Grid Art

Bottle Cap Grid Art (Courtesy: Matthew Chang)

The photo above is a grid project that was made with bottle caps. In total the number of bottle caps used to make this piece is 63. The bottle caps come from 14 different drinks. These bottle caps are just a few of the many I have collected with the intention of using for a future project. Each one is significant of a memory that has occurred over the past 3 years, both good and bad.

Personally, I enjoy the idea of this project. Using unconventional items to create a grid pattern had sparked creativity amongst the class. It was impressive to see what other students had come up with, in particular, there were projects made from baked goods. Other designs featured candy, Post-it notes, and Solo cups. 

Of all of the various drinks represented above, my favorite was Cusqueña, a Peruvian beer with the bottle shown in the top right corner. The image shown on the bottle cap is of Machu Picchu, the Incan citadel set high in the Andes Mountains in Peru. Although it is rare to find at most establishments, it can still be found in America. To many who have had the pleasure of having this drink, it is a comfort that can be enjoyed in North America not only South America.

Coldplay by Mike Tompkins

Mike Tompkins' A Capella cover of Paradise by Coldplay
(Courtesy: www.tedeschi.mx)

The Youtube video by Mike Tompkins performing Paradise by Coldplay in A Capella was astounding. His voice is extremely versatile and is able to prove he can compose a song on his own. I have seen a few songs performed in A Capella, however, this is by far one of the more eye catching and involved out there. The addition of the multiple camera appearances definitely increases the engagement with viewers. With all of the sounds and movements his mouth makes, viewers can watch all of the effort that went into the making of the song.

The art of opera singing has evolved drastically since its creation in 16th century. Nowadays singers must reach and exceed new heights as they expand their talents far beyond just singing. Mike Tompkins displays this well as he demonstrates his skill beatboxing, singing and creatively imitating instruments as seen in his other videos. The singer of today seems to be well versed in a variety of fields, in addition to drawing inspiration from other talented artists. Even today's artists are somewhat of a technological genius. For someone whose main talent is singing, his videographer skills are impressive proving a true blend of technology and art in this modern age.

With the assistance of Youtube, millions of people are able to broadcast their talents and shared skills with the world. This expanded audience opens up many opportunities that they otherwise would not normally have. Many Youtube stars with a million or more followers started just like any other amateur user did when originally creating an account, with a minimal fanbase and a desire to reach thousands of viewers around the world. If opera in the 16th century had the ability to attract such a vast crowd for free, like Youtube has done for vocalists such as Mike Tompkins, then it would have been bigger in other countries than just Europe. Every culture has their own take on performance art and singing, yet all do not stem from opera itself, rather takes influences from each other and their traditional roots.

Overall, the modern day singers have evolved since Italian theatre and moved to an electronic stage than can be viewed by everyone at all times.