The Muse 2021

2021

E S U M E H T An ASMSA Student Magazine of Art Literature Photography

THE

MUSE

You are holding in your hands—or viewing on a screen—our annual celebration of the Arts at ASMSA. Its pages and pixels are packed with the products of our students’ prolific ponderings (and, perhaps, some alliteration as well).

When this component was added to the school’s mission in 2003, people often asked, “Why is the math and science school now focusing on the Arts?” At the time the confusion made sense. As we entered a new millennium, much of the discourse around educating future generations of students focused on the importance of creating minds capable of improving the world through science, technology, engineering and math.

How would adding the Arts achieve this goal?

The answer is simple: innovation, inspiration, and ingenuity are not isolated to the STEM disciplines.

Steve Jobs, the famous co-founder of Apple, believed in the importance of integrating creative design with technological innovations. Minimalism, simplicity, and a user-focused experience were as critical components to Apple products as computer chips and processors. Jobs knew then what we’ve embraced: the Arts are just as important to the future as technology. The Arts shape the human experience, they enrich our societies, they challenge us to explore different perspectives, and even contribute to the economic advancement of our state through the creative economy and tourism.

Over the past decade, ASMSA has made significant investment in the Arts by growing our staff, expanding courses available to students, building partnerships with Arts advocacy groups, and even securing private funding that enhances the student experience. The Arts also feature prominently in the school’s 2025 Strategic Plan Sparking Innovation, Igniting Growth, which is available online at asmsa.org/strategicplan.

Of particular note is the goal to “Fully embrace ASMSA’s arts mission by expanding an institutional culture of visual and performing arts through encouraging student talents, abilities, and creativity.”

As you can see from the quality of our students’ works and their numerous accomplishments this year, ASMSA is—at last—reaching our full potential by bringing these experiences into parity with our STEM offerings, but there’s still much work that remains. The intersection of creativity and innovation is the space that defines the ASMSA experiences. It’s where technology, knowledge, and capacity merge with fresh ideas, unique perspectives, and imagination. It’s where our students and faculty shine.

Corey Alderdice ASMSA Director

ASMSA ARTS & HUMANITIES

SYMPOSIUM The symposium honors the hard work of every student who participates in the Arts and Humanities Research Capstone Symposium.

Students who participate in Symposium spend an entire year working up to May 7th. They’ve studied great artists and writers who came before them. They’ve experimented with new techniques and ideas. And, for many months, they’ve been crafting a project that expresses their intellectual and artistic growth over all that time.

AWARDS 2021 Arts and Literature Nonfiction: 2nd Place: Mars King 1st Place: Joshua Williams Filmmaking: 1st place: Janie Gentry Screenwriting: 2nd place: Janie Gentry 1st place: Cade Albertson Creative Writing: 3rd place for best poetry: Harper Haynes 2nd place for best fiction: Kenzie Crain 1st place overall: Harper Haynes Literature: 3rd place: Amanda Smothers 2nd place: Kirstyn Tyner 1st place: MacKenzie Allen History: 3rd place: Luna Mae Solleder 2nd place: Robert Neilson 1st place: Kaletra Arnold

Visual and Performing Arts Fine Arts: 3rd place: Hadley Hooper 2nd place: Nina Niemotka 1st place: Daye Kwon Music: 3rd place: David Atkinson 2nd place: El Liles 1st place: Nathan Robinson Overall winner in Arts and Literature: “Facing the Future: An Examination of Orphan Black and the Philosophy of Human Dignity” MacKenzie Allen

Overall winner in Visual and Performing Arts: “The Dance of Souls- The Journey and Composition” Nathan Robinson

the arts at asm A $25,000 grant from the Windgate Charitable Foundation allowed ASMSA to further expand its arts education program in the 2020-21 academic school year.

The grant enabled the school to offer additional courses in life drawing, printmaking, flameworking, illustration, fiber design, small metals and jewelry. Additional coursework in Modern Design and Craft included furniture and applied design, computer applications in art, 3D modeling technology, construction and mechanical engineering.

The Windgate Charitable Foundation supports arts education programs, K-12 school-improvement programs, higher education initiatives as well as some social service programs. The foundation was founded in 1993 in Siloam Springs but is now based in Little Rock.

ASMSA matched the grant with institutional funds to help upgrade current space and tools necessary to expand the program. The school purchased additional dust collections units, machinery upgrades,

table tools, and a paint booth.

