[proof] Winter 2022 by [proof]

[proof] winter 2021

about Published three times annually, [proof] is Palo Alto High School’s fine arts and photography magazine. Since being established in 2010, we have strived to showcase Paly’s vibrant and diverse artistic community, covering a variety of styles and backgrounds. Our mission is to showcase student and local artwork and artists, educate others in the arts, and promote creative thinking among our readers. from the editors Hello readers! This year, [proof] comes to you from a new environment: the Journalism Incubator. In our first year as part of a class, we’re aiming to publish longer and more consistent issues than we’ve been able to in the past. In this issue, you can look through articles ranging from an interview with the Cantor Arts Museum curator to a modern fall-inspired lookbook. We also feature a larger than ever 10 page gallery section featuring a wide range of Paly student artwork. We hope you enjoy! — Neil and Alison

outside cover: neil rathi

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

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.

editors-in-chief

staff

neil rathi alison xiong

olga muys anushe irani daniel garepis-holland payton anderson jonathan chen

journalism adviser paul kandell journalism instructor palo alto high school pkandell@pausd.org

erin kim william rumelhart maia johnsson arati periyannan lauren wong

inside cover: anushe irani

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

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/proofpaly.

photo: neil rathi

CONTENTS 8 film photography

10 fall fashion lookbook 12 open mic night 14 paper chase 16 april wu 18 kenna gallagher 20 beyond the canvas 24 spirit week 30 student gallery

[features]

erin kim

Film photography

text and photos byanushe irani

ncreasingly, teenagers have been moving away feel for taking photos on film. Additionally, some find from digital photography techniques, instead optthe limited amount of photos to be another draw of ing for film photography. According to PetaPixel, disposable cameras. the web’s leading photography publication, 30% “I like taking disposable film because only having of film photographers are younger than 35 — which a limited number of photos makes you choose which may be surprising to some, since moments you capture more selectivefilm is an older technique. Film ly and you end up with a compilation photography is the art of capturing of a bunch of amazing memories,” images on strips of plastic that are senior Paisley Annes said. “I like taking disposable called film. The appearance and While using disposable cameras film because only having a aesthetics of film photos can differ can be a fun way of getting into film, limited number of photos depending on the type of camera they can also be expensive. Those makes you choose which and film used. Many students at moments you capture more who are serious about continuing film Palo Alto High School use film, and selectively.” photography might find a simple 35 have found it effective as an artistic — paisley annes, senior mm point-and-shoot film camera to medium that differs from digital be a good investment. Point-andphotography. shoot film cameras are exactly what Many beginner film they sound like — the photographer photographers start points the camera at a subject and then takes with disposable camthe shot with one click. It’s a fast process eras, which can take a that does not require changing the camera’s fixed number of phosettings, since this is done automatically. These tos. These cameras can cameras can be found on online retailers, from help beginners get a reputable brands like Olympus, Pentax, Can8

film photography

on, and Contax. Senior Brooke Glasson says she invested in a point-and-shoot because she wanted to experiment with a different type of film photography. “I have always seen actual film photos and I thought it was a lot cooler than disposables so I found another point-and-shoot camera that was just as easy as a disposable and it also helps create less waste,” Glasson said. “I use diposables sometimes still because I think it is cool to play around with different film types.” For a more professional camera that allows for manually chosen settings, a good 35 mm film camera to start with is the Canon AE-1. There are many more professional film cameras, but these tend to be more expensive than point-and-shoot cameras. After finishing a roll of film, the photos must be developed in a darkroom. Popular localtions in the Bay Area include Mike’s Cameras in Menlo Park, Photoworks in San Francisco, or CVS. No matter which method you choose, film photography is a fun and unique approach to a wellknown art form. film photography 9

