Art shows life and death

Elaborately styled papel picados hang along the Hibbleton Art Gallery’s walls. These and other wall ornaments effectively frame the artworks of the Fullerton gallery’s current exhibit, “La Muerte y El Recuerdo en Latinoamerica” (Death and Resurrection in Latin America).

Adorning the gallery are pictures and paintings that showed different views of how life and death are celebrated in Latin American countries. There are also shrines surrounded by decorative lights. On the shrines are skulls and other miniature statues and trinkets. Mediums that range from photography to painting to mixed media art are used to depict how each artist represents the exhibit’s theme.

Serving as a guest curator for the exhibit is 40-year-old Cal State Fullerton alumni, Albert Garcia. Garcia was put in charge of selecting the artists, artworks and the parameters of the exhibit after approaching Hibbleton Art Gallery owner and CSUF English professor, Jesse La Tour. He also contributed some of his own work.

“The pictures I have on display were part of my research and travels and inspired the theme. I chose the ones I felt would compliment the theme and framed them for the show,” said Garcia, of the photography he presented, which was taken from graduate research done in Guatemala.

Garcia did his undergraduate and graduate studies in anthropology and graduated in 2006. For his Master’s thesis, Garcia compiled his studies from three intermittent trips to Guatemala. The thesis, “Religious Syncretism: An Anthropological Study of Maya Myth and Ritual,” revolved around the study of the indiginization of 16th century Catholicism into localized forms of religious observance and ritual, with an emphasis on the native point of view rather than the European point of view. Garcia currently works in an auxiliary office in McCarthy Hall that is part of the California Office of Historic Preservation.

“La Muerte y El Recuerdo en Latinoamerica” was the featured exhibit for the Hibbleton’s grand re-opening. The Hibbleton’s newer and significantly larger gallery space is located on 223 W. Santa Fe Ave. in Downtown Fullerton, a few blocks away from its previous location. The new gallery is fashioned like a warehouse with a visible wooden-structured ceiling, and contains many walls that help cut the exhibit into sections. The Hibbleton lies in the middle of PAS Gallery and Violet Hour Studio.

The exhibit runs through Nov. 2, but there will be a closing reception Oct. 29 that will feature live music and will serve as both a Halloween and Day of the Dead themed party.

Daily Titan Question and Answer with Albert Garcia:

Daily Titan: Out of the work you contributed to the exhibit, what is your favorite and why?

Albert Garcia: My friend and research partner, Tod Imperato, took a clandestine picture of several skulls on display at the Museo de Tiwanaku, Bolivia. I transformed it into a four-color screen-print, which changes it from a rather eerie scene of death to a somewhat picturesque and colorful look at what awaits us.

DT: What do you want viewers to get out of your work?

AG: The idea behind the theme, “Death and Remembrance in Latin America,” is to highlight the differences and similarities in how different cultures conceptualize and experience death and loss. Latin America has a unique history of cultural upheaval and tragedy – up to 90 percent of the population of the New World was gone within the first century of contact. And the syncretism of pre-Columbian traditions and 16th century Roman Catholicism has produced an amazing array of rituals and beliefs regarding death and the afterlife.

DT: What are your feelings toward this particular exhibit? Why do you think it’s important?

AG: I was very pleased with the artists that contributed. I gave them the idea and they ran with it, each conducting their own research and creating a wide range of artwork. I also mixed in photos from our fieldwork and associated travels so that aside from being an art show the gallery has an educational, almost museum-like feel to it. That was a very important idea behind it since I have volunteered and done internships at various museums, and appreciate the need for exhibits that enlighten and intrigue.

Originally published in the Daily Titan on October 28, 2010.

Actors urge youth to vote in elections

Actors Kal Penn and Kerry Washington urged young people to vote in the Nov. 2 elections. The actors, along with Kamala Harris, the democratic nominee for California attorney general, stressed the importance of the youth vote and the power of student-led political movements.

“Every important and major movement can be tracked in this country to its young people and students,” said Harris, who is currently San Francisco’s district attorney. “We want to encourage students to understand their power.”

If elected, Harris would be the first African American attorney general in California.

