Remembering...

I ran across this draft from about a year and a half ago that I forgot to finish.

I enjoyed reading it again so I decided it needed to be included here.

Whitney High School,

our Monarch Butterfly Station, Gym, Student Parking Lot

and Yellow Umbrellas.

It's been almost exactly a year and a half now that I retired from my 39 years of teaching

 the Visual Arts at Whitney High School.

I have so many wonderful memories,

but this has been an especially hard year for me personally.

Not just because of Covid and all the crazy politics going on,

that was an added challenge,

but because Whitney was my home from the age of 24 to 63.

I feel like I grew up there with my students in so many ways.

Leaving/retiring is finally getting easier to talk about without feeling overwhelming sadness and loss.

What do I miss the most?

It's not just one thing,

it's so many things.

My classroom was my safe space,

where I was in control... most of the time.

ha ha

Not only safe for me but for many of my students during their day.

Lunchtime was a haven for many.

The kids.

To be around them everyday kept me young,

 so vibrant and alive,

thinner (I averaged about 11000 to 15000 steps a day),

excited to teach and share my knowledge,

and to pass on the arts to so many generations.

Being inspired by the tremendous effort and creativity the kids put into their 

projects,

so much so that I would create future art assignments based on THEIR pieces.

I loved that creative thinking process figuring out those new projects,

then to prep them and make samples for the kids to become excited about.

Damn it was GOOD!!!

And I can't believe I'm saying this but I even miss the drive to and from Whitney.

Never in a million years did I think I would miss that!

The adrenaline in the morning racing to get there on time

 so I wouldn't be tardy and a bad example.

I don't think the kids ever knew how very difficult that was for me,

I lived so very far away.  

Or maybe they did

 as I would occasionally come racing in to open my classroom door

 from the parking lot just in the nick of time.

 And my trusty pullcart rolling noisely behind me,

and the jingle jangle of my school keys.

It was a solid 40-50 minute drive every morning.

A good hour if there was a sig-a-lert (sorry spelling?).

And the drive home in bumper to bumper traffic, 

that actually became too relaxing.

  I'd go so deeply into Right Brain 

that in my older years I'd occasionally fall asleep in my car,

but only for a second!

That was scary.

But as I'm thinking and writing about it now I think what I really miss the most

is making a difference in these young people's lives.

Contributing and sharing,

bringing joy into other's life,

making the kids laugh and smile.

That was the best!!!!!

I took a lot of pix before I left,

many that I haven't shared yet.

I hope you will be patient with me as I share them every so often here on my blog.

The pictures above are from our Monarch Butterfly Station

that was first planted back in the day (early 1980's I believe),

as a memorial garden for our beloved Science teacher (Bio & Chem),

Dave Reller whom the kids adored.

Check out Dave's 1980's Fro.

He was the first friend I knew who succumbed to AIDS.

He loved teaching so very much that he taught till the biitter end.

The kids and staff were devasted 

especailly because back then nobody really knew what AIDS was all about.

Dave truely made science fun to learn,

and he had the most wonderful dry sense of humor.

He was my next door neighbor and was super encouraging to me as a first year teacher.

He showd me great kindness.

 8th grade Science teacher Virgina Pooler took it upon herself with her students 

to put in that garden after Dave passed.

But sadly and not long afterwards,

 Virginia "Gin" passed from cancer and the garden fell into chaos

for many years.

Another devasting loss for Whitney.

Gin was another of Whitney High's favorite Science teachers (8th grade Science).

The kids worshiped her wisdom in all things,

and she was the most honest adult they had ever been taught by.

You can read more about Gin here.

In this past decade, 

 another favorite Science teacher (A.P. Biology) and Whitney High Alum,

Aileen Palmiter Perry,

who I featured recently (scroll down)

 took the garden under her wing and brought it back to it's current glory

(the pix you saw above)

She actually formed an Ecology and Wildlife Club for the students and they all pitched in.

Aileen's favorite teacher when she attended Whitney was Gin Pooler,

who we still talk about to this day. 

Thank you Aileen and your students

 for all the hard work you've put into making it beautiful again, 

and for keeping the memories of Dave and Gin alive!

Aileen is here with the love of her life and husband of 19 years,

Andy,

who also teaches at Whitney.

His specialty is History 

and currently he's teahing AP Psychology and Economics.

The two of them and their 2 boys have traveled the world together.

 Aileen is wearing her Xmas present from me,

and she has become an avid, obsessed knutty knitter like me.

YES!!!!

This is when I started the shawl a year ago December and gave you this tease.

It's so nice to be able to finally show off the finished product on beautiful Aileen.

FINDING HAPPINESS WITH GRACE KIM

Every so often I like to do an update on some of my all-time favorite students.

Recently I had a request from Liz to do another.

So let me introduce you to Whitney High School 2007 Alumni Grace Kim.

Sadly,

 Grace's art work was never featured on my blog since she graduated before I built the blog in 2009.

