[pink.] Magazine Summer 2022

[pink.]

A summer 2022 special issue of [proof] magazine and Ink magazine

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about Published three times annually, [proof] is Palo Alto High School’s fine arts and photography magazine, working to showcase Paly’s vibrant and diverse artistic community, covering a variety of styles and backgrounds. Also published three times annually, Ink is Palo Alto High School’s literary magazine, dedicated to providing a platform for diverse student voices. [proof] and Ink are proud to present a special combined issue in celebration of this past year, [pink.] Magazine.

from the editors Hello readers! Our third issue of 2021-2022 is a combined issue we have dubbed [pink.] Magazine. Our focus is on highlighting student-produced photography, artwork, and writing. With the world opening back up, we encourage the community to enjoy the beauty of nature. In “Take a hike!” we explore landscape photography and find a new appreciation for nature, and in “Pranav gives a hoot” we feature Pranav Adya’s journey with wildlife photography. Our cover story, “Summer Lookbook,” focuses on inspiration for summer fashion featuring the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. At the same time, we learned from professionals in the art world — Barbara Henrich and Yasmeen Abedi — starting our “Careers in Art” series. In Ink, Akhil Joondeph tells the story of how he and his families most momentous moments were memorialized by a cake from his local bakery in “Cutting Cake.” In “Icon” author Asha Kulkarni explores the subject of self-image and how society distorts the way we tend to perceive ourselves.

— arati, madelyn & saanvi

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editors-in-chief

staff

arati periyannan madelyn castro saanvi garg

annelise balentine kat farrell karrie huang sandhya krishnan

xiaohan li maya mukherjee sana muneyb olga muys

neil rathi william rumelhart lauren wong alison xiong

advisers

kenna gallagher — photography paul kandell — journalism in- and graphic design teacher, structor, Palo Alto High School Palo Alto High School pkandell@pausd.org kegallagher@pausd.org

outside cover: sana muneyb inside cover: madelyn castro [pink.] magazine

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[proof]

advertising

The staff publishes advertisements with signed contracts when not deemed inappropriate for publication by editors. For more information on advertising with [proof], please email proof.paly@gmail.com, or see https:// tinyurl.com/incubeadcontract.

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mission statement

[proof] Magazine, Palo Alto High School’s student-run fine arts and photography magazine, is dedicated to showcasing student artwork and facilitating creative discussion about arts. [proof] is distributed to its readers in the student body at no cost.

printing & distribution

[proof] is printed three times, with issues seasonally (winter, spring, and summer) by aPrintis in Pleasanton, CA. Issues are handed out by [proof] and other Incubator staff during school. Issues are available online at https://issuu.com/proof-paly.

celia frahn

letters to the editors

The [proof] staff welcomes letters to the editors, but reserves the right to edit all letters for grammar, length; potential libel, invasion of privacy, and obcenity. Send all letters to proof. paly@gmail.com or 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto, CA, 94301.

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pranav gives a hoot

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celebration ads

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take a hike!

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painting for unity

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summer lookbook

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capturing bubbles

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lighting the stage

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portfolios wrapped

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yasmeen abedi

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barbara henrich

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festival of colors

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gallery

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PRANAV GIVES A HOOT

text by neil rathi photos by pranav adya

Sophomore Pranav Adya’s photographs are tools for conservation and education

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ildlife photography is a type of photogra- most draws Adya to wildlife photography. He hesitates phy often overlooked by students for its at first to call it an “art form,” but he argues that ultidifficulty and equipment requirements, mately, it is both an artistic and a scientific endeavor. such as expensive lenses and editing “I think they [art and science] are really intersoftware. Pranav Adya, a sophomore at Palo Alto High twined,” Adya said. “It’s an art form, but I also like School, however, has devoted most of his time as a to do it because I can learn so much about different photographer to capturing wildlife — a task which can species of animals.” require hours of background research.

Along with that, he also deeply “When I’m photographing wildvalues being an ethical photographer, “Art and science taking care to not disturb the animals life, in order to even find some of these species, you have to do a lot of are really inter- he is trying to photograph. research,” Adya said. “This includes “But I’m also a conservationist twined — wildlife researching animal behavior, habitat, — I think it [conservation] is really imwhere they belong in the food chain, photography is an portant,” Adya said. “My friend and I and good ways to photograph started a club at Paly [Nature Obserart form.” them and observe them.” vation and Photography Club] where It is this aspect of we really emphasize the ethics of be— PRANAV ADYA, wildlife the art form which ing in nature and observing wildlife.” photographer His photography is also an attempt to teach others about the ethics of taking wildlife photos.

“It’s also for education, because there’s some really unethical parts of A burrowing owl stands on a cluster of rocks. The subjects wildlife photography,” Adya said. “In of wildlife photography can be unpredictable, but skilled order to be an ethical [photographotographers still aim to create interesting images.“When pher], you have to keep those I’m trying to photograph wildlife, I definitely am using composition techniques to get a nice shot,” Adya said. [ethics].”

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A bobcat at Coyote Hills Regional Park stares into the camera. “[Bobcats] are one of the most common cat species in our area,” Adya said.

Following this strict code of ethics can make it even more difficult to take photos of wildlife. On top of hours of research, photographers often have to wait in a certain location for hours in order to witness a specific animal — but this doesn’t deter Adya.

