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ACT Apprentice Nerrisia /Madi Schmit
Come support a season’s worth of artwork created by the Apprentice class at The Lions and Rabbits gallery on April 27th from 5-7pm. The showcase features the work of Artist Creating Together’s Apprentice Cohort. It is open to the public during those hours and people are encouraged to come view and purchase Apprentice artwork.
I first met Nerissia when a fellow ACT intern called my name and held up a glitter filled piece of art and said, “I think you will like this.” She was not wrong. Who doesn’t love to have their eye caught by something shimmering? I had to know who created it.
Nerissia is the artist’s name and she is as sparkling and radiant as her art work. Her passion runs just as deep as her glimmering personality. When I asked her what she likes about art, she fondly replied, “I can make whatever my heart desires.” And Nerissia's desires are to create and mimic the things that she loves.
She likes to paint, and that much was clear when by the amount of art pieces she had stacked in her collection, covered in various colors of acrylic paints. She will paint anything that reflects her interests. I saw a Starbucks cup and Minnie Mouse. She is influenced and inspired by the work of Walt Disney and similar artists. I could see this as she sat and painted a very pink picture of Minnie Mouse with a pink polka dot bow. Her art is modern with references to pop culture, completed with clean lines and bright colors.
Painting is not her only specialty, however. I sat down with her to see what was happening with the multicolored plastic string blooming from her hands. She was making friendship bracelets; the kind that we all, at one point or another, avoided middle school busy work with, braiding and knotting colors back and forth to give to our friends. She taught me how to do it again, and I laughed remembering that I was never very good at making them. Nerissia, however, was making beautiful friend worthy bracelets and keychains.
Friendship is important to Nerissia. She likes being at ACT because she says, “I can make art and be with people.” She enjoys the class atmosphere and the other Apprentices that she gets to hang out with while creating all the art she wants to. I saw with her, another intern, and some surrounding Apprentices all talking about their favorite cartoon shows. It is clear that her company is valued.
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