The fifth person in our NSA Times Visual Artist Spotlight is Masami Agari. She’s a senior whose work has been exhibited at the Belmont Mansion, the Country Music Hall of Fame, MTSU, and the Hermitage. We discussed her evolving AP Studio Art concentration, her artistic influences, and her plans for the future.
NSA Times: What sort of subjects do you like to explore in your artwork? Masami Agari: In my art, I’m doing 3D art pieces. We have concentrations, and I’ve kind of jumped around a little bit. I first started with statistics. I kind of wanted to draw people out, instead of viewing them as statistics, with an issue that’s very important to today’s society. When you know that person, when it happens to you, then you start to see more than a statistic. Now I’ve kinda shifted from that into America’s ashamed moments. I looked at the atomic bombings, mass shootings, just all the things that we don’t really take into account, but America did. We just kinda glaze over them in U.S. History. Finally, I’ve kinda pushed over into more of my culture. I’m exploring the after effects and the image portrayed onto the bombings. There’s a very patriotic, like “It had to be done to end the war. It was retaliation for Pearl Harbor,” and I just wanted to point out how catastrophic it was to these innocent Japanese people. They weren’t active military, they were civilians. You can see their shadows, or their image burned into concrete. It’s a very harsh and intense reality, and we make jokes about it in today’s society. It’s a very light topic now. We’ve become very numb to that. NSAT: What are your favorite mediums? Masami: Mrs. Profitt’s gotten on to me about this. I’m very all over the place with my mediums. The most fun I have is with wood, because I like the grain, and the flow of just interacting with nature. It’s really kind of a calming effect to me, even just the carving process. I don’t have any jigs or machinery. I use just a hand saw and little carving things that kind of take it out on your hands. Other than wood, maybe a little clay or cardboard, but I think wood’s probably gonna my favorite. NSAT:What artists are you influenced by? Masami: I’ve looked into different ones, both sculpture and 2D artists, because you know, that’s where my roots were. I’ve looked at Ai Wei Wei of course. He’s a Chinese political activist. He’s really awesome. I just love how meaningful his art is and it can be so simplistic. He has a sunflower seed installation, he brought his whole community in, and were all just kinda like, working together to make this huge piece. He employed a whole village, and I was like “Damn, you rich!” They even put him in jail for speaking out against the Chinese government. Then he got out and made a piece about that. He made little dioramas of when he was in custody; he was like “This is what happened. I was watched all the time for going to the bathroom, or even eating.” I’ve watched a lot of Art21 videos about him. Wayne White is amazing to me. He took found art pieces at Goodwill and thrift shops, and wrote giant bold words on them that sometimes made no sense. But then other times, it was just like block letters on a landscape, and somehow it connected to the viewer. NSAT: Didn’t Mrs. Profitt make her class do a project inspired by him? Masami: Yeah! I put a pun “Can you sea me?’ on a picture of the sea. I’m really bad with puns. NSAT: Do you prefer individual or group projects? Masami: Now in my experience, group projects sometimes take a lot more effort. But it is important to deal with other people to see their views, but I’m kind of a control freak. I like doing things on my own a little bit. I’m pretty open to branching out and accepting criticism, but a lot of times, I’m like “Oh no, I wanna do this line like that.” But yeah, I’m kind of a individualist, but I’d be open to working in groups. NSAT: Looking back, do you have any favorite NSA art projects? Masami: I’ve always been interested in printmaking. We did this project in Ms. Spadafino’s class for Bryce McCloud. We had an NSA Presents with him, so we tried to make this print. It was a collaborative piece, so we really had to make sure what was going on to be a part of it and make sure it’s a very nice project. I thought it was a good project and I also liked his work, so that also inspired me to do more work similar to him, to show what we can do as artists here. There are several projects in Ms. Profitt’s class that were really fun little things to practice skills. We did folded paper paintings. I just liked folding the paper, mixing paints is really hard. NSAT: What do you plan to do after NSA? Masami: After NSA, I’m definitely taking a gap year. I want a little break. It’s all pretty hectic sometimes. I want to do a little traveling, but I’m going to go down for a month to Texas, because there’s this workshop where they’re doing woodworking. I’m gonna see if it’s the area I want to pursue. So I’m gonna go down there for a month and see if it’s to my liking. If so, I’m probably gonna go to Tennessee Tech, because they have really good arts programs. They have woodworking, metalworking, and glass. I was really interested in seeing the programs there on a college tour. After Texas, my dad finally promised to take me to Japan. I might go to Thailand after with my brother. NSAT: Oh wow, that’s a lot of places. Masami: I know! And when I come back, I wanna be a sushi chef! Like, “Ok dad, I’m back. It’s time to teach me!” NSAT: Do you have any other hobbies? Masami: Man, I wish I had a life. Um, I did have a really fleeting hobby, I went skydiving. It was really fun. I could only do it when I turned 18, so I had to wait a while. Once I did it, I was really into it. NSAT: Do you think of yourself as an adrenaline junkie? Masami: A little bit. That, and anytime someone challenges me to do something, I’m like “Alright, I’ll do it. Alright, come at me.” It’s weird, because sometimes I’m not really focused on other people’s opinions and I am sometimes too, it kind of shifts with me. But other hobbies, sometimes I like doing boxing practices in my garage. My mom won’t let me go full time, because she’s worried about my brain. NSAT: Do you have any advice for the younger students of NSA? Masami: If they’re here for art, which is why we’re here, I think they should really focus on their art. I mean academics are very important, and to maintain your place here, you show that we can be badasses at academics and be kickass at art too. If we’re so focused on getting good grades, then what are we really here for? We’re trying to find our voice here. You’re supposed to try to develop something here that you wouldn’t get the opportunity for at another school.
