Artist Statement Critiques

Due to my computer not turning on, I couldn't get my statement critiqued today. However, I had my dad read it, and he had the following suggestions:

- Transition from topic to topic more smoothly

- Work on the grammar and sentence structure

He liked that I mentioned my connection to the song Scar Tissue, and of course liked that I mention him in my artist statement. When I get into town again, I will be correcting it and getting more people to give me feedback on it.

New and Improved Draft!

My father has always been the biggest musical influence in my life. I grew up with bands like the Beastie Boys, Guns N' Roses, Red Hot Chili Peppers and various Starbucks mixes that included many Jamaican and Cuban afro-beats. Since I was a little girl music has always been in my life, probably more than it should be. I remember the first time I heard the song "Scar Tissue" was at a friends birthday party, probably in 3rd or 4th grade, I had heard it before obviously but for some reason the impact of the song hit me like a train, full force and in your face. The lyrics were amazing to me yet for some reason, there was nothing special about them. I didn't fully understand drugs or drug abuse in 3rd grade, but I loved the calm melody, and the fact that just by hearing 4 seconds of the introduction, everyone in the room the song is playing in starts singing along. From that moment on, the Red Hot Chili Peppers had moved their way into my life, quickly and violently.

I was always the little girl who would talk a lot during class, too much teachers would say. I never really felt like I had enough attention on me throughout the day. One of my first rebellious acts was sneaking into my 3rd grade teachers classroom and stealing her gummi bears she would give the class. I never knew that I would turn out how I did today. Born in Carlsbad, I lived the suburban life, but, growing up my parents were continuously splitting up until finally my mom announced to me that they would be getting a divorce. For the next couple years or so I became the child of your nightmares. I was rebellious, I would scream and cry and shriek that I wanted my mommy or my daddy (depending on who's house I was at at the time) and I was never satisfied with hardly anything. For as long as I can remember I've had issues expressing my anger and my emotions. I had nothing to take it out on, or channel that energy into.

Around 3 years ago I picked up the book "Scar Tissue." A biography on Anthony Kiedis, instantly drawn in I read it, and read it, and read it. I fell completely head over heels in love with Anthony Kiedis. He was heavily into drugs and was stuck in a downward spiral. I read this book and all I could think about was how amazing of a job Anthony did when he was getting sober. He's been sober since early 2001 and continues to live that way. He inspired me to keep doing what I love and to keep on aspiring to get what I want to do done. Where we do differ though, is our "outlet" you could say, he chose music, I chose photography. I'm learning to control my emotions and feelings by channeling it into my art. I don't accept anything less than the best I can do from myself and I push myself to the extreme to achieve. I'm currently in a gallery in Escondido where a couple of my photos are displayed and up for sale. I have never been more proud of myself in my life. Pride in knowing that I am a self made artist and I can get what I want is one of the best feelings I have ever had. Anthony Kiedis and the Red Hot Chili Peppers have changed my life, and the way I look at some things. I am no longer the child of your nightmares, I am the teenager that has dreams and will make them happen.

Resourcefulness

Anthony Kiedis Resources-

1. Biography- Scar Tissue;

This is one of the best resources that I have for Anthony Kiedis, because it gives you the most important and life changing events that have happened in his life since he was born in 1962, up until around 2001. It gives pictures, references, tragedies and losses.

2. Interview- Rolling Stone;

At the peak of their success with the song "Under the Bridge", Rolling Stone featured the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the cover with a lengthy article about their success. The article heavily focuses on Kiedis, and how RHCP has been, what they're doing, and how come they're doing it.

3. Music- "Under the Bridge", "Scar Tissue" & "Knock Me Down";

These songs quite obviously symbolize drug use. Under the Bridge mentions a bridge downtown where he shoots up, and how the city has made him lonely. In comparison to both of the other songs, it shows the before and after of his drug use. Before he was under the bridge, and now he is singing "If you see me getting high, Knock me down" and singing about his scar tissue because of his past and how he has moved on.

David Bowie Resources-

1. Music- "Space Oddity";

No one had even dreamt of hearing a song about a junkie astronaut up in space, especially not in 1969 with the big bands like the Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and especially the Beatles. Space Oddity was the opening to two other songs David Bowie wrote; "Ashes to Ashes" and "Hallo Spaceboy".

