transylvaniaschools
BHS Senior AP Art Show "Xanadu," 2016
BREVARD, NC — While the actual city of Shangdu isn’t difficult to locate any more on a map or by the roads in China, the popular Western name “Xanadu” once stood for a distant, imaginary place far off the beaten path. Embracing the aura of mystery, Brevard High School seniors recently took viewers to far-off places in their spring 2016 show by the same name, as part of their Advanced Placement (AP) Art course.
Teacher Sean Parrish organized the show for three Blue Devil seniors in the AP course: Megan Ashworth, Cameron McCathern, and Daniel Revis. They shared reflections in their biographies and artists’ statements, to help visitors to the BHS art gallery acquire a better understanding of the themes and motivations behind the evocative, brightly colored works on display weeks before their graduation.
“Art has many definitions,” wrote senior Megan Ashworth. Bypassing the dictionary definition, though, she added, “Words, I feel, cannot describe what art really is. It has to be seen. It has to be felt. The beauty varies, sometimes invoking terror; nothing is more terrifying than complete access to the creativity of the human mind.”
The three graduates studied high school art for all four years, but their careers might be said to have started much earlier. Reflecting on their inspirations and artistic journeys was as much a part of the show as the artworks on display.
“I began art as soon as I could pick up a crayon, and thus set in motion a passion,” wrote Ashworth in her autobiography. “My fascination with the human mind, the mysteries of the galaxies we live in, and the galaxies that we are, pushes me to explore further into my own mind and to improve my skills in art.”
Reflecting on his portraits which juxtapose faces and bizarre foreign elements, senior Daniel Revis counted a number of influences from the past to today.
“My concentration focuses on Surrealist portraits, morphing human faces into bug-like features. My inspirations consist of Salvador Dali, and more recently, my fellow AP students.”
Cameron McCathern looks for inspiration to “nature, abandoned houses, and dark, gloomy spaces.” While this informed the theme of her concentration for the show, an abandoned house in the neighborhood and the house’s imaginary ‘spirit’ of the house, she has also looked to dance as an expressive outlet.
McCathern’s fascination with movement and big spaces that could use some help with organization may help to explain her big plans for reclaiming big areas with her artwork.
“I enjoy doing a wide range of things including sculpture, embroidery, watercolor, and oil painting,” wrote McCathern. “I love working on large canvases and experimenting with paintings that include three-dimensional elements. Outside of art, I am a dancer with Brevard Ballet and work hard juggling both passions.”
Ashworth noted in her reflections that, along with elevating her oil painting skills, other outlets had remained important to her artistic life and beyond, as well.
“This year, I wanted to improve and experiment with my skills in oil paint,” she wrote, “focusing on a theme of ‘The Seven Deadly Sins and The Seven Heavenly Virtues.’ Through high school I have been a member of the concert chorus, participated in the spring musical for two years, and in previous years, I was a member of the [school system’s] mountain bike team. I continue to bike in my spare time.”
Leadership and early professional growth are key components of art studies in high school. Students who desire to pursue higher education must establish credentials and recognition, and Parrish’s students have opportunities for that.
One way is through applying and gaining admission to the National Art Honor Society, which has 46,000 members nationwide. Ashworth and McCathern joined as juniors, and both maintained active membership as seniors. Along with club activities, NAHS students are honored with an invitation to put one artwork in the permanent collection adorning the school hallways.
As far as future studies and career pathways, there is a mix of art and science involved in making those decisions. But being fully immersed in the creative process has made a significant impact on all these seniors.
“My future for me is entirely a mystery: I don’t know what I want to do, but art will always be an important part of that,” said Ashworth, who will attend Blue Ridge Community College for two years, and look at transferring to a four-year school after surveying her options.
Revis hopes to take studies at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) in graphic design and fine arts, and translate those to a future job in the field after three independent study courses, and holding leadership roles in the BHS Art Build during his four years of membership and service.
For McCathern, BRCC is also her choice to complete prerequisites, before hopefully transferring to Appalachian State University to study graphic design and dance.
“I want to work doing advertising and freelance art, and teaching dance on the side.”
For these students moving into the peak of their creative powers, the world is full of opportunity. To view more photos of the artists and their works to accompany this article, visit Transylvania County Schools online at Flickr: www.flickr.com/tcsnc.
© 2016, Transylvania County Schools. All rights reserved.
