Book Project

For the latest Surface Research assignment, we had to somehow involve a book. What I chose to do for my project is show my Russian heritage. I made a box which looks like my Russian passport with faceless handmade Matryoshka dolls inside. The dolls are a symbol of my family now and past. The pages of Russian text inside the book are from a textbook I used when I was four years old in Moscow and learning the Russian language. The box enters into my heritage and is slightly opened as I am the first in my family to move out of Russia. The opening is a gateway to other places.

The Jacket (For Surface Research and Destroy Project)

The Jacket

The Process

1. Christopher Walken painted in acrylic on lining and sewn to jacket

Destruction: Burning

2. Walken Tree on Jacket Island (symbolization of new growth post-death)

- fur as grass

- matches from Walken burning were used to elevate the tree

Destruction: stomp on tree

3. Hands holding coffee (charcoal drawing)  w/ real coffee (growth from plant)

Destruction: paint used with coffee to wipe away drawing

4. Starbucks cup of coffee and jacket table cloth

Destruction: squeezed and thrown away in garbage bin (like I would to drinking cup), used table cloth also thrown out

5. Picked up the garbage that was once the Starbucks coffee cup

-created useable handbag out of “garbage” (symbolization of reuse)

Destruction: tear the seams apart

6. Made a deer (fawn) to symbolize what some leather bags are made of

Destruction: pulled it apart

7. Created a shirt to go with a skit from fawn and jacket remains

Destruction: jacket torn apart during fight

Exploring My Top Three Majors

The first departments that I visited were Fashion Merchandising, my first choice major, and Fashion Design, my third choice, which were both located on the fourth floor of the Pollack building. I spent a good bit of time observing my surroundings and slyly peaking into classrooms filled with busy fashion students, draping and sewing. I was inspired by the beautiful clothing creations and more than ever want to attend a VCU student fashion show. (It's a good start before I go to NYC, Paris, and Milan Fashion Week. Har, har.) Finally, I went to an office on that floor and was welcomed by a man and woman who work in the Fashion Merchandising and Design Departments. The woman gave me a book and some papers about the program and the duo answered all of my questions. The Fashion Design program is just stellar and students have grown to be great successes coming out of the program. One fashion design student had an internship with Alexander McQueen (R.I.P.) during her years at VCU, which greatly strengthened her resume. However, the Fashion Merchandising program still stood out to me and this visit only strengthened my interest in it. There are 280 students in the entire Fashion Merchandising program and they bust their asses for success. One former fashion merch. student is now the stylist for the Jonas Brothers, who I'm not particularly fond of, but that former student is now making bank doing what she loves. Another fashion merch. student is an editor for Elle in NYC. There are also successful stylists and buyers who work for Marc Jacobs, Macy's, J. Crew, Armani Exchange, etc. I love it. I feel like success is definitely in my future if I work hard in this program. I'm more thrilled than ever. Furthermore, Fashion Merchandising students also get to design a line of clothes. This means I'll still get to do art-related things in this business-stressed major. Just my thing.

Next, I visited the Graphic Design department which was on the floor below in the Pollack building. I was welcomed by the department chair, John DeMao, who has been working for the school for well over ten years. He showed me a bit around and gave me a packet of information goodies in a chrome envelope. Some of the things that were in the envelope are pictured above. The Graphic Design program is by far one of the finest in the country. Students are extremely hard workers, which is really true for just about all of the art majors, but anyway . . . I was greatly impressed by a lot of the work that I saw hanging in the building. There was both BFA and MFA student work, which was interesting to see. I love that the Graphic Design department has an old-fashioned printing press. Those are hard to come by and it really brings you back to the roots of the art of graphic design. So much can be done with a graphic design major: typography work, web design, package design, magazine layouts, album art, poster art, the next cover of a great novel or blockbuster film. I love seeing the work. It's very unique and inspirational. I love seeing totally new images that come out of the minds of fresh, young artists.


All in all, visiting these three departments was an excellent journey for me. I'm still into Fashion Merchandising for my first choice, but Graphic Design and Fashion Design are still up there for me if I have a change of heart.

Walken in Back Alleys

I just got the most sketchy looks in my life. I was in the back alley of an apartment building where apparently residents also exit the building occasionally. I can’t imagine the thoughts going through their heads. “There’s a girl out here burning Christopher Walken attached to an ugly jacket.” 

That’s meeee.

Surface Research and Destroy

I've been really getting into my surface research and destroy project because I get to make a lot of things that I had never pictured myself making and doing things to them that I never imagined myself doing. It's a very creative and interesting experience. I am recording my project in video format to create a sort of documentary of the process. As of now, I'm not planning to narrate.

To begin my project, I bought a hideous coat from Diversity Thrift. As you see below, this shitty excuse for a piece of clothing has blue-ginger faux fur. I picked it out for its extra flair.

Then, I got a seam ripper and took apart some of the brown lining inside of the jacket. Directly on that brown lining, I painted Christopher Walken's head in acrylic. 

My next step for the project is to sew his head onto the top of the jacket, as if he were wearing it. Then, burn his face off and part of the jacket, as well. I chose Christopher Walken because he has died in almost every film he's played a role in. In fact, before 2005, he's died in every film he's been in. So naturally, he is chosen to get destroyed. 

After Walken's destruction (he won't be Walken on sunshine anymore), I will create a tree from the ashes as symbolization of new growth. The blue faux fur will serve as part of the landscape. Then I will stomp on the tree, as things in nature, especially nowadays more than ever, get destroyed. Better said, they get stomped by society's wants for more wood to have more homes, stuff, etc. 

The process will continue from there until I have completed 7 creations and destructions. 

Representational Object and Pattern Acrylic Painting

For my acrylic painting, I put floral patterns around a self-portrait. These floral patterns, resembling, fabric, form my clothing. The painting as a whole is meant to look like a sort of unusual magazine cover, which is why I'm posed in the middle. I enjoyed forming my clothes out of the patterns because I love fashion.