25 Ryman Arts Alumni Stories

RYMAN ARTS ALUMNI STORIES

foreword What is the value of one person’s story?

The value of 25 stories?

I

n our case, they give life to the collective impact of Ryman Arts and the artistic community we have built since 1990. Each story here illuminates the unique path of one individual who met the challenge of growing as an artist at Ryman Arts and whose life was touched by the generosity of others.

It brings me great joy to read time and again how Ryman Arts gave someone the confidence to blossom into his or her best self, created powerful art using skills gained in our rigorous curriculum, or overcame obstacles to build a rich and meaningful life.

After reading these 25 stories and knowing there are thousands more great stories our alumni could tell, I am convinced that this is what Ryman Arts does best: we believe in young people, inspire them to believe in themselves, fuel their artistic dreams, and give them tools to be successful in whatever path they choose.

These stories testify to the wisdom of those who founded Ryman Arts, and the ongoing commitment of our current board leadership, staff, and artistic faculty. I thank each of them for their contributions to this unique community.

I extend a special thank you to the twenty-five individuals who willingly shared their very personal stories for this publication. As we begin the next 25 years, I hope you will enjoy these stories, share your own journey, and work together to inspire new stories from the next generation of artists at Ryman Arts.

Diane Brigham Executive Director

“Ryman Arts is a gift that keeps on giving” Photo Credit: Jeff Hopkins

mariya stepanyan ‘90 M

ariya Stepanyan emigrated to the U.S. from Armenia with her family when she was eight years old. She attended Hollywood High School and, after winning an award in an art contest, was excited to find herself the recipient of a scholarship to the Herbert Ryman Living Masters Program. There were only eleven other students with her that pilot year of the program that became Ryman Arts. Now, 25 years later, Mariya is a senior graphic designer at The Walt Disney Company. She recalls how Ryman Arts helped her build confidence in herself as an artist.

“The program solidified my thinking,” she says, “and gave me clarity and direction in my career path.”

After graduating from high school and studying at Los Angeles Valley College, Mariya got her foot in the door at The Walt Disney Company as an executive assistant. Within two weeks, she made it clear to her supervisors that her talents were in graphic design.

One thing led to another, and before she knew it, her Ryman Arts connections helped her move into the work that she truly loved. That was in 2002 and she has been working as a senior graphic designer at The Walt Disney Company ever since. “It may sound cliché,” she says, “but Ryman Arts is a gift that keeps on giving. I am grateful every day for the program and how it continues to open doors for me in my work.”

5

“I had a creative edge”

chris tachiki ‘91 C

hris Tachiki was a member of the second class at Ryman Arts. He recalls being part of a diverse group of students from all over Los Angeles. “It was intimidating,” he said, “and a little bit competitive at first, but the instructors were very encouraging. Over time, we came to know and support each other.”

After high school, Chris studied history and economics at Brown University, where he was also able to enroll in classes at the Rhode Island School of Design. “I would not have had the guts to cross-register at risd if not for Ryman,” he said. He is aware of the advantage his art training gave him in his early job interviews and feels that his ability to talk effectively about art made him stand out from other candidates in the financial industry. “I had a creative edge.”

Today, Chris is a portfolio manager for BlackRock, the largest asset management firm in the world. Throughout his work life, he has carried his creative spirit with him. As he points out, part of that creative spirit was fostered by having a mother who is a poet, Amy Uyematsu, and part comes from the skills and attitudes that were firmly planted in him at Ryman Arts. “Being a student at Ryman touched me in many ways,” he said, “It was really amazing to be a high school student and to get this incredibly rigorous education in the arts. Ryman helped me gain a lot of confidence.”

6

“Ryman was there for me during a transitional time” Oscar with his piece, With Laws Like These Who Needs Criminals Ryman Arts Alumni Exhibit, November 2015

oscar magallanes ‘93 O

scar Magallanes grew up in the Azusa barrio, living a tough and troubled youth that got him expelled from high school at age 15. His acceptance into the Ryman Arts program required him to get back into high school, and the experience changed his life. “I was a hard kid. In all honesty, I didn’t think I would make it to twenty. But Ryman was there for me during this transitional time and helped me get through by showing me that I was capable of a lot more than I ever thought possible.”

