Monica Chen Wins Coveted Patricia E. Martin Art Award
Monica Chen ‘27 was chosen as the winner of the Patricia E. Martin Amity Art Award with her work “Between Footsteps and Sky” on Thursday, May 21. This award has been a tradition for the past 37 years, honoring Martin, a former school librarian. It was her vision to unite the school community through the power of art in the library. Sponsored by the PTSO, this award recognizes outstanding student artwork and offers a $100 gift in exchange for the selected piece.
Chen explained her inspiration was based on the cottage on the cover of her piano sheet music binder. “‘Between Footsteps and Sky’ recognizes the ordinary,” she said. “There are so many things in life that we pass by and don't really notice that build up [in] everyday life, and they are all between footsteps (people) and the sky (the vastness of nature).
“On the main house, I originally intended to have cohesive, blended walls, but the paint dried before I could blend everything together which led to a patchy effect. Despite being initially irritated by it, I realized that it actually created a nice antique effect, which eventually turned out to be an integral part of pulling the piece together,” she added.
The watercolor style was a challenge for her because of the time needed for it to dry, “Getting precise, lifelike details was another challenge, as my canvas was small and the ink I used had a very tiny tip,” she said.
Chen herself was surprised to win the award, understanding that there were many qualified artists at Amity who all were worthy contenders of the award.
The painting is currently on display in the Brady Center for students and staff to admire.“It’s a huge honor. To leave a permanent mark like this in a collection that spans nearly four decades is just an unbelievable privilege,” Chen said. “One of the most common things I hear is ‘I used to draw,’ and truly, I hate how so many people abandon art as an article of the[ir] childhood and past. I hope that walking by my piece may inspire some and intrigue others; either way, I hope it motivates people to revive their passion for art and to create their own pieces.”
She herself plans to keep her talent alive. Chen’s next work will be even more impressive than “Between Footsteps and Sky,” as it involves her breaking more boundaries for her.