Our Someone 2 Know this week is an 18-year-old artist and ceramicist who is currently in contention for two “American Visions & Voices” medals. The national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards will be announced later this month - for now, Zoe Mansfield has to get through high-school.
We caught up with them in the campus art room.
Surrounding Zoe (pronounced “Zo”) are original paintings, sculptures, ceramics – and a very special notebook.
"This is in ball point pen,” Zoe points to two pages, “And this is in water color."
The notebook is always in arms reach of Hug High School senior, because Mansfield is an artist through and through;
"I've been doodling all my life and not paying attention in math class at the expense of my grade,” smiles Zoe with an endearing grin.
What may have started as a distraction, has since evolved into a serious discipline.
"I got into ceramics my sophomore year of high school, painting - my freshman year."
With the passing years came improved skills with clay and canvass - and a fierce passion for activism;
"I just have a lot of things to say. I'm really politically active and I have a lot of connections to my community."
Specifically, the LGBT community.
"As a queer person I think it's really important to use the voice that I have as an artist, to bring up issues about, like - trans people and non-binary people”. Something that's not always easy for Zoe, who prefers going by the pronouns "they -them", instead of “he –she”.
"It's not my job to be courageous, it's my job to go to school and get good grades - and live my life."
And Zoe's life recently took a turn in the spotlight.
This past week, they were honored at the Nevada Museum of Art with several prestigious Scholastic art awards - and an unprecedented TWO American Visions nominations.
“It’s a really surreal experience, to go to the museum I’ve been going to since I was a kid, and that I work at -and see my art on the wall, which is something I never thought I was gonna be able to do."
...Because it's about more than just the awards
“People celebrating my art, and as an extension, who I am as a person, and my identity, and the things that I've been through is…” Zoe pauses, visibly moved, “Amazing".
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Zoe Mansfield's award winning pieces are hanging at Nevada Museum of Art – and The Holland Project - in Reno, through the end of the month (along with dozens of other award winning pieces by local students).
After graduating from hug high they hope to attend Rhode Island School of Design.
For a link to Nevada Museum of Art -
https://www.nevadaart.org/art/exhibitions/2020-scholastic-art-awards/
For a link to The Holland Project –
For information about the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards -
https://www.artandwriting.org/
For information about LGBT rights -
https://www.hrw.org/topic/lgbt-rights#
For information about Non-Binary Persons -
https://www.healthline.com/health/transgender/nonbinary
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/9-things-people-get-wrong-about-being-non-binary
