Academy For Young Writers is known for its extracurricular activities, whether it’s student led or a teacher hosting the club themselves. One of these is art club, where students show off their creativity by working on different art projects to convey different messages, whether it’s a message based on who they are, spreading awareness of certain issues, or helping keep the school spirit alive for different events that take place.
This art club is run by middle school’s art teacher, Tolu Ayorinde. The club members meet every Thursdays after school and are available for all High School students 9th-12th grade.
The beauty that flows through the art club is the variety of opinions and different art styles that are shown in each member. Our opinion is just as much art as a drawing in a notebook, there’s no limitations to what we think just like there’s no limitations to what art can be, and that’s what the host of the club, Tolu Ayorinde, wants to convey to each of his members.
Mr. Tolu’s passion for art is admirable, and his views really make the world itself bleed into color for him and his members.
“For me, art is life, and life is also art. You know? Everything we do every day, every time is art. The cloak you wear, the kind of things you wanna do, your style, your well-being. For me, it’s also therapy. When I’m lonely or down or want something to do, I don’t want to go to drinking. I will just go pick up my pencil and sketchbook and start to draw, express my feeling” expressed Mr. Tolu.
(Shakana Jayson)
Art is in everything, even if you don’t realize it. Mr.Tolu made art club to have students explore their curiosity in art, whether it’s for the long run and becomes a career or it stays a hobby that can build over time.
This influence can be shown in Junior Stacy Jean who’s a member of the art club. Stacy begins sharing her unique perspective on what she plans to do with art in the future and how art club impacts her.
“I’ll probably still draw, but I don’t think I’ll pursue it as an actual career. Art Club gives me the opportunity to be able to sit and draw because I don’t get to do that in class. I just sketch, but, in art club, I could just draw portraits of stuff and my friends.” she said.
When it comes to art, it doesn’t need to be something to take so seriously, it’s what you want and what you’re comfortable with. Art is supposed to be taken at a pace that suits you and your needs.
Mr. Tolu aims to be a prime example of this, not just for his members but for himself.
“…I’m doing this to give to the school for Harvest, but I’m doing it playfully, enjoyably, and I’m able to see through it the way I want it or the way I want to present it to the audience. Because, 1, I love it. 2, I’m not looking at, oh, this is a lot. Nobody gave me this space. I gave myself this space. I could do it on a small paper. Right? So that I could finish on time, but I want it to be loud. I want it to be like a well seen poster. So I have to create something that is huge that could be acceptable. So now you have to encourage yourself to go above and beyond.” Mr. Tolu said.
To go above and beyond is to have faith in yourself and to learn to be okay with those mistakes. We learn this lesson everyday, and art club makes you face those issues when it comes to creating something you don’t like or creating something you love.
There are many views on art. Art clubs’ main premise is all about having fun and learning to express yourself and your thoughts through drawing. When it comes to drawing, mistakes happen and you may get the urge to give up.
This is what senior Isaiah Davis, also an art club member, states when giving his opinion on the club.
“You’re gonna mess up a lot, and that’s okay, you know. We all mess up throughout our lifetimes and everything. Do it for fun.” he said.
Overall, mistakes are to be expected when attempting art. Here at art club there’s no judgement when making mistakes because even the greatest artists make mistakes. It’s how you learn and excel to reach your goal.. Anyone is welcomed, no matter your views on art itself. You never know where or how you’ll just find your creativity.
