Beyond STEM: Fine Arts League recognizes young artistic talent

STEM careers, known as "Science, Technology, Engineering and Math", is a path more students are encouraged to follow.

The Fine Arts League of Cary believes artistic expression is just as deserving of recognition. A special art exhibition offers cash awards for the best young artists.

The Frankie G. Weems Art Gallery at Meredith College offers Wake County artists from grades 9 to 12 the chance to display their most creative work.

Sarah Redpath, chair of FALC, “Fine Arts League of Cary”, said, “The arts really need a community to support it and certainly, we need our creative problem solvers in this world. More and more, we need our creative artists.”

The league helps promising young students like Else Madsen a chance to show her skills to a broader audience. Madsen, a sophomore at Greene Level High School explained her painting, “It's a self portrait and there is the ocean and the background, sort of like a collage going on. It's very exciting. It helps me with ideas about what I want to do in the future.”

The gallery displays a wide variety of styles like a realistic looking three cherry sundae painting. Other styles include ceramics. Another is best described as a pencil portrait of a crowd screaming.

Mariam Lansari, also from Greene Level High School, was born to paint. “I've been into art as long as I can remember ever since I've been real little, i just like making stuff,” said Lansari.

The students encourage each other and help when needed. The team up to arrange a colorful painting of friends on a bed, lying down reading books.

Aditya Bharti, aa sophomore at Greene Level H.S. says he is is focused on fine details of his work like a garden path surrounded by lush greenery. He said, “I like to go for realism, hyper realism, things like that. That's always been my stile.

Eshah Macha, a senior at Greene Level H.S. majors in gothic design with a focus on culture and identity. Her’s was an image of an “Alice in Wonderland” scene, with Macha’s likeness playing the role.  She said, “That's a way that I can make my artwork more unique but i can also connect myself in each piece that I make.”

"FALC" will award close to $10-thousand dollars in prize money to artists. Meredith College offers three $1-thousand dollar scholarships for winning students.

Redpath said, “We are getting the word out and we have been able to give students the opportunities to continue their journey and be rewarded for their wonderful creative work.”