project 31

I get uncomfortable talking to people where I live, but today I made it a point to go find and talk to someone at grand central. I found Tim and Greg.......... and I had a CONVERSATION. I know, I know! It's a big deal! It wasn't that scary and it was nice to get to know them.

Picture taken by Me

10:15 pm - 10:35 pm

Grand Central

project 30

I don't remember being afraid of heights when I was a kid, but this past year or two things have changed. I am queasy just peaking through the window of my friend's apartment on the second floor. So, today I decided to go rock climbing at CSUF's gym. I was beyond nervous. Although, the girl that was helping me put on my harness was super nice and she made me feel a lot more at ease. When I started the climb, I totally forgot I was nervous and I went up quickly ( like a monkey). It was only till I reached the top and I looked down to get my picture taken that I was like : AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH get me down.

Anywho I did it two more times... and each time I did it I was less afraid.

Picture taken by worker at the rock climbing area of the gym

6:15 pm - 7:00 pm

Gym, CSUF

project 28 and 29

Project 28
Sometimes being shy means not being able to do nice things like holding up signs that say "HOPE YOUR HAVING AN AWESOME DAY" while dancing. So, today that's what I did. I felt a tad timid as I went onto the streets with my massive sign, but as the cars came I just starting dancing and moving my sign. It was an unbelievable feeling, a feeling where I might be changing someones day. These people in their cars might be thinking about work or school, and I (just for a moment) was giving them a break from their busy minds.

what the car people did: they honked, they gave thumbs up, they smiled, they laughed, they didn't look....

and then there was this Grandma who said "what your doing is very nice" :)

the whole time I was dancing I didn't feel shy, I didn't even care if I look silly.. maybe that's the key of getting over my shyness.. knowing that getting out of my shell could be helping people.






Project 29

I've always felt like I HAD to go to the movie theaters with someone and it would be uncomfortable to go by myself. Except, I did it today and it wasn't. It's kind of nice just watching a movie by yourself, you should try it.

project 25, 26, 27

Project 25

Dads can be embarrassing. My dad likes to wear rice paddy hats (see picture above), he likes to bring his beans and rice to restaurants, and he loves doing tai chi with all the old ladies in chinatown. So, today I decided to ACCEPT the fact that my dad is who he is and NOT to be embarrassed. This is how I showed it:
Doing Tai Chi in front of the student store... but then I realized I didn't remember all the moves

so I started to reenact the scenes from karate kid

and do yoga poses.

It was a big hit..... just kidding.

Uncomfortable: yes

Reactions: some people laughed, some people gave strange looks, some people didn't even look and then there was one of my classmates who passed by

and now she thinks I'm weird. damn it.




Project 26
I love crossing guards they save kids everyday. So, today I decided to get out of my comfortable bubble and go save lives. I would run to the middle of the cross walk, show my stopping sign (my hand) to the cars, and wave to the pedestrians to start walking.

I think they thought I was very helpful and I agree. I mean I was sort of a hero.. they could have been hit by cars, but that situation never happened because I was there. The end.

Project 27

Today I got to know two of the guys that live at grand central.

Project 24

I give hugs selectively, if I don't know you I won't be so keen on giving you a hug. Not that I have a problem with the person who wants a hug, I just feel weird touching people whom I don't know well. So, today I decided to ask people if they wanted a hug.

If you were wondering if I...
was nervous? yes, because who does this kind of thing? and what if they reject my friendly hug

was embarrassed? YES! I think this was the most embarrassing project that I've done. It's like asking someone out (and no I've never done that)






In the end of the whole thing.. I couldn't believe I had done it... because hugs can be difficult, but they're also wonderful.



Picture taken by Danae

8:00 - 8:40 pm

Art Buildings, Cal State Fullerton

project 23

Have you ever felt like you couldn't wear something because you felt like people wouldn't think it would fit your character? well I think that's how I feel about a lot clothes. I remember this really cool girl, well the coolest girl in the crowd of dorky people I hung out with in high school.. and she would wear bandanas and I would be like "wow I wish I could wear bandanas... but that's for cool kids." Well, now as I write this I think the whole thing is kind of silly, but anyways yesterday I got this free bandana at the cinco de mayo festival in Santa Ana... so I wore it. I went to kinkos, starbucks and the parking structure with my bright yellow bandana...

This is what I was thinking while I was wearing my bandana: I wonder if everyone is looking because I'm wearing the flag of Mexico on my head and I'm asian.

