[proof] Summer 2017 by [proof]

[proof] palo alto high school summer 2017

CONTENTS

LIFESTYLE 09

chengdu culture

heritage museum

embroidery

FINE ARTS 17

whiplash

beauty & the beast

alex mo

ceramics

cirque de soleil

HOW TO 29

numu

youth speaks out

scholastic arts

gallery

[lifestyle]

photo by emma cockerell

JINLI CHENGDU sichuan, china

Jinli, one of the oldest streets in China, was first recorded in ancient poems for its flourishing cotton fabrics commerce. Nowadays, renewed by Wuhou Temple Museum, this old alley has become a famous pedestrian mall in Chengdu Province. Jinli's uniqueness is reflected in its Shuhan-Style inn and enoteca, local delicacies and arts and crafts. When night falls, hundreds of hanging red lanterns are lit up and opera music wafts through the neighborhood. Street peddlers wheel their carts up to their berths, quietly waiting for sightseers to purchase their handicrafts. Despite the slow business, the stallholders are not anxious, focusing instead on blowing candy figures or cutting paper figures. Calligraphy lovers browse the selection of elaborate brushes, while children gather around the sugar painting shop. In an adjoining booth, visitors watch a pavonine shadow play retelling traditional stories. Tourists follow the scent of merienda in the distance and glut themselves with local dishes in the neighborhood’s snack street. Never far, actors with traditional costumes stand in front of the opera theater, canvassing their next show. However, even the longest day must have an end. The crowds disperse around midnight, leaving behind a tranquil atmosphere. One by one, the stallholders gather up their booths and return home under the cover of night. Jinli drops into deep sleep, waiting for the next morning’s sun.

lifestyle

story by: suye shen // design by: flora yu

jinli

heritage museum soumya jhaveri

The Museum of American Heritage, located at 351 Homer Avenue in downtown Palo Alto, is a spectacular institution that takes one back in time. Founded in 1990 by Frank Livermore, the museum has accumulated the largest collection of historic artifacts in the United States after the Smithsonian Museum. Permanent exhibits include an early 20th century kitchen filled with appliances and traditional foods of the time. There is also a 1920s general store, featuring a unique display of See’s Candies packaging over the years. The Marshall Matthews garage, replicated after a 1920s-1940s auto repair shop, features a 1915 Ford Model T Touring car that still maintains its original parts. Furthermore, there is also a print shop with several printing presses and an intertype machine. The building’s sprawling backyard includes a 1942 Victory garden,

a cutting garden, herb beds and a California Mediterranean garden. Other temporary exhibits feature construction toys, steam engines and steam engine toys, and a LEGO exhibit as well. The largest current exhibit, on display until February 26th, is The Evolution of Film. It chronicles film from the earliest days until the beginning of a golden era of Hollywood movies. The exhibit features early film and the developments of Thomas Alva Edison, Eadweard Muybridge and Leland Stanford. It then transitions into silent films. The era of silent films lasted from 1888 to 1927. Filmmakers learned how to synchronize a soundtrack to a film, amplify volume loud enough for everyone in a theater to hear, and record with high quality cameras. The first talking film was “The Jazz Singer” in 1927. 11

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The earliest theaters in the 1900s were known as “Nickelodeons,” combining the cost of admission (a nickel) with the name of the best theater in Paris, the Odeón (named after the ancient Greek word for theater). However, with the 1920s came theaters that were extraordinary feats of architecture. Then, with the Great Depression, theater design became much more simplistic in order to be cost effective. Even as the economy declined, movies became more popular as a way to escape reality. In one week, 83 million tickets were sold - out of a population of 126 million people. The 1930s brought the very first Technicolor film, the infamous Wizard of Oz. It was also the decade of the film Gone with the Wind, which won 10 Academy Awards.

how technology made the previous models obsolete. There is even a functioning Old Times Movie player that plays a “flip book” film when one inserts a nickel. Additionally, there is a Scopitone, which is similar to a jukebox, but plays music videos instead. The rarest piece in the exhibit is a Visionola, the first home entertainment system that quickly went bankrupt with new technological advancements. It is one of only four pieces in the world. Overall, the exhibits at The Museum of American Heritage are fascinating, authentic, and easy to understand. With free admission, it is a perfect place for anyone looking for something to do over the weekend.

