Erika Bast - Creative Practice Blogs

 September 29th, 2024      Hello! Throughout my recent blog posts, I’ve been focusing on the theme of community and exploring it through the medium of photography. However, this week, I decided to switch things up and experiment with watercolor painting instead.      Dabbling in watercolor was definitely outside my comfort zone since I don’t consider myself skilled at drawing or painting. But to my surprise, the experience turned out to be incredibly therapeutic. Last week, I found myself feeling a bit frustrated and overly focused on capturing the "perfect" photograph. That pressure to create something flawless began to overshadow the true purpose of this project. Shifting to watercolor allowed me to let go of that pressure. I felt more relaxed and found myself completely absorbed in the process. It was a refreshing change that reminded me to prioritize the joy of creating over the end result.           To continue e...

 September 22nd, 2024    Hello! Welcome back to my blog post! Same as the previous weeks, I am exploring the theme of community through the medium of photography. This week, however, I want to shift focus slightly and explore the concept of community from an ecological perspective.      According to briticanna.com, an ecological community can be defined as “an interacting group of various species in a common location.” An example of this is a coral reef, a diverse array of organisms such as coral, fish, sponges, and algae. By this definition, communities are not limited to groups of humans, but rather they can be found everywhere you look.       With this in mind, I realized animal shelters are a perfect example of community. These spaces bring together different species—such as cats, dogs, and even small animals like hamsters. In these shelters, these animals interact, share resources, and establish social dynamics, creating their own s...

 September 15st, 2024     Hello again! As a reminder, I am currently exploring the theme of community through the medium of photography. This week, I felt inspired to focus on the unique dynamics of the gym community.      At the surface level, the gym community may appear to be a group of individuals who gather to exercise either at a public or home fitness center. However, what makes this community truly special is the sense of connection that underlies it. The gym becomes more than just a place to work out—it transforms into a space where people support and uplift one another. Members of this community often help each other in small, yet meaningful, ways. For example, when at the gym, you can always find someone who is willing to spot you during a heavy lift. Additionally, you can always find fellow gym goers who are willing to provide tips on proper form or nutrition. Even when you go online, platforms like TikTok allow members of th...

September 8th, 2024      Hello and welcome back to my blog! As stated in my first blog post, I am using the medium of photography to explore the theme of community. This week, I choose to focus on how Haile Farmers Market exemplifies this theme.      Every Saturday morning, friends, families, and even dogs gather at the Haile Farmers Market. It is truly more than just a marketplace; it is also a celebration of the community. Local farmers, artisans, and chefs fill the street with their handmade goods. Each product tells a story, whether it's through handmade crafts that reflect the artist's creativity or fresh fruits and vegetables grown with the dedication of local farmers. By wandering from stall to stall, you get to learn these stories and deepen your connection with fellow community members.       On Saturday, I had the joy of experiencing this. After wandering around for a while, I decided to try and get a photograph to highlight th...

September 1st, 2024      Hello everyone! Welcome to my blog. Here I will be documenting my journey of exploring a creative practice. Currently, I have selected photography as my medium. Ever since I was young, I loved to take photos. I remember always having my camera with me and taking pictures of absolutely anything and everything. I feel photography allows me to capture the world's beauty in a way I can hold on to forever. While you may never visit a certain place or see a certain person again, a photograph allows you to revisit that experience time and time again. It's truly magical.       So, with this creative practice, I am aiming to explore the theme of community. Whether people are listening to a band play, exploring a museum, taking a painting class, or even watching a movie, they are united by one thing: art. It is through artistic practices that people are brought together every day. So, I want to use the art of photography to highlight thi...