But I want you to know her as I do,

a remarkable young woman back then and now.

She took both my Beginning and Intermediate Crafts Classes and excelled in both,

with many of her pieces being displayed at our annual Open House.

And before my blogging days,

 I took several photo/slides of her work and taught with those for years.

In High School,

 Grace crushed so many arenas;

Academics, Languages (she speaks at least 3 that I know of), and Athletics.

She was one of our strongest competitors in Cross Country and Track and Field.

After Grace graduated I really missed her vivacious energy and laughter.

We had grown close and formed a bond after teaching her throughout her 6 years at Whitney.

And what made her even more special to me was that from 2007 to now,

she has shown up on my radar about every 2 years.

When I was still teaching she would run from her home in Cerritos to the school, 

and surprise visit me.

She'd be in a complete sweat but I didn't care because just to be able to hug her

 and be around her has always brought me great joy.

Grace went to college and did her Major in International Business 

with a concentration in Spanish Language Communications,

and now works for a Public Accounting Firm.

She has also met the love of her life, 

Soul,

 and I've never seen her so happy and content.

Recently she caught up with me again and brought Soul to my Tues. Nite art class

so I could be introduced.

The both of them are like two peas in a pod,

perfect together.

They told me they love to travel, go car camping and explore the U.S.

Soul works for an Aerospace firm,

 but like Grace has a favorite creative outlet,

 sculpting in wood.

Grace has gotten herself back into knitting

and takes it everywhere she goes.

She just finished the pair of socks above.

And she really thrives on reading difficult knit patterns and figuring them out.

Isn't she just a doll???

Dang I love you Grace!

xoxoxox

Before I wrote this post I asked Grace if it was ok,

and she said yes,

but that I had to tell you all that my classes were her favorites in High School.

Ha ha!

That makes me so happy Grace,

thank you for that.

She also wants everyone to know that knitting has reminded her 

how important it is to create with your hands!!

SUPER BLOOMIN'

Nature is so incredible.

From this gorgeous seed pood...

(complimentary color scheme)

to all of these flowers in Lake Elsinore, Ca.,

Jim and I just had to take a car ride today to see it all.

We drove thru the Santiago Mt. range where just last year we had the terrible fires so close by.

But because of all the rain we've recently had and that will continue into this week,

the hills are alive with poppies, mustard greens, lupine

and so much more.

The trees that were burned to crispy critters are coming back 

because their roots received water to keep them going.

We have an over the top snowpack up in Northern California 

so we are now officially out of our drought though we all continue to conserve water.

It's what we've been trained to do here in the Southland.

And I believe it's a habit I hope we will all continue.

I read today that the super bloom is so vibrant it can be seen from space.

Amazing!!

Photos courtesy of alumni Caryn Roach from last weekend in Lake Elsinore.

Poppy seed pods from our Monarch Butterfly Garden here at Whitney High

kept up by our Biology Teacher and Whitney Alum Aileen Palmiter Perry

and her garden club.

WALKOUT AT WHITNEY

About 2/3 of our entire student body choose to walk out yesterday

in memory of the students and staff killed at Parkland High School in Florida.

They calmly gathered around the American flag in the front of the school, 

and for exactly 17 minutes these children bowed their heads and were completely silent.

It was a sight to see and extremely powerful.

Standing with them was an Almni from 1982,

Hope Yoneshige. 

So very proud of our students for the respect they showed.

ALUMNI VISIT

I was delighted last week to see one of my all time favorite art/crafts students

 Ashley Morris,

Class of 2011.

She's 23 years old now and has her B.A in Veterinary Sciences from U.C.Davis.

This is her 6th year there and she is in her 2nd year of Vet. Med. School

which she tells me is incredibly demanding,

but she loves it!

If you put her name in the search engine,

 you will see the incredible body of work she did here at Whitney

in the 4 years of 3-D art she spent with me.

Ashley,

I'm so touched you stopped by for a visit,

it was so wonderful to see and hug you again.

And know I am so very proud of the young woman you have become,

and all the hard work you have gone thru to get where you are today.

CONGRATS ONCE AGAIN...

go to Whitney Alumni Brian Kesinger and his story crew at Disney Animation 

for picking up an Oscar last night at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles

for their work on both Zootopia and Moana.

Wooo Hooo,

way to go Brian!

This is the big time my man!!

A STAR IS BORN

KHALIF BOYD

Khalif,

a past art student of mine,

with so much personality & charm,

 graduated Whitney in 2005.

From there he attended Whittier College in So. Cal. to study Kinesiology then got the acting bug.

I've been following his career for several years on Facebook 

and asked if I could share a few of his very cool photos. 

He does a lot of ad work for various clothing companies.

Brand Black is just one of them.

Winter is coming // NEVERODDOREVEN A/W '16 collection // @brandblack📸: @cvetkovalex

This one really caught my attention the other nite as I was scrolling thru FB.

