AISHA OLASEWERE

Visual Arts Department

Topographic Weaves

Three cicurlar weaves composed of textured yarn all enclosed by wooden embroidery hoops.

2020

Wooden embroidery hoops, Warp string, and Yarn

17in x 17in

8" in diameter

6" in diameter

7" in diameter

For my senior piece, I decided to diverge from my normal work that could be characterized as two-dimensional illustrations and instead experiment with a process I was vastly unfamiliar with: weaving. When I began, my main intent was to produce a piece that I would have fun with throughout the process of creation; therefore, I was less focused on the conceptual idea and more focused on the relaxing aspect of making it. In the past, I dabbled in weaving and, to my surprise, found it to be an extremely relaxing process. Rather than following a traditional rectangular weave, I took inspiration from fiber artists Tammy Kanat and Emily Nicolaides who use circular frames, or embroidery hoops, to produce circular weaves. This alteration accentuated the therapeutic nature of the weaving process because it became a continuous process in which there were no hard ends where one might normally turn around and go back and forth in a repetitive manner.

My process began by placing a small metal ring in the center of the wooden hoop and using warp string to form the metaphorical skeleton base. This first step was often the most difficult because it required precision and accuracy. What followed was the bulk of the weaving: from a traditional over-under thread to implementing the “rya knot,” I alternated between colors as I switched between techniques. For all three weaves, I varied both the colors and yarn texture, ranging from being smooth and thin to rough and thick, to create distinct pieces. While creating each individual weave, I made a large effort to focus on experimentation by trying out different techniques and blending various colors together to ensure each felt very unique from the others, forming a diverse collection.

THE Gals

NAHS with the homies

sunrise @ the beach

Dear Class of 2020 ...

After four years of hard work, consuming projects, art shenanigans, and tons of procrastination sessions, we made it! I still haven't learned my lesson on procrastination, but, then again, everything still worked out.

Thank you Dreyfoos for pushing me far out of my comfort zone and showing me what I am capable of. Thank you to my art teachers who remained consistent in challenging my creativity. And most of all, thank you to my friends who kept me laughing through the good and bad. I will definitely miss being immersed in a community full of self-motivated, talented, and inspiring students. I am eternally grateful for the past four years and especially the last couple months we spent at Dreyfoos before the school year came to a halt and I was left longing to return.

Looking back, I am so happy I learned to let go and embrace the unique culture that is Dreyfoos. I've learned so much about who I am and how far I can push myself. I truthfully feel so much more capable and confident in my abilities from all of the joys and challenges I encountered at Dreyfoos.

To all, thank you SO much for making these past four years such a transformative chapter in my life. I can't wait to see you all at the reunion and until then, peace out :)

the day we won the pep rally

city place lunch

DIC project, iykyk

Valentines Day <3

piggy back rides

a trip to the 80s

DEAR CLASS OF 2021

Dear Class of 2021,

First off, congratulations on finally reaching senior year! I know it has been no easy feat considering the trials and tribulations we’ve encountered over the past couple months. As you enter the last chapter of your high school career, I hope you make the most of your experience, keep up your academic momentum, and, most importantly, prioritize spending quality time with your friends and family.

Coming into Dreyfoos, I struggled to find my rhythm in creating work. I felt burnt out from the three years of structured art school at Bak and I constantly wondered whether I should switch to a regular school where art would feel more like a hobby than work. To my surprise, I found I was not alone in these sentiments---many of my peers also faced the same perplexing question. Realizing we were collectively all in the same boat, I finally chose to embrace my Dreyfoos experience and simply appreciate it for what it was. So, in case you have had similar questions, I would like for you to push those reservations aside and just enjoy your last amazing year at Dreyfoos!

As a student, I was really quite shy and introverted. In class, I always hesitated before answering questions and I dreaded presentations. Though I always felt nervous in these situations, I did not let it impede my academic performance nor my desire to better myself. Instead, it motivated me to work harder and get over these fears. I strengthened my commitment to volunteering because it was something that never failed to put a smile on my face. By deepening my presence in the community, I was able to assume larger leadership roles that helped distance me from my fear of public speaking. Rather than devoting myself to numerous activities to lengthen my resume, I focused on a few activities that I really loved and felt passionate about. So, your take away from my experience is to remember continuity and quality over quantity ALWAYS!

As your senior year approaches, I’d like to give my own two cents! While I could easily say “it is important you start your college applications early,” I won’t. Rather than focusing on the rigid prompts and technical aspects of the application, I recommend you start reflecting on your life experiences in a broad manner. Think about moments in your life that had a significant role in shaping the person you are today. Describe the people who taught you invaluable life lessons. Jot down your favorite hobbies and the things that you make you happiest. Really, in essence, all I am saying is you should spend time getting to know YOU! As cheesy as that sounds, the best way for you to approach the college app season is with sincerity and vulnerability. It is easy to grow overwhelmed in the midst of the college season so by entering it with a solid concept of how you hope to portray yourself to admission officers, this process will feel a little less daunting. In order to compose an application that best represents every aspect of your identity, you need to get to the core of who you are to wholeheartedly answer essay prompts.

When it comes to choosing colleges, don’t let anyone else's opinions influence your own. Choose schools you see yourself thriving at, ignoring the rank or status that school may hold. What matters most is that you are HAPPY where you spend the next four years of your life! Everyone’s path is different so don’t feel pressure to conform to the masses. On the flip side, if you really want to attend a top university, have confidence in yourself and know you have what it takes. No matter where you end up, know you were accepted to whichever school because it was a good fit and that all rejections were not a stab at your worth, but simply indicators that you would be happier elsewhere.

To wrap up, I’d like to give you one last, and maybe cliched, piece of advice: stop stressing. I spent a lot of time stressed about things that were out of my control which was such a waste of time because when has stressing ever changed your circumstances? Never. So instead I encourage you to enjoy every precious, present moment. But that is not to say you shouldn't keep up the hard work and lose momentum---the finish line is in sight! Make sure to do what makes you happy and good luck on completing your apps. You’ve got this!

Aisha Olasewere

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