thephoenixzine
ISSUE N째 03
Editorial Team MIssion Statement The Phoenix is a completely independent and student-run
Advisor literary and art magazine within Townsend Harris High Mr. Rafal Olechowski School. The Phoenix is much more than a publication; Editors-in-Chief it is a community. The biggest goal of The Phoenix is to Yelena Dzhanova ‘15 act as a creative haven for all to express themselves. In a Kristine Guillaume ‘16 school such as Townsend Harris, where homework takes Layout Editor up to four or more hours a night to complete and tests are Ferwina Chua ‘15 consistently given out daily or by the double, kids need some downtime to de-stress and think about themselves Art Editor a bit. The Phoenix encourages students to believe that Anna Kim ‘15 there is a lot more to every person than a number that Literary Editor dictates his aptitude in a certain subject. Townsend Harris Jason Lalljee ‘16 has a plethora of immensely talented kids who lack a Photography Editor conventional way to express themselves. The Phoenix Nicholas Rahim ‘16 gives everyone a chance to be themselves and provides an open forum for self expression. The Phoenix is bigger Business Manager than a business or an organization. It’s a family: one huge, Teresa Deely ‘16 at times semi-dysfunctional, creative family. Communications Manager Nicolas Barrios ‘17
Copyright
© Townsend Harris High School 2015 All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without authorization from the publisher or owners of submitted materials. Inquires should be addressed to: Rafal Olechowski Townsend Harris High School 149-11 Melbourne Avenue Flushing, NY 11367 Adobe InDesign and Photoshop are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. All artists, authors, and photographers maintain complete ownership and copyright over their respective submitted materials.
Editors’ Note
Design Associates Emily Chan ‘17 Aaron Fernando ‘18 Prabhjot Shergill ‘16 Joshua Singavarapu ‘17 Event Coordinator Abygail Rampersad ‘15 Social Media Consultant Priya Amin ‘16 Director of Film and Media Paula Fraczek ‘15 Videographers Diego Ramos ‘18 Daniel Sotelo-Reiner ‘18 David Zarowin ‘16
Nestled in a nook of the fourth floor hallway, The Phoenix office bustles with creative activity. If a complete stranger were to walk in, he or she would be greatly overwhelmed by the eclectic range of sounds that make up the room. Music blares from the computer speakers, two staff members recite a spoken word poem, and a loud slurp of tea echoes amid all the commotion. Ideas and jests zip across the room at a dizzying speed. The Phoenix, not only a publication but a club, functions as a creative sanctuary where all sheeple are free to project their voices throughout various mediums. These voices resonate through each edition of the magazine we publish, establishing The Phoenix as a stage for creative energy as well as camaraderie that we dare you, reader, to explore in this March edition. Enjoy the issue.
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Table of Contents Submissions
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A Tale of Two Rooms, Poetry Andy Hua ‘15 Medusa in Watercolor, Art Lianna Rada ‘16
Submissions Cost, Photography Ashton Santo ‘15 In Order to Face This World, Poetry Clarisse Tam ‘17
Submissions
Platform, Photography Zainab Koli ‘15 At Home, Poetry Brian Balayon ‘16
Submissions
If I Gave You Flowers, Art Noel Du ‘17
Art Highlight I, Art Sabrina Cheng ‘17 On Being an Artist Anna Kim ‘15
On Visiting the High Line Jasmine Mahabir ‘17 Devjani Paul ‘17
Reviews
Philosophizing Anna Kim ‘15 Review: Unwind Vince Plascencia ‘17
Reviews
On Visiting The Cut Outs at the MET
Woman Reading Jiaxin Ying ‘18 La Perruche et la Sirène Noel Du ‘17
Culture Vulture
Cover By
Emily Chan ‘17
SUBMISSIONS
A tale of two rooms Andy Hua ‘15
As the final whistle blows, a thousand clicks can be heard two small rooms continually crammed Those of one heading home to hang their hats For this lucky group, the sun and moon never meet and only sorrowful tales of unrequited love paint their night skies For the other room, a group of moonwalkers, dreamers, fighters their desks are never clear notorious for their inhumane treatment of computers To this group the night sky does not mean anything productivity demands life and life it shall have and while the other room may sing its melodies of the romance of the sun and moon only they know the beauty of the light of day as it kisses the stars away
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SUBMISSIONS
COst
Ashton Santo ’15
Medusa in water color
Lianna Rada ‘16
Issue N°3
In Order to Face This World Clarisse Tam ‘17
Back when we were younger We could have faced the world, And anything it threw at us, All without fear. Was it courage that drove us? Or sheer naivety?
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At home
SUBMISSIONS
Brian Balayon ‘16 A bitter draft waltzed Like knives grazing on my skin On that frigid night. Steam wafted upward Like spirits from my warm cup On that frigid night. Enrobed in blankets, I lie enchanted, enchained On that frigid night. Crackling dancers Glimmered warm shades from afar On that frigid night. My eyes slowly shut As the snow began to fall On that frigid night.
