Maggie Owen, Reporter
@mowencourant
As a child, Junior Amy Chu did not spend her time watching cartoons or playing with toys, instead she has been dedicated to making and developing her artistic skills since she was three. “I was really bored as a child so I would constantly draw on papers and under tables,” Amy said. From drawing on the underside of tables to using her abilities to help others, Amy has grown as an artist throughout her life.
Now, more than thirteen years later, Amy’s passion and talent for the arts has only grown with her formal arts education. “Amy makes it a point to spend her extra time and energy drawing, painting, experimenting with materials, filmmaking …all outside of class time. She worked many hours after school in the labs and studios,”Amy’s former drawing 1 and documentary film teacher Jennifer Sinski said.
Despite her success in NCHS art classes, Amy credits a lot of her early success to the Challenges in Arts program (CIA) they enjoyed in middle school. The generosity of Andrea Levai, the Challenges in Art teacher has had a profound effect on Amy’s artistic development. “Ms. Levai would use her own money to buy art supplies so the CIA kids could experiment with them,” Amy said. “I was encouraged to keep drawing every single week and to keep practicing in an environment that was super fun.”
The generosity that Amy experienced in middle school has inspired her to give back to her community. Last spring Amy and friends Bhaskar Abhiraman and and Katie Zaborowska were co-winners of the Wilburn Fellowship Project for students to showcase projects promoting the ideals of diversity and community.
Together, Amy and her friends organized an art show at the New Canaan Library featuring pieces of art from many different countries and socioeconomic backgrounds. The end result of her efforts included two main goals. “One aspect of the project was to show that art is really a universal language and that we can communicate the themes of the Wilburn Fellowship visually,” Amy said. “Our second goal was to raise money for the Edison School in Bridgeport to go to art supplies so they can have that same sort of opportunity as we did growing up.”
Over the summer, Amy worked to improve her artistic ability and perspective by taking day trips to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. However these excursions left Amy still hungry to learn more about famous artist and her techniques. “I would actually go to the New Canaan Library and take out books about things like Chinese ink paintings, and the works of John Singer Sargent who is my favorite artist right now,” Amy said. “I just started painting this summer and I was really influenced by his art work and how he paints.”
Though Amy has found success in her middle school and high school art careers, the college process can be daunting, especially for those hoping to study art in the future. “Everyone is trying to distinguish themselves as unique or different and in my own life, I see art as what sets me apart from other people,” she said. “I’m really working hard to show colleges, and hopefully later in my career, that I can make a difference and set myself apart.”
After seeing her hard work and dedication first-hand, Ms. Sinski believes that Amy has a bright future in the arts ahead of her.“Going forward, the effort, work ethic and dedication she’s made towards the arts will help her be a great student in whatever road she goes down, but also a leader for those around her,” she said. “Amy loves new things and challenges. That’s a great trait to have as an artist.”
As a result of all her hard work, Amy has recently landed an internship at the contemporary printmaking center which will bulk up her application. Amy’s internship will give her many new experiences, from working with adult artist, seeing behind the scenes of a real world studio as well as expanding her artistic skills, “I’ll even have some opportunities to display my work there,” she said.
Throughout Amy’s art career she has used her many talents to give back to her friends, classmates, and even people she’s never met. “She’ll do anything to help others achieve their own artistic goals,” Bhaskar said. “The beautiful thing about Amy is that she is not only devoted to developing her own artistic abilities, but she’s also wildly enthusiastic about helping the community as a whole learn and embrace art.”
