“Emma is Still Alive” is a piece created by aspiring artist Klever Javier Cobena. Drawing inspiration from Tom Phillips “A Humument”, the artist conveys a dark, mystifying, and gruesome atmosphere, using the contrasting original work of Jane Austen’s “Emma”. The concept behind both of these works is taking any medium of literature (i.e. a book) and turning it it into something completely new using different design aesthetics and artistic techniques. and Originally a story of a young girl living in an upper class home in England, Cobena re-works that story with the the intention of driving it as far away from the original concept as possible. Using horror as a medium, Cobena decides to tell a tale of a a gruesome massacre, using only his design aesthetics and few highlighted words already within the pages of the book. Within the composition, a vast majority of the pieces are composed of either black ink, black paint, or black cut paper. Cobena, preferring black as a sort of “negative” color, utilizes materials such as Micron Ink Pens, Pigma Brushes, and Black Gouache Paints to re-work and block out certain words within the pages. With the given emphasis on certain select words that weren’t blocked out, Cobena re-tells the story through the artwork spread throughout the page. Certain examples within “Emma is Still Alive” include pages within like “Here Lies her Sins” and “Vision Of Shadow”, that use overlaps of two pages to create a single composition. Cobena uses nothing more than an exacto knife and a pen to create these overlaps, and express a single idea and theme with an overlap of two pages. Cobena also strongly integrates the concept of certain patterns of staccato nature, and legato nature. Using these concepts, Cobena creates certain moods and certain ideas using patterns differing between these two traits. On one page for example, one can view a sort of blood pattern running down on the words of a page, created using only a colored pencil and an HB sketch pencil. It has a a flowing, smooth pattern, and gives the viewer that feel and imagery of a bloody mess. On another page, there are images of sharp, jagged edges blacked out with a pigma brush, giving the viewer a sense of danger. Other design asthetics included with the piece also include ambigeouity, where Cobena utilizes the words on the page to create a layout that is very eye wandering and complex. There are also stable compositions, where he instead makes a focal point on the composition, drawing the viewers attention to a specific spot.
Author: Klever
Extraneous
adjective
“irrelevant or unrelated to the subject being dealt with.”
With any piece of writing, it is important to organize your composition in a manner that is coherent and stays true to the subject at hand. Adding extraneous details to a composition can mess up that organization, and take away sense from the composition.
Didactic Panels
Panel #1
Klever Javier Cobena Ramirez
Title: “Hitlist”
Materials: Micron #02 Inking Pen, Pigma Brush Pen
In this work, Cobena integrates heavy ambiguity into a simple idea; A representation of the idea of “victims” being laid out. Set up as a black and white composition, the author lays out names of the characters in the original work, randomized throughout the page, and using a staccato pattern to separate them as ambiguously as possible. This gives the viewer a mental image of a sort of “crime scene”.
Panel #2
Klever Javier Cobena Ramirez
Title: Vision of Shadow
Materials: Pigma Brush Pen, Scissors, Exacto Knife, HB Artist Pencil
This particular composition stands out among the rest, both literally and figuratively. Composed of two pages, rather than just one, Cobena creates a distinct relationship between these two pages within the composition using an overlap of them. One image is not complete without the other, and together they juxtapose to create a single picture, consisting of a dark and morbid appearance intended to give the viewer a feeling of interested dread.
Panel #3
Klever Javier Cobena Ramirez
Title: Here Lies Her Sins
Materials: Pigma Brush Pen, Black Gouache Paint, #2 Round Brush, Exacto Knife
Here Lies Her Sins was intended by the author to represent the idea of an unholy deed. Though without speaking that of which could be said action. Using an overlap of two pages within the book, they alter into one composition. The contrast of the bottom layer make the image of a cross, which is given the focal point in said composition. Cobena also uses images of fire to highlight a “list of possible victims” within the composition.
COMD 1100 Field Trip Ideas (Free)
Hello guys, below is a list of places in NYC that offer FREE admission. If there is one that catches your attention, please leave the suggestion under Ayano’s original post.
African Burial Ground Memorial Site
BRIC House
Leslie–Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art
Museum of Biblical Art
The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology
National Museum of the American Indian
The New York Public Library Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
New York Transit Museum Annex & Store, Grand Central Terminal
Queens County Farm Museum
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden (grounds and botanical garden only)
Socrates Sculpture Park
Soldiers and Sailors Monument
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace
Saturation Studies: Phase 3
Third Phase of our Saturation Studies. I was partnered with fellow classmate Ayano Morishima. With her well developed knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, and our mutual taste and design aesthetic, she created the Swiss Style Poster below for our band, Glossy Whisper
Saturation Studies: Phase 2
The second phase of our Saturation Studies. Each composition individually consisted of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes work time each.
