Reflection

I learned many skills during the Resilience Cafe Project, but sadly, I knew a lot about the topics we chose before we started the projects, so I learned little in terms of content. Some of the skills I learned were: how to improvise while working with hammer and nail(our art project was very difficult to nail together, so we had to nail from different directions and use screws to finish the project), how to use a recording studio, and how to use InDesign. I think that knowing how to use a hammer and nail is helpfull in the real-world because at my own home I might have to make a repair and knowing how to hammer could help save me money, and not to mention make beautiful art. Using a recording studio could be very helpful if I go into a career that involves playing an instrument or singing. InDesign is an important tool for any profession because you need to write, and sometimes InDesign is the best place to do that. Even though I didn't learn much in content, I learned so many real-life skills that I would say I exceeded expectations in that catergory.

For Resilience Cafe, we were required to present our music to an audience. I was not totally happy with my groups preformance. We did our piece on our two resilient figures(Peter Frtisch and Moses), but we could not use a piano, so we had to use our voices instead. For some reason, the audience thought that this was very ammusing, so they started laugh, so we started laugh during our song. The audience enjoyed our piece very much, but the laughing was unintentional, so I would have to say that we met expectations in this catergory.

I think that our work was quite beautiful. We worked extremely hard on the art piece and the music. I think that one reason our work turned out the way it did was because both of us worked on both equally. I think that this was a good idea because neither of us felt stresses or that one was doing more work than the other(well, at least I feel this way). I am also very proud of my writing because I am not used to having to limit my writing to only 100 words, and I feel that I did very well for being my first time.

Art Piece

Since both our resilient figures are Jewish, our piece of art is a Jewish Star of David, composed of two triangles, each made up of three roughly twenty-three inch wooden boards. Each resilient individual is represented by one of the triangles.

Moses’ triangle tells the story of his life, his escape from Egypt, and several quotes. It features visual representations of Moses’ enemies/enslavers, the Egyptians (a pyramid, Eye of Horus and model of Ushabti).

Peter Fritsch’s triangle tells the story of his escape from Vienna. It has a model of a train (similar to the one he escaped in) and, like Moses’ triangle, it shows representations of “the enemy” (Hitler and his Nazis): A swastika and a Maltese Cross.

Connection to Resilient Figures

I have many unimportant connections with our figures, but I am going to focus only on those which show the meaning that we are trying to convey.

First of all, Moses is a main figure in Jewish thought/religion. The Jewish religion is "the older brother of Christianity", so logically Moses is a major figure is Christianity. I connect with Moses because our religions are so similar, and Moses is such a major figure in my religion. I connect with Peter Fritsch in the same way. Although I have never been persecuted for my religion in a way that either of these two have, I have often guessed at what it might be like to live knowing that the reason someone dislikes or even hates you is, not what do or how kind/unkind you are, but your religion. Another, less important connection, is that I live in a country that many people consider to be like the modern day Promised Land. A place where religion and race are tolerated and accepted more than almost any other country, although there are a few people who are not as accepting. I believe Mr. Fritsch came here for this reason, and Moses went to lead his people to a land similar to this one we live in now.

Personal Connection to Artwork & Resilient Individuals

A strong Jewish theme runs through both of our resilient individuals and piece of art. My most direct connection to these is that I'm Jewish. That immediate connection aside, Peter Fritsch is my grandpa, and I am able to talk with him fairly often about his experience in the Holocaust. His story is one I've heard from a young age, so it's rooted in my mind.
The same applies to our piece of art. I connect to its Jewish theme and its inclusion of my grandpa.
When people look at our Star of David with representations of Moses' and Peter Fritsch's stories, I want them to see in it the hardships and struggles our resilient people faced, but also the endurance they had and how it strengthened them.

What hardships have you or someone connected to you had to endure?
How do you think you would react to the situations these people were put in?
What do you think makes people turn against people and not treat others with equal rights?

Art Feedback

Most of the feedback on our wooden Star of David praised its creativity and insight. One person suggested I not write as much in the description, which I will keep in mind when making the plaque or description card.

Aside from that, people seemed to like it, so for right now the plan stays the same.

Here is the cover of I Have Lived a Thousand Years by Livia Bitton-Jackson, a story about growing up during the Holocaust. When I think about it, I think this book cover planted in my head the idea of an old, worn-down piece that has seen suffering.

Reflection

I think that Sam and I are progressing nicely in our resilience project. I have my song planned out nicely, and I hope to finish that during the weekend. I think that Sam has a good start on the 3D art piece; I know he has at least made an excellent blueprint. I think that we are right where we should be, and I am excited to continue working on and finish this project with continuing hard work.

Song

The song that I am thinking of writing, would be in the the style of a rock opera, such as "Jesus Christ Superstar" or "RENT". I would make it so the listener or reader of the lyrics would not fully understand exactly who or what the song was about, but would understant the underlying theme, resilience. I would also like to make it clear to the listener that this song is about escaping to/and freedom. I hope to also have the music reflect these emotions in a way that creates a mood that the listeners is not quite able to explain. I am not sure if I will write my own music or borrow music from another composer(if this is allowed), but which ever I choose, I will be certain that the music is correct for the lyrics and they compliment each other well. I was think of calling the song "Exodus" because of its connection to Moses, in the book of Exodus, and the connection to Sam's grandfather who was part of an Exodus from Austria.