Harris stressed the imminence and importance of current issues on the ballot. Environmental issues, gay marriage and health care are topics Harris said the younger generation can solve.

“Understanding the importance of the race and the imminence of all of these issues in terms of impact on our lives,” Harris said. “What we want to do is encourage students to organize as they have done before.”

Harris, Penn and Washington want to dispel the myth that the number of students that voted in the 2008 presidential election was not a fluke.

“It drives me crazy because everyone is doubting our voice,” said Washington, who plays Kelly in the upcoming movie For Colored Girls.“We have to show up to the polls to make sure that our numbers are heard, that people know that we still care, that we understand that a representational democracy can only represent us when our voices are heard.”

In 2007, a large student population was responsible for the grassroots movement of the Obama campaign.

“This signifies that young people were moving the country forward,” said Penn, who left his role as Dr. Kutner on Fox’s drama, House, M.D. to join the Obama administration as a political activist.

Penn and Harris joined campaigners in Des Moines, Iowa, and went door-to-door to ask people to vote for Barack Obama, a then unknown senator from Illinois.

“Everything from city college students, high school students, university students, graduate students… people who have never been involved in a campaign, a lot of whom have never voted,” joined the Obama campaign, Harris said. “What was happening was just a part of the creation of a movement.”

Harris hopes students will channel a similar movement in the upcoming state elections by using social media to promote candidates and spread information regarding propositions.

“Do not underestimate the power of what you guys can do in your own community as students,” Harris said.

Written with Erin Bradley.

Originally published in the Daily Titan on October 28, 2010.

Free in-depth class reviews

With Spring registration beginning this week, students will have the chance to test out MyEdu.com, a free program that allows them to research courses, view course grades and read reviews on faculty.

“Students (can) use MyEdu during registration to build the best class schedule by comparing professor reviews and grade records from past semesters,” said Chris Chilek, one of the company’s founders, in a press release introducing MyEdu to educational institutions in California.

Unlike RateMyProfessor.com, MyEdu offers more objective overviews of professors and the classes they teach. Students can not only search through student reviews of professors, but can also see grade disbursements from previous semesters. This is made possible because for each course MyEdu compiles official grade records from previous semesters. These records are then displayed visually through a bar graph students can scroll over to see percentages for grades A through F.

“It takes a certain person to post their opinions about their professor online. It’s very subjective,” said Candace Foote, a sociology major, about sites like RateMyProfessor. “Though it’s interesting to see the grades professors give.”

In addition to accurate grade readings, students can also build schedules using a specialized “Schedule Planner.” This planner creates schedules that work with what professors students want, their work schedules and other commitments. MyEdu also links up with Facebook, so students can share their schedules through the social networking site.

“I think a site (like MyEdu) would be helpful to students because they can see how professors graded their students,” said Arav Kahanna, a finance major. “As long as the grades are shown anonymously I would use a site like this.”

Initially, the program required a small fee to use, but has since changed its policies to allow students to gain “100 percent free access.”

“Anyone could write whatever they want on sites like RateMyProfessor,” said Alanah Krueger, a sociology major. “(MyEdu) seems more accurate because a lot of students use those kind of sites to write bad things about professors who gave them bad grades.”

According to a press release from MyEdu, the company was founded in 2008 and houses the largest warehouse of course, professor, degree and college information in the United States. The resources that the site provides have helped over 2 million students graduate for college. To enroll in the services and learn more, visit MyEdu.com.

Originally published in the Daily Titan on October 28, 2010.

Pizza with the ASI Board of Director Candidates (ASI Brief)

Associated Students Inc. will be holding Pizza with the ASI Board of Director Candidates today from noon to 1 p.m. at the Becker Amphitheater.

Students will have the opportunity to get to know candidates who are running for Board of Director positions in the upcoming ASI Elections. Along with free pizza, students are free to ask the candidates questions about why they would the best represent their respective colleges. A total of 14 candidates, plus any last minute write-in candidates, will be at the event.

ASI Elections will be held on campus Oct. 27 and 28. Students will be able to vote at various polling stations located around campus.