Oscar found his calling to be a professional artist while in Ryman Arts. He has had over 100 exhibitions including seven solo shows. He is represented in the permanent collections of the McNay Museum in San Antonio, the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago, and La Salle University Art Museum in Philadelphia. He has curated numerous exhibitions and continues to make art that explores the intersection of culture and political activism from his studio in Lincoln Heights.

Along with his own artistic career, Oscar has been involved in projects to help young artists, including returning to Ryman Arts as a guest artist and serving on the boards of Ryman Arts, Self Help Graphics, and the Inner-City Arts Young Professionals.

He says, “I envision Ryman Arts as a strong family that trains a student to be an aspiring artist, who becomes a successful artist, who then mentors a new Ryman student … I want to see mentor relationships develop. These are things we can all benefit from.”

7

shane prigmore ‘93 S

hane Prigmore is a professional animator, development artist, story board artist, writer, book illustrator, and an Annie Award-winning character designer. Since his graduation from California Institute of the Arts in 1999, Shane has worked on feature films including Coraline, How to Train Your Dragon, Rise of the Guardians, The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers, Curious George, and many others.

The road to Shane’s success began more than two decades ago at Ryman Arts. He vividly remembers this experience as the first time he was able to talk with people his own age about his passion for art and the artistic process. He credits the program for the direction it gave his career, his work ethic, and his creative voice. “This was a vital learning experience,” he says, one “that I have used every single day in my professional art career … This is how I grew as an artist, and how I learned to work with others.”

After five years at DreamWorks Animation, Shane set out on his own to consult for the company and several other major studios.

Today, he works as the Vice President of Creative Affairs for Walt Disney Television Animation. He has come back to Ryman Arts as a guest artist and has served as a Career Day panelist, inspiring students to find their own distinct paths to success through all that Ryman Arts offers.

“This is how I grew as an artist” Shane works with Ryman Arts students on his visit as a guest artist.

8

Glynnis at RAWsalt gallery where she exhibited her work in September 2015.

Photo Credit: Rulan Miao

“Ryman teaches certain qualities of an artist’s mindset”

glynnis reed ‘93 I

n the years since Glynnis Reed left Ryman Arts, she has forged a successful career as an artist. She lives in New Jersey, having moved there in 2010 to be near her parents. Along with making her own art, Glynnis teaches elementary school and loves working with children of all ages. She finds great reward in instilling in young people a faith in their own creativity.

Glynnis received her mfa in Studio Art from the University of California, Irvine in 2003. Since 2005, she has been exhibiting her work in numerous solo, two-person, and group exhibitions throughout the US and internationally. She uses photography, mixed media, collage, and painting to create powerful and multilayered images that speak, she writes, “of love and loss, fulfillment and emptiness, shadow and light.” Her art examines identity and place and the complexities of one’s relationship with the self, others, and the surrounding world. After her recent participation in a juried Ryman Arts alumni show at RAWsalt in Laguna Beach, the gallery chose to continue to represent her and her work has already been acquired by several major collectors.

“At Ryman,” she remembers, “I got great foundational skills: learning to draw from observation, gaining the beginning techniques in painting, and learning how to make a composition.”

She also credits Ryman Arts with developing in her the “artist’s mindset,” which she describes as “believing in yourself, believing you can do it, no matter what it takes, no matter what you have set out to do.”

9

A father-son collaboration Grady and his son, Aiden Williams.

Photo Credit: Stacey Williams

grady o. williams iii ‘93 G rady O. Williams III credits his parents with putting his restless, youthful energy into art. “I wasn’t much of an athlete, so when my parents found out about Ryman Arts, they encouraged me to apply. Being a student in the program, I really saw that art was not just a recreational thing. It requires just as much discipline and practice as an athlete. I also remember being impressed with meeting other people who were passionate about art.”

After high school, Grady took time off and eventually enrolled at Art Center College of Design, receiving a degree in Illustration.

After many years of freelance work, he decided to go back to school in 2014 and earned an mfa in animation from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. He continues to do freelance work and teach drawing and animation in San Diego.

One of Grady’s current projects is a collaboration with his 12-year-old son, who had a fear of losing his teeth when he was younger. Together, son and father have developed an illustrated children’s book on this theme, based on his son’s original drawings. Grady is excited to get the book into the marketplace in 2016. As far as encouraging his son to consider Ryman Arts in the future, Grady said, “I would. It is such a good opportunity to be exposed to the many opportunities there are in the arts. Most kids don’t realize how much is out there.”

