Cooper Union School of Art Hometest Regular Decision 2017
Benjamin Cruz
1. DRAW OR REPRESENT:
A composition of three or more mismatched objects in a state of suspension
Daughters of Abraham, Sisters of Jerusalem
Benjamin Cruz
Graphite on Paper
The three major Abrahamic religions are Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, all three of which have individual sects of the old city of Jerusalem. All three religions acknowledge that Jesus lived, but only Christians revere Jesus as Messiah. In the center, I have decided to depict each religion through three women, each in her orthodox garb, suspended on a cross. All three religions have knowledge of the cross and crucifixion, but the interpretations and beliefs vary. The left panel is a representation of the belief that Christ was not Messiah, and walked the Earth as merely a man, while the left is a representation of the ascension and resurrection. The Middle East has been put through so much conflict due to the interaction between peoples who practice these religions, with varying beliefs of course, but everything can be linked to one of these three fundamental belief systems. It is ironic that the old city of Jerusalem is a space shared by all three of these religions, because of the conflict that recent history shows, but also the ancient history where each group has strong roots in the city and its landmarks.
2. Inverted self-portrait
Ser un Hombre de la Cruz
Benjamin Cruz
For the majority of my life, I lived in an actively Christian household, going to church every Sunday, praying at meals, going to bible study, etc. The early years of my life when my father was still alive my we lived like good Christians. My father set an example for me, he was devoted to his faith and was a true man of God. He was well liked by everyone but wasn’t ashamed for believing. A few years after he passed my mother remarried. Her new husband became my stepfather, and he too was a firm believer. We went to Church, just like before, prayed just like before, but everything was different. He was an unstable man, unsuitable for being a father. He was so inconsistent and gave me great anxiety, for one minute he would be kind and loving if I were to make any small type of mistake or do anything that comes off as disobedient I would immediately be persecuted and punished. He would always tell me, “do as I say, not as I do.” I listened and did my best to please him, but I grew to hate the church and was angry at God. Why would he do this to me, and why would one of his men treat me and my family like this? After my mother divorced him we stopped going to church altogether. My mother never had a good relationship with the Church but has strong faith in God. She too underwent similar things and was molested by her pastor when she was young. Just recently finding this out I have been thinking about this relationship, and also what type of man I want to be. For me, the inverse of who I am as a person, or who I want to be, would be the opposite of the cross. I have inverted this crucifix as it is the symbol of protection, and also remembrance. I wear a cross at all times because it helps me feel safe, and also it reminds me of who I want to be and who I am. I want to be a man like my father, I know I have an extremely different relationship with God than he did, but he set an example that I want to follow.
3. A view from a privileged vantage point
Cora Sleep on Your Mothers Word
Laser Cut Canvas on Comforter
4. A sequence or series of images exploring the transition of fact to rumor and rumor to fact
Divine Ink, Broken Speech, and a Forged Reconciliation
Video Accompanied by Salem's IBURIEDMYHEARTINNAWOUNDEDKNEE MIXTAPE
One part of Christianity that I struggle with is the Bible. The Bible is accepted as divine text, but it has been written by men who have claimed to have been chosen by God. The origin of the Bible itself is a series of what could be considered rumored law, becoming a series of facts that many Christians abide by. Ever since it's creation, however, the Bible has undergone the inverse cycle and has been deconstructed from fact to rumor, by those who don’t believe, but also by those who do. Scientific research and advancements in technology are the basis for the non-Christian contribution to the transformation of Bible into rumor. While the deconstruction process for believers is quite different and sometimes unintentional. I believe the current problem with Christianity in America is the sloppy deconstruction of Christian fact, into a convoluted rumor that is under the guise of fact. Many preachers and believers take the Bible out of context, selecting points of interest that convey a message that isn’t there. What is just as big of a problem, is reading the Bible out of context. The Bible is a piece of literature that is mean to serve as a basis for teaching Christians their beliefs, myths, and history through a series of stories. The Bible shouldn’t be taken as literal text, which many have unfortunately done.
5. Surveil
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Copper
One of the most interesting creations of American Christianity would have to be purity rings. Christians use jewelry as a reminder of their faith, but also as self-imposed surveillance to God. By buying one’s child a purity ring or band, they are essentially putting the child under surveillance, an object that they will continue to wear until they are married. The persistent reminder could act as an object of demonstration of one’s faith, but in the context of a father buying it for his daughter so she will not have sex because the judgment of God will be with her at all times is a problem in itself. I personally enjoy wearing, not purity rings, by jewelry that reminds me of my faith because I chose to. By having someone else present such an object, especially without consent, a negative connotation can be associated with the object, creating a fearful and distant relationship with God. The results of feeling God’s watch, and being reminded of it through jewelry can both be negative, or positive depending on the context.
6. Design or package a lie
Peter's Denial
Engraved Soap and Screenprint on Japanese Paper
Probably one of the most famous lies in the Bible is when Peter lied about being a follower of Jesus, thus denying him. I personally enjoy this story because it is just such a real human experience, as it is in human nature to lie to protect oneself. Peter is a man of many mistakes, and the way that God molded him into a real man of faith through the Holy Spirit is quite inspiring. This flesh is what keeps Peter weak and fearful of persecution. Peter’s confrontation regarding being a follower of Christ put Peter in his place and humbled him as before he had been quite bold. One might wonder why Christ allowed Peter to deny him, and the answer is simple so that Peter could learn from it. Peter wasn’t just given the title of being a disciple, he had to earn it and learn what it really was through struggle. He immediately repented and was full of remorse after he realized what he had done. Peter was prepared for deliverance from self after this, and through the Holy Spirit he was able to cleanse himself of Earth and was finally able to be the great man that Christ had allowed him to be.
This piece is about trying to cleanse self through lies, which is ineffective. Lies are so readily available for us to protect ourselves, but true deliverance is separate from self. Lies can protect the flesh, but the flesh is flesh, and the spirit is spirit. To protect the spirit, one must dismiss self.
