Imti Hassan, former Homer High School Fellow, student at Bates College, Lewiston

“Imagine it’s 1895. The setting is Millinocket, Maine, and there is a beautiful sunrise on the horizon. It is peaceful, tranquil, and silent. The chickadees make their presence known by humming their melodic tunes. The slow rocking of the canoe can be heard as the waves push against it. The theme of this painting is nature’s serenity, something humanity is destroying 125 years later. Notice the use of light and bright colors in the center of the scene and the darker colors surrounding the center.

As a Homer Fellow, we were often asked which artwork we were drawn to the most and what we noticed in that artwork. I returned to this painting to think, to process, and to feel. Church’s art is a reminder that nature and humans are constantly evolving. This work of art reminds me to live life to the fullest and remember that time is always going forward.”

Imti Hassan identifies as Somali-American and a proud Muslim woman. She is a resident of Portland, Maine, and attends Bates College. She strives to be open-minded and to learn other people’s stories. At Bates, she is thinking of majoring in Economics, Psychology, or Politics, and minoring in Chinese. She is thinking of becoming a lawyer or an entrepreneur. According to Imti, “being a Homer Fellow made me realize that there is much you can dissect within an artwork and that powerful dialogues can emerge if you listen.”