Home Blog Page 120

Gliding on ice: LBCC student dedicates years of her life to her passion

Davis Ramage
-
0
Gliding on ice: LBCC student dedicates years of her life to her passion

At five years of age, regional champion ice-skater CoCo Dobard achieved the famous figure skating axel jump on the ice and her dream of becoming a professional figure skater was set in motion.

Watching Sasha Cohen in the 2003 World Championships drove three-year-old Dobard to beg her mother to enroll her in ice skating lessons, opening the door to a life of competitive figure skating, Olympic aspirations, and countless hours spent in an ice rink. 

From the ages of six to ten, Dobard committed herself to heavy competition, making a name for herself in the figure skating community and building her award repertoire.

Only a few years into this rigorous lifestyle, exhaustion crept into the routine. “I literally would have a competition every weekend. It was a lot. I actually got really sick, I got mono when I was seven. It was from exhaustion,” said Dobard.

The dream of reaching Olympic status started to feel out of reach for Dobard then, but her love for the sport remained, so she continued to compete and train herself, and those around her.

Though there is evident love for the sport, Dobard did not shy away from discussing the physical and mental difficulties that come with being a competitive athlete. 

The pressures of being a great skater created toxic habits in her daily life. “I formed an eating disorder, binge eating, but I didn’t notice it because of the other toxic habit of overworking out. I was trying to keep up with this really intense culture. It turned into winning for a few years there. I wasn’t skating for myself anymore,” Dobard said.

CoCo Dobard holds her leg above her head as she skates across the ice at East West Ice Palace in Artesia. (Lauren Benson)

Through these toxic behaviors, fractured bones, and pure exhaustion, Dobard continued to exert herself to the fullest extent to avoid feeling “left behind.”

“You’re kind of thrown into this lifestyle. Like eat, sleep, breathe skating. That’s the general mindset. Especially to be an elite athlete, you have to make sure that you comply to this intense schedule,” she added.

To keep up with the demanding training required when pursuing competitive figure skating, Dobard attended and graduated from an online high school in 2019 prior to enrolling in Long Beach City College in the fall. 

Along with the physical tolls endured during this journey, there was also a mental factor that came into play with competing in individual sports, according to Dobard.

“I loved it, but skating is also very isolating. You don’t really form a lot of strong relationships early on, because you’re always competing with each other,” she said. 

For a time, Dobard felt her passion for the sport was dissipating and it was solely about competition and winning. 

Today, however, Dobard is sharing the love of the sport with others, training new skaters from the ages of 4 to 43.

According to Brandon Rabbitt, manager of Artesia ice rink East West Ice Palace where Dobard trains, Dobard has had a total of 852 sessions with them since 2017 and commended her talent on the ice.

“She’s graceful on the ice and has an elegant presence, but watch out she’ll sting you like a bee,” said Rabbitt.

Throughout the troubles and successes of her life as a skater, Dobard has not lost sight of the joy this sport has brought her, saying, “I don’t think now I can see myself leaving skating entirely. It’s always going to be a part of me. If not to compete or do shows, for myself.”

Opportunities for work at job fair on LBCC LAC

Damien Cortez
-
0
Opportunities for work at job fair on LBCC LAC

In partnership with the city of Long Beach, LBCC is hosting a job fair with hiring officials from the city’s many departments on Thursday, 9 a.m to 3 p.m.

“I encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities, to get this insight directly with the city and employer and make those connections,” says Veronica Rodriguez, LBCC Workforce Development Training Coordinator.

The Fair will have application workshops at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Registration is required but can be done at the door. 

The application workshops will teach attendees how to customize their resume for the job they are applying for and how to create an account and apply for a city job.

“You should bring hard copy resumes” Rodriguez states “and you will be able to create an account and fill out an application there.”

It is not necessary to bring a list of references that can be provided further down the process.

“First impressions are important, business casual, polo or slacks (no rips, clean and pressed), dress one step above what you are applying for,” suggests Rodriguez.

Those expected to participate in the fair are hiring officials from the following city of Long Beach departments: fire, development services, health and human services, parks-recreation-marine, police, financial management and many more.

The fair will teach attendees how to apply, have an opportunity to apply to jobs, and meet hiring officials for the city.

LBCC has job fairs every semester for the city of Long Beach and LBUSD and also hosts fairs that are trade specific, like culinary, healthcare and construction.