“You hear about a location from someone, and you go to that exact spot, and all you do is just wait, and you sit there and just wait for hours,” Adya said. “For example, the most endangered species of owl, the northern spotted owl, lives in California. [One time] I found a spot to go see it, but it’s this one particular area. I just waited on that trail, instead of hiking around, and it just came to its normal roosting spot.”

Owls are one of Adya’s favorite subjects to photograph, because their natural conditions allow for “golden hour” photography.

“They [owls] usually come out during golden light, which is the ideal time [to take photos],” Adya said. “The sun’s setting, so you have a perfect angle of light shining on one side. Some species of owl, such as the shorteared owl, will come out during this time, and you can get really nice shots of it just flying around. You have really perfect lighting conditions and you don’t have to change much in

A red fox yawns as photographer Pranav Adya snaps a close-up of it resting. Wildlife photography often requires extensive research on animal behavior. “When I’m photographing wildlife, in order to even find some of these species, you have to do a lot of research,” Adya said.

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post editing.”

As a photographer in California, Adya admits that he is limited in the variety of species he can photograph, but he simultaneously values local biodiversity.

“I take pictures of birds and mammals, which also includes foxes and bobcats,” Adya said. “It’s mainly those things [animals] because there’s not too much wildlife in California compared to other places. But in our local area it’s still really diverse in terms of bird species. I usually photograph those when I get the chance to.”

Wildlife photography is most important to Adya as a tool for conservation. He staunchly insists on threats of global warming and pollution to ecological diversity, and believes that photography has the power to enact positive change.

“You can see this in even the most biodiverse places, like in Costa Rica, when I was there,” Adya said.

“Global warming is a real issue. You can really see the effects now, especially these days, and how it affects other organisms.”

“One type of photography is…finding [for example] a fox eating out of the trash,” Adya said. “Through my photography, I can show them the image, and I can tell them about how as people feed it, it becomes more aggressive towards humans, so they have to get put down, and their teeth start to wear down.”

Fundamentally, wildlife photography is both an art form and a powerful tool for conservation and education.

Adya’s photography ranges from the visually interesting to the emotionally impactful, providing a strong example of the power of art for enacting change.

An owl stares at an object in the distance. Owls are one of Adya’s favorite subjects to photograph because they’re most active during “golden hour,” a time when lighting is optimal for photography. “The sun’s setting, so you have a perfect angle of light shining on one side,” Adya said.

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celebration ads The Palo Alto High School community cares about its artists and photographers.

So do we.

That’s why we’re looking to join forces with you to celebrate the artists, organizations and causes that you care about most.

Please consider purchasing a “Celebration” advertisement for one of our upcoming print editions — one for March, and one for May. Just fill out the form on this page and send it to us (via email at proof.paly@gmail.com) for your ad to be included.

The [proof] staff publishes “Celebration” ads with signed contracts provided they are not deemed by the staff inappropriate for the magazine’s audience.

Please note: supporting a cause through Proof’s “Celebrate” advertising is not the same as directly supporting a photographer or photographic organization by purchasing or otherwise sponsoring their work.

For more details about advertising requirements, email proof.paly@gmail.com.

Thank you for your help supporting Palo Alto High School Media Arts.

Honor an artist, photographer, or arts organization with a “celebration ad” your message 1. _________________________________________________ Your name as you would like it to appear (for example: The Smith family)

2. _____________________________________________________ Name, organization or cause you would like to support (for example: Palo Alto Art Center)

3. _____________________________________________________ Additional message or details about an image you would like to include

your information name:

________________________________________

phone:

________________________________________

email:

________________________________________

signature:

________________________________________

payment 1/8 page ($50)

1/4 page ($100)

1/2 page ($200)

full page ($400)

PayPal (donate to MAC Boosters at palymac.org/home/mac-boosters/) Check (make check out to “Palo Alto HS,” and put “[proof] Magazine” in the memo) Send the form (and the check, if using) to the following address: Journalism Incubator c/o Paul Kandell Palo Alto HS 50 Embarcadero Rd Palo Alto, CA 94301 Paly Media Arts Boosters is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Tax ID #462866404

This contract can be submitted as a scanned file (to proof.paly@ gmail.com) or physically to a [proof] staff member.

Note: All terms and conditions from the general Incubator advertising contract at https://anthromagazine.org/advertising/ apply to this submission.

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TAKE A student photographers find inspiration in local landscapes text by olga muys

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ith its rolling hills, dense oak forests, and breathtaking coastline, California’s beauty has long been the muse for all manner of artists, from writers like John Steinbeck to photographers like Ansel Adams. Today, Palo Alto High School students Kamila Wong and Phoebe Berghout continue this legacy, taking inspiration from the Bay Area’s nature for their landscape photography.

“I think the Bay Area is just very very pretty,” said Berghout. “I think there’s a lot of diversity of landscapes in California in general. You’ve got redwoods, you’ve got deserts, the ocean, beautiful alpine pastures. I really like capturing that.”

Wong says that what draws her to the landscapes of the Bay Area in partic— PHOEBE BERGHOUT, ular is the mix of urban and rural space. landscape photographer “In some ways I think the urban area of the Bay Area mixes in pretty well with the landscape,” Wong said. “There’s an interesting dynamic between the actual buildings and the landscape around it.”

Wong’s favorite spots around the Bay Area for her photographs are those that offer dynamic images.

