Last year, Max Heiges was known in high school circles for his long passes as the football quarterback at Redwood High School. Today, he has shifted playing fields. Max is now attending Novato High School, where he is the starting quarterback for the Varsity team, and also one of the blossoming artists in the Marin School of the Arts (MSA) Visual Arts program.

Max became interested in arts at an early age, inspired by his mother, Victoria Heiges, who studied Art History at Stanford University.

Max and his mother would create paintings and sculptures and display them throughout the Heiges’ home.

Max’s art would be featured alongside his parents’ extensive collection of art. Max says his parents’ collection continues to serve as inspiration for his own work.

Heiges made the difficult decision to switch high schools for his junior year because he really wanted the opportunity to expand his artistic creativity. Like most public high schools in the area, Redwood did not offer the kind of intensive arts program Max desired. Fortunately for Max and for Novato High School, that program was available at Marin School of the Arts.

Max says he is “challenged” by the Visual Arts program at MSA. He says he enjoys the interaction with other student and teachers and finds the entire experience “stimulating and exciting”. The Visual Arts program, with its intensive curriculum and real-world experience, is just the thing for serious art students like Heiges.

According to Max, the transition to MSA at Novato High School has been a good one. He is enrolled in two Advanced Placement (AP) courses and says he is impressed with the quality of the students and dedication of the teachers.

When asked how one person can have a gift in both athletics and the arts, Max has the answer. “Football and art are both visual events”, he states. “As a quarterback, I need to see the entire field. I can’t just focus on one particular player or part of the field. The same is true with art. I need to step back and look at the entire canvas.”

Heiges’ parents, Larry and Victoria, have been actively involved in Marin School of the Arts, volunteering on a number of initiatives. Max is one of 40 students who attend MSA who live outside of Novato. The Heiges’ home is in Tiburon.

Max is also a talented student, earning a 3.8 grade point average (GPA), and was a member of the Principal’s list last year. Max’s parents are no strangers to high achievement. Larry holds an MBA from Harvard University, while Victoria earned her MBA at USC.

What’s next for Max will be entirely his own creation.