This is what I saw: lots of people looking, maybe because people just look when there's someone walking in or maybe because of the brightness of my bandana.

This is the sounds I made while being nervous as I walked into Kinkos wearing my bandana: HEHHEHEHHEHEHEHEHEHE can I HEHEHEHHEEHE make a copy HEHEHHEEE...

Giggling helps me get through awkwardness.

This is how I felt after: Never again.

but anyway happy cinco de mayo.. just a couple of days away

Picture taken by Ralph

10:38- 11:08 pm

Front Doors of Grand Central

Project 19, 20, 21, 22

Project 19

Here I wanted to recreate the monster post (project 12), but I decided to do it by myself. I headed to the library and read my books with my mask on my face. I wasn't as nervous as I was the first time, probably because I felt like the mask became part of me. Although this time, there was this one guy who came up and asked "why are you wearing this mask?" I didn't know how to answer, so I replied, "I don't want to show my face."

Picture taken by Danae

7:05 pm - 7:35 pm

The Library, CSUF


Project 20
I'm no holler-er.

So, today I drove around Cal State Fullerton hollering at guys. Giving them a taste of there own medicine.

this is what I said: Heyyy sexyy!
Keep on walking! Hottie!
I love youuuu!
Heyyyyyyy!
Holllllaaaaaa!

this is what I felt: HAAAA! and thank goodness I'm in my car...

Picture taken by Danae

10:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Cal State Fullerton

Project 21
Today was my fellow classmates' installation show and I decided to do my project during their opening. There show was on the second floor, so it was hard for random strangers to know that there was a show upstairs. So, for half an hour I stayed on the streets and asked everyone who walked passed me to see the show. I hope I helped, because them allowing me to do this project helped me a lot with my uncomfortable issues.

P.S
If you want to see the most AMAZING show, A Sight for Power. Call 714 285 0700.. it's open by appointment.

Picture taken by Ava

8:00ish -8:30ish pm

204 N. Broadway, Santa Ana

Project 22 (goes with project 13)

So, for the past few days I have been dodging my moms calls and just texting her back. It's because in her last voice mail to me she said she gave my dad the postcard........ and I didn't know if I wanted to know what he thought. why? because i had never sent a postcard like that to him and what if he didn't like it.

anyways today I finally called her back to hear the results.

it was good. and I'd like to keep this one a secret if you don't mind.

Project 17 and 18

Project 17

I always feel a bit uneasy when I ask strangers if I can take a picture of them. I think it's the fact that I might be intruding on their life or that they might say no which would leave me with a photo rejection feeling. So, this morning I walked around Santa Ana and asked about 8 random strangers for a picture. There were a few people that laughed and then said no. There was one woman that said "later"... but when was later? I had no idea. There was a daughter that wanted a picture, but a father that said no. Then there were two guys, from two different stores, who had almost the same names and they allowed me to take a picture. As shown below:

Thanks Eddie and Edward!

Picture taken by Tiffany Ma

10:20- 11:00 pm

Front Doors of Grand Central


Project 18

It was the end of the day and I had no ideas for a project that would make me feel uncomfortable..... until I went to Target with my friend and we saw the lingerie. I put on the size D bra over my shirt and walked around target. The people there would look and then immediately look down like they were caught looking at something wrong. I felt pretty at ease, at times I didn't feel like I even had an extra bra on. I think my friend was more embarrassed than me. HEHE.

Picture taken by Angelica Perez

8:50- 9:20 pm

Target, Fullerton

Project 16

My mom loves to do her aerobic workout anywhere... I like to pretend I don't know her. So, today I decided to not only acknowledge her, but to be like her. At Kinkos I marched, I moved my arms up and down, I swung from side to side...
outcome: no one kicked me out, people glanced but they were too busy making their own copies, and I had a good time working out.

Picture taken by Angelica Perez

5:20 -5:40 pm

Kinkos, Fullerton

Project 13, 14, 15

Project 13

Tonight I decided to do something that I know I should do, but I haven't because it's hard to do. It's difficult for me to tell my dad that I love him, ofcourse I'm sure he knows I love him, but to say it or to write it especially when it's not father's day is really hard for me. I guess you could say my relationship with my dad isn't the kind where you give lots of hugs and say I love you all the time, it's the kind where we just talk and I respect him alot but it's not "huggy." So, this is what I did to try and change it:

Picture taken by Tiffany Ma

10:20 pm

Grand Central Lobby, Santa Ana

Project 14
Today I decided to skip for half an hour because I remembered how embarrassed I was when I got caught skipping in the hall by a random stranger.. who laughed at me. I don't know why I was so embarrassed then about skipping, because today skipping was GREAT FUN. Although no one saw me, besides my camera guy... so I might have to do this project again.. to see if I really got over my fears.

p.s I also could not skip the whole time, because skipping can be quite exhausting.. and sitting was required at times.

