On May 16, 2026, Green Hope students Karuna Shanmugam (‘26) and An Nguyen (‘28) were recognized for their craftsmanship and artwork at Artsplosure’s Raleigh Arts Festival. The work of ten students from Green Hope were chosen to be displayed at the festival, and of those, only Shanmugam and Nguyen were awarded for their pieces. Shanmugam received first place for her mixed media piece, “My Family,” and Nguyen received third place for her handmade doll, “Lorelai.” With the help of Green Hope art teacher Melissa Poppe, the students were able to showcase their talent to the Raleigh community and receive recognition for their hard work.
Poppe teaches numerous art classes at Green Hope and assists her students in submitting their pieces to competitions. For Artsplosure this year, she asked which pieces students wanted to submit and entered them on their behalf. When asked about Shanmugam’s and Nguyen’s pieces, Poppe said, “Karuna’s play with mixed media but also telling the story of her family through sewing made it an eye-catching piece. An’s piece is fun to see. The doll has a great personality and is really well-made.” Continuing to compliment their work, she added, “Their art has wonderful craftsmanship, skill and stories behind them.” These skills are exactly what set them apart from their competitors and won the attention of the Artsplosure jurors.
“My Family” by Karuna Shanmugam
Shanmugam’s “My Family” is a mixed media piece that depicts the ephemeral nature of memories. After stumbling upon a family photo from her first birthday party and not remembering the celebration, she decided to turn the photo into art. Using embroidery thread, Shanmugam stitched over the faces of everyone in the picture, representing her present self struggling to recall the event. “I knew the people in the photo, but I only know who they are now, and not who they were then, at the moment the photo was taken,” she explained. “This piece was really just a way for me to explore how my memories were not really mine.” The final product is nostalgic, encapsulating what it feels like to reflect on events that have been forgotten, and how, over time, they become more like stories that have been passed down rather than memories.
Although she prefers to not tie herself down to one specific art style, Shanmugam is no stranger to multimedia. Even so, the creation of “My Family” did not come without challenges. “I had originally intended for the thread colors to match the background image exactly,” she said. However, she went on to explain that the final piece did not quite follow her initial vision: “I ran out of the thread I was using, and was unable to find the same thread to purchase, so I had to make do with colors that were more distinct from the background.” The slight difference in thread color did not stop the image from being selected, or from taking home first place in the competition. Reflecting on her victory, Shanmugam admitted that it was rewarding to see people appreciate her piece, especially since she did not submit the artwork to the competition herself. “It was nice to see that other people enjoyed and valued things that I created.” A key part of being an artist is the ability to adapt, and Shanmugam’s ability to do so while still executing an intricate, sentimental piece of art resulted in success at the Artsplosure competition.
“Lorelei” by An Nguyen
The handmade ball-jointed doll, “Lorelai,” was made by An Nguyen and also received recognition at Artsplosure, placing third. The clay figure was inspired by Nguyen’s long-time interest in 3D art and dollmaking. “I actually stumbled across the doll customization community first with my younger sister when we were younger, and I was always interested in doing something similar,” she said. However, she had not attempted to make her own doll until Mr. Morrow, another art teacher at Green Hope, suggested she make an action figure.
The creation of “Lorelai” was complex, and the plan evolved along the way. The body was constructed using oven-baked polymer clay, a favorite material of Nguyen’s, and joint sizes were estimated using beads for reference. Once each limb was created, they were hollowed out using a drill, painted and glossed. The doll was then assembled using an elastic string system. “Each joint also has a crevice in it for the string to slip through so that they can bend properly when they are all connected,” she explained. The string was connected to wire hooks in the hands, feet and head. Then, to complete the doll, Nguyen used simple fabric and lace to create a dress, brushed yarn for hair and metal loops to make jewelry.
Overall, Nguyen was “really happy with how the final piece turned out.” It changed quite a bit throughout the creation process, but ultimately became a fully-functional doll that caught the attention of jurors at Artsplosure and placed third in the competition. The victory was a major accomplishment for Nguyen as it was the highest any of her pieces had ever placed.
Another source of inspiration for the doll was books. The work of Kamome Shirahama, a comic book artist known for her work with Marvel and DC, is a major source of inspiration for Nguyen. “I really admire her illustration/ linework, as well as her character design,” she said. The art she discovers in comic books and fantasy novels influences her fantastical style and encourages her to improve her skills. She expressed her excitement, saying, “It’s a great honor to get recognized for the work that I am doing. I’m proud of this achievement and it motivates me to continue developing my abilities and entering my pieces into more competitions.” The award boosted her confidence in her skills, and now, Nguyen is eager to continue creating.
Shanmugam’s and Nguyen’s success at the Artsplosure festival speak volumes about their talent and dedication to art. Though both “My Family” and “Lorelai” required some adaptation along the way, both pieces turned out beautifully. According to Poppe, the adjudicator said that both pieces showed “high quality design and craftsmanship,” a compliment that is not given to just any artist. The character and performance of both artists at the festival made the Green Hope community proud and brought attention to the success of the Falcon art program.