LBCC has a career center assistance at both PAC LL-206 and LAC A-1097.  They will help with career assistance and resume assistance available. “An appointment is needed to see a counselor,” according to Ann Marie Nunag, LBCC Career Center Coordinator.

The career center will not only help with resume preparation and job search but they will help with interview skills.

The fair is on Thursday, March 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at LAC in room T-1200. 

This QR Code will take you to the registration site.

This QR Code to make an appointment with LBCC Career Center.

Ryan Geck’s five RBI game leads the Vikings to a 8-6 victory over Pasadena.

Davis Ramage
-
0
Ryan Geck’s five RBI game leads the Vikings to a 8-6 victory over Pasadena.

Freshman right fielder Ryan Geck’s three hit and five RBI performance leads the Vikings to a 8-6 victory over Pasadena. He was a single shy of the cycle.

Sophomore starting pitcher Marcellus Henry pitched 7.2 innings recording six strikeouts and allowing six runs, five earned on three hits. Four of these runs were allowed in the eighth inning. 

When asked about his performance on the mound Henry responded “The fastball was a lot more dominant than before. I actually saw that my changeup was working a lot more too. I just got a couple strikeouts with the changeup and blew them by with the fastball.”

Henry was able to pitch with a comfortable lead early as the Vikings bats were hot to start off the game. 

The Vikings would score six runs in the first four innings, four which came from Geck’s two RBI double in the second and his two run home run in the third

The lead would be cut down as Pasadena scored two runs in the fifth, but the Vikings would quickly respond in the sixth. 

The Vikings would go on to score two runs in the six on a RBI single by sophomore second basemen Evan Vazquez and a RBI triple hit by Geck on his last at bat of the game.

With that triple he ended the game going three for four needing a single to complete the cycle. 

Sophomore outfielder Raul Garcia ropes a ball into left center for a double. The Vikings beat Pasadena 8-6 on Friday at Long Beach City College. (Tyler Bermundo)

When asked about his performance on the plate Geck responded, “I heard Mike Trout say in a tiktok the other day that you need to go up to the plate thinking that you’re not going to get out. I’ve been doing that the last few games and I haven’t really got out too often.”

Geck nearly beat out a ground ball in the fourth inning to give him the single.

Freshman utility Ryan Geck is called out a first on a close play in the fourth inning. The Vikings beat Pasadena 8-6 on Friday at Long Beach City College. (Tyler Bermundo)

When asked about that play he responded, “Honestly I beat that ground out so I would consider that a cycle in my mind.”

After having some trouble in the eighth inning Henry would be taken out for freshmen reliever Luke Pollard. He would come in to relieve with two outs in the ninth.

Pollard would record the four out save giving Henry the win in the Vikings 8-6 victory over Pasadena. 

The Vikings hope to complete the series sweep as they play game three vs Pasadena on Monday at noon.

Breanna Lucero’s walk-off single boosts the Vikings to a 2-1 Victory over El Camino

Davis Ramage
-
0
Breanna Lucero’s walk-off single boosts the Vikings to a 2-1 Victory over El Camino

A bases loaded walk-off single in the eighth inning by freshmen catcher Breanna Lucero lifted the Vikings to a 2-1 victory over El Camino. 

Starting pitcher sophomore Olivia Ramirez got the win in her dominant performance on the rubber. She threw a complete game pitching all eight innings while giving up one run on six hits.

This win marked the Vikings third straight win after losing two straight last week.   

When asked about her team’s ability to bounce back head coach Megan Martinez responded “ I told you we believe in the sun rule. At night everything good and bad goes away and you start over the next day. We really live by that. We went back to our basics, back to our regular practices and I’m just so proud of my team. Olivia really pounded the zone. She did so all week with Hester having her back to close and our bats have been really resilient lately.” 

The lone run given up by Ramirez was in the first inning. After that she responded by pitching seven scoreless innings and getting the win. 

When asked about her performance Ramirez responded “All pitches were working today. We were trying to see where they were standing in the box and pitch from there. Every pitch was working well.” 

The Vikings would get their first run of the game in the fourth inning on a RBI single hit by sophomore left fielder Jasmine Delgado. 

Both teams were held scoreless in a 1-1 tie leading to extra innings.

El Camino was threatening in the eighth starting off with two singles, one going off of the shin of Ramirez. Ramirez would then show off her toughness by staying in the game and retiring the next three batters leaving both runners stranded. 

When asked about that eighth inning Ramirez responded, “ That inning was really huge. Last year I would let injuries get to me, but in my head I said ‘don’t let them beat me’ because I knew I was going to get out of here with them scoring no runs. And bringing that in here we kept the momentum.”