“I personally really love going up to Los Altos Hills, and going up to Skyline,” Wong said. “There’s a lot of open space, and you can capture a lot of different types of landscapes up there.

The Baylands are also really nice. I’ve gone there a few times for sunrises and sunsets and such. It’s a very versatile place.”

Berghout finds that tidepools along the coast are fascinating.

“I just think there’s a lot of interesting textures,” Berghout said. “Something you don’t expect to be filled with life is filled with life, and I think that’s really cool.”

The variety of landscapes within California provides a solution to a primary challenge of photography: Creating an artistic and unique image.

“It [landscape photos] can all sort of look the same if you’re not deliberate and careful,” said Berghout. “You run the risk of documenting rather than creating art. I think that’s why I

“Something you don’t expect to be filled with life is filled with life, and I think that’s really cool.”

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HIKE! photos by kamila wong, phoebe berghout, neil rathi, and jane gwin-kerr

really like it, because it’s challenging in that way.”

Beyond simply providing them with a creative outlet, engaging artistically with the natural world has imparted within both photographers a deeper sense of appreciation and awareness of their surroundings.

“With landscape photography, you can capture a lot of things that you can’t see with the naked eye,” said Wong. “If I look at a bunch of trees, I may not fully realize how cool — KAMILA WONG, it looks until I take a photo of it. It landscape photographer [landscape photography] enhances the way I view nature.”

“I feel like I can walk around and sort of frame a shot in my head, and it gives me an appreciation for the natural beauty in the area,” said Berghout.

Another tricky — and appealing — part of landscape photography is its unpredictability.

“I’ll have an image in my head of a specific photo that I really want to get, but then I’ll get there [the shoot location], and the conditions aren’t what I expect,” Wong said. “You have to make the most out of what you’ve been given. You can’t control Mother Nature…It does add a layer of the unexpected, which is really nice, but at the same time, it can be a challenge.”

For those looking to get involved with landscape photography, the consensus is clear: Start taking pictures. “The way that I found my passion for landscape photos was literally just trial and error,” said Wong. “I went out and I just took photos wherever I went. Over time, you get an eye for your style and what you want to be able to create.”

“You gotta take so many, and so many will be bad,” said Berghout. “Be patient with yourself.”

“With landscape photography, you can capture a lot of things that you can’t see with the naked eye...

It enhances the way I view nature.”

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painting for unity text by arati periyannan // design by neil rathi

PSIA Club paints mural at Backyard Brew with message of community and coffee.

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sabella Pei dips her paintbrush into the can. She pauses, to enjoy and appreciate doing art,” Pei, stepping back to take in the progress before returning to PSIA social media manager, said. “But now outlining the rim of a black and white coffee cup. that a mural at Paly has failed, we thought Paly’s Student Institute of the of creating a mural at a Arts (PSIA) painted a mural at Backyard small cafe.”

Brew, an outdoor coffee shop off of To overcome this roadPalo Alto’s California Avenue on April block, the club looked for plac23. They encouraged any student to es around the community that come and participate. were open to new artists. The While the actual painting of the team found Backyard Brew, known mural only took a few hours, the profor the murals and paintings that line cess was long in the making for the the walls. Once they found a space, club. Co-president Kyle Park first inthe design planning began. Their goal troduced the project to the club a few was to make it relevant to its location, months ago. Originally, the club had a coffee shop.

— TESS BOWEN, club member planned on a mural on campus, later “We provided our club members being struck down. with a prompt of coffee and unity and “We originally created the mural so that people at Paly asked them to draw up any ideas that came to mind,” Park can contribute to it and explore their creativity and also just said. “A lot of them had the idea of the coffee being what brings people together which we really liked.”

Park said the message of the mural centers around unity and the way that coffee, in an odd way, has the ability to bring people together. He mentioned his realization that people around the world, despite their differences, share the concept of waking up and making their morning pot of coffee.

Park took the work of other students in the club and pieced it together to form their final mock-up. After sending it to Backyard Brew and receiving approval, the team was ready to paint.

Students, even non-club members, participated in the event. Being only a few weeks from finals, students used the mural as a method of relaxation.

“I choose to come here because doing art is a really nice way to de-stress and during AP season, it’s something that you need,” said Tess Bowen, club member.

“It’s always fun for members of the community to look at and go ‘oh wow, that was made by Palo Alto High School students.”

original mock-up of mural

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Throughout the painting process, the sense of community grew. Participants were flowing in and out, stopping by to help when they could. Community members on their coffee run stopped to watch the team paint. This sense of community was what the mural was reaching for.

“I think the value of having local artwork is it’s always fun for members of the community to look at and go ‘oh wow, that was made by Palo Alto High School students,’” Bowen said. “It inspires you to do your own art.”

According to Park, the mural was a success. Their message of unity paired with the theme of coffee is now there for the community to see.

“I hope more people can come to appreciate art and its importance to individuals and our community,” Pei said.

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SUMMER A

fter what feels like eons of chill and cloudy weather, we can finally pack away all our winter coats and enjoy the California sunshine! Summer offers so much fashion freedom, and it’s the perfect time to experiment with new styles and get out of your comfort zone. With this lookbook, we hope to inspire your summer wardrobe.

A NOTE: With the exception of makeup,

essentially every item in this lookbook can be found in thrift stores or online resale sites such as eBay. To avoid contributing to textile waste, please consider buying pre-loved garments if you can.

