Blog #4 - Calligramme

Ava Farrelly

Calligramme 

Artist Statement: 

- Why have I created this work/Works History? As reflected in both class and in my "Letter to Future Self", one of my many passions in this life has been photography. Very rarely do I go somewhere without my camera. It has been this way for as long as I could remember even when I was very little. I chose to do my Calligramme on a camera with the words from my letter that are most important to me such as my name, The University of Tampa, and my current goals/manifestations. 

- Overall Vision? The overall vision for this Caligramme was to express and show the emphasis on a few of my main passions; camera, family name, my goals/manifestations, and my time here at the University of Tampa. The camera was chosen, as it is a huge consistency across my life because I currently work as a photographer for the University and because it is my future career goal. 

- Sources of Inspiration for the Image? The original camera image I drew on paper is not the same camera I chose to use for my Calligramme. The image used for the Calligramme is an older model/type of camera. 

- How certain Techniques were important? In order to create this, I used the shape as well as text tool. This assignment was interesting to me because I had no previous knowledge as to how something this intriqet and interesting could be done in so few steps. Instead of bolding some of the words or phrases of this image, I decided to layer the text over each other multiple times, in order to highlight the importance of the words I chose. For example, one of the main focal points in the image is the box that has the surrounding words "University of Tampa Degree". I chose to make this phrase larger than the rest inside/around that box because that is an extremely prevalent ideal in my everyday life and will continue to be as I pursue my degree. 

Letter to Future Self:

Dear Future Self, 

Wow, where to even begin. I honestly struggled to write this out. You won't remember but there is so much chaos going on in life right now. Between family, soccer shots, photography, money, getting caught up on school, social life, boyfriend, and friends, I don’t know where to start with this letter. On a positive note, in 2 days you have a facetime interview with the Talent Acquisition Manager with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a possible internship opportunity (thank you cousin Rick). I am currently sitting here trying to type this letter while waiting for the Career Services lady to call my name for my meeting with someone who works in the professional sports world. 

Life is moving so insanely fast right now, with three million things happening at once, and everyone telling you their opinions and how you should be doing certain things. I guess that is just life? What do you think now after living through it? You probably won't even remember how stressed you felt during this time, because I know you have accomplished all of your dreams and are living the life you worked so hard to achieve. The life motto at the current moment, I think, has to be “haters gonna hate”, because that's always true, and you have to try your hardest to stay strong and keep all of your goals at the forefront of your mind. I hope by now you have achieved your sport photography goal of working for the Braves and the Lightning (and/or the Bucs if the interview goes well). I hope you live in downtown Tampa or in a nice apartment with big windows and white cabinets on the water somewhere. Your fitness dreams have come true, because when you feel good your work looks even better. 

Do you still carry around a notebook with stickers on it full of all of your photography notes? When you were in college you didn't go anywhere without it. OH! Please tell me that you studied abroad? We better have made it to Ireland, Italy, Bali, and Greece. I really hope so, because traveling and photographing the world is your biggest dream right now. Do you still scrapbook and hold on to little trinkets everytime you go places? That is something we have done since we were little. 

You are strong, talented, and smart. I hope you believe it, because right now it is something you have to tell yourself everyday. Do not let others get in your way. Achieve your goals and have fun while doing it. Be kind and have courage! You got this!!

Sincerely, 

Your 19 year old, college student self

Ava Farrelly :)