View, LIMITLESS, Teen Art Exhibit, Reception: Friday, May 9, 6-9pm
by Joan Clifford, Executive Director
LIMITLESS
This May, the Milton Art Center celebrates Teen Month as teen visions and voices take center stage – on the walls and behind the mic. The Teen Art Exhibit, “LIMITLESS,” welcomes the public to an art reception Friday, May 9, 6-9pm. Come early at 6pm to view and vote for your favorite art for the People’s Choice Awards. Blick Art Materials has donated 3 gift certificates that will be awarded to the highest vote getters. At 7:30pm, poetry and music starts. No First Friday this month- to accommodate teen schedules, it’s 2nd Friday; come enjoy art, poetry, music, food, at our family friendly art reception for our thoughtful, talented, teens.
Some of the artwork on display was created at a free February vacation camp for teens. This creative outlet for teens interested in the arts was taught by Sue Hoy and Christine Schoettle, and generously funded by the Milton Cultural Council.
A few of the artists shared their inspiration behind the art they created.
Faith Kelley, a Freshman at Milton High School, created Night Walking, using acrylics. The inspiration was a photo that she had taken while walking at Houghton’s Pond with her mother, a section called the Abandoned Highway path, (the old Rt. 128). ”I wanted to capture how calm it felt while walking the path and the glow of the lighting that made it feel almost mystical. I was inspired by how nature can be calming and peaceful,” said Faith.
“My painting, Curiosity, was inspired by my curious, tortoiseshell colored cat, Muppet,” said Katie Donahue, a freshman at Thayer Academy. “I love art and plan to pursue it as a hobby throughout my life, even if my career doesn’t necessarily involve it.”
“What inspired my piece,” said Lana Blalock, a sophomore at Milton High, who submitted a ceramic art piece titled Mercy, “was art found in cemeteries, specifically engravings on old tombstones or the angel sculptures that many of them have. I started working in ceramics for a school project and fell in love with it because of how versatile it is and how different it is from 2d art.”
Orlaith Killion, a senior at Milton High School, created Picnic Still Life, an acrylic on paper for her submission. Orlaith said, “Making art makes me feel energized, it’s exciting to see all your ideas and concepts in your head combined visually in front of you.” Orlaith, who is attending Boston University this fall, is the editor in chief of the ECHO, Milton High School’s Art and Literary Magazine. The ECHO gives every Milton High student the opportunity to share and enjoy the art work and writing of their peers. This year is the 100th anniversary of the ECHO and to celebrate – they have been working hard to digitize all the old copies of the magazine. This exhibit will showcase some of the past work that has been submitted through the years. We hope to meet some of the ECHO alumni at this show!
Also working at the Echo magazine is Teagan Sweeney, a junior at MHS, who manages the social media platforms and together with Orlaith has helped produce the teen art shows the past two years with the Milton Art Center. Teagan painted a large work titled, Return to My Roots. “The inspiration behind the piece is about exploring how places become part of my memories and life. In the painting, I’m on a beach in Cape Cod, where my mother went when she was my age and where she brought me to when I was young. I go back every year. I love how the tide always returns back to the ocean in what looks like “roots” in the sand. I paint how I feel returning back to the same beach each year,” said Teagan.
Lia Gavin, a junior at Nobles and Greenough, has delved heavily into writing and poetry for many years, performing at open mic nights in Boston since middle school. More recently Lia has also been interested in photography, experimenting with a “fusion style,” where she takes a photograph that is loosely connected to a poem and then uses various techniques to “embed” a line from the poem into the photograph. The title of her exhibit piece is a photo/poem combination titled Fearless Sleep. Lia said, “I came up with the idea while reading a novel by Jasmyn Ward called Sing, Unburied, Sing. I was struck by a scene when a grandfather talks about how his grandson doesn’t appreciate the privileges he has and how this is exemplified by the way that the grandson sleeps, unafraid and without thought to protect his body. It got me thinking about how lucky I have been to grow up in a stable family and a safe town and I wanted to capture that idea in a poem.” For Fearless Sleep, Lia had her friend wear a particular sweater because the lines and angles were great for “hiding” the words in plain sight. From there she sampled writing using ink, and later on used multiple Photoshop tools to digitally write out her dotted-letters on the image. Lia will be reading her poem, “Fearless Sleep,” at the reception.
Musical and spoken word performers will be The Redline Band, consisting of Ariel Phong, Amelia Cardoza, Noah Tran, Eren Kosiba and Nate Turner. Lorraine Anesi, Andie Walsh, and Lia Gavin will also be performing. We’re still adding to the lineup – if there are any teens interested, get in touch, info@miltonartcenter.org. Come support and be amazed by these teens who are willing to put themselves out there in their art, poetry and song!