I designed this to show how powerful music you love can affect you. In the context of this artwork, it depicts a girl working at a fast food chain. Everything around her is grey and boring, but once she listens to music it empowers her to keep going.
My entry represents different civil rights issues that impact me, my family, and my friends. I wanted to symbolize that people and peaceful protests make their mark on the world in order to help others come together and fight for human rights. I also wanted to show that the road has been rough and these issues aren’t going away but that doesn’t mean we should ever stop fighting for what’s right.
This piece was greatly inspired by the 2024 election and the way our human rights as women are declining. My piece reflects that idea of women fading away to being treated as second class citizens. It also represents the reality with the wrong man coming into power that will continue this shift back in time. I would say this piece properly represents the injustice that is taking place right now. I hope this makes us women feel unified and rise up in a difficult time.
Music can be a way to express yourself and let things go. When you express yourself through lyrics or singing you have a chance to be heard and relate to people through music. The burst of energy and strength from within is powerful and gives one a sense of accomplishment.
This piece highlights the importance of peaceful protest. Like Dolores Huerta, it shows the resilience minorities have when they work together nonviolently. There are so many movements that fight for civil rights currently. I couldn’t pick just one. Collaboration and solidarity between people is powerful, and can uplift others.
My entry for the hope category is to highlight the efforts of firefighters. This month the California fires have destroyed over 10,000 homes and pose a very dangerous risk to the health of communities. These fires are terrifying and have caused so much destruction yet in times like this the most important thing is to have hope. My artwork depicts a home burning and a firefighter putting it out. The firefighter is an array of vibrant colors with a blue aura surrounding him and reflecting on the structure in front of him. This blue is not only meant to be a contrast to the warm colors behind him, it is to represent the power that comes from the strength and courage to help others in such dire times.
My drawing represents an exaggerated version of how I feel when I listen to music in my alone time. It makes me very happy and uplifted, it energizes me to get done what I need to do. Music relieves stress and inspires me, which helps my mental health.
Hello, My name is Christian and this is my song. I go by GRRYZ. I picked this name because I was work shopping trying to find my own identity outside myself. I wrote original lyrics and music and recorded at the TAY Stepping Stones Studio. Music and song writing helps me find a voice that I previously could not bring out of myself, and helps me with my mental health challenges – anxiety and depression. The GRRYZ persona is someone who is not afraid to speak out about what he is feeling.
Lyrics to the song:
Long ahead and up the road, the constant struggles that I find never fail to keep me up. I swear this happens every time. Always battled my depression but this time I crossed the line, allowed myself to journey inside my intoxicated mind. I’ve reached a new height, I didn’t pass out after some Hennessy. Filled another cup because i’m drinking to my legacy. I remained to myself, not someone else that you pretend to be. I thought I pretend to be. I thought I lost my cool but now it’s just another memory. Who am I to think I couldn’t shine without a new flame. Trying to spark a match, this kind of weather gives me joint pain. LMFAO i’m downing shots, I still have no shame. I could never build a buzz, i’ll be remembered as a no name. Now is not the time to sober up, I still can’t think straight. The many complications that I have inside my peabrain. I gotta save myself, I can’t gotta save myself, I can’t afford another delay. So this what it’s like to be productive on a
weekday? All of your socials are stopping you being vocal. You crave attention from views, likes, and comments on your photos. You could miss a couple of texts to call some people when you’re solo. I gave it another chance but you still proved that it’s a no-go.
I’m not a game to play. Stop disrespecting me. Not really busy, but making it up along the way. I’m really trying to get on out of my comfort zone. So please excuse me for getting soft on a different tone. My last left me a broken mess, I was all alone. Screaming for help, I broke my walls and turned them to stepping stones. Can I be blamed for feeling it deep inside my bones? Don’t want to fight, all I really want is a second home.
My entry is a piece that is felt very close to the heart and is felt to best relate with the topic of hope. In many ways I find writing and music a coping strategy when facing any overwhelming obstacles headed my way, and with my best intention I wish to share this specific writing to help those in times of struggle. This song references a certain point in my life where I felt loneliness to a deeper extent, it was hard seeking help when I didn’t know how to help myself, and with that I dealt with long, hard nights that I know are challenging to face. Though, I wanted to recognize that there is a reason to keep going, thus the idea to help others recognize this as well. Life was granted to us as a gift, a gift to learn and love, experience and grow to our greatest ability and understand that within ourselves holds the strength to push through and enjoy what’s been granted to us, I want to let others know that the tough days/nights are the parts that lead us to growth, to embrace this gift of life and approach the obstacles step by step, little by little, in time, presently.
“the music flows” and its lyrics detail different ways that music has personally helped me through my own life experiences. I have constantly turned to music as an escape during stressful stretches of school, as well as during heartbreaking family issues and as a way of coping with death. During these times, music has helped remind me to ride with the crashing waves and go with the flow of life. Whenever listening to music, I can feel its therapeutic effects flowing throughout my whole body, relieving me of pain and built-up stresses. As a music student, making music provides me a creative outlet to express my own emotions in ways I’m unable to any other way. While listening to this piece, I hope others are reminded of the vital importance and power that music holds as an art form.
Lyrics:
verse 1:
i feel its power through a beat
gives me hope, when I’m in too deep
i feel its power through heartfelt lines
it’s fueling fire, on my darkest nights
chorus:
the music flows
the music flows
the music flows
the music flows
the music flows
the music flows
verse 2:
it calms me when i’m stressed,
it helps me battle my unrest,
the music makes me feel ok
as I am breathing out,
i let my guards down,
and with the chorus i feel fine
bridge:
woah
the music flows
woah
chorus:
the music flows
the music flows
the music flows
the music flows
the music flows
the music flows
outro:
i can feel my dreams take flight,
a melody that turns dark to light
even in silence, i’m never alone
through a safe place i’ve made my own
the music is me
through music I’m free