Into the Art Wing: Mr. Cupano and Ms. Zilinski

How do creativity and imagination shape students at John Jay? Two of our very own art teachers share their experiences in the classroom, their passion for their craft, and the origins of said passion.

Mr. Cupano and Ms. Zilinski are both individuals who bring their best to school every day and do everything they can to ensure students are excited and ready to learn. Within John Jay, it is imperative that we recognize and appreciate those who make it their priority to do good within our school community. When you first walk into their classrooms, you are immediately welcomed with open arms, and are encouraged to share your creativity in unique, exciting ways. 

Mr. Cupano teaches two main art electives, Studio in Art and Sculpture. He brings something new to the table, not only try to keep students’ love for art growing, but also to inspire students who don’t create as often to find their style. His love for art began during his years at Roy C. Ketcham High School and he recalls spending most of his time in the art classroom getting wrapped up in his projects. He discovered his love for making art, and wanted to share that with young people who have the same. He continued, talking about how much he loves teaching high school students: “I always liked being around young people because they have energetic personalities and fresh ways of looking at the world and art.” He continues to learn and grow from his students, by coming up with new and engaging ways to keep his students interested and inspired. 

Mr. Cupano creates a fun space to learn in. He shared that his favorite project to teach is the group portrait painting, where students get to interact with peers and create a collaborative, shared piece with fellow classmates, combining each of their unique styles into one brilliant piece. When asked what advice he has for students who want to pursue a career in the arts, he responded, “Keep making the art you want to make, be around art and artists, and hopefully one day your career will allow you to continue that journey!” As an extra piece of insight, he ended our interview with, “Just make your art. No one else in the world can do that but you.” 

Alongside Mr. Cupano, Ms. Zilinski is always ready to teach in her unique ways. Ms. Zilinski teaches many art electives, such as Studio in Art, Advanced Art 1, Advanced Art 2, and AP Art. Her incredible skills and unique projects challenge her students to face new mediums they are not used to or uncomfortable using. 

Ms. Zilinski has a vibrant personality that makes her teaching exciting and fun to learn. Her one-on-one time with students caters to their specific needs within project guidelines, and allows her to offer great advice that improves the students' artwork dramatically. Ms. Zilinski shared how her passion for teaching began, saying, “I recognized early on that if you do it right, teaching gives you a lot of opportunities to play.” She explains how her early memories from her elementary school have inspired her to become the teacher she is today. “I like teaching people things where they can physically use their hands to solve problems,” she shared when asked about her teaching methods. Her skills and knowledge expand by learning from other teachers around her and using their creative teaching styles as inspiration. “I take a lot of classes in the summer, some in art, but I find I often learn the most by seeing how teachers teach other subjects. I watched an English teacher here lead a Socratic seminar, and it completely changed the way I led my art critiques.” She continued on, saying, “I watch cooking shows as well! I learn so much from them, and the methods they use relate directly to art demonstrations.” Ms. Zilinski is the perfect teacher to see if you have an interest in pursuing arts of any kind; she offers wise advice from her past experiences while giving encouraging words. “It’s a good career. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”  

With all that being said, the role of teachers extends far beyond the confines of the classroom. Teachers are not just educators, but mentors who help shape our personal growth throughout the school year. Memories made within the classrooms are some that will be cherished for years to come. The impact of a great teacher lasts a lifetime, and Mr. Cupano and Ms. Zilinski have surely made a positive one on the community here at John Jay.