![IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Junior Zalie Mann performs “I Love to Cry at Weddings,” an ensemble piece from the fall musical Sweet Charity, to prospective students during the Fine Arts Showcase on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The showcase is a compilation of performances and demonstrations from each fine arts strand offered at McCallum. This show is put on so that prospective students can see if they are interested in joining an academy or major.
Sweet Charity originally ran the weekends of Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, but made a comeback for the Fine Arts Showcase.
“[Being at the front in the spotlight] is my favorite part of the whole dance, so I was super happy to be on stage performing and smiling at the audience,” Mann said.
Mann performed in both the musical theatre performance and dance excerpt “Ethereal,” a contemporary piece choreographed by the new dance director Terrance Carson, in the showcase. With also being a dance ambassador, Mann got to talk about what MAC dance is, her experience and answer any questions the aspiring arts majors and their parents may have.
Caption by Maya Tackett.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/53321803427_47cd17fe70_o-1-1200x800.jpg)
![SPREADING THE JOY: Sophomore Chim Becker poses with sophomores Cozbi Sims and Lou Davidson while manning a table at the Hispanic Heritage treat day during lunch of Sept 28. Becker is a part of the students of color alliance, who put together the activity to raise money for their club.
“It [the stand] was really fun because McCallum has a lot of latino kids,” Becker said. “And I think it was nice that I could share the stuff that I usually just have at home with people who have never tried it before.”
Becker recognizes the importance of celebrating Hispanic heritage at Mac.
“I think its important to celebrate,” Becker said. “Because our culture is awesome and super cool, and everybody should be able to learn about other cultures of the world.”
Caption by JoJo Barnard.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/53221601352_4127a81c41_o-1200x675.jpg)
Janelle Cummins: A Barbadian Artist
Courtesy of Janelle Cummins
Janelle Cummins is an artist and illustrator and first-generation immigrant.
April 21, 2022
Janelle Cummins is an illustrator and designer who currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area in California. Cummins is from Barbados and is a first-generation immigrant. Cummins has worked with big companies such as Facebook and Apple.
“I create because I enjoy doing it,” Cummins said. “There is something deeply satisfying about producing something from nothing.”
Cummins’ art is this really beautiful illustration style. She remembers that she has been interested in creating for as long as she can, whether it is her drawing scenes in primary school or her drawing fashion illustrations.
“My earliest memories include a very shy 5/6 year old me, in primary school quietly drawing lots of cloud-filled, beach scenes with flying fish,” Cummings said. “In my teen years, I remember being into drawing fashion illustrations. My parents actually humored me by allowing me to design the dress I wore to my secondary school graduation.”
Cummins thinks that her biggest support and encouragement came from her parents.
“When I think of inspiration, I think of my parents who encouraged and supported me throughout my journey, whether that was helping me with my crazy craft projects in secondary school, financially getting me through an expensive four years of college, or supporting my difficult decision to change majors,” Cummins said.
Cummins says that some of her biggest challenges as an illustrator are whether she is creating for herself or for others.
“When I’m designing for products that are used globally by millions, I have to make sure that concepts are understood by all,” Cummins said. “I’m actively making design decisions with inclusivity and accessibility in mind. The challenge then lies in ensuring that I am armed with all the necessary information to make these informed choices. Now, my challenge with personal work is getting it finished! Projects tend to drag on without the urgency of deadlines.”
She thinks that her illustrations don’t communicate one single message throughout all.
“Projects I work on vary in their purpose so each message I hope to communicate might be different,” Cummins replied. “I’m just really proud of how far I’ve come, and the opportunities I’ve gotten to create and grow with some of the world’s most innovative and global companies,” Cummins said.
This story was originally published on The Cougar Star on March 16, 2022.