2. Music Video- "Life on Mars"; ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v--IqqusnNQ )

This video is the absolute epitome of the David Bowie look. He wasn't afraid of what he looked like, nor was he afraid of what people would say. This is why David Bowie is one of my absolute idols, he is in his own world of creativity and love and make up and glamour.

3. Interviews- Rolling Stone (3 Q&A's);

They call him one of the best artist's of all time. These interviews all talk about intervals of his musical career, personal life and what he hopes to achieve in the near future. These are all heavily focused on his albums that were soon to come out.

The Princess of Tutus, King of the Chili Peppers and A Lad Insane

Betsey Johnson is a huge influence on my life. Her youthful approach to fashion includes many sweetheart cuts on her dresses, sequins, tutus and glitter. Betsey Johnson represents everything that I want to become. Born in 1942, she is 67 years old and is still cartwheeling down the runway. She is not letting age get in the way of her passion and is still designing new seasons of clothes. Betsey Johnson truly is an American Icon to me and many young girls everywhere. I personally love Betsey Johnson and wore one of her masterpieces to prom last year. She influences many young designers and encourages everyone to stay youthful and always wear pink.

Anthony Kiedis is a part of one of my favorite bands of all time, The Red Hot Chili Peppers. While I must make this clear right off the bat, I am in no way musically inclined, nor do I consider myself to have a voice in any contrast to his, let alone at all. But, after reading Scar Tissue I developed a new love for Anthony and RHCP all together. Anthony was always a troubled child, he started smoking marijuana at a young age and got into trouble a lot. In the book, there are a lot of graphic scenes, some sexual, some drug related, but he is such an amazing storyteller and man in general. Anthony I think is truly an icon to the music industry and to many people who are struggling through hard times. Kiedis and the Chili Peppers started out as a P. Funk band in the 70's and is now one of the best rock n' roll bands out there, still pumping out tons of great hits with their last record "Stadium Arcadium". Some of Red Hot Chili Peppers' major influences were Sly Stone, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Iggy Pop, Van Halen and George Clinton.

The main reason that Anthony Kiedis is one of my icons for the American Icons Project, is because the simple reason that he proved he can work through a hard time, while still doing what he loved. Anthony Kiedis completely turned his life around, while I can't relate on the level that he was on, I do apply it to how I handle my own situations. Heavily into drugs, he realized that sober living was the way to live, he has been sober since late 2000 to early 2001. The reason that he is so iconic to me is that he can take a dark time in his past, and find a way to fix it, to change his life, while still performing and creating. That to me is iconic.

He saw the Spiders from Mars, he had a love affair with Jean Genie, and he floated in a most peculiar way. He is David Bowie. David Bowie is a musical sensation. He has inspired the work of many musicians and bands alike. Bowie was heavily influenced by Andy Warhol, Bob Dylan and especially Lou Reed from the Velvet Underground, and Iggy Pop from the Stooges. He has collaborated with Queen, John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Brian Eno and many others. He brought a new feminine look to the world with his different personalities like Ziggy Stardust who is pictured to the left of this text. David Bowie is the epitome of glam rock and ultimate stage presence for his genre of music. Releasing Space Oddity in 1969, he started his mass movement of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, a place called Suffragette City, a girl called Jean Genie and an astronaut named Major Tom.

David Bowie is an icon to America because ultimately of his success. He broke out of the scene as a completely new act, a new make up and tights wearing boy at the young age of 22. He not only has made dozens of hit songs and records, he also starred in the cult-classic the Labyrinth by Jim Henson. The Man Who Fell to Earth, Just a Gigolo and The Hunger are all movies that Bowie has had roles in. He has heavily impacted the musical industry and as well as the film industry with his out of this world (literally) roles, costumes, songs and movies.

Junior Year!

I hope to gain a new knowledge of American history, because up until now, I have learned primarily about wars in US history, or the major wars such as WWI, WWII, and the Civil War. My one major goal that I want to focus on is getting into honors, and finishing all my assignments and work. I will really push myself to be the best I can be, since Humanities is my best and favorite subject. I hope to stop procrastinating as much too, that can be really hard to deal with when you have a huge project coming up and you can't get everything done in a timely fashion, and the quality of your product is not the best it can be. I also hope to get ready for the SAT's because passing that is a huge deal to me, since I will be the first person in my family to go to college.