VISUAL ARTSHere are this year's 18 submissions to the Celebration Media contest
arthur lipscomb
I'm always trying to paint about creative stories and fantasy, and demonstrate a sort of realization of the wonders of our world through an artistic eye, as seen through my creature painting (octopus-like creature). Like George Washington Carver, I'm a believer in pushing creative boundaries. I think it's really special to have a creative mind and I think creativity is contagious and it inspires people. Technology alone without creative minds is not enough for the world to move forward and advance. I'm a strong believer in creativity and thinking out of the box.
I hope you'll also take a few moments to enjoy my poem "The Creature" - a Sailor Man's Tale.
Just click on the title.
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Or just click HERE.
cindy wang
His words encourage us to actively use our minds whenever we think we may have new ideas to creatively compute. It also serves as a reminder that we shouldn’t doubt some of our creative ideas as they very much as well have potential too.
corinne luczak
My piece "Part of the Corps" is about a collaboration of dancers who are in the corps du ballet. I was inspired to create the piece by my fellow dancers and friends. My experience of being a part of various forms of art has allowed me to further stimulate all of my creative endeavors. This piece is a culmination of everything that I have learned from my arts and the people around me. I find it essential to gain knowledge and creative inspiration from the people who surround me and to be able to express that in my work.
D'Zyire warner
New ideas only happen because people think creatively, so we should support and encourage creative people. My artwork reflects this by showing how storytelling can protect identity and preserve culture. Through the story of Brer Rabbit, I show how African American communities used creativity to resist oppression and pass down knowledge. The protective circle and ancestral symbols represent how imagination and heritage continue to guard and guide future generations.
Derrian bolden
To me his words mean that creativity breeds innovation and change. George Washington Carverās words remind me that creativity is not just about making something new, but about daring to imagine beyond the limits placed on you. When he says new developments come from creative minds, heās talking about the courage it takes to create in spaces that donāt welcome you, to push past boundaries that were never meant to include you. His call to encourage that kind of mind is what drives my work, especially this piece.
This photograph places two Black women performing ballet-inspired movement in the middle of a grocery store aisle; an ordinary, fluorescent-lit space that, much like the traditional ballet world, was never built with them in mind. By arching, reaching, and extending with such controlled grace, they transform a mundane environment into an unexpected stage, asserting their right to exist and create wherever they choose. In this way, the piece reflects George Washington Carverās belief that new developments arise from creative minds and that we must nurture those minds in every way possible. To me, his words speak to the power of creativity to break barriers, to carve out space in environments that overlook or underestimate you. This work embodies that idea by showing Black women not only adapting to a space that wasnāt made for them, but reshaping it through presence, discipline, and artistry; turning an aisle meant for products into a place for possibility."
eliot-anne hanum
This piece explores my experience with art block, and creativity when creating art, and the final feeling of euphoria from finding meaning in one's work.
hana oishi
My work represents what primarily encourages me to think and create art which is looking at people and looking at different types of art that other people make. I interpreted his words as encouragement towards supporting people to think and create uniquely because this support results in innovation.
iris Desyatnikov
I think that this means that oneās mind is always ready and always had the potential to generate ideas, it just needs to be inspired in order for ideas to flow.
jayden boyd
The fostering of creativity allows for the fabrication of new developments and intellect, a new step to achieving greatness.
Jemimah udoh
It means that creative minds aid in the creation of new innovations and change the world. My art challenges the usual norms of portraits and although it lacks deep meaning, it conveys emotions felt as I go through the school year. Though not always positive, it shows the hard work required to perform well at Carver. (The art submitted is titled Going Bananas, as due to the end of the year, I felt quite the same.) One day, many of the students at Carver will make a big change in the world.
Julia del rosario
In āA Moment of Overwatchā painting, my family members are the products of my creative mind, more like the objects of my desire to create art. In other words, I interpreted George Washington Carverās quote that to any individual, family members hold such great importance, to an extent, that they are the significant vessel to our success, life, and creativity. Parental figures. Young teen adults, like me, are the new developments curated from the products. Thus, the weight of the parental figure that is passed on through generations mustnāt go to waste. Therefore, new developments should be strongly encouraged to continue the product's influence on the story onto yours. Specifically, I belong to a traditional Filipino family that prioritizes success.
