Congratulations are in order for three students from the Visual Arts Department.

Junior Armando Arizmendi has been awarded a Silver Key at Nationals in the Scholastic Art and Writing competition. He was presented this honor for a photograph named “Hikikomori.”

This impactful photograph, shown below, was co-produced by junior Nolan Bleile and senior Max McGuire; however, Scholastic allows only one person from a group to be named to represent any image. 

Pictured here with their hardware and photo print are Noah Bleile (11), Armando Arizmendi (11), and Max McGuire (12). Their certificate is also attached.

The title of this artwork, “Hikikomori,” is a Japanese word that translates to “extreme social isolation; a modern hermit.” This definition is typically applied to an adolescent or adult who completely withdraws from the world around them for an extended period of time. 

“Hikikomori” was created in Mr. Morrow’s Photography II class during their light painting unit. The technique of light painting works by starting with a dark space and then painting in layers of light using flashlights. The layers are later grafted together in Photoshop. WCHS congratulates these artists on their success and is proud they are bringing attention to seldom discussed, but still critically important, social issues.