10 Student Stories to Celebrate 10 Years: Katharine Guzman
June 17, 2021In celebration of 10 years of Bow Seat’s Ocean Awareness Contest, we are showcasing some of the young artists who have helped turn this competition into a global community of creators and changemakers working on behalf of our blue planet.
Katharine Guzman is a senior at Miami Arts Charter School in Florida and a multi-year Ocean Awareness Contest participant, winning an Honorable Mention Award in 2019 and a Notable Award in 2018. She will be attending the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in Boston. Having grown up in Miami, Katharine’s relationship with water and the ocean has been a special one. Living so close to the water, she has a deep love for the marine ecosystem and fears for its future. Participating in the Ocean Awareness Contest as an artist has allowed Katharine to best portray her feelings for the ocean to the world. Climate change and its potential effects on her home has prompted her to research ways to be more environmentally conscious in the hopes of saving the ocean.
Why did you first participate in the Ocean Awareness Contest, and why did you continue to participate?
I first learned about Bow Seat through a class project. We were discussing the topic of climate change and global warming when my teacher brought the Contest up. I thought it was a super cool way to get young artists involved and prompt them to learn more about the issue of climate change. I have participated in the Ocean Awareness Contest more than once because of how encouraging it is. Seeing so many young artists use their voice and talent to bring to light climate change issues gives me a lot of hope for our future.
Katharine with her 2018 Notable Award winning piece, “No White Lies”
How long have you been creating visual art? When did you first become interested in the arts?
I have been creating since before I can remember. My dad was always a very creative and
crafty person, so I suppose that rubbed off on me. Throughout my childhood, I loved drawing
and coloring, and in middle school, I began to take my art more seriously. I applied to an
arts school, and there I flourished. Being surrounded by people who love art as much as I do has really helped me hone my practice and realize it is something I want to do forever.
How is climate change affecting your community?
I live in South Florida, and the projected claims are that in about 80 years my home will be underwater and unlivable. Rising sea levels due to climate change is a major source of fear for South Floridians, especially me. It is sad to think about my home being pulled down under the ocean’s surface, unable to show future generations its beauty.
Katharine’s 2019 Honorable Mention award-winning piece, “Home”
How do you feel when you look at the collection of art created by Ocean Awareness Contest winners?
I feel empowered. It gives me a lot of hope when I see young people—people my age—so informed and involved with issues of climate change. All these young people can really cause a wave, changing how people treat the earth. I have hope that these same Ocean Awareness Contest winners will be the ones to promote big change in the future, just like they are doing now.
What advice would you give to other young people who want to speak up and create positive change on issues important to them?
My advice is to go for it, have no fear. This is our world, and when the “adults” are long gone, we will be the ones left to pick up the ruins they left behind. Don’t be afraid to speak out about the things you think need to change, about the things you feel so passionately about. We are the generation of change, and that has been felt, not only within the Ocean Awareness contest, but in various other instances, too. Your voice is important and worthy of being heard, so don’t be afraid to use it.