Meisha Williams

Senior

What does being an "artist" mean to you?

Being an artist means freedom. It means creativity. And it is ironic that when we hear the word creative, we automatically think of one definition. But to me it is critical thinking and ideas fueled by the experiences we have, by the people we know and the things that we seen and heard. It means sensitivity. Being an artist means I am able to tell a story and be the only keeper of that story, whether it is true or false. Being an artist means that I can be myself without any apologies.

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What interests you or is of importance in your life right now? Do those subjects or topics influence your creative work? 

Colors and turning nothing into something. Theology greek mythology and design interests me. I am fascinated with everything that is not not boring. I do not have a set technique that fuels my artwork. Whatever I am feeling, or whatever comes to me at the moment takes over. I feel that I could explore more though.

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Please talk about a take-away(s) from Teen Lab 

Up to this point, I have been exposed to many viewpoints. I am able to open my mind easier to people's objections. I am able to add more depth to my thoughts. I am able to speak more confidently. I can define time in my own words.

Quintin Black

Senior

What does being an "artist" mean to you?

Being an artist means finding my own creativity and spitting it out.

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What interests you/ what is important in your life right now? Do those subjects or topics influence your creative work? If so, how?

Everything interests me now. I realize that everything has a back story, so I try to find it my own way. If I don't know the back story I try to make up my own and use it in my art.

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What have you taken away from Teen Lab so far?

I love working with everyone, working them let's me see other people doing well and challenges me to push myself further and do well.

Malaika Shuck

Senior

What does being an "artist" mean to you?

 To me, art is the ultimate form of self expression. So in my mind an artist always has something they need to articulate or  a message that they feel people need to understand them and how they think.    

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What have you taken away from Teen Lab so far?

Teen lab is a space that encourages experimentation and cultivates self introspection and contemplation. I come to teen lab as a place to heal. 

Lily Craelius

Senior

What does being an "artist" mean to you?

I would rather use the term 'creative' than artist because the word artist is always associated with visual art, and that assumption shouldn't be made. I think this means to be someone who takes from themselves and/or in such a way that it inspires others do either do the same or at least follow in their footsteps.

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What interests you/ what is important in your life right now? Do those subjects or topics influence your creative work? If so, how?

My creative work and my ability to handle the future is my largest concern right now. They do influence, The majority of my work, that I’ve done in high school has brought more awareness to my city. I am heavily invested in the idea of social movement, whether it be based on race, class, or any social location. I want to inspire people to get up and do something, no matter how different or risky it may be. This want does not have an endpoint, but is a process that I would like to continue throughout my life, and express that in my art, either for awareness or my own satisfaction.

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What have you taken away from Teen Lab so far?

I found community and what I think could be best described as rejuvenation. The people I am with are all-welcoming and beautiful artists, and it’s a very surreal and healthy environment to be in.

Emani Hogan

Junior

What does being an "artist" mean to you?

Being an artist means that I am able to express myself the way I see best. 

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What interests you/ what is important in your life right now? Do those subjects or topics influence your creative work?

My interest now are more into creative directing. Even though I do photography and modeling I find myself enjoying directing so much more. Being able to be a creative director , photographer, and model I find myself using these talents and using my knowledge to my advantage in my work. 

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What have you taken away from Teen Lab so far?

I took away from Teen Lab that I should take risk and that I should be who I am no matter what.

La'Nia Kitchens

Freshman

What does being an "artist" mean to you?

It means that i am able to be myself and show other people what I hold back inside my mind until I see appear in front of me then I let all of that come together with my feelings and my hands and my mind and soul.

What interests you/ what is important in your life right now? Do those subjects or topics influence your creative work? If so, how?

I am a very curious person so pretty much everything that I see or think about interests me in almost every way possible

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What have you taken away from Teen Lab so far?

A take-away so far is that there is now ending to your artistic skills, there is always a open door to new things and they will always adds up to your own meaning of the word “artists”

Brittney Harper

Junior

What does being an "artist" mean to you?

To me, being an artist means that you have passion or some sort of drive to create. It doesn't have to be a major drive or a mountain of passion, though. Everyone creates art for a lot of reasons; some create art to make a statement, some make art to make people think, some create art as a form of stress relief and some create simply for the fun of it, but it still makes them an artist.

What interests you/ what is important in your life right now? Do those subjects or topics influence your creative work?

My family is the most important thing to me right now. Family, mainly my mother, is a major influence since we’ve become closer due to all the hardships we’ve had to face this year. Those hardships have caused me a lot of stress and pain and the best way I know how to vent these things is through my art.

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What have you taken away from Teen Lab so far?

I’ve found a community where I feel confident sharing my work within Teen Lab. I love being around everyone and seeing that they’re working and improving their art little by little, just like me.