By Beth Barhydt
In a celebration of youthful creativity and artistic expression, the iCreate exhibition at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich has highlighted the remarkable talents of students from New Canaan.
From a pool of 850 submissions, the works of Ben Bognon, Kailey Marti, Amy Meng, and Annie Meyer stand out, each piece reflecting a profound personal narrative and exceptional skill.
This year, the iCreate exhibition at the Bruce Museum features 60 artworks selected from over 850 submissions. These pieces were chosen by a panel of three distinguished judges from high schools in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey, showcasing the exceptional talent and creativity of the participating students.
Ben Bognon, an 11th grader from New Canaan High School, explores the theme of travel in his digital media piece, “Home Is Where the Heart Is.” This artwork is part of his sustained investigation for his AP Art portfolio, where he seeks to capture the essence of exploration and its impact on his life. “By blending elements of traditional and digital media, I hope to create a dynamic and immersive visual narrative that celebrates the spirit of exploration and the profound impact that travel has had on my life,” Ben explains. Using Procreate, he masterfully fused an image of his house with a human heart, illustrating the quote that inspired him. “No matter where life takes me or what I accomplish, this artwork will always remind me of my roots. The added pop of red symbolizes the warmth and acceptance of my hometown,” he adds, emphasizing the piece’s deep personal significance.
Kailey Marti, a senior at New Canaan High School, delves into the theme of nostalgia with her acrylic on board piece, aptly titled “Nostalgia.” Created during her junior year as part of her AP Drawing portfolio, Kailey utilized a collage of images and patterns from magazines and newspapers to craft a surrealist painting. “I composed a collage of images and patterns I took from an array of magazines and newspapers, intending to create a surrealist painting that was reminiscent of sporadic flashing memories one will have of their childhood from time to time,” she explains. The result is a stunning visual that captures the fragmented, dream-like nature of memories. “This was really fun for me to work on, I took it with me on family vacations because I was so happy watching it turn out the way it did, and to this day it is one of the pieces I am most proud of,” Kailey shares.
Amy Meng, another 11th grader from New Canaan High School, addresses a universal student experience in her scratchboard piece, “School Stress.” Struggling to brainstorm for her AP Drawing class, Amy found inspiration in her own life. “I sat in my AP Drawing class, trying to brainstorm ideas for the next piece in my sustained investigation about exploring emotions and experiences through distortion. It was November and on top of many looming deadlines, I still didn’t have a sketch to present to my art teacher,” she recalls. Her depiction of a student distorted by stress, with a chaotic left side and an organized right side, resonates with many. “The crumpled paper, with its unpredictable folds and creases, represents the stress and frustration of high school,” Amy explains, highlighting the piece’s thematic depth and her technical growth.
Annie Meyer, a 10th grader from St. Luke’s School, captivates with her portraiture in “Life Lines.” Her acrylic on canvas piece focuses on the human face as a window into one’s soul. “I think there is something particularly captivating about the human face; a person’s expressions reveal much about their internal emotions and experiences,” Annie says. Her use of bold colors and shadows brings out the subject’s character, with wrinkles and expressions telling a story of wisdom and life lived. “The title of this piece, ‘Life Lines,’ refers to both the wrinkles on the man’s face and the man himself, a lifeline who carries wisdom and perspective through old age,” she explains, showcasing her profound understanding of her subject.
These young artists have demonstrated their technical prowess as well as a deep introspection and narrative ability that speaks volumes about their potential.
