PAGE 6 THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012
Local News
NEWS JOURNAL
Del Norte students paint to bring less fortunate ‘buddies’ joy Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church is assisting in endeavor
project because it is going to a child who does not have many personal possessions and often Children in Mexico, many of whom are has to hand down those they have once they orphans, will soon be receiving painted porare outgrown. The portrait is something they traits of themselves made by Del Norte can keep forever. High art students. In addition, Yoon said she feels a connecLast trimester, art teacher Cheri Kuptz tion to the girl whose image she is painting started an outreach project inspired by a because last summer she went on a church postcard she received from The Memory mission trip to Mexico and met with orphans. Project. She said for each $20 donation, an “It’s a good life lesson,” Yoon said. “I feel forart student would be provided with a photunate to have what I have and feel connected tograph and other supplies so they could with these kids because I know how hard life paint a portrait of an orphan in Mexico. is down there.” Knowing the endeavor was not within her Yoon said she selected her subject based school budget, Kuptz said she decided to on the girl’s happy expression plus her long create a similar project with help from Ranflowing hair. “I put a lot of effort into my hair cho Bernardo Community Presbyterian too,” she said. Church, which she attends. “I like (the project) because it helps put a The church works with Vida Outreach smile on someone’s face,” said junior ChrisMinistries and Door of Hope Orphanage. tian Stutzman. “They are not as fortunate as Assisted by one of her former students at we are.” Rancho Bernardo High, Mike Spitz and Del Norte art teacher Cheri Kuptz, far left, with some of her students creating paintings for Senior Brandon Bacanskas said he selected his wife, Becky Pacheco, Kuptz was able to their “buddies” in Baja California, Mexico. The students are holding their posterized image and his subject, a boy named Victor, because his obtain the photos needed for the Del Norte in-progress paintings. From left, Allie Brown, Christian Stutzman, Allison Matarrese, Brandon was one of the few that had a name attached. students to create Andy Warhol-inspired Bacanskas and Jenny Yoon. “It makes me feel like I know him,” BacanPhoto by Elizabeth Marie Himchak images with acrylic paint on canvas. skas said. class are creating another set of 47 portraits, which will When the first 47 paintings were delivHe said the project is a good idea and is ered to the children, whom the Del Norte students refer be sent this summer. They are making them in mono- especially meaningful to him because he has been taught to as “buddies” since not all are technically orphans, Kuptz chromatic coloring so the portraits do not have to look so by his family to give back to others. said, “the kids loved them.” She said church members took realistic, Kuptz said. Senior Allison Matarrese and junior Allie Brown said “They have been very responsive and are trying harder they selected their photos based on the children’s expresthem to the youths spanning in age from toddlers to teens in Baja California during a middle school spring break trip because they are doing the paintings for someone else,” sions. and soon the paintings were placed next to each youth’s she said. “They want to please (their buddy) ... and bring Kuptz said based on the response by her students and them joy. They have risen to the occasion.” bed. the recipients that she hopes to continue the project at Del Senior Jenny Yoon said she has put more effort into this Norte for years to come. This trimester students in her Drawing and Painting 2
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