I made visual art to encourage young people to find hope by being outside in nature. Whenever I feel stressed or in a challenging time, being in nature can help give me hope. Hiking is not only good exercise but also good for your mental health.
Our entry is a painting with a quote about hope on it. We wanted to show that people can help others find hope instead of just showing ways of how to find hope. We felt that helping others can also help give yourself hope too.
Personally, I really struggled with my mental health for awhile. But ‘they’ were always there. They were my light. My guide. They helped me out of that hole, that darkness, no matter how much I pushed them away. I didn’t want them to be my light. I didn’t want a ‘they.’ But they never left. They stayed. They returned, and they worked harder than before. My ‘they’ were my light. My guide. My hope.
Over quarantine, I developed feelings of shyness and I found it hard to open up to people and new things. I felt very out of place, as if I was missing something in my life, for it was as though I was empty inside. But I eventually decided to open my bedroom window during one of my digital classes and, like magic, I felt free. Opening this path to nature allowed me to relax and realize the beautiful world we live in, and how even just a single breath of fresh air can connect you to endless, amazing experiences.
I decided to create this piece to represent the feelings of letting go. I have faced many situations where I have to stop and let go to move on and be happy. Everyone should know that no one is perfect and making mistakes are ok. I hope those who view my art piece find the courage in letting go of any tension they have kept within themselves.
My painting is based on when I had cancer when I was about five or six years old with Ewing’s Sarcoma. I was in the hospital for a week every other week and I was attached to this panda bear stuffed animal that I got from the gift shop on the hospital’s first floor. I brought the panda bear everywhere I went and it got me to the next day, which is why my painting’s title is named “Tomorrow.” In fact, I still have the panda bear by my bed today, and it’s still giving me hope.
A Cup of Tea’ depicts how one can carry the weight of being cast out in society. However, sometimes all you need is a little push from yourself to realize that society does not define who you are, and the first step to being accepted in society is to accept yourself. Incorporating the past, present, and future in this work is meant to show people that who you were before and who you are now do not define the good you will give and receive in the future.
People who really know me know just how hopeful I am about everything. From having hope that I will do a good job on the test to believing I can learn a new language at 5 years old (I moved to the US during that time). I always believe good will come no matter what. There is always something, even the tiniest detail, to have hope for.
This piece reflects a rekindling of my spiritual relationship: reflections on my body, and my self, and how both found love, and Christ, too.
“I created this piece to bring awareness in hopes that other people find art to express yourself. My piece of art expressed the beauty and color of art.”