Emerging Artist Series 2017

Opening Reception - Wednesday, March 1st at 5:30pm - Center for the Performing Arts

Highlighting up-and-coming student artists Michael Moretti, David Warner, and Taylor Wilson.

The artwork will be on view from February 27, to March 23, 2017. 

Taylor Wilson: Mixed Media

Wilson’s work focuses on duality of internal and external views of divorces and the ways it affects the family. Her imagery and structure is meant to allow people to feel the impact of divorce that becomes so ingrained in the notion of what it brings about.

David Warner: Painting

Warner’s work explores themes of loss and gain, perseverance, and the search for one’s own integrity and truth: both conscious and subconscious progression through adversity and the search for inner truth. He expresses these ideas through a combination of abstract and surreal elements.

Michael Moretti: Photography

For Moretti, photography is often aside effect of venturing out into nature and absorbing the whole experience. Taking what’s before him and trying to convey the experience through a single photo. Much of his work and way of thinking is influenced by the many great photographers who have been featured in Arizona Highways magazine. 

Student Spotlight: The Ghostlight Project

by Courtney Kenyon

On January 19th, the night before the inauguration of our newly elected president, at 5:30pm various theatres all over the country turned on one light. It was a solemn reminder of the times ahead, but it was also a light of hope and courage.

PVCC was no different. At the appointed time, with a small, but mighty, gathering in the Studio Theatre, on a rainy evening, our light was lit. Our ghost light. In the theatre world, a ghostlight is lit at the end of the night when all the work is done and serves as a single light source for safety and visibility should anyone enter the theatre after hours. Of course, that’s just the practical use. On January 19th, our ghost light was lit in solidarity with other theatres as a message that we are a safe space. This initiative was brought to our humble theatre by The Ghostlight Project. 

I found a small blurb about this initiative while scrolling through articles on BroadwayWorld and didn’t think much of it. About a week later, I saw a theatre with whom I have previously worked was participating and it was then that it hit me: I needed to do it, too. So I asked Andrea Robertson, the head of the theatre department, if PVCC could also participate and she enthusiastically wrote back, “Of course!” I only had a couple of days to put anything together, so our ceremony was very humble, but it was incredibly powerful.

Being a theatre artist, I’m not usually overly political. In fact, I’ve been told that I’m “militantly opposed” to politics. And while that might be true to some extent, this time it’s different. I won’t make this writing about politics, but I will say this: as an artist, as someone who makes their living in the arts, as a woman, as an LGBTQ ally, as someone who believes in the unity of science and the arts, and as someone who believes that anyone and everyone should be able to express who they are and be loved for it, my world is threatened. Our world is threatened. But standing in that room, holding hands with my friends, the people I love, my voice shaking and tears escaping my eyes, I knew I was not alone.

The Ghostlight Project’s mission is this, “Inspired by the tradition of leaving a ‘ghost light’ on in a darkened theater, artists and communities will make or renew a pledge to stand for and protect the values of inclusion, participation, and compassion for everyone--regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, age, gender identity, or sexual orientation. 

January 19th is a moment of gathering within a larger resistance to intolerance at all levels. We aim to create brave spaces that will serve as lights in the coming years. We aim to activate a network of people across the country working to support vulnerable communities. This is not a substitution for protests or direct action, but rather a pledge for continued vigilance and increased advocacy.”

I think it goes without saying that PVCC is a brave space. A safe space. A space of inclusion. I’ve known that since the first day I walked into class. The dedication, inclusivity, love, and compassion that encompasses every person that walks through those doors is an inspiration. It’s something for which, personally, I’ve yearned since my high school theatre days. And I won’t sit idly by while it’s threatened. I will fight for those I love and for those I don’t even know. We will be a light and we will tell the world that all are welcome here.

With love,

Courtney Kenyon

For more information about The Ghostlight Project, please visit www.theghostlightproject.com.

