Mentor High hosts first College and Career Fair for the Visual Arts
Feb. 6—Mentor High School senior Madison Green is interested in a career in graphic design and strongly believes the days of the starving artist are over.
"Art doesn't have to be just a hobby, it can be a profession," she said.
Green's feelings were reinforced by a room full of successful professionals — many Mentor alumni — at the first Mentor High School College and Career Fair for the Visual Arts on Feb. 6.
The Paradigm was filled with presenters from various colleges, businesses and professions in art-related fields. Some did demonstrations, some handed out literature and all shared information about higher education and careers in art and art-related fields.
Eighth-graders from Memorial and Shore middle schools got to experience the event along with high school students who may be ready to choose a college or a major or both.
Mentor senior Rhea Sahoo is interested in going to college for pre-med, but that didn't prevent her from enjoying the visual arts fair.
"I think this was an opportunity to see the sheer broadness of art beyond just painting or sculpting and it was very interesting to see all the different options," Sahoo said.
Heather Armbrus, an art teacher at Mentor High who helped organize the event along with the rest of the members of the art department, echoed Green's sentiments and hopes that the main message of the fair was to open eyes for those interested in pursuing the arts beyond high school.
"The idea of the starving artist has gone by the wayside," Armbrus said. "There are so many people who have made successful careers in the field, and I have told even those students maybe not interested in arts as a profession to keep an open mind and see what is available."
There were plenty of local colleges on hand as well as the Cleveland Institute of Art and other higher learning organizations to answer art and non-art related questions about post-high school education.
A wide range of professionals in the fields of hair design, marketing, clothing, tattoos and more also filled the Paradigm on the Mentor High campus as students traveled from table to table either curious or with specific questions.
One of the more popular stops was at animator Ben Anderson's exhibit. Anderson, a 2008 Mentor grad, has worked on TV shows, video games and movies doing animation for big brands such as "Game of Thrones," "MIB International" and the basketball video game hit "2K23."
"I think it is important to show students at this age that the field of arts can lead to a viable career path," Anderson said. "I was always interested in drawing and painting and acting and I played football in high school, and I think in one way or another I can use my experience with all that in animation."
Mentor seniors Caitlin Wong and Paige Stanek both said the experience was beneficial and should open a lot of eyes for those that may have had preconceived notions on visual arts as a profession.
"I think this shows you can make art your life," Stanek said.
"I enjoyed the opportunity, it was inspiring," Wong added.
Armbrus said there are also plans for a panel event that would be primarily to answer any questions that parents might have.