Not only is it better for the planet, it’s often better for your wallet!

text by olga muys photos by sana muneyb 14 summer 2022

LOOKBOOK SUMMER OF LOVE: Within the

THE MODS: A-line minidresses

and miniskirts, headbands, and pale eyeshadow are all great ways to emulate the Mods. Another accessory that was born in the 60s and has since failed to ever go out of style is the iconic Gogo boot. Focus on clean lines, color blocking, and geometric elements.

last few years, the trend cycle has jumped from 70s to 90s to the early 2000s, and has now cycled all the way back to the 60s. Spring/Summer 2022 collections from designers such as Versace, Prada, and Miu Miu have drawn inspiration from the decade. There are two sides to the fashion of the 1960s: The Mods of the early to mid 60s and the Hippies of the late 60s. We’ve decided to showcase looks from both of these movements.

TIP: Use eyeliner to draw triangles on the lower lash line to recreate the look of 1960s “it girl” Twiggy.

THE HIPPIES: This revival actually

falls into two decades: the 60s and the 90s. This means that high-waisted flares are replaced by low-waisted ones, loose vests by fitted ones, sandals by platforms or clogs, and headbands by headscarves. The focus is on earth tones, leather, statement jewelry, and beading.

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CHUNKY ’N’ FUNKY: During the

summer, go big or go home with accessories. Sky-high platforms, whether on a pair of mary janes or sandals, bring an outfit to new heights. One of the most popular shoes of the year, the Versace platform heel, made a return to the runway during their last collection with a revamped look — and towering higher than ever. This shoe style is here to stay. Bold earrings and necklaces can add color and whimsy, and are another way to reference the 1960s.

GOING GREEN: The Pantone color of the year may have been periwinkle, but the unofficial color of 2022 is without a doubt spring green. Appearing on the runway of the Prada spring/summer 2022 collection, the color is bright, fresh and an eye catcher. Green complements any outfit, whether through a headscarf, earrings, or eyeshadow.

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PUNK PASTORAL: While the aes-

thetics of the French countryside and the punk scene may seem light years apart, meshing them together creates a unique and intriguing look that builds off the works of iconic designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Simone Rocha. Bows, long peasant skirts, and heavy blush are perfectly paired with black platform shoes and corset or lingerie inspired tops.

Tip: Looks in this vein of-

ten look great with braided hairstyles, especially if they’re secured with bows.

PAINT THE TOWN RED: Heavy red blush may look intimidating, but it’s an effective way to elevate your everyday makeup. An intriguing alternative to standard pink or orange blushes, it more accurately mimics a natural flush, and calls to mind the rouges of European court fashions. This historical era was often referenced in the runway makeup done by Pat McGrath during John Galliano’s tenure at Dior in the 90s and early 2000s. Clips of these runway shows have been growing increasingly popular thanks to TikTok, as are other historical shows and movies such as Sophia Coppola’s “Marie Antoinette.” Focus the color on the apples of your cheek for a period drama inspired look, or bring it all the way up your temples for a more 80s feel.

TIP: Red lipsticks or cream

blushes are the easiest way to achieve this look, and also provide a nice glowy effect.

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a bubble photography tutorial text and photos by annelise balentine hen I was younger, I remember being fascinated by the soapy spheres and rainbow patterns swirling on bubbles. Whether they emerged from the bubble bath solution poured into baths, or the sticky bubble blowing wand fresh from its bottle, I always enjoyed watching their vivid color. But, bubbles can only be observed for so long until they inevitably burst.

In an attempt to preserve these swirling colors, I got out my computer and skimmed through dozens of photography tutori-

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als, until I finally found the perfect method.

The first step to doing any kind of macro photography (close-up photography of small objects) is to make sure you have a DSLR camera with a lens between 90 and 105mm.

These larger lenses allow you to achieve your desired zoom-in from a comfortable distance, and still capture high resolution images. Ideally, you would want to set up a tripod to ensure that the camera is completely still when taking shots.

You should also have your camera on manual focus in order to choose your desired focal point.

A typical bubble solution usually consists of just water and dish soap, but when taking photos, you can add a secret ingredient: glycerin. Found at most convenience stores, glycerin is a liquid that can provide more strength to your solution. Adding two to three t e a -

spoons of glycerin to your mixture will make the bubbles last longer, allowing ample time for snapping photos.

A black background is vital when photographing bubbles, as it contrasts with the colors and allows them to appear more vibrant.

A large piece of black fabric is ideal, but I just used a dark edge of a piano. The use of a large light source also allows the colors to pop and evenly illuminate the bubble’s surface.

When blowing your bubbles, you should be sure to have a circular base that will allow your bubbles to maintain their round shape. For example, I used a rear lens cap, which comes on all camera lenses, as my base because it was both dark in color and round. Using a straw, you can then blow your bubble into the lens cap, adding as many as you want, at whatever size as well.

Finally, position your tripod so that just the edges of the bubbles are in frame, and adjust the focus to your liking. Following these steps, you should be able to capture stunning bubble photos from the comfort of your own home.

The use of macro photography allows the ephemeral beauty of bubbles to be admired forever.

lighting the stage katel fong leads lighting design for paly theatre’s “peter and the starcatcher”

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taring at the tree backdrop, a set piece in “Peter and the Starcatcher,” something felt off to Katel Fong. As the lighting designer for Paly Theatre’s most recent play, Fong visualizes an illuminated tree that the audience can easily see. It was time for her find a solution.

