Monthly Archives: May 2013

Ryo Toyonaga’s exhibit, Mindscapes, at the Mishkin Gallery immediately brought to mind works of art produced by Dali in terms of the surrealistic style. All of his works in the exhibit shared a common theme. Each work centered around some sort of industrial contraption excreting pollutants and seemingly clashing with the surrounding environment. Each work appeared depressed and cold as if life itself was fading from each work. Some of the works contained whimsical creatures that looked like organs with human appendages in a style reminiscent of illustrations by Dr. Seuss.
Two works in specific, both untitled, feature surreal depictions of what appear to be a nuclear reactor destroying the environment and a city of skyscrapers doing likewise.
In the piece depicting a nuclear power plant, the cones of four reactors are seen with pipes protruding from all areas. The pipes eject grey smoke while the reactors ooze red lava upon the ground. The ground surrounding the reactors is brown, burnt, and polluted. Trees are void of leaves and the lake in the background is nearly black. The sun appears to be setting on the dying environment.
The piece featuring the city of skyscrapers is not so different either. The terrain surrounding the city is again barren and toxic looking. The city is built upon an ant mound-like structure. As in the previous work, pipes spew smoke while the bases of the building drip a red ooze onto the soil.
Upon further research of the artist I found that Toyonaga themed much of the exhibition around the atomic bomb era and atomic energy. I can agree that the theme behind most of the art in the exhibit gave the feeling of a post-apocalyptic world or one which has experienced a nuclear holocaust in which confusion runs rampant and the deterioration of society has occurred. Another perspective could be of the destructive nature of mankind and the industrialization of Earth.
As with most art exhibits the message the artist wishes to convey usually
isn’t immediately available and requires thought and interpretation by the observer. At first I felt the exhibit was mediocre and imitational of Dali. Upon further thought I changed my mind and realized Toyonaga has quite a unique and interesting style in his exhibition of Mindscapes.

Final Blog Post

As my first semester draws to a close I am grateful for all the friends I have made in the last four months. The most interesting part of Baruch’s student body is the extreme level of diversity. I am still amazed at how different everyone’s background is at Baruch. For once in my life I was the minority which provided me with an entirely new perspective that I was never presented with in my quiet suburban life in Warwick.
When I first arrived at Baruch my perception of college was different. I had been to campuses in Upstate New York and Pennsylvania State University and found them to be overrated and utterly contained environments. I can say that even though there is no real campus here at Baruch, we have the advantage of being right in the middle of one of the most important cities in the world. Our campus is New York City and it is always moving and always changing, thus promoting us to adapt to our surroundings There is so much here in this city that we can benefit from culturally and professionally that so many college students our age don’t have access to.
Like others have said in their posts, now that I have experienced college I am ready to take on the responsibilities that go with it. I hope the rest of my time here is as influential as the first semester has been. I wish the best of luck to all of my classmates in their journey’s at Baruch.

 My first semester at  Baruch was an interesting experience and one that wont be forgotten. I never really relied on anyone to get   stuff done so I had the same mindset going into college. I have remained focused and motivated to better myself day by day.I have also learned that time management is key in order to be a successful college student. Going through  freshman orientation was very helpful in learning about what the school has to offer and where to go if you need help for a class or anything in general. I feel like that class was one that will definitely  pay off in the long run. Being in blocks also made the transition from high school to college go smoothly. I met a lot of cool people that each have their story to tell & who I wish the best in their future whether it be in Baruch or life in general. I cant wait to see what my future in Baruch has in store for me. You cant go beyond what there’s no limit too . I feel blessed to be where I’m at today & I’m not going to let this opportunity go to waste. The way I see it, we have the world in our hands. Its on us to decide what we want  to do with it.

My first semester at Baruch has felt a bit like this. Bringing me back. It seems as though having a job and going to school was different in high school, and I forgot just how much school entailed over the time I spent not in school. i learned a lot about time management and the importance of organization so that work and school can live together in harmony instead of fight over time and energy. I’m glad to have learned this lesson quickly though for it is one I shall never forget!

My first semester at Baruch was very good. I enjoyed all my classes and the material I studied was very interesting. My anthropology class was the most interesting one. It made me think about our society and culture, see the “other” in different perspective, and understand more about our correct economy system. I learned how the US college system works, I learned to write better and improved my oral skills. Math class and English class weren’t very challenging, and I hope i’ll keep that way in my Math final.

My only complain is about the fact that the school doesn’t offer services for evening class students. I believe there should be representative in each department available to assist evening students.

I hope I will enjoy the 2nd semester as I enjoyed this one.