10

“Art has always been there” Tanea Richardson, Squeeze Oil on canvas

tanea richardson ‘94 T

anea Richardson recalls her high school’s limited arts curriculum. She was thrilled to be accepted into Ryman Arts and fondly remembers the confidence that she gained as a student in the program. She is especially appreciative of the foundation she received in classical figure drawing that still informs her artistic practice. “That initial exposure to the figure was pretty important, and an experience that would not have happened early on, if not for Ryman Arts.”

Tanea went on to obtain a ba in Studio Art and a bs in Mathematics from Stanford. She then moved to San Francisco to focus on professional growth and nurturing a cohesive body of work. In 2005, she entered Yale’s mfa program in painting. After graduation, she moved to New York to serve as an artist-in-residence at The Studio Museum in Harlem. There, she developed her work and connected with the community through studio visits and artist talks.

Tanea has always enjoyed studying art and science. She characterizes her connection with art as something that “has always been there” rather than a “back and forth.” Her current work often deals with dimensional dynamics. She explains that her abstract imagery explores “the physical and social tensions that arise from relationships between forms, bodies, and elements of the grid.” She values the seeds of focus and discipline that Ryman Arts planted, allowing her to find her own unique balance, with art as the constant through-line.

11

“Figuring out how to have a creative life is an ongoing journey”

james takata ‘95 J

ames Takata remembers attending Ryman Arts when there were only about 40 students enrolled. The classes were held at Otis College of Art and Design when it was still located near MacArthur Park. “I remember my first critique … None of us knew what to say, we didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. But our teachers guided us through the process of seeing objectively and being able to communicate clearly, and then hopefully, receive [the critique] without ego. That experience of evaluating work and being able to dialogue about it is something that I draw on constantly with directors and cinematographers.”

Today, James works in a wide range of filmmaking endeavors. He recently directed the feature documentary, We the Parents, that follows the first group of parents who attempt to transform their failing schools in Compton under California’s “Parent Trigger” law. He works as a Steadicam operator on tv shows such as Sons of Anarchy and Scorpion. James was honored with a 2012 Emerging Cinematographer Award for his short film, Only Child.

His advice for today’s Ryman Arts students is to unapologetically claim their title as “artists,” to be persistent in working toward their goals, to be open to finding a mentor who can guide them, and to recognize that the ideas and talent of artists will always be in demand. Speaking to a group of recent alumni, James said, “It may seem to you like I’ve ‘arrived’, but I’m really just you 15 years from now. Figuring out how to have a creative life is an ongoing journey and we’re all right in the middle of it.”

12

robert quintero ‘96 A

s a teenager in Los Angeles, contemplating his future, Robert Quintero felt desperate to know how he could make art be at the center of his life. “I knew I wanted to do something in the arts. I knew I had to have a job. I was hoping to make the two things align.” Luckily, his instructor at a Saturday High course at Art Center College of Design connected Robert to Ryman Arts. “It was one of the single best things that could have ever happened to me.”

While at Ryman Arts, Robert had the opportunity to intern at Walt Disney Imagineering. When he showed up for his first day of work, he was surprised to find himself working in the archives.

Even though the experience did not involve his artistic skills, he saw it as his opportunity to network and get a foothold on the career path he had been dreaming about.

He was right. After the internship, Robert was hired at Walt Disney Imagineering and continued there for nine years while he saved up money for college. At age 25, he returned to Art Center where he began in environmental design, graduating ultimately in product design. Today, Robert is a ux designer. Recently, he and his wife moved to St. Paul when Robert was recruited by 3M to do digital design work for the Post-It brand. “I credit Ryman for getting me to the place where I could move ahead.”

Robert managed the software development teams and defined the user experience and look and feel of the Post-it Plus app.

“Getting me to the place where I could move ahead” 13

“Ryman Arts prepared me for the real world” Natalie Franco, Qasr • Digital photograph

natalie franco ‘97 N

atalie Franco remembers how it felt to be in high school, not quite sure what you want to be when you grow up. In junior year, she was accepted into Ryman Arts. She knew immediately she was being given the necessary tools for a successful future in the arts. “Ryman set the path for me, and I just walked it.” It is a path that has taken her across the globe.