“We ended up having to point some fixtures more upstage to hit the tree,” Fong said.

The lighting team repeats this same process with every piece of the set. Analyzing the way light hits it, adjusting brightness, color, or movement until the team is satisfied with its look.

But before getting to this stage, the team has to go through the process of planning the lighting system.

“My design process involved reading the script and deciding the location, time of day, and mood of each scene, then briefly describing a base cue for each scene depending on

text and photos by arati periyannan these factors,” Fong said.

Through this process, the team created a plan, blocking out each scene, and compiling their ideas into a unifying design concept. Blocking out the scene means going through each scene, decided where characters go, where they move, and how the light should hit them, also known as cue-tocue.

They experiment with different set ups, eventually making decisions like the scenes on a boat in the ocean having a blue-lit backdrop and having a flash of light accompany the sound effect of a cannon at the start of the show. This is part of how they collaborate with other design departments to ensure their designs are compatible.

“We attend rehearsals to visualize how each actor looks onstage, particularly looking at where they are located,” Fong said. “We then make a rough cue sheet that numbers and Design concept by Katel Fong: Though Peter and the Starcatcher is set in 1885, our production team decided to use this time frame loosely, especially since the show deals with lighthearted fantasy and magic, rather than being a period drama. Regardless, we still wanted to convey that the show takes place in a time and location different from anywhere that can be found in the world today. For example, our costume designers fitted most characters — particularly the British and pirates — with period-appropriate dresses and uniforms, while other characters — namely, the mermaids and Mollusks — wore glitter and sequins and casual modern attire. The former helped establish the main time period of the show, while the latter

describes each of these ideas. We attend cue-to-cue to finalize the coding of these cues while actively seeing the actors moving under them.”

However, there is a limit on the lights capabilities. As there are only a few groups of LED lights that can be changed from the lighting booth, for some scenes with colored lights, the team has to manually go through each fixture, changing the gel filters. This has to be done prior to the show and the same color will remain throughout.

Other lights, have set positions aiming at one point on stage, and cannot be moved from there.

The whole undertaking is a learning experience. For Fong, the biggest part of the process is learning more every day. It is the first show she has designed lighting for indoors. She has learned what it means to solidify a design approach to lighting. As for the future, Fong sees herself continuing lighting design.

“I just genuinely enjoy it so much that I don’t know what will turn me away from it,” Fong said. tapped into the show’s fantasy elements, as well as providing a comedic contrast to the other characters.

Additionally, the show focuses heavily on the value of childhood, specifically appealing to the whimsy and nostalgia that comes with the naïveté of young age. This was most clearly represented by our set design, which is reminiscent of a children’s play structure with ropes and ladders that also double as the rigging and ladders of a ship. Similarly, there are many moments in the show that use magic, such as a musical number with singing mermaids and characters flying. In these moments, we had to loosen our hold on realism and slip into the colors and brightness of magic.

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AP art students display their finalized portfolios s the school year comes to a close, classes are wrapping up with final exams, but unlike other classes, advanced placement art students are to submit a final art portfolio that they have been working on all year. Each student decides their medium or mediums de-

Reese Ford, senior

Shanlian Zhou, senior “In my work, I explore ancient Chinese monster figures from fairy tales and myths that I heard when I was young. I interpret the characters in original designs and place them in related but creative contexts. Since cultural clothes are often essential to monster myths, I also explore traditional Chinese clothing. Additionally, I’m interested in the role drawing styles play in traditional Chinese art, and how to use these styles as a form of inspiration in style, color, line work, and subject matter.”

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pending on the AP — drawing, 2D design, and sculpture.

They choose a concentration early on in August or September which becomes the center of their portfolio. The rest of the year, students work to perfect their portfolios for final evaluation of quality, investigation, ideas and materials.

“Christianity has been stereotyped as hateful, bigoted, and ignorant, for valid reasons relating to historical issues regarding LGBT and women’s rights. However, there is a more progressive theology that many don’t know exists, called “Christian Queer Theology.”

As a practitioner, I want to teach its values through my work. It’s my goal to rebrand Christianity as the loving religion that it is by showing the experiences normal to those normally discriminated against, and how these traditionally marginalized people have been transformed spiritually through theology.”

compiled by arati periyannan and lauren wong

Isabella Prado, senior “I wanted to explore the different kinds of relationships that can exist within a family, especially considering that different familial roles influence the way family members interact and consequentially, how an individual feels in that role.

I also wanted to ask, what can different families look like? And what can cause conflicts within a family? I focus on these issues by creating images showing deep connections between family members, as well as through symbolic scenes.”

Alex Franklin, senior

“I am exploring the experience of ADHD, focusing on emotions and my multitude of varied thought patterns, as they play out during different times of day, environments, and locations in my life. I do this by giving a visual representation of my thoughts and portraying them through a lens that allows viewers to understand my perspective. With ADHD I struggle to understand things, and sometimes people are not accommodating of the learning/brain differences I face. I’m often not taken seriously. I want to provide a view of what’s going on in my head and the world around me.”

Reed Jadzinsky, junior “For this project, I studied how logos can affect a person’s view of a certain company. I developed this idea further by making logos that accurately show the companies’ environmental effects and how it affects the viewer. I began with companies that have negative ecological impacts because I believe that if companies stopped manipulating their consumers with their designs, it would create awareness among the public about the products they use. I then wanted to explore the other side of the coin and made logos for companies with a positive environmental impact, to see how it would differ.”