FALL

NEUTRAL TONES: We know, warm neutral tones for fall? Groundbreaking. But some things are classics for a reason, and this is one of them. The 70s are back, and what better way to lean into that than long skirts and a neutral color pallette? Pictured: Olga Muys, Cate Barrett, and Emma Kim

text by olga muys // photos by neil rathi

ACCESSORIES: Neutrals, for all their wonderful simplicity, can often get a bit boring. The easiest way to add in color? Accessories! Small purses in bright colors are en-vogue, functional, and usable at all times of the year. Or, if big canvas totes are more your speed, try accessorizing with a colorful overshirt. (Pictured above: Xiaohan Li)

fall lookbook

JACKETS: With weather as volatile as California’s, layering is never a bad idea. Big, boxy, menswear-inspired (or just menswear) jackets are timeless must-haves for any fall or winter wardrobe.

COOL TONES: Just because warm tones tend to dominate the autumnal wardrobe, doesn’t mean cool tones don’t have their place. Black, navy blue and grey are all colors which can be worn on their own all year round, or be combined with the classic reds and oranges of fall.

VOLUME: As the weather cools down, don’t be afraid to go big when it comes to silhouettes. Poofy sleeves, flowy skirts, big sweaters, and wide-leg pants are both fashionable and functional when the fall chill sets in. Layering with scarves or frilly overshirts can help achieve volume as well. (Pictured right: Victoria Liao)

LOOKBOOK fall lookbook

open mic night text by payton anderson & jonathan chen photos by jonathan chen & neil rathi

alo Alto’s Teen Arts Council is once again hosting in-person events after a virtual year, starting with an open mic night that brought audience members to their feet. TAC is a city-wide organization that holds events— such as October’s open mic night—to give student performers all around the Bay Area a place to hang out and perform for one another. TAC President Nila-Ann Nag, a Palo Alto High School senior, said that although most of TAC’s audience is from Paly, she hopes it can expand to a wider audience. “We’ve been trying to get more people from other schools,” Nag said. “We just want to give teens a place to hang out and be able to talk and hang out.” After emceeing the night, Nag said she was excited to see how great the turnout was for the audience and the 30 or so students who performed. Tara He, senior bass player for the newly formed Paly band, Sun Bear, said she was inspired by past Paly bands to perform and hopes Sun Bear can do the same for others. “Freshman year I used to watch Oscar’s band,” He said. “It was really cool to be able to play with friends and I hope other people will start playing together 12

open mic night

with their friends too.” Although He said she was nervous about Sun Bear’s first live performance, the environment provided by TAC was very welcoming and made performing much easier. “It was great having so many people being really hyped about our music,” He said. Senior Charlotte Noroian — guitarist, keyboard player, and singer for the band — said this event gave the band the audience exposure they needed to continue to play live more often.

“Tara was just showing me how we just got 10 new followers from this event,” Noroian said, “I think it’d be cool to get our name out so that if anything else comes up people can ask us to [perform].” Junior Rebecca Helft stressed that TAC gives its performers an environment without fear of judgment. “I specifically chose to perform at this open mic because it’s such a safe environment where I can do what I love,” Helft said. Being the first in-person open mic night in two years, Helft said she missed the opportunity to partake in events like this over the pandemic. ”Not performing in front of a live audience during the pandemic felt really weird,” Helft said, “Although there were other opportunities to do it over Zoom, it’s not the same, because you don’t get the same energy from the audience.”

Erin Brady, a Paly junior, said she shared Helft’s experience. After not performing stand-up comedy for nearly two years, Brady said she was itching to get back on stage. “Freshman year I wrote funny poetry for a poetry night and everyone told me I was funny so I decided to take a risk and start doing stand-up,” Brady said. “But then the pandemic hit and I wasn’t able to perform for the longest time, but now I am so grateful to be back.” Brady said TAC has helped her to continue to do stand-up, something she started doing as a way to get to know more people within the Bay Area. “I hope I can encourage more people to do standup and to just get up onstage and enjoy themselves,” Brady said. You can find more information about the Teen Arts Council at https://teenartscouncil.wixsite.com/ website. open mic night