After graduating from Ryman Arts, Natalie went on to study photography at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

Her work has appeared in over thirty exhibitions in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Her photographs have been published in the Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, Islamic Arts Magazine, Latinos Behind the Lens, and many others. She is a contributing photographer to “Arabian Eye,” a stock photography resource that specializes in imagery of the Middle East. The Sharjah Art Foundation has given her two awards for her images of the United Arab Emirates.

Natalie has been a guest lecturer at usc’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and her work with youth has led her to refer many talented high school students to Ryman Arts. “I’m planning to take arts education to Washington,” she says of her goal to advocate for arts on a national level. When listening to Natalie speak, you know she is on a mission. She is grateful to “Mr. Sklar and Herbie” and is determined to be like them, to “leave a legacy that will help students with their education.”

14

steven adam macleod ‘99 T

here were not a lot of opportunities to stretch one’s artistic muscles when Steven MacLeod was growing up in Victorville in the late 1990s. Thinking back on it today, Steven is quite sure that his participation in Ryman Arts set him on a direct path that led to his successful career at DreamWorks Animation.

Steven is grateful to his parents for driving him into Los Angeles, over ninety miles each way, every Saturday morning for 36 weeks. His memories of the program include eye-opening visits by guest artists: set designers, court room artists, animators, and others who expanded his notion of careers in the arts.

He remembers being included in the annual art show, An Affair of the Art, and selling his first piece. The experience was transformative. “I thought to myself, I should do this. I can do this.”

Through his time at Ryman Arts, he gained the confidence in himself as an artist and had the distinct feeling that “nothing ever seemed out of reach.”

Steven went on to attend the California State Summer School of the Arts, and then completed his education at California Institute of the Arts. He began working at DreamWorks Animation as a story artist and recently has moved up the ranks to become Head of Story. He speaks with great excitement about his work on films like Croods, Croods 2 and How to Train Your Dragon.

He loves what he does. “Ryman Arts made me roll up my sleeves and start thinking seriously about art.”

“Nothing ever seemed out of reach” Steven Macleod, Expedition (Detail) • Graphite on paper 15

Turning a passion into a career

lacey waterman ‘02 H

aving grown up in a home where her artistic endeavors were strongly encouraged, the first time Lacey Waterman applied to Ryman Arts, she was surprised to be turned away.

She didn’t let that stop her from applying again the following year. She was finally accepted into the program and the experience compelled her to graduate from high school a year early in order to get a jump start on pursuing her artistic passions.

Lacey enrolled at the Art Institute of Boston, transferring two years later and graduating from Art Center College of Design in 2008. After receiving her mfa in Graphic Design from Yale University in 2014, she had the opportunity to freelance at several companies, including: 72andSunny, Droga5, Wieden+Kennedy and Google’s Creative Lab (New York) where she helped launch an advertising campaign for Android.

“It was a thrill,” she says, “to see the work go live in Times Square and have such a positive impact on the community.”

Since then, she has been working with Co:Collective, Compass, and InStyle on projects ranging from brand communications, social media campaigns, and branded content collaborations. She has also created her own personal brand, TheLaceyMinimalist.

Lacey’s path as an artist has shifted over the years, but as she has gained more experience, she says, “my goal has always been the same: make a career out of my passions, and that’s exactly what I’m doing. It’s not always easy, but it’s exciting and deeply fulfilling.”

16

“I see BIG things in the future of Ryman Arts” Adrianna performing a press check in Shenzhen, China on a catalog she designed for her company.

adrianna arambula ’04 A drianna Arambula had a high school art teacher who recognized her artistic talent and suggested that she apply to Ryman Arts. After starting the program, she soon found that it changed not only her thoughts about the arts, but also about her own life. At Ryman Arts she learned, “not only can I participate in something that I love doing, but I can lead a happy and successful life while doing so.”

Adrianna has worked as an Exhibition Intern and Education Coordinator at Ryman Arts. Both roles taught her what goes on behind-the-scenes at a nonprofit arts organization. “I have a much more profound appreciation for everything that was done for me when I was a student. As Education Coordinator, I got to take that appreciation a step further and actually have a small part in the students’ education.”

