MARCH EDITION
The Avatar is a monthly publication filled with student works and articles all centered around art & literary works, set on showcasing the creative talents of our school. From painting, to writing, to performances, the Avatar is here to display the young artists of our generation in order to promote their growth.
ARTICLES BY AVATAR STAFF
Women’s History Month
March's Featured Artist: Cindy Sherman
By Mia Molina
Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Cynthia “Cindy” Sherman is an American photographer known for her self-portraits and her comments on role-playing and sexual stereotypes in women. Sherman grew up in Long Island, New York, and majored in painting at the State University of New York. She later switched to photography, graduated in 1976, and started her work on “Untitled Film Stills” a year later. The photographs taken by Sherman show her dressed up in stereotypical roles of women in films during the 1950s and 1960s.
The Untitled Film Stills allowed Cindy Sherman to be internationally recognized and is her most well-known project. This series of 69 black and white photographs were created from 1977 to 1980. Her style of photography was influenced by Hollywood B movies, Film noir, and European arthouse films. What I find the most interesting about Cindy Sherman’s photographs in her Untitled Film Stills is how she faces away from the camera and outside of the frame.
Fun with PEEPS
By Caity Eitmontas
Whether you love them or hate them, PEEPS are a traditional Easter/Spring treat. To celebrate this colorful time of the year, here are five fun facts about PEEPS:
- In 1953, it took 27 hours to create one PEEPS Marshmallow Chick. Today, thanks to advances in technology, it takes six minutes.
- PEEPS Brand Candies have been the #1 non-chocolate brand at Easter for more than 20 years
- Some celebrity PEEPS fans include Justin Bieber, Miranda Cosgrove, Joe Jonas, and Dylan Lauren.
- The first Peeps had wings! The candy’s manufacturer wanted to update their look, however, so the wings were “clipped.”
- Enough PEEPS are produced each year that if they were all lined up, the line would circle the earth twice!
- Surveys show that nearly two-thirds of people who eat Peeps bite the heads off first — but that’s not the only way to eat one. Other ways to eat them include letting them get stale first, microwaving them, freezing them, or putting them on pizza!
Talent Show Preview
By Carrie Briggs
I interviewed the cast of the talent show! Here's what they said.
You can look forward to seeing some amazing vocal performances, a piano performance, and a dance. The grades range from 6-12th, and it's full of talent. Overall, they say production is going well, and it's developing into a great show.
Some things that the performers are looking forward to is conquering stage fright, performing with friends, and getting the messages of their performances across. As Braden Taylor put it, “Audience's can expect some good laughs and some well-talented musical acts of various songs from across all types of generations, genres, and even languages.” Some performers auditioned to have fun with friends, get another chance on the stage, and because they are passionate about performance.
Now, if you're anything like me, you didn't really know what Emcees did. Well, our talent show has 2 Emcees, Braden Taylor and Samantha Rettig. Braden is a senior and Samantha is a sophomore. As Braden said, “An emcee's task is to introduce the show and its performances, though they are allowed to throw in their own little antics during small segments of the show.” The emcees are looking forward to working with their friends and introducing the talent.
This is a show you do NOT want to miss, invite all of your friends and family, and come on down to see our spectacle of a talent show on April 12 and 13 at Shawnee High School in Hugh Downs Auditorium! I saw some of the talent, and this show will be amazing! This show is going to be great, I know I want to see it!
In addition, when you buy a ticket you get entered for a chance to win a 32-inch Amazon Fire TV! One TV will be given away each of the two performance nights.
Pictured is Ribka Eyrob
March's Color of the Month
Purple
By Mia Molina
History:
The word “purple” derives from the name of the Tyrian purple dye which is made from a mucus secreted by a snail. This makes purple difficult to find in nature. In history, the color purple is known to only be for royalty. The process of opening the shells of Bolinus brandaris snails and exposing the mucus to the sun took a long time. To make a single ounce of the dye would take about 250,000 snails. The cost of the dye was expensive therefore only the wealthy could afford it at that time.
Purple in Painting:
The mosaic “Empress Theodora and her Court” (shown right) perfectly shows an example of how the color purple is used as a symbol of royalty. During the Byzantine era, the color purple was only worn by people who were born into royalty. Emperor Justinian’s wife was not born into royalty. Having his wife wear a purple cloak with the three kings on the bottom showed the public that she somehow has royalty in her blood.
Symbol of the color
The color purple is also known to symbolize creativity and femininity and can sometimes be associated with magic, peace, and pride. The color purple is internationally recognized as the color of women and equality. Being a mix between red and blue, the color purple is known to have a calming effect on the body and mind.
Congratulations Shawnee Band & Choir
By Noah Sims
The OMEA District Band and Choir contest was held on March 15 and 16th. Both bands and choirs did really well and everyone had a great time. Symphonic Band received a 1 rating and Concert Band received a 2. Both choirs received a 1 rating as well. One of the most important things to remember during a stressful competition, whether a school event or not, is to have fun. It is not the end of the world if you don’t perform perfectly and it is important to remember that. I am looking forward to our next performances. Daniel Schiel II added “OMEA Large group is always a fun experience. Getting to listen to different bands and choirs across the area really helps me reflect on myself as a musician and helps me think of how I can do better.”
