Laid Table

Art in life, is something that can be found all over, high and low, on Earth and even in those far away galaxies. Over time art can become evolved or more simple, like in the olden days to show that the piece is very old. Beautiful glass pieces shimmer all through the tiny room in which it is displayed. “Laid Table” created by Beth Lipmen is a astonishing art piece, that speaks to the viewer in a indescribable way.
Once something speaks to you, you want to figure out every little detail which made up this wonder piece, but sometimes those magnificent masterpieces are accidents. During a period in which one could study “Laid table” the studier might realize it all started with a glass breaking. A lightning bolt is sent spiraling throughout all the images and meanings behind this piece. Only to lead to this piece is an accident, based off of a memory that the creator experienced. All the other piece’s around this piece all seemed planned, the glass around “Laid Table” is placed neatly and the colors are mixed to give a tie dye color theme. This piece screams “I am break able” It’s very delicate and all around the art piece there is glass shattered around the bottom. After seeing the glass shimmer from the lights above, the glass around the bottom; which is smaller, is broken, rather than the larger piece. The larger glass piece are in the shapes of vase’s and cup’s even a few bowl’s these pieces have more detail’s than the one below.
Besides the shimmering glass and the white, sliver colors, the symbolism was interesting. The broken glass can represent a tragic story that happened in the artist life, or the broken glass could represent a bad thing that did happen and the broken glass is the celebration of the new life. The glass could be good or bad, but because the majority of the piece is shattered, it represents bad. Even if the sculpture had been good, the artist didn’t make this obvious. Also the other very strong symbolism in this piece is the light shinny colors. The slivers and gold’s, even a rainbow of colors shimmer off of the light.
Overall the artist was trying to make the sculpture seem like treasure. After looking at the piece for a long time, one will realize that this is one of the most inspiration master piece throughout time. Not only does the colors of “Laid Table” appeal to the viewer, but the broken glass and the emotion is bleed through.
"Milwaukee Art Museum | Art Lives Here." Milwaukee Art Museum | Art Lives Here. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Dec. 2009. .

Speak

The lives of some are tragic; for Melinda Sordino her life is a nightmare. With no friends and a family that didn’t care, nobody would ever wish this upon any person. Unfortunately some teens like Melinda are forced to live their lives like this for years. In the novel Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson all aspects of teenagers' lives are defined.
Many teens throughout the world have to deal with other teens who can bully others or simply just dysfunctional . Children, no matter what they are taught, will always judges other kids. Even though it may not be fair, it’s life. A teen in Philadelphia was bullied, he was pushed over the edge. That teen shot a 17 year old fellow student, the attacker of the suspect. Although Melinda was harassed by many peers she was strong enough not to break. And it’s good that Melinda was strong, otherwise who knows what she could have done. The child that had been attacked had no friends, he was a loner. His family life was just as bad, his mom drank and he didn’t know his father. Even his sister was uncaring, she was an abuser of drugs. Melinda and this boy had much in common, both of them harassed until a breaking point, the boy’s breaking point was to murder another and Melinda’s was to simply no longer talk.
The characters in this novel are what keeps your eyes on the page. Melinda, the main character, was a simple girl with a group of friends and a date to a senior party. Going into high school Melinda had seemed unstoppable, that was until the party that ruined her life. Andy Evans, this amazing teen that all the girls in her grade had crushed on, wasn’t so sweet. He hurt Melinda at that party causing Melinda to do the unthinkable, call the police. From that day Melinda went spiraling down. For being a main character Melinda seemed normal at the first glance, but after awhile the reader might see that she was hiding a deep secret in the pit of her stomach. A secret that she couldn’t bear to tell anyone. It’s heart breaking to know that some teens have to really deal with this fact, they have a secret that makes them sick but they can’t tell anyone either. Another main character/characters is the parents of Melinda Sordino, her mom is a workaholic and barley notices she has a daughter. Melinda’s father is just as bad, he works, comes home and watches TV, completely forgetting that he even has a daughter. Overall Melinda’s parents aren’t the best role models, but it doesn’t necessarily help that she isn’t working like a proper teen should.
Looking in the eyes of Melinda Sordino a troubled teen, living life without parents at all can almost seem better. It’s not hard to change your life when you’ve made many mistakes and this is because most stories do have a happy ending. Truly Melinda’s life was at the complete bottom of any crevice and cannon any major hole, the only place to go next is up.