MPC's STEAM Art Exhibit 2023

This short-film follows two siblings who escape their mundane reality into a fantastical forest where they find a magical grove full of wondrous and frightening creatures, with evil seemingly looming just around the bend. Created, directed and animated by myself and the help of my team as my senior thesis project at CSU Monterey Bay.

What do you think this painting is communicating? This painting was first started at a Youth Mental Health Summit and later finished. The center is supposed to symbolize my interpretation of my 'soul'. It depicts the idea of taking a feeling like anger or sadness and letting oneself feel it, have it flow through us and transforming into action that is accountable to our core values and growing into something new, expressing it through action in a healthy and just way.

This piece took a few concepts and applied them in an abstract way. I had no goal or plan with this piece but I worked on it until it felt complete. What do you think of when you see this piece?

Featuring a scene from the final act of 'The Forest of Dreams' story. Disclaimer that this scene is not in the film, but I have intentions of adapting the story into a comic series at some point so keep an eye out. Meanwhile, enjoy this sneak peek ;)

I created this piece for this exhibit based on the idea of "New Beginnings". What do you think of when you hear "New Beginnings"? What does that look like for you? I think of fighting climate change, habitat restoration, and environmental justice. I think of a just world where our species works in partnership with Mother Earth instead of against her, a world where everyone's basic needs are provided for. I think of someone rekindling their joy and love for life after only knowing neglect and trauma. I think of little bird eggs in a nest, a sunrise, of little mushrooms sprouting from a skull - death turning to life and vice versa, I think of the forests near us with ivy sneaking up the trunks. I think of the power of life and the responsibility we all have to make positive change in our communities and our world.

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