Hope Visits The Orange County Fair!

Allison is very happy to be on the bee ride!

Ben, Joe, Fred, Allison and Darren in the OC Fair garden.

A happy Fred on the trucks.

The Hi-Hopes performing on the OC Fair stage.

Sharon, Michelle and Chris at the Fair.

The popular 'Monster Truck' ride!

The annual Orange County Fair is in full swing and we had a wonderful opportunity through
 'friends of the fair' day to attend.  The Orange County Fair sponsors one morning for persons with disabilities to attend the fair for free.  The rides open early for them and are free as well.  Our students look forward each year for this special morning that is 'just for them'.  Hope University's very own performing musical group The Hi-Hopes, was live on stage for all to see and hear.
Some of the fair highlights were:
"I liked the horn sounds from the bumper car ride."  Ben Simendinger.
"The monster truck ride!"  Fred Mezzo.
"I really enjoyed shopping."  Michelle Emory.
"The bumper cars were the best ride."  Ana Pinedo.
"I liked the bumble bee ride."  Allison French and Bradley Clayman.
"The monster truck ride was fun!"  Jennifer Doyle.

Aritst of the Month Darren Petersen

This month we are featuring Darren Petersen as Artist of the Month.  You may remember some of Darren's art in past posts as he is quite prolific.  Darren generally prefers to work in sculpture, as shown in his robot, helicopter and baseball stadium but this time he ventured into 2D art with linoleum block prints.  Darren's love of all things mechanical is evident in his imaginative subject matter.  He has created a series of vehicles of which a book is being compiled along with a story to expand upon them.  Darren's artwork is certainly interesting and inventive.  Here are a few comments from his fellow students:
"I think he did a good job with the lines."  Margaret Kelley
"I like the Space Vehicle, the way you can see the throttle, the fancy wheels and the body." Fred Mezzo
"The Space Vehicle makes me feel like I am up in space!" Lori Slikker
Congratulations Darren Petersen, Artist of the Month.

International Music Enrichment

The big, long, loud horn.

Instrument demonstration.

The performer asks for audience participation.

Chris is enjoying the show.

The audience looks on.

 A very engaging performance holds the students attention.

A large array of instruments peaks interest.

On occasion we are able to have guest artists come to Hope U and perform for us.  Hope U is home to many talented adults with developmental disabilities, a number of which have exceptional musical aptitude.  Having guest artists exposes the clients to new and interesting instruments, different cultures and how they create music as well as different musical styles that they can integrate into their musical repertoire. In May we were fortunate enough to have the group 'Aconcagua', music of the Andes.  They brought many interesting and unique instruments to show and play for us.  They had drums, pan pipes, flutes, horns and even a small guitar-like instrument made from an armadillo shell!  The student were taken by the diverse sounds created by the traditional instruments as well as the artists ability to play them.  Here is what some students had to say about the performance by 'Aconcagua':
"I really like the way they sang"  Michelle E.
"I liked the big flute"  Cindy Hein.
"My favorite part was the big, long, loud horns!"  Jason Rosales.
"I thought the pan flute was awesome."  Mikki Davis.
"I liked the drums."  Ben Simendinger.
"The flutes were my favorite part."  Lori Slikker.

VSA Art on Display in Santa Ana

Joanna enjoys the artwork.

Richard points out a favorite.

Gary gets the best seat for art viewing.

It's nice to take it all in.

Mikki and Howard pose in the food court.

Alexis is very happy after eating cheese fries.

Joanna relaxes after a long walk through the mall.

Miguel's linoleum block print that will travel to Laguna Beach.

Ben's linoleum block print that will travel to Laguna Beach.

