TEAM ART for Life
Each May, as president of Nisk Art Friends, I have the pleasure of being a featured speaker at the NCSD Annual Art & Scholarship Awards. The evening boasts not only a stellar art show featuring exceptional works from our student artists, but a celebration of the supportive communities who uplift these artists, our high school’s team of art teachers and even art itself! Before recognizing numerous students with scholarships and awards — including 2026 NAF Awardee Anna Geveci — my brief remarks set a tone of gratitude, awe-inspired praise and hopefully some inspiration. For those who were unable to attend, below find excerpts from the evening’s remarks —
“We believe in our NAF mission because creating art really is essential. It can provide a way to forge deep connections, process emotions and communicate complex ideas. Something that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot achieve without its humans.
While the rise of AI is inevitable, unavoidable and quite frankly already here, it is transforming worlds and the creative world is no exception. But in the same way that the camera didn’t destroy painting as a medium in the 19th Century. Or during the early 20th Century, when using found or manufactured objects to build sculptures didn’t destroy 3D art … AI is not going to be the demise of humans expressing themselves through art.
So please … KEEP MAKING ART. Whether professionally or personally. From large murals to tiny desk doodles, creating art is fulfilling. It’s personal. It’s deliberate. If you’re doing it right, it’s heartfelt and pulled from real-life experience. Continue to put your voice, your perspective, your thoughts, your feelings out into the world.
Michelle Obama recently told me (via her podcast mind you) that we NEED different perspectives and artists and storytellers to keep putting art into the world. We continue to need art teachers and art fans too. I haven’t taken an art class since 1988, but I have never stopped consuming, seeking out and sharing my love for art, artists, art teachers and art fans. I am a permanent member of “TEAM ART” and I have the button, sticker and car magnet to prove it!
Congratulations to our graduating seniors! Kudos to all our awarded and featured artists. And thank you to our art teachers for another great year!”
