LOCAL SCENE

Local Artist Presents Solo Exhibit

Whitney Modern Contemporary Fine Art Gallery presents “Reminisce,” a solo exhibition featuring a new body of work by Los Gatos artist Gordon Smedt. The exhibition will be on view through May 28 at the gallery located at 24 N. Santa Cruz Ave., second floor in Los Gatos.

"Reminisce" showcases large-scale canvases featuring Smedt's interest in subjects that are familiar, relatable and nostalgic, the gallery noted.

“This exhibition is an opportunity to explore Smedt's latest works and see his creative vision unfold. His work draws the viewer in and evokes a sense of nostalgia that is both universal and deeply personal.” said gallery owner Suzanne Whitney. “The exhibition has been a huge success with both admirers and collectors alike. It is encouraging to see this response to the exhibition and to know that fine art has a place in the heart of our very technically minded community.”

The exhibit features 17 large paintings that showcase his signature style and use of color. “Tupperware Party,” for instance, is an oil on canvas work depicting a stack of vintage Tupperware lids in an array of vibrant hues. Each lid is rendered with a unique range of hues and values, from sunny yellows and oranges to cool blues and greens.

“Byte” features a 1970s-era Apple Computers logo T-shirt peeking out from under a vintage plaid short-sleeve shirt. As with Smedt’s many other clothing portraits in the exhibit, there is no human model present as the clothing balances between looking as though it's hanging from a clothes hanger or being worn by a person.

Smedt first studied art at San Jose State University before continuing his education at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, where he was twice awarded merit scholarships and graduated with honors, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1986. He currently lives and works in the Los Gatos Mountains.

His paintings have been showing in art galleries for the past 35 years and are collected by individuals, corporations and museums locally and internationally.

➝ whitneymodern.com/exhibit/122gordon-smedt-reminisce.

Hughes Takes First Place In National Gymnastics Competition

Local resident Daniel Hughes, a sophomore at Leigh High School, took first place on the Rings and fifth place on the Highbar in the Senior C Division at the 2023 Western National Championships in Galveston, Texas April 28-30.

More than 100 students from the 25 western states competed for prizes in the annual competition.

Special Education Teacher Honored

Carlos Lamoso, a teacher in the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District’s post-secondary program, was honored May 15 by the Santa Clara County Office of Education’s Special Education Local Plan Area III cohort for his work with special needs students. In addition, Lamoso’s program, a 2023 Santa Clara County School Boards Association Glenn Hoffmann award winner, was awarded the Kristi Porter Outstanding Program Award on May 10.

Lamoso has been a teacher with the district’s post-secondary program since 2013. A community-based, post-secondary program for young adults, ages 18-22, this program serves students who are determined to still need Individualized Education Program services after they finish four years in high school.

This program provides collegiate and professional experiences for special needs students, in addition to life skills such as travel training, self-improvement and social skills in an inclusive and age-appropriate environment.

Housed at West Valley Community College (WVCC), all students in the program are now participating in a college course offering from Adapted PE to English or History. In addition, the number of employment partners who provide internships to program students has doubled in the last nine years, as students are placed in paid internships and direct-hire jobs. With the leadership and guidance of Lamoso and his resource aides, these students go on to hold leadership positions at WVCC student government.

In addition, program students have provided trainings in national conferences and to employers, such as Google, training engineers on the needs of people who have Cerebral Palsy and Cortical Visual Impairment.

Awarded the Glenn Hoffmann Award in the category of Student Support Services, the post-secondary program, Stepping up for Successful Post-Secondary Transitions, tied with Palo Alto Unified School District to receive the Kristi Porter Outstanding Program Award, an additional honor awarded to one program receiving the highest marks out of all the submissions.

“We are so grateful to West Valley Community College and their partnership with us as we work to provide post-secondary transitions for these unique and very capable students,”

Superintendent Bill W. Sanderson said. “Carlos and the resource aides that work in his classroom make such a positive impact in the lives of our students and their families and I am so proud of the work they do for our community.”

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS RECOGNIZED

Eight seniors from Los Gatos and Saratoga high schools were honored May 7 at Santa Clara University for the Santa Clara County Alliance of Black Educators’ 34th Annual Recognition Program.

With the 2023 theme, “The Future is Now: Let’s Move Forward Together,” seniors, eighth-graders and fifth-graders from 22 school districts were recognized for their grade point average (GPA), improving their GPA, fine arts/talent accomplishments, student athlete, or leadership/civic involvement among others.

Local students honored were:

• Sydney Backhus, Saratoga High School, Academics GPA: Backhus is a member of the Saratoga High School Cheerleading Team, Leadership, and Rally Commission, charged with planning and executing all school rallies. As a member of Jack and Jill, an African-American teen/mother organization, she has been able to help the community by organizing events and raising money for group homes.

• Caitlin Bowser, Los Gatos High School, Improved GPA: Los Gatos High School staff shared that Bowser has shown a strong grade improvement in her senior year. During a typically busy year of college applications, she has also added more rigor to her course load.

• Nadine Cobourn, Saratoga High School, Fine Arts/Talent: Cobourn has a passion for the creative arts and dance, school staff shared. At Saratoga High School, she has been part of the Media Arts Program, allowing for leadership opportunities and peer-topeer collaboration.

• Riley J., Los Gatos High School, Improved GPA: Riley has increased her GPA one full point from last year to this year. Her first semester senior year GPA is the second highest semester GPA she has earned at Los Gatos High School.

• Cole Massie, Los Gatos High School, Improved GPA: Massie holds a leadership position on the Los Gatos High School Robotics team, and in his senior year, has brought his cumulative GPA above 3.50.

• David Pollesch, Los Gatos High School, Student Athlete: Pollesch’s GPA has continued to improve throughout his time at Los Gatos High School. He has played football for LGHS every year, and has a strong sense of camaraderie toward his peers both on and off the field.

• Taylor Wilson, Saratoga High School, Leadership/Civic Involvement: Wilson’s impact on Saratoga High School can be measured through his leadership, captaining the soccer team, or winning the Luke Salin Outstanding Service Award given to students who are passionate about film, leadership and social justice.

• Mia Yannoni, Los Gatos High School, Academics GPA: In addition to being a student athlete and managing a rigorous course load with a 4.28 GPA, Yannoni is also a musician in Los Gatos High School’s audition-only jazz band and wind ensemble.

In addition, she served in Los Gatos High School’s marching band leadership team and was this year's “Team Spirit Award” recipient.

STUDENT WINS NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD

The Washington Crossing Foundation announced the 2023 winners of its scholarships for high school seniors planning careers in government service.

Isabelle Qian, a senior at Westminster School in London, received the West Coast Scholarship in Memory of Laura Daniel Brown.

Qian is the daughter of William Qian and Caroline Cao of Los Gatos. She will attend the University of California, Berkeley.

This year the Washington Crossing Foundation awarded $79,000 in scholarships bringing the total amount to $2,021,000 since 1970.

The scholarships are awarded annually to high school seniors dedicated to serving their school, their community and their country.