Artistry in Action

A sneak peak into the different artists of AHS and their various passions

Mylo Herzog (12)

Staff Writer

The Fine Arts Fair bestows an opportunity for students to share their creative outlets, bringing artists and audiences together and establishing diversity through various artistic mediums. As the anticipated event approaches, four unique artists prepare and share introspectives on their respective mediums and crafts.

Sketching, painting, and sculpting, Camille Garipova (12) expressed emotional sentiments through her artworks. “Everyone’s stressed and nervous. They have a reason to be. But at the same time we need to take a step back and look at our surroundings and who we are,” says Garipova. “It’s good to appreciate life through art.”

For many students, expressing yourself through visual means is vital, and for Noah Flores (12), having a discernible style is essential. “Fashion is [integral] for self-expression. It’s the first thing you see about someone.”

Scavenging through the past, Flores finds himself inspired by vintage musical aesthetics “You can easily tell what kind of music the person listens to by their fashion tastes. It’s kind of a generalization, but my music taste influenced my style. I love city pop, which is very 80s.”

To Flores, music molds how he presents himself to the world. But for musician Ren Marzan (12), music manifests in the types of songs he composes. “A bit before [quarantine], my sister and I really got into music. And there was this random day where I wanted to write a song for fun,” said Marzan. “I eventually took that from a hobby to [writing] my own music, performing it, and eventually producing it.”

While these artforms diverge, the common threads that tie them together rely on transparency. “The paintings and pieces I’m most proud of are more vulnerable and visceral. They’re more messy in the process, but it’s cathartic and needed,” said Garipova.

When showcasing art, artists often feel like they reveal a part of themselves to strangers, which can seem daunting. Yet in divulging, many artists find the exhibition more rewarding. “The first few minutes on stage are nerve-wracking, but performing songs I’ve written is relieving,” said Marzan. “It’s nice to get out feelings I’ve been holding in from a song and share it with people. I’m not only showing my music, but my emotions as well.”

Themes of struggle, love, and self are explored and imbued in these different art forms. The focus on nostalgia and growing up inspired videographer, Chohaechan Lee (12), to finally pursue photography and film. “I’ve always wanted to be a movie director as a kid because when I was watching a movie with my aunt, the conversations we had about the director’s choices were interesting,” said Lee. “She pointed out the symbolism and how the director intended things in certain ways with how they shot the scene.”

Throughout Lee’s filming process, he hopes to convey a sense of relatability in his movie. “There are a lot of different messages, but I hope it’s not too complicated for people to understand. The main message is about self-development and growing up as a teenager,” said Lee.

While many of these artists experience art block, or lack the time to do art outside of school, they still manage to insert their passions through other mediums and academics; these artists find joy in simply creating. “I haven’t done a lot of videography outside of school, but I think it’s still a fun process,” said Lee. “I like being able to record things and editing is still really fun. Even if it’s only for school, the process is still enjoyable.”

Delving into these different artists and their individual passions, the creative scene in AHS still has more to offer. The Fine Arts Fair has become an invitation for more artists to showcase their works and muses in public. “If you want to get your talent out there, this is your opportunity,” Marzan continued. “There’s been Spirit Week, and other events we’ve had, but you have more of a space and an audience specifically just watching you. So don’t feel afraid to get your passions out there.”