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The third person in our NSA Times Visual Artist Spotlight is Jude Ayers. He’s a senior, and his work has been exhibited at the Belmont Mansion and the Hermitage. We had an insightful conversation about art and mental illness, realism and abstraction, and Jude’s AP Studio Art concentration.
NSA Times: What subjects do you like to explore in your artwork? Jude Ayers: I like to explore mental illness, specifically psychosis, because it’s something that I deal with. So I like to portray that through my art by distorting things the way I see them. NSAT: What mediums do you use? Jude: Mostly oil paint, sometimes color pencils. NSAT: And why do you like oil paint? Jude: It's very malleable, very forgiving. I think that it's actually a lot easier to use than most mediums, which is interesting. So many master painters use oil, and maybe that’s why they are master painters. NSAT: What artists are you influenced by? Jude: I’m influenced by Lucian Freud , because he painted what he saw and not what people wanted him to see, which was kind of taboo at the time. Also Francis Bacon, because all of his portraits, from top down, they start out very human looking and then they become abstract shapes. NSAT: Do you prefer collaborative or individual art projects? Jude: Individual, definitely. NSAT: And why is that? Jude: I generally just don’t work well with other people. With my art I’m very “Alright, this is what I’m gonna do” and if there’s someone else in the mix, I can’t just do what I want to do. NSAT: Could you explain your AP Studio Art concentration? Jude: I’m looking into distorting and blowing out of proportion human features, because of the things I deal with. I also doing this because I want to take people who are beautiful and kind of mess that up, I guess. Its interesting trying to explore beauty standards that way, taking just a regular person, making them into something kind of scary, and seeing how people react to that. NSAT: Are there any memorable NSA art projects? Jude: Well, PARK(ing) day is really interesting. I don’t think I’ve ever really participated in that, but whenever people mention NSA projects I’m always like “Oh, PARK(ing) Day!” NSAT: What do you plan to do after NSA? Jude: Oh man, I’m actually thinking about going into psychology. I’m not really sure though, that’s still a lot to think about. NSAT: Do you have any other hobbies? Jude: I’m just a pretty average person, I guess. I enjoy playing video games, and I like horror movies. NSAT: What video games do you play? Jude: Mostly RPG games. NSAT: Do you have any advice for the younger students of NSA? Jude: Just keep working. Never stop, If you stop, you get artist’s block, and artist’s block is only fixed by working. I think that as long as you work, you’ll get better. Even if you think you won’t improve, you just have to keep working. The second person in our NSA Times Visual Artist Spotlight is Elizabeth Nim. She’s currently a Junior, and her work has been exhibited at the Hermitage, Cheekwood, the Civic Design Center, and the Country Music Hall of Fame. She also created the mural that’s located near the cafeteria. We sat down with her to talk about her work, NSA, and non-western art styles.
