Super Kid: Kyle Schuman, Cascade High School

Published 6:37 pm Friday, March 2, 2012

Q: So, you’re an art student. When did you become interested in art?

A: Since about freshman year, which is a long time when you’re in high school and trying to figure things out.

Q: Did you like to draw as a small child?

A: I liked to draw but never really did much because I was doing something else like playing baseball. I got introduced to art through my teacher Mrs. Melby at Cascade.

Q: What kinds of art do you like to do?

A: There isn’t really something I prefer more than another. I like to explore everything because you find out how to combine them the best.

Q: What do you look for in a piece of art?

A: I like to look behind the idea of making it. I like timeless things a lot more, more about the human condition and less about something aesthetically appealing.

Q: You’ve been accepted at Cornish College of the Arts?

A: Yes, I have.

Q: Are you set on going there?

A: I was looking at other schools, like one in Chicago, or San Francisco or one in the lower east side of Manhattan.

Q: So you’re still trying to figure out where you’ll go?

A: Yes, they all have late admission deadlines. I’m waiting to hear back on admissions and scholarship stuff. I’m trying to go somewhere where I wouldn’t have too much debt.

Q: You were in a group art show at Capitol Hill in Seattle?

A: Yes, with Brian Sanchez, whom I met through the Everett Community College and taught me a lot of about work ethic and skills. He’s a lot older than me, but we have common ground with art and skateboarding. He was the person I had the show with on Capitol Hill.

Q: Who’s is Brian Sanchez ?

A: Well he’s a student that goes to Everett Community College. He’s doing his own thing making his living from art. He lives in Everett too. He recently moved into a house here. He had an opportunity to go to New York City, but something about Everett keeps him more creative. I think there’s not much going on here. He kind of works better in isolation.

Q: You’re a member of National Honor Society?

A: Yes.

Q: Are you an officer?

A: No, I just do the events and the (community service) hours. You need at least a 3.4 and 30 hours of community services and attending three National Honor Society events.

Q: What is your GPA?

A: 3.7

Q: What was your community service project?

A: The Cascade food drive, the massive food drive we have. This year me and three other friends went “canning” every single day for at least three hours. At the end of second week, we had 5,000 cans.

Our school ended up getting 90,000 (cans of food). It’s a big help for the community.

Q: Did you go to stores?

A: Yes. It’s called canning. You sign up and get a scheduled time and stand outside the store and pass out slips of paper asking for a donation. They’ll come out with a bag of food if you’re lucky.

Q: How did the people respond at the store?

A: It’s pretty funny. We noticed that a lot of the people who had been in a situation where they were hungry in the past were a lot more willing to donate. That was kind of interesting. A lot of them said ‘I just got my paycheck,’ but then they’d come out with two big bags of food. Then we got a lot of people blowing us off and walking in talking on their iPhones. It’s cool to see the people who understand it and contribute.

Q: How did it make you feel when you were finished?

A: In years past, it’s the kind of thing where (I thought) ‘Yeah, I guess I’ll do this.’ Then … once you’re done it was like, ‘Wow something done that was biger than myself.’… Three hours, that’s not that much time to fill somebody’s stomach.

Q: What subjects do you like besides art?

A: I like writing a lot. The English classes at Running Start were a lot more fun. Personal essays. So, I guess I like English the best. That’s about it.

Q: What’s your favorite book?

A: “The Hunger Games” trilogy. I know a lot of people love that one. It’s a really well-written book. Good pace and it keeps you excited.

Q: How about music groups?

A: Battles is one. Tune-Yards. Death Grips.

Q: Is there anyone you know who has influenced you?

A: Definitely. I guess Picasso seems like might be an obvious one. I like pretty much anything in modern art can be traced back through him.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com