paper chase text and photos by alison xiong & neil rathi

t Stanford’s Cantor Center for Visual Arts is a new exhibition, running until January 2022, entitled “Paper Chase: Ten Years of Collecting Prints, Drawings, and Photographs at the Cantor.” It features over 100 paper objects and highlights the role of diversity in the arts—especially printmaking and posters—in political discussion. Photography and printmaking has long been a form of art used to portray political ideas, especially due to the immediate nature of paper and how that engages the audience through their own experiences with paper. “To be able to see a photograph, or to be able to hold a print in your hand that was printed just a few months ago, it’s so exciting and relevant,” said Elizabeth Mitchell, curator of the exhibition. Art on paper has long been the medium of choice for many artist-activists, ranging from the Atelier Populaire’s Marxist prints of the late 1960s to Act Up’s 1987 “Silence = Death“ poster against the Reagan administrations handling of the AIDS epidemic. One of the more significant works in the exhibition is Carrie Mae Weems’ five-part series Not Manet’s Type, in which Weems approaches a dark corner of American history—and presents it in a way that reminds the audience of how it applies to their current lives. The timelessness of her work “remind[s] us that things have changed and that things have not changed,” Mitchell said. “[It’s] an incredible landmark in the history of art history.” At the Cantor’s Paper Chase exhibition, visitors can explore over 100 prints and works on paper.

paper chase

The exhibition is divided into four distinct sections focused on approaching issues from a variety of viewpoints. “Within each section, there are different conversations going on, which enable the viewer to explore different aspects of that topic,” Mitchell said. This focus on relevancy and bringing together diverse perspectives is especially important given the fact that the Cantor is, at its core, a university art museum. “This is a teaching environment. And so we should strive to represent the story as fully as we can,” Mitchell said, “Great stories by artists who are at any point in their careers or from anywhere, but to be able to get those really those works that helped shape scholarship and sculpt and shape the way we talk about contemporary art.” The exhibit serves as a reminder for the next generation of artists that in order to make an impact with their art, they must reflect authenticity in their work. “[Creating art that] relates to your own life that someone else can see themselves reflected in is a powerful thing,” Mitchell said.

paper chase

april wu C Senior April Wu’s art takes inspiration from biology to bring science to a wider audience (Photo: April Wu)

rimson double-helix ribbons twist around the claw of a hermit crab. Citrus rinds smash against the wall of a cell. Organelles crash in waves on a sandy shore. When most people make art, they don’t turn to diatoms for inspiration. But senior April Wu does exactly that in her biology-inspired painting. “I think that a lot of science concepts are not as portrayed in art,” Wu said. “Often it [art] is an exploration of human emotion, and I wondered if I could inject some science related biology concepts that people don’t often think about.” Last year, in her AP Studio Art class, Wu created a portfolio with a particular focus on biotechnology, where living organisms are used to make modern technology, and biomimicry, where organisms and biological systems are mimiced in order to design and manufacture new technologies.

Wind Turbines (watercolor on paper) portrays a river of birds amid a kelp forest.

april wu

interview by neil rathi

CRISPR-Cas9 (watercolor on paper) depicts genetic engineering as well as pollution and sea life.

“I want to make biotechnology and biomimicry, specifically, more known to other people so that people can also appreciate how I see it, how pretty it is,” she said. She started painting in elementary school with her art teacher, and grew more of an interest in the subject as she grew up. Now, her art style has grown more nuanced and personal. She primarily uses watercolor and oil paint — mediums notoriously difficult to control — to craft her intricate and detailed compositions. “I use a lot of detail, and I like experimenting with bright and pastel colors. I kind of let the paint do whatever it wants to do, and [create] complex compositions,” she said. One of her favorite pieces, CRISPR-Cas9, focuses on issues of pollution and gene editing. “It doubles as not only a sign of climate change, because hermit crabs run out of shells and usually start using plastic bottles,” she said, “but also CRISPR-Cas9, a form of biotechnology that was taken from a bacteria and modified by humans for genetic engineering.” The dual nature of the piece, which discusses two distinct biological concepts with underlying similarities, is especially important to her. “You’re modifying the biology that already exists

Diatoms (watercolor on paper) “reveals” a shoreline engulfed by a wave of single-celled algae.

with a human touch, and CRISPR-Cas9 portrays that in a way I thought would be creative,” she said. With her art, which has been displayed in multiple Palo Alto public libraries, she aims to engage a wider audience with science. “[I’m interested in] portraying the science concept in a way that a wider audience will be appreciative of what’s out there in science.”

