Expression Through Art Is Her Gift To Others

Dark clay soft between her fingers, Aiko Terao has found her voice.

“I have problems communicating other ways, so this is my way of communicating,” says Terao, an East Valley High School senior.

Molding clay into sculptures of Buddha and women, Terao has shared her religion, social concerns and political views over the past four years.

Terao was raised a Buddhist and her family has always encouraged expression through art and music. She also plays the violin and enjoys drama.

She said her grandfather was a painter who inspired her to pursue art before he passed away when she was 10 years old. He had Alzheimer’s disease during the last years of his life and Terao still wishes she’d had more time to learn from him.

“Now, it’s like it is my turn to carry out that expression,” she says. Her mother and grandmother also are artists.

One of Terao’s sculptures addressing abortion was awarded first prize in the 27th annual Regional High School Art Show earlier this year, but she waves off the recognition.

What’s important, she says, is giving people a glimpse of different points of view through her art work - encouraging people to keep an open mind.

Terao’s current creation, a life-sized sculpture of a pregnant woman, was a response to the attitudes she noticed around her high school about young women who are pregnant. She hopes it reminds people of the beauty and energy of young women, no matter what choices they make in life.

She plans to give the sculpture glass eyes and stiff, curly hair made of copper wire, then donate it to a second-hand store so it can be used to display clothing for pregnant women.

Terao’s art teacher Pam Smith says her spirit and thoughtfulness have been welcome additions.

“I like the diversity Aiko brings to the classroom,” Smith says.

Smith chose Terao to help teach pottery to a class at Mead Middle School earlier this year.

Terao plans to attend Spokane Falls Community College in the fall and work toward an associate’s degree in general studies with an art emphasis while she refines her goals.

It will give her an opportunity to work with different mediums she’s been wanting to try, including glass blowing and metallurgy.

Eventually, Terao would like to become an art therapist - using art to help people with mental illnesses express themselves.

But in the meantime, Terao is already planning her next sculpture. She wants to create a piece using something she finds in garbage.

“I believe that art is all around us,” she says. “Even in the trash.”