YOUNG SUCCESS n SHAKERS & MOVERS
Zoi Does Art and Life
—Her Way!
Z
oi Hunter was not born when Frank
Sinatra sang his most notable
ballad, ‘My Way’. The 16-year-
old had no way of knowing that
the words from the song, I planned each
chartered course, each careful step along
the byway and more, much more than this,
I did it my way, would describe her life. Zoi
is the miracle child of John and Tira Hunter,
a family transplanted from the Midwest.
More than just a miracle child, Zoi is an
artist extraordinaire. I planned to interview
this extraordinary artist, but I found that art
speaks where words are unable to explain.
When I asked her to describe her style of art,
she smiled and showed me several pieces.
We agreed that her artwork is a copulation
of abstract, fantasy and realism if I just must
use words to describe them. Zoi explains,
“I feel my paintings, I see them in my mind,
and then I paint what I feel and see”.
This journey did not happen by accident.
Her father, John, is a sketch artist and was
Zoi’s first art teacher. At the age of 11, the
family discovered her talent. Art undeniably
is conducive to happiness, and this made
Zoi happy. She was expressing her creativity
and creativity is intelligence having fun! One
of her first pieces of art was a steampunk
drawing. Steampunk is a genre of science
fiction or science fantasy that incorporates
animation, technology and aesthetic
designs inspired by 19 th century industrial
steam-powered machinery.
By Laura Dorsey
miracle child 100% of the time and agreed
to her request. Tira homeschooled Zoi for
6 years and then for the past 3 years she
has been doing unschooling. Unschooling
contrasts with other forms of home
education in that the student’s education is
not directed by a teacher and curriculum.
Unschooling gives Zoi the freedom to
pursue her art the way she desires, and
she seeks unlimited knowledge about
whatever she wants. Zoi learns history,
black history and science as a choice. Alice
Ball was an African American chemist who
developed the first successful treatment
for those suffering from leprosy and is one
of Zoi’s favorites. Zoi articulates, “education
is at my fingertips”.
Zoi declares that as an artist she paints,
draws, designs, writes, and cooks. She
also teaches classes at the library and at
the co-op. This fall, she will illustrate her 1 st
children’s book. Zoi’s artwork can be found
all over the world. She even has several
pieces on display in the local Bronze
Kingdom Museum.
When I asked Zoi what she wanted the
world to know about her, she whispered,
“Look at my work, because in every work of
art, the artist herself is present”.
Zoi’s love for artistic expression also
translates to her education. It is said that
artists see what others only catch a glimpse
of. Her mind was already racing, and
traditional education could not keep up.
Even before her love for art was evident,
she went to her mother and asked to be
homeschooled since she found public
school was not challenging her. Tira and
John would do anything to support their
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