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A TALE OF FAMILY AND FATE
A TALE OF FAMILY AND FATE
2020
Watercolor and ink
6" x 9" x 1"
When people learn that I am adopted, they always ask the same questions: “Do you know your birth parents?” “Are you going to try to find them?” “Do you remember your real family?”. The answer is always no. I was born in China, but my family is here. My mother was born in Ireland, but her family is here.
Even though my family is Irish, they embraced my Chinese heritage which really allowed me to be confident in my own identity. I took heavy inspiration from illuminated manuscripts, which are ornately decorated books made in Medieval times, largely by Irish monks. Because so many illuminated manuscripts were made in Ireland, they became heavily associated with Ireland’s extensive history. On the other hand, the imagery in my book is Chinese in nature with plenty of Chinese idioms, or "chengyus", that reflect the meaning of the adjacent text. On each page there is an animal, a pattern, and a plant. All of the animals and plants each have a specific meaning from Chinese history that also reflects back on the text they share the page with and the patterns are inspired by Chinese textiles. And thus, my Chinese and Irish influences are literally bound together into one package.
I think that people focus too much on blood relations - a mother doesn’t need to give birth in order to have a child. Love knows no bounds. Families can be mixed and blended, but love and acceptance serves as the glue that binds us together. Your family is the people who care about you, who love you no matter who you are, what you do, or where you go. I believe that the story is one that can be transposed onto any other family and its themes can be felt across the board no matter who you are or where you come from.
Dear Class of 2020 ...
Dear Class of 2020 ...
This year has been so mixed for me. It was the best and yet also the toughest year for me. But now that we're here, at the end I realized how fortunate I've been. This has been an incredible year and an incredible high school experience from black outs to spirit week to our little printmaking parties :) I have never been a social butterfly, but this year I really had the chance to change that and I cannot begin to thank the people around me who were so welcoming and nice to me this year.
All of us are going to go our separate ways, but the bond we've created here at Dreyfoos - that is never going to end. We're all on our own paths in life, but let's remember that we all started here together, that we made it through hell and back together, that we did it together.
Thank you
Halloween printmaking party!
Ayana you are, hands down, the FUNNIEST person I know and you legit always make me laugh
80's day!
Jose you are honestly amazing. Thank you for being there for me in my lowest moments. Everyone in this school is #blessed to know you
The picture I spent way too long making on Picsart
Noah, I didn't have a good photo of us together that was actually from high school. But seriously, you are the nicest person in this entire school thank you for spreading happiness wherever you go
DEAR CLASS OF 2021
DEAR CLASS OF 2021
All of you have lived through Junior year, probably your toughest year yet. So now you have to go into you senior year with your heads held up high. You only get what you put in when it comes to senior year. Even if you aren't the biggest school spirit kind of person, like I am, you should still participate in the events. You will never get the chance to be a part of something like your senior year ever again - so own that senior citizen day, work that safari look, go all out.
Of course, senior year isn't all fun and play. There is of course, COLLEGE to think about, no big deal. I seriously wish I had taken people's advice more to heart when I was a junior. Go to college fairs, talk to college reps, research colleges, VISIT CAMPUSES. Do these things in the summer when you're bored because once senior year starts in August you will have no time to do it then. Every one says it because it's true: Senior year flies by. You don't want to be that kid who didn't look at colleges until October and now you only have a month to apply. Seriously, don't be that kid. Start a notebook now and take notes on all of your college research so that it's all organized in one place. Organization will be key for your college process!
Even when the college application season ends, the stress of college won't. How will you pay for it? SCHOLARSHIPS! Apply for every single scholarship you hear about, I don't care if you don't want to write a 250 word essay, do it. If you can survive writing a 500-600 word art analysis for Ms. Van Reeth, you can deal with 250 words about why you don't want to pay for college. No matter how small a scholarship may seem, apply for it! You're going to very quickly realize how much something like 100 dollars really helps.
Most of this letter has been serious, and maybe a little daunting, but that's half of senior year. The other half is wild and fun and amazing. This is your senior year so do the things you were afraid to do before. Most of all, though:
Make it count!!
Signed a burnt-out senior on her way to college,
Lianna McDonald
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