When most people think about pursuing art, careers such as a painter, photographer or musician come to mind. In senior Callie Wu’s case, however, art takes on a unique form, one that she adapts to connect to a STEM practice: engineering.
Art has almost always been a part of Wu’s life. As a child, she learned traditional Chinese painting while living in Nanjing, China. After moving to Brookline at 10 years old, Wu continued Chinese painting at the Brookline Chinese School, and expanded to different art styles in the high school’s Painting Intensive and Drawing Intensive classes during her senior year. Wu said she believes her artistic abilities will aid her as she plans to major in engineering.
In addition to taking art classes, Wu volunteers every Sunday as a sketching facilitator at the Harvard Museum of Science and Culture, where she teaches visitors how to draw and encourages them to look more closely at the exhibits’ works. Wu said that volunteering at the museum has also aided her artistic process.
“[Being a sketching facilitator] helps me see the small things and the details in what I walk by every day,” Wu said. “It’s great to take the time to slow down and really notice, observe and capture details.”
Wu’s close friend, senior Leni Reinsberger, said she noticed Wu’s observational skills.
“I remember seeing this one picture of one of her friends in the park, and she really makes sure to include every key detail. The lighting looks very real,” Reinsberger said.
Although Wu loves art, she said she wants to major in engineering. Wu said many elements of art overlap with engineering, so she enjoys applying art and science to projects in the Engineering Innovation and Design class.
“At the intersection of engineering, it’s science and art,” Wu said. “So, it’s fun to be able to apply art, integrate it with science and come up with new things that incorporate elements of design.”
Art teacher Elizabeth Brennan said she was hesitant when Wu first joined two of her intensive art classes without completing Painting Foundations or Drawing Foundations. However, Brennan said Wu soon showed she was skilled enough to stay at the advanced level.
“She proved she belongs in that class. She’s a very competent and confident student,” Brennan said. “Engineering has a visual component; depending upon what type of engineering it is, I have no doubt she’s going to be great.”
Also confident that Wu can succeed with her art and engineering, Reinsberger said she can imagine Wu blending art and engineering to make incredible pieces.
“It doesn’t have to be a painting. If she enters engineering and can connect that [to art], [she’ll] make amazing things, so I could see her going to museums,” Reinsburger said.
Brennan said Wu will be able to excel no matter what she does with her abilities.
“I love that she can show a different type of intelligence and utilize that,” Brennan said. “Even if she doesn’t major in art, I hope she sees that she’s really capable.”
