My Self Portrait

This was the 1st assignment that I completed for Film 150. It is a visual representation of Milwaukee, as well as my heritage. I chose to include images that refleted the transformation of Milwaukee as a city, as well as images that speak to my German roots.

Mitchell Park Domes: A staple in Milwaukee's South Side

Artist's Statement

For my final project, I decided to focus on the Mitchell Park Domes. When researching the domes rich history, it's no wonder why it is such an important part of the South side, and Milwaukee as a whole. The Mitchell Park Conservatory was built in 1898, but had to be demolished in 1955 due to safety standards. The current domes were built in 1967 totaling just over $4.5 million. I was told that somewhere on the grounds there is a marker where Solomon Juneau had a trading post. I asked the domes information about this, and they told me that they have not been able to locate it yet. When I entered the domes, I was amazed at how beautiful they were. Up until this point I had never actually been inside the domes. I began my tour in the show dome which was decorated with a huge Christmas tree and lots of poinsettias. From the show dome I made my way into the desert dome. I was amazed at the tall bushes and wild vines. I even saw one cactus that was over 12 feet tall. I then headed into the tropical dome, which was by far the best dome of them all. There were beautiful waterfalls, magnificent trees, and birds flying over head. I spent the most time in the tropical dome as it had the most information. I saw the plant where chicklets come from, and a tree that's sap is used for motor oil. I learned a lot by visiting the Mitchell Domes. I would highly recommend taking a tour when the weather is nicer so that you can walk the park grounds as well.

I believe that the domes are an excellent example of how commercial development can not beat out historical treasures like the Mitchell Domes. The location of the domes isn't the greatest. It's right off of the highway along 27th street. If you know the area, you know that it is moslty buisnesses and Marquette High School. I believe that the domes beauty offers South siders a look back at their community's rich cultural history. Here is what some of the Loyola students had to say about the domes.

Mario: "I remember going to the domes for a field trip in elementary school. I remeber there were huge trees, and lots of birds in the tropical dome. I think that it's important to have the domes, because they are beautiful and give people something to do."

Celia: " I go past the domes on my way to school. I have never been to the domes, but they look really cool. They remind me of giant behives or something."

Veronica: " I have been to the domes once with my family. My favorite was the desert dome, because it felt like I was in Arizona or some place warm like that. I think that the domes are great because there is so much beauty inbetween all of the buisnesses."

Loyola Academy Service Learning

Service Learning 9/28: Our 1st visit to Loyola went well. We met the students and got a feel for how Mr. Gonzales conducts class. We had a brief intro to race and ethnicity.

Service Learning 10/15: Today we went on the walking tour of Loyola Academy. I learned alot about the school and got to see the remaining elemnts of what used to be a church.

Service Learning 11/2: We collected the media literacy projects from the students and talked about them for a while. After the class,Gabbi and I did an independent tour of the neighborhood.

Service Learning 11/16: I got in a car accident a block away from Loyola which prevented me from attending the class. From what I hear, the students were not to interested in the project.

Service Learning 12/7: Teaching the students the media literacy project went over better than expected. I was suprised at how quickly they picked up on the concepts and learned to analyze the images.


Artist Statement


During the walking tour of Loyola Academy, we visited what the students considered to be the important aspects of the school. The 1st picture I took was of a golden cross on top of the school. I felt this was important, because the school was formerly a church. This is evidenced by the building’s large windows. The second picture I included was a shot of the Loyola Academy sign. The sign says “council for the Spanish speaking Inc.” This is important because the council is responsible for creating the school. The vice principal posed for us in front of the school office. The school office is important because the students can go in there if they are feeling sick or just need someone to talk to. Just above the doors leading to the classrooms is an amazing mural painted by former Loyola students. It represents cultural diversity and shows off just how creative the students can be. I then took pictures of student artwork and class projects. The students were learning about the three branches of the government. The students also do fun activities like holding student elections and having pajama day and twin day. The early childhood center is important to the students, because many of them have little brothers/sisters or cousins enrolled there. The students also said the cafeteria is an important place in the school as that is where they eat their lunches. A disco ball hangs in the cafeteria from a previous school dance. We then went in the back of the school, which was just as interesting as the inside. In the back of the school there is a cross shaped garden, and a green house. Although the students don’t use them, they give an inside look at Loyola’s interesting history. After the formal tour had concluded, we went to the nearby park where the students have gym class and go to play sports. The students said that the park was an important aspect of the neighborhood. We then headed over to El Rey the local supermarket. El Rey was interesting because it has a variety of Hispanic foods. I captured that by the skeleton candies. The skeleton candies are used to celebrate the Mexican holiday “Dia de los Muertos” (day of the dead). Overall I found the tour to be very interesting. I learned a lot about the south side and Loyola Academy.
When putting my power point presentation together, I used basic transitions along with a camera shutter sound effect. It represented that I took all of the photos in the slideshow.

Media Literacy Assignment

The first image I chose to analyze was Gordon Parks’ “American Gothic”. This image is modeled after Grant Wood’s “American Gothic” of the 1930s. The image depicts an African American woman standing in front of an American flag holding a broom and a mop. The woman is dressed in what appears to be a dirty gown. The setting looks like it could be in a gymnasium or an auditorium of some kind. The framing is also in a similar style to the original “American Gothic” painting. The woman is photographed from the waist up, cutting off the bottom half of the picture. This appears to be shot at eye level directly in front of the photographed subject. The lighting also plays an important role, because the entire right side of her face is in the shadows.
I believe that this picture represents both progress and oppression at the same time. In the original “American Gothic”, a man and a woman stand in front of a farm house with a pitchfork in hand. In Parks’ adaptation, the African American woman is all by herself holding a broom and a mop. This could be a statement about African American women and their hard working attitudes and determination to overcome the challenges they face. Switching perspectives, this could also be viewed as an image of oppression. The fact that the woman is standing in front of the American flag could represent the American dream. The broom and mop shows that for an African American woman in the 1940s…this was the reality. I see hope in the woman’s eyes. She appears to be unhappy with the situation, but is looking toward the future for better times.



The second image I chose to examine was Margaret Bourke White’s “At the time of the Louisville flood”. This image sums up a good portion of the twentieth century. This photo is taken in front of a large billboard in what might be heavily populated city. The photo depicts a group of African Americans standing in a line waiting for something. The African Americans in this photo are dressed in long coats, and everyone is wearing a cap. The white family in the car appears to be dressed nice and everyone is smiling. The photo is framed so that the entire billboard is legible. The line of African Americans extends beyond the shot, because some people were cut out. The photo looks like it was taken from a slightly lower angle from a distance.
This photo is significant because of the irony that it depicts. The white family in the car is smiling and enjoying life. The caption above them reads, “World’s highest standard of living…there’s no way like the American way”. Directly below the billboard is a line of African Americans who are waiting in for something perhaps a soup kitchen. During that time in American history, African American’s were not treated fairly and faced many hardships that white people could not even imagine. The words on the billboard confirm that this is the American way. According to Dyers essay on whiteness, being white is everything or nothing. Being white means having power and decision making abilities. The fact that the white family in the car is at a higher level than the African Americans on the ground symbolizes the inequality facing African Americans. The cruel reality is that “the American way” is that for most of the twentieth century, African Americans were going to face severe hardships. Some would argue that the inequalities have not completely vanished. I would agree, but they have improved since 1937 when this picture was taken.