Golden State
Sabrina M.
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As a Californian, I wanted to explore the history and current state of where I call home. Living in California can be amazing but scary at the same time. I wanted to showcase the vast injustices we have done and continue to do to this state. California has so much to offer but we do very little to take care of the land that is allowing us to be so prosperous. We have been deforesting land at exponential speeds, drilling for oil to line the pockets of the rich, causing destructive wildfires that displace humans and wildlife, and we have been in a severe drought for many years, these are all very alarming for our future. The damage we are causing to the Golden State cannot be sustained for much longer and it would be devastating to see this luscious state go to waste and peril at the hands of the rich robbing myself and other generations of the rich experiences and vitality this state has to offer. I tried to show a clear depiction of all of the horrendous things humans have been doing that has led to areas like the Bay Area to be amongst one of the wealthiest areas to live whilst having so many issues with homelessness that need to be addressed. During construction, I always referenced photos of trees to try and bring them back to life and show the damage we caused them. I hope with this exploration that people walk away from this project and think about the damages humans cause not only to our planet but to the state where I live. Every time I walk out my door, I am greeted with the beauty of California and when I travel in the state; I see the elegance and grace of other parts of the state and the stain of destruction, loss, and devastation. We have the Redwood and Sequoia trees in the north, the valleys throughout Central California, the remnants of a river that used to exist in Los Angeles, and the many mountains and stunning coastlines everywhere around the state. To see all of these natural wonders go to waste is deeply saddening and it is a disservice to all generations. This work serves as a call to action to change the path humans are on and to reinvest in the beauty that California has and restore balance.
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Creativity means being able to express yourself without being worried about what other people think. Everyone is creative, but you just have to find the right way to express it. Creativity is the freedom to be whoever you want and in any medium, you choose or feel comfortable in.
