Adelyn Sim ’24 has been painting since kindergarten and described that she has used art as a “visual language to interact with others.” She conveys this beautifully in her painting, “Out of Box”, a piece of her AP Art portfolio. It was chosen for the College Board 2023 AP Art and Design Exhibit along with only 45 other artworks in the nation. The painting shows Sim squeezed into a glass box with paint splattered onto her hands and clothes. She explained that the glass box in the painting “symbolizes the border within herself and the outside world.” 

Senior Master Teacher of the Arts, Ellen Nelson, guided Sim along this process, explaining that Sim had known she wanted to paint about how she used art to express herself, but the idea to use a glass box had come about in an interesting way. “We were brainstorming about materials and processes that might help to convey this idea. There was a large cardboard box in the corner of the studio, and we both looked at it and the creative ideas started to churn.” 

The idea also stemmed from Sim’s own published children’s book, “Giraffe’s Wings”. In her AP Art portfolio statement, she describes the book and how it helped her come up with an investigation question for her submission: “The giraffe in the book, my younger persona, breaks the wooden frame where it belonged in the beginning and goes on a journey to find its wings, with a dream to fly through the sky.” With inspiration from her own accomplishments, her classroom, and Mrs. Nelson, she came up with the investigation question: “What is my passion that keeps me motivated and interconnected with the world, and how does it support my freedom?” 

Mrs. Nelson also attributed Sim’s success to her hard work. “Adelyn is a thoughtful and skilled artist. She is driven by her passion for art which helps to propel her through the arduous path of completing an artwork. Many people think that making art is all fun and joy. The fact is there are many times when perseverance and self-discipline are necessary. Adelyn has the ability to stick with the task at hand, and this helps her to see her ideas come to fruition.” 

Having an artwork chosen for the College Board 2023 AP Art and Design Exhibit is no easy feat. Thousands of talented artists across the nation submitted their art to the College Board, however only a few showed the same technical skill and deep, personal symbolism as “Out of Box.” It speaks to how special art is to her. “Art is my own visual language I use to interact with others,” Sim described. “It’s a special language to me.”