Graphic by Maya Uribe
By Miggy Aguilar and Melisa Rodriguez
On Sep. 24, the Art Department at CI held its annual welcome back event, presenting a great opportunity for students to network with others and their professors. A highlight of the event was the exciting drawings for prizes, where attendees had the chance to win art supplies and swag bags! The prizes added an extra level of fun and excitement to the event, motivating students to engage and participate even more. Additionally, it was announced that there is a new Art Club on campus, creating another opportunity for students to get involved and collaborate outside of the classroom. The club aims to provide a space for students to further develop their artistic talents, share ideas and plan future events. The announcement of the club was met with enthusiasm, with many students eager to join and be part of a growing art community.
During the event, we had the opportunity to speak with Professor Simon Quiróz, who teaches film and media production within the department. Quiroz shared his thoughts on the collaborative nature of his courses, explaining, “What I teach is something that is very collaborative by nature. I’ve told my students, hey, do you want to make a film? You can’t really do it alone. There’s so much creative energy that the medium requires.” Quiróz emphasized the importance of teamwork and how projects that are highly collaborative allow students to showcase their unique talents, producing work that extends beyond the classroom walls.
Quiróz also discussed plans for future showcases. His goal is to host screenings where students can present their projects to an audience, and afterward, engage in a Q&A session to discuss their work. These screenings would offer students an opportunity to invite people from the community and potentially attract industry professionals. In terms of networking, Quiróz explained, “Everybody talks, but nobody believes what people talk. You gotta show it, right? And what better way to show it than having a screening where the community comes and they can see what the students can do?” Quiróz highlighted that these events not only provide students with the chance to network locally but also open doors for entering film festivals across the nation and internationally.
Reflecting on what he enjoys most about the event, Quiróz said, “All they need is just a little push, and if I can be that person giving that little push, and I can see the impact, it just makes me feel very proud.” Quiróz expressed his pride in watching students gain confidence and grow creatively, even long after they leave his classes.
We also spoke with Miranda Griffith, a senior art student at CI, about her experiences with these events. Griffith highlighted the sense of community the department fosters and how important these showcases are for the growth of young artists. “It’s also a really great opportunity to connect with your fellow classmates or fellow our majors or minors what have you, and also a really great opportunity to meet faculty and staff, especially if you’re going to be maybe eventually taking some of their classes depending on what your art emphasis is, it’s a good opportunity to get to know them and what your classes might be” said Griffith. The art department event gives students the chance to learn more about the background of their classes.
Griffith also discusses the inclusivity of the department saying, “It’s not just a major, like it is a community. It’s made me feel more like that. And also we’ve that group, especially we’ve all made a connection to the professor… Danny, and they’re just a really, really cool person and we even named our group chat after them. So our interactions with that professor have been really, really amazing. So yeah, I’ve met a really good group people.” Griffith’s story exemplifies how crucial these events are for building connections and advancing students’ careers.
“Like, if you really want to do something, just try it, the worst that’s going to happen is that you don’t like it and you could drop the class or not go anymore or something like that. You can figure something out. But just try it at least once. If it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t work out, but at least you try to do something new. And there’s so many benefits. There’s only benefits that could come from it” shared Griffith. Participating in these events can come with benefits and opportunities for students to try.
This event was a glowing reminder of the talent present within CI’s Art Department. With continued support and collaboration, both students and faculty are excited to see where their creative endeavors will take them next.