After those three outs the momentum shifted their direction. Energy was high all throughout the bottom half of the inning which would help spark the Vikings rally. 

The first two batters, Kirstin Sanchez and Gladys Garcia, would get on base with a single and a hit by pitch. They would then advance to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Giselle Cobian. 

With an RBI already in the game El Camino elected to intentionally walk Delgado to face Breanna Lucero. 

When asked about her reaction to that decision Lucero responded, “I thought that they ‘f’d’ up because I knew that I was ready.”  Once they walked her it gave me more confidence to get a hit and score the runner.

With two strikes in the at bat Lucero would walk the game off by hitting a single into left field scoring Sanchez, leading the Vikings to a 2-1 victory over El Camino. 

“I just knew that I needed to get a base hit. I was not worried or nervous at all, I was confident that I was going to get a hit. I was ready.” Said Lucero.

The Vikings hope to stay hot as they play Compton on Tuesday.

Kirstin Sanchez’s four RBIs lead the Vikings to a 7-1 victory over L.A. Harbor

Gabriel Medina
-
0
Kirstin Sanchez’s four RBIs lead the Vikings to a 7-1 victory over L.A. Harbor

Sophomore right fielder Kirstin Sanchez highlighted the boxscore with two hits and 4 RBIs to lead the Vikings to a 7-1 victory over L.A. Harbor. 

This is the Vikings’ second consecutive victory after losing two straight.

“It feels great for our team. We weren’t getting discouraged, but we knew that we were better than how we played last week, so to be able to come out and perform how we’ve been doing is very good for us,” sophomore pitcher Ashley Hester said.

Sophomore starting pitcher Olivia Ramirez showed her usual dominance on the rubber pitching four shutout innings while only giving up one hit.

Hester was able to come in in the fifth inning and closed out the game by pitching three innings while giving up four hits and an unearned run.

“It feels good after having a couple of bad games this past week to be able to come back and trust my defense while throwing some good innings,” Hester said.

The Vikings were able to start the scoring in the second inning on a RBI triple by sophomore left fielder Jasmine Delgado.

Delgado would then score on a sacrifice fly by freshmen catcher Breanna Lucero. 

Freshman catcher Breanna Lucero fouls off a two-strike fastball. The Vikings beat L.A. Harbor College 7-1 on Thursday. (Tyler Bermundo)

The Vikings would go on to score three more runs in the third on a two RBI double hit by Sanchez followed by an RBI single hit by sophomore first baseman Gladys Garcia.

The Vikings would score their last two runs of the game in the fourth inning on a pair of RBI singles hit by freshmen third baseman Alejandra Mota and  Kirstin Sanchez. 

Sophomore Outfielder Alia Marquez rounds third to score the Vikings’ fourth run of the game. The Vikings beat L.A. Harbor College 7-1 on Thursday. (Tyler Bermundo)

Sanchez was responsible for over half of the runs scored by the Vikings on two hits. When asked about her success at the plate Sanchez responded, “Just adjusting to the outside. I learned that in the pitching pattern every game they throw me out so I’ve been working on my outside pitches going in there knowing I’m going to get an outside pitch.”

With this win, the Vikings moved to a 5-2 record in conference play and a record of 11-6 overall. 

The Vikings will return to the field on Friday as they play El Camino at 3 p.m. 

Rock show at DiPiazza’s celebrates Tyler Christensen’s 18th Birthday

Jordyn Wieck
-
0
Rock show at DiPiazza’s celebrates Tyler Christensen’s 18th Birthday

An 18th birthday bash in the form of a rock concert with local bands, screaming vocals and moshing stormed DiPiazza’s on March 3.

Local bands 2Dust, Reject Your Reality, Side Chicks and Slaves To Humanity all came together to put on a special birthday show for Speed of Light’s drummer, Tyler Christensen, whose band played that night as well. 

Made up of three siblings, Speed of Light has a residency at DiPiazza’s, playing a monthly show. It is one of their favorite venues to play, according to the band. 

Starting off the show was rock duo, 2Dust, a band consisting of members vocalist/guitarist, Michael Gatto, and drummer, Malin Bird. They played a good mix of songs, getting everyone to jam out. 

When Reject Your Reality took the stage, there was a bit of a mood shift. The energy of the crowd somehow got amped up even further. 

