Capturing your true identity in a single photo is no easy task, especially for your typical teen who has barely discovered who they want to be. However it is a task that is conquered annually as FUHS art students participate in FUHS Art’s Identity Showcase.

For the show, students are asked to draw, paint, or photograph something that they feel encapsulates their identity.

Featured below are some of the brilliant pieces done by FUHS students. All photos taken by Tara Patton.

Rainbow Connection

To junior Katie Rees, photo is a major part of her identity. Growing up, she always loved looking at photos and figuring out how to take quality photos. For her, photo is something she knows she will carry throughout her life.

“Photography can apply to everything; with photo you have to think outside the box, and the same goes for life too,” Rees said. “It’s all about problem solving.”

With her identity showcase, Rees wanted to go beyond just the photography aspect of her life.  

“It was really kind of emotional, like the concept of it was creativity versus intelligence, and how some people are skilled at utilizing knowledge, while some people connect concepts in random ways,”  Rees said. “I think it really represents me, because photo allows me to work outside my comfort zone and see beyond concrete facts.”

Rees wanted to show her identity through a reflection of other people’s identity.

“Literally it was just a picture looking down at my feet, but I feel like when you look at it, it’s like you’re looking at yourself,” Rees said. “You don’t see my reflection, only a silhouette, so I feel like anyone can just look into it and see themselves.”

Overall though, Rees views identity as something that only individuals can define, and that the identity show is the perfect outlet for individualism.

“Identity is so personal. It’s you, it’s your style, and nobody else is going to be the same.” Rees said. “Which is why I love the show.  You really get to see your photos come to life. You get to hold it in your hands and know that it is yours. That’s the best part.”

Out of My Mind

A major aspect of junior Allison Park’s identity is her overwhelming life as a high school student. Tests, college applications, sports, and art are all play a part in Park’s balancing act as she tries to get through each day.

For her identity showcase, Park really wanted to highlight this struggle. “I wanted to focus and the brain and what it uncovered,” Park said. “Personally, I feel like high schoolers in general over think—we just think a lot—and I feel like everything really only happens in their brain.”

In addition to showing the overpowering influence of thought, Park also highlighted creativity’s place in her life.

“There’s just so much creativity in your brain and you just want to let it out, and make something out of it,” Park said. “Which is great, but sometimes it just feels like there’s too many things going on in your head.”

Park also exhibited her identity through the role of female influence on her personality. “All my pieces so far have been wrapped around female features without facial expression,” Park said. “I always try to showcase the strength and dynamics of the female gender.”

Growth through Prison

Senior Kerry Eliers has been interested in photography since she was a young girl.

“I chose photo because I wanted to learn even more and grow as an artist, and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected, “ Eilers said.

Eilers enjoys taking photos in especially dull, overcast lighting. She says although bright days usually play homage in society, nothing makes her smile quite like a dark, overcast day.

“I like dark lighting, not ominous, but overcast days are my favorite time to photograph,” Eilers said, “I love it when my photos have almost dull coloring. I also enjoy it when my subject is wearing bright colors so I have the dull versus bright contrast.”

Eilers strived to use her identity showcase as means to break some emotional barriers and create a photo which really represents her as a person and all of the hardships she has gone through.

“Since I turned 18, I got out of one of the hardest situations of my entire life, and the cage [in the photo] is supposed to symbolize that part of my life, and all the trauma that I went through,” Eilers said, “I’m not the birdcage, that’s just something that will always affect my life, but I’m not going to let it dictate how I live.”

“The birdcage represents my growth in the past few years. I put a plant in the birdcage, to show that although I have come a long way I am still growing,” Eilers said.

Eilers reflects on what an inspiration and support system, FUHS art teacher Maggie Crail has been to her during her years at fullerton.

“Mrs. Crail is one of the most supportive people I have ever met, she actually helped me sell one of my photos, which was an amazing experience, because it was the very first time I have ever made money off of my artwork,” Eilers said, “It also gives me a hope for the future because now I know, ‘Hey I can make money doing things I’m good at.”

CD’s Killed the Radio Star

Junior Levana Guardado, creator of the mixed media art piece Don’t Kill the Radio Head had a simple idea that turned into a complex work of art.

“I got the CD’s from Kudron and at first I had no idea what to do with them, I talked with  my friend and she helped me come up with the idea of breaking the CD’s into tiny pieces.”

Guardado says she eventually found deeper meaning in her work.

“If you look at my piece, it’s supposed to represent a mirror , and it’s all up to the viewer to decide if they want to see it as a bunch of broken CD’s or as a way to find yourself,” Guardado says.

Guardado believes all of us are made up of a bunch of broken pieces, and whether we like it or not we must embrace it. “We want the mirror to show us our true selves, not altered look alikes of what we wish we could be,” Guardado said.

Usually Guardado’s main media is photography but for the identity show she was inspired by her classmates and teacher to think outside the box and do something different.

Guardado was first inspired to try photography by a friend from church, although she has been interested in creating artwork since she was a young girl.

“In elementary school, we had the after school program for kids in the gate program,” Guardado said. “I remember just sitting at the table for hours painting all sorts of different things. I’ve loved doing artistic things since then.”