For this core skill in “Program Outcomes: Communication Competence,” I chose an
artifact from Art Appreciation course. In ART-111, I took this class fully online over the course
of 16 weeks. To fulfil this skill, I decided to use my essay titled “Project 3: Art in Context.” In
this assignment, I focused on a mural program in Los Angeles and its history. As the title
suggests, this essay puts art into context—which refers to the analysis of an artwork. Over the course of two weeks, I wrote the essay with a slight challenge. To be able to measure how this mural affected society, I had to analyze the artist and her goal for the artwork. Judy Baca, the artist of “The Great Wall of Los Angeles,” was inspired by her work as a director of the non-profit Social and Political Art Resource Center. Stretching to a half mile long, this mural aimed to bridge the gap between different ethnic, social, and economic parties.

Reflecting on this artifact, I felt that it was strong in its organization—a major goal of
mine when producing this work. Formatted in APA format, the essay has a cover page, four full pages of text, and a reference page. However, looking back (since this was written in 2022), the essay was weak in correctly titling the sources page. Instead of naming it “Reference Page,” I titled it “Works Cited” which is meant for MLA formatting. Otherwise, throughout the essay, the thesis is explicitly stated, and the text is cohesive.

Originally, my second goal was to master design. Thus, I provided an image of the artist
and her mural in the cover page. However, as I was writing the essay, I focused more on the
audience. Through analyzing the mural’s history and its artist, I was able to craft a message that displayed cultural awareness. I believe that through the skills learned in Art Appreciation, my essay was successful in its goals.