Frontman, Azi Bendersky, led his band with a fierceness that could be felt all throughout the venue and the crowd really started to mosh at this point in the show.

With it being his birthday show, Bendersky finished off the set by jumping on the birthday boy’s shoulders, while singing, a welcome surprise. 

When the guitarist, Griffin Zund, got close to the crowd, everyone eagerly reached their hands out, trying to get a taste of the action. 

They performed a rendition of “School” by Nirvana, a song the entire audience sang the lyrics to.

Bendersky gave some insight on how the band started and where they are now.

“Me and Griffin have known eachother since we were 5 years old and we’ve been playing music together for a long time…Now we’re seventeen. Officially as Reject Your Reality it started in August of two years ago (2021),” Bendersky reveals, talking about the origins of the band.

“Our first show was actually Speed of Light’s first residency,” making a full circle moment with the bands playing together once again. Bendersky adds, “we’ve known Tyler for years.”

Up next was the female powerhouse group, Side Chicks, who gave an energetic performance, successfully keeping the crowd engaged throughout. 

Side Chicks singer Marilaine, passionately singing on the DiPiazza’s stage. (Audrey Herold)

Their song “Pretty Boy,” was a standout and a feminist anthem.“Guys that breach trust, thinking that they deserve more…what they deserve is a punch to the face,” according to lead singer, Marilaine Montero.

By the time Christensen’s band was about to play, the venue was packed, everyone wanting to see the family band, Speed of Light.

Tyler and guitarist Cameron, not only are strong instrumentalists, but back their sister Riley, who is the lead singer and bassist, on vocals as well.  They’ve seemed to master their screams. 

The band ended their set with a big finish, Riley jumped into the mosh pit, screaming in the mic. 

Then, a big security guard carries her off and out of the venue, leaving the crowd in shock and awe at the scene. 

Wrapping up the show was Slaves to Humanity. The band’s unique chemistry was special to see, each member riffing off of the other in a playful way. 

Frontman, Aidan Amini, was engaging throughout, hopping around stage without an ounce of fatigue. His melodic vocals and the band’s sound really complimented each other. 

The crowd was enthralled by them, especially when their guitarist, Pierce Akers, would lean over them while playing a solo. 

Akers was so evidently in his element while playing, that it created a serene atmosphere, where you couldn’t help but to be absorbed in the music. 

One of the fans that attended the event was high school student, Franky Moon. He attended the show after hearing about it from a friend. 

Moon was one of the many attendees that was going off in the mosh pit and even lost his hat from moshing too hard. 

After the show, when talking to Speed of Light about the event, the band seemed very pleased with the turnout.

Art Internship Opportunities at LBCC

Lesly Gonzalez
-
0
Art Internship Opportunities at LBCC

“It’s a resource I would have liked to have,” said Edwardo Lara, an administration assistant for Long Beach City College’s Performing Arts Department.

His sentiments describe what it was like to find out about the upcoming information session for the Paid Art Internship Program hosted by the Los Angeles County Arts and Culture Department.

On March 21, LA County Arts and Culture will be holding an information meeting for Long Beach City College students interested in applying to one of 228 year-round internship positions offered by the program.

The session will be held from 1-2 p.m. in room K 102 at the Liberal Arts Campus as well as online via Zoom.

When it comes to the General Art Internship Program, LA County Arts partners with various 5013c non profits focused on providing LA County with little to no cost general art programs. 

They offer a grant if the organization is willing to hire college interns for at least 400 hours as long as they have been established and active for more than two years.

A 5013c non profit describes any organization that does not operate on profit generating business and instead relies on other sources of funding.

While the organizations are located all over the county, those closest to LBCC include but are not limited to the Long Beach Opera, Angels Gate Cultural Center, Arts and Services for Disabled, Inc. the Arts District San Pedro Waterfront, and the Arts Council For Long Beach.

There is also a separate category for organizations that specifically agree to hire students from one of seven community colleges participating in the program.

Community college students can apply knowing that these organizations are looking for community college students, said Martin Hernandez, the Senior Program Associate At LA County Arts described the reasoning behind the extra category that make up 47 of the positions being offered this year.

The program offers flexible assignments for students, taking the unique aspects of each applicant into consideration. 

“Sometimes it’s data entry, sometimes it’s working with the artists. They don’t know what job will be available to you but they try to find out what you are interested in. Where do you live and y‘know what kind of transportation access do you have?” said LBCC Performing Arts Department Head and professor Anthony Carreiro.