Working in an administrative arts capacity gave her “the opportunity to help high school students who have so much passion and are so eager to express it!” Today, Adrianna is the Creative Director for an Architectural Lighting manufacturer and also a freelance architectural designer. “Ryman Arts opened my eyes to so many career opportunities in the creative field.” She dreams of greater scope for Ryman Arts, saying, “I see big things in the future of Ryman Arts. The one thing I would most love to see would be to allow more students into the program.”

17

“A constant diet of wonderment” Jaime covering a strike in Los Angeles for a mini documentary on the minimum wage efforts, “Fight for $15”.

Photo credit: Shireen Alihaji

jaime ballesteros ‘05 J

aime Ballesteros remembers vividly what it was like being a junior in high school and applying to Ryman Arts. “I wrote the most honest essay I could about what being accepted would mean to me. I stayed up several nights and drew a still life of an old saxophone, a shirt, black slacks, and a pair of old shoes. I beat myself up about that drawing and wondered if it would be enough.”

His worry was alleviated when he was accepted into the program and new things immediately began to blossom in his life. He remembers with gratitude how his mom devoted her Saturday mornings to get him to class on time. That period of his life was a blend, he recalls, “of early mornings, life-drawings, homework, camaraderie, guest lectures, and a constant diet of wonderment.”

For him, Ryman Arts was “a call to action, a challenge to look beyond my skill and see how I could improve.”

Jaime went on to the University of California, Irvine and he credits his Ryman Arts experience with giving him the confidence, skills, and ability to focus on being successful in college. A Los Angeles-based filmmaker, Jaime works primarily as a director of photography for commercial, documentary, and feature projects. “The imprint on my character left by Ryman Arts is utilized every day. I carry a certain part of Ryman Arts with me still and with every new opportunity or challenge, I feel the entirety of the program and everyone involved, past, present, and future, supporting me.”

18

“When you push yourself to go outside your comfort zone, you learn more” Christina at the Ryman Arts Alumni Exhibit in November 2015.

christina saucedo ‘05 W

hen Christina Saucedo was a student at Santa Monica High School, she had a passion for art, but she assumed it was something that a person just did as a hobby. Ryman Arts opened her eyes to the possibilities in higher education during a College Day event. She applied and was accepted at Otis College of Art and Design, where she began as a fashion major, but switched to Communication Arts /Graphic Design.

“By the time I got to college,” she says, “I had learned that when you push yourself to go outside your comfort zone, you learn more.” Ryman Arts played a big part in creating that mindset.

Christina has worked as a Ryman Arts teaching assistant and currently serves as the Alumni Representative on the Board of Directors. “I thought it would be good to keep challenging myself and give back.” In this role she contributes her unique perspective to Board discussions, inspires current students through her public speaking, and organizes alumni networking events.

Christina organized the 2015 Ryman Arts Alumni Exhibition and works at a high-end consignment boutique where she is honing her fashion business skills. Christina also teaches graphic design to young adults in Santa Monica, mentors young girls, and works as a freelance graphic designer. She is grateful to her Ryman Arts mentors for giving her the confidence to believe in herself and her dreams.

19

Creating a college-going culture Frank (right) with Trey Reza ’13 (left) at California State University, Fullerton.

frank rivera ’06 F

rank Rivera was fortunate to have an ap studio art teacher in high school who recognized that Frank belonged at Ryman Arts. “I was confronted by a class full of talented young artists led by an enthusiastic teacher who was passionate about art. It was interesting to be in a room so diverse, considering that my high school had a predominantly Hispanic student body.

I was excited by all the materials that Ryman Arts provided us; for example, I had never used white Conté or watercolor pencils.”

Frank’s awakening to new materials was further bolstered by exposure to new friends from places as diverse as Lithuania and South Korea, and by receiving instruction from dedicated teachers. Frank was grateful to feel like a college student, even while still in high school. He knows that this experience inspired him to want to create a college-going culture for other young people in the greater community; for students who might feel uncertain about their abilities and their futures.

“I hope to see Ryman Arts continue to contribute to students' art education, cultural appreciation, and connection to higher education.” While increasing Ryman Arts’ outreach efforts as Site & Outreach Coordinator, Frank earned a Master’s degree at California State University, Fullerton. He is now an Outreach Specialist at Santiago Canyon College, where he applies the mentoring skills learned at Ryman Arts to help students stay academically and socially engaged in school.

