Solitude. A fashion installation inspired by a Japanese samurai cape that evokes a sense of safety. This piece mirrors a summer dandelion field: peaceful, beautiful, and warm.
- Esther Hong
Inspired by a Pinterest image of a blue and black Leopard adorned with spike studs, this zip-up features gray detailing and black gem accents that give a bold, leopard-like energy. While staying true to my Cybersigilism art style, the design encapsulates the power and elegance, of a Leopard.
- Keyla Arevalo Rivas.
What’s most important to me is my creativity, because it’s the one thing that has kept me grounded through everything. I was
13 when COVID hit, stuck inside with nothing to do. The boredom was painful, so I picked up drawing and learned that in art I could be as weird as I wanted. My early pieces weren’t anything to brag about but, “Practice makes… slightly better.” Soon art be-
came a lifeline, a language, and a way to process the world. In and out of school, I chose art courses and found they were a place to handle my stress and trauma. Art is the one space where I feel safe to be myself. I can talk about things without saying a word, and that’s powerful. Creating lets me explore my feelings and fi gure out who I am. I’ve broken down crying at my easel, but channeling those emotions through paint has helped me through diffi cult times. When I paint, the brush feels like it moves on its own. Colors pop through me straight to my brain. Breathing helps me center my thoughts and decide what I want to make. I sketch, gather materials, and prepare the paint. When I fi nally touch the canvas, I’m calm and ready. Each painting is different—the setting, the subject, the people around me—and every piece takes layers and new angles. Each time, the painting gets better, and I get better. Creating keeps me emotionally centered. I love my creativity with all my heart, and without it, I fear I would be lost, and the world grey. That is why it is the most important thing to me.
- April May
