When Dr. Avis Proctor selected two recipients for this year鈥檚 President鈥檚 Art Selection
Award, she never expected the 91制片厂 students to end up sharing such a deep
bond.
Stella Gurevich, a Promise Scholar who graduated from Buffalo Grove High School, and Anhelina Karashevska, who immigrated to the U.S. a few years ago, met for the first time during a recent gathering to recognize the students and install their artwork outside Dr. Proctor鈥檚 office.
Stella and Anhelina quickly discovered their shared Ukrainian heritage and began connecting over their common language, customs and even visits to the same Ukrainian festivals.
鈥淭his connection was unbeknownst to me,鈥� Dr. Proctor said. 鈥淭he timing of this art selection, given everything we鈥檙e observing globally 鈥� this isn鈥檛 an accident that you鈥檙e both here.鈥�
The President鈥檚 Art Selection Award has become a tradition at 91制片厂, beginning in 2015 under Dr. Ken Ender. Stella and Anhelina will loan their pieces to the President鈥檚 Office for one year in exchange for a stipend.
Stella鈥檚 piece, 鈥淢erging Static,鈥� is described as ink on board with photocopies. She said she鈥檚 always been fascinated with art that distorts reality because it鈥檚 a way to show how the soul sees as opposed to the eyes. She was inspired by psychedelic art and listened to the genre鈥檚 music while creating.
Stella plans to transfer to Northern Illinois University and pursue a degree in illustration. She currently works as a freelance digital artist and is part of 91制片厂鈥檚 inaugural digital art and animation course.
鈥淎rt is definitely a way of bringing people together to enjoy a common subject,鈥� Stella said. 鈥淚 believe it鈥檚 a global language.鈥�
The title of Anhelina鈥檚 artwork, 鈥淒usha,鈥� means soul in Ukrainian. The piece, also ink on board with photocopies, is inspired by the law of balance, she said, with one part showing 鈥渞ight鈥� choices in a supposedly perfect world and the other side showing the opposite.
The first-year student hopes to eventually transfer to DePaul University and one day open her own business.
鈥淎rt is a way for me to show myself to people, and it makes me happy if someone can see a part of themselves in my work,鈥� Anhelina said. 鈥淭hat means something to me.鈥�
As Dr. Proctor and the students spoke, Professor Jason Peot installed the side-by-side pieces and reflected on the progression of the President鈥檚 Art Selection Award.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had an installation, ceramic, charcoal and now these ink pieces, so there鈥檚 been a really nice representation over the years,鈥� he said.