According to Carreiro, Hernandez reached out to him in 2019 as part of the effort to include community colleges in internship programs that are typically advertised to four year universities.

Protesters gather outside L.A. federal building demanding immigration reform

Bianca Urzua
-
0
Protesters gather outside L.A. federal building demanding immigration reform

A crowd of roughly 150 people circled the sculptural architecture in front of the Roybal Federal Building located in Los Angeles California in support of a newly introduced immigration reform bill.

H.R. 1511, colloquially known as the Rolling Registry Bill, is an amendment to an existing law preventing undocumented immigrants who arrived in the United States after 1972 from applying for permanent residency through the immigration registry.

“We have worked hard, ever since we got here. I came here when I was 20 years old and now I am 54. I have given my lungs, everything here. That is why this immigration reform is necessary,” said Silvia, a volunteer with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, in Spanish.

Like many other immigrants living in the United States, Silvia has dedicated years of her life to working in this country and has been unsuccessful in obtaining resident or citizen status.

If the Rolling Registry Bill passes, the amendment would allow someone like Sylvia, who immigrated after 1972 and lived in the U.S. for more than seven years, to access that same registry pathway to legal residency.

Starting at 10 a.m. the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, or CHIRLA, who organized the hour-long rally, prepped members with various items of clothing to represent the organization and their cause to create a pathway for citizenship for immigrants in America.

The CHIRLA organization gathered outside of the Roybal Federal Building in Los Angeles, California in support of renewing the Immigration Provisions of the Immigration Act of 1929 on Thursday March 9, 2023. (Veronica Towers)

The event was part of a nationwide organizational effort, with matching rallies in Washington D.C.

Protesters arrived from all over California to attend the rally. A few of these neighborhoods included the San Fernando Valley, East and South Los Angeles and Downtown LA.

“We want to actualize the law of registry. A lot of people have many years living here and they don’t have an (immigration) status,” said Angelina Enriquez, a CHIRLA volunteer in Spanish.

Diana Ramos, the deputy director for organizing for CHIRLA, opened up about how this issue has directly affected her.

Ramos’ parents were undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. and recently died without ever getting the opportunity to become citizens of the country where they spent the majority of their lives.

She went on to discuss how CHIRLA has been fighting for justice for undocumented immigrants all across the United States.

2023 marks 35 years of CHIRLA activity, as it was founded in 1986 during the Sanctuary Movement, which pushed to provide space for refugees fleeing human rights abuses in Central America.

According to Ramos, justice is making sure they have the right to “freedom of movement and stability” among other basic rights not afforded to undocumented immigrants in the United States.

An LBCC Indigenous student held an important forum for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women as part of Women’s History Month

Bianca Urzua
-
0
An LBCC Indigenous student held an important forum for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women as part of Women’s History Month

When circumstances prevented the appearance of a CSULB professor, an LBCC indigenous student stepped up to share her personal perspective on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement last Wednesday at PCC.

The student who led the event, Emma Manetta, is a Yurok Native and the Co-President of the Native American Indigenous Collaborative at LBCC. 

Manetta opened the discussion with a traditional introduction in Yurok language and included American sign language. A common saying in the tribe is “to’ ko’moyok’,” which means “I understand, you.” Her hope for the presentation was for attendees to feel seen.

“There is a lot of power in healing and there is a lot of power in that pain because we cry for our ancestors, who weren’t able to cry. We’re healing them from our work now,” said Manetta.

The presentation began with an overview of the MMIW movement, in which indigenous women are stolen and silenced at alarming rates, but miscalculated in the overall data. 

“American Indian and Alaskan Native women are two-times more likely to experience violent crimes and 2.5 times more likely to experience sexual violence in their lifetime,” Manetta explained.

When violence occurs to indigenous people in urban areas, the data is not relayed to the tribal nations in which they are citizens resulting in the inaccuracies of identifying indigenous people in national data.

The Yurok reservation is located in northern California, but due to the violence her grandmother faced there, her family left.

After the slides and videos there was a short break, as the presentation covered triggering content. Manetta led attendees in a ‘guided breathing’ to alleviate the trauma that these conversations bring up.

“These conservations are important to have and they’re really difficult, but I welcome the vulnerability,” said Manetta.

The discussion portion of the presentation allowed students, teachers and other attendees to ask questions regarding MMIW and indigenous communities. The conversation included disproportionate media portrayals, disseminating information, and other ways to champion indigenous people.