Wu works on a new watercolor piece. Her artwork has been featured in exhibitions in local libraries and has won gold and silver keys from the Scholastic Art and Writing Competition (Photo: Neil Rathi).

april wu

kenna gallagher interview by arati periyannan

Kenna Gallagher, new photography and graphic design teacher, on her inspiration and experimentations

right blotches of lime green and baby blue paint fall onto the white shirt, creating a vivid teal. Instead of a paintbrush, then eight-year-old Kenna Gallagher had a brown, speckled sanddab in hand. “We went down to the market and got a fish. We painted with acrylic paint, and we essentially stamped the fish onto a T-shirt,” Gallagher said. “It was really gross.” Gallagher is Palo Alto High School’s new photography and graphics design teacher. Her interest in art only expanded from her childhood experiments. Being homeschooled, she was encouraged, and many times required, to explore art. She would spend hours drawing in a sketchbook and writing in a journal with her cousins. Gallagher also skateboards and is heavily involved in the skating community, bringing her inspiration.

kenna gallagher

Gallagher did not always want to teach photography and graphic design. She explored outdoor adventure education for a year before realizing her interests had shifted. That’s when she knew she wanted to teach art. “I know that I don’t have the skill set, but I don’t have the focus and consistency to be a working artist and I don’t have a niche,” Gallagher said. “So I’m gonna teach art. And I love teaching.” As an artist, Gallagher draws inspiration from her communities, like her friends and other skaters. Fascinated by the culture of skating, she looks to portray the sport that started off as rebellious. In this, Gallagher and other artists question skating’s place within societal systems. While not directly influencing her style, it has introduced her to new people and influenced her as a person. “A friend of mine does graphics for Nike shoes, Nike skateboarding and Volcom, and I’ve always been inspired by him,” Gallagher said, “And I finally got to do a skate graphic for some trucks — which hold the axles to the wheels — for a professional female skateboarder last year” Her style is constantly adapting as she experiments. One day, she may print intricate eyes onto a woodblock, and the next day, a multimedia portrait, using a photo of her retina, paint pens, and stones. She has also explored screen printing, photography,

drawing, painting, and more mediums. In trying new techniques, Gallagher has not always been successful. At times, the end product is nowhere near the original vision. “Immersing yourself in the process is the most im-

portant thing that I think any artist can do, especially an artist who’s learning something new,” Gallagher said. This idea of focusing on the process rather than the product reflects in her teaching style. Her message is to enjoy the journey, be okay with changes, and take the time to learn from those changes. “There are stages of life, and there are stages of art,” Gallagher said. “If you get so focused on your end goal, you miss what happens to get you there.”

kenna gallagher

beyond the canvas william rumelhart & maia johnsson

hen you think of the materials needed to create “visual art,” goggles, a furnace, and molten glass are likely not the first things that spring to mind. But this is exactly the equipment senior Tara He uses to create her spectacular glass art. Glassblowing is a process that involves blowing air through a tool called a “blowtube.” Blowtubes enable the glassblower to blow bubbles into furnace-heated molten glass. These bubbles allow the glassblower to shape the glass into art. While the glassblowing process itself may require careful planning, He follows an intuitive and spontaneous creative process. “I create an image in my head and just try to sculpt it,” she said. “Last time, I made a fish because that’s just how it turned out.” “You just get some glass and then poke it until you’re happy.” She became involved in glassblowing after taking Advanced Art and Sculpture last year during quarantine. “In quarantine, not that many people were here [at the glassblowing studio],” He said. “So we basically had the studio to ourselves. I came every class period.” She also appreciates the distinctive nature of glass as a medium. It’s really unique here to do and it’s [glass] a really cool medium that I feel is really uncommon to come across [at most high schools].” 20