 

Illusions of Depth: Sidewalk Art at PVCC

Krystal Aroche

Krystal Aroche

The Fall 2016 ART113 Color class has once again created illusions of depth on the sidewalks of the PVCC campus. Using strategies of color and composition such as overlapping, diminishing scale, color atmosphere, vertical placement and receding color, the students have created a series of surprising troupe l’oeil images that interrupt viewers’ perception of depth as the encounter the normally mundane concrete sidewalk.

Students in this year’s project are: Krystal Aroche, Sophia Clamitti, Alida Johnson, Jackie Lipscomb, Hunter Luck, Marybeth Miller, Kim Russell, Maggie Scott, Taylor Wilson, Ping Yi-Rivera

The group works from 5:30 to about 8:00 pm to create their image from a previously designed mock-up created in class.

Taylor and Maggie.

Taylor and Maggie.

Alida and Kim.

Alida and Kim.

Hunter Luck

Hunter Luck

Marybeth Miller

Marybeth Miller

Jackie Lipscomb

Jackie Lipscomb

Sophia Clamitti

Sophia Clamitti

Taylor Wilson

Taylor Wilson

Maggie Scott

Maggie Scott

Alida Johnson

Alida Johnson

Kim Russell

Kim Russell

Ping Yi-Rivera

Ping Yi-Rivera

Fall 2016 Fine Arts Open House

Saturday, October 15th | 1:00 PM - 4:00 pm

On Saturday, October 15th Paradise Valley Community College’s Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) will host the Fine Arts Open House. This free event features demos, performances, tours, workshops, and hands-on activities.  Music, dance, theatre, costume design, creative writing, film, and studio recording are among the fine and performing arts programs that will be showcased. Information about classes, programs, events, scholarships and performance opportunities will be available, and those in attendance will be treated to a variety of special performances and workshops throughout the afternoon.

 

Student Spotlight: Megan Cary, Photographer

PVCC student Megan Cary placed 2nd in the League of Innovation in the Community Colleges’ national student art competition for the 2015-2016 school year. Her photograph "Don't Shoot" was also a juror's choice winner. We caught up with Megan to ask her about the photo, talk about her creative process, see more of her work and hear about her experience as an art student at PVCC.

Black Lives matter protest, Downtown Phoenix. First Friday, 2015.

Black Lives matter protest, Downtown Phoenix. First Friday, 2015.

Your photo “Don’t Shoot” depicts a man with his hands up in front of a row of armed police. Take us to the scene of the photo - where was it taken? What was the mood? Was there a confrontation? Do you know the subject?

This photo was taken in Downtown Phoenix during the First Friday Festival. I was taking photos for Overthrow Clothing that night and then a big crowd started to form right behind me and they all started walking up and down the streets shouting, “Hands up, don’t shoot”. Being there it wasn’t scary and I didn’t feel like I was in danger. It wasn’t violent at all either. The local news stations were there and one man reporting live was reporting how dangerous it was and to avoid the area but in reality it was a peaceful protest. The protestors and the police were respecting one another. And I managed to capture this man with a calm expression on his face with officers in gear with the same expression. 
 

Your photo was a juror’s choice winner in addition to taking second place. The image depicts themes that are deeply personal to those affected by the interplay between police and civilians. What is your personal experience with these themes? Why did you decide to photograph the event that night?

Personally I can’t say how it affects me because it’s never happened to me. I decided to photograph what was going on because it was happening right in front of me. I was walking past all these reporters saying how the police were interfering or how protestors were destroying the streets but none of that was happening at all. So my photo just shows how the protestor is respecting the officers and the officers are respecting the protestor. No violence just respect.
 

Lavish Crowe, guitar player for Carly Rae Jepsen at Fender. 

Lavish Crowe, guitar player for Carly Rae Jepsen at Fender. 

Describe your body of work as a whole. What is your creative process? What are your typical aims - meaning, when are you satisfied with the work you create?

