Artist Statement
Nathalie Alverez
Social Justice Posters
Instead of adding to the problem of racism by stereotyping individuals based on what you hear on the news or by how your peers or others treat them, you should help put an end to any and every form of racism by going against these stereotypes. After receiving feedback from Alinna, Lance and Elena, I made countless changes to my poster to better show my message of how culture should not be viewed or treated as if it were a weapon. Some of the changes include switching the font to match the calm setting, replacing a harsh background image to one that represents islamic culture in a positive light, and adding an example of islamophobia in the bottom corner with the guy holding a poster that mirrors the architecture in the background. The impact I want to make is to show how muslims are not dangerous. No race, creed or religion is. Isolated events or the actions of a few should not define a race or culture as a whole. We should all look at each other with peace instead of hatred.
I'd like to spread awareness for mental health through my poster. The slogan, "Don't Be A Slave To Your Own Thoughts," emphasizes how many individuals suffering from mental illnesses usually keep their thoughts to themselves, which feels like a heavy weight on their chest or back. I wanted to create a visual image of this feeling by showing an individual pushing a huge boulder, represented as a thought bubble, up a steep hill. The words inside the though bubble show that the individual is a slave to their own thoughts. I want viewers to see this and understand people who suffer from mental illness better. Or maybe those who see this will take it as a sign to let go of the weight of their full thought bubble on their back.
Inclusive Stock Photography
The Inclusive Stock Photography project was designed to address the scarcity of people of color, multicultural people, and LGBTQ+ people in commercial stock photography by creating professional-quality images of these underrepresented people in a variety of everyday settings, including romantic and platonic relationships, family, and communities.