Adena Weinkle

Columbia, SC

I am a 9th grader and enjoy many sports such as running, horseback riding, lacrosse, and weightlifting. I am involved in NAHS at my school as well as student council. As a kid, my family and I traveled to Amsterdam and visited the Moco museum, featuring a Banksy exhibition. This was one of my favorite museums I have visited (minus the cheese museum in Amsterdam). Banksy’s art was the first art to resonate with me as a kid. It was interactive, and allowed me to engage in the art I was looking at. I was able to relate to the art, and my favorite was the snake eating Mickey Mouse. This piece did not originally hold much meaning to me, yet I still remember it today. I sometimes struggle with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder. I can spiral into a pattern of overthinking and over planning things, not leaving myself room for personal freedoms. However, in art, I am able to calm my mind and can take a break from the rigidity and schedule of my daily life. During this mandala project the repetition and creativity I used allowed me to put the world on pause as I competed my art. I was able to break the steps down into pieces and complete a seemingly daunting task without causing myself any stress, in fact I was able to relieve stress. I hope you got a better understanding of who I am and what art means to me.