THIS IS WHAT I KNOW ABOUT ART - Jayson Paulino

 This Is What I Know About Art - Quotes and short responses

Quote #1: "Art and protest will forever be bound together."

Short response: When I was reading through the text I saw this quote despite it being a single sentence it really stands out. For the longest time now art has not just been for decorative purposes and has served as a catalyst for resistance, for raising questions, and bringing what was behind closed doors into the light. Art also changes how protests can be viewed showing that protests are beyond just marches and speeches and signs and can be shown through images, symbols, and colors. There are several posters, murals, and graphic art that have played a role movements. This gives art a level of potency most wouldn't see and on top of that it shows that art can challenge, heal, and spark conversations.

Quote #2: "Pocket Change Collective was born out of a need for space. Space to think. Space to connect. Space to be yourself. And this is your invitation to join us. These books are small, but they are mighty. They ask big questions and propose even bigger solutions. They show us that no matter where we come from or where we’re going, we can all take part in changing the communities around us. Because the possibilities of how we can use our space for good are endless."

Short response: This Line is hopeful and provocative. It suggests that institutional barriers, gatekeeping, and exclusion are not immutable — there is room to expand, to include, to open doors. For marginalized voices in the art world, that “more space” becomes an imperative. It challenges the narrative that the “canon” is fixed. For me, this encourages the mentality of pushing boundaries: to carve a niche, to insert perspectives, to imagine that art institutions can evolve. It also comforts one who feels “outsider”, reminding us we don’t need to wait for permission forever.

Quote #3: “I have seen many rooms that need people just like you.” 

Short response: This is one of the most welcoming and affirming lines in the book. Some rooms, or groups often lack diverse voices. This quote serves as a sort of figurative invitation that says your perspective has value, and there are spaces waiting for your presence and contributions. It shows that belonging isn't just about proving oneself but can also be about recognizing inconsistencies and being willing to fill them in or rectify them.

Choice of art work from This Is What I Know About Art

  

Artwork: "Untitled (Perfect Lovers)" by Felix Gonzales Torres found in "This Is What I Know About Art" pg. 32

    The artwork itself consists of two identical wall clocks hung side by side touching. When installed they are synchronized, however as time goes on they would just naturally fall out of sync for varying reasons, for example batteries run out of power. This artwork is meaningful to me for many different reasons. The thing that stands out the most is how simple yet powerful the artwork is taking two ordinary clocks and just putting them together but depicts themes of time, love, and impermanence. It's interesting to me how ordinary every day objects can be so poetic. The synchronization and then the desynchronization of the clocks are a metaphor for relationships and their fragility of being with someone. It shows that forces beyond our control like time itself can sometimes just pull people apart which sounds very discouraging for relationships but it also gives a level of reflection because it makes me think "what could be done to prevent to such a thing?" causing me to think more about relationships as a whole.

Tumbler Proposal

I would make a post about Art Activism separately and together. I would like my tumblr to be a place for people to share their art, whether it be normal pieces or activist art, and just collect, and archive artworks, artists, and resources of both art and social justice. It would serve as a personal research hub but also as a public resource for anyone interested in how art connects to protest, identity, and (in my opinion more importantly) community. The type of content I would post is images of historical artworks tied to activism crediting the artist(s) sharing their work with others and little responses about them as well such as their background and the context of their work and why it matters. On top of this links to articles, interviews, podcasts, and talks about art and social movements. There will also be possible original posts reflecting on my own experiences with art, activism, and research.