Gabrielle Starnick

Digital Media

Tropiko

2020

Block printing ink, gold paint, acrylic paint

12 x 15 in.

My senior piece is a combination of all of the art I’ve been making in my senior year. It combines printmaking and painting, which are the two mediums I’ve been most interested in. The subject matter is plants because I’ve found that leaves are a common motif in the art I’ve made this year, and because they’re something I enjoy incorporating into my art. Overall, my senior piece is a representation of the art that’s made me happy this year, which is much different from the photography that I focused on in my three prior years of high school. This year I’ve started completely changing the intentions behind my art, deciding to create art that I’m passionate about rather than sticking to what I felt I was expected to make, and I think this piece showcases that fact.

They Were Freshmen (Oh my god they were freshmen!), 2016

Dear Class of 2020 ...

To the Class of 2020,

Thanks for all the memories. My four years at Dreyfoos have been some of the best years of my life. I'm so grateful for all of the opportunities I've been given here and all of the wonderful people I've met over the years. I can't imagine having gone to any other school, and I'm so proud to be graduating from a school like ours, with students like us. Even through all the ups and downs, the stress, drama, and sadness that comes with being in high school, my past four years have been the most important and exciting years of my life so far. The friends I've made here, past and present, and all the fun we've had are things I'll cherish for the rest of my life. Even if we've grown apart, I still hope you've had as much fun as I've had in my time at Dreyfoos, and I wish you good luck and happiness in this new chapter of your life. Thank you for being a part of my life, and thank you for being my friend. I'm so glad I've had the chance to grow and learn with all of you in our four years together, and I will never forget the memories we made as the Dreyfoos Class of 2020.

I'd also like to thank my teachers, especially Mrs Glosmanova, Ms Jahn, Mr Ruth, Mr Hesse, and Mr Stohr for constantly guiding me in the right direction and making my time at Dreyfoos so special.

Chaos in Mrs G's, 2016

Junior Blackout, 2019

Junior Prom, 2019

The Quartet Takes CityPlace, 2018

Pep Rally Senior Year, 2020

Sweet Sixteen, 2017

Views from the Building Nine Bathroom, 2020

Portrait in the Garden (2017)

DEAR CLASS OF 2021

Hi soon-to-be-seniors!

I'm sure junior year was exciting for you, just like mine was. You most likely took AP exams and the SAT or the ACT, so I'm sure you're looking forward to an easier year in your senior year, right? Well, if you manage your time wisely, and at least try to stay organized, your senior year might just be your best year yet!

I remember I was so excited that I got to have a free period in my senior year because I had all the math credits I needed. I thought I could finally relax with only 6 classes instead of the usual 7. But I learned pretty quickly that in order to stay on top of things you need to prioritize and use your time wisely. If you have a free period, use that time to work! It's better to get things done ahead of time than have to rush at the last minute and stress yourself out, or turn things in late. Senior year is stressful enough, the least you can do for yourself is manage your time.

The beginning of your senior year can be daunting. It feels like as soon as you walk onto campus in August, you're being bombarded with work, from Young Arts to the Summer Show, along with work from your academics and starting college applications. But as long as you keep motivated, you'll find you still have plenty of time to have fun in your senior year. I know for me, art block was a major problem for me at the beginning of the year because I was stuck in a concentration I had lost interest in, and it was making me lose motivation to make art. If you find yourself with this problem, my best advice would be to start making different work. It doesn't have to be related to your concentration, or even have any meaning at all. Make art that you like, art that's fun for you to create, and build from there.

Finally, above all else, enjoy your senior year! Cry, laugh, scream, have fun with your friends, make mistakes, stay up late, do things you might regret, do things you'll never forget, and make as many memories as you can. Because our class hasn't been able to experience all the things that make senior year so special, we hope you get to make twice the memories that we didn't get to!

XOXO,

Gabby Starnick, Dreyfoos Digital Media Class of 2020

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