Johnny Cupcakes sprinkles students with advice

Hudreds of cupcake lovers waited for hours outside Steven G. Mihaylo Hall to hear Johnny Earle, creator and founder of Johnny Cupcakes and BusinessWeek’s number one entrepreneur of 2008, speak.

“Does anybody think I really sell cupcakes?” Earle asked the people in the crowded Charton Family Lecture Hall.

Johnny Cupcakes is a successful clothing brand known for its cupcake and crossbones logo. The Society for the Advancement of Management (SAM) hosted Earle, who travels across the country lecturing students on starting a brand.

Earle’s lecture, which was given through PowerPoint slides, focused around life lessons he learned while starting up his business. Key topics included: the importance of branding, starting a business with little or no start-up money, entrepreneurship, management, product development and much more.

“Johnny Cupcakes has been an inspiration to me since day one,” Michael Custodio, a business major said. “He has taught me that anything is possible as long as you’re persistent. His whole lecture is a learning experience.”

Johnny Cupcakes started his company by selling buttons and T-shirts out of the trunk of his car in Massachusetts. He now has three storefronts, a cult following and more than $1 million in profits.

“My brand is for… every type of person,” said Earle, describing the diversity of his customers.

He builds a community around his product and recognizes the importance of customer service by adding special packaging and inserting gifts when shipping his T-shirts, stickers and pins.

“Every order shipped out gets a surprise,” Earle said.

Sometimes it could be $20, a free shirt, a doll’s head, a battery or stale cereal. He surprised all the students by hiding little cupcake-covered gift bags between the seats. People got pins, candy, business cards and classic ‘90s television trading cards.

“I’m here to hear Johnny and become inspired,” said Earl Rocha,19, undeclared major . “My friends from other schools told me about his lectures, so I had to experience it first hand.”

A lot of people in the crowd wore Johnny Cupcakes T-shirts, but no two T-shirts were alike. The Johnny Cupcakes brand prides itself on brand longevity by creating limited numbers of each T-shirt or products.

“My T-shirts have created a sort of ‘Tee Harmony,’” Earle said. “A lot of people have made friends with random strangers just because they have one of my shirts on.”

He stressed the importance of reinventing oneself, reminding the crowd that everything has been done before and that it is their responsibility to do things differently.

“The more time you spend making business decisions, the better your ideas get. It’s best not to rush,” said Earle while talking about his elaborate store on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles.

The store is set up like a bakery, keeping consistent with the designs of his East Coast storefronts. Over-sized oven doors function as doors that lead to a hidden office and stock room, while a stovetop acts as a cashier’s counter. Customers pick out T-shirts from refrigerators, which are then packaged from bakery boxes.

“(Johnny Cupcake’s) products are very unique and fresh, I like them a lot,” said Megan De Guzman, a kinesiology major.

With no investors and no chain stores, Johnny Cupcakes proves that people can make millions and have fun in the process.

“It’s not about the money,” Earle said. “It’s about being happy and doing what you love.”

Written with Erin Bradley.

Originally published in the Daily Titan on October 19, 2010.

"Art 4 Health": Healthy living showcased

Students, faculty, alumni and members of the community gathered at the Student Health and Counseling Center (SHCC) for the opening reception of the fourth annual “Art 4 Health” event.

The theme that pervades each of the 105 artworks in this year’s exhibit is “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind, Healthy Spirit.”

Of the 41 artists participating in this exhibit, which took place Friday Oct. 15, 66 percent are currently enrolled students, while the rest are faculty and alumni. Each artist used different forms of media to convey the theme, ranging from acrylic on canvas to photography.

“All artworks in this exhibit hold so much expression,” said Gail Pakalns-Naruo, director of counseling and psychological services at the SHCC. “And that expression has a relation to healing and well-being.”

The artworks line the walls of the SHCC West and East buildings, and are placed in areas surrounding sitting rooms, next to doctors’ offices, in lobbies and other highly visible areas.

Upon entering the exhibit from the West building, Eric Leonard Jones’ canvases dominated one of the main corridors at the start of the exhibit. Adjudicator Brandon Strathmann commented extensively on one of his pieces entitled “It Can’t Be Precious” and explained the intricacies and technique present in that particular work.