Saturation Studies: Phase 1
The first phase of our Saturation Studies centered around an imaginative color wheel (of our creative choice) using the primary and secondary colors (prismatic) Composition took approximately 1 hour. 
Project #3 (Revised Final Pitch)
For anyone who lives in the Big Apple, just about everyone has a very dull and customary daily routine. Whether they are on their way to work or school, it’s a very fixed and unchanged commute in the morning. However, why not make the decision to switch it up? Why not trek on the adventurous side and make your morning commute a much more enjoyable and beneficial experience? For those who have the daily commute to the New York City College of Technology, there is that possibility. There is a route that gives you more insight to the hidden beauty of Downtown Brooklyn, and can benefit any commuter both health wise, and mentally.
This route begins at the Borough Hall Train Station, where the 4, 5, 2, 3, and J train are located. You would exit the train station at the Joralemon Street side. Once you exit, you take a right onto Court Street, right alongside the huge courthouse situated there. There are a lot of businesses on this particular corner, consisting of stores like Starbucks, Sephora, Duane Reade, and Court St Office Supplies to name a few. You then take another right at this corner and continue on Court Street. As you continue to walk, you’ll notice a few more businesses like a pizzeria, a Bank of America and a big, beautiful TD bank glass building. This particular building is a glorious piece of architecture, and is quite awe inspiring to see. You will also begin to approach Columbus Park, right next to Cadman Plaza. The Plaza itself is a quaint, relaxing place to be, with benches to relax and the park to see, as opposed to the busier other side of the street, where all the hustle and buzz of business occurs. This park is pretty long, going along for about 5 or 6 blocks. Its very quaint, very clean, and quite beautiful. There are a few bus stops going along it as well. Walking alongside it, one gets a feeling of beauty. even though right across the street are more buildings. However, these are modern, beautiful works of architecture, so it only adds to the euphoria. Once you hit Johnson Street, you take a right, and start to walk along it. You get to walk along side Columbus Park for a few more seconds as it continues on Johnson Street. One block after, on Adams Street, you will arrive at the North West entrance to City Tech, (General Building)
This particular walk consists of approximately 7- 10 minutes, also dependent on how much a person would want to take in on this route. Any individual who decides to commute on this route will not have to sacrifice any travel time, as it is the same amount of time as the shortest possible route from the starting point to City Tech. Therefore, it can be enjoyed without compromise. On taking on this route, an individual will bask in the more eye-catching and beautiful aspects of Downtown Brooklyn. This is one of the few locations where one can witness the architectural beauty of modern day New York, while at the same time basking in the trees, flowers and organic beauty of nature, hence Columbus Park. This brings a wondrous benefit, as it is actually scientifically proven that being more in tune with nature on a daily basis (especially people who live in the city) are less prone to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. This was written about in a New York Times article “How Walking in Nature Changes The Brain”, by New York Times reporter Gretchen Reynolds. It talks of a study performed, where a group of students from Stanford College in Connecticut, were told to commute to school on different routes with different environments. One group walked on the “more natural side” of the Stanford School, where there were many trees, flowers, and more nature. The second group commuted on the side with heavy traffic and city buzz, and with no aspects of nature present. Those who commuted on the greener side had a much more productive and happy day than those who stayed on the city ridden route. This route to City Tech implicates nature aspects with the stroll through Columbus Park, giving the commuter those same benefits of having a more enjoyable and productive day. This particular park is excellent for commuting through, as its very clean, lively, and full of green. The website FourSquare features many ratings from many different people, describing Columbus Park as “beautiful, with lots of green space and very fun” It receives an average rating of 8/10. So, Columbus Park is the perfect place to get some fresh green air while commuting to City Tech, while at the same time being able to admire the architectural marvels of Downtown Brooklyn, and add to the euphoria.
Making that slight change to your everyday routine can really make a difference in your day, and even your life. What could be better than basking in life’s natural beauty, while at the same time giving yourself a break from the stress and anxiety of being a New Yorker. The city that never sleeps doesn’t have to be the city that stress you out. Its the small things that give an individual a sense of appreciation and a new outlook on life, giving you the boost to say “Today, is gonna be a good day”.