Reflecting on George Washington Carver's words, my work depicts my father, who arrives from work, overseeing me as I sculpt my brother being watched over by the same parental figure, in the same situation I am currently in, curious to see both of his children's choices of success. In particular, the watchful eye of my father symbolizes the weight of expectations that he carries, along with his role as a product of his own imaginative yet creative spirit, which drives him to aspire for success at work, depicted by his work attire. Similarly, in the present moment, inspired by my fatherās symbolic curiosity and encouraging presence, it influences my creative motives, where creativity is not just an alternative path but a vital part of achieving success. Shown by the overflow of other sculptures and various paintings Iāve created that depict familial heritage, exceeding expectations, and individual narratives. Channeling inspiration and the message to all individuals to reflect that honoring these traditions doesn't mean sacrificing individuality. Instead, it can be a powerful foundation for personal growth, development, and realization that creative minds can stem from family. Making lineage of creativity crucial. Otherwise, in the back, my brother watches over my father and me, as heād just experienced the simultaneous scenario of being overwatched by the head of the family. Serving this mirrored experience as a reminder that each generation should build upon the dreams and aspirations of those who came before to show that the creative spirit is not just preserved but enlivened for future developments.
leah Abramov
Without creativity, there'd be nothing: no art, no science, no thriving society, and no drive to develop oneself. My work reflects the endless possibilities that creativity brings. With each arm representing a new prospective endeavor, my potential rises as high as the stars in the night sky. My lived experiences paint my sense of self with ideas, as I wear clothes as white as a blank canvas. Creativity is inherently unbound, and the more one attempts to grow into their full potential, the more daunting the task becomes. I painted this to explore a notion of my future, the embodiment of shoes I had not yet filled. My future self is still me, and exists based on my own experiences. I will continue to seek inspiration in every way the world affects me, to not only make art, but to develop as an individual and encourage others to do the same.
Matilda (tilly) myers
I have found through attending Carver Center that what really inspires my creativity is all the other creative people that attend this school. Being a visual art student It is always so easy for me to talk to not only other amazing creatives in my prime, but also creatives from different primes and focuses. It's not uncommon for me to make creative projects with people from all different primes. In this piece I collaborated with a dance prime student (Penelope Weir, dance prime '27) to create a photograph about the juxtaposition between masculinity and femininity. Being at this school just gives you a constant sense of inspiration and motivation to expand your talents further.
Oluwasemilore Olumuyiwa
Other people have always been at the center of my work. My ideas are shaped through conversations, shared images, late-night messages, and moments of connection that happen both in real life and online. The phone, often dismissed as a source of distraction or addiction, has been one of my most consistent creative tools, allowing me to discover new perspectives, exchange or even make ideas with friends, and feel close to others even when physically alone. These interactions are what stimulate my curiosity and imagination. Personally, this is how creativity grows when the mind is encouraged and engaged rather than isolated.
In this piece, I use bright, warm, neon colors and a vibrant and intimate composition to reflect the emotion that comes from connection and creative exchange. The hand reaching for the phone represents the tool that stimulates a source of ideas or inspiration. Notifications dinging, first thing in the morning, groggy, full of untapped conversations unfolding, and inspiration emerging from everyday moments. Surrounding the central figure are personal objects like plushies and posters, and a messy room, which ground the work in intimacy and individuality. These familiar items represent comfort, self-expression, and the private environments where creativity often begins.