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Netflix animation production assistant doubles as illustration and comic freelancer

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ears ago, sitting on her bed flipping through Cal- because I was unfamiliar.” vin and Hobbes comic books, young Yasmeen Even through her MFA, Abedi didn’t focus on creating Abedi’s mind swirls with ideas. She pulls out a comics and illustration, but on more traditional fine arts, stray piece of paper, already covered in doodles. like painting and drawing. As she made her way through She starts to sketch another idea, this time, a character her MFA, her style started to transition. She found herself that resembles her. being pulled closer and closer to illustration.

“I just sort of sought to replicate what I was seeing on “I’ve sort of created my own path for myself for that the television,” Abedi said. “I sort of kind of art-making that I want to be wanted to see myself in those comics, making,” Abedi said. and see the sorts of things that I found While continuing animation at interesting in those comics.”

Netflix, Abedi has opened herself up Abedi was constantly motivated as as a freelance illustrator and cartoona child to explore new ideas, whether ist. that included fighting monsters, magShe says freelancing creates an inic and more. Reflecting on this, Abedi finite realm of possibilities, and unlike recognizes how her work has changed, at Netflix, she would be able to hold showing her growing awareness of the the rights to the work. world. She said her art was freer as a “Whoever designed Elsa, right, child as there were fewer restraints. like from ‘Frozen’, that person doesn’t — YASMEEN ABEDI, illustra- have any rights to the work that they “When I was younger, there was a tor and comic freelancer did in creating that character,” Abedi lot of unadulterated energy and there wasn’t as much shame,” Abedi said. said. “That’s not their character. That’s Abedi — now an animation production assistant at Disney’s character.”

Netflix and a freelancer in the Bay Area — didn’t always Abedi has been freelancing for a few years, ranging focus on art. Abedi received a bachelor’s degree in psy- from commissions of comics with strict instruction from chology before applying for a master’s degree in Fine commissioner to illustration jobs with full creative freeArts. Coming out of a non-art degree and trying to pur- dom and minimal instruction. sue a degree in fine arts wasn’t easy, she said.

Abedi is set to publish her first comic book, progress“You have to be represented by a gallery or be doing ing from years of sketching ideas throughout her noteartwork in a gallery setting or a museum setting,” Abedi books. said. “So when I was in that sort of setting, I found myself “I’ve never been published before,” Abedi said. “So also navigating, trying to see how I’d fit into that picture that’s really exciting to put my work out in that way.”

“I sort of wanted to see myself in those comics, and see the sorts of things that I found interesting in those comics.”

22 summer 2022

text by arati periyannan // art courtesy of yasmeen abedi

[pink.] magazine 23

Barbara Heinrich text by madelyn castro // art by madelyn castro and xiaohan li

T

he deep hues of blue and violet gemstones, each der to perfect her technique, yet she still struggled with separated by a small gold stopper, are threaded making her designs become a reality. together delicately to create a long eye-catching “Gold has such a nobility,” Heinrich said. “This whole design. This is none other than the work of Barbara idea of the softness and the grass… I wanted to do that Heinrich, a jewelry maker and goldsmith who is now based in gold for so long but I hadn’t gotten to that point yet. in New York.

Then when [that point] happened it’s Heinrich was born in Germany and, like thank god finally.” growing up on her family’s winery, would As a jewelry maker, she has had to search for beauty in the dense forests learn and grow from her own experiand flowery meadows. She would colences. She stated in an interview with lect shells, stones, and anything else that Quadrum Gallery that, because of this, would catch her eye. Heinrich’s advenshe has three core principles as a jewtures as a child led her to create jewelry elry maker. that reflected the natural world around “Firstly, keep the wearer in mind her. when designing jewelry,” Heinrich “I think nature has a lot of great metsaid. “Secondly, inspired pieces spring aphors,” Heinrich said in an interview from a passionate mind. Thirdly, allow with Memo. “If you think of a blade of enough time for play and discovery.” grass in the wind, it’s very flexible yet very Now, as a 3-D artist displaying her strong. It’s a great image for life. If we are work here in Palo Alto, California, she rigid we break. If you are flexible you are has advice for younger artists. able to adapt.”

“One step at a time, there is no — BARBARA HEINRICH, jew- rush. Play, experiment, evaluate, enjoy, Although she is not a Bay Area local, elry maker and goldsmith learn, grow. Don’t put too much presHeinrich’s work was exhibited throughout April and May at De Novo Fine Contemsure on yourself,” Heinrich said. porary Jewelry in downtown Palo Alto, where many exFrom a young girl playing in nature, to a well known quisite pieces from various artists across the world are artist, Barbara Heinrich has shown tremendous resilience displayed. That being said, her success as a 3-D artist and is an inspiration to those who are interested in art as did not come overnight. a career path.

After selling her pieces in her hometown she “We are caught up in the past or the future… but if we worked as a goldsmith apprentice. She was are completely present it’s actually very joyful,” she said. able to graduate with honors and was given a “We are in the moment together and I think I learned that scholarship to move to the United States through jewelry making.” to study at Rochester Institute of Technology.

While there she studied endlessly in or-

“If you think of a blade of grass in the wind, it’s very flexible yet very strong.

