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November's PAEA Student Artist of the Month is
Arion!
Arion attends Central High School and was nominated by PAEA member Andrea Keefe.
What Andrea has to say about Arion:
Arion Li is not only a committed and talented art student, but they are also a huge supporter of the arts. I have had the pleasure of working with Arion for the past three years, and they consistently engage with many big ideas, utilizing the visual arts to communicate effectively. Presently, they are taking AP Art & Design and are working on their second Sustained Investigation portfolio. Arion is willing to take risks with their artwork and to move outside of any comfort zone, constantly learning something new and expanding how they can express themselves. Arion is also one of the founding members of our high school’s first chapter of NAHS. This year, they took on a leadership role, and as the Vice President, Arion is guiding NAHS members in bringing the visual arts to our large school community of 2400 students. Arion Li is a great artist, a classmate to their peers, and a leader in making the art community more recognized.
Arion had this to share:
Why is art class/art education important?
Learning about the arts in general is super important, but especially so in schools. When you create and learn about art, you are able to understand the hard work that goes into creating every single piece of art, from the great masterpieces that Da Vinci created to even the simple artwork your little cousin made that hangs on the fridge. It connects people and unites them, even across generations. It also grows the mind and gives students the opportunity to express themselves in ways they may not have thought possible. It’s a medium that allows students to put their feelings into a craft, or also a way for people to communicate ideas with one another. It also gives students skills that they are able to apply to many other aspects of their lives, such as creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Art fosters understanding and empathy between people, which is essential during a person’s formative years. And by being able to have that experience in class, and make bonds with one another through art, the youth is able to continue a tradition that spans across millennia. Just think about cave paintings! Art is beautiful and should be a class that everyone should try at least once!
What advice would you give to other artists? *
In a new age of anti-intellectualism with AI and all these cheap shortcuts that give you an easy way out, do not believe those lies. In the end, AI is only so heavily pushed because of corporate greed and the belief of money hungry CEOs that it will be the next best invention. Do not fall into that trap. Dare to fight against greed. Dare to be creative. Dare to be human. As long as you enjoy creating art, continue to do so. You don’t need to create art for anybody but yourself. It doesn’t matter if it looks “bad”, it’s a part of the art process. To make art is to be human, and every act of creation is an act of rebellion against the big companies that underestimate the power that people hold. Don’t be afraid to create. Art is for everybody.
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