Another part of the exhibit is home cameras and professional cameras over the ages, and

heritage museum

lifestyle

embroidery leela srinivasan

Embroidery is making a comeback – the intricate designs that date back to 3500 BC are working their way into pop culture, inspiring trends around the globe. The craft originates from a variety of rich cultures, all weaving their own traditions into their art. In China, little stones and pearls were looped onto silk thread and woven into clothing for the elite. Young Persian girls told stories through their needlework, stitching fine gold onto large tapestries to recount victories and marvel at the strength of their noblemen. Examples of embroidery can be traced from ancient Japan, Mexico, India, Vietnam and medieval Europe. The possession of elaborately embroidered household objects and clothing was an indication of wealth and social class. Embroidery no longer has this connotation; it is simply a form of personal expression. “The 60’s had edge; the 70’s had embroidery,” says American comedian Gina Barreca. This fashion trend arose in the 70’s but has resurfaced recently and found a place in European style. Traditionally, embroidery was done on silk, linen or wool, but contemporary designs have made their way to denim. Flowery vines wind across the back of jean jackets, clusters of roses accent a simple pair of jeans or embellish the back pocket. The European-based brand Zara has recently adopted the style, decorating pretty white blouses or pinstriped collared shirts with the ornate designs. Another Spanish chain, Desigual, offers vibrant embroidered dresses and skirts. Established brands such as Gucci stock embroidered flare jeans for a costly sum of $2,390. Trends come and go, but embroidery will never fully go out of style; it will always find its way back into pop culture.

embroidery embroidery

xx 14

[fine arts]

photo by emma cockerell

whiplash ashley guo

At the corner of Embarcadero and Newell, one may notice the remarkable stickwork structures and wonder what they are. Well, it turns out that they are an exhibition called Whiplash, by artist Patrick Dougherty, constructed in November 2016 during his three-week residency at the Palo Alto Art Center. Dougherty has been a sculptor for 30 years and has worked on similar projects around the United States and the world. His most recent work is called Wingding, in Sausalito, built January 2017. Dougherty favors trees as elements of his artwork because it is as close to nature as art can get. “My affinity for trees as a material seems to come from a childhood spent wandering the forest around Southern Pines, North Carolina,” Dougherty says. “When I turned to sculpture as an adult, I was drawn to sticks as a plentiful and renewable resource.” Usually he makes use of the trees nearby the location where he plans to build his sculpture, but for the sculpture in Palo Alto, the willow material came all the way from around the Niagara Falls. Dougherty chose this site in particular for his exhibition, and he said, “Everyone in Palo Alto is interested in the natural world maybe more peculiarly than others so I’d say this is a great place for a sculpture that’s made out of natural materials.” The building of this sculpture of willow trees is reminiscent to that of basket weaving. Selene Foster, the curator at the Palo Alto Art Center, explains Dougherty’s detailed building process. “Patrick is a consummate professional,” she says. “He has created so many of these amazing willow sculptures that he has it down to a science. He begins by installing the biggest willow branches to create a kind of frame for the basic structure and then begins weaving. He has some sense of what the completed work will look like but he also has to work with the qualities of the willow he is using and, like a drawing, the piece changes as the days go by. He begins by installing the biggest willow branches to create a kind of frame for the basic structure and then begins weaving. He has some sense of what the completed work will look like but he also has to work with the qualixx ties of lifestyle the willow he is using and, like a drawing, the piece changes as the days go by. 17

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Creating his sculptures would not be possible without the people who assist him and his gift for communicating to others what he wants.” Dougherty writes, “When we were young, the ubiquitous stick was an everyday part of childhood play. It was a tool, a weapon, a rafter. I point out my belief that we inherit stick know-how from our first ancestors. So any volunteer can quickly find that knack, that basic urge to build.” For younger artists, Dougherty advises “a crucial thing to think about from the very outset: if you’re working for somebody else it seems so easy to do what they say and to throw your entire energy into what they need, so what you really have to do is imagine throwing your energy into your own particular need, that is to make as a sculptor or painter.” Dougherty gives all he has into every sculpture he creates, and that is why his work is enjoyed everywhere, not just in Palo Alto. The sculpture is well enjoyed by the Palo Alto community, Foster explains. “I see adults and children there every day playing and exploring Whiplash, and we have had countless community members express how much they enjoy seeing it as they go along their normal routes of driving or walking along Embarcadero,” she says. Whiplash isn’t just a sculpture, but it is a living entity as well. “When we put those first large willow branches into the ground we made sure to water them in the hopes that later on they would sprout, and it looks like they will!” Foster mentions. “New shoots have been noticed around the base of Whiplash in recent days.” Sadly, Dougherty’s sculptures are not meant to last forever. One would recall that a similar sculpture was built at the Palo Alto Art Center years before. “We were lucky to get about 5 years of enjoyment from the first one we had at the Art Center before it began to break down,” Foster comments. “The community loved it so much and was so sorry to see it go, we knew we needed to get himback to make another one, and no whiplash xx two are ever alike.” whiplash 18

