Page 29 - Child Art Magazine Transformative Experiences

1998 ChildArt USA

Camilla Cohen

Art to Law

When I first found out that I had won the ICAF competition I issue and I think that the interplay between being hopeful, but
was in middle school, and at that time my family had recently also being cognizant of the challenges was kind of the purpose
emigrated from South Africa to Florida. One of the main reasons of that painting and where I was going with it. This kind of sounds
why my family left and came to America, like so many other depressing for maybe a 9 year old, but I remember thinking at
people, was to provide us with opportunities. To receive an the time being very aware of what was going on in the world but,
invitation at that age and that time to go to Washington hopeful that we were moving toward a better world.
DC, have my artwork exhibited, meet other artists from
around the country, see the National Monuments; it was an Camilla’s message for you: I think enjoying art and doing art is
incredible experience for so many different reasons as an a very special thing and if it’s something that you’re passionate
artist but also as a person. about put all of your energy into it and do everything you can
to foster and nurture that talent. Don’t let anyone tell you that
It definitely left an impression on me for the rest of my life and you shouldn’t be an artist or you shouldn’t pursue that because
also for my family. At that time my mom, grandmother, and people that are successful in this would pursue things that make
brother had come with me to Washington and it was really them most happy. If art is that for you, than that is something you
special. I definitely still remember it and art has always been should devote every hour of your life to. What I took away from
a part of my life. When I was younger, I did it as a way to my experience with the International Child Art Foundation was
express myself and as I grew older it was also an expression that there are other people out there all around the world from
but a passion as well. Even though I didn’t end up doing art different countries that love art just as much as you do and also
as a career, it’s still a part of my life. I still paint, I still draw, I have something to say about it which is really incredible. So if
still discuss art with my mom, I visit exhibitions, and I go to sometimes you think you are different just remember that there
museums. It’s like the love of my life. are thousands of other people out there all across the world that
are just like you.
Once I graduated from college I ended up with Teach for America
in Spanish Harlem, New York City. For those two years it was The making of the America Mural was incredible! There was
interesting to see what the teenagers were going through at that this moment when we all had different perspectives, but we
time. My favorite moments of teaching were the times I had to were all coming together, unified. In that moment, while there
interact with students and be a voice of reason in their lives, were among difference amongst us, what was common was
when maybe they felt like they couldn’t speak to their parents or art. It was a really cool experience.
didn’t have anyone to talk to about their fears or dreams. It was
a great experience. Eventually I decided that I wanted to pursue Camilla Cohen, Esq. works with a law firm in Florida. She
my other dream which was going to law school. I did that after represents policyholders against insurance companies who
teaching for two years and now practice law. show bad faith and sues them for contractual damages. In 1998,
Camilla represented Florida at the first national arts festival in US
And I love it! The creativity never ends. It’s funny because I think history hosted by the ICAF on The National Mall and the Ronald
as an artist I bring a different perspective to law in a profession Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
that most people would think is filled with people who are much
more linear in their thinking. My background in art has given
me a different perspective on how I approach situations and
analyze issues. Law is challenging in a different way than art.
Everyday I’m learning, and everyday I’m growing. Until it stops
being rewarding, I won’t do law, but for right now it’s rewarding
in a different way. Art feeds my creative passion, and law feeds a
different curiosity that I always had as well.

As a child, and still as an adult, you have hope that we’re
progressing and moving towards a better good. I remember
that the rose colored glasses represented that and I was looking
through them and there was a rainbow. I also remember the
picture had a lot of realistic concerns we had in the world at that
time and unfortunately that we still have. Issues like HIV. I came
from a country where the aids epidemic was disastrous and the
average life expectancy of someone was dramatically lower than
it is in more developed countries. So for me, that was a very real

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