moving on a screen to games like Grand Theft Auto in a short period of time.  I have only been a fan of video games a couple times in my life.  I have been addicted to Galaga and Super Mario Brothers which really shows my age.  The technology is interesting but I try to avoid them because they can become too time consuming.   

The guy at the end of the video was correct when he said the next big thing is total immersion into the game.  That is happening today with devices like the Oculus Rift.  I read a news story this week that the Oculus Rift was a big hit at SXSW in Austin.  The story said people waited for many hours for a chance to try the Oculus Rift.  Even though I'm not a gamer, this is a device I would love to experience.

Triumph of the Nerds

There were two great quotes in these videos.  The first one was by a ten-year old boy who said you can't have other people stop your dreams.  The other was when Steve Jobs said he never did it for the money and money wasn't important. Steve Jobs was a visionary and his death makes you wonder what technology the world will miss out on.  Hopefully he shared  his vision with others before he died.

This was a very informative history of the computer.  It is amazing how we rely on something on a daily basis and it all started in a garage 40+ years ago.  Something that started out as a crude device has evolved into devices we can use in the palm of our hand to do thousands of tasks.  The videos also caused me to have flashbacks because I remember using some of those IBM computers when I first joined the military.  There have been drastic changes since the Triumph of the Nerds was filmed in 1996.  The videos showed the large monitors and CPUs.  Everything keeps getting smaller and thinner.

Flip Books

The class' flip books were all very creative and well done.  Bryan had a great concept with the gladiators, Roman circus and opera.  It tied together all the things that had been discussed in class.  Gina's was nicely done, especially the fish jumping out of the water.  Leah's was very creative with the caterpillar transforming into a butterfly.  Holly's dragon animation was one of my favorites.  Andrea had the best flip book in the class.  It was well-drawn and had a great story.  Katelyn did an excellent job with her guy climbing down the rope.  Kyle did a great tribute to the city of Boston.  Kirby and Spencer both had awesome animation with their skateboarders flipping. 

Mark Snyder - Electroacoustic Music & Multimedia

I enjoyed this concert with the combination of music and videos.  It isn't the type of music I normally listen to but it was very entertaining.  The music and images ranged from haunting to energetic.  Here is the set list with my thoughts about each arrangement:
1.  "Copenhagen" - The music and images were very eerie and haunting.
2.  "Butterfly" - This one was very relaxing and serene with amazing butterfly images.
3.  "Messy" -  This was one of my favorites.  He combined the music with a friend's abstract painting images. It started out slow but emerged into a climax of high-speed images flashing on the screen.  It was almost hypnotic as the images flashed faster and faster.
4.  "Harvey" - This one was somber and very sad because it was about the murder of a friend and his family.
5.  "Alluvium" - The music was very energetic and spooky.  He switched from clarinet to accordion for this arrangement. 
6.  "Qwee" - He stopped the video for "Qwee" and it was all about the music as he was joined by Becky Brown on harp.  The harp is one of my favorite instruments so I really enjoyed this song.  It was beautiful with an energetic ending.
7.  "Cancion i" - This was the finale and was also performed with no video.  He was joined again by Becky Brown on harp and Paige Naylor on vocals.  Mark played guitar for this arrangement.  This was my favorite of the show.  It had an Enya vibe and was performed beautifully. 

"Messy"

"Harvey"

"Cancion i"

Ralph and Mark

Mark Snyder - "Messy"

Flip Book Animation

War of the Worlds

I listened to this as I was driving home from class and can understand how people thought it was real.  They did an excellent job of making it sound like aliens were invading Earth.  It was really eerie when they would cut back and forward from the reporter to the music.  The most convincing part of the broadcast was when they would lose contact with the on-scene reporter.  It made the listener think something bad was happening and they were listening to it as it happened.

I believe a lot of the confusion happened because there was no disclaimer at the beginning.  The disclaimer was at the end of the broadcast.  Since it was presented as news, there should have been a disclaimer at the beginning for all of those gullible people who would believe it was real. 

