Public Art as Social Protest

The Rivera Frozen Assets Mural created during The Great Depression connects a lot with what’s going on today with The Occupy movement. In the mural there is a scene that shows a bank that is empty with people that look depressed. I think that the bank situation is very similar to what is going on with our bank systems today. During The Great Depression people were not able to take their money out of the bank because the bank had used their money for purposes other than the intended. Now people are being charged to use the money that they have put in banks, which most likely causes a lot of people to remove their money from the bank. I believe that the less people who use bank services the more fees the bank has to charge in order to maintain their business. Also in the mural it shows a shelter like place with a lot of people sleeping on the ground with a guard watching them. I think that this connects to the occupy movement because the people who are protesting are sleeping outside with police watching. The only true difference is that they are choosing to sleep outside and be watched because they are choosing to protest. Another portion of the mural shows people waiting in line for something. This is a connection because just like people were waiting around during The Great Depression for thing to be resolved and improve people protesting for The Occupy movement are doing the same. I do believe that the Rivera mural is a direct connection to situations that are happening today with The Occupy Movement. If someone were to make a mural or even just a painting to illustrate what is happening with The Occupy Movement I don’t think that the pictures would be alike but I do believe that the thought put in would definitely be similar.

My Inspiration

My Inspiration is my son. Every since he was born he has changed my life in so many ways its crazy to me. People often look down at me because I am only 19 and I have a child, but I consider me being a mother a very good thing. My son began to inspire me way before he was even born. When I first found out I was pregnant I was a highschool drop out with barely any intentions of returning to school. However when I realized that I would be having a child I told myself that I couldn't have a baby and not have a highschool diploma. Really what kind of role model would I be for my child? I wouldn't be able to stress the importance of eduacation to him when I hadn't even completed my own. Beyond this instance my child inspires me in a variety of ways on a daily basis. He inspires me just to get out of bed on mornings when I really don't feel like it. When deciding to apply for Year Up