A dream for many young artists might be to expand their talent and learn from the masters in their chosen field. For Cuyahoga Falls student Anna Leon, this dream became reality when she was accepted into the Summer Discovery / SIG (Summer Institute for the Gifted) program at Cambridge University in England. Currently finishing her junior year at Cuyahoga Falls High School, Leon’s creative gift has been noticed by all who see her work, earning her multiple art prizes, including a Gold Key at the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.
“Anna is thinking, practicing and performing on an entirely different level. She is working at a pace and intensity that has no equal among her peers,” explains Cuyahoga Falls art teacher Jennifer Schulman.
Not sticking to one preferred medium, Leon’s inspiration comes from the diverse forest of art and her own imagination, creating with such instruments as paints, pencil, clay, and wood.
“I am most excited about meeting the knowledgeable people there and being challenged,” Leon told the Falls Free Press.
Despite being granted a scholarship toward the program, Leon still has financial hurdles to overcome before she can study at Cambridge in England, where the likes of actor and comedian Eric Idle and sculptor Sir Antony Gormley learned their craft. Additional costs to the tune of $10,00 include: travel, food, and board, which must be earned before an April 1 deadline.
To assist in this endeavor, Up Front Art Space, located at 125 Portage Trail, will sponsor a fundraising exhibition of Leon’s original artwork on Friday, March 18 beginning at 6pm. The show will remain on display through April 1 with multiple opportunities for the public to view and purchase her work. Admission to see the show is free and open to the public and all proceeds will go to the artist. If unable to attend the show, those who wish to help Leon may donate at a GoFundMe page created by Up Front Art Space.
“The Cambridge summer program is a life and learning experience that will feed her creative soul. She will return to Cuyahoga Falls for her senior year with a new perspective on life and art that will help shape her future,” stated Schulman.
For more information about Anna Leon, her plans for Cambridge, and the fundraiser, visit Up Front Art Space’s website.