20

“Art helps us question how we deal with life” Photo Credit: Tommy Dearth

leslie chinchilla ‘07 L

eslie Chinchilla’s high school art teacher encouraged her to apply to Ryman Arts. Leslie describes herself at that time as a young person with “many insecurities and self-doubts,” but she could see that this opportunity provided by Ryman Arts should not be missed. “Ryman Arts inspired me to see the power of art and how it helps create well-rounded individuals.”

After high school and Ryman Arts, Leslie went on to attend California State University, Northridge where she majored in Music Business with a minor in Fine Art, graduating in 2011.

Today, she works at Heart of Los Angeles (hola), on an LA Philharmonic project that supports children from low income families in becoming well rounded leaders and musicians for their community. Just as she was once a young person in need of strong mentors, Leslie has become a mentor herself. Indeed, she guided her younger brother Mynor to apply to Ryman Arts, and made sure he got to class on time each week.

“Ryman Arts had such a great impact on my life that I figured I would love to be in the nonprofit world. Now, I’m standing alongside children from my community and empowering them to enact social change in their communities through artistic expression.”

As she learned at Ryman in her formative years, “Art is a powerful medium and it is not to be underestimated. Art helps us question how we deal with life and what we do as a society.”

21

“Falling in love with the joy of learning” Arotin Hartounian, DJ Dalai Lama Acrylic on panel

arotin hartounian ‘08 A rotin Hartounian came to the United States from Iran when he was in fifth grade. He was a child who loved to draw, but stopped for a while when he first came to America. By the time he got to high school, he was drawing once again. He feels fortunate to have had an art teacher who saw his talent and suggested he apply to Ryman Arts.

Arotin found Ryman Arts to be both “interesting and humbling.”

He had always been recognized by his teachers for his ability to draw, but when he got to Ryman Arts, he realized “I was with the best of the best. This shifted my perspective. I saw I had a lot to learn.” He is grateful for the confidence that his instructors built in him, such that he started his own business custom painting and selling canvas shoes while still a student. “There is a wide range of things an artist can do. Ryman Arts helped me see that."

Arotin has served as a Ryman Arts outreach presenter, talking to high school students about the program and how he sees it as a process of “falling in love with the joy of learning.” He also is enrolled at Art Center College of Design, and is excited about his studies in product design. He draws or paints every day, and is energized by his design coursework. “I have no doubt I will find a way to merge my illustrative storytelling path with my design path in the time to come.”

22

kelsey hardwick ‘08 K

elsey Hardwick was at school at Humboldt State University in northern California majoring in Studio Art with a minor in Theater when she received an email about a tour for Ryman Arts alumni at Walt Disney Imagineering. She figured she should go, and that experience opened her eyes to career paths she had never known before. When the opportunity came to apply for the Ryman Arts Sklar Internship at Imagineering, she jumped on it. “It all happened so fast,” she remembers, “the phone call, the interview, the application process, the official job offer, and then there I was in the lobby, waiting to start my first day.”

She began her internship in the Color and Design department, where she was amazed to find that “I could paint eight hours a day and be paid to do it.” She mixed paint to match color swatches, prepared color boards, and eventually got to choose colors that would be used on actual rides. After graduating in 2013 she was hired at Imagineering as a full time Color and Design Specialist.

Kelsey is pleased to note that she has become skilled at using airbrush, air gun, and working with black light paint. She says “The biggest thing Ryman gave me is that it opened my eyes to the many different career paths in the arts.” As she lives her dream at Imagineering, she is a bit amused by the thought that anyone ever told her that “you can’t make a living as an artist.”

Who says you can’t make a living as an artist?

Kelsey Hardwick, Untitled • Conté crayon 23

Making a dream come true.

De’Von’s self-portrait as the 2011 Ryman Arts Sklar Intern at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

de’von stubblefield ‘10 O

n a Ryman Arts portfolio review day at Disney Feature Animation, the talent director there spotted De’Von Stubblefield’s unique style even though he may have been the youngest and quietest person in the room. She selected him for a coveted Ryman Arts Sklar Internship usually reserved for experienced alumni. Over the course of eight weeks, he and thirteen other interns worked on a thirty-second short on the story of Little Red Riding Hood. “From that point on I put on my ‘tunnel vision’ goggles and said to myself, ‘one day I am going to be an animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios.’” While at Ryman Arts De’Von connected with animator and alumnus Shane Prigmore (’93) while Shane was a guest artist in class, peppering him with questions about the field and staying in touch afterwards.