It’s a great image for life. If we are rigid we break. If you are flexible you are able to adapt.”

24 summer 2022

festival of

text and photos by madelyn castro // design by arati periyannan

COLOR

O

n a clear blue day on the campus of Stanford University, children and adults covered in brightly colored flour run across the grass to celebrate the triumph of good and the coming of spring. This commemoration, sometimes called the ‘Festival of Color,’ is better known as Holi. Holi is a Hindu tradition, typically celebrated in regions of India. However, with such a vast Indian and South Asian population, the festival is gaining popularity in California. Stanford holds the festival every year with people of all ages and makes a point to include traditional Indian singing, food, and dance performances.

[pink.] magazine 25

[proof] student art gallery We received many high-quality submissions to the gallery for this issue. Works were evaluated blindly by the editors. Email proof.paly@gmail.com or visit the link in our Instagram bio (@proof.magazine) to submit for our next issue in fall 2022.

emily yao

reed jadzinsky 26 summer 2022

charlotte lungren

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annelise balentine [pink.] magazine 27

vivian lin

max rabbitt-tomita 28 summer 2022

celia frahn

max rabbitt-tomita [pink.] magazine 29

alison xiong

emily yao 30 summer 2022

vivian lin

mike zhao [pink.] magazine 31

ink.

32 summer 2022

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cutting cake

36

microfiction

37

mother of all and nothing

38

the thought of missing you

38

colors for the day

39

icon

[pink.] magazine 33

art by madelyn castro 34 summer 2022

Cutting Cake

akhil joondeph

Akhil Joondeph is a senior who is passionate about journalism and creative nonfiction. He is particularly interested in the ways in which writing can share stories of cultural history and tradition, in both the first and third person.

Cake is the classic celebration food. It’s sweet, decadent, visually impressive, and well-liked. It seems as if almost every family has a “signature” cake, whether they purchase it at a bakery or ambitiously bake it.

My family falls in the former category, and for most of my life, we have had a standard cake, the closest dessert to perfection in our eyes — or rather, our bellies: chocolate cake with mocha cream cheese frosting from our beloved local bakery, the Prolific Oven.

Every birthday, anniversary, and milestone was accompanied by a slice of this cake. Whether it appeared as a cramped 4-inch cylinder, barely able to provide eight slices. Or a vast sheet cake able to feed a whole room. The moist and decadent chocolate sponge layered with stripes of coffee-saturated cream cheese and decorated with spiked spirals of frosting worked its way into the lives of our friends and family members.

And so when the bakery announced it would be shutting its doors two years ago, we were unsurprisingly devastated. What else could possibly have the power to bring generations of Srinivasans and Joondephs together around the same crowded table.

Now, instead of the cake, we have our memories of eating it. The void previously filled by the taste of the cake is now filled with our recollections of its delectable flavors.

The cake, during its lifetime, catalyzed moments that we reflect upon today, in its absence. And today, we gather around the table and recall those beautiful moments together.

When I was 9, sugar began to be coined as a poison by leading dieticians. My father embraced this demonizing science and cut almost all sugar out of his diet. Being a family of only three, it was difficult for my mom and me to have an entirely separate meal plan entirely, so we went along with his judgment and embraced a nearly sugar (and excitement) free life. However, when my father was not home, I could finally savor the poison that I enjoyed so much. It was the ultimate reward to successfully sneak a piece of leftover chocolate mocha cake from the freezer. The frosting would always be frozen solid, the sponge like a brick, but the adrenaline

rush of stealing such a treasured family treat and enjoying an illegal substance in my household made the quest worthwhile every time.

When I was 10, my grandfather passed away — and I tried my hardest to convince myself otherwise. Compartmentalizing my sadness shut me down emotionally and I couldn’t properly grieve, not that day nor for a long time afterward. I remember very little from that day, except returning home with a knot in my stomach. I remember laughing at my mom, so emotionally confused that I did the opposite of what my body told me to do, maybe in a feeble attempt to remain happy or stay strong or uplift my family during a time of grief. And I remember the slices of cake eaten in silence, providing comfort that none of our words or actions could.

When I was 11, my parents celebrated 20 years of togetherness, a testament to the power of love and compromise. A table layered with multiple sheet cakes was the piece de resistance at their anniversary party.

As decades of friends came together to celebrate them, the cake that has lasted almost equally long within our family lore and celebrations, celebrate with us.

The comforting sourness of cream cheese frosting often greeted me after grueling dance performances. The heavy, rich layers of chocolate sponge helped calm my nerves and put me to sleep the nights before my first days of middle and high school.

And even today, a chocolate mocha cake from 2019 sits untouched in my grandmother’s freezer.

None of us are sure when or why she bought it. But with the closing of the bakery, it has turned into an heirloom of sorts. Perhaps it remains there, not because we will ever eat it, but as a reminder of the power that this cake has had in our lives. It is not only nostalgic but it also carries the weight of a thousand bags of tears and laughs.

Maybe it’s so hard to take that bite and consume the last of the cake because we are so attached to its existence. And so, from its icy place, it continues to watch over us, in grief, in joy, and in celebration.

[pink.] magazine 35

Unbroken Engagement

erika walrod

Erika Walrod is a senior who loves to write short stories and read Roald Dahl and Ray Bradbury.

He’d always liked weddings.

In fact, he was famous for his romanticism and accompanying lack of follow-through.