A Clockwork Orange - "Singing in the Rain"

I think Stanley Kubrik used the song "Singing in the Rain" for the shock value and to contrast the more innocent version by Gene Kelly.  It shows the extreme contrast from dancing around in the rain to the violence in A Clockwork Orange.  It is also a reflection of what was happening in society at the time.  The Vietman War was happening when the movie was made and released.  The indiscriminate violence of war was reflected in the random violence inflicted upon the couple.  The singing added a perverse element to their rampage.

Stop Motion - ParaNorman and Coraline

 

I have always been a fan of stop motion animation.  ParaNorman is one of my favorite movies.  It is a beautifully-made movie with a great story and lots of comedy.  Coraline is also well made with a very creepy storyline.  I have always wanted to make a stop motion short and I plan on making one for my final project.  I have a few ideas to try so I will see where I can go with them.  It would have to be a very short clip because I don't think I have the patience for the meticulous process involved in creating stop motion.  I like getting things done fast and moving on and that can't happen with this process.  

Trip To The Moon

I loved this movie.  Even though it was crude, it was fascinating to watch.  I remember seeing parts of it in the movie Hugo so it is still relevant more than 100 years later.  It is an amazing piece of film history.  I liked that the story was easily followed with no dialogue or subtitles.  I think the lack of dialogue makes you appreciate the film more since you have to pay closer attention to the action and the details.   The art of film making has moved forward by leaps and bounds.  It is almost unbelievable when watching a movie today, with all the technology used, that they started out in such an unrefined format.

Stage Door - Titanic - No Moon / Autumn / Finale Act I

I wasn't aware that Titanic had been made into a musical.  I loved the movie but I did not like this clip from the musical.  Based on this clip, I would not want to see the complete musical.  I am a big fan of Broadway musicals but I thought the lyrics and dialogue in this clip were terrible.  It was extremely boring watching the interaction between characters.  I know it doesn't have a happy ending but this was painful to watch.  I read that it won five Tony awards, including best picture, in 1997 so I probably shouldn't judge it based on this clip.  Maybe I would see it, if I had a free ticket.

Examining the Self Symposium

Professor Vaughan's presentation provided a unique perspective of her gender identity struggles and it's influence on her art.  The Back of My Head and Brows and Bangs series reflect the internal struggle with gender identity with a symbolic hiding of the face.  They are simple drawings but are very dramatic once you know the artist.  The faceless drawings reflect the treatment directed toward transgender human beings by those who don't understand.  Ignorance is why 42 transgender people were murdered for no other reason than the way they were born.  Project 42 is a fitting memorial to those human beings as she attempts to make their spirit live again.

Racism

I don't think racism will ever cease to exist in the United States.  There are too many people passing their hatred on to their kids and too many who believe every word in the bible.  I grew up around racism in Kentucky and still hear racist comments when I go back for a visit.  As long as racist people continue to have children, the cycle will never be broken.  The Jesus freaks would probably still have slaves if they could get away with it, since slavery is in the bible.  It's the same reason they despise gay people.  These are the same people who were outraged with the Coca-Cola Super Bowl commercial. 

Many people in this country and in the world never learn from history.  They will always hate people who are different.  Lessons were never learned from the treatment of Native Americans, African Americans or the Jewish people.  I spent a year in Bosnia and saw how hatred can manifest into genocide and the destruction of a country.  After the horror of the concentration camps, it boggles the mind how genocide could happen in the 1990s. 

Gay people are now the group being targeted because we were born different.  I recently read a story about a Russian actor who said gay people should be burned in the ovens.  I can't even begin to understand how someone could have so much hatred in their heart to want me burned in an oven because I was born gay.

Which group will be next???

Wicked

I am a huge fan of Broadway musicals and Wicked is one of my favorites.  I have seen it twice and will see it again.  I enjoyed parts of the behind-the-scenes clips but sometimes I would rather not know how something is done.  It takes away the illusion like learning how a magician performs a trick.  As an artist, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the first sketches and how those simple sketches transformed into what is seen on stage.  It helps me grow as an artist to see that side of the musical and hear thought processes of the artists who create it.

