{"id":413,"date":"2025-05-06T17:23:20","date_gmt":"2025-05-06T17:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/?page_id=413"},"modified":"2025-05-16T17:50:39","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T17:50:39","slug":"zenith","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/zenith\/","title":{"rendered":"Zenith"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Zenith project was a chance for ultimate creative freedom, and it gave me the opportunity to dive deep into a passion that\u2019s both personal and symbolic. The word \u201czenith\u201d means the point at which something is most powerful or successful, and after two years of building creative and technical skills at Freestyle, I felt ready to take on something ambitious. For my Zenith project, I created a sculpture of a banyan tree. I\u2019ve always been drawn to the banyan tree\u2019s symbolism\u2014its roots, branches, and complex structure represent growth, connection, and resilience. Sculpting it challenged me in new ways, from planning and structure to artistic execution. While this specific medium wasn\u2019t taught directly in class, the creative confidence, design thinking, and problem-solving skills I\u2019ve developed at Freestyle were essential throughout the process. This project helped me realize how much I\u2019ve grown\u2014not just as an artist, but as someone who\u2019s willing to take risks and express deeper meaning through my work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">process<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"662\" src=\"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/annotated-Banyan20Moodboard20-1024x662.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/annotated-Banyan20Moodboard20-1024x662.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/annotated-Banyan20Moodboard20-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/annotated-Banyan20Moodboard20-768x497.jpg 768w, https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/annotated-Banyan20Moodboard20.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beginning of Process <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/slidesz\/AGV_vUfqzZOZIWBropeiwWc8rwek0x9Ai0wzKt8msR82n21CSo-ejTb5DYbMcYfijAJ16Z4ogNDYO2QgFwMTcP3JM4456fS-BshijeQze_pE5ttNLbJWlvL89ufNbDNZGtzszCyJ0LB9cQ=s2048?key=YD_HP-F_FrP8xc46W9NiBYvC\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:655px;height:auto\" title=\"IMG_5533.jpg\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Middle of Process <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/slidesz\/AGV_vUc53K3E871w08UCwCH6ZVJYBPXqbHNcnzf3H_up_7rBU3P0iQoHJb7ul2_P5WDpmQ5eJBetHYLMN_8UHsIDAb-XsRZUXmdwSEqXjHYbSIRF8NZhSheNQZ1MRorojlsaUhWk23qzog=s2048?key=YD_HP-F_FrP8xc46W9NiBYvC\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:596px;height:auto\" title=\"IMG_5622.jpg\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">End of process <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/slidesz\/AGV_vUeEi7DQs7EqY0JFloMefaPBiHnFg0qLL6lrp9ngRTKJYHy69Sf7hZdSWADxasKbto7_689Pllf7pVJ9kz7q5QGNELgv517NwzyUZjXsE9u1_1auKVLjzKytfPNnKR9tyhC7t59ymA=s2048?key=YD_HP-F_FrP8xc46W9NiBYvC\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:715px;height:auto\" title=\"IMG_5655.jpg\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final Product<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/slidesz\/AGV_vUcDYVETkDq3F4hWsHvWJ7WpIzMx2hHAMw6cUTlH9ZEZwIEg7vez0ziR6OsrJm-2CbT0a02QQuCme2jJ624Mlo2iJS2aC23HAGcrblX4jIrgROJFcl78D9OzjIJcfd2HtcwRLtJ-=s2048?key=YD_HP-F_FrP8xc46W9NiBYvC\" alt=\"\" style=\"width:670px;height:auto\" title=\"IMG_5657 (1).jpg\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div data-wp-interactive=\"core\/file\" class=\"wp-block-file\"><object data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!state.hasPdfPreview\" hidden class=\"wp-block-file__embed\" data=\"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Samay-Shanmugham-Senior-Zenith-.pdf\" type=\"application\/pdf\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px\" aria-label=\"Embed of Samay Shanmugham Senior Zenith.\"><\/object><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-3d4c2870-ac43-4dc1-aa8d-0fb9ec95b43d\" href=\"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Samay-Shanmugham-Senior-Zenith-.pdf\">Samay Shanmugham Senior Zenith<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Samay-Shanmugham-Senior-Zenith-.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-3d4c2870-ac43-4dc1-aa8d-0fb9ec95b43d\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Zenith Presentation Video<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"24 25 p7 Zenith Celebration SamayS\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tkdHbMFRlek?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Audio Reflection <\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-soundcloud wp-block-embed-soundcloud\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"SamayS-Zenith Reflection by Freestyle Academy\" width=\"640\" height=\"400\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?visual=true&#038;url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F2097063663&#038;show_artwork=true&#038;maxheight=960&#038;maxwidth=640\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">reflection <\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I started thinking about my Zenith project, I wanted to create something deeply symbolic\u2014something that reflected not only my artistic growth but also personal meaning. I chose to sculpt a banyan tree because of what it represents: strength, interconnectedness, and the ability to grow through challenge. The process was more complex than I expected. I had to think structurally and creatively\u2014how to make the roots appear grounded and the branches expansive, all while making it visually compelling. Even though sculpture wasn\u2019t something I had done before, the creative problem-solving and design thinking I\u2019ve learned at Freestyle gave me the tools to bring my vision to life. There were moments of frustration and experimentation, but that\u2019s where the real learning happened. This project pushed me outside of my comfort zone and reminded me that creativity can thrive in any form when you give yourself the space to explore. I\u2019m proud of how it turned out, and even more proud of how much I\u2019ve grown through the process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Zenith project was a chance for ultimate creative freedom, and it gave me the opportunity to dive deep into a passion<\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a class=\"myButt \" href=\"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/zenith\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-413","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=413"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/413\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":473,"href":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/413\/revisions\/473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/freestyleacademy.rocks\/~SamayS\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}