Picture taken by Ralph

6:05 -6:35 pm

Kinkos, Fullerton

Project 15

Today Grand Central was having a Welcoming Party for the new artist in residency: Laurie Lipton. When I heard about this I wasn't so sure if I wanted to go. Not that I didn't want to meet her, but social events always makes me uncomfortable. Still I went and I wasn't so shy.. so yay! plus the mac and cheese was amazing...

Picture taken by Tiffany Ma

4:30 -5:45 pm

Grand Central, Santa Ana

Project 11 and 12

Project 11


I'm scared of ghost. I don't like any thing that is below ground level... because I think thats where the ghost probably lives. Please don't tell me otherwise... like that they're everywhere.

For my whole fall semester I did not want to work in my studio because of you know what... but then I decided after not being allowed to change studios to face my fears... and ....

it's not so bad. I think i'm starting to love my studio. It's below gypsy den so I get to hear people singing at night time and if there really is a ghost in my studio...
well I don't want to think about it.

Picture taken by Tiffany Ma

9:00 pm to 1:15 am

Basement Studio


Project 12

While thinking of an idea for project 12 in the printmaking lab, I noticed this huge paper mache monster head that professor made.... and then I had an EPIPHANY: walk around the halls wearing the mask. Something I would never do, because it would cause too much attention. I cheated a little bit and asked my friend, Danae, to do it as well. It was SUPER nerve racking going through the halls and walking outside the art buildings... I could not stop giggling. It was a lot of fun and I was glad no one saw my face.

I couldn't hear what people were saying when we walked pass them because of the mask. But Danae heard: (updating soon)

Picture taken by guy in printmaking lab

3:20 -4:40 pm

around the art buildings, Cal State Fullerton

Project 10

Today I decided to compliment boys, which is something I never like to do because it looks like I'm hitting on them. I was pretty nervous when I did my first few compliments, but then it got kind of easy... and I felt good to make some stranger smile. I also enjoyed the boys who gave "huh" looks as well.

Picture taken by Danae Gamboa

3:05- 3:35 pm

Near the food court, near the ATM machines CSUF

Project 7, 8, 9

Project 7
freeze! Today I decided to be a statue. I couldn't hold my poses for long, so I was a different type of statue for almost every 5 mins. I'm noticing that people don't really care what I'm doing.. so as time kept on going I didn't feel so shy being a statue.

Picture taken by Ralph

5:30 -6:00 pm

Front of Grand Central, Santa Ana

Project 8
My mom is always pestering me to call my grandparents.. and I know I should... but it's just that I can't speak chinese well and it's sort of (REALLY) embarrassing. So, today I decided to suck it up and call them because I do want to hear their voices and I know it would make them happy to know I called. I called my mom first for a prep talk and she helped me write a cheat sheet.. which later on I didn't quite understand.
Results: I think they were happy to hear from me, but I don't know if they understood me. :)
Still, I was glad I did it because I could hear their voices.
Picture taken by Tiffany Ma

Mom Prep time: 10:15 - 10:30
Practice time: 10:30-10:40
Phone time: 10:40- 10:43 (3 mins)

Apartment

Project 9

At times it's hard for me to talk to people, so today I decided to get to know my new neighbor Bonnie. She's awesome.

Picture taken by Tiffany Ma

10:40 -11:50 pm

Grand Central, Santa Ana

Project 5 and 6

Project 15

Today I decided to be a door woman. A door woman is a person who stands by the door, lures and greets people in. I was an excellent door woman, I got quite a few people to see the Grand Central Art Galleries. :)

Picture taken by Tony

12:20- 12:50 pm

Front Doors of Grand Central

Project 16
I never want to put a flower in my hair, because I was afraid I would cause attention and all I wanted to do was to be part of the background. So, today not only did I put a flower in my hair, but I put a wired flower in my hair and stuck it obtrusively.

Picture taken by Jenny

3:15 - 3:45

Outside Grand Central