Visiting Harlem as a seventeen-year-old woman, and an introvert at that, was a challenge. The neighborhood is known for being perilous, and before my visit, I had seen reports that indicated more than a hundred students got killed in that area. While I felt like a reporter wandering the streets of Harlem, I was fortunate to interview a diverse set of people: a theater director, a musician, a photographer, a teacher, and a former prisoner. It was a journey that often left my hand, and my mind, numb and red. It has deepened my sense of urbanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What has influenced me the most is Adrian Piper\u2019s capacity for risk-taking and her challenge to societal norms in both her artwork and philosophy. Inspired by her example, I pushed myself out of my comfort zone by traveling from downtown to uptown Harlem, where Piper was born.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although in a limited way, I have tried to capture the essence of life in Harlem through interviews with six individuals. Piper’s art is known for being cold, abrasive, and cerebral, and the life stories of these six people reflect their diverse identities and experiences. Their lives have been fast-paced, intense, and filled with challenges. Like Adrian Piper, all six interviewees have faced struggles in their childhoods, but they are now grateful for what they have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perhaps apparent coldness hides certain warmth and deeper connections stir under intellect?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":18728,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[40],"class_list":["post-18726","student-work","type-student-work","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-integrative-studio-seminar-2","tag-visual-culture"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n