Youth Art Month
Inside the Classroom:
Youth Art Month
March is Youth Art Month, and across our schools, creativity is on full display.
In the video below, hear what art means to some of our student artists. Seniors reflect on trying something new, rediscovering creativity, finding a mental outlet during a busy school day, and learning what it means to be a creator, not just a consumer. ZCHS art educator Brenda Jalaie also shares the broader impact of art and why it matters.
Their voices offer a glimpse into the growth, vulnerability, and confidence that develop through the artistic process.
After you watch the video, we hope you will continue reading the full Inside the Classroom story to explore their journeys more deeply and to learn more about the artwork featured throughout Zionsville during Youth Art Month.
Creativity is powerful. And this month, it is on full display for our entire community to celebrate.
A conversation with ZCHS Art Educator Brenda Jalaie and several high school art students
More than a Canvas
Youth Artwork on Display
March is Youth Art Month. A time to celebrate student creativity and recognize the powerful role art plays in education and in our community.
Throughout the month, student artwork will be displayed across Zionsville at SullivanMunce Cultural Center, Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library, Five Thirty Home, Goodman Jewelers, and other local businesses.
Inside the classroom, the artists behind those pieces are discovering much more than technique. They are discovering confidence, voice, and perspective.
“I’ve always just kind of liked to draw.”
For senior Aili Meyer, creativity has always been part of her life.
“I’ve always just kind of liked to draw things and to kind of be creative. I like to use colors, too, just in general.”
Photography opened a new door.
“For photography specifically, I’ve always liked to take photos of sunsets and flowers and use them as wallpapers for my phone or computer. I just thought it would be cool to actually learn how to do that in a class.”
While Aili said that art may not be her career path, it will always remain part of her life.
“I do plan on continuing to make art just for recreational purposes.”
“It’s very refreshing.”
Senior Daniel Larsen took a different path into the art room. After singing in choir, he decided to try something new during his final year of high school.
“I like the idea of being able to get my ideas down on paper. I feel like that would be a useful skill in my future. So I particularly wanted to take drawing because that would give me the best feel for a pencil and paper.”
Trying something brand new senior year could feel risky. For Daniel, it has been freeing.
“It’s very refreshing. All my other classes are very STEM-focused. So I look forward to art every day because it feels like I can get a break.”
His favorite medium is pencil, and one of his favorite projects was a self-portrait.
“It was very interesting to see the different rules and proportions for your face that you don’t think about, but they’re there. It’s very easy to tell if you’ve drawn it wrong, because you know subconsciously your face and other people’s faces so well.”
For Daniel, art carries deeper value.
“I think there’s value in being a creator, not just a consumer. It’s helpful to think about what you want to put into the world and how you want to portray that.”
Even if he doesn’t take formal art classes after graduation, he plans to carry a sketchbook with him.
A Lifelong Artist
For senior Olivia Miller, art has been woven into her story since childhood.
“I grew up in an art teacher’s house. So I started art before school started.”
She chose art in middle school and continued through her junior year. Outside of school, she has completed two murals, including one behind Goodman Jewelers that led to a commissioned mural at a private home.
Art has shaped how she approaches challenges.
“I think it changes your perspective on creating new ideas. The creativity in art is similar, but also different to creativity in problem-solving. If something’s off with an artwork and you have to figure out what needs to be tweaked, that can be used in problem-solving too.”
More than anything, art has been an outlet.
“It’s an outlet mentally. You can go into a class and just create something instead of focusing on a grade. You can focus on something that feels more you.”
Looking ahead, she sees its importance clearly.
“People need the outlet. They don’t always get a classroom that feels safe and gives them the space to be themselves and do what they want to do creatively. And it’s so good for your brain.”
Expression That Lasts
Senior Katy Jerz, who has taken art classes since elementary school, is exhibiting two self-portraits this year, one of herself as a child and one of herself now. Both are created using stippling, a technique that builds an image from thousands of tiny dots.
“It’s kind of interesting. They’re pretty similar. But one is me currently, and one is me as a kid.”
Sharing artwork publicly can feel vulnerable.
“It’s definitely kind of out of my comfort zone. But I think art has a lot of value, and I think it’s good that it’s in the community.”
For Katy, art is accessible.
“People might look at a drawing and think, ‘Oh, I can’t do that.’ But if you work at it, over time your skill will improve. Pretty much anyone can do it. It’s just a great way to express yourself.”
She plans to pursue architecture in college and sees art as preparation.
“Architecture is definitely a creative field. So I hope it’ll be helpful for that.”
“Art records our culture.”
ZCHS Art Educator Brenda Jalaie sees the bigger picture.
“Art is not just the fallback of, ‘Oh, kids express themselves.’ Art helps us learn fine motor function. It helps us expand our creativity.”
She sees daily experimentation and growth.
“Somebody has to work on developing and trying risky things with art materials. That’s what a lot of these kids do. It’s experimentation. It’s play in an adult way, but it’s a safe way to experiment.”
Growth, she explains, is not linear.
“Our programming K through 12 is created on a spiral. Almost like a tornado of repetition and increasing volume. So we get this beautiful cone of growth.”
And when students feel nervous about sharing their work?
“When we look at artwork, it’s created by one person. It’s one person’s success or failure. That creates an impact on kids thinking about sharing their work. But they all end up successful based on their own level of ability.”
Ultimately, her passion is rooted in something lasting.
“Throughout history, art is what records our culture. And that’s why this is so important to me.”
This March, Youth Art Month invites our community to step inside the growth happening in our classrooms. The artwork on display is beautiful. But the confidence, creativity, and courage behind it may be even more powerful.
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