Keynote Speaker UNLV College of Fine Arts 2023

 On Sunday May 14th  I was given the honor to address the graduating class of Fine Art students on the campus of my Alma Mater, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  

On the way to the podium...

(Photo by Larry Henley)

.  

Program and sticker on seat I was assigned to:- ) (below).

Seated next to Dean of Fine Arts Nancy Uscher(at podium), administration, regents, undergraduate and graduate speakers  (below).

(Photo by L. Henley)

Waiting my turn, as usual, I sketched those in the waiting room and at the podium:- ).

(Photo by L. Henley)

Quick sketches...                                  

At the podium my 'hood' was hanging off my shoulder (first image above). The afternoon's emcee, Kymberly Mellon, straightened me out to a big 'thumbs up':- ).

(Photo by L. Henley)

Speaking from the heart and looking at the audience of students, parents and others.

(Photo by L. Henley)

 My view of students, parents and others:- ).

(Photo by Ron Husband)

Undergraduate student speaker Ayce Mangapit and Graduate student speaker Judahea Bluntt finished off the afternoon (below).

(Photo by L. Henley)

  

(Photo by L. Henley)

 UNLV posted a link to my speech here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWAZiNSMHHA

Until next time...

                              

May 12, 2023

  I was chosen by Assemblymember Chris Holden to receive his Unsung Hero 2023 award in the state capital building in Sacramento, CA last month.

Assemblymember Holden could not attend this event, he was out of the country (Pakistan) on business.

He wanted to personally present the award to me and will do so at Mt San Antonio College located in Walnut, Ca on the 12th of this month (below).

                                                                    

 I did get to meet Assemblymember Holden a few weeks after I received the award. The church I attend (Second Baptist, Monrovia) was celebrating the 121st anniversary of it's founding and he was in attendance. It was my turn to help in the Children's Church in another building. There, as always, I illustrated a Bible story to the kids delight:-). That Sunday the lesson focused on the first chapter of Genesis, the creation (below).

                                                                 

After the service, driving through the parking lot I spot a familiar face, that of Assemblymember Holden. Though we had never met, I had seen enough images on campaign literature to recognize him.

I pulled over, got out of the car and introduced myself. We chatted like old friends and  ended by taking  a picture in front of the plaque I designed for the city of Monrovia of the first pastor of Second Baptist Church, Colonel Allen Allensworth. (below)

                                                                   

(Assemblymember Holden and I )

My roots go deep at Mt San Antonio College.
I taught a class on Humorous Illustration there back in the 1980's for one semester.
I conduct a workshop there once a year starting in the 2000's based on a word I made up 'Quicksketchillustrationanimation'. Quick sketching, illustration and animation, the correlation of these three art disciplines.
About 2016 the art department contacted me to inquire if I had interest in teaching a class on Fundamental Drawing. "Yes" was my reply and I've been there since.
Long ago, running track at Monrovia High we competed in invitational track meets there (MtSAC Relays) and while at Citrus Junior College not too far from here my Citrus Owls team played the MtSAC Mounties (below). We lost by a point:- (

                                                                                      

until next time...