Catherine Munn

Florence, SC

Art has always been a part of my life. When I was born, I came home to a nursery that was painted by my Nana, a talented artist, like a storybook wonderland with fairies and butterflies hidden among green vines and bright flowers. Throughout elementary school, I spent my free time drawing, painting, and attending my school's art club. Although I loved art, I thought of it simply as a hobby. This changed during the pandemic. Life became stagnant and art became an outlet, something to improve and grow in, something to make me feel like I was still progressing as a person. During this time, I learned about the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities. I knew that it was a far-fetched idea (even if I did get in I had no idea if my parents would even let me attend), but for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, I felt excited about something. The idea of getting feedback from other artistically minded people and trying new mediums was exhilarating. However, the school is three hours from home, and attending meant leaving home two years early. After visiting the school and seeing how the teachers and staff value strong academics in addition to art and creativity, my parents agreed to let me spend my junior and senior years at the Governor's School. Over this past year, I have grown in many ways. My love and appreciation for art and the many different forms it takes has skyrocketed. I have had the opportunity to learn and work with paint, graphite, wood, metal, ceramics, graphic design, and digital art. I have discovered my love for multimedia art, as well as my ability to take different media and experiences form something new. I hope to continue this exploration throughout my life, and continue my artistic journey until I die.