The expansion of the coursework began this academic year, creating opportunities for ASMSA’s students to thrive in additional unique art course offerings, including Digital Art, 3D Art and Design, and 2D Design.

The Windgate grant was used to purchase new equipment such as pottery wheels, a slab roller and a clay mixer for the ceramics course. Art instructor Sara Henry, who specializes in ceramics, said the new equipment will allow her to offer two ceramics course sessions each semester, resulting in more students having access to the classroom and equipment. Students will learn new ceramic techniques such as clay throwing and work with new materials.

Art instructor Brad Wreyford praised using the combination of grant and institutional funds to improve the hardware available in the school’s woodshop and other art spaces. He said among the improvements included in the woodshop was a new lathe, a panel saw, and Festool

products that would make the wood shop a safer work environment with great functional capacity and allow the school to grow the unique program.

The grant and institutional match continues the focused investment ASMSA has made in the arts program in recent years. The initial phase of the program’s development focused on core opportunities for existing ASMSA students. Later phases have included the hiring of arts-specific faculty members and the creation of a curricular emphasis as well a outreach programs for students in middle and early high school.

Digital Art is one of the new courses offered through the grant. Taught by Henry, the course provides students the opportunity to learn visual art techniques while using an electronic pen tablet and computer. The One by Wacom pen tablet comes with software that allows it to mimic various art tools and supplies such as charcoal, paint, paint brushes and more.

Henry said it’s an advantage for

“

msa

The Art and Humanities Department continues to grow here at ASMSA. The creative quality of our students is also ever-expanding. Largely, this is due to the efforts of our recruitment to match the investment made by the school in this area. With consistent competition participation and placement as well as collegiate art school commitments, ASMSA students are signalling the arrival of our school as a powerhouse arts institution in the state. By most metrics, our department is on par with any collegiate foundations-level program in the state. With our modern design, digital art, ceramics, and research courses, we also offer options beyond entry level. Regardless of trajectory and innate talent, arts education produces confidence and cultivates creative problem solving in all individuals who embrace it.

We see that across the board in all the students who take our courses.

students to be able to gain experience in different mediums while using one tool.

“You can do just about anything you can think of — graphite, pastels, watercolor, acrylic painting,” Henry said. “It’s kind of limitless as long as you have the necessary plugins.”

The tablet is approximately 8 inches wide and 5 inches tall and connects to the computer via a USB cord. The accompanying stylus has small nibs that help the artist create precise marks. The software allows students to zoom in to see small details and back out to see the larger piece in whole.

It also provides students advanced methods that wouldn’t necessarily be possible on paper. Henry used the example of drawing faces. If an artist sketches a face on paper, they may initially draw a grid to determine the proper dimensions for the head. Using pencil, the artist would then need to either erase or somehow incorporate the grid into their drawing.

With the Wacom tablet, students may

Brad Wreyford Arts Instructor

develop layers within their drawings. So a student could potentially use the same kind of grid to determine dimensions but place it on a different layer than their drawing.

Once they no longer need the grid, they may delete that layer, Henry said.

But just because the students are using technology for their assignments doesn’t mean they aren’t learning the basic skills for art created using traditional media.

“I’m still teaching the traditional skills on how to build up layers, how to do shading, how to get a face to look three-dimensional on a two-dimensional plan. They will be able to go into a beginning drawing class in college and have the skills needed,” she said.

That also includes using the stylus to improve their hand-eye coordination. Depending on the setting the student is using, the stylus and board can be very sensitive, allowing the artist to barely touch the stylus to the tablet to create a faint line or press harder for a dark line. It’s a more natural artistic movement than using a mouse

“

to draw on the computer would be.

Henry said she has seen the use of a pen tablet help improve a student’s physical artwork as well. One student in a drawing course during the 2019-20 academic year wanted to use digital methods more than traditional methods. Henry had the student learn the traditional way of drawing first but allowed more work to be completed digitally throughout the year.

By the end of the class, the student was drawing strictly on tablet, but their basic skills had improved.

That was what initially gave Henry the idea for a digital class, although she had not taught a Digital Art class previously.

This semester’s class has been a learning experience for her as well.

Article written by Donnie Sewell

Thea Foundation The Thea Foundation serves as an advocate for the importance in arts in the development of Arkansas’ youth. The foundation provides assistance and encouragement through scholarship competitions, providing art supplies to educators and students, and professional development training among other activities.

scholarship Winners Daye Kwon Daye Kwon (‘21) is a student with many talents, however, her passion lies with the arts. Growing up, Kwon was exposed to art at an early age by her mother. Kwon is a well-rounded artist that has ventured into various art mediums throughout her years, including drawing, print-making, and sculptures. Now, she mostly produces watercolor, oil, and acrylic paintings. Kwon currently applies her talents to her community through murals and has even decorated the fifth floor of ASMSA’s Academic Building with her work. In her future, she hopes to continue her work in illustration.