I’m kind of weird when it comes to my photography, I don’t have a main focal area that I work in. I just take pictures of everything when my camera is on me. I just shoot and then go through the images later and select the ones that make me take a double take. I don’t really have a special way just whatever stands out to me. I really like having a Black and Whiteeffect on my photos. But my photography ranges from concert, product, landscape photography and on the certain occasion photojournalism.
 

Is most of your work political? Do you intend to go into photojournalism or documentary photography?

I actually am really into politics but politics can be evil. I don’t like my work to reflect off of that because everyone has different opinions on what is right and what is wrong. I don’t think I’ll ever really get into documentary photography I think because of that.
 

PC: Megan Cary

PC: Megan Cary

What has your experience been as a photography student at PVCC? Were you encouraged by faculty to enter the contest?

I’m actually not taking any photography classes at PVCC, I like to do my own thing with it and teach myself. My art teacher (Adria Pecora-Drawing) actually kept bothering me to enter into the competitions and I never was really interested in competing but finally I entered and I went all the way to nationals. But she really encouraged me to be more artistic and not be afraid of failure. 
 

How did you feel when the photo was selected for national recognition?

I was actually shocked I didn’t even think I would place so I kind of forgot about it until everyone told me! It’s a pretty good feeling though won’t forget it.

PC: Megan Cary

PC: Megan Cary

What do you hope viewers think or feel upon seeing “Don’t Shoot”?

I hope people see this and don’t automatically take sides but see how everyone is human and no one is perfect. There are good cops and bad cops. Bad people and good people. That everything the media reports is not 100% true. I want this photo to have an emotional deep impact but not a negative one. 

About the Artist

Megan Cary is a second-year PVCC art student. She has been involved with the art community on campus via enrollment in art classes. Although photography began as a hobby, it has blown up into a career. She is a photographer and videographer for Fender Musical Instruments and other brands. View her portfolio here. 

PVCC Study Abroad: the student experience in Havana, Cuba

This June, Professor of Art David L. Bradley, along with Professor of Art History, Tomi Johnston led a group of students on a fantastic experience to Havana, Cuba to study art history. Ready on to explore their experience in their own words and images:

The trip to Cuba reinforced my belief that people are the same around the world despite the differences in their governments. I was extremely impressed with the Cuban people's ability to improvise around their lack of resources and money. An example was the Cuban dancers who turned sticks and chairs into musical instruments and how they carved their own drums. -John Storslee

The creative repurposing of space. Houses were turned into restaurants and their walls turned into memorabilia. PC: John Storslee. 

Building walls, streets and power posts turned into pieces of art. PC: John Storslee.

From atop the stock exchange building in old Havana over the port. PC: Kimberly Harris

The architecture and color combinations in Havana. PC: Kimberly Harris

Using color to define individual space. PC: Kimberly Harris

Artwork of Havana, Cuba by PVCC Study Abroad Student Kimberly Harris. 

Tradition, innovation, amazing food, laughter, dancing, lovely people and cobblestones. CUBA, mi enamored! -Wendy Raisanen

Arriving In Style - Photo Series by Michelle Marion

No Experience Necessary Series: Free Workshops During the Month of June @ PVCC

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

The music department at Paradise Valley Community College is pleased to present a new series of hands-on musical opportunities for students, staff and members of the community.

All events in this series are FREE and only require an interest to learn something new and have fun.

Tuesday Evenings: Brazilian Drum and Dance Workshops
6:30pm-8:30pm, KSC 1000A • June 7, 14, 21, and 28

Learn to play and dance to the exciting rhythms from Brazil.
All Drums provided. Joe Goglia and Samuel Peña instructors.

Wednesday Evenings: Music Technology Workshops
6:30pm-8:30pm, CPA 120 • June 8, 15, 22, and 29

Learn techniques in Studio Recording, Electronic Music and more!
Brett Reed, JCK Music / John Keenan, and Tsone (Tony Obr), instructors.