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Platform
Zainab Koli ‘15
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SUBMISSIONS
if i gave you flowers
Noel Du ‘17
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Art highlight
On being an artist ANNA KIM ‘15
When it comes to art, what is seen by a larger audience of viewers is almost always only the finished product of the artist. Merely seeing this finished product hung on the walls of museums, displayed in galleries, or exhibited on pedestals, however, does not do justice to the true, comprehensive meaning of art. For a while, I understood only one aspect of art, the application of its fundamentals. Peers of mine have often questioned my rather dogmatic approach in art group sessions; all they wanted was, without thinking too much, to pick up a medium and create art. I have come to realize that art is more than just brushstrokes, more than just penciled sketches, more than just an assemblage of various media on a surface. That perhaps the greater, more important part of art is really just thinking. Thinking. Understanding. Assessing. These words tie very closely with the fundamentals of art-- more than, say, the aesthetic impact an artwork may have on a viewer. What astounded me is how complex art really is--as much as art is a visual study, it is also an intellectual, compelling viewers to look at art not for its surface qualities, but also its technical and expressive significance.
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I
SABRINA CHENG ‘17
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on visiting The bitter breeze engulfed my body and seeped through the three layers of clothing I wore, shooting shivers throughout my body. Puffs of air escaped my lips as I looked around, camera in hand, for the next victims to capture, such as the couple by the railing immersed in their own world, kissing and giggling. I stood at the center of the High Line, taking in the scenery and essence it held. In the winter, the Brooklyn High Line may not seem like much, but if you look a little closer, you’ll find little pieces of beauty at each corner. Like the plants that manage to stay alive despite the piles of snow shoved upon them. Or the red bird posing for the camera as it keeps itself safe in the middle of a berry bush. I crouched down, getting my knees wet, attempting to capture the lonely bench that looked outward toward the Hudson River. At that moment, I felt at peace, at ease. This was my domain and I enjoyed getting lost with my camera, trying to acquire the perfect angle, the perfect lighting, the perfect photograph. I don’t get many chances to go into the city and photograph its smallest details, but when I do, I try to make it worthwhile. This outing to the Highline was an experience that will remain among my better memories. - Devjani Paul ‘17
im ‘16
Nicholas Rah
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THE HIGH LINE
Jasmine Mah
abir ‘17
Though it was a chilly day, it was worth getting my fingers numb to take pictures at the High Line. As soon as I walked up the stairs, I could not take my eyes off the breathtaking view of the Hudson River. I immediately grabbed my camera out of its case and took a few shots at different angles. After analyzing the photos, I realized that I hadn’t captured the river’s beauty, being so far away from it. However, “the park in the sky” had numerous other enthralling subjects worth capturing. As I continued forward on the beautiful walkway, many winter plants caught my attention. I would stop for a moment to crouch on the ground and get a close up shots. I ended up with countless images of plants, so I knew I had to mix things up a bit. After more walking, I finally found a tiny bird hidden among some berries and I thanked the heavens for the opportunity. With the right framing and lighting, the photograph came out beautifully, and I felt a rewarding sensation. At the end of the day, photography isn’t an easy thing to do. It’s time-consuming and there’s a lot of thought that goes into the composition of an image. Not to mention that photographers have to endure all types of weather conditions, in order to obtain “good” photographs. My experience at the High Line allowed me to appreciate a photographer’s duty and the satisfaction of getting that perfect photograph. - Jasmine Mahabir ‘17
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REFLECTIONS
Philosophizing Anna Kim ‘15
My knowledge of human nature, behavior, and relationships used to be but spoonfed series’ of truths; the more that I inherited these assumptions, the more I felt like a bottomless cup that could never be filled without a logical justification of its contents. My dissatisfaction with being fed the products of a dynamic society without learning about its invisible catalysts, foundations, and framework burned within me a passion to understand human nature, behavior, and relationships through a more fundamental and analytic approach. Examining humankind through biological and social lenses provides the tools necessary for my endeavors, observing and learning about people, especially in regard to religion. For me, faith itself is not as important as its origins, the mentality of its believers, and its current stance within a society that’s both religiously diverse and heavily secular. I was never content with the answers I received from the Roman Catholics; doubt ignited a passion within me to question, seek, and learn about humans, and the relationships they form. I have been inspired to trace everything societal into a comprehensive manifestation of origins, patterns, and norms. Through psychological and anthropological lenses, I hope to find something substantial that explains how we as humans make sense of our lives. It is an endeavor that I feel does not have a definite culmination of some sort, which makes the journey to get to a conclusion all the more interesting and compelling.