“

Art is a visual language that is open to interpretation; It’s a way I question and comment on the world I observe around myself.

Keeping Me, Influencing Me

“

Visual Arts 1st Place Award of $4,000 scholarship

Hadley Hooper Hadley Hooper (‘21) has had a lifelong love for art. She began drawing comics at a young age and grew to make character designs and write stories. At ASMSA, she learned more about art skills and techniques which enabled her to build on her skills and be more creative. Hooper uses this creativity through digital art which is often inspired by music she listens to or stories she reads.

Moving forward, Hooper’s goal is to go into a career in illustration.

She hopes to work with storyboarding and even making her own comics.

“

My art to me is more than just a creation. It’s my passion.

“

Hope, Passion, and Determination Visual Arts 7th Place Award of $2,000 scholarship

Takoya Marks

“

My art is a goal I can constantly keep striving to achieve.

I work hard and strive to create the best works I can.

Shadows

Visual Arts 10th Place Award of $2,000 scholarship

“

Takoya Marks (‘21) has always had an interest in art, and at ASMSA, she learned to develop her interest into skills. She was in the Fine Arts Capstone her junior year at ASMSA and continued her studies to Senior Studio which requires much creativity and dedication to art. She was first inspired by artists like Jackson Pollock which translates to her abstract style. Moving forward, Marks wants to pursue a career in architecture which would make use of her skills as an artist and her creative mind.

2021

Governor’s Young Artist Competition

Three students were selected to participate in the 2021 Governor’s Young Artist Competition exhibit at the Governor’s Mansion. Seniors Daye Kwon and Nina Thomas as well as junior Danielle Luyet were chosen to participate in this year’s exhibit of artwork by 9th-12th grade students from across the state. Their work was on display at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion in April. This year’s theme was “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Students combined their artistic talent with a patriotic vision to create art that celebrates and honors America. The participants submitted their pieces digitally for consideration by the Governor’s Mansion and Friends of the Mansion organization.

Daye Kwon

Harmony In Diversity Selected as Best of Show

Nina Thomas Nina Thomas (‘21) grew up creating art for fun. Since joining ASMSA, she has been able to make art in a formal setting and grow her once hobby into a serious talent. She was in ASMSA’s art classes her junior year and continued into senior studio. During this time, she made many 2D and 3D works, but collages were her favorite. While Thomas does not plan to pursue a career in art, she hopes to keep it as a hobby.

“

Making art is how I de-stress.

Because I make art with materials that are normally discarded, it is a way for me to be more conscious about my consumption habits.

Stars and Stripes Best Theme Award

“

These three pieces amplify pride and diversity in America

Danielle Luyet Danielle Luyet (‘22) was always interested in art, and began her art career at ASMSA. She took painting during her first semester of junior year, and she realized the passion she had for it. Luyet was inspired to continue developing her skills and plans to create and learn outside of class. She also hopes to bring those skills to her future.

The Faces of America Honorable Mention

“

My art to me is more than just a creation. It’s my passion. It’s a goal I can constantly keep striving to achieve. I work hard and strive to create the best works I can.

ARKANSAS YOUNG ARTIST ASSOCIATION COMPETITION Daye Kwon

Lillian Hickman

Nina Thomas

Chelsie Marquez

Skylar Boone

Eureka Smith

Adam Kaderly

Nina Niemotka

Winnie Smith

Madison Mainer

Senior First place in Expressive Oils, First place in Realistic Watercolor, First place in Mixed Media Low Relief (Expressive), & Honorable Mention Portrait (Expressive)

Senior First place Mixed Media 2D (Abstract/Nonobjective) & Honorable Mention, Cut Paper/Collage

Junior First place in Portrait (Abstract)

Junior Second place in First Year Collage/Mixed Media & Fourth place in Mixed Media 2D (Abstract)

Junior Second place in Pen/Ink (Realistic) & Honorable Mention, Digital Art-Computer Generated (no photography or photos used)

Senior Third place in Mixed Media 2D (Realistic)

Junior Third place in Mixed Media 2D (Expressive)

Junior Third place in First Year Collage/Mixed Media & Honorable Mention in First Year Painting