“Most of the artworks in this event can be seen as autobiographical or semi-autobiographical. But prevalent in all the works is a sort of psychological aspect,” said Strathmann, who is also a assistant professor of entertainment art and animation. “In Jones’ work you can’t help but note the quick brush strokes and how his technique creates raw emotion.”

Many of the artists had multiple works; some were individual pieces while others connected to represent a series. Brittany Relf, a 22-year-old entertainment art major, submitted a three-part series entitled “Mother Nature.” Two of her works were large canvas paintings that depicted trees shaped as human beings. Another work built off the other two, but was created using acrylic on cloth, and hung using a bamboo rod.

“My work shows a connection between nature and humans. I use our vulnerability towards nature by showing human pain and I do this by showing nature and people as one,” Relf said. “This is the easiest way I can think of to show the connection between the two and to promote understanding.”

The exhibit was not only created to promote the arts and awareness for the SHCC, but it was also a juried event. Along with Strathmann, there were five other jurors who worked on deciding which artists would win “Best in Show” in three categories, students, faculty and alumni.

In addition to award certificates, student artists competed to win $200 scholarships and alumni artists competed to win an exhibition space in the Titan Student Union from January to April.

The winners were announced during the reception. Natalie Salim and Shauday Deeble both tied for the student awards and both received scholarships. The alumni winner was Lauren Gallegos and the faculty winner was Raven Lauren Mansen.

Artists also had the option of putting their works up for auction. If a work is purchased, the artist receives 60 percent of the bid, while the rest of the money goes into funding the exhibit for the entire year.

“The whole event is a fun way to give artists more of an opportunity to show of their work,” Relf said. “It’s also interesting putting health and art together, which is an unlikely pairing.”

The Arts Inter-Club Council was also present at this year’s event. Set up on the lawn across from the SHCC building were the Ceramics, Hot Glass and Pencil Mileage Club, along with the Society of Museum Associates. There were also live musical performances by the Classical Guitar Club, Phi Mu Sinfonia, Sigma Alpha Iota and the Theatre Professionals of Tomorrow.

“Art 4 Health” will continue until the end of July 2011. Friday’s reception was the only time that the exhibit opened its doors to the general public, but those who are interested may contact the SHCC and set up an appointment for a special viewing.

Originally published in the Daily Titan on October 18, 2010.

Queer speaker series continues (Queer Scholarship News Brief)

Associate Professor of American Studies, John Ibson, will be giving a lecture on Wednesday as part of the “Thinking Queer: Bringing Queer Scholarship to CSUF” speaker series.

Ibson is the second speaker in this series, following the first speaker, UCLA professor Anne Pelau, who gave her presentation September 22nd. Ibson will be presenting his lecture entitled “Same-Sex Marriage and American Culture: The Perspective of a New Groom and Longtime Scholar,” which will include the story of how he married his partner of over 30 years. His lecture will take place in University Hall 252 at 5:30 p.m.

The speaker series was created to introduce a proposed queer studies minor at Cal State Fullerton. The interdisciplinary minor is expecting to incorporate courses from the women’s studies, American studies, history and psychology departments.

The final speaker of the series is Judith Jack Halberstam, professor of English and director for feminist research at USC. Her lecture will be entitled “The Queer Art of Failure” and will take place on Nov. 4.

The Queer speaker series is sponsored by Psi Chi, CSUF Psychology Department, National Honor Society and the Women and Gender Studies Student Association (WGSSA).

Originally published in the Daily Titan on October 12, 2010.

Annual two-day book sale (ASSA News Brief)

The American Studies Student Association will be holding its annual Book Sale Extravaganza in front of the Humanities Building on Wednesday and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The book sale will serve as a fundraiser for the ASSA, a group geared toward promoting awareness of the American studies department.

Rahima Schwenkbeck, ASSA co-president said the books being sold were all donated to the ASSA by students and staff members.

The fundraiser is also completely run and staffed by students. The items that will be available are used American studies books, as well as other books and DVDs.