Cheers,

Or Israel W.

The gallery bestowed the paintings of artist Ryo Toyonaga’s most recent work, Mindscapes. Toyonaga is a post modernist painter that is influenced by his dreams and sub-conscious. Throughout the gallery, I noticed that most of his work reflected creatures living in a different world. He captures this sort of imaginary by using vivid usage of bright colors and shadings to get his point across. It is said that “Toyonaga “sees” the images fixed in his mind before he captures the images on his paint brush. These images slowly evolve as he works.” The painting at the exhibit that stood out to me the most was Untitled C-14 (2012). The second I laid eyes on this painting I automatically thought about a bowl of spaghetti. I don’t really know why this thought crossed my mind. I guess I was a little bit hungry while I was viewing this particular painting. Outside of the painting resembling a bowl of spaghetti, I also like the detail Toyonaga adds to this image. Although, it seemed as simple as a bowl of spaghetti to me, a deeper meaning, one that I’m not very sure of, possibly can be drawn from the painting. I had a great time studying Ryo Toyonaga’s perspective on a different world and how he captures this world through his paintings.

Untitled C-14 (2012)

http://www.ryotoyonaga.com/gallery/19370805_WF5R8G#!i=2357006617&k=gCwDhcH&lb=1&s=A

I think about my school schedule….crazy!

I wonder how am I suppose to adapt to the most eclectic professor every…crazy.

I get out of class at 430, work at 5 till 11, get home at 12. Class at 815am………Crazy!

Freshman seminar…….no credits……what????? thats crazyyyyyy!

6 classes…crazy!!

Can you really work full time and be a full time student and a full time parent…crazy!!

This all makes me feel…………..crazy!!!!

How can I cope, this is too much…….crazy!!!

The thought that i could make it…..is……CRAZY!

DONT forget your homeworks due tomorrow, followed by your psych exam, your group presentation, math quiz, and oh yeah you have to train the new girl at work, make sure you do your job despite being tired…..(gasp)… didnt take a breath….cause i dont have enough time…..crazy

“time”…….crazy

having something so valuable to you that you cant control…..crazy…

its crazy to know what you can write when you just flow from your heart…. is dat crazy?

Wait, the semester is over…..crazy!!!

I can pass all my classes with at least a B+????………crazy!!!!!!!

school is….crazy!!!!!

if school is crazy and i excel am i……crazy?

time to find out.

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Crazy.

Very interesting. Surprisingly I learned much about myself and what I can handle. It’s crazy how things can change during the course of a semester, helps you understand that in some ways college does change you. And even if it doesn’t then you change while IN college and therefore this becomes a very crucial and pivotal role in who we become. Although you may not learn something new in every class, you do learn something life-worthy, whether it be dealing with a difficult professor or learning that you don’t like morning classes, (why because your not a morning person?), either way, take that information and let it help you guide which doors you open. I learned its not as important to follow in someone footsteps because you want to be like them, but more or less see where you would want to be and what works for you, because ultimately its your ass in that seat, so own it!

My first semester at Baruch has been a great learning experience. I was given the opportunity of taking accountability of my own success. Baruch has showed me that independence is the key to a bright future and in reality you only have yourself to depend on. I’ve learned to use my time more effectively as I embark on my next semesters at Baruch. I’ve grown to realize that doing an English paper the night before it is due and receiving a B+ is not expectable anymore. A B+ is good, but an A or A- sounds a lot better. Planning ahead and defeating procrastination are key aspects that will guide me to accomplish greater things in life. I’m slowly facing the reality of being a young adult. It’s time to make smarter decisions, decisions that are going to be beneficial to my future. With this said, freshman seminar has helped bridge the gap between the transition of being a high school graduate into becoming a freshman in college. Fro provided great resources that I will eventually use to help my time at Baruch go a lot smoother and more productive. Overall, this is only the beginning to great levels of success I’m soon to experience later on in life. Special thanks to everyone I’ve meet so far for making my experience at Baruch positive, productive, and adventurous.

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It won’t let me add an image

My first semester at Baruch has been great. I really haven’t had any problems, I met some really amazing people and now I’m kind of sad the first semester is over. I have loved all my classes, despite the crazy English professor and stressful research paper. Although Baruch and living in NYC have been amazing, I am looking forward to going home for the summer. I miss my dogs! And family and friends.

I have just got the keys to the apartment my friends and I are sharing next semester which is soooo close to school. So, goodbye dorms! I am excited for the fall semester now, but I REALLY need a job on campus. I’m not liking being a poor student.