Senior Project Artifact Reflection (Know, Do, Reflect)

Complete the KDR graphic organizer below with comprehensive thoughts. Each section should consist of 1-2
detailed, thorough paragraphs that showcase what you KNOW, what you can DO, and your REFLECTION on your
project. The boxes will grow as you type.
KNOW:
Explain the goal or
objective of the course, what
your project was, and how
your project met that
goal/objective
Discuss what you needed
to know in order to
complete the project
effectively and proficiently,
as well as discussing what
you LEARNED upon
completing the project.

For my Senior Project, I cleaned the Bay Point Shoreline park that is
affiliated with the East Bay Regional Parks District. As well as cleaning,
I created my artistic installation based off of observations around the park
and the need the park had for a garbage can. Before this project, I walked
around the shoreline and trails to see just how much work I had cut out for
myself. As well, I had to plan how I would be able to pick up the garbage
that I needed to if it was bigger than what I could fit into a garbage bag. In
this project, I worked with Tammy Mueller of the East Bay Regional
Parks District, brainstorming different project ideas and possible obstacles
wed face, and being that the installation is going into a public place, the
different wear and tear that my installation could and would take. During
my project, I learned that working with someone who you have never met
can be hard, but it isnt impossible. While working with Tammy, I had to
adapt to emails, as neither of us could catch the other at a reasonable time
to talk on the phone.

DO:
Discuss the process of what
you actually did in order to
complete your project and
what you can do as a result

o Think - because I
know (this) I can now
do (this)
Discuss new technologies
used, new subject matter
encountered, new skills
learned or skills that were
improved, etc. as you
worked through your
project.

In doing this project, with scoping out how much garbage I would be
picking up, I had to set limitations as well, sadly enough. Not only have I
had an ongoing injury throughout my project that has inhibited the
amount of walking and hiking I can do, there are a places in the park
where, due to the marshlands and the unpredictably soft grounds, I would
not be able to reach some of the garbage that I wanted to. There were
other times where when I did go, I didnt have enough bags to pick up
more garbage, or there were objects that I could reach, but were too heavy
to carry with the multiple bags of garbage I had picked up. For the artist
installation, I had originally planned on creating a banner that showcased
photos, half showing the beauty in the park, and half showing the effects
the garbage was having on the delta. After a while of brainstorming and
replanning with Tammy, we decided on another idea I had; painting a
metal garbage can. This idea stemmed from the fact that I wanted to
persuade people to start throwing their garbage into a garbage can rather
than the ground, but I had realized that I could do that unless there was a
garbage can to put it in, and there wasnt one nearby the picnic tables,
unless you knew of the one on the opposite side of the bathroom, and
walked all the way over there from the tables. Even then, that one garbage
can would overflow after a family gathering at the shoreline, as to it being
the only garbage can available. From this, I not only decided to place a
direct incentive for people to throw away garbage, but to clean up for
future generations.

In this project, I believe that my communication with Tammy Mueller

REFLECT: Reflect on the

process of completing the
project (both steps taken and
knowledge and experience
gained).
What went well? Why?
What could have gone
better? How could you
have improved it?
How have you
demonstrated growth in
your knowledge and skills
as both an artist and student
as a result of working
through the project?
Reflect on your process of
becoming an agent of
change, a social activist,
and how using your art has
helped you achieve this.
Did you meet your project
goals/objectives? Yes/No,
Explain.
Did your project produce
the intended impact on
those who engaged with it?
How so?
How will you continue to
BE THE CHANGE YOU
WANT TO SEE IN THE
WORLD?

and our planning of my artistic installation went well. I believe this

because we sent many emails between each other multiple times a week. I
believe that my planning with the cleanups could have gone better, and if
I hadnt had an injury, I would have been able to do more. My knowledge
and and skills in being both an artist and a student have greatly improved
due to having to push myself out of my comfort zone with working with
someone whom I have never met and having to learn what I consider
politely pushing a timeline versus rudely pushing a timeline. As well, I
have had to learn limitations in expectations for myself and how to push
myself beyond the limitations I set to myself. At the beginning of the
project, I didnt see myself having the ability to go to the delta to pick up
garbage, but I ended up going to pick up numerous times. As an artist I
have been able to realize my strengths in different mediums to use that to
my advantage when switching ideas for my project. It did take some time
however, but I had to convince myself to trust my own painting abilities
and to complete this project as an agent of change. I have learned that
making a change isnt as simple as having an opinion and spreading it, its
also about the actions you put behind it. I also learned that you need to
provide a basis for your reasoning. In my case, I wanted people to throw
away their garbage, when there was only one garbage can in the park, and
it wasnt by the highest foot traffic area. By this, I knew to start a change,
I had to start at the base of supplying the means to throwing away garbage
- a trashcan. This trashcan, though, wouldnt be a trashcan to blend in
with the surrounding muted colors of tans, browns, and beiges, being
swallowed whole by lack of color in ones peripheral vision; this garbage
can would be painted in a way where it would stand out, drawing eyes to
it, making sure people knew that there was a garbage can for use in the
park. From this garbage can, the idea of throwing away garbage can grow
into much more. This garbage can can become the highway to seeing
others cleaning up as well. This project had a different outcome than
expected, but I believe that this outcome could last a lot longer than the
original. I see the garbage can being used a lot more and being more
productive than a banner to spread my idea, and I am okay with that. I
hope to continue to clean the delta, as long as my foot continues to heal,
and heals fast and correctly. As well, I may do my own individual project
of convincing the East Bay Regional Parks District to place more garbage
cans throughout the park.