As the afternoon sun streams through the basement windows, around 340 Bronx Science students grab their art notebooks and pencil cases from their lockers and head to art class. Bronx Science offers a range of art electives, including painting, photography, visual arts, and graphic design, giving students the chance to learn expert techniques in a variety of areas. Some include shading, color theory, and photographic illusions. The colorful sunlit art classrooms are filled with hundreds of supplies, and various paintings, posterns, and notes lining the walls. In this room, students find time for serenity and calmness. Sometimes that means sketching and painting independently in a room only filled with the muffled buzz of the courtyard; other times it’s collaborating on large multimedia collages in small groups, using magazines and paint. These classes provide an incredible opportunity for artistic expression, along with a wealth of resources, including a variety of paints, illustration tools, and technologies, all available to students throughout their year-long art courses.
Brushing Up on Creativity: Inside Bronx Science’s Vibrant Art Studios
A glimpse into Bronx Science’s dynamic art classes, including painting, visual arts, and photography.
About the Contributors
Hana Cleemann, Staff Reporter
Hana Cleemann is a Content and Proofreading Editor for ‘The Science Survey.’ She loves storytelling that meticulously brings issues to life; and the challenge of doing so as many events have become desensitized. She enjoys the deep connections she makes with people across the globe that she has to interview for articles, and capturing their emotions and unique perspectives in words. Since she was young, she has enjoyed writing and formatting articles by hand on her favorite T.V. characters – like a profile on supergirl or her latest drama– and finds the same excitement in now being able to write about the people and events of the world. She also enjoys photography: being in a moment, knowing what is going on and how people feel, and trying to capture it in a single shot with the perfect adjustments. Outside of school she can be found walking her dog with her dad, cooking pasta, and reading in her room. She researches year round, specializing in social/ behavioral sciences, coding, and neuroscience. She additionally participates in public forums like Model United Nations, works under a senator, organizes social activism events such as climate strikes and newspaper issues, and she advocates for educational equality in her neighborhood. After high school, Hana wants to study mathematics and work as a television news reporter.
Samie Lee, Staff Reporter
Samie Lee is a Copy Chief and Chief Graphic Designer for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook. She is also a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey’ newspaper. Samie believes that the most appealing aspect of journalistic writing is in its ability to connect people worldwide and to spread information and stories to those whom it reaches. These elements are also heavily present in journalistic photography, where a heavier focus on emotion and visual representations can also convey the same meanings. Samie likes watching movies and shows, and she plays games with her friends. She is planning on studying and pursuing neuroscience or psychology in the future. But she also wishes to continue her interest in the humanities, doing art and writing as a hobby whenever she can.
Gigi Liu, Staff Reporter
Gigi Liu is a Student Life Section Editor and a Graphic Designer for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook, as well as a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey’. She finds journalism to be an interesting field, as she enjoys reading from different perspectives on a topic, learning new things as her eyes move across the page. Gigi also admires the amount of effort and details that authors put into their works. She believes that photography is vital to the world, as it allows for a certain moment to be captured or evoke certain opinions or emotions in the viewer. After a long day of school work, Gigi enjoys drawing on her iPad and reading thriller books. Currently, Gigi’s favorite movie is Fight Club, and her favorite book is The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix. She enjoys entertainment that has a mystery to it and keeps her on edge. In the future, Gigi hopes to become a nutritionist or a pharmacist. She wishes to better the health of the people in the world so they are able to experience the world in the best condition they can be. Along with this, Gigi wants to also pursue a career in digital art, as she wants to express herself to the world.
Albiona Leka, Staff Reporter
Albiona Leka is a Chief Graphic Designer and a Managing Editor for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook and a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey’ newspaper. She finds journalistic writing to be enjoyable because she recognizes that it can be used to inform the public about various topics in a fun yet informative way. Photography is another source of entertainment that Albiona indulges in because it gives her a chance to tell a story without the use of words. Outside of school, Albionaloves to draw, listen to music, and play card games with her family and friends. It was always in her nature to help and educate others. Consequently, Albiona has become interested in the medical field and plans to pursue a future in this field when she begins her college career.
Bridget Galwey, Staff Reporter
Bridget Galwey is an Editor-in-Chief and a Chief Graphic Designer for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook. She is also a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey’ newspaper. Bridget has always loved reading and telling stories. She believes that journalism is a great way to inform people of ideas in a creative and compelling way. She has a passion for photography that tells a story. Bridget has a deep appreciation for the impact that photography has on the world of journalism. She loves the challenge of looking for a photo that will make a statement. Bridget loves to read dystopian fiction, taking walks in Central Park, and enjoys going to museums with her friends. Bridget would love to pursue graphic design in the future. She wants to go into the field of marketing and improve her photography skills.
Sofia Fernandez, Staff Reporter
Sofia Fernandez is a Copy Chief and Chief Graphic Designer for ‘The Observatory’ yearbook. She is also a Staff Reporter for ‘The Science Survey’ newspaper. Sofia believes that journalistic writing allows us to take on new and diverse perspectives. She finds this type of writing appealing and informative because it educates the reader in a creative and engaging way, while also highlighting the writer’s overall message. Photography really speaks to her heart since it allows her to capture a moment and cherish it as time goes on. She isn’t afraid to take new photos of things that she finds to be interesting. Whether it is photography or journalism, both fields allow her to demonstrate her own creative skills and that’s what she loves about them. Outside of school, Sofia pursues a variety of hobbies. These include listening to music, playing sports such as soccer and badminton for fun, working on graphic design, taking photographs, and watching television shows and movies. One of her favorite movies is Coraline because it is surrounded by conceptual fan theories and contains a great level of suspense, all of which is supported by its visual elements. In the future, Sofia plans on integrating her writing, graphic design, and photography skills by studying film and marketing in college.