Oculus

This technology will create an amazing movie experience.  Three-dimensional technology took the action from the screen and moved it toward the viewer.  The Oculus will do the opposite and move the viewer into the movie.  Becoming one with a movie is an awesome concept and you will no longer have to be annoyed with people talking during a movie.  It will probably cause a lot of motion sickness depending on the type of movie.  I don't think I could wear it and watch a movie like Gravity.  I can't wait to try it. 

Toy Story 3 - Deus Ex Machinae

LOTR - The Eagles are Coming Deus Ex Machinae

Deus Ex Machinae

Three examples of Deus Ex Machinae in popular culture:

1.  The claw that saves all the toys before they burn in Toy Story 3.  

2.  The bacteria that kills the invaders in The War of The Worlds.

3.  The giant eagles that save the day in The Lord of the Rings.

The Birth and Life of Opera

I have never been a fan of opera.  I always thought it was boring and only for old snobs.  The one time I considered attending an opera, my partner vetoed the idea.  Apparently I have been missing out on a beautiful art form.  I have always been a fan of Broadway but never knew the connection with opera.  This video offered a very informative history lesson.  I did not know opera was associated with revolutions and made powerful, political statements.   I now see opera as a very interesting form of art and entertainment.  After watching the powerful scene from Salome in class, I now want to watch the entire opera.

Pjotr Sapegin's Madama Butterfly

Pjotr Sapegin's Madama Butterfly animation is a very creative interpretation of the opera.  It creates a roller coaster of emotion from the throes of passion to the depths of despair.  The music climaxes in both pleasure and pain and easily connects the listener to both scenes.  Even though I could not understand the lyrics, I could easily follow the story and experience the emotions.  The expressions of sexuality, passion, loneliness, despair, rejection and heartbreak were easily interpreted in the simple animated characters.  It was a very sad moment when the umbilical cord was broken.  The couple's last connection was severed; leaving her alone with a broken heart.

Paul Cuero

Paul Cuero's life is an inspirational story and an example all should follow to make this a better world.  He showed that difficulties in life can make you stronger depending on how you react to certain life situations.  I already apply many of his concepts to my life so I need to continue on my current path.  I have been discriminated against based solely on the way I was born so I would never judge anyone based on their race, gender, sexual orientation or other characteristics.  I am committed to being nice and respectful to all people and all living creatures.  One thing I would work on is getting over my fear of failure.  He mentioned being intense and fully committed without fear of failing.  That is great advice!!

Juan Carlos Delgado

I'm intrigued by Juan Carlos Delgado's work because it is an art form I have never seen before.  I enjoy art that shows the creativity of an artist to develop a new art form.  The transformation caused by the freezing condensation creates a constantly changing artwork reminiscent of the passage of time and the aging process.  As I think about viewing this work, I feel a sense of calmness upon me.  I would love to sit in a room for hours and watch the transformation process of this Multimedia work.  The art is Multimedia because it is constantly developing over time.  There is always movement with the freezing condensation forever changing the work.  It will always be a different and unique work.

ART 211

I assumed this was going to be a boring course since the course description said it was a lecture course.  The first class proved it would be anything but boring.  My creativity is already moving in high speed after reading the syllabus and reviewing the projects.  I am very excited to do the flip page animation.  I have always wanted to do that but never took the time to make one.  This class will allow me to use my creativity and that is the best fit for me.  I have always been a creative person but creativity didn't fit with a military career.  The military is very structured with very little room for creativity.  I retired from the military in 2012 and finally decided to pursue my dream of studying art.  I should have done it after graduating high school but things didn't work out.  I'm still not sure why I walked into a military recruiting office.  It should be the last place a gay man should visit.  I spent my twenty-year military career living a double life.  I put my artistic dreams on hold for all those years.  I felt like I had been released from prison the day I retired.  I enrolled at Eckerd College immediately after retiring and received my Visual Arts degree last month.  Sitting in an art class was the right place for me.  I finally felt I was were I should be.