Matt Struck: A Musician in the Making
By Eric Gangloff, Late Shift Teacher/Advisor
Anyone who witnessed Matt Struck’s Senior Presentation of Learning in the spring of 2006 is not the least surprised by the various creative projects he is now involved with. This presentation, which showcases a student’s personal and academic growth during high school, included music, video, art, writing, and performance. Nearly three years later, Matt continues to explore his creative passions with the intent and grace we saw during his time at P.S. 1. He is an active member of Denver’s music scene, performing his own material under the moniker Owetraviye and playing keyboards and other electronic devices with the rock group Pleistocene. He recently displayed several of his pen-and-ink drawings (and one pen-and-ink clock!) at a local art show and continues to write short fiction. Not only that, but Matt is in the progress of making videos for his own songs and recently co-founded a collective for artists and musicians to mutually support each other in both their artistic endeavors and their livelihoods.
Many of Matt’s current activities can be traced back to his time at P.S. 1. As he says, “P.S. 1 allowed me to be able to be able to do what I’m doing…and taught me what you can do with your life.” During his junior and senior years, he was in charge of operating and organizing the P.S. 1 Recording Studio, where he taught fellow students the art of digital recording and the nuances of the recording process. He also spent time in the Culinary program, where he gained skills he used as he ran his own catering business for a short time after his graduation and now as a line cook at a local Italian restaurant. Matt has taken three semesters of courses at the University of Colorado at Denver, but has decided to focus on his creative endeavors and travel for the moment. He’ll be heading to San Francisco this spring and plans on spending the summer in Maine with another P.S. 1 graduate to explore the opportunities and possibilities there. Given Matt’s successes here in Denver, there is little doubt that he will bring his cheerful creativity to whatever community he decides to call home.
When reflecting back on his time at P.S. 1, Matt can cite several examples of experiences that have lead his life in this direction. He was an ardent trip participant, taking school excursions to Ireland/England, Chicago, Washington, D.C., the Mississippi Delta, New York City, Juárez, Mexico, and several Colorado jaunts. These trips offered him once-in-a-lifetime experiences, such as getting a graffiti tour of New York City by legendary hip-hop artist Kurtis Blow or staying in cabins in Ballyvaughan, Ireland. He thought of P.S. 1 as a family, crediting the “sharing and community” for allowing him to come out of the closet during his junior year. As Matt continues with his creative projects, and works to create a community of mutual support and understanding, it is clear that he has taken to heart the “compassionate and contributing” and “passion for life long learning” of the P.S. 1 Vision Statement. We are proud to call Matt a graduate of our school.
Listen to Some of Matt's Music: