CABOT, Ark. — Cabot High School Senior Ethan David’s artwork was recently selected for the 2024 AP Art and Design Exhibit.
Over 80,000 portfolios were submitted by students who took AP Art and Design last year, and only 50 were selected for the online exhibit.
“It will get displayed to over 250,000 people,” David said, “And it will be used to teach classrooms with.”
David said he can hardly remember a time where he didn’t love art, and he’s improved greatly over the years.
“I've kind of always did [art],” David said. “I'm a pretty competitive person, so I used to watch videos on YouTube, and then just be like, ‘I could do that.’ And then I kind of just got better over time, and I just never stopped.”
David said that love for art has been nurtured by his family, who he credits with always supporting him.
But he also said Cabot High Art Instructor Helen Goodman deserves much of the credit for her support and for allowing him to stay late and work on his projects.
Goodman said teaching David is a joy, and even after 46 years in education, she sees things in him that she doesn’t see often.
“He is absolutely fearless,” Goodman said. “He's willing to go the distance. I have had very few students in my career that are willing to spend as much time and effort doing their work as he does.”
She also said the amount of symbolism and personal meaning David puts into his art sets him apart as well.
For example, the two pieces he submitted with his portfolio explored concepts like time and existentialism.
“He's not really ever satisfied until that message is completely embedded in what he's doing,” Goodman said.
Goodman said she was a little surprised when David was selected for the exhibit, just because it’s such a difficult thing to be chosen for.
“Of those 80,000 portfolios, 50 students’ works were chosen,” Goodman said. “And he's one of those. It's an amazing, amazing accomplishment.”
But she said if anyone was going to get it ... it was going to be David who's now the first student in the history of Cabot High School to be selected for this honor.
As for David himself, he said he was shocked when he got the email telling him his work had emerged from the digital pile to be displayed online forever.
“I just didn't really know how I was supposed to feel,” David said. “It's kind of like if you got injured, and then were kind of in shock.”
“I'm just thrilled for him,” Goodman said. “I think he's a fabulous human being, as well as being a fabulous art student. I don't think there's many people more deserving.”
David plans to study architecture in college. He’s already been accepted to the University of Arkansas.
He’s also going to continue to pursue art with the dream of one day being a full-time artist.
“It's a way that I can express different thoughts and feelings in a way that isn't just speaking,” David said. “I feel like words are kind of temporary, but an image is something that's not going to change.”