Pawsome Bengal PassionsΒ
Blake High School is a signature school for the arts. Many talented students walk through the halls every day. The Blake Beat sat down with Brody Matson (Sports Photographer), Abigail Zeigler (Digital Photographer), Mariah Williams (Ceramicist), Gray Tejada (Fashion Designer and Blake Stage Co. Painter), and Reema Dababneh (Thriftier) to discuss their passions.
Since December last year, Brody Matson (Junior) has taken photos at Blake’s sporting events. Matson says, βThe first game I took photos at was last winter at the Blake vs. Springbrook basketball gameβ¦I didnβt have many resources, and the camera I had was not meant for sports photography (but) it overall was a good experience.β He adds that βMontgomery County photographer, Tim Ho,β inspired him to get into photography. βIt always seemed fun to capture those spectacular shots and I wanted to see if I could accomplish that,β Matson adds. Matson soon started an Instagram page (@matson-flicks) and βTurned (photo taking) into more of a business.β Matson expressed, βItβs been a great journey so far,β and that he enjoys βevery part of it.β
On the other side of the photography world, Abigail ZeiglerΒ (Junior) has been taking digital snaps since the βsummer of 2023β. She has an Instagram page called @abbys.digitaldump where she uploads many pictures of students in our Bengal community. When asked why she created this digital catalog she said βI thought it was a cool and (a) different way to capture fun moments with my friends! I also like how I can showcase other people by taking pictures of anyone who wants them, and not just people I know personally.β Abby, βalways loved the way digital cameras looked,β and was gifted with one of her mother’s old ones. She soon started to take βpictures with/of my friends whenever we would hang out and I decided I wanted to have an account that showcased all the pictures.βΒ
Next, we have Senior Mariah Willaims. Mariah creates pots, box art, designs, and various ceramic pieces. Willaims has an Instagram page called @maramics where she posts her pieces. She says, βI get the thrill of (creating) something unique that I (fall) in love withβ. Williams grew βattached to the vision,β of pieces she wanted to create. Willams adds that she has been doing ceramics βsince middle schoolβ and that she loves clay, even though she looks like a βconstruction worker by the end of the day.β Willams speaks about a piece from middle school she will never βfall out of love with.βΒ But high school is what sustained her passion. βEvery day at lunch during my sophomore and junior year I could be seen in the ceramics room covered in slip and clay,β she recounts.Β
Then we have Senior, Gray Tejada, a fashion lover and artist here at Blake. They have taken multiple fashion electives and are passionate about fashion. βIβm currently in AP Fashion Design,β they say. βI’ve been obsessed with making clothes just about my whole life starting with making βshirtsβ for my (stuffed animals), (cutting) off arm and head holes,β Tejada recounts. Tejada has also painted and drawn multiple pictures, helping out every year on the paint team at Blake Stage Co. βI love painting and drawing and anything that lets me bring whatβs in my head out to the real world,β they share. I love βthe arts,β and tinkering until I (make) what I (envisioned) in my head a reality; it’sβ¦how I express myself.β Gray has an art page found @_graysbigworld_.
On the other side of the fashion world Senior, Reema Dababneh has had a passion for thrifting. Her passion stems from seeing her mother thrifting while growing up. βI grew up on going to the thrift store but as l got more into fashion I took it more seriously,β Reema adds. βI was pretty little when I went into the thrift store for the first time but my first time after Covid; when I went in the thrift store was so fun. I found a lot of vintage skirts for under $20,β she proclaims. βI created a pink dress last winter, and I would say (itβs) my favorite thing I’ve created,β Dababneh shares. Dababneh recounts that fashion and thrifting have always been βUnique, and very sustainableβ and even made a shopping and retail page on Instagram (@reemasclxset).Β