During the week of April 30 thru May 4th the students of Hope University were given the opportunity to go to the Westfield Main Place Mall in Santa Ana, California, to view their artwork.  Many schools, day programs and school districts throughout Orange County were included in the show.  Artwork was also selected from this large show to continue on to Laguna Beach for a traveling show.  Two of our students were selected for this special showing, Ben Simendinger and Miguel Aldaz are the proud artists.  We were able to take small groups to view the work, stroll around the mall and enjoy lunch in the food court.  Here are some favorite moments from the trip:
"I like all of the artwork and also buying lunch at McDonald's."  Kim Mumper.
"Looking at the artwork and the shops was fun."  Kris W.
"I liked looking around the mall."  Joanna Buon-Cristiani.
"There were many different artists work there, I liked seeing it all.  I also liked getting a break from school to walk around the mall."  Margaret Kelley.
As you can see the Westfield Main Place Mall is a hit with the students.
Our artwork is on display until May 13th.

Artist of the Month for May is....

Our Artist of the Month, Karen Leeb.

Karen has a light touch with colored pencils.

"Box"  watercolor by Karen Leeb.

Karen likes to draw roses.

Karen created this work on the computer using her own drawing techniques.

For the month of May, Hope University student Karen Leeb was chosen as the 'Artist of the Month'.
Karen's art is gentle, colorful and vibrant.  She uses a soft hand with the colored pencils and becomes more bold with other mediums such as watercolor and computer art.  Karen takes art classes and enjoys working with most mediums, as you can see in her work she enjoys repeating pattern.
"I feel pretty good when I do art." is what Karen says about creating her work.
Other students also like to look at Karen's artwork;
"She is very creative."  Lori Slikker.
"They are beautiful." Kris W.
"She has talent." Margaret Kelly.
We all think Karen makes lovely artwork and we hope she continues to make more.

Annual Fundraiser a Success!

Happy guests.

Hope U student April assisting with the raffle.

The dance floor was busy all night.

Volunteer Logan Carter shows off a beach cruiser raffle prize.

Silent auction bidders.

In  earlier posts we showed students working on art for our annual fundraiser.  The event has come and gone with an exceptional evening had by all.  The Hi-Hopes performed much to the delight of the guests who danced the night away.  Our popular silent auction brought many back several times to check on their bids as the numbers climbed higher.  The raffle brought a demonstration of a beach cruiser bicycle that was ridden around the dance floor so everyone could have a better look.  A live auction of items and a live donation auction brought in much needed funds for our program, with the proceeds we will be able to purchase new computers for the office and computer room as well as new instruments, storage and supplies.  We thank everyone who attended and helped to support Hope University. 
Some students who attended the event told us what they liked about it:
"I liked the dancing."  Kim Mumper.
"Dancing with my friends."  April Renick.
"The food that they served us for dinner."  Ben Simendinger.
"I liked dancing on the dance floor."  Karen Greene.
"The ice cream." Frank Luna.  

Cardboard Becomes A Stadium

The back of the 'Stadium'.

Darren showing us the baseball.

Where the motor will go for the players.

A proud artist posing with his 'in progress' sculpture.

In Darren Petersen's hands cardboard can become many things.  Cardboard is his medium of choice and with his imagination and dreams it becomes amazing things.  Darren, a student at Hope University, enjoys imagining what his sculptures could do if they were real.  He has created cardboard sculptures of objects such as boats, street sweepers, airplanes and even a helicopter.  This sculpture is of Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.  Darren dreams of sitting in stands as he sculpts, he pictures the players on the field and the ball soaring into the outfield with cheers for a home run coming from the crowds.  There are plans to install a motor, lights and a fan to blow 'fireworks' just like at the game.   Fred Mezzo, a fellow Hope University, student has been assisting Darren in this sculpture.  Fred has been working on the people that will populate the completed piece.
"It helps to have someone else work with me on a project because things get done a lot faster." Darren explained about Fred.
"I am just glad to have help, I can really use it."  He adds.
We are all excited to see how the 'Stadium'  turns out.  Both Darren and Fred are very enthusiastic about this collaborative sculptural project.