Review: Unwind by Neal Shusterman Vince Plasencia ‘18
Neal Shusterman’s Unwind takes place in a dystopian future in which a governmentinstituted accord known as “unwinding” has come into practice; the novel explores a world where parents can have their misbehaving children disassembled, their body parts then being used for medical purposes. The structure of Unwind is what makes it stand out among other novels in this genre. Shusterman tells the story from multiple perspectives, the most prominent ones being those of the central characters, Connor, Risa, and Lev. Connor is hotheaded, Risa is rational, and Lev is self-righteous; these contrasting personalities provide the reader with a larger understanding of the plot that’s not hindered by bias. The constantly shifting perspectives also keeps the reader engaged. What truly captivated me about the book is the grotesque process of “unwinding.” More specifically, the uncertainty of whether or not an unwound child is truly alive or not. The author explores this idea by introducing one of the most unique characters I’ve ever seen, Cyrus “CyFi” Finch, who received some brain tissue from an unwound child, whose personality traits Cyrus exhibits. The concept is fascinating but it’s the characters that really make this novel so powerful. With a unique concept and powerful characters, Unwind is truly a worthwhile read.
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REFLECTIONS
Woman Reading Jiaxin Ying ‘18
The first thing that I noticed about Henri Matisse’s Woman Reading was its color— the work depicts a woman sitting in a chair, her back facing the rest of the room. My attention was not drawn to the color because of its vibrancy. In fact, it was very much the opposite; Matisse uses a darker and duller palette. This artistic decision creates a sense of tranquility. The forest greens, amber browns, and dark blacks work together to create an aesthetically pleasing composition. If this painting had been done with brighter hues, the effect would be much different. It reminds me of how people usually feel when they are absorbed in a good book. The calmness created by the colors suggests a quietness, the same kind created when the book drowns out the rest of the world. Perhaps the subject of this artwork is not reading a book of fiction; perhaps she is holding a journal of some sort that holds memories. This painting makes you wonder what exactly the woman is reading, who she is, and what her story is. Although the name of the piece is simple, the painting itself is complex. There is a story behind this moment in time caught by the dark and dull brushstrokes. Woman Reading is an interesting work of Matisse’s, on many different levels. What sets Woman apart from his other oil paintings is his choice of colors. The story that the painting presents also makes it unique and captivating. Matisse does a great job of first pulling the viewers in, then letting them dive even deeper through curiosity.
La Perruche et la Sirène
Noel Du ‘17
French artist Henri Matisse was known for creating scenery, decoration, and portraits through collaging. Upon first viewing his works, I was immediately intrigued. As a collagist myself, I was drawn by the protrusive colors and meandering shapes into a familiar yet awe-inspiring world. I would work with many different materials– newspapers, magazines, trash I found interesting—and hole up in my room, often with wrapping paper, tin foil, dried plants, and the like. But Matisse’s quaint gouache and paper brought two major ideas I had neglected up to the palette, which were the uses of space and simplicity in creating a complicated piece. La Perruche et la Sirène, or The Parakeet and the Mermaid, featured at the MoMA, consists of varyingly colored pomegranates and leaves arranged on a white background. The parakeet and the mermaid, positioned at opposite ends of the canvas, are the only figures that appear once in the piece. I was amazed by his use of balance between negative and positive space, creating a maze-like feel, wherein the parakeet and mermaid are the tied focuses. It is the amassing of simple shapes within solid colors that generate intricacy in this work of art. With one hand brandishing a magazine clipping and the other wielding a glue stick, I am constantly hovering over different areas of a work in different positions, wondering what sort of effect a miniscule scrap of paper can have on an overall piece. I have come to believe that Matisse is one of those glue stick-wielding geniuses – he has a vision for his desired outcome, patience for the process, and a heart for reckless creativity.
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culture vulture (n.): a person who is very interested in the arts, especially to an obsessive degree “Exploring France: Oil Sketches from the Thaw Collection” The Morgan Library and Museum January 13 - October 4
Fashioning the Body: An Intimate History of the Silhouette
“How Shakespeare Works: A Free Night Course” Cooper Union, Great Hall Every Monday Until May 11
Bard Graduate Center April 3 - July 26
‘Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe’ New World Stages Continuing
DanceAfrica 2015
Brooklyn Academy of Music May 22 - May 25
China: Through the Looking Glass
Washington Sq. Outdoor Art Exhibit
The Metropolitan Museum of Art May 7 - August 16
iPop: Social Commentary
Uptown Arts Stroll
West 155th Street to West 220th Street May 28 - June 30
Avant Gallery Ongoing
A Human Being Died that Night Brooklyn Academy of Music Most nights at 7:30 in June
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On the sidewalks of University Place from East 13th St. to NYU’s Schwartz Plaza May 23, 24, 25, 30, and 31
Yoko Ono: One Woman Show, 1960-1971
MoMA May 17 September 7
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Issue N째3
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calendar of events April Reading April 17th
Art Outing April 25h
May Reading May 15th
Photography Outing May 29th
Final Outing June 12th
contact us EMAIL US AT THHSPHOENIX@GMAIL.COM FOR ALL INQUIRIES. CONTACT YELENA DZHANOVA OR KRISTINE GUILLAUME FOR ANY INQUIRIES.
www. thhsphoenix.org
townsend harris phoenix
the phoenix at townsend harris hs
@townsendharrisphoenix
@thephoenixthhs
the phoenix thhs
To be eligible for publication in this year’s final edition of The Phoenix, submit any and all of your artwork, photography, poetry, and prose via email to thhsphoenix@gmail.com by 11:59 P.M. on April 31, 2015.