Exquisite Creatures

In November several of our students' artwork will be featured at a show entitled 'Exquisite Creatures'.  This show takes a spin on the art form of 'Exquisite Corpse'.  This show will be held at the George V. Daneff Gallery,  3962 N. Studebaker road.  # 206, Long Beach CA, 90808.  The opening reception will be on Nov. 5th, 6:00 to 8:00 pm and the show will run until January 25th, 2011.
Some of the Hope University artists included are, Frank Luna, Delores (Shadow) Franks, Sharon Mauck, Jim Lin, Miguel Aldaz, Fred Mezzo and Tammy Grant.
Here are a few pieces of the Exquisite Creature.  You could print them up and add your own!

 Those  Hope University artists have really created some Exquisite Creatures!

Defining Ourselves/CORE 6 Art Exhibit

"Six years running, the CORE exhibit continues to create its own path for artists with disabilities from around the world.  CORE is a space for common bonds and promotes visibility through a diverse art forum.  Curated by Seth Pringle, First St. Gallery Manger and Rebecca Korin."

Several of our students had artwork chosen for this show, we have them here for you to view.  The talent displayed in these Hope University students work is indicative of this populations abilities.  We are very proud of all the artists here at Hope.
There will be many more amazing pieces up at the show, we do hope you will be able to visit and enjoy them all.  

Opening Reception for CORE 6, Defining Ourselves
Oct. 29th, 2010, from 6:00 to 9:00pm
The Edgemar Center for the Arts
2437 Main St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405-3539
Exhibit dates: Oct. 29th - Nov. 29th, 2010

Love by Amy Lacher

Ben Simendinger, Print

Cesar Gonzales, untitled

Darren Petersen, Tree

Fred Mezzo, Accordion

Jennifer Doyle, American Flag

Jim Lin, Dragon

Joanna Buon-Cristiani, Piano Keys

Miguel Aldaz, Arnold

Sharon Mauck, Red Head Clown

Beau Monde Float Fotos

Our last performance of Beau Monde Float was amazing and beautiful.  Here we have a few photos from that performance.  You see Karen as 'Eternity' meeting the Robot.  Her costume was created by the students and staff from paper sculpture, crochet, yarn and painted tubes.  Karen looks so serene as she holds the Earth in her arms and meets the Robot face to face.
We also have a wonderful photo of the stage with the Hand Bell Choir playing.  The students of Hope University practice twice a week to perfect their hand bell techniques.  It can be quite magical to hear them play.
'Everybody is a Parade' was punctuated by over sized paper sculptures, created by the students, like this one of a butterfly.  Richard, Mikki, Cathy and Tom sing the accompanying song as Frank, Rene and Karen bring in the parade.

Three Day Weekend!

This coming weekend is a holiday, we are off on Monday for Columbus Day. The Hope U students are excited to have an extra day to do with as they please. Here we have some students having fun on field trips, to the mall and the Orange County Fair. Margaret on a swing ride, Cathy and Paul at the mall, Lori, Michelle and Tom waving at the camera outside the mall in Santa Ana California, lastly several students on a rocket at the Orange County fair this summer.
If you are looking forward to a long weekend and need some ideas, the Hope U students have these suggestions:

"Work on an art project."
Darren Petersen

"Rest and take it easy."
Howard Miller

"Have a barbecue."
Karen Leeb

"Go to Disneyland!"
Cathy Acton

"Visit with neighbors and practice basketball."
Chris Friedman

"Sleep in and watch cartoons."
Rene Smith

We hope everyone has a terrific weekend, long or not.

Beau Monde Float, A Beatiful Success!

All of the hard work and day long rehearsals certainly paid off for the students of Hope University, Saturday, September 25th at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton California.
The show was amazing, the students were all shining stars on the stage.
Here are two photos of the students rehearsing dances with guest artist Marco Schindelmann.
Here is what some of the Hope University students said about the show:
"I liked my costume because it hung down my back like a tail."
Karen Leeb
"I liked aria that I sang in."
Cathy Acton
"The drum circle outside of the theater before the show, I liked drumming."
Christopher Friedman
"Playing the bells was my favorite."
Margaret Kelley
"I liked dancing on stage, throwing paper airplanes into the audience and holding up a doily."
Rene Smith
"I got to hold up one of the big fish and make it go across the stage, I liked doing that."
Dolores (Shadow) Franks
"Using the rope to dance with Marco."
Jennifer Doyle
"I really liked moving my arms in the solo dance."
Crystal Serna
Congratulations to all of the students in the show, it was an amazing performance by a group of amazing people.

Disability Spotlight ...PKU

What is PKU? By Virginia E. Schuett, MS, RD, Director, National PKU News

PKU (phenylketonuria), in its “classic” form, is a rare, inherited metabolic disease that results in mental retardation and other neurological problems when treatment is not started within the first few weeks of life. When treatment is begun early and well-maintained, affected children can expect normal development and a normal life span. (Not all elevations of blood phenylalanine require treatment; any child with a level less than 6 mg/dl does not need to be on a special diet and is not risk for mental retardation.) Until recently, the only treatment was a very strict diet that limits the amino acid, phenylalanine. Now, however, there is a drug called Kuvan that can help in some cases.

Excerpt from The National PKU news.

One of the students at Hope University has PKU. Her name is Cathy Acton. Cathy has an amazing singing voice, many have likened her to Barbara Streisand or Patsy Cline. She has been performing since the '70s. She is one of the lead singers in the Hope University Group, The Hi-Hopes.

Having PKU means that Cathy has to eat differently from people without the disease. She cannot have steak, a cheeseburger, chicken or fish. So she follows a strict vegetarian diet. Some of her favorite allowed foods are corn on the cob, her Mother's cooking and broccoli slaw with ramen noodles.

Cathy enjoys singing, knitting, crocheting, acting, traveling and reading books about the British Royals.
She is currently working on a recording called 'Cathy Celebrates England' a CD of songs that were either sung by British artists or written by British composers. Some of the songs on the CD will be 'Yesterday', 'I Could Have Danced All Night' and 'Feed the Birds'.

Having PKU and adhering to the diet have been difficult at times for Cathy, fortunately with the latest research a pill has been created to help those with PKU to be able to eat more foods with protein. Kuvan was developed by the pharmaceutical company Biomarin.

Cathy sure has not let her disability slow her down! She has traveled to England, Wales, The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Mexico and Canada. She loves to travel and hopes to do much more in her future. Scotland may be next on her list!

Her favorite color is purple and she loves to go to tea houses for tea and scones. She had her last birthday party at 'Paris in a Cup' at the circle in Old Towne Orange Ca.

Cathy's philosophy is "Don't let anything stand in your way." Cathy sure has not let anything stand in her way, and we look forward to many more performances from her.

Thanks Cathy Acton, a woman with PKU.

Students Rehearse for Beau Monde Float

Beau Monde Float is coming up fast! The staff and students of Hope U are rehearsing dances, arranging music and making sets and costumes. Here we have Marvin Castillo playing a traditional Djembe drum, which is used in the opening drum circle pictured. Next are staff, guest artists and students working together on the electronic sound effects. This performance has complex sound and visual components coordinated through laptop computers. The music is evocative and haunting. The visuals are a compilation of student artwork, movement and sounds. An origional score was created by the guest artists from MLuM. The sets were designed, knitted, painted and sculpted by the students at Hope University. The performace is interactive and audience participatory. A wonder to behold! We hope that you will join us for this one of a kind show that will delight your eyes and your heart.