What a remarkable school year. The students created so much amazing art and many more students could easily have been nominated. We are loaded with talent here at GHS. Thank you for following along as we recognized all these skilled young people. In honor of it being our final month, we’ve included a little extra art. Enjoy!
May nominees: Evelyn Callahan ’25, Max Schulz ’26 and Leah Heller ’27
Criteria: advanced creativity, high level of interest in art, commitment to skill advancement, and outside-the-box thinking (creativity & problem solving).
Special thanks to multiple private donors for passing on gift cards for this month’s nominees. Your donations are appreciated!
Outstanding Artist of May -Max Schulz ’26 – Drawing & Painting and 3D Art
Ms. Thraen-Borowski – Max’s attention to detail is remarkable. His artwork is rooted in his advanced drawing abilities and interest in precision. This year, he challenged himself to try different media and grew even more. However, when given the choice, he always came back to shading with graphite pencils and works in greyscale. That is his happy place. Max will always be an artist because it is simply a part of who he is. He enjoys the process and has an innate need to make art. He is a joy to have in the art room because he works so hard and has such advanced ability. I am thrilled to still have him around next year and know he will thrive in Independent Art.
Max’s thoughts on all things art:
Why do you think art is important?
Art is important because it can be hard to explain how you feel using words. Instead, creating art that tells a story can be more meaningful.
What does art mean to you?
Art is the expression of ideas and emotions you have. Art gives us meaning to our life and helps us understand our world.
Why do you make art?
I make art to feel relaxed and free. I’m always busy with sports and training, and sometimes I forget to take time for myself. In Art class, this time really helps me. I’m able to be worry free and have fun.
What type of art do you like to make?
I really enjoyed our Clay Unit in class. Specifically, our coil pots.
How do you plan to incorporate art into your life after high school?
I plan to incorporate Art after high school by continuing to paint and draw in my journal whenever I’m overwhelmed.
What is something you wish the outside world knew about high school art classes?
People should know that you have so much freedom to create whatever you want. Also, Mrs. T is very supportive of all your ideas.
Also Nominated – Evelyn Callahan ’25 – Digital Photography
This was Evelyn’s first year in an art class, and I’m so glad we found a way to make that happen. Her insight and work ethic are inspiring. She is quick to put in the time to develop her skills, making the tedious and time-consuming work of learning something brand new look easy. Because of that courage, her photography abilities advanced quickly, and she developed a remarkable grasp of composition in a short time. Evelyn’s photos are always thoughtful and interesting. She has truly enriched our class with her artwork and insight during conversations. I am thrilled to have had her as a student and am confident she will thrive as she embarks on this next chapter of her life.
Also Nominated – Leah Heller ’27 – Drawing & Painting/3D Art
Artmaking comes naturally to Leah. You can tell she is in her element when she is creating. She is a very responsible, pragmatic artist. Never loud or flashy, she is simply content to work hard on her projects and often goes above and beyond my expectations. Her pieces are always strong and well thought out. Leah is very observant and quickly pivots as needed wherever she is in the artmaking process. This keen sense and adaptability are essential skills that many students never become comfortable with. Not Leah, she faces an unforeseen challenge head on and figures out how to solve it. She makes it look easy. She is one of those students you’re thrilled to have in class and I look forward to a few more years with her.
Congratulations to all the artists!
For any additional info and to find out ways to support this recognition, contact Ms. Irene Thraen-Borowski at [email protected].
