To put art into the world is to find oneself. Art is something one must keep striving towards. The shorts in this series are a kaleidoscope of the creative processes and how informative they are to one’s relationship with themselves. 

Up first is Lindsay Nyman’s They Call Me the Tattoo Witch as it reveals how healing and fulfilling art can be in making art for others, for community through tattoos. Continuing this illustrative session is Goodbye and Hello to My Dad from Kathleen Hoang, who explores art and mixed media as a way to remember and love those dear to us. Then, Zen’s Echoes of the Phoenix concerns itself with one’s inhibitions about their place in the world along with keeping alive the practice of folk opera. Similarly, Unperforming by Cristian Trout navigates the experience of queer identity through social media and dance. 

As our series adds its final touches to the canvas, Quan Luong’s Portraits is a portrait (no pun intended) on the life of a sketch artist, reiterating the value of art through human connection, especially during a time in which the integrity of art is being challenged by technology (Luong is a past Spotlight Award co-winner for VFF 2022’s Container). To conclude, Entropy grapples with staying true to oneself in the face of one’s art and culture being dismissed and disregarded. 

“Practice Makes Imperfect” is an open discussion on what it means to commit oneself to the arts despite a myriad of social, cultural, and personal challenges.

By Katy Nguyen