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Hinsdale Central students gifted in art
Untitled oil on canvas by Kyle Van de Bovenkamp.
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Updated: March 1, 2013 6:58AM
HINSDALE — The Hinsdale Central High School first semester art show was a wonderful testament not just to the student body’s talent but also to the breadth and depth of art classes offered.
All Central students were encouraged to view the show and to vote on which they liked best in such categories as Most Realistic, Most Creative, Best Craftsmanship, Most Complex Construction, Most Humorous, Most Thought Provoking and Best of Show.
At least three of the recognized artists are seniors devoted to pursuing art in form or another in college next year. Kyle Van de Bovenkamp, for example, won Best in Show for his untitled oil portrait of a friend. The portrait is large — 4-by-5 feet — and features his friend’s head and shoulders as he stares off into the distance. It is more of an expressionistic piece than a strictly realistic one, which is probably why Van de Bovenkamp came in third for Most Creative. He has already been accepted at two art schools, and while he has not yet decided whether to attend the Maryland Institute’s College of Art or the School of Visual Arts in New York City, he’s committed to art and pursuing painting.
“I see myself becoming an artist,” he said.
Van de Bovenkamp comes from an artistic family. His grandfather is a sculptor, and his parents, he said, will support him becoming an artist as long as he knows what to expect and that it won’t be easy.
Vasaris Balzekas’ name also fills a couple of slots on the recognition list for the first semester art show, but this senior, having fulfilled his Hinsdale Central requirements, is actually doing his last semester of school at Oxbow in Napa Valley, Calif. A quick conversation with his mom as well as look at his website (yes, his own website), show him to be a remarkable young man, gifted as a painter and a sculptor, entirely capable of using art to effectively satirize and buffoon and an accomplished member of Second City youth and teen ensembles. The Central students recognized him for his untitled drawing in the art show, but a tour of website reveals much greater talent. He is still waiting to hear from the colleges he’s applied to but his mom said that he hopes to go to a liberal arts college with a fine arts program.
Mia Larson was recognized in the Most Humorous category for a wonderful acrylic painting of her uncle with her two cousins. Entitled “Say Cheese,” the work is part of her AP studio art study of families and reveals not just affection for her subjects but glee and energy. She is still waiting to hear from the colleges she has applied to, but she and her identical twin sister Zoe hope to either go to college together or near one another. Mia thinks she will ultimately either become an art teacher or go into film production. Her sister is more into photography. Mia runs cross country in the fall, bowls in the winter and plays badminton in the spring.