NSA Times: What sort of subjects do you like to explore in your artwork? Elizabeth Nim: I really don’t know how to explain it, I like to do a lot of subjects. Sometimes I like to draw everyday life and interactions between characters. Other times I also like to explore a dream-like universe and fantasy worlds. NSAT: What mediums do you like to work with? Elizabeth: I usually do digital, but for now, I use a lot of colored pencils and ink. NSAT: Do you prefer digital or physical media? Elizabeth: Physical media because I know where I can put my marks. With digital, I have to look at the screen and see where my hand is. NSAT: What artists are you influenced by? Elizabeth: Mostly Japanese and Korean artists. They usually don’t have any specific names because they go by online names. Some artists I enjoy are Mayumi Konno, Yogisya, and FOMMY. NSAT: Do you prefer collaborative or individual art projects? Elizabeth: I think collaborative projects are really fun because you get to work with people who have different ideas and skills, and I think that is something I enjoy when working together. However, individual projects are best because I am able to communicate what I personally want in my work. NSAT: Are there any memorable NSA art projects? Elizabeth: Probably the mural. NSAT: How did you get your mural up there? Elizabeth: I forgot what we had to do it, but I wanted to focus on the goals and the dreams of the school. We usually dream about what we want to be when we grow up, and I wanted to convey that in a literal way: a dream world. I added the conservatories as the silhouettes in the mural to represent the school. I felt like my design related to the school most, which is probably why we got it painted. NSAT: What do you plan to do after NSA? Elizabeth: I really want to get into video game design or concept art for shows, animation, or video games. NSAT: What are your favorite video games? Elizabeth: I’m really into Nintendo, so I really like Animal Crossing, Super Mario, things like that. I also love RPG horror games such as Ib and the Witch’s House. NSAT: Do you have any advice for the younger students of NSA? Elizabeth: Do what you love and don’t let anyone stop you. I know I struggle with what I wanna be when I grow up because I feel like my anime-influenced style is not really accepted in the western art industry, especially for colleges, but I am confident in my work and will find a way to be a successful artist. The first person in our NSA Times Visual Artist Spotlight is Bridget Curtis. She’s currently a junior, and her work has been exhibited at the Nasty Women Nashville Exhibition, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Hermitage. We sat down with her to talk about her art and her experience at NSA. NSA Times: What sort of subjects do you like to explore in your artwork? Bridget Curtis: Personally, I like to explore subjects that are sort of reminiscent of my own personality, whether it’s a landscape or a figure drawing. I like to reflect on whatever emotion I’m feeling at the time. NSAT: What mediums do you use? Bridget: I tend to use ink, watercolor...I hate pencil. I can’t stand pencil because I hate erasing things. I’d like everything that I do to be intentional. NSAT: While looking at your instagram, I noticed that you were experimenting with oil paint. I know that the art teachers don’t really let their students use oils in class because of the ventilation issues. What is that whole process with oil paints like, and where do you go to do oil paintings? Bridget: Honestly, I set up a fan in my garage and I paint in my garage. It’s probably not the safest way to do it, but my mom oil paints too, so she’s taught me about techniques and how to not inhale the fumes. NSAT: Compared to acrylic, or any other type of paint, do you like oil better? Or is there another paint that you love? Bridget: Oil paint is probably my favorite, and then gouache because… I can’t stand acrylic because it doesn’t blend. You have to layer things, and that’s not exactly what I’m into. I like how oil paints are very soluble, you can put a little turpentine or whatever medium with it and you can just blend it. They don’t dry quickly-- they can take days to dry-- and that makes it easier for me to work with. NSAT: What artists are you influenced by? Bridget: My favorite artists are... Egon Schiele, his artwork is semi-provocative, and his subject matters are really interesting. I also like Francis Bacon, he also created slightly provocative art, and they’re interesting because he used color really well and his backgrounds are fascinating. Another one of my favorite artists is Gustav Klimt. I did a piece for my final project in Profitt’s that was based off of Klimt. He’s so unique in his subject matters, and the way he uses shapes and textures are really interesting. NSAT: Do you prefer collaborative or individual art projects? Bridget: I think they both have their own merits. I tend to do more individual art projects, but I think that when you’re around the right people, collaborative art is really inspiring. NSAT: What are your most memorable or favorite NSA art projects? Bridget: My favorite has to be Elizabeth Nim’s mural in the hallway. I got to work on it myself, and she’s one of my good friends. It was really cool to see her vision be realized. NSAT: What do you plan to do after NSA? Bridget: I want to go into a field that relates to art, not necessarily become an artist. Graphic design is interesting. I enjoy computers and I also enjoy art, so I’m trying to find something that balances the two of them. Maybe even architecture or animation, something like that. NSAT: Are there any art schools that have caught your eye, or are you not searching for colleges yet? Bridget: I’m not committed to any, but other than the big-name ones like the Art Institute of Chicago, I haven’t really dug into the more niche colleges. NSAT: Do you have any other hobbies? Bridget: I used to dance. I’m into kickboxing, and that’s fun for me. NSAT: Do you have any advice for the younger artists of NSA? Bridget: You have to keep an open mind. Some things may seem pretty terrible when you first start them, but you can actually grow to enjoy them. I’d also say don’t sell yourself short. You can probably do more than you think you can. |
Student art spotlight: Corbin ChandlerCorbin Chandler is the fourth person in our NSA Times Visual Artist Spotlight. He’s a senior, and his work has been exhibited at the Frist Center for Visual Arts, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Belmont Mansion, and the Hermitage. Corbin sat down with us to talk about past projects, his current work, and his plans for the future.
