Category Archives: Studio Art

Center for Excellence Registration is Open

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Registration for Chaminade College Preparatory’s Center for Excellence (CCE) is now open. It is the perfect place for students to spend their summer learning and growing. With classes in the morning and afternoon, CCE offers programs, for students entering grades 1-12, designed to inspire, engage, and empower young minds.

Students entering grades 1 through 12 will enjoy expanding their horizons through the Center for Excellence summer programming. For students entering Chaminade’s 6th grade, Eagles Take Flight will prepare them academically and introduce them to Chaminade’s middle school community; while students entering high school grades can acquire valuable skills in High School Study and Success Skills, and students entering 12th grade can prepare for college applications in the College Application Bootcamp. CCE also offers robotics programs on both campuses with a brand-new class on the West Hills campus focusing on electronics and programming.

This year, CCEs summer Ste[+a]m Academy, for grades K-5, will once again be powered by STEMscopes. With a different curriculum each week, there is no repetition. Each STEMscope module engages students in cross-disciplinary activities that build knowledge and skills in areas including computer science, engineering, and biomedical science. Students can come for one week, or all five weeks.

The Great Books Academy, for grades K-5, is one of CCEs most popular programs aimed at educating the whole child. The Great Books curriculum is the cornerstone of the academy and is specially designed to help students become independent readers and thinkers by focusing on reading comprehension, critical thinking, vocabulary, and writing.

Summer is also an excellent time for students of all ages to pursue their creative passions in visual and performing arts. And children ages 5 to 15 can join CCEs Sports Camps and explore athletics from football to basketball as well as soccer, baseball, volleyball, fencing, and more. The West Hills campus also hosts Varsity Camps, which gives students the chance to work with Chaminade’s varsity head coaches, players, and former athletes with college and professional experience.

For more information visit chaminade.org/centerforexcellence or click here to register today.

Studio Art Students Participate in Robert Graham Memorial Art Exhibition

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By Charlene Hattier

Six Chaminade College Preparatory studio art students have work on display at the Our Lady of the Angels’ Robert Graham Memorial art exhibition. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, located in downtown Los Angeles, is a patron of the arts and continues to celebrate the art of growing young artists from 17 Catholic schools each spring. The theme of the exhibition is “Spirituality” and selected students were tasked with creating an art piece inspired by their own spirituality. Participating students, their teachers, and guardians were honored at the opening reception during Sunday Mass on January 21, 2018. Their works were blessed by the priest, and exhibited to hundreds of visitors attending mass and the exhibition. Anyone can still visit the Cathedral and see this remarkable exhibition in person until April 8, 2018.

The participating Chaminade students are Bianca Ryans ’18, Brittany Pakfar ’18, Isabella Boghossian ’20, Caitlin Lynch ’19 and Alexandra Nelson ’18.

Bianca Ryans
Savior
Acrylic on Canvas

I rely on my faith in every aspect of my life. When asked how to define my spirituality, all I could think of is how lucky and blessed I am to have a relationship with God to carry me through the tough times in life. I am strong in my spirituality, and it supports me at all times. I strongly believe that God will always provide. I decided to paint an image of my savior; in a way I am honoring and thanking Him for being an important part of my life.

 

Brittany Pakfar
Being Human
Acrylic and Ink

“Being Human” expresses my deep curiosity for the fate of humans in retrospect of an ironic truth; innovation can lead to the loss of humanity. This piece is a representation of my personal struggle to balance human nature, such as faith, with the addiction of technology, as contrasted by the bleeding hand and the shiny, android arm. Through this relevant and thought-provoking topic, “Being Human” serves as a cautionary piece; never sacrifice humanity for gadgets as real satisfaction is achieved in the arms of those we love.

 

Isabella Boghossian
A Light in the Darkness
Acrylic on Canvas

I believe that through times of darkness and pain, trusting in God and helping others will shine through the suffering. Love will always triumph hate. The hardest part we must overcome is gaining the courage to spread the love. The halo represents God being my inspiration to become a light in darkness and leading a path for others who have lost their way. The bible verse, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it,” (John 1:5) expresses my belief, that being a light in darkness will light the way for others.

 

Caitlin Lynch
Untitled
Acrylic on Canvas

This piece is illustrating my own self, placed within the chaos of the world. I am surrounded by other people’s religions and beliefs. The boat that I presented in the broken light bulb illustrates me peeking through to the open world. My calm thoughts on the flat water in the light bulb pour out into a wild ocean. The chaotic ocean illustrates my thoughts combining with the chaos of the world. My piece is also illustrating how people view my character. People see me as shy initially, but once someone gets to know me more, my true personality is exemplified with depth, like the ocean.

 

Allie Nelson
The Hands of Life
Acrylic on Canvas

My piece exhibits the cycle of life and how sturdy it may be. There is a balance in between the ways of the world, life and death. The hands represent the foundation and wonder, holding up the elements of life. The flower petals are a symbol for earth, the living, breathing structure that homes us all. In interpretation, my piece could be seen as rebirth or life after death in general. This is an open piece to all beliefs and religions, since we all believe in the peace of life.

