This edition’s Artist of the Quarter features Madeline Woltjen, a sophomore who is a member of the art department and the music department! During our conversation, I could tell she is passionate about art and I am honored to have been able to talk with her about what makes art so special. Her ability to express herself in a way that has no expectations, I feel, is an important reminder for us Naz girls to have an outlet where nothing matters except your own joy.

After some brief info and favorites (tacos, the color teal, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and the musical Newsies), Madeline described how she first got into art:

“I wasn’t really that into it earlier, in like third and fourth grade … 7th grade was when I really started to get into it because the art program was bigger in my middle school than at my elementary school.”

She also told me what first inspired her – seeing Wicked on tour: “As soon as I saw it [the set], I was like ‘Oh my God, I want to design sets and I want to do this, I want to create that.’ And that’s really what made me fall in love with the arts and design.”

Describing the art program at Nazareth, she said:

“I loved the art program at Naz, so that’s one of the main reasons why I wanted to go to Naz … It’s really kind of more free – it’s not strictly classes, everyone works at their own pace, and you can explore your interests. At first obviously, Mrs. Shaw will give you projects specifically, but there’s so much up to your own creativity.”

During our interview, which was conducted through Teams, of course, I was able to see one of Madeline’s drawing which she noted was her favorite: a drawing of someone who inspired her – Darek Hough – in squares that each hosted a different pattern. She added that her favorite pieces by other artists were Monet’s Water Lilies and Renoir’s La Grenouillère. Her favorite mediums are pen and watercolor, and her favorite subject is landscapes.

When I asked Madeline where she sees herself going with art, she said that while she didn’t necessarily see herself going into art as a career, she will “always be drawing and painting …[her] whole life”

As both a musician and an artist, Madeline notes the benefits of being a part of both worlds:

“I like it. I think that it allows me to expand my horizons more. I feel like I was interested in music more throughout elementary school and stuff, like I was in theater and stuff a lot. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve leaned more to art, and I couldn’t be happier with doing both – they’re both outlets for me and that’s really important.”

I was both impressed and inspired by Madeline’s feelings about how much art matters to her and how she thinks it should matter to others:

“I guess I enjoy it because it’s a way to express yourself. I like being alone, and just sitting in my room, listening to music and … drawing. It’s … calming, and, yeah, it’s something I do just for me – not for anyone else … I feel like in school, it’s always wanting good grades and living up to your parents’ expectations and everyone’s expectations for you, but art … can be whatever you want it to be … Whereas in math and English everyone might have the same ideas or the same numbers, with art, it’s anything at all you ever want it to be – there’s no rules, there’s nothing you have to live up to or compare yourself to because it’s unique to you.”

In an environment like Nazareth, where expectations are so prevalent, it is encouraging to look at someone who has found a place where there are not any expectations. I think it is a good reminder to the rest of us to find that place of our own. And, as Madeline says, “It makes me happy to see others happy.”

This article originally appeared in the December 2020 edition of The Nazareth, Volume XCIII, No. 2.