Each month we spotlight a teen at CPL.
Isabel Z.'s entry in the 2016-17 Teen Winter Challenge stood out because of her earnest effort to learn various art technique and experiment with different mediums, such as charcoal, acrylic and pen. Her portfolio included a magical bird, a graveyard, and an image of Harley Quinn accompanied by a remarkable personal statement, which added context and deeper appreciation for her selected works, made Isabel's entry stand out.
Isabel's majestic bird was made while experimenting with mixing acrylic paint and glitter. She was originally planning on making a cardinal, but ended up developing a phoenix-like bird, instead, which she said is often how art is a result of something unplanned; more ideas come into her head, and she alters plans.
Isabel was named the first runner-up for the Young Artist’s Award, which means she will be awarded a $50 gift card to Blick Art Materials. The 2016-17 Teen Winter Challenge Jury included:
- Ade Abioye of Chicago Public Library's Teen Services Department
- Christine Bespalec-Davis, Education and Programming Manager at the National Veteran's Art Museum
- Hillary Cook, Assistant Director of Youth Programming at the Art Institute of Chicago
- Joel Javier, Education Manager at Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
- Joshua Slater, Teen Programming Manager at Hyde Park Art Center
- Matt Egan of Chicago Public Library's Literature and Language Department
- Robin Willard of Chicago Public Library's Teen Services Department
- Sasha Neri of Chicago Public Library's Maker Lab and General and Information Services Department