I think this is the second time I've seen him work for a body paint artist.

About last night // @davidgilmore x @molaaart x#PoderosasParaSiempre // "My concept was based on the half face sugar skull...expanding it to a half body of that imagery. The other side represents the gates of heaven opening and the spirits of loved ones coming to visit." - D.G. — at Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA).

Hanging out with THE icon of #DíaDeLosMuertos,#LaCatrina at @molaaart for#PoderosasParaSiempre (Bodypaint by you know who, @davidgilmore). 💀🌹#InstaAltar — at Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA).

Thanks again to Sbux for bringing back this commercial 🙌🏾 — in West Hollywood, California.

Thanks @facebook for reminding me of this 2 year old picture with my daughter, Maxine, for @beyoubylacour campaign. Look at that face! 💜

Hanging on set with Sonny The Dog for this @cabeautravel shoot. This dude has his own sunglasses line and by PAWING IT FORWARD-20% of ALL Proceeds will be donated to animal shelters and animal well being foundations. You know, I'm definitely copping Maxine a pair. 😎 — in Woodland Hills, California.

That time @kcpark and I were suppose to volunteer but instead engaged in an all out leaf throwing party with dozens of kids in Pasadena. Hello Fall. — at Union Station Homeless Services.

This is my favorite picture of Khalif as he volunteers with children in the park.

He has a magically strong spirit,

he's always up for fun and about living life.

We all are so proud of you here at Whitney Khalif,

 and are rooting for you!

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

1986 Alumni Edward Ho, 

one of my all time favorite students and former Art Club President here at Whitney,

and now a highly successful attorney,

found this great pix from graduation back in the day,

and sent it my way.

What a crack up!

Man oh man Ed,

we were young pups back then,

 weren't we??

LOL

Here is Ed now with his beautiful family.

Wife Ester, sons Jacob and Alex

and sweet daughter Ellie.

ALL TIME FAVORITES

Alumni Steve Bermundo,

 Class of 1989,

 dropped by the other day for a visit.

I haven't seen Steve since he graduated and it was such a pleasure to see him again.

He was one of my best drawing students back in the day.

We had just recently reconnected thru FB, 

but it was even better to see him in person.

He lives up in L.A.,

 and is a professional dancer,

as well as still dabbling in the arts.

I told him he should come back and teach here when I retire.

Hint, hint!

Alumni Warren Kang

Serious or crazy, 

misbehaving or being a good boy,

Warren Kang is one of my all-time favorite Whitney students,

and he recently dropped in for a visit.

I worked with Warren from 1997 when he first came to me in his 7th grade year here at Whitney,

 thru his senior year of high school when he graduated in 02'. 

He took all four levels of my 3-D classes as well as 2 levels of Ceramics,

and ended up being my most outstanding 3-D and Ceramics student,

He graduated with my top most art award his senior year.

From Whitney,

 he went to USC on a scholarship where he majored in Business/Economics

 and then Price Waterhouse scooped him up to work for them right after he graduated from SC,

and he's been with them ever since.

He has risen in the ranks and is now senior advisor with another new promotion he just accepted.

He left to spend 2 years in Spain to manage a branch of PW there.

I'm so proud and thrilled for him,

and wish him the very best.

Another reason I'm so proud of him is that he just helped his mother buy her very first home.

You are the best son Warren!

To show you what an incredible designer he was,

in the 8th grade he made this amazing ceremonial garment from all recycled items.

His attention to detail, effort  and patience as an 8th grade male was unheard of.

I bought the piece from him at Open House,

and I've had it now on display in the Art Lounge for all these years.

When I heard Warren was coming for a visit,

I framed it out and sent it to Spain with him so he can display it in his new office space.  :)

I wish you the very best Warren and look forward to when we meet again.

xoxoxoxoxoxooxox

Alum Michelle Kuo Harris

Facebook has opened a whole new world to me.  I am reconnecting with so many of my favorite art students.  I was really excited to hear that Michelle Kuo, class of 1990, was driving down from Sacramento with her family, to stay with her folks in Cerritos for a few days.  We arranged to meet up here at my home/studio.  She brought her gorgeous daughter Kennedy with her, and we had a blast hanging out and catching up.  I was flabbergasted when Michelle told me she was 41 years old.  So like, how old does that make me?  Ancient!!!  LOL

I wasn't surprised to learn that her kids have inherited Michelle's artist and smart genes.  Her son plays several musical instruments, and Kennedy already has her own clothing website where she sells up-cycled jean shorts that are to die for.  My daughter and I love her style, and whats she's doing with jeans from the thrift stores.  Clever girl!

Michelle also shared with me that her brother Lee's daughter is an accomplished artist, and she showed me one of her piece's (below).  Look closely, she drew the whole piece with her fingerprints and a stamp pad.  What a great idea for a new assignment for my second year art students!  

Thank you Michelle for taking time out of your hectic schedule while you were down here to drop by, and it was wonderful to meet Kennedy.