Wellesley High students made their mark over the weekend at the Art of Emotion event held at Framingham’s Amazing Things Art Center, taking home prizes for best artwork and top musical composition. The annual event is sponsored by the Ben Speaks organization, whose mission is to provide positive channels for expression for youth and families to stem the tide of depression and suicide among teens.

WHS Senior Rey Hill won with a sculpture called Untouchable: A portrait of a Survivor. Asked about the meaning behind the sculpture, Hill replied:

I use art and ceramics as an outlet to escape from pent up feelings and to be able to express myself without words, since those are often difficult to come to. I created this piece through the coping process following a traumatic event I experienced. I felt unable to tell anyone and couldn’t find a way to get help, so I turned to art and sculpture. Working with clay gave me a distraction and allowed me to move past this traumatic event and become a stronger person. I tried to express the emotions I felt through a visual depiction and showing a broken person caught in a whirlwind of hurt and emotion. Working with clay and expressing my internal thoughts helped me come to terms with what had happened, and rather than trying to forget.

>Hill has been involved in ceramics at the high school for all four years, and has been in the intensive level for two. Hill has earned several awards, including two silver keys with the Scholastic Art and Writing awards. After graduating from Wellesley High, the young artist will be attending Pace University to get a degree in stage management with a minor in visual arts.

rey hill sculpture wellesley — Rey Hill’s Untouchable: A portrait of a Survivor

Separately, 9th grader Jadon Czerniach played his original song, “Mind of My Own,” with the help of vocals by classmate Emi Schneider.

Czerniach wrote the song about his experience living with ADHD, and wants listeners to know that despite how much the adults in his life may tell him to “calm it down”, one day he is going to soar in spite of or perhaps because of this disability. He is studying music production at WHS under Steve Scott.

Congrats to both students…