Category Archives: Writing

The Dinner Party

By Student Blogger, ELIE MBYS-DAVIDSON

About three weeks ago, our group of New Utrecht High School students went to the Brooklyn Museum with the intent of seeing the Dinner Party exhibit. I found that the Dinner Party exhibit is a powerful testimony to the contribution made by powerful women in history. I was impressed by the great amount of symbolism used in the decorating of the art. The entire dinner party holds greater meaning than seen at first glance and completely encompasses subtle definition in its beautiful details. Each plate symbolizes a particular woman who made a difference in the lives of others and in history. The triangular shape of the dinner party symbolizes femininity, as well as the shapes defined on each plate. Each plate commemorates a woman and her various accomplishments. Below the plate and the table wrap is written the names of other famous women in history related to the particular piece chosen to be remembered. This special memorial brings dawn to a new age of art that forever immortalizes this group of women and is Judy Chicago’s very own contribution to an eternal feminist movement.

Elie looking at portraits of prominent Latinos.

The most interesting plate I saw was the Elizabeth Blackwell plate. I automatically fell in love with how it was all colorful. I can tell that she was a fun and bubbly person. I can also tell that she was a unique person. I love the details of the plate and I can tell she was a very important female leader. -Jessica Oriakhi

That plate was my favorite because it was like a royal theme. The sheet under the plate is like gold. Without knowing who was represented in the plate, I would think she was once a princess. The plate had a high-class look to it. It caught my eye. -Jennifer Oriakhi

The plate I chose belonged to Emily Dickinson. To me her plate represented a new beginning with each petal. The color pink represents a female and the petals show how she blossomed as an individual. Being a female, it was very exciting for me to see such a creation designed only for women. This unique plate inspired me to follow my dreams to becoming whatever I want because the flower only expanded and that's what I would like for myself. To be able to expand in my lifestyle and leave my imprints on this world would be the most amazing life achievement I can ever ask for. -Shiniqua Bailey

 

 

Photo Booth

We were inspired by Gillian Wearing’s series entitled Signs that Say What You Want Them To Say and Not Signs that Say What Someone Else Wants You To Say. In this series, Wearing approached strangers on the street and asked them to express themselves through words written on a sign. The New Utrecht Video Club took to the same task and came up with their own messages, some funny, some serious, and many inspiring.

 

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We also practiced our acting skills. Each pair was given a scenario to act out through facial expressions and gestures. Here is a sampling of scenarios from our aspiring young actors.

Someone spilled something on your favorite shirt.

The President just called you.

You just won the Coney Island hot dog eating contest.

You just won the lottery!

You're on a cross country trip.

You're on the cover of men's Vogue.

You're rappers!

Sunny Day

My heart feel light when the sun shines bright
My blood runs deep if the moon brings night
The wind will tickle my skin and the sun will shine on my face
Sin will prickle my left wing and keep me from flying all over the place

I am engaged on a sunny day, so if not just for one day
If not just for today, I will be able to say
I have forgotten about yesterday’s rain
I will not worry about tomorrow’s pain

For if the sun shines bright
Night will never come for the sun shines light
the birds will always hum for they have no flight
today will always be some bright sight

By Elie Davidson

My community …

I live in Coney Island.
My community is loud, interesting and sometime entertaining.
In my community I am a student.
I keep to myself and stay in the house.
If I go out it’s definitely not in Coney Island.
I like that there is a beach right there.
I dislike that its loud and sometimes violent.
It’s become so violent that their are police on almost every corner.
My community is mixed with Blacks, Chinese, Spanish and Russians.
The amount of diversity, surprises me!
Coney Island rides are located on Surf Avenue as well as the New York Aquarium.
You see lots of people in during the summer time.
Famous Nathans is also there.
The positives about my community are the things I listed above.
The negatives are the loud and rowdy children and the crackheads on the corners.
I say hello, good morning to the people who live in my building.
I don’t say anything topeople I dont know.

By Olayinka Ajibola, 10th grader

My community …

I am a tiny girl in my community.
I like that everyone is nice to each other.
I dislike my neighbor’s cat.
There are many different ethenic groups in my community.
There is nothing surprising about my community.

By Justine Jiang, 11th grader

My community …

Flatbush is where I live.
The community where I grew up.
My community is very cultured.
Africans, Jamaicans, Haitians all live in my community.
Fundraising goes on in my community.
The positive things about my community are the variety of shops.
The nagative things about my community are the troubling situations such as fights.
I do not interact with the people in my neighborhood.
But if I do it’s usually if and when I go shopping.

The people in my community are friendly, weird and a mixture of personalities!

By Jennifer Oriaki, 10th grader

Messages for Sarah…

Teenager Sarah Kruzan was sentenced to life without parole for killing the pimp who abused her. Her on-line video testimonial inspired Project PEACE students to make their own video responses and write her letters.

Here is Sarah’s original video:

This was the student’s response:

Message for Sarah Kruzan from Rene P on Vimeo.

Students also wrote the following letters:

Dear Sarah,
As a 16 years old maybe I can understand what you’re feeling but I don’t completely understand you, because I didn’t go through the harsh stages of life you went through. However, I am not here to judge you but to tell you not to lose hope because there are people out there who believe in you and will try their best to reduce your sentence.

Continue reading

“I Am” Poems

The following is a selection from our Project PEACE “I Am” Poems.
Enjoy!
 

I am looking through a window
I see many things
People are walking pass
As my curtains fall.

I am tiny but
I look up at people
As they look down on me.
I try my best to achieve.

I am life
It’s not always fair
But when I am
It will be a reward.

By Eric Wu

 

I am brown as oak
I am crazy like a child on sugar
Walking with my head held high for
I’m a swagger full flamingo

By Janae Gabriel-Simmons

 

I am as tall as a shaking tree in the wind
I am as loud as the city
I am as soft as a body
I am as smooth as a bird gliding in the wind.

By Kitisha Phillips

 

I am as quiet as a mouse
My fashion is loud
I am short like a leprechaun
But my dreams are high

By Justine Jiang

 

I am as gorgeous as New York City Lights
I am as skillful as Langston Hughes on his trumpet
I am as peaceful as a dove in the sky
I am as classy as a piano piece
I am an antique book waiting to be discovered.

By Ashley Dorce

 

I am…
I am a pen writing a life story
I am as creative as a mosaic
I am an open heart ready to love but I can be closed up as an abused child

By Jessica Dorce

 

I am quiet but my actions can be violent.
I am pink; I like things that make me think.
I am beautiful with the clouds moving to the south.
I am lazy like a tiger on a full stomach.

By Shiniqua Bailey

 

I am…
I am determine to do what I set my mind to do
I keep an open heart with a smile that everyone views!!!

By Shivonne Assarah

 

I am wavy as the ocean
I am addictive as a potion
People call me the epitome of beauty!

By Judy Nguyen

 

I am many things; for words have trouble describing
My insides are as deep as the moving ocean, and
A face cannot be prejudged

By Janet Cao