Students and Faculty Attend Inaugural Arts-a-Palooza

Dean of Fine and Performing Arts Eve Kikawa and mural professor Darren Hostetter. / Faith Hernandez / el Don
Dean of Fine and Performing Arts Eve Kikawa and mural professor Darren Hostetter. / Faith Hernandez / el Don

Santa Ana College’s Fine and Performing Arts departments rallied at Arts-a-Palooza, the division’s first open house event on Wednesday Sept. 14. For one night only, the Fine Arts Building was opened for aspiring art majors, including high school students, who are interested in learning more about the art, photography, dance, television, music and theater programs.

The event provided useful information for students who had enthusiasm in taking more of an artistic approach to their careers.

Representatives from the division’s various departments interacted with students, demonstrating the academic training needed to earn art certifications and associate degrees in art that will prepare them for a four-year college.

SAC also provided hands-on experiences setting up exhibitions and student showcases in their own galleries on campus and at Santora Building.

The event coincided with the opening reception of Resident Artists in the Main Gallery, featuring works from full and part-time faculty, such as Art Department Chair Phil Marquez and assistant professor in charge of murals Darren Hostetter. The show is open through Nov. 10. 

Eve Kikawa, the dean of the fine and performing arts division, described the event as a social event for students.

About 100 people gathered at the first Arts-a-Palooza. / Faith Hernandez / el Don
About 100 people gathered at the first Arts-a-Palooza. / Faith Hernandez / el Don

“Often art students tend to feel isolated because they spend many, many hours on their art whether it is in their art studio, dance studio, or theatre and they don’t ever really get to socialize,” Kikawa said. “The idea was that different art majors could meet other art majors and know what they are all about.”

Isidro “Chilo” Perez, an art major in painting and drawing, was one of a few muralists from a new additional mural class presented at the event.

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“This event benefited me because I got to see a lot of friends from around Santa Ana and they enjoyed the event and I got a lot of good comments on the design,” Perez said as he painted a mural for the upcoming presidential election campaign.

Kikawa hopes to organize more open-house events like Arts-a-Palooza in the future.

Faith Hernandez

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