“Follow local tribes, talk to your peers and use language that champions indigenous communities. That doesn’t put the person at the center of the blame, not using such a passive voice when discussing crime,” said Manetta.

Eric Becerra, the director of student equity at LBCC’s Social Justice Intercultural Center, explained that Manetta only had the weekend to pull this presentation together.

“Emma deserves this space. We want to bring voices to the table,” added Becerra.

Manetta concluded the event by providing resources and opportunities to get involved with Indigenous communities.

LBCC’s Native American Indigenous Collaborative holds peacemaking circles and other meetings monthly by providing a safe space to promote healing and champion Indigenous students and staff.

“It’s so easy to have this distorted perception of yourself. This isn’t a cultural issue, missing and murdered indigenous people aren’t to be blamed for the epidemic we are in, ” said Manetta.

The next peacemaking circle will be held on Thursday, April 13 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the lower level of the E Building at LBCC in the Social Justice Intercultural Center.

In Transit: Faculty Sabbatical Art Exhibit Opening

Lesly Gonzalez
-
0

It’s not everyday that teachers get to display their artwork, however, at an LBCC art galley, that’s exactly what they did. 

The gallery featured works from three different artists, all of which happen to be teachers at the school. 

The exhibit was titled, ‘In Transit: Faculty Sabbatical Exhibition.’ There was a focus on subjects such as migration, displacement and resettlement. 

The teachers were all on a sabbatical, which ultimately led to them taking part in the gallery and displaying their works. 

One of the three artists was Stas Orlovski, whose work is abstract and reminiscent of Picasso’s. Within his work, there is a lot of images of people and faces. 

Reception atendee Alex Ward looks at artwork with her daughter Zyda at the opening of “In Transit,” an art exhibit at Long Beach City College’s art gallery in Long beach, California on March 2, 2023. The exhibit features the work of professors Carolyn Castano, Christopher Chin and Stas Orlovski. (Andrea Lawrence)

“I was doing a lot of images of heads, I wanted to get a face back into my drawings,” said Orlovski.

He had three of the Picasso-inspired paintings on display, each representing something different. One depicted being stuck, another drowning and lastly a collapsed head in the forest. 

Scale and size plays a part in Orlovski’s work. The paintings presented were rather large, the size of the paintings were larger than usual. Some of his other paintings are wall-sized. They were deemed too big to bring in. 

Orlovski mentioned that scale can depend. Sometimes it’s intentional, other times he just “feels like they need to be big.”

He also does work with found objects. In one of his collections he incorporates Russian children’s books into his work. These are called ‘found objects.’

In another collection, where he also uses found objects, he projects animations onto the pieces. The projections on the objects create a unique visual.

Christoper Chinn was another artist among the school’s staff whose art was featured. 

His art piece ‘One Los Angeles Residence,’ was well liked by some of the young art connoisseurs present the event. 

The piece depicts L.A. homelessness on a grand scale canvas, putting it into the faces of the audience and getting them to think.

According to gallery goer Briyana Verdugo, the piece “really stood out” to her. 

She described the event as being, “very well put together” and an “unexpected, hole-in-the-wall event.” 

Christopher Chinn poses next to his artwork at the opening of "In Transit," an art exhibit at Long Beach City College's art gallery in Long beach, California on March 2, 2023. The exhibit features the work of professors Carolyn Castano, Stas Orlovski and Chinn. (Andrea Lawrence)
Christopher Chinn poses next to his artwork at the opening of “In Transit,” an art exhibit at Long Beach City College’s art gallery in Long beach, California on March 2, 2023. The exhibit features the work of professors Carolyn Castano, Stas Orlovski and Chinn. (Andrea Lawrence)

Both Verdugo and her friend, Gabe Pech, were drawn in by all the art techniques that they saw being used. 

Carolyn Castaño was one of the other artists whose work was featured in the exhibit. Topics such as ecofeminism, colonialism, and migration are what her work is based on. 

Something that both Castaño and Orlovski have in common is similar themes of memories and family histories. 

The art gallery manager, Karla Aguíñiga, said that one of the goals of the exhibit was for “students to be able to connect to the teachers’ works.” 

Student, Ashley Loyola, said this on the teachers’ works, “if an image makes you stand and look, that’s a good piece of art.” 

All of the people that came to the exhibit took their time to admire the works and really take in their messages. The artists walked around the gallery, more than happy to discuss their pieces.

The ‘In Transit: Faculty Sabbatical Exhibition,’ will be up until March 25. 

1...119120121...262Page 120 of 262