Featured Senior Fine/Performing Art Spotlight
March’s Feature: Jenova Debrosse
What Shawnee bands have you participated in and for how many years?
I was in pep band for freshman year and jazz band for sophomore year.
What do you like most about being in the band?
I love that you have this community that gets to come together and make beautiful music together.
What instruments do you play?
I play flute and piano.
What are your future plans for art beyond high school?
I plan to join the college band at OSU and support the arts.
What activities and/or clubs are you in at the high school?
I am in Science Olympiad, Patchwork, Tri-M, NHS, and also play Girls Tennis.
You have excelled at the Science Olympiad. What is it about the competition that you like the most?
I love the opportunity to learn about subjects not normally taught at school.
What advice do you have for underclassmen considering taking a fine / performing arts course at Shawnee?
Enjoy yourself and try to learn as much as possible. Have fun learning how to express yourself and be inspired by the art around you.
Jenova pictured with Andrew Mckenzie
Women’s History Month
5 Revolutionary Female Artists to Know
By Chloe Angel
1. Judith Leyster
A female artist popular in the Baroque time period, but forgotten about after her death, Leyster was a very confident woman during her time.
Judith Leyster´s self-portrait (1630) - pictured left
2. Joan Mitchell
Mitchell created prints and paintings, they were often very abstract and had pastels. Joan Mitchell was one of the most recognized artists in the 20th century.
3. Jenny Holzer
Holzer is a neo-conceptual artist, her art is based off of text and she often exhibits freedom in her artwork, which is what most neo-conceptualist artists do.
4. Helen Frankenthaler
An artist that mostly worked with abstract expressionism. Frankenthaler often passed through shifts and phases of art during her time. She also made a technique called soak-stain by using acrylic paint, this was kind of similar to watercolors.
5. Agnes Pelton
Agnes Pelton was a modernist painter that focused on spirituality. Her paintings showed spiritual reality. Pelton´s artworks consisted of desert landscapes, Pueblo Native Americans, and still life.
March 25th is National READ A TOLKIEN BOOK DAY
Tolkien Reading Day is held on the 25th of March each year. The date of the 25th of March was chosen as the date on which the Ring was destroyed, completing Frodo's quest and vanquishing Sauron.
Famous March Birthdays
By Kenidee Morgan
Do you share a birthday with a famous artist? Check out the list below and find out.
1st- Sandro Botticelli- An italian painter most known for painting the Birth of Venus
2nd- Dr Seuss- A famous author of many childrens books
3rd- James Doohan- Actor in Star Trek
4th- Miley Cyrus- An American songwriter, singer, and actress
5th- Jake Lloyed- Acted as Anakin Skywalker
6th- Michelangelo- Famous Renaissance artist
7th- Piet Mondrian- Dutch painter of the 20th Century
10th- Carrie Underwood- An American idol winner
11th- Bobby McFerrin- American Jazz singer, writer, and conductor
12th- James Taylor- American singer and songwriter who has won 6 Grammys and was put into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
13th- Neil Sedaka- American songwriter and pianist who made famous songs such as “The Lion Sleeps Tonight”
14th- Albert Einstein- A German-born physicist
15th- Mike Love- Singer in Beach Boys
17th- Grimes- A Canadian musician who creates “lo-fi R&B” music
20th- Bianca Lawson- A famous American actress who acted in Pretty Little Liars
21st- Johann Sebastian Bach- a German composer and musician in the late Baroque period
22nd- Dane Rudhyar- an American author of several books
23rd- Harry Houdini- A Hungarian-America escape artist, illusionist, and stunt performer
24th- Jim Parsons- Actor for Big Bang Theory
25th- Elton John- A British singer, pianist, and composer
26th- Benjamin Thompson- a British physicist who revolutionized aerodynamics
27th- Mariah Carey- American songwriter, singer, and record producer
28th- Lady Gaga- an American singer, songwriter, and actress
30th- Vincent Van Gogh- Dutch painter of the Post-Impressionist movement
Looneys Lens
By: Garrett Looney
I started taking pictures last year, and this year is no different. It is a new-found love and hobby. It has given me opportunities, like going with the basketball team to Bowling Green. It also feels very good to give back to the community with the pictures that I take; it creates memories for student athletes. Next year I will be attending to Heidelberg University in the fall of 2024. I am majoring in Criminology in hopes to become a Crime Scene Investigator and be cable to take pictures at crime scenes
Avatar's Blast from the Past
By Dex Hooker
I chose this poem because it is a really beautiful description about morning dew. Mr. Higgins said "I wrote it about my shoes being wet after morning band rehearsal during the football season" which is a really bored topic for how poetic the description is.
A Misty Morning by Nate Higgins
The new day’s light through the veil;
Groggy eyes gaze through the pane,
Water droplets dot the glass;
A lasting result of last night’s rain.
The endearing pasture over the yard;
Inviting all to tread the worn path
I view the dew ridden blades of the grass,
Veritable Eden apart from God’s wrath
Oh to walk in this newborn sunlight;
The enemy of this lingering mist,
Nestled in my valley of green
Cooling the cheek as if it were kissed.
Broken branches litter the bed;
Remnants of the storm which is passed
Condensation which laces the rose
This morning I wish always to last.
I chose this artwork because the lighting is really pretty. It looks like the person is offering love but the lighting says that there's another intention behind it.