De’Von continued on the path he began at Ryman Arts at California Institute of the Arts. There, he continued to practice what he learned to do so well at Ryman Arts, namely to “constantly search, draw, observe, search, draw, observe, search, etc.” As De’Von puts it, “I learned so much from this whole experience that my head might explode from all the knowledge and wisdom I gained! Thank you so much Ryman for making my dream come true!”

24

“Ryman Arts was intense in the best way”

lukaza branfmanverissimo ‘11 G

rowing up, Lukaza Branfman-Verrisimo was exposed to many different types of art. “My mom took me to all the free workshops and family days at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art,” Lukaza recalls. When several of her high school teachers told Lukaza about Ryman Arts, it made sense to her to apply.

Lukaza found that all her teachers in the program conveyed the important message: You are an artist. “Ryman Arts was intense in the best way.” She went on to study printmaking at California College of the Arts, and received her degree in spring 2015. She now works as the Education Coordinator at the Richmond Art Center, planning its art class program. She recently completed her first artist residency at the Kala Art Institute in Berkeley, where she further explored printmaking.

Lukaza is deeply engaged in making objects that combine sculpture, printmaking, and text to convey concepts related to stories of resistance. This interest grows out of mining the stories about her own ancestors, including her great-great grandmother who was born into slavery in Brazil. A show of Lukaza’s conceptual works called “Falamos pra fora,” Portuguese for “We speak out,” opened at the E.M. Wolfman General Interest Small Bookstore in Oakland in December 2015. While her art work makes a distinct departure from classical painting and drawing, Lukaza said, “Ryman Arts gave me the traditional training and grounding skills that taught me what it means to be an artist.”

25

Finding the necessary encouragement and support Sally Deng, Mangrove Roots (Detail) • Watercolor

sally deng ‘11 S

ally Deng recalls when, during her senior year of high school, her art teacher told her about Ryman Arts. She applied on a whim and, in hindsight, knows how lucky she was to learn of the program when she did and also to be accepted into it. “Just having a group of adults around me at that age, encouraging me to pursue my studies in art … that was a big deal!”

Sally landed her first job thanks to a Ryman Arts Careers in the Arts presentation. She felt comfortable speaking to a representative of brc Imagination Arts who seemed very approachable.

They exchanged emails and soon Sally was hired for a summer internship to serve as a Chinese language resource, helping to set up conference calls, organize information, and also to learn from many mentors at the company. Sally’s example has since paved the way for other Ryman Arts students to intern at brc.

Sally's time at Ryman Arts validated her resolve to pursue her path as an artist. Her work was included in the juried group show of Ryman Arts students and alumni at RAWsalt Gallery in Laguna Beach and was selected for a future show there. She is set to receive her bfa in Illustration from Art Center College of Design in 2016. She has received numerous scholarships while in school and since 2011, has been involved with Pieces in Venice, CA, a nonprofit that provides creative opportunities to young adults.

26

“It is very important to have a sturdy foundation”

mynor chinchilla ‘12 W

hen Mynor Chinchilla was a student at Ramon C. Cortines High School in Downtown Los Angeles, he knew he wanted to be an artist, but says he, “just didn’t have a resilient backbone.” Finding one’s way into the arts can often be a lonely and difficult pursuit. Mynor found that the resources in his public school were spread very thin, and he was not getting the guidance in the arts that he longed for.

Fortunately for Mynor, his sister Leslie (’07) had been through Ryman Arts. She recognized what her younger brother needed and insisted he apply. “When I got into the program,” says Mynor, “I found all of my instructors to be remarkable. We never wasted time. Our days were always jam-packed with informative assignments and my instructors would do a great job of motivating us. I learned that to produce artwork of your desire, it is very important to have a sturdy foundation—like the one Ryman Arts instills. Their sequential levels are perfect examples of step-by-step learning.”

Mynor was a 2012 Silver Medal winner of the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in the painting category. He is currently majoring in Painting at Otis College of Art and Design. Like his sister, he has a passion to help others through art, and his ultimate goal is to one day become an art professor. In this way, he hopes to guide others the way he was guided not only by his sister, but also by Ryman Arts.

