Mash Up Artist Statement

As I was brainstorming in preparation for this image I knew I wanted to combine something from my childhood and something from adulthood. I spent a long time writing down different memories I have from my childhood and writing down realities from adulthood. I looked at this lists and was surprised at how the childhood memories all seemed idyllic and peaceful and fun while my present life looks dark and difficult. I wanted to highlight this contrast in my mash up. I ended up choosing Calvin and Hobbes and the drought. I remember spending hours reading Calvin and Hobbes and even more hours playing imaginary games in my backyard just like Calvin. I chose the drought because my dad works for the Santa Clara Valley Water District and water has always been a part of my life. The current drought in California is a very real problem and because of my dad’s influence, something I am very concerned about. So I combined an idyllic and careless memory with a serious and dramatic problem. This piece is also a comment on the enjoyable yet incredibly wasteful Ice Bucket Challenge. The final image is a clash of carelessness and seriousness. The “Brown Is The New Green” sign is a sad reminder of our wastefulness. On a deeper level this piece is about the difficult change all students go through when our carefree childhood ends and we have to grow up and face the drought.