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Jarel Madison accepted for All State Art

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West Central Valley High School Artists have done it again.  Jarel Madison has been accepted as an All-State Artist.  Of all 1A schools in the state 5 artists were selected and WCV had 2 of them.  This is a very big accomplishment and we should all be proud of him for his hard work and talent. Jarel is a very talented photographer with a great eye.   There will be an award ceremony at the Des Moines Art Festival in June.  Wonderful job by some wonderful people.   Mr. Claire

"Artist Write Up"

Art isn't just about making something new or expressing how you feel through your work. To me, art is about noticing things that are already there. Most people go through life moving quicker than they realize, under appreciating the things that are already around them that are beautiful. Worldly distractions and busy schedules seem to make the world and life move fast. Skipping details and the little things makes it hard to enjoy what's in front of you, which is what I prioritize in my art. I take pictures to display the little things, taking into account the parts of nature that people overlook and miss. This is a big part of my workflow, using angles, editing, and perspective to emphasize the beauty in the world around me.

My art and photography isn’t perfect but that's exactly what makes my style me. To me though, that idea of the perfect shot doesn't however reflect what art is about. When I take my photos, I display the real perceptive of the subject or environment. Some may call it flawed but I call it the true shot. Sometimes that means that my pictures are a little off or slightly imperfect, but that's exactly what my art is. My photos display the significance of looking at things for what they are and seeing how the smallest details can make up the whole shot. This is my main goal in taking photos, slowing people down.

By doing so, this strategy forces people to look at my art and see something that they would completely ignore otherwise. This world creates an idea that we should always be moving forward and faster, but what if we take a step back? I think in doing this, people would understand the beauty that's been here all along.