Junior Third place in Colored Pencil (Abstract) & Honorable Mention in First Year Collage/Mixed Media

Senior Fourth place in Pen/Ink (Realistic)

Ceramics Nikki Weatherington Heart Maraca

Tracy Yang, Lotus Maraca Nikki Weatherington Lidded Jar

Riana Hodges Lidded Jar

2D DESIGN The 2D Design Capstone is an important part of the arts and humanities capstones. First semester, the students learn the tecniques, and they put them into practice in the second semester. Using their developed skills and artist’s determination, each student puts together a portfolio of their work. The junior class’ hard work and talent was seen through their artwork. Six juniors placed or were recognized at the 2021 Arkansas Young Artists Association Competition. These creative minds are able to move into Senior Studio next year to further pursue art. This approach allows for an expansion of experiences and more opportunities to create and compete.

Alex Tapia Tears of Oil

Eureka Smith The Coat

Skylar Boone Migrant Mother Re-Imagined

SENIOR STUDIO

Sydney Crabtree Janie

Shamiso Zindoga Wood Hand

Nina Thomas Shapeshift

Mixed media

Lane Lunsford The Sun Will Come Out Digital Art

Chelsie Marquez Losing Yourself Completely: Soul Drawing

Nina Niemotka Moving Too Fast Drawing

Nina Niemotka Scars Drawing

Curren French Agony Digital Art

ce

rt

eave Me • What’s My Age Again? • Quarantine • Feeling This • T

he Rock Show • Reckless Abandon • Ad

am’s Song • Anthem • First Date • Roller Coaster • The Party So

blink-182

Live in C

on

2021

ng • Online Songs • Aliens Exist • Don’t L

Shayna Andrews Graphic Design

Tamia Brown “Thanksgiving” Beneath my soles Where my ancestors rest I remember their toils And remind myself that I am blessed.

I thank those who came before me Who suffered it all, so that I could be free.

Then I pray for those who didn’t make it at sea Who suffered so much, without a chance to flee.

Everyday is a moment to be thankful, That I don’t have to wear a chain around my ankle.

Ash Hong The Candlemaker Digital Art

Mixed media

Ash Hong The Candlemaker Digital Art Curren French Fractured 3D Design

Ash Hong The Fallen Digital Art

Joseph Thomas The TV 3D Design

Alyx Allred “Amalgam” I am stomach churning memories, present’s state of being future whim, and something akin to a slipshod cluster of striking sins with flowing words permanently fleeing

Visit...

ARKANSAS

the land of opportunity

from a clear mind with selective seeing I am bleeding rainbows on dirty skin battles and losses as well as my wins thoughts and ideas searching for meaning

Made of the company I keep around who inspire and push and berate me for attempting anything aside from a supernova of subtle soundas a bright reminder to stop and see how to improve the person I’ve become

Lexi Hardin, Graphic Design

Mixed media

Chaos Stream #2 Nina Thomas Collage

Icy Eyes Winnie Smith Digital Art

Lidia Belete Still life Digital Photography

Andrew Blankenship Steven Gruver Mason Kaye Modern Design Diya Mehta Graphic Design

Mixed media

Yasmean Dehaghani Digital Photography

Kenzie Crain “Crayola Soul” my soul resembles a puddle of melted crayons beautiful chaos stemming from destruction

a multitude of colors that don’t quite match all coming together as one to form a big, sad rainbow

Takoya Marks Concentration

Sidney Crabtree Crabtree

A

A

Daye Kwon Utopia

T LKING HE DS

REMAIN IN LIGHT Skylar Boone Graphic Design

Collin McCord Fleeting Hope

Mixed media Harrison Lehnen The Raven Queen’s Arrival Digital Art

Evan Ang Self-portrait Graphic Design

Collin McCord Fleeting Hope Cut Paper

Callie Johnson, Portraits - Digital Photography

Jaysee Magby “Now”

X

Now I walk down different halls.

I pass by people you have never met before.

I smile more and cry less.

Now I am happy, In a way I doubted was possible.

I can finally be me.

I’m still not done with you.

I still care, but I’m getting there.

I’m getting to the point where I don’t look for you.

I stopped looking for you in a crowded room Or when I go home for the weekend.

I’m healing.

POP-POPSICLE!

cite

Diya Mehta Graphic Design

Design Editors: Anette Perez Lexi Hardin Steven Gruver Cover Design: Isha Patel Cover Art: Takoya Marks Faculty Sponser: Fred Zipkes

asmsa.org