Didactic Panel (Emma Is Still Alive)
Upon opening the pages of this piece, an individual will observe many different techniques and ideas throughout, all pertaining to one theme. One can observe a contrast in one page, or overlaps in another, all while telling the same (though gruesome) story. Most pages consist of either ink or pencil compositions, as was the preference of the artist, although it also features paint and cut compositions as well. The original story of Emma was of a young girl who is gifted in matchmaking, though she struggles to find the one she herself can fall in love with. The story takes place in a high class Victorian England, and Emma lives a life of comfort and wealth throughout. Using the idea of contrast, the author manipulated the story into one of horror and death. The compositions, varied in technique, all pertain to a story where Emma, now a viscious and ruthless killer, goes on a bloodthirsty spree.
English Project #3: Pitch
For anyone who lives in the Big Apple, just about everyone has a very dull and customary daily routine. Whether they are on their way to work or school, it’s a very fixed and unchanged commute in the morning. However, why not make the decision to switch it up? Why not trek on the adventurous side and make your morning commute a much more enjoyable and beneficial experience? For those who have the daily commute to the New York City College of Technology, there is that possibility. There is a route that gives you more insight to the hidden beauty of Downtown Brooklyn, and can benefit any commuter both health wise, and mentally.
This route begins at the Borough Hall Train Station, where the 4, 5, 2, 3, and J train are located. You would exit the train station at the Joralemon Street side. Once you exit, you take a right onto Court Street, right alongside the huge courthouse situated there. There are a lot of businesses on this particular corner, consisting of stores like Starbucks, Sephora, Duane Reade, and Court St Office Supplies to name a few. You then take another right at this corner and continue on Court Street. As you continue to walk, you’ll notice a few more businesses like a pizzeria, a Bank of America and a big, beautiful TD bank glass building. This particular building is a glorious piece of architecture, and is quite awe inspiring to see. You will also begin to approach Columbus Park, right next to Cadman Plaza. The Plaza itself is a quaint, relaxing place to be, with benches to relax and the park to see, as opposed to the busier other side of the street, where all the hustle and buzz of business occurs. This park is pretty long, going along for about 5 or 6 blocks. Its very quaint, very clean, and quite beautiful. There are a few bus stops going along it as well. Walking alongside it, one gets a feeling of beauty. even though right across the street are more buildings. However, these are modern, beautiful works of architecture, so it only adds to the euphoria. Once you hit Johnson Street, you take a right, and start to walk along it. You get to walk along side Columbus Park for a few more seconds as it continues on Johnson Street. One block after, on Adams Street, you will arrive at the North West entrance to City Tech, (General Building)
This particular walk consists of approximately 7- 10 minutes, also dependent on how much a person would want to take in on this route. Any individual who decides to commute on this route will not have to sacrifice any travel time, as it is the same amount of time as the shortest possible route from the starting point to City Tech. Therefore, it can be enjoyed without compromise. On taking on this route, an individual will bask in the more eye-catching and beautiful aspects of Downtown Brooklyn. This is one of the few locations where one can witness the architectural beauty of modern day New York, while at the same time basking in the trees, flowers and organic beauty of nature, hence Columbus Park. This brings a wondrous benefit, as it is actually scientifically proven that being more in tune with nature on a daily basis (especially people who live in the city) are less prone to depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. This was written about in a New York Times article “How Walking in Nature Changes The Brain”, by New York Times reporter Gretchen Reynolds. It talks of a study performed, where a group of students from Stanford College in Connecticut, were told to commute to school on different routes with different environments. One group walked on the “more natural side” of the Stanford School, where there were many trees, flowers, and more nature. The second group commuted on the side with heavy traffic and city buzz, and with no aspects of nature present. Those who commuted on the greener side had a much more productive and happy day than those who stayed on the city ridden route. This route to City Tech implicates nature aspects with the stroll through Columbus Park, giving the commuter those same benefits of having a more enjoyable and productive day. This particular park is excellent for commuting through, as its very clean, lively, and full of green. The website FourSquare features many ratings from many different people, describing Columbus Park as “beautiful, with lots of green space and very fun” It receives an average rating of 8/10. So, Columbus Park is the perfect place to get some fresh green air while commuting to City Tech, while at the same time being able to admire the architectural marvels of Downtown Brooklyn, and add to the euphoria.
Making that slight change to your everyday routine can really make a difference in your day, and even your life. What could be better than basking in life’s natural beauty, while at the same time giving yourself a break from the stress and anxiety of being a New Yorker. The city that never sleeps doesn’t have to be the city that stress you out. Its the small things that give an individual a sense of appreciation and a new outlook on life, giving you the boost to say “Today, is gonna be a good day”.
