Art

These pieces were inspired by my desire to discover more about people and wondering what we all have in common. I wanted to express the words that we don’t say out loud but can be conveyed in our facial expressions. The painting titled Holes depicts a worn, old man but parts of his face are cut out to represent how life at times can tear holes through people and create scars. However, beyond the pain, there still exists happiness as shown by serene scenery past the canvas. For Silenced, I wanted to express how at times I felt like no words could express the emotions I was feeling, bound by inexplicable ropes, as some other girls may also feel. Thus, I wanted people to know that even if our words can be silenced, our art will not be.

Joy Xie is a junior at Mountain Lakes High School and lives in a small town in northern New Jersey. She enjoys painting and reading in her free time, developing a passion for these hobbies as a young girl. She has been published in Celebrating Arts, Aerie International, and AIPF and has received awards in Scholastic Arts and Writing.

This photo was taken as I walked from my Grandma’s apartment in New Delhi to a nearby market. I saw this man selling many fruits and vegetables, all piled up and carefully balanced. He pushes his cart of produce outside each apartment complex and waits for people exiting the apartment to purchase his goods. My grandma mentioned how she often looks out over the balcony of her apartment, and when she sees this vendor or another one, she heads down to the street to buy food. I like the way this photo turned out because it shows what a typical city street in bustling New Delhi looks like. I also like the punchy colors of the oranges, bananas, and coconuts in the photo and how the photo captures the entrepreneurial sprit of many of the street vendors.

Varun Tandon is a junior at Homestead High School in Cupertino, California. He was born in California to Indian immigrant parents and has visited India annually since his youth. The influence of these annual trips can be seen in the photography he takes. A technology enthusiast, he believes that aesthetic is as important as functionality, spurring his interest in photography and graphic design. Whether he is biking with friends, eating dinner with his relatives, or running alone, Varun always carries a camera, ready to capture the moment.