A Day in the Life: Machado

My final project for my photography class last semester. This is the artist statement I included with my project: 

Machado is a bust that sits on top of my family’s piano in the living room. We originally got him at a yard sale and the previous owners of Machado told us a little bit about him. They said he was their uncle and a famous doctor in Brazil that helped to bring medical rights to the poor. He was hand made by a famous artist. Since we bought him we've moved several times, but he’s stayed with us. For my final project, I wanted to do a self portrait of Machado. He has an interesting, kind face and people who see him are fond of him. He seems part of the family. For being a bust, he seems to have so much personality as if he was a real person. I wanted to capture some silly and realistic features of Machado so I decided to take him along with me to the places I go most to. We went to the school, the library, the light rail, the grocery store, the laundry mat and more, capturing Machado as if he was an actual living person. He did all the tasks a human would do if he had the arms, legs and well, a full body. I was inspired by the Travelocity gnome that is always captured in various places, making people smile by his innocent looks. I thought Machado would be a new twist on it being that he weighs 20 pounds and is a bust. As I took pictures, it seemed his facial expression would even change with the different settings of the pictures. Sometimes he would be more smiley than others and then he would be serious, gazing out and pondering. It was quite interesting to see how the backgrounds changed the perspective. Overall, it was an interesting experience.

These are the pictures I submitted: 

The End.

Hoped you enjoyed!

Defense for Every Woman

  Every 2 Minutes someone is sexually assaulted in the United States (rainn.org). 

The world we live in does not let us be naive, because it can mean getting raped or murdered. The words are harsh and scary, but it is the truth. 

It can happen anywhere. From the richest of neighborhoods to the common grocery store parking lots.   Where we may think we are safe, it can be far from it. 17.7 Million women have been victims of rape (rainn.org). The brightest, smartest, greatest women have been assaulted because of not knowing how to defend themselves properly. 

  It's chilling to think that it can happen to me. 1 out of every 6 Women have been raped or attacked (rainn.org) Us women need to acknowledge the very real potential dangers and get smart. Learn what to do if it ever happens to us. Rape is not always  from a random attacker on the street that looks dangerous. It can be a handsome young man passing by. It can be a close friend or boyfriend, someone completely unsuspectable. It can be anyone. 

  Can I defend myself if something like this were to ever happen to me? Do I have the strength and confidence that I will be able  push back and rise? They are frightening questions, but in order to gain self confidence we have to face them.  

  God is my defender and protector, but He also wants me to be smart and learn what it takes to be safe! 

  This month I am taking R.A.D (rape prevention) classes with my sister and mom. 

"The R.A.D. Systems of Self Defense offers programs for women, children, men and seniors. These offerings provide a truly holistic approach to self defense education, supporting the necessity of continuous learning in order to provide realistic options for each population as they go through life. Each of these programs includes educational components comprised of lecture, discussion, physical resistive strategies. All of which are facilitated by certified R.A.D. Instructors supported by a network of dedicated professionals who honor one another’s student through our unique Lifetime Return and Practice Policy."

-rad-systems.com 

  The class for R.A.D that is going on in my city is completely free and held at a police training center. R.A.D will teach me how to defend myself in everyday situations and give me the knowledge and confidence to know I can defend myself. 

  I think every women, young and old, should be given the opportunity to take self-defense classes. What you learn there may one day save your life. I see stories on the news that break my heart for the victims and their families. I don't want that to be me, my friends or any member of my family. Absolutely no woman should go through sexual assault. And if there are classes that help prevent sexual assault from happening, I will gladly take them so I can increase my self-defense from attackers. 

  R.A.D classes are offered all over the U.S. 

  I can't wait to take this class. Not only will I be empowering myself, I will be standing up against violence against women! 

A woman can be strong, but it takes a whole new step of wisdom to sign up for rape prevention classes.

To find classes near you to attend R.A.D

Learn the facts and seek help go to http://rainn.org/. 

Dear Little Black Dress,

I apologize sincerely.
For all the days I left you in my closet to gather dust at the edge of your perfectly trimmed seams.
I didn't mean for any of this to happen, I promise on the heart of a true female. I had high hopes for you and I.
You were on sale, a price I could not resist and well, you looked so lovely on me, I had to buy you.
The future of you and I flashed before my eyes as I handed the cashier my check card and she bagged you in crisp plastic.
The places we would go together. Parties, weddings, baby showers, holidays, balls. All the places a dress like you deserved to go to.
But I let you down.
I never knew it would lead to this. Your lonely, dark days in a closet where you were pushed aside for other pieces of clothing.
Unloved, unworn.
I didn't forget about you and the dreams we once held together. Me, spinning around in the most elegant dress a girl could imagine, folds of fabric flashing before star struck eyes. Things just didn't go the way I planned.
Don't take it personally when I put you in the charity bin.
There is someone better for you out there. Someone who will fulfill the promises I never could.
It's not you, it's me.

All my love.
Sincerely,

A girl with nowhere to go

Hello Again!

Hello again readers! I'm back from my summer break. I took time to fully soak up lazy and busy days until school starts in August. Over my free time a few major things took place in my life and I wanted to share them with you. 

1. My family came to visit. 

My family lives across the country and they came out and visited us in the sweltering heat. We celebrated the two youngest boys birthdays and made blow up forts with duvet covers. I hadn't seen them in nearly 3 years and was truly amazed how my little cousins had grown up. It was sad to see them leave!

The best ways to entertain 4 young children for hours. And yes, the teenagers even loved climbing inside it too. 

My little bro turned 3 and my cousin 4. Fun fair themed birthday and invited all the neighbor kids over too. 

2. I moved 

In June, I moved from a house into an apartment. The space is smaller than before, but I honestly enjoy smaller living areas than larger, open spaces. We are  now well equipped with an apartment pool, which has it's perks.

3. We got a car!

This is probably my favorite thing that happened this summer. Before we had no car and had to take the bus everywhere we went. I am grateful for having the bus system, but it took it's toll. It was getting tiring, especially once it started getting deadly hot outside. We found a car for $600 on craigslist that runs great with ICY, cold AC. God has blessed us so! 

4. Blog Makeover 

You might have seen as you came onto my blog, that it has been transformed. I thought to freshen up the style and make it nice and happy for when I started blogging again. I am pretty pleased with it! 

I've missed the blogging world and am glad I am back!

How have you all been?