Serentiy Lopez 1
Copyright 2019 Hannah Pittel All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photographs, without permission in writing from the owner. Scanning, uploading, and electronic distribution of these materials without permission is prohibited. Temple University - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2
Serenity The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled. A photography book by Hannah Pittel
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Serenity Lopez, 25 years old, moved to Philadelphia from the Main Line to live the lifestyle she wanted. Lopez describes herself as someone who does what she wants. She lives her life to the fullest and has unconventional ways of dressing and expressing herself. Originally from Florida, Lopez moved with her family when she was young to the suburbs of Philadelphia. Serenity expresses herself in many forms. One of these forms is flow-arts. Flow-arts is a general term used to describe a variety of movement-based dance styles including dance, juggling, fire-spinning, and object manipulation. Lopez started “flowing” 6 years ago after she saw a good friend of hers doing it. “It was mesmerizing,” Lopez said. “I had to learn so I looked up videos and taught myself pretty much.” “Flow-arts is a whole other culture many people don’t know about. I really found a community within it.” Lopez has performed at festivals and concerts all around the East Coast. Lopez says she loves it but doesn’t want to make a career out of it. “It’s just a really fun hobby for me,” she says. Serenity incorporates fire into her flow as well. “I can eat fire too,” Lopez says. “It’s cool to find a community of people that are into it too. From the outside looking in it may look silly so it’s cool to be aorund people that get it and what it means to me.”
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“My style is expressive and unique,” says Lopez. “My dad always dressed kind of weird too. I definitley was influenced by him especially when I was younger.” Serenity grew up going to a school were she was required to wear uniforms. “I guess my style started to blossom when I was younger. I went to schools were we had to wear uniforms. When I wasn’t in school I was dressing as weird as possible.” “I used to cut up funky socks and put them on my arms. I’d get sent to the office all the time,” Serenity says. Serenity’s style is self-procliamed “cyber-goth” with a girly twist. 6
“My dress is more inspired by ideas, feelings, and themes, more than people.” Serenity believes people take themselves too seriously with their clothing. She believes that getting dressed should be fun. In addition to flow-arts and her funky style, Serenity makes sculpture art with repurposed Barbie dolls. “I like the idea of using Barbies,” Serenity says, “people think it’s so weird. I just like getting a reaction from people.”
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Lopez sits in her bedroom in Philadelphia, Pa. as she discusses her artwork.
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“I just like keeping things from my childhood. My room is kind of like a collection of old and new.�
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Serenity shows off her doll-art. Lopez creates art with repurposed Barbie dolls to inspire people to look past the creepiness in art and in life.
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“I started using Barbie parts at the begining of last year with just ripping their limbs off and burning their faces in videos. I really ennjoyed painting their torsos and using their limbs to decorate my room. After playing around with symmetry usingtheir arms and legs I tried making a tiara.”
“Barbies are creepy cute to me and that is what I generallydescribe my aesthetic as so ive been really happy exploring uses.I dont really have a clear intended statement with them but I do hope that it inspires people to look past things that might initially creep them out to find the beauty in them.” 11
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Serenity glances at her large collection of vintage National Geographic magazines. Lopez enjoys filling her room with items from her childhood.
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Serenity sits in her kitchen in Philadelphia, Pa. as she discusses growing up in a suburb.
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“When I graduated highschool, a close friend of mine got into hooping which inspired me to teach myself and learn. I learned mostly by watching youtube videos and making my own hoops from irrigation tubing. I started with a hoop and over the past 6-7 years have learned fans, dragon staff, flow wand, and fire eating.”
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“Im a pretty awkward and shy person a lot of the time so when I perform it feels like im expressing another side of myself that I’m not always comfortable doing. I used to get really nervous that people wouldn’t like my style performing but over the years I have grown a lot of confidence that I wouldn’t have without performing. Performance to me is a safe space for inner self-expression and a vessel to inspire others.”
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