Paint and Cookies

Alyssa Vega, Arts and Entertainment Editor
February 23, 2016

The Stay Gallery appeals to our sense of sight providing beautiful pieces of art but on Friday, Feb. 12, they hosted a Paint and Cookies event which not only appealed to our sense of taste but our hearts as well.

Art is universally appreciated but not always accessible. The Stay Gallery seeks to remedy this by providing step by step guided lessons to the community’s moms and their kids so that they have a chance to take home a piece of art. Art Director and curator, Ana Godinez, was in charge of leading this special mommy and me event.

“We’re trying to engage the community with art,” Godinez said. “We just want parents to be able to connect with their kids through art.”

Godinez was not the only one who felt that the presence of art was long overdue – the event on Friday, Feb. 12, was so popular that it sold out. The gallery was abuzz with mothers and their children enjoying cookies courtesy of Meli’s Sweet Shop and painting their very own trees jeweled with red blossoms and against the backdrop of a full moon. On Friday the energy and creativity flowed through the dialogue and amateur brushstrokes of the participants.

“I’m trying to paint a tree,” five year old, Zayn Shiu, said. “I paint at home but I don’t paint on these kind of things [canvases].”

Although the Stay Gallery’s child oriented paint sessions are a start, Godinez is ambitious and hopes to hold more art events for the community.

“Maybe they will not always be ‘mommy and me’ painting, but it could be ‘mommy and me’ sculptures or some sort of activity,” Godinez said. “We just want parents to be able to connect with their kids through art.”

The Stay Gallery seeks to ensure that art appreciation does not stop when you leave the gallery. They believe that art education is an important aspect for both children and adults not only through school, but also in public spaces and at home.

“I think it’s fabulous; I think it’s a neat way to spend time with your children,” parent participant, Sidney Shiu, said. “I think it’s great and close by. I hope the gallery continues to do events like this.”

Godinez and the staff of the Stay Gallery saw a need in the community and strived to fulfill it – and the community obviously agreed.

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About the Contributors

Alyssa Vega, Arts and Entertainment Editor

With graduation coming up this spring, and lots of work still left to be done, Alyssa Vega is finally getting ready to plan her future by meticulously choosing classes based on her potential careers. Former volleyball player, Vega, is also excited about her senior year and hopes to make memories with her peers. She also aspires to go beyond her limits in not only writing, but also in thinking.

“I want to become a more creative writer and open-minded,” Vega said. “If I do enjoy writing this year, then I would definitely choose to pursue it as a career.”

Similarly, AP student, Isaac Hernandez, hopes to have a fruitful senior year that does not include so much stress. He is currently taking three AP classes and is a club organizer for ASB.

“By the end of my senior year, I want to not lose my sanity while maintaining a cool demeanor as I juggle all my classes and extracurricular,” Hernandez said. “AP government is my favorite class so far because it serves as a good background for my career as I intend to go to law school.”

Both Hernandez and Vega share the same attitude towards not losing it while taking so many AP classes. Not only does Vega aspire to do her best, she also looks forward to gaining beneficial information from her classes and peers, while at the same time having an awesome time learning.

Andrea Laguna, another delighted Downey High School senior, is taking an engineering class in design this year. She views this class as an innovative and fun learning challenge that she hopes to gain a lot from.

“It’s [Engineering] a lot more work than one might think,” Laguna said. “I really hope that by the end of my senior year I will be able to design something so incredible, and that I will be able to build and be proud of.”

Vega’s motivation and enthusiasm are great contributors to her future success and they are what keeps her going. By the end of her senior year, Vega just hopes to find what her passion is and she is also exciting to move to a new city, wherever her future college might be!

Julissa Villalobos, Photo Editor

Ever since the trip to Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) with her grandma to an art exhibition, senior Julissa Villalobos has known that art is something she wanted to do for the rest of her life.After seen all those massive painting done by Latina women, Villabos was inspired to chase her dreams.

“Anything that anyone can express himself or herself with can be art really… from

Afros to oil paintings,” Villalobos said. “You don’t decide to be an artist you are born an artist.”

Growing up with a massive influence from her grandma who never shielded her from

the real world and never growning up . Villalobos was able to comprehend that art is not perfect and see that a color is more than just it’s literal meaning. She has constantly keept trying because she loves art so much she throws herself at it in hopes for the best.

Sarah Noel, best friend of Villalobos ever since the eighth grade talked about her close

friend with such admiration.

“It’s how she can unwind and really let herself be free,”

Noel said. “If you watch her when she’s doing something she loves whether it be

talking to her friends or working on her art, you can see that focus and passion in

her eyes… it’s really amazing.”

Art will always be a huge part of her life even if she chooses not to fully focus on it

after high school. Art allows her to create amazing things that will take your breath away,

that is why people who are close to her have all the confidence on the world that

one day she will go as far, as long as she believes in herself.

During Villalobos junior year she met the person who came to be her mentor, Mr. Rios

he, happened to grow up with the influence from his

father who was a painter himself. Mr. Rios was able to see all the potential Julissa

has.

“It’s palpable; like the way tension feels in a room, only hers is positive, excited. Her

eyes brighten up. It’s visceral. You can see that it occupies her fully,” Rios said.

“That’s the way it should be for any passion- is it’s not everything, it’s nothing.”

Villalobos passion for art goes beyond a simple “I like art.” For her it is a way of life,

something that when in a bad mood, it would instantly calm her down. She can see

behind the meaning of a simple object. Although she might or might not do it fully it

will always occupy a space in her heart. When talking to her she makes you want to

go out there to find what you love and for it for the rest of your life.

Soon to graduate, Villalobos plans her future exquisitely, just like any other she plans

to go to college, and continue to pursue her artistic aspirations no matter what the

future may bring whether it is struggles or achievements art will always fully

occupy her.

The Downey Legend

The Downey Legend

The Downey Legend

Paint and Cookies

The Downey Legend

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