Museum exhibits show teen artists’ views on social issues
A monotype of a what at first seems to be a multicolored vase and flowers greets guests at the entrance of the small “Pop Up” exhibit running through May 31 at the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston.
On closer inspection, the viewer sees that the “vase” is actually a necktie in rainbow colors, with delicate flower branches that seem to float on the canvas.
The artist, Episcopal High School senior Mary Holden, titled her monotype on paper “Femasculine.”
Ten Episcopal students participated in a workshop that inspired art to display in the show, held in conjunction with “Perspectives 189: From the Margins,” a youth art exhibit organized by the museum’s teen council. “From the Margins” will continue through July 12 in Zilkha Gallery. It is an exhibition of works by 48 Houstonarea teens that were selected from more than 400 entries.
Among the winning artists in “From the Margins” are West University residents Connor Mizell, a sophomore at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, and Episcopal senior Abigail Relf, along with classmates Amir Taghi and Mariam Tajuddin.
Mizell, 17, braved the streets of downtown Houston to photograph mostly homeless people for “Homosapiens,” a 40-by-40foot canvas of 16 black-andwhite photographs.
“Black and white was my favorite part,” said Mizell, “because everyone should get to paint their own colors. We should all identify as equals and not paint our colors on their images.”
His father, attorney Pat Mizell, said, “Connor did this completely on his own; we had no idea until one night at dinner when he pulled out his phone and said, ‘Y’all want to see my exhibit at the CAM?’ We couldn’t be more proud.”
Relf, 18, is represented by a collage called “Aim Higher Reach Farther.”
The title came from the headline of a newspaper editorial that she included in the piece amid ink drawings on notebook paper, a faceless woman in a black pants suit and other mixed media.
“I have lived internationally and changed schools many times; so I tried to express all of the changes in my life,” said Relf, the daughter of Jeff and Annabelle Relf.
“I was inspired to use different layers of paper, including cardboard, because it is very fragile,” said Relf, who plans to continue making art “on the side” when she studies math or science in the fall at Oregon State University.
While “From the Margins” hangs in Zilkha Gallery, the EHS “Pop Up” show is displayed in the adjacent Cullen Education Resource Room.
“The ‘Pop Up’ project was between CAMH and my design and advanced design classes,” explained Episcopal art instructor and studio art coordinator Deborah Brock.
In addition to Holden, Episcopal students who participated in “Pop Up” included sophomores June Amerman, Madison Carter and Morgan Thompson; junior Kalen Ziegler; and seniors Mary Frances Fleming, Jacqueline Geaccone, Emery Larkin, Ali Silverman and Kelly Waheed.
The students attended two meetings at the museum, meeting the institution’s design fellow, Amanda Thomas, then furthering their ideas in four days of classes with Oscar Ornejo, CAMH’s tour programs coordinator.
Brock introduced students to basic mono printing techniques, a nonchemical way to “burn” a stencil on a screen.
“The students discussed and researched the theme of marginalization,” Brock said.
Throughout both “Pop Up” and “From the Margins” is the perception by teen artists that members of the LGBT community aren’t treated fairly, but the artists also addressed other current social issues.
“Several works speak to body image,” said Kizer Shelton, a member of the teen council. For example, Jasmine Duarte of Pasadena High School photographed four young women in jeans and titled the piece “Are You Thin Enough.”
Victor Sarabia of Alvin tackled the influence of technology on his generation in a photograph, “Raised by Robots,” which shows two girls ignoring each other in favor of their smart phones.
A drawing, “American Dream Sin Fronteras,” by St. John’s School student Sunnie Liu addresses border issues, while Matthew Watowich of Post Oak High School created a mobile called “The 8%,” using 300 roses, 8 percent of which are real, to highlight the percentage of teens who attempt suicide.
The “Pop Up” show will be taken down after May 31 to make room for free “Family Day” activities noon-4 p.m. June 6.
Taking cues from the teen exhibits that feature printmaking, Family Day will include a range of activities to create art. Also, there will be readings of children’s literature in English and Spanish.