Thursday Evenings: Singer/Songwriter Open Mic Night
6:30pm-8:30pm, CPA Lobby/Gallery • June 9, 16, 23, and 30

All styles of music, spoken word and poetry are encouraged.
Performers will need to sign up at 6:00pm to perform.

Theatre Department Attends Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii

Attending faculty: Andrea Robertson and Karla Frederick. Attending students:  Rachelle Dart, Delfinia Valdenegro, Megan Sutton, Gustavo Flores, Nick Claudio, Micah Thomas, Elizabeth Hogsed, Emile Trudeau and Courtney Kenyon.

Attending faculty: Andrea Robertson and Karla Frederick. Attending students:  Rachelle Dart, Delfinia Valdenegro, Megan Sutton, Gustavo Flores, Nick Claudio, Micah Thomas, Elizabeth Hogsed, Emile Trudeau and Courtney Kenyon.

In February 2016 PVCC Theatre Faculty Andrea Robertson and adjunct Karla Frederick took nine PVCC students to the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.  This was the first year the PVCC theatre department participated in this Festival. The Festival for our Region was held at the University of Honolulu, Hawaii.  The acting students worked with their partners for about two months before we left on preparing two scenes and a monologue while our stage management student made sure her prompt book was incredibly detailed and full of everything on the production for which she was nominated.


Once in Hawaii we all kept busy with workshops, meetings, acting competition rounds, interviews, watching shows and rehearsals. Two of our students, Nick Claudio and Courtney Kenyon, were selected to participate in the ten minute play festival while we were there. The students also made new friends from around our region including Southern California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Hawaii and Guam. Rachelle Dart, one of our Irene Ryan acting nominees and her partner Megan Sutton made it to finals of the Acting competition. Out of about 300 pairs they were one of sixteen to show their scene in finals. Our stage manager Courtney Kenyon was alternate to nationals out of about forty forty five managers.  

The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival or KCACTF is a celebration of the creative process and a shared experience of a community of theater artists. KCACTF honors excellence of overall production and offers student artists individual recognition through awards and scholarships in playwriting, acting, stage management, dramatic criticism, directing, and design.

In January and February of each year, regional festivals showcase the finest of each region's entered productions and offer a wide range of activities, including workshops, symposia, and regional-level scholarship and award programs. At this year's Festival PVCC students were nominated to compete at the Regional level through the Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Auditions and Stage Management after being selected via a response to our shows here at PVCC by a KCACTF Respondent who witnessed the student’s work.  Students competing at the regional festival have the opportunity to appear at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in April of 2016.




Emerging Student Artist Series

The Center for the Performing Arts Gallery at Paradise Valley Community College is pleased to announce the Emerging Student Artist Series for 2016, highlighting up and coming student artists Fallon Shell-Kenny, Gayana Babiyan, and Ping Yi-Rivera.

The artwork will be on view from February 29, to March 24, 2016. The reception is Wednesday, March 2, at 5:30pm. The reception is open to the public; light refreshments will be served. The exhibit will be closed during Spring Break, March 14 - 18. The CPA Gallery is open and free to the public, Monday through Friday, 9am - 5pm. Parking is available on the NE side of the CPA.

Ping Yi-Rivera

Mixed Media

Ping’s installation is a visualization of life in her neighborhood unofficially known as “The Square”, and profiled as one of the most densely populated and poorest square miles in Arizona. Her mixed media drawings are meant to invite you to see with your eyes and to ponder life with in “The Square”.

Fallon Shell-Kenny

Ceramics

As a child, Fallon used to love playing with my food. It gave her the freedom to freely express all of the thoughts and feelings that she could not at the time express with words. Her pieces are a reflection of this want to play with food now as an adult. 

Gayana Babiyan

Photography

Gayana believes that every human being appreciates beauty. However, each of us finds it in different things. As for her, she has been fascinated by beauty since childhood. Moreover, she is happy now beauty not only in her mind, but on her photographs which she can share thebeautiful moments with others.