Arts and Humanities Commons^™

African American Fugitive Slaves And Freemen In Matamoros, Tamaulipas, 1820–1865, John C. Gassner

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

In the years leading up to the American Civil War, northeastern Mexico became a destination for fugitive slaves and African American freemen seeking refuge from the oppressive conditions caused by the expansion of the slave-based cotton economy in the southern United States and Texas. The geographic position of Matamoros, as well as social, economic and political changes in Mexico and the United States, made it one of the main destinations for African American emigrants leaving the Texas and other parts of the United States. This thesis examines the factors that caused different elements of African American fugitives slaves and freemen …

An Arabesque Tango: Dancing Letters. From Two Continents And One Ocean Far Away My Memories!, Fulden Sara

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

An Arabesque Tango is an exhibition that brings together many different sensibilities from my mixed heritage, Central European and Ottoman-Byzantium, Seljuk and Middle Eastern influences. I attempt to capture in my pieces the magical spirituality of the Sufi mystics and the elegant grace of Islamic Art.

Prior to deciding to pursue an advanced degree in Fine Arts I paid little attention to Islamic Art. Having grown up in the European quarter of Istanbul my political, cultural and professional focus was westward. As I searched for vehicles that would give visual form to my desire to create a personal art form …

A Link With Nature: The Healing Of Soul, Kelly B. Kraehe

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This paper accompanies the Master of Fine Arts exhibition titled A Link With Nature. Art cannot divorce itself from its process, from its artist, and from becoming a product. Like the canopy, trunk and roots of a tree, the parts of art are mysteriously interdependent and would not exist alone. So too in my art, the artist, process, and product are woven together to form a visual tapestry that I have defined throughout the thesis paper. As artist, aesthetic experiences have formed the vision that I portray through painting and sculpture. The process of going places, seeing things and …

Reconstructing Memories: An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Mental And Real Space In Art And Architecture, Claudia S. Behar

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

As an architect and artist I believe that there is a strong relationship between art and architecture. The perceived relationship between both has at times been thought more or less significant; however, history has shown us that a society or an individual can enhance the relationship between the two disciplines. I am working on establishing the strength of that relationship. My work of art is focused on the creation of spaces. It is about experiencing a variety of places through the visual and the emotional senses. The architectural settings that I depict and construct are far from the realm of …

Claus/Claws: A Journey Through Leonardland's Multivalent Meanings, Chris Leonard

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This exhibition paper presents the linkage of apparently unrelated topic and content. This arduous task is accomplished through an exploration of opposites and an overall presentation in the form of family fun or domestic distress disguised within personal world and the overall umbrella of homonyms: Claus (as in Santa) and Claws (as in cat). The work presented is a view of Leonardland, an intensely personal vision of my family and our history melded into a proposed future as seen through a wild conglomeration of seemingly dissimilar visions comprising the eclectic cultural mix that is our life on this geographic and …

Love, Labor And Life: Existence Through A Neo-Surrealist Style, Manuel Saenz Jr.

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

The artistic work explained in this paper reflects imaginative ideas, consisting of meticulous work in a variety of media: pen and ink, oil paint, and steel. The creative process used to produce my works is based on both psychological and physical levels. Psychologically, I reflected and depended on dreams from the past to capture images from my sub-conscience. The importance of industrial symbolism and how it was chosen and strategically placed in the work aided me to deal with my preoccupation with death, a tradition that stems from my Hispanic roots, such as observing the Mexican holiday: Day of the …

All The Elephants Faced The Door: Fiction And Poetry, Stephanie B. Thome

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

All the Elephants Faced the Door is a collection of fiction and poetry. The first section, “The World is Nice to Butterflies,” is a collection of six short stories. The collection focuses on the Solis family. The family consists of six sisters and the stories follow their journey of falling in love, forming romantic relationships and the eventuality of marriage. The second half of my manuscript is composed of poems and is divided in three sections. The first, “The Stuff of the World is Love-Stuff,” is a sequence of love poems. The second section entitled, “Domestic Anxiety,” is a series …

The Red-Light District Of The Heart, Octavio Quintanilla Jr.

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This is a creative thesis, a collection of fifty-seven poems. The poems are divided thematically into four sections. Family, identity, and human relationships are some of the themes I write about. The critical introduction outlines the history of Chicano poetry and shows how my work fits within this context.

The Hollow Spot: A Collection Of Fiction, Jose Rene Martinez

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This is a creative thesis, specifically a collection of fourteen short stories and a critical introduction. Most of these stories showcase characters caught in times of change and turmoil. The critical introduction explores the influence that three contemporary writers, J. D. Salinger, Raymond Carver, and Michael Chabon, have had on my work. The purpose of this thesis is to provide an outlet for my creative energy.

An Investigation Of Pre-Nursing And Second-Year Baccalaureate Nursing Students' Perception Of Spirituality, Jacquelyn Kay R. Williams

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

This pilot study investigated whether spiritual care education is a part of the baccalaureate nursing curriculum at a south Texas university. This study used two standardized scales to compare the pre-nursing students' and senior baccalaureate nursing students' attitude about spirituality at different levels in the nursing program. Two quantitative questionnaires were used to investigate the nursing students' personal spiritual involvement and beliefs and their opinions about the spiritual role of the nurse in meeting patient spiritual needs. No statistically significant differences in the two group's personal spiritual involvement and beliefs were found. Statistically significant differences were found in the opinions …

Clay And Creative Vision, Raymond Clifford Pocquette

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

My work reflects my attitude towards life. Experience has taught me that I am the only person that I can change, and then, only if I am willing. My work is not intended to be a mirror of society or in any way represent a model for change of any kind. I throw pottery, sculpt, and paint because these activities please me and help define my humanity. This disquisition is a record of my journey through life as an artist, from the inception of my efforts through the work represented in this thesis show. The paper is divided into major …

Diurnal Rhythms: The Daily Life And Art Of A Mexican American Migrant, Lillia Munoz

Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

My series of paintings and sculptural pieces of art, embody a singular theme; the noble labors and life of migrant farm workers. The creative process used to produce my works involves two realities: a mental state and a physical state. Within the formulation of an idea, these mental and physical states often occur simultaneously, at other times separately. Consciously, my art depicts the psychological perceptions and effects of the migrant experience. Repetitive lines mimic rhythmic patterns, monotonous rituals, and daily routines of harvesting, marketing, and unrelenting work. Human and architectural shapes and forms are simplified to reflect the simplicity of …