beauty & the beast

shannon zhao

The Palo Alto High School theatre department dazzled audiences with its live-action performance of traditional film Beauty and the Beast, utilizing elaborate costumes and phenomenal music to transport viewers back to the 18th century. Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle, a young woman who falls in love with a prince who has been transformed into a hideous beast. When Belle’s father is captured, she embarks on a quest to find him, eventually discovering that beauty comes from within. The department prepared for months, rehearsing songs and dance choreography in the new Performing Arts Center as the final large-scale performance of the year. “It’s elaborate, it’s beautiful, it’s a large cast, and a great orchestra,” theatre teacher Kathleen Woods said. “I’m really excited to have the audience come in and react.” Actors donned extravagant cloaks, dresses and suit coats, while makeup artists worked tirelessly to transform the students into townsfolk and inanimate objects. The play also featured a live orchestra consisting of Paly band members that enlivened the musical numbers. Much of the play’s action took place in the form of music, with actors professing their anger or love through passionate lyrics. Popular songs included “Little Town,” which details Belle’s daily life and surroundings, and “Tale as Old as Time,” an emotional ballad about falling in love. 19

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beauty and the beast

feature

alex 22

ceramics

esha junnarkar // miranda li // jessie arons

fine arts

Palo Alto High School is filled with many different forms of art and self-expression. Mr. Ferrera teaches the Paly Ceramics and Sculpture course. He hopes by the end of the course that they develop the skillsets of an artist, and learn about different processes and how to use tools; anything from a hammer and screwdrivers to ban saws and drill presses. The class works with many mediums, including clay, glass, wood, stone, plaster, and mixed media pieces. The students participate in many projects, such as making paper masks, pottery (bowls, cups, polymer clay, etc.), blown glass, product design, and group projects, such as large installation pieces. The course begins with pottery, which is a year-long process beginning with the basics. Glassblowing is an optional part of the curriculum. Student Lucy Volino enjoys the class especially when there is glassblowing involved. She admits that glassblowing is difficult, you

have to keep building on the techniques to eventually become skilled at it. She, like many other students, are looking forward to the totem pole project, an installation piece the whole class works on, and is excited to see how it all comes together. Ceramics and Sculpture is an elective where students can create works of art, as well as gain an understanding of new concepts and ideas. They can discover their own individual artistic expression in a hands-on experience. The prerequisite to this impressive course is Art Spectrum, and afterwards you are eligible for the Advanced Sculpture class, where you get to self direct your own curriculum. Ceramics is a great course if you are interested in glassblowing, pottery, and so much more. It is a fun and helpful class for learning about different art tools and techniques.

ceramics

cirque de soleil kaitlyn khoe It was a rapid downpour of brilliantly rich colors, anticipation and water. I was greeted by squawking and polyester feathers for the first act. Birds, tarzan, cacti with suspicious protruding parts and a giant metal horse suddenly appeared. Daring flips, flawless dives, packed screams all within a modest space. Luzia, a Cirque du Soleil production, aimed to surround everyone with the culture of Mexico, bathing performers in tropical lights and electro-pop with brassy Mexican and Latin American sounds. Each new acrobatic act was introduced by a short comedy segment that kept the faint story alive. The humor was nothing new; it was all pantomimes, exaggerated reactions out of cluelessness, and many visual gags. However, it was still 25

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enough to add more to a stunt-based show, making the other performances much more stunning. There were moments when a stunt wasn’t executed flawlessly, like tripping through the hoop, but even then the crowd continued cheering. When the performer succeeded on the second try, he was rewarded with even louder applause. Silky or form-fitting, the costumes were a perfect compliment to the elegance and flexibility of the performers. There were lots of printed, colored feathers, and grand floating wings that helped sell the movement of a human-sized butterfly. This trio of lovely cacti started appearing in the second act, that I adored for their plump silhouettes.

The production design immersed everyone in jungle or beach scenes, effectively using the space above the stage to hang vines and birds. The circle stage rotated to allow everyone to view everything. No time was wasted in transitioning to the next act, as there was always another scene to entertain us, like cacti cleaning, while sets were being moved. Plus, there was this enchanting water part that involved falling pictures created with droplets. It was something new that showed another side of humans being amazing, besides being able to manipulate their bodies. Everything connected; the music got my heart pumping, in sync or probably even faster than the performer’s. The cheers from the audience and troupe me to scream along with them. The feats of every performer made me want to replay the moment endlessly. It ends with a cheerful celebration of Mexico’s beauty. Attendees include flexible lizards, a very aerodynamic Tarzan, and butterfly children. They toasted us away from their mystical home, standing on tables and clinking glasses as we realized the quickest two hours had passed.

