Paper butterflies have taken over the atrium walls, and the kaleidoscope is growing everyday as students add their own origami creations to the collection. At a glance, the arrangement of paper butterflies seems to be some creative wall decor. However, their importance and representation expand far beyond some decor. Following the path from the first butterfly to the last, junior artist Talia Loes tells a deeper story. Her butterflies prove to be emblems of true artistic expression.

In her AP Art class, Loes was presented with the inquiry to discuss how identity changes over time, but as we change, we still remember who we used to be. In her own interpretation of this concept, Loes extends an idea that began with a poem she had written prior to the assignment. Loes incorporated a copy of the poem at the site of the art. Both the poem and the mural depict a story that Loes holds close to her heart, portraying the shift that many teenagers experience as they lose the wonder and fearlessness of their childhood and grapple with insecurity and finding their place in the future. “I wrote a poem a while ago about insecurity with dancing and how as you get older you kind of develop insecurities versus when you’re younger, at least for me when I was younger, I danced a lot. I put on shows to people; there was a fearlessness to me. When you’re younger, when you don’t have any insecurities, and then you develop those as you get older,” Loes said.

In addition to her already impressive paintings, Loes decided to incorporate the art of origami to her piece. From the last panel and down the wall resides a path of paper butterflies. Next to her piece, Loes invites spectators of her art to add their own origami butterflies to the collection as a symbol of an extension of her story, and that we are not alone in our journeys. “The way I wanted people to participate was to add their story to it, and by adding the book page butterflies to the wall, it’s like extending the story that we all have our own struggles, but you’re not alone in that either,” Loes said.

Many BSM students and staff admire Loes’ artistic ability and achievements. Her AP art teacher, in particular, Charlie Zinn, applauds Loes for her execution of the assignment. “She is achieving synthesis of materials, process, and ideas, and making personal meaning in her painting. She does a nice job using expressive marks that make her figures lively, and I am impressed by the depth of thought she brings to her work,” Zinn said.

Loes hopes that people will be able to find comfort in the message she tells through her art. Her story is merely an extension of the emotions and feelings that she holds within herself and she hopes that others will find the connection to the art that she has. “I hope people understand what I’m talking about that everyone has these insecurities too. They’re not the only person. And all the butterflies that are on the wall already kind of prove that everyone also is having struggles, and everyone also is going through life and figuring out who they are, and that’s okay that you don’t know who you are or if you find who you are. It’s okay to just be yourself,” Loes said.