Reading a few local papers, I have seen a section for “Player of the Week.” This is where the community highlights a particular athlete and their accomplishments over the years and within their current season.

It always feels good to be celebrated and recognized for your hard work, so I thought, “Why not have this for artists?” Salisbury is full of talented visual artists, photographers, musicians, poets, etc. For some, it is merely a hobby; for others, it’s a way of life. It is their way of reaching a greater audience and capturing experiences and emotions that are undefinable. These students, just like the athletes, should be celebrated and highlighted for their talents.

We kick off this series of “Artist of the Week” with Salisbury’s very own Emmy McMahon.

Emmy is a junior at Salisbury High School and has art flowing through her veins. From a young age, Emmy was surrounded by creativity and art, leading her to explore different avenues of art including music, dance, theater, painting and photography. Emmy talks about how art has become a “coping mechanism” and a means of ultimate expression, from helping spruce up the walls and furniture of a room to managing anxiety. Her art features various perspectives of nature and aesthetic, human beauty that connects to her personal sentiment. Emmy uses different mediums, such as photography and paintings, to express these ideals.

Why do you use art?

“I mainly use it as a coping mechanism. I struggle with a lot of mental health issues and art is something that has always helped me get through that. I deal with really crippling anxiety most days, so art is really the one thing that I can do to calm myself down. It’s almost like a therapy session as weird as it sounds.”

What does art mean to you?

“Art has always been the one thing that has been there in my life. My mom is an artist as well, so I pretty much grew up surrounded by art. I think what is so amazing about art is how subjective it truly is. You can’t really say what is or isn’t art because everything and anything can be art.”

What are some inspirations that spark your creativity?

“I’m really inspired by nature and different tattoo styles and the idea of putting artwork on your skin. I love making things that are visually pretty, even if they have a deeper meaning. My favorite projects are paintings on furniture and things other than canvases. My goal one day is to move into a place that can be covered in art from the walls to the furniture.”

Remember to support all students alike, whether they be athletes, artists and everyone in between. Emmy’s art can be found around SHS, in the annual art show and on several social media platforms.

That’s all for this week; stay tuned for more student news.