Suzie HarrisonIt’s the final chapter and the...

Suzie Harrison

It’s the final chapter and the soon-to-be graduates of Laguna College

of Art and Design are hoping to fill those last pages with art that

gives signs of all they’ve learned and what’s still to come.

The Senior Exhibition at the college opens Saturday and will run

through May 26 with an opening reception on graduation day, 5 to 8

p.m. May 19. Dean of Fine Arts Jonathan Burke said it’s the school’s

largest graduating class with 53 students.

“The majors students are graduating in are illustration, graphic

design, animation, drawing and painting,” Burke said. “In addition

graduating seniors will display sculpture, 2-D and 3-D animation and

computer multimedia.”

He said this was the most accomplished graduating class the

school’s had, with an extraordinary amount of quality, talent and

individually.

Everyone seemed to be in high-speed mode to get things done, but

some of the students slowed down long enough to talk about the

exhibit and their future.

Erin Po, 27, said she’s getting a bachelor’s degree in graphic

design, and is submitting art that she’s worked on this senior year

that are her most successful.

“Most of them are from my last project, my senior portfolio

class,” Po said. “My theme is the idea of Taoism. I came form Taiwan

and tried to use my Eastern thinking, but create it in a Western

way.”

She wants people to know a little bit of her background when they

see it, while still understanding its premise.

“My favorite project was in multimedia,” Po said. “It’s very

interesting because Gary is a free person so he allowed us to do what

we wanted to do.”

Gary Birch is the dean of the Visual Arts Department.

“I think the most interesting part is that he wanted us to say

what we’d be doing five years in the future, to speak out. I thought

it was impossible that I would make it, but learned I don’t need to

be afraid. I’m not afraid of my future because he had us speak out

and that made me feel that it’s real, not a dream. He gave me a lot

of confidence.”

Regarding her feelings about graduating, she had mixed emotions.

“I am kind of worried because I need to find a job,” Po said. “But

it’s exciting, I’m excited about my new life -- I have been a student

for 27 years.”

Michelle Raschiatore, 21, is getting her degree in graphic design.

She started working on it earlier than most, having completed high

school by 17.

“I have a lot of motivation,” Raschiatore said. “I’m living in

Hollywood and commute from L.A.”

In the senior show, she will have seven pieces of work, all

editorial expression.

“I chose those types of pieces because I want to go into editorial

design,” Raschiatore said. “A lot of my work is about social issues.”

She said graduating is sort of a weird transition.

“I love Laguna Beach, it’s charming and a great place for growth,”

Raschiatore said. “But on the same note, you want to start your life,

tear from what you know and look forward to what the future holds for

you.”

Donna Ying, 25, is getting a degree in graphic design; she

submitted some cooperate ID work for the exhibition.

“It’s awesome, it’s a relief,” Ying said. “The quality of work

will be great -- everyone worked so hard on it.”

She said it took at least three or four hours to create her

submissions.

Typography was Ying’s favorite class. “I love it,” Ying said. “My

background is Chinese and my family exposed me to calligraphy -- I

can relate it to a style of a word, as opposed to other people who

use images.”

James Naccarato, 26, is an illustration major exhibiting political

pieces. One is a painting of George W. Bush and the other two are of

the towers.

“They symbolize corporate and environmental issues,” Naccarato

said. “Each one took 12 or 14 hours max to create.”

He said it feels surreal that it’s his last day of class.

“It’s been a long time,” Naccarato said. “The quality of work at

the exhibit ... it’s the best class in a long time.”

The students had about a half an hour before the senior dinner,

which could be besides the graduation ceremony, the last time the

close-knit group will be together.

The senior exhibit can be seen at the auxiliary gallery at 821

Laguna Canyon Road. For information, call 376-6000.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321 or [email protected].