For me, creativity is nurtured through connection, through people, shared interests, and the willingness to engage, to interact. This piece is a reflection of this, honoring the ways creativity is formed through closeness, encouragement, and the freedom to explore who we are and how we relate or communicate with others. That, when we stimulate each otherās creativity through shared ideas, supportive environments, and tools that enable expression, we create space for growth, innovation, and new ways of seeing. This work shows that creativity flourishes when it is encouraged in every possible way. Through comfort, color, connection, and the freedom to explore both ourselves and the world around us
Oluwaseun Olumuyiwa
This piece, titled āLand Ho!ā details a small version of myself who has crossed the vast ocean. My binder-boat is battered, worn, and covered in doodles, evidence of my long journey in education. At long last, I have reached an island, only for it to be the deadly senior year.
In this binder, exists drawings representative of the various thoughts crossing my mind inside and outside of the classroom. Drawing on papers is sometimes seen as evidence of distraction, but on the contrary, it is proof that a mind is at work, that a diligent student is connecting ideas, has an engaged memory, and a creative mind. Inside class, students on their journey of education may feel that at this stage in high school, they are merely trudging along until graduation, but our community is full of students with bright ideas and deep feelings that go beyond sleep deprivation or stress. The drawings on the back of your papers, and the countless mechanical pencils in your bag is evidence of your determination and your hard work to keep yourself afloat. These tools are our academic weapons. We use them in the classroom but also in each endeavor we partake in. In short, creativity is a necessity in every aspect of our lives. It is because of this that we students can grow. We must foster creativity to foster growth. It is tremendously important that as students, we push our individuality and creativity to the forefront. Expressing your uniqueness is the truest you can be to yourself and others. This will, in turn, allow for personal growth, progression, and the development of your desired future.
sweetness David-Adesua
To me, that means that creativity should be continuously appreciated for the things it can bring, rather than limited or put downāand this can be reflected almost perfectly in the theme behind my work. My piece, a 32" x 24" graphite drawing, is titled "Artistic Licence," and represents "the freedom to do, just because you can," or what I call "artistic freedom." The randomness of the pose draws your eye around the piece in the way a conventional sitting, or standing pose wouldn't, and that is further emphasized by the worm's eye view perspective created from using an angle in environment and figure. It was my first time doing something like this, yet because I was given the freedom to choose my own medium, concept, and how I created my work, I was able to make something like this out of just an idea. If the Wright brothers weren't supported in the creation of their first plane, would aero technology be as advanced as it is now? And If Nikola Tesla's ideas for the Tesla tower were shunned, would we have electricity? Creativity is evolution, and with evolution comes things that we all benefit from, and that is artistic freedom. The freedom to do, just because you can.
Syanne blades
George Washington Carver's words suggest that progress begins with nurturing creativity, especially in communities where innovation has often been overlooked. My work reflects this by using creative reimagining to question systems like wealth, labor, and success, showing how new possibilities can emerge when imagination is encouraged. Carver's goal was to uplift and progress the Black community through creative thinking, and my work parallels this by using art as a way to reclaim agency, redefine value, and imagine advancement beyond traditional measures of success.
For this piece titled āC.R.E.A.Mā (Cash Rules Everything Around Me) I made a high-angle perspective to replicate the smallness and emptiness the subject feels. I dressed the figure in work clothes with their heels thrown to the side to convey exhaustion. Sheās holding a money stack to her ear (so she's wealthy, maybe even successful), but she's not happy. Cash rules everything in her world.
This piece uses symbolism to critique hustle culture by showing that money and constant work do not guarantee happiness. By creatively challenging the idea that progress equals productivity, the work reflects Carverās belief that new developments come from rethinking harmful systems and imagining healthier paths forward for the Black community.
Tatiana tabora
George Washington Carver's words, to me mean that with every new wave and change in society, there was someone at the start of it who first questioned the way things already were and did something different. Therefore, we must encourage and nurture those who follow that path of cognitive dissonance. My work reflects Washington Carver's words because I am choosing to lead public awareness and judgement for our current ignorant society. Rather than accepting or ignoring the inhumane treatments of certain groups of people like majority of the public is, I'm speaking out for the truth, the violence, and the victims. The creative minds didn't stay silent, and they didn't let comfortability keep them from progressing and creating those new developments, so neither am I.