Robert Graham Memorial Student Art Exhibit

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Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angles

On Sunday, March 8, a Mass will be held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to celebrate the opening of the 2015 Robert Graham Memorial Student Art Exhibit. Chaminade students Elena Burnett ’16, Taylor Dempsey ’15, Nikki Klein ’16, Aida Lepe ’15, Qianlin “Ava” Li ’17, and Isabelle Najera ’15 will participate in the exhibit.

The exhibit runs from March 8 through May 2. Participants, families, and guests attending the Mass are asked to arrive at 9:30 a.m., and to sit on the north side of cathedral.

Student Art on Display at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

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His Presence – 11×16 Acrylic, by Taylor Dempsey ’15 – This piece was inspired by my Catholic faith. The cross was a gift from my my parents upon the sacrament of Confirmation. This was a special moment in my life because I was committing myself to my faith and strengthening my bond with God. The red carnation symbolizes love and this shows my love for God and the relationship that I share with Him. Lastly, I have the 9 beams of sunlight that symbolize the Holy Spirit. He guides, and is with me in all times, through my spiritual journey in life
Full Bloom – 20×12 Acrylic, by Chloe Cho ’14 – My spiritual piece represents where I am in my journey. The bright yellow tree in the center of the set of mirrors, or panels, depicts my personal image of my growth. Outside the panels are overflowing flowers from the tree that show the development I have experienced and personal surprise about going beyond my own expectations.
Chasing Hope – 12×18 Acrylic, by Zoe (Jia) Xiong ’16 – The road means the journey of my life. The yellow light means hope. Green fire represents passion and the hardships in my journey.
Emergence – 10×14 Acrylic, by Jacqueline Godin ’14 – I believe what represents my spirit at this time in my life is a butterfly just emerging from its chrysalis. I am just beginning to understand who I am and become the person I was meant to be. Throughout high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be. But now it is becoming clearer to me. The butterfly represents my soul and the chrysalis how it had been hidden away and developed without me consciously knowing it. Breaking free of the chrysalis is always a struggle for a butterfly, and they cannot be helped or they won’t be able to fly. That was the process of me finding out who I truly am. It is a struggle and it is one that I have to do alone. I have not completed finding out what my true soul is, but I am getting closer each day. Emergence is based on a photograph by Kevin T. Karlson.
Balance – 12×16 Watercolor, by Kathleen Brennan ’15 – This piece symbolizes the balance in my spirit. The bright fish shows the passion I have for art and the dark fish symbolizes the struggles that I overcome. My art helps me to overcome challenges in my life, as well as leading me towards a better relationship with God.
The Messanger – 12×18 Acrylic, by Victoria Saadi ’15 – I painted a fox because the fox is a symbol for a messenger. Jesus was sent by God to deliver his message. In the fox’s mouth is a rosary, which is a string of beads used during prayer. In the background are the three crosses that are a symbol of when Jesus was crucified with the two men. I used purple because it symbolizes royalty, and before Jesus was crucified, he was wearing a purple sash.

By Tracy Lundy

On Sunday, March 23, six artists from Chaminade’s high school celebrated their participation in the Robert Graham Memorial Student Art Exhibit with a special mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Kathleen Brennan ’15, Chloe Cho ’14, Taylor Dempsey ’15, Jacqueline Godin ’14, Victoria Saadi ’15 and Zoe (Jia) Xiong ’16 were blessed and recognized by Cathedral pastor, Msgr. Kevin Kostelnik for their involvement with the program.

The Robert Graham Memorial Student Art Exhibit is a notable citywide exhibit that invites 12 schools throughout the Archdiocese to each submit six pieces of student artwork. Archbishop Jose H. Gomez presided over the Mass for the Robert Graham Memorial Student Art Exhibit to kick-off the program. Msgr. Kevin Kostelnik blessed the students, handed out certificates, and spoke to all 72 artists. Stephen Graham, Robert Graham’s son and Gayle Garner Roski, chairperson of the Committee of Arts at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral were in attendance.

The annual exhibit is in honor of famed sculptor and artist, Robert Graham who passed away December 2008. Graham designed the figures gracing the entry to the coliseum for the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles. He also designed the bronze doors of the Cathedral as well as the statue above the doors of Mary, Our Lady of the Angels.

The exhibit will be on display in the Cathedral galleries until May 2.

Victoria Saadi, Zoe (Jia) Xiang, Chloe Cho, Kathleen Brennan, Taylor Dempsey. Not pictured: Jacqueline Godin.

Pictured left to right: Victoria Saadi, Zoe (Jia) Xiang, Chloe Cho, Kathleen Brennan, Taylor Dempsey. Not pictured: Jacqueline Godin.