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Just Scars…<br />
Silvery Augustin<br />
Grade: 12<br />
School: Fordham High School for<br />
the <strong>Art</strong>s, Bronx<br />
<strong>Art</strong> Teacher: Lisa Mota<br />
Watercolor, ink, and<br />
cut-magazine collage<br />
STUDENT: <strong>Art</strong> has made a difference<br />
in my life by helping me see the<br />
beauty in everyday life. When I<br />
drew a tree for the first time I<br />
struggled, but now I look at actual<br />
trees differently. I noticed that<br />
no two trees look alike and that<br />
they are all unique. At first, my<br />
theme was supposed to be about<br />
insecurities in general, but Ms.<br />
Mota helped me take more risks by<br />
making my artwork about a specific<br />
insecurity. Without her, I wouldn’t<br />
have the courage to let out all of<br />
my feelings on a canvas or piece of<br />
paper for fear of being judged. She’s<br />
also helped me learn that sometimes I<br />
just need to let the paint brush guide<br />
me. I have an emotional connection<br />
to Just Scars... I cried several times<br />
while working on it because I thought<br />
of things I did that I regret during a<br />
weak point in my life. Throughout<br />
the entire process, I hated myself<br />
for mutilating my own body and I<br />
felt like the whole classroom was<br />
judging me and calling me crazy, but<br />
after I finished I felt better about<br />
myself. Creating Just Scars... made<br />
me a stronger person. It helped my<br />
self-esteem. I realize how beautiful<br />
my scars are and the lesson I learn<br />
whenever I look at them.<br />
TEACHER: Silvery is in AP Drawing. Her<br />
theme focuses on her past and on<br />
her insecurities. This piece was an<br />
emotional struggle for her as it was<br />
pushing her to explore the demons of<br />
her past, specifically as a self-cutter.<br />
In the end, she created a portfolio<br />
that demonstrates her aesthetic as an<br />
artist and her exploration of a variety<br />
of media and personal subject matter.<br />
I have the fortunate privilege of having<br />
my art students from ninth grade<br />
through twelth grade. This painting<br />
really stood out to me because Silvery<br />
was a student who was very private<br />
about her emotions and personal life.<br />
As a young ninth-grade artist, she<br />
showed great potential, and as a senior<br />
she has proven herself as a powerful<br />
artist. Silvery has discovered the healing<br />
power of art and is using it to begin her<br />
own healing process. She has created a<br />
powerful message of self-acceptance.<br />
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