“We keep our book prices extremely reasonable and both staff and student stock up on the great variety of books and other media we have available,” Schewenkbeck said.

Other upcoming events for the ASSA include a Game Night, which will take place Oct. 16, and a Pizza Night on Oct. 22 where American studies faculty, members of the ASSA, and other students will have dinner together.

Lastly, Film Night will be hosted by Assistant professor Adam Golub, who will be screening “A Single Man” on November 17th.

For more information on the events, email assa@fullerton.edu or find the ASSA on Facebook under “CSUF American Studies Student Association.”

Originally published in the Daily Titan on October 12, 2010

Album Review: Blonde Redhead's "Penny Sparkle"

For Fans of: Sonic Youth, Electrelane, Asobi Seksu

Kazu Makino’s hauntingly delicate voice combined with Amedeo and Simone Pace’s intricate instrumentation and back-up vocals is a combination of pure, effortless beauty in Penny Sparkle, Blonde Redhead’s latest album.

“My Plants Are Dead” is one of the many songs on Penny Sparkle that shows how the New York-based psychedelic rock band has mastered their minimalist alternative shoegaze rock style over the years. The lyrics are simple and flow effortlessly, weaving in and out between a soft drumbeat and a gossamer guitar reverb. Most of the songs on the album have this steady vibe.

“Will There Be Start” features the vocal talents of twins Amedeo and Simon. Their high-pitched voices pair well with the slow-moving background drums and sporadic guitar clangor. “Black Guitar” is another track that features the twins and Makino. The song begins with a fuzzy synth sound and the twins’ soothing voices. The almost orchestral introduction heralds in a guitar clangor and the voice of Makino, who sings throughout the rest of the track.

“I fell in love with the music like falling for someone you’ve known for a long time,” Makino said in a press release. “It was dreamy and sometimes was very stormy. At times I felt like a shepherd who was trying to herd five stallions into a yard (unsuccessfully).”

Makino’s cryptic statement about the album may be due to the fact that the band worked with Van Rivers and the Subliminal Kind, producers of popular Swedish electronic artist Fever Ray. This collaboration may be why there is a strong synth presence – almost every song incorporates the sound in the background. Also, the producer of the band’s 2007’s 23, Alan Moulder, was also on board serving as the mixer of the album.

The product of these collaborations can be best heard in the album’s opening track, “Here Sometimes,” which is a combination of a fuzzy guitar distortion and a steady electro background beat. This sound creates an unusually upbeat song, something not characteristic to Blonde Redhead. The unique sound is quite catchy and a welcome addition to the track list.

Long time fans of Blonde Redhead will be quick to appreciate that the band hasn’t strayed far from its signature style. Rather than doing anything drastic, they have managed to stay true to their sound, making it more distinct and focused by adding minor changes in instrumentation. Penny Sparkle shines, highlighting the band’s commitment to the style they developed in their 1995 self-titled album.

Originally published in the Daily Titan on October 7, 2010.

Superheroes unite for world record

Numerous Supermen and Batmen lined the streets surrounding the Nokia LA Live Theater. Dressed in outfits made of sheer cotton fabric, rubbery faux leather and crisp latex, they made their way down the street waving at cars that honked past them and smiled at bewildered faces. They were on a mission, and it wasn’t to fight crime. They were on a mission to help break a Guinness World Record.

The heart of Los Angeles was filled to the brim with men, women and children, who used their super powers to help promote DreamWorks Studios’ upcoming animated film, Megamind. Dressed in homemade and store-bought costumes, people from all over Southern California and beyond made their way to the Nokia Theater in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record’s title for the Largest Gathering of Superheroes and to kick off MegaMonth.

Costumed crusaders checked in with Stuart Claxton, an adjudicator and Guinness World Records spokesmen. His duty was to verify that all the participants adhered to the guidelines that pertained to this particular record which, according to Guinness, was that all participants must be dressed as an “easily recognized superhero who has been published in a book, comic, television program or film.”