BHS Senior AP Art Show "Xanadu," 2016
BREVARD, NC — While the actual city of Shangdu isn’t difficult to locate any more on a map or by the roads in China, the popular Western name “Xanadu” once stood for a distant, imaginary place far off the beaten path. Embracing the aura of mystery, Brevard High School seniors recently took viewers to far-off places in their spring 2016 show by the same name, as part of their Advanced Placement (AP) Art course.
Teacher Sean Parrish organized the show for three Blue Devil seniors in the AP course: Megan Ashworth, Cameron McCathern, and Daniel Revis. They shared reflections in their biographies and artists’ statements, to help visitors to the BHS art gallery acquire a better understanding of the themes and motivations behind the evocative, brightly colored works on display weeks before their graduation.
“Art has many definitions,” wrote senior Megan Ashworth. Bypassing the dictionary definition, though, she added, “Words, I feel, cannot describe what art really is. It has to be seen. It has to be felt. The beauty varies, sometimes invoking terror; nothing is more terrifying than complete access to the creativity of the human mind.”
The three graduates studied high school art for all four years, but their careers might be said to have started much earlier. Reflecting on their inspirations and artistic journeys was as much a part of the show as the artworks on display.
“I began art as soon as I could pick up a crayon, and thus set in motion a passion,” wrote Ashworth in her autobiography. “My fascination with the human mind, the mysteries of the galaxies we live in, and the galaxies that we are, pushes me to explore further into my own mind and to improve my skills in art.”
Reflecting on his portraits which juxtapose faces and bizarre foreign elements, senior Daniel Revis counted a number of influences from the past to today.
“My concentration focuses on Surrealist portraits, morphing human faces into bug-like features. My inspirations consist of Salvador Dali, and more recently, my fellow AP students.”
Cameron McCathern looks for inspiration to “nature, abandoned houses, and dark, gloomy spaces.” While this informed the theme of her concentration for the show, an abandoned house in the neighborhood and the house’s imaginary ‘spirit’ of the house, she has also looked to dance as an expressive outlet.
McCathern’s fascination with movement and big spaces that could use some help with organization may help to explain her big plans for reclaiming big areas with her artwork.
“I enjoy doing a wide range of things including sculpture, embroidery, watercolor, and oil painting,” wrote McCathern. “I love working on large canvases and experimenting with paintings that include three-dimensional elements. Outside of art, I am a dancer with Brevard Ballet and work hard juggling both passions.”
Ashworth noted in her reflections that, along with elevating her oil painting skills, other outlets had remained important to her artistic life and beyond, as well.
“This year, I wanted to improve and experiment with my skills in oil paint,” she wrote, “focusing on a theme of ‘The Seven Deadly Sins and The Seven Heavenly Virtues.’ Through high school I have been a member of the concert chorus, participated in the spring musical for two years, and in previous years, I was a member of the [school system’s] mountain bike team. I continue to bike in my spare time.”
Leadership and early professional growth are key components of art studies in high school. Students who desire to pursue higher education must establish credentials and recognition, and Parrish’s students have opportunities for that.
One way is through applying and gaining admission to the National Art Honor Society, which has 46,000 members nationwide. Ashworth and McCathern joined as juniors, and both maintained active membership as seniors. Along with club activities, NAHS students are honored with an invitation to put one artwork in the permanent collection adorning the school hallways.
As far as future studies and career pathways, there is a mix of art and science involved in making those decisions. But being fully immersed in the creative process has made a significant impact on all these seniors.
“My future for me is entirely a mystery: I don’t know what I want to do, but art will always be an important part of that,” said Ashworth, who will attend Blue Ridge Community College for two years, and look at transferring to a four-year school after surveying her options.
Revis hopes to take studies at Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) in graphic design and fine arts, and translate those to a future job in the field after three independent study courses, and holding leadership roles in the BHS Art Build during his four years of membership and service.
For McCathern, BRCC is also her choice to complete prerequisites, before hopefully transferring to Appalachian State University to study graphic design and dance.
“I want to work doing advertising and freelance art, and teaching dance on the side.”
For these students moving into the peak of their creative powers, the world is full of opportunity. To view more photos of the artists and their works to accompany this article, visit Transylvania County Schools online at Flickr: www.flickr.com/tcsnc.
© 2016, Transylvania County Schools. All rights reserved.