WHAT AM I ALL ABOUT
Rani Brooks
Since I was young, I have interacted and participated in online and physical spaces. I have been so fortunate to experience a big pool of connections from these communities. The friends and relationships I have made have brought me joy and enhanced my life. As I have grown, my art has become physical work on my experiences.
WHO AM I?
Connections
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Curiosity
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Compassion
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Connections • Curiosity • Compassion •
Why Make it
My art has become a tool that has helped me look and become an observer in my own life. It has acted as a reflection of memories and pictures, and I let my work dictate its own experience on how it has affected me. I have grown up with Bollywood and its grandeur and drama, characters who fight with themselves over honor and revenge, and people who become inseparable and fight a common enemy for the greater good. I have always sought out stories that have been gilded and retold through many different media in my own life, and my art has allowed me to take a step back from it all.
It’s a healing exercise for reflection and perspective in memories and pictures, and an encouragement to honestly look at things that took less than a minute in real time. I was able to create and draw parallels to show that these stories aren’t just threads of morality but can also be woven into our mundane reality. Seeing a moment taken out of context and allowing it to be enough to be the whole subject has helped me gain clarity.
What I’ve Done
I started my art endeavors in high school with AP art. I learned to build a collection of work centered around and expanding on one subject. While doing that, I was a lead scene painter in the production of Anything Goes, learning different painting techniques and how design elements come into play at different distances.
As I continued my education at MCC, I tried various things. I tried some commercial illustration courses and fine arts, but have found a passion in graphic design. I wanted to connect this to lead me to Cabbages and Kings. I was very fortunate to lead a great team. Together, we learned amazing skills that produced an exceptional magazine.
I am currently at the Rochester Contemporary Art Center, where I am helping and assisting them as they transition through their Explore Rochester exhibit to their 6x6 Fundraiser.
What’s Next
I want to get a bachelor’s degree, complete my education, and move forward. While I am not set on one goal, I am eager to engage in any form of work and see what I can learn from it! I will continue to paint and create as I grow.