Personal Narrative: Changing The Art World

Walking away from everything you once knew and starting over is never a picnic. Leaving Iraq, and moving to America has impacted my life more than anything. I was only 4 years old at that time, and the only English I spoke was “excuse me, water please.” My family and I did not know it then, but our lives were going to change; we would become “Americanized”. Learning English was one of the massive changes that occurred, the way I dressed (culture), and even the way I had power to go to school and educate myself.

My mind can never be quieted. I am constantly thinking of moments or ideas or fantasies. What is all this dreaming worth if I cannot share it with the world? That is why I have gone on a quest to find an outlet for my thoughts. It has not been a process that has been traversed with ease, but through this journey, I have found many pastimes that have helped form my thoughts and beliefs.

On my twenty-forth birthday, the seventh of May, my mother, the eminent, Whitney West Scooter, almost had a major myocardial infarction. After, I told her that her aspiring Michelangelo had withdrawn, that very day, from her alma mater the illustrious J. C. West Academy of Fine Arts. The only reason I attend the Academy, in the first place was to appease my mother, who believed every artist should hold an art degree. I spend the entire day with my mother and throughout breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I tried to penetrate her armor of resistance so she might understand my reason for leaving the Academy at the conclusion of my junior year. As I spoke, her facial expression took on the characteristics of a rabid dog about to pounce. And I swear

This past year, I have been apart of Naperville Central’s brand new Special Spaces club. When my friend approached me and asked me to join, I agreed even though I had no clue what I was involving myself in. In retrospective, I can honestly say that becoming a part of Special Spaces has been one of the most meaningful, fun, and fulfilling experiences I have had in high school.

For as long as I can remember I have always had the drive and passion to create works of art in many ways, shapes and forms. My creativity and integrity that I share with art is on many levels ranging from 3D work, video game design, physical pieces of artwork as well as digital. I believe that there are very few schools that would not only help challenge my abilities but be able to utilize them in many ways I would've never imagined.

How do I expect my education at The Art Institute to help me attain my goals? My education at The Art Institute can help me attain my goals of entering the music industry and impacting society through production. As a musician I feel a high love for music. Music without a certification will not pervade me as an education with certification would.

In my free time I enjoy painting and photoshopping and graphic design. Most of my art is painting and digital art of all different art styles. Many of my paintings incorporate silhouettes and bright colors, to create an aspect of contrast. One my favorite works is a picture of an eye surrounded in snow. They eyelashes of the eye are made of icicles and tree branches. In the background there's a white dove caring a key. The dove is highly translucent and a viewer may have to look closer to see it.

The day had finally came, it was July 21st, 2020. I had been waiting for this day for what seemed like forever! I was beyond excited that of all artists, I was chosen to escort the Interplanetary Ambassador around our world and culture. Once I greeted him at the New York Space Port, I decided to take him to our very own Metropolitan Museum of Art located here in NYC. The ride from the space port to the Museum was a little over two hours and felt like forever. On the way there the Ambassador asked many questions about our clothes, food, money, and many of our everyday things that are around us. Then, out of nowhere he asked me a question that changed my life as an artist completely. He said, “In my planet we have clothes and money and everything that you humans have, but we do not have art. Can you please explain to me what this art thing is?”

Around two or three years ago my family and I had to move houses. Moving was sudden and we didn't know it was going to happen. This made moving out and into the other house a lot harder. Since we were moving so fast somethings we just decided to leave behind with the person that was still living there. We got most things with us but one thing that we did leave back in the old place was our living room tv. Since we had just moved and my family isn't rich my mom said we couldn't go get a new one for some time. This sucked because I used the tv a lot for watching show, movies, and playing games just like the rest of my family did. Having a tv wasn't something we needed at all but it was always something to do when you were bored and there was no other things to do. Another big thing was my grandma had just gotten us a new playstation 3 and now we weren't able to used it at all because there was no television. Not having a tv was bummer for me and I thought it was a huge problem when it really wasn’t.

Coming to the Interlochen Arts Academy I knew that I would be surrounded by a very talented and diverse community of unusual artists. It never occurred to me though that a large percentage of the school’s population would be from international countries. When I was in public school, there were only a handful of people that I knew from foreign origin, but they had already assimilated to American culture and were well aware of are virtues and manners. As I arrived on my new campus the first person that I met was a young man named Bassett. Bassett was from Afghanistan, so naturally I was excited to see some diversity in my new community. As the weeks went on Bassett and I became really good friends, until I started to notice some odd things about

Sophomore year of High School we took a trip to New York to visit The Metropolitan Art Museum we spent the full day immersing ourselves in the artwork. It was the trip that would inspire me to become an artist. We arrived to this momentous building with lots of stairs I was eager to be off the bus and see what the museum held for us. We were greeted by our guide and we began our tour which would only be part of this magnificent day. It must have been one of the first things we came across and the most memorable piece not only the artwork that was in front of me but the feeling I felt that day. It was “The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer” a bronze cast by Edgar Degas it was mixed media of sorts she was wearing a cotton skirt with a satin hair ribbon

The Evanston gallery was crowded with bustling teenagers and their parents, all proud of their children for their photography being selected to be featured in the gallery. Here I was, standing under my photo explaining it to those who were curious. It was a plant in black and white with just the top tip of leaves being hit by the sun, the rest blanketed in darkness. I saw it to symbolize growth and on a personal level, how I’ve grown more comfortable in both my skin and my decisions in the life I lead.

I’m on the verge of calling her an asshole, but quickly change my mind. Instead I say, “Whitney, my life isn’t in a downward spiral and as for tarnishing the family name that’s absurd. Since I recall, two horse thieves, four drug smugglers, six prostitutes and hordes of corrupt politicians hang from your family tree. Honestly; no one will notice a college dropout perched on one of its branches. More to the point, this decision came about because the sight of a white canvas and a paint brush in my hand induces unbelievable boredom; furthermore, I’ve accepted an offer put forth by Tommy Apple, an iconic tattoo artist and owner of the multinational corporation, Ink It

New York City weather has been horrible since Christmas. With the weather being in the lower 10, but feeling like -5, it has made shooting any #OOTD photos extremely difficult! Not even my photographer want to step out and shoot. Kudos to some fashion bloggers I know and follow who stepped out during this weather and especially after bomb cyclone to shoot, especially some who shot without coats. You are the real fashion heroes.

I was on the couch relaxing binge watching videos on YouTube on my TV and I came across a video by Casey Neistat. As I was watching his video, I realized that he carries his camera with him everywhere, everyday. But it was not that he had a camera that captured my attention, but rather what he captured. The following day, we had a small lunch after a soccer game and I asked my mom “hey mom can you buy me a camera for my birthday?”. “Why would you want a camera” she replied. What my mom said made me think for a few days, ‘why would I want a camera in the first place?’. Then that day I was on Instagram and I saw many different pictures from many photographers; portraits, landscape and street photography really caught my attention. “Whats going