27

marisa ortega ‘13 M

arisa Ortega was lucky to have a teacher who saw her potential and suggested that she apply to Ryman Arts.

“Much to my surprise,” she says, “I got accepted for the spring 2012 semester and began my growth as both an artist and a person.”

Marisa recognizes that being involved with Ryman Arts has changed who she is for the better. She learned that art does not need to be a mere hobby, but that it can be what she devotes her life to, and the way that she will make her living. “Ryman has prepared me for countless things that I’m bound to encounter in the very near future, and nurtured my passion for art and helped it grow even greater.” She points especially to what she calls “the simple but indispensable practices” such as critiques, weekly homework assignments, and interaction with students from many other places, and enlightening presentations from professionals and college representatives. When her twin sister, Frankie, was accepted a year later, Ryman Arts was launching a second site at California State University, Fullerton and the twins were among the first students there, much to the relief of their mother as it dramatically shortened their commute from Whittier.

“Because of Ryman Arts,” Marisa says, “I am so much more confident in myself and my art than I would ever imagine. The critiques helped me be more open to others’ suggestions.” She notes that all this experience is great preparation for the career that awaits her in the real world. Marisa and Frankie both now attend Laguna College of Art and Design.

“Ryman Arts changed who I am” 28

A lesson in the meaning of “grit” Gabriela at the Ryman Arts Graduation and Exhibition Opening in June 2015.

gabriela aguierre ‘15 I

magine being 17 years old and waking up at 3 a.m. every Saturday morning to make breakfast, gather your art supplies, and then make a five-hour journey from Panorama City to Westchester on two busses, a train, a subway, and a taxi.

Imagine you did all this to get to your 9 a.m. Saturday class at Ryman Arts. Five hours of travel one way and six on the way home—because you could forego the taxi and take two more busses to save some money. That’s eleven hours of travel every Saturday. For a three and a half hour art class. Only after you imagine all this can you begin to understand the determination of Gabriela Aguirre.

Imagine that people thought you were crazy and tried to deter you from your path. But, you stayed focused on your dream to grow as an artist. You were never late and you never missed a class. “At the end of every Saturday class, I was exhausted but proud and satisfied with my work. I never let anything or anyone stop me from dreaming and achieving my goals.” That’s grit.

Gabriela was the recipient of the Ryman Arts Idyllwild Arts Summer Program Scholarship. At graduation she exhibited a self-portrait at the California African American Museum in Los Angeles. She says, “I’m proud of myself for one of the biggest achievements in my life so far.” One can imagine that Gabriela will have many more occasions to feel proud of her achievements. Ryman Arts is only the beginning.

29

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Wayne Hunt President

STAFF Diane Brigham Executive Director

David A. Price Vice President

Ana Garcia Site & Outreach Coordinator

Robin J. Kalota Treasurer

Shannon Huang Development & Communications Manager

Phil Hettema Secretary Scott Ault Marshall Nalle Ayers Amy L. Glad Garner Holt Barbara Jacobs Johnny Lai Michelle A. Lund Kathy Mangum Eddie Newquist Edward J. Nowak Leah R. Sklar Christina Saucedo Alumni Representative

Ginny Kokubun Administrative Coordinator Walter Marsh Operations Manager Rebecca Tuynman Education Manager FOUNDERS Lucille Ryman Carroll (1906 – 2002) Sharon Disney Lund (1936 – 1993) Anne Shaw Price (1923 – 2012) Harrison A. Price (1921 – 2010) Leah R. Sklar Martin A. Sklar

ABOUT RYMAN ARTS Ryman Arts, a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 1990 to honor legendary Disney artist and mentor Herbert D. Ryman. Ryman Arts offers free professional studio art instruction and college and career guidance to artistic high school youth. Almost all Ryman Arts graduates go on to college, many alumni work in the creative industries, and all are poised for personal success. Students choose to attend Saturdays at California State University, Fullerton or Sundays at Otis College of Art & Design.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 213.629.arts (2787) • rymanarts.org • info@ryman.org Project Manager: Shannon Huang • Writer: Lisa Vihos Designer: Liana Sposto (Ryman ‘09) © 2016 Ryman Arts