NSA Times: What subjects do you like to explore in your artwork? Corbin Chandler: Usually I draw things that I enjoy or that I’m interested in. When I do the political comics, I often focus on Trump, because I really disagree with him and I find joy in that. The other stuff that I do, I’m usually drawn by aesthetic, like looking at something or sketching something out and going “Yeah, I like that.” And If I don’t like it, it usually doesn’t end up in my final pieces. NSAT: What mediums do you use? Corbin: I work particularly well with ink, but what I’m really trying to work on is digital, because it’s becoming more important, and I want to be an animator, so that’s definitely a big part of my future. NSAT: What artists are you influenced by? Corbin: A lot of artists on Tumblr, a lot of digital art, often using pastel colors. I don’t usually use those specifically in my own art, but I really enjoy looking at that. I also read a lot of graphic novels. NSAT: What are your favorite graphic novels? Corbin: One of the ones I read this year was called Fun Home. It was really good, and the art was really interesting. There’s another, it’s a manga, and it’s called Wolf Children. The art is really beautiful. Even though I kind of got out of the reading manga phase of my life, I still have that book, and it’s really beautiful and one of my favorites. NSAT: Do you prefer collaborative or individual art projects? Corbin: It depends, because collaborative, you have to work with people. Sometimes the people you work with aren’t people you get along with. That usually ends up to be a piece that isn’t really cohesive. But if you work with people that you get along with and mesh with in the intellect section, or just you like being with them, you probably will create better art. NSAT: Could you explain your concentration idea for AP Studio Art? Corbin: So my concentration has changed a couple times, but what I’m working with now is seeing the beauty in vultures and how they’re very important and how they shouldn’t be looked at as scary, death-bringing creatures of hate. The history of vultures is really beautiful. From Egyptian mythology, they’re referenced as creatures of motherhood, purity. They help eat things that carry diseases, and they stop anthrax from spreading, as well as rabies. They’re just really really important creatures to our ecosystem, and people don’t see that. So that’s what I’m trying to explain in my pieces. NSAT: Are there any memorable NSA art projects? Corbin: We talked about collaborative pieces, and we’ve done several with Ms. Spadafino. One of them was a print project which didn’t turn out very well. We painted the school from three different angles and it didn’t turn out as well as it could have, and people didn’t work on it like they should’ve. What we need to do is take down those pictures, because I really wish we could re-do them or something, do something that really shows what the seniors have reached. We were sophomores when we did it, I don’t think we all were practiced enough to be able to accomplish something like that. NSAT: So those projects are memorable in a not so good way? Corbin: Yeah, I think they were good ideas at the time. We weren’t able to do them well. I can remember a lot of our projects. We got the pictures the kids drew, which was interesting. We never gave them to the kids, they’re still in the library. NSAT: What do you plan to do after NSA? Corbin: I’m gonna go to college. I’m going to college in California, so I plan on getting into animation or digital art after i graduate college. I’m going to either USC for their animation program. I still haven’t heard back from them. I’ve been accepted into the Academy of Art University for animation. NSAT: Do you have any other hobbies? Corbin: I write a lot. I've been writing with one of my best friends for the past 3 and a half years. We’re working on a couple of things that might be turned into comics or novels. That’s my other thing that I do, I don’t do anything else. NSAT: Do you have any advice for the younger students of NSA? Corbin: My advice would be to not focus on a lot of other people. Keep yourself enough self-centered to the point of where you can get your work done, because when i got into high school, I thought everything was about making friends and trying to be in a group. And even though I got that, what’s most important is the fact that I’m passing. I know a lot of kids joke about how they’re not passing. You know, it’s free education, and I feel like you should try as hard as you can, even if you don’t feel like you really can accomplish things. I think it’s important to try, because a lot of kids don't try. AuthorArticle by Jessica Cardona |