Even so, he had been dreading this rehearsal dinner. Leaning into the hallway mirror, he re-knotted his tie to make it sufficiently sloppy.

Stepping into the empty hall, she clicked her tongue in playful disapproval and reached out to correct his tie.

“Why is it that even now that we’re grown up I’m still taking care of you?”

He rolled his eyes and smiled down at her through the pangs of regret spreading from where her fingers brushed him.

“Why did you ever expect me to learn when I have a true fashionista at my disposal.”

“Still, this half Windsor is a whole mess. A big one.”

As she got to work, the pit of his stomach tightened.

Was it a mistake to leave the ties’ tail so short? Did she know?

Senseless anxiety swirled through his body as she gave the now immaculate knot a final pat.

But it dissipated once she began her feverish inspection for any other fashion crimes.

He limited himself to an affectionate grin until she leaned nearly parallel to the ground to confirm the existence of a loose thread near his elbow, forcing him to throw his head back in laughter.

“Cut it out, I look great!”

He gently grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back into a vertical position, holding her as long as he could.

“Thanks to me!

Oh, my fiance wanted to double-check the seating chart with me, see you out there!”

“Wait!”

The word sprung from his chest. He searched her face, although he didn’t know what for, before brushing back a small strand of her hair that hadn’t been out of place.

“There, now we both look great.”

art by kate wu 36 summer 2022

The Mother of All and Nothing harvey vostrejs

Harvey Vostrejs is a junior at Paly. He is passionate about all sorts of writing, especially poetry and plays. He hopes to one day publish a book.

I floated alone in the silent expanse of nothing.

Weightless, black expanding on for centuries and seconds and miles.

I can’t tell if my eyes are open or closed.

The black is as dense as iron.

I am scared of the dark.

Scared of the unknowing, the eternity of this place.

I am held in a large hand, cradled like a newborn.

The mother of all and nothing stares down at me.

Her hair is woven of galaxies and the fabric of time itself.

She is made out of the same inky black as this land, Her body both liquid and solid.

“Do not be afraid of the dark, my child.

People fear it because they can’t understand it.

But the dark, oh the dark is the epitome of beauty. The dark is wild.

Free. It’s where shadows go to play.

They dance around the setting sun, singing songs of life and breath.”

She is young and old, ageless and inmaterial. She is a woman and a man and everything in between.

She is creation. She waves her hand, and I see the whole expanse of everything before my eyes.

“The dark is full of secrets. The dark is peaceful. My daughter, my son, my child, the dark is as warm as the sun.

Both exist in endless bounty. Balance in all or nothing.

Welcome the dark. Yes, it is wild and fierce. But that is the wonder of it. For you too are wild and fierce. You are made of light and dark, fire and ice. Your spirit is stars and explosions and stories. Never let anyone take that away from you. You were designed by me, perfect in every way.”

“But what about my flaws? My scars, my curves, my imperfections? If I am so fierce, why do I cry? Why do I feel? That is weakness, feeling.”

“The opposite. Feeling is power. It drives you.

And your scars, those are signs of strength. Every imperfection is perfection. I put it there myself. I created you, molded you out of earth and sky and flames.

I created you as you are. Love every piece of you, for it was designed on purpose.

You are wild, uncontrollable, just as intended. I will see you again, my child. But until then, remember this: You are made of my heart and soul.

You are indestructible.

You are sunlight and moondust and dreams.

The dark is your friend.

I will be watching over you, until eternity ends.”

art by xiaohan li [pink.] magazine 37

The Thought of Missing You caroline jitt

Caroline Jitt is passionate about art and science.

She enjoys creating poetry through paintings. Her favorite artist is Vladmir Kush and Rob Gonzalez I hope I’ll never forget the way I love you.

It slowly gets fainter every day, Like water slipping from the palms of cupped hands.

But I’ll keep your love close to my heart.

It has a special section that I will never forget. a section that at times can hurt, but at other times feels thankful.

I don’t want to lose this feeling.

So, every night I will play our songs, I’ll continuously write stupid poems, I will look at the stars Hope that maybe you’re looking too, And maybe one day This memory will bring you back

Colors for the Day abigail karel

Abigail Karel is a freshman who is passionate about poetry, particularly poetry that is relatable for teenagers. Her favorite authors are Shannon Messenger, Suzanne Collins, and Maya Angelou If life was full of colors then each day would be a painting, Dark and dreamy ones like Van Gogh’s ‘A Starry Night’ for a calm day Flowy breaths of red for times when our hearts say what our heads cannot Abstract ones for those days where no action makes sense

art by madelyn castro 38 38 summer 2022

If we compiled a museum of paintings from each day in our lives, There would be a spectrum of colors, And it would be beautiful.

Icon

art by kate wu

asha kulkarni Asha Kulkarni is a sophomore who loves reading (and writing) stories that make her cry. Her favorite authors are Laurie Halse Anderson, Leigh Bardugo, and N.K. Jemisin.

Wrap me in fabric.

Pattern me cinched, waisted.

Sit pretty, a snail shell curled over to tumble inside.

My tear ducts don’t work the way they’re supposed to. Like weight, laden shopping bags, crumpled-up paper.

They scratch, those full bladders. the movie screen’s bright.

If I were combusted, I’d fling out the aisles.

We’d run through the cameras, we’d flash up the price tags on target.

Keep laughing.

Please notice the space you walk is filled.

[pink.] magazine 39

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