cirque de soleil

[features]

photo by amy luo

NUMU elizabeth rauner swan “It was fun to be selected to be a part of the exhibition and be recognized formally in the opening event last night. It gave me more confidence about my art and helped me seriously consider being an artist,” said Kristina Im, a Palo Alto High School sophomore and one of two Paly students whose art was selected to be installed at the 2017 Art Now exhibition at the New Museum of Los Gatos (NUMU). This perfectly describes the goal of the annual juried student exhibition sponsored by NUMU - to give students experience competing for a spot in an exhibition; much like they would as a working artist. As chairwoman Joanne Talesfore, told the San Jose Mercury News, “This is the only competition of its kind in the country. It sends a message that art is important and we want to nurture young artists.” Each year since 2012, Art Now identifies a theme and accepts works of art related to the theme from students all over Santa Clara County. The submitted artwork is evaluated by high level art educators for selection into the exhibition and $10,000 in scholarships and awards. Each theme is described in a way that inspires creative thinking and allows students to find meaning in their art. That meaning is then communicated through the artwork that they submit in order to bring young people’s perspectives to light. Throughout the years, many Paly students have submitted work that has won awards and been featured at the show.

choices

social matters We are social beings, living in communities, interacting with others, nurturing relationships, and relying on each other for our basic needs. Matters arise involving social justice, social circles, social networks, social change, social responsibility and others. What are the social matters that affect your world? What do you mean by social? How are social matters addressed in our larger society? Which social matters will have an impact on the way we interact with each other?

lifestyle

themes bridges Facing challenges is a part of life. Challenges may be physical, emotional, cultural, personal, institutional, or in the area of communications. How do you see these challenges in your everyday life, or in the world around you? Where are the barriers? What might be the bridges? The possibilities are limitless.

Life is a set of choices. We live with the consequences of the choices we make as well as those made for us. Our family, our friends, our teachers, our leaders make choices that affect each of us. How does choice define you, identify you, or excite you? What impact has a choice made by you or others, regionally or globally, influenced you and/or the world? What single significant choice affects you now?

At a Loss For Words by Kamala Varadarajan Award Winner 2016 Exhibition theme: Social Matters

Bridges by Fiona Farag Exhibition theme: Bridges 2015 Exhibition acceptance

Lit[reas]ure or Lit[rash]ure by Kristina Im Exhibition theme: Choices 2016 Exhibition acceptance

NUMU

youth speaks out leela srinivasan

At a Palo Alto Youth teen forum, students requested an opportunity for “adults to work with youth to make a safe, recurring, artistic venue for them to create, display and share their artwork, so that the community can witness directly important aspects of their inner lives.” As a result, Youth Speaks Out was created, a program that allows students to spend a semester expressing themselves freely as artists. They have the opportunity to engage with a professional artist as an equal, receiving feedback and understanding their perspective. Strict guidelines are not set, so students have the freedom to choose an art form. The program strives to

features

build a supportive community, encouraging students to meet other student artists who they normally might not associate with to develop a sense of community. They really want their program to be a safe place for students to express their inner lives through various rigorous PAUSD arts curricula. They have expanded from the visual arts classroom to include classes in journalism, theater, social justice, and more, and they welcome special needs students. When it was created in 2011, they had 84 signups, and this number has grown since then to over 800. Overall, Youth Speaks Out hopes to emphasize the importance of art and expression.

youth speaks out

scholastics award leela srinivasan

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards allows students throughout from all of America "Woman with Hat" Hannah Mutz, 11th Grade “I painted it one morning in the summer in my backyard. I was thinking about what used to be on the land my house is on. I know it used to be a farm, something like a century ago, and I was inspired by that. I feel the past was echoing, almost a ghost of a different place on top of me. I imagined the people that used to be and wanted to portray who they might have been. That is what the painting is of.” “Earthly Tentacles” Jonathan Stoschek, 11th Grade “I took earthly tentacles on top of a mountain in Death Valley National Park. Since there was a beautiful almost 360 degree view I decided that the best way to capture it was through a panorama. I took 10 photos using my DSLR and I joined them using Photoshop. Since the Death Valley landscape is very bleak color wise I made the panorama black and white and further edited the photo in Lightroom. I love the strong contrast and the texture that the Death Valley landscape provides.”

lifestyle

scholastic arts

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Adrienne Kwok // Abby Cummings

Yoonjung Cho

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Sam Hirschman

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Amy Luo

Alyssa Leong // Emma Cockerell

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Xinger Luo

Jasper Chang // Emma Cockerell

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