As participants entered the theater, they were greeted with booths filled with Megamind-themed food and games. The “Blue Buffet” booth provided blue cupcakes, donuts, cookies and other blue treats, while booths like the “Minion Bowl Toss” and the “Metroman Powershot” tested super skills in the form of carnival-style mini-games. Participants were also given blue balloons at the “Megamind Balloonery” booth, which highlighted the overcast morning sky with a sea of bright blue.

Across from the booths was the main stage area, which was lined with blue flooring and was decorated with electronic movie posters that featured characters from Megamind. The floor space was crawling with super heroes and a handful of villains from various universes ranging from DC to Marvel to the wizarding world of Harry Potter. A lot of the participants were conversing and taking pictures with one another, which added to the friendly and fun environment.

All eyes were on the stage when Jeffrey Katzenberg, the CEO of DreamWorks, took the stage to congratulate everyone for participating in the event. Katzenberg also introduced the director of Megamind, Tom McGrath, and praised him by saying that he was the creative force behind the film and continued on to introduce Will Ferrell, who plays Megamind in the film.

A Megamind cheerleading squad took the stage and held a mini-performance that led to the introduction of Ferrell, who appeared with a Megamind mascot. After giving a little speech and thanking everyone for coming to the event, Claxton appeared alongside a large Guinness World Record certificate and announced to everyone in the crowd that they had broken the record of 1,500 and created a new record of 1,580. With much elation for breaking the record, Ferrell jokingly told the crowd to honor MegaMonth by remaining in their costumes for the entire month.

Soon after, royal blue and metallic gold streamers exploded into the air and showered onto the superheroes as they erupted in cheers.

Originally published in the Daily Titan on October 4, 2010.

Women should embrace their curves

Images of tall, skinny and beautiful women haunt us everyday as we encounter them in magazines, movies and television. These types of media serve not only as forms of entertainment, but as reminders of how women’s bodies should look- informing women on what they should aspire to look like. There is nothing good that can come from the media’s unrealistic portrayal of women’s bodies, and the effects are both physical and mental.

According to Jean Killbourne, the director of “Killing Us Softly,” four out of five women are dissatisfied with their appearance. Almost half of American women are on a diet any given day and five to ten million women are struggling with serious eating disorders. Aside from these horrifying statistics, it goes to show the profound impact of the media on women’s bodies.

One of the key points that Kilbourne makes in her film is that advertisements sell women the myth that they can and should achieve physical perfection in order to have value within our culture. This assertion is problematic because it is almost impossible for most women to achieve the bodies of even the skinniest actresses and supermodels. It’s not that most women are lazy, it’s due to the fact that most women’s bodies aren’t built to be extremely thin. The world is filled with women of different shapes and sizes, and the fact that advertisers and the media are trying to prescribe a certain waif body type as the norm is incredulous.

Also, aside from discouraging women to embrace their curves or lack thereof, not conforming to a prescribed body type can be mentally and emotionally damaging to women. In her documentary, Kilbourne goes on to say that women who don’t measure up to advertiser’s ideals of beauty are treated with a tremendous amount of contempt. I believe that this contempt doesn’t only come from those around us, but can arise from within ourselves. Too often I see and hear women criticizing their own bodies, complaining about how wide their hips are or that their arms are too flabby, when, in reality, they look completely fine. What are women measuring up to, and why do they feel the need to show contempt toward their own bodies?

Even women who we may perceive as perfect are not apt enough to measure up to the media’s standard of beauty. This point can be clearly illustrated with how advertisers and magazines alter photographs of models and actresses. For example, Christina Hendricks, an actress best known for her role as the curvaceous redhead Joan Harris on AMC’s Mad Men, recently completed an advertising campaign for London Fog. When Hendricks’ advertisements were revealed online, many of her fans noticed that her buxom body was absent and was replaced by a digitally altered and considerably thinner silhouette. This proves that even the most attractive women aren’t safe from being physically adjusted in order to conform to the strict, unrealistic standards that the media is using to control women’s bodies.

Though it is difficult to resist the media and its influence, it is important that women take control over their own bodies. Skinniness is not the sole measure of healthiness, and it is imperative that we get out of this harmful mindset. Instead of comparing ourselves to images, we should put in the effort to understand what is best for us individually.

Originally published in the Daily Titan on October 4, 2010.