Palmer Trinity School

IN T ER V IE W A ND P HO T O S B Y B L A NC A MOR A L E S IN A Y E A R F OC U SED ON " R E SE T," we've seen a great resurgence of creativity at PTS. From a bird's eye view, one might argue that creativity is merely something to combat boredom. Hone in on the benefits, however, and you'll find that creativity improves cognitive function by promoting mental health, boosting one's confidence, and developing divergent thinking necessary for innovation. Dedicating time for expanding creative capacity helps to pave the way for greater success in all areas of life, including critical thinking. According to Palmer Trinity's 3D Art teacher, Alex Porto, "just as in the real world, learning art teaches students many life skills. As an artist, one learns to think ahead, to be a problem solver, to find solutions, to be organized and how to collaborate with others." Because creativity is a uniquely human achievement, it is a form of communication. As Visual Arts Chair Sandi Wood puts it, "Art is an expression of the human, the soul inside each student." In fact, the Art Department's slogan this year is Head, Hand and Heart. Art students use their head to create conceptual content, their hand to develop technical finesse with art materials, and their heart to infuse each piece with a personal connection. "We believe this concept is an integral part of inspiring students to lead lives of virtue, humanity, and spirit," she said. Members of the Palmer Trinity community, whether or not they take an art class, have found plenty of ways to cultivate creativity through class assignments and independent projects. The following students share why creativity matters to them: R Y A N A L V A R E Z ' 2 5 WHAT DO YOU CREATE AND WHY? I've built two guitars; the first one started out as a project during lockdown. It was a six-string headless guitar. I decided to build the second guitar after the passing of Eddie Van Halen. Because of the impact he had on my playing, I wanted to make something to commemorate him and his influence. I wanted to make it somehow unique to me and my playing, so I decided to create a seven-string – a more modern form of guitar with an additional low string. The Bumblebee was the first guitar that my mom and I built by hand together. It was an awesome experience. Also, I've been writing music ever since I've had the capability to play instruments. TELL US MORE ABOUT THE MUSIC YOU'VE CREATED. My songwriting ability has improved tremendously over the years. I've been studying audio engineering, so I'm able to record the music myself. Learning how to record is also a valuable skill as I've been able to make a lot of connections in the local music scene in Miami. I mixed and recorded a couple different bands for the past three years, but right now I'm just focusing on recording my own music. Songwriting is a process that comes naturally with the writer's inspiration and influences. Right now, my friend and I are working on recording an album. We hope to finish and put it out by summer and play a bunch of local shows. HOW HAS PTS GUIDED YOU IN YOUR GROWTH AS A MUSICIAN? PTS has guided more than I thought. The music teachers are insanely knowledgeable and talented and can provide feedback or help to almost anything. In my experience, Dr. Harvin has been a big help. He's always a good source of critique and feedback. PTS also always has opportunities to play. Scan to view Ryan's guitar build C R E A T I V E O U T L O O K 12 PALMERTRINITY.ORG B I R D S ' S E Y E V I E W

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