Why is a sophomore boy painting famous pictures of flowers?

Recently, Joseph Zhou ('06) painted a rendition of a Georgia O'Keefe acrylic painting. Ms. Christine Schultz, the Advanced Foundations of Art teacher, was so impressed with Zhou's painting that she suggested he donate it to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society’s Fifth Annual Black Tie Gala for auction. All of the proceeds received from the auction will be used for research to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma.

The event occurred at the Weston Hotel in Princeton, NJ, on Friday, April 30, where only one painting from Cherry Hill East was allowed to be donated.

"This was my first painting, and I felt it would be nice to donate it to a good cause. I like to help," said Zhou.

The painting that Zhou created was his first one ever donated for auction even though he has been involved in art for the past six years. Remarkably, the painting that started out in the auction at a price of 50 dollars was bought by a silent bidder for 175 dollars.

"The way he cropped it and the way he put his composition together, I felt was the strongest painting in the class," said Schultz.

Only a sophomore, Zhou has plenty of time for future accomplishments in the field of art.