beyond the canvas

Clay is another unique medium featured in Paly’s Advanced Art and Sculpture class. While senior Madeleine Kelly dabbles in glassblowing, graphic design, and 3D animation, they have a particular affinity for clay ceramics. “Not that many people like to work with clay,” Kelly said. “But it’s my favorite thing in the world to do.” For Kelly, ceramics and third-dimensional art generally provide a greater range of textural possibilities than other two-dimensional forms. “You can’t physically texture a two-dimensional piece; it just looks weird,” they said. “But you can add texture to third-dimensional ceramics like drips [down the sides].” Another of Kelly’s favorite parts of ceramics is the physical presence of the art. “Once you’re done with something, you can hold it in your hands,” they said. “If you draw a cup, you can’t pull the cup out of the page.” Kelly also gets satisfaction from making art that people can use in everyday life. “I do use a lot of them,” they said in reference to their ceramic teapots and mugs. “[For one mug in particular], my grandfather was like ‘I want it. Can I have it?’ and I was like ‘Okay!’” From a glass fish to clay bowls, Palo Alto High School’s three-dimensional artists are finding new ways to express their creativity in three dimensions.

celebration advertisements Honor a photographer, artist, or arts organization with a “celebration ad” 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) by Feb. 1 or April 1 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 organizationg by purchasing or otherwise sponsoring their work. For more more details about advertising requirements, email proof.paly@gmail.com. Thank you for your help supporting Palo Alto High School Media Arts.

your message 1. _________________________________________________ Your name as you would like it to appear (for example: The Smith family)

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

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celebrations

the Xiong family joins [proof] in celebrating

the Li family joins [proof] in celebrating

Scholastic Art and Writing national youth arts foundation

Alison Xiong

Paly senior and artist

Kenna Gallagher joins [proof] in celebrating

Josh Cala, Maddie Castro, and Annelise Balentine Scholastic Art Gold Key Winners in Photography

[proof] thanks the following sponsors for supporting publication of the magazine

The Rathi and Pagarkar Family platinum sponsors

The Xiong Family platinum sponsors

The Irani Family the Pan family joins [proof] in celebrating

Sophie Pan

Paly freshman and artist

celebrations

gold sponsors

Paly PTSA If you would like to support [proof] as a sponsor, contact us at proof.paly@gmail.com

the Rumelhart family joins [proof] in celebrating

National Ceramics Day December 14th, 2021

the Ford family joins [proof] in celebrating

Reese Ford

the Kandell family joins [proof] in celebrating

Paly senior, artist, and animator

the Palo Alto Art Center local art gallery

the Muys family joins [proof] in celebrating

World Photography Day August 19, 2022

celebrations

spirit week recap

[proof] photographers captured the events of fall 2021 spirit week, including scenes from rallies, spirit dances, and more. photos by lauren wong, anushe irani, daniel garepis-holland & neil rathi

lauren wong

neil rathi 24

spirit week recap

lauren wong

daniel garepis-holland

neil rathi

anushe irani

daneil garepis-holland spirit week recap

daniel garepis-holland

neil rathi 26

spirit week recap

anushe irani

daniel garepis-holland

neil rathi

anushe irani spirit week recap

[gallery]

alison xiong

paly student art gallery We’re incredibly grateful to have received over 150 high-quality gallery submissions for this issue. Works were double-blindly evaluated by the editors. Email proof.paly@gmail.com to submit for Spring 2022.

anushe irani

zora wakalee 30

gallery

xiaohan li

dora pang

ellery ames gallery

julia yuen

arati periyannan 32

gallery

jason lin

takumi weimann

max rabbitt gallery

anushe irani

reese ford 34

gallery

jake wanderer

alina lotterer

connor lai

hjalmar levander gallery

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