Art: ‘My Anchor’ by Kimberly Mejia Vasquez

This piece placed second for high school art submissions in the Ánimo Voices Writing and Art Competition, which invited students to consider a change they’d like to see in their community or the world and to convince an audience, through any genre of writing or visual medium, of the importance of this change. The competition was an opportunity to motivate, recognize, and celebrate our strong student voices through writing and art.

By Kimberly Mejia Vasquez
Ánimo Watts College Preparatory Academy

Dear journal,

I’m weak because I haven’t eaten I haven’t
eaten because I’m weak But to the world I’m
happy Because the camera captures me at
my peak Can’t remember the last time I ate for pleasure
When it feels like the world is devouring me
Everyday I’m floating, I’m getting harder to
reach Because the ground never truly touched
my feet The tainted church glass to my
side
has plenty to hide

Can you hear the bells ringing?

they are awfully loud today Too bad you can’t
hear them The sound is muted by faces in a
strange array But when I’m disappearing into the
air And my feet won’t touch the
ground Your heart anchors me back
down

The prompt of this year’s competition was about someone you know that has changed something wrong in the world. And that person is my brother Alex Gomez, a soon to be part of the Navy boy. The world in still form only wants to see you when you smile. And when the world is tumbling down on you, everyone turns, hence the bunny photographer facing away. But that’s not my brother. He notices all the little things and truly changed my life. To give me a ride home making sure I’m safe, to opening the car door for his girlfriend and holding her to not let go. To my dearest of memories with him when I was at my lowest point. I tried to get away from everyone one day. I stayed after school that day and sat alone on the bleachers, with my back turned on the world. But here comes this boy behind me with a big smile and red icee to share with me.

The funny part of it all is that he’s not even my biological brother. But ever since I met him, I knew we had a brotherly bond. And that’s how the world should be. With someone like my brother with the heart of a samurai. I wouldn’t want it any other way, I, his balloon and him my anchor. Yes, that’s a lovely world. Him being my brother and I his favorite headache.

To conclude, the work presented is composed of the main center of the alien and the brunette girl made out of prismacolors. Later, I took a picture and drew the bunny photographer digitally, along with the background of stained church glass. And overlaying it is another work of art made by me to symbolize the watchers of the world. Also details in the artwork such as the aliens tongue was drawn digitally. And finally, the sparkles were edited using after effects