Each morning the precious twenty extra minutes allotted to our second period classes are spent with the quirky and beloved cast of The Loe Down. The anchors sparkle with the glow of a spotlight and we revel in the joy of video journalism. But it is what we don’t see that is responsible for the soul of production, and among the dazzling charisma of our local celebrities sits an understated man and genius, Andrés Guzman. With his luxurious dark curtain of curls and signature dead eye stare, Andrés is a vital part of the community and is a pioneer of Enloe’s comedy scene.
Writing is hard, writing with humor is harder. Not just anyone can sit down and instantly crank out an article packed with bizarre one liners. This flow state comes from his unedited stream of consciousness style. Andrés doesn’t cater to everyone, he stays true to his own unique idea of hilarity and in turn he curates an unapologetic brand, or as he simply says, “I like the freedom to write what I like and what I want.” Even if all don’t recognize his genius, he is even more of a gem to those who do.
How did he become this way?
Noah “Gort” Rhodes, what some would call the pretty face of The Loe Down, describes his partner in crime, the ying to his yang, his number one, “He has a weird mysterious aura to him…Hell say stuff… that’s extravagant in a way that’s not normal.” These two have a special dynamic, as Gort puts it, “He’ll tell a joke and I’ll tell it louder and then everyone will laugh.” Gort doesn’t just take his friends talents for granted though, he recognizes the greatness in the man behind his jokes, “We were anchoring together for a few weeks, he was out for a day or two in a row and he comes back and he has like ten new bits that he wants to do, I think that’s Andres. You’ll miss him for a day or two and he’ll come back and it’s like he never was gone, he’ll never tell you why he was gone, and then it’s like he never was.”
Whereabouts outside of school hours aren’t Andres’s only secret; his finsta, @soboldart, features an unknown talent of his: art. Slightly unnerving graphic creatures are placed on top of bright backgrounds, creating a pop art-esque style across the account. In our exclusive interview with the artist, he declares, “I wanna share my art with the WORLD.” When asked about his inspiration, he simply cites his imagination as his muse. He even dabbles in shockingly smooth animation, soboldart´s reels are a treat to scroll through.
Andres is more than his art, his passion for almonds, or his love of Halloween (the film), he is kind. When good friend Angel Mitchel Morris reflects on Andres she says, “Andres when he gets out of his shell really knows how to brighten up a room. I don’t think there’s ever been a conversation with Andres where I have left without a laugh or a smile.”
Andres plans to study Biology and aims to work in zoology, as to more accurately depict the creatures in his drawings, along with mixing up his dietary habits,“[I’m] ready to stop eating school lunch and eat 7 meals a day.” He is headed off to the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and as we watch this magnificent Eagle fly into the sun, we thank him for his invaluable service to The Eagle’s Eye and wish him well, wherever the winds blow. Go Bulldogs!
Andres,
Our class will not be the same without you. I have never met someone with more commitment to their bits than you, and I will never meet someone with such a strong sense of self. Please don’t let the bitter streets of Asheville change you, because everyone who knows you has a very special place in their heart for Andres Guzman. I hope your seven meals treat you with love and respect!
-Elise
To Andres:
I am so grateful to have been able to grow closer to you this past year, getting to know you has been such a gift. Your sense of humor is one that will always be unmatched. No matter what, you always know how to put a smile on my face with every joke that you make. I have no doubt that you’ll continue to do amazing things in Asheville and beyond, and I can’t wait to see how you share your incredible talents with the world!
-Eleanor
