I Have Uploaded Art Pictures

I have gotten my lovely girlfriend to take picture of some of the art that was somewhat school appropriate. I basically focus on 1950's art but put an abstract twist to it. The majority of my art is acrylic paint and ink if necessary. Over the past two years I have really gotten into art and the art scene that has been happening locally. At first I looked at more modern art, artist of skate graphics and graffiti, which eventually brought me to studying the older art of the 20th and 19th century. I learned to really appreciate and developed skill as an artist in the Acalanes art programs. It was really nice to find something that at school that I liked to do and was the first class that I enjoyed to go to that didn't have anything to do with the friends or teachers in them. I think it would be really sad if there was some kid, failing school, and hating his surroundings, unaware that he might like art, drama, or music and wasn't given the resources to experience them.

The Suffering Art of California

California has always been a state that has produced tons of great art. We have Los Angeles that produces the majority of the films in modern cinema, which happens to home to the majority of the movie stars in the country. SanFransico is home to one of the richest art community in the country, and in my opinion the world, not to mention the new tattoo mecca. Which is why I am so worried about the suffering art programs of the country.

A statewide survey by SRI International concluded that of the 1,123 schools surveyed:

• 89 percent failed to meet state standards for arts education;
• Nearly 1/3 offered no art education coursework that met state standards;
• 61 percent had no full-time arts specialist, with classroom teachers without adequate training teaching arts education at the elementary level;
• Kindergarten through 12 enrollment in music classes declined by 37 percent over a five-year period, ending last June; and
• Poor schools have the least access to arts education; whereas better income schools (where parents can afford private lessons) are more apt to have it.

Here is a link to more information.

I am someone who not only enjoys doing art myself but I also am one who studies art both classical and contemporary and I would hate to see that due to the lack of funds that California loses its community of talented artist. If California loses its art program it might just lose an important part of itself.

The Parcel Tax

As many are aware of the California education system has been plummeting downward an an increasing rate due to the recession and the horribly managed state budget. If you are a student at Acalanes High School you might have picked up on this when certain the english programs had been simplified and some courses had been canceled.As someone who has been enrolled in the art program I have seen this too. Mrs. Taylor one of the main art teachers at Acalanes has been reduced to little funding from the school and district. She has been buying supplies for the school with her own money and some winning from art contests. Some where surprised that an affluent community such as the Lamorinda area could feel a blow, which shows the actual danger our state education is in. A Parcel tax has been introduced to our State education system which might actually help the current situation. Your probably wondering what a parcel tax is.

“Parcel Tax” is the common term for a school district “qualified special
tax”. Cities, counties and other districts can also adopt special taxes.
Special taxes are permitted by the Constitution, and require approval at an
election by at least 2/3 of those voting on the measure. However, a bill
pending in the Legislature would allow California voters to amend the
Constitution to reduce the required vote to 55% for school district Parcel
Taxes, the same as for school bonds.


The parcel tax is not limited to any spending limits. What I mean by that is that you are not required to spend it on any certain thing. The money could be spent on a football field or on our art program. What I have read about the parcel tax in California is that it is backed up by the teacher and the school district but the tax payers themselves are not going to vote a two thirds ratio over this.

I want this to pass because even though I am not a studious person, I really dislike school, but it is unfair that millions of students will get lower education that they deserve due to the fact that people don't want to pay taxes. On the other side I understand that its hard enough to live in California and people don't need another burden. However, tax payers must realize that this parcel tax requires that they must be selfless and give their children or other peoples children the level of education that they deserve.

Awesome! Makes me want to shave my head

Scavenging for Uploaded art

I thought that it would be appropriate to show some of the art and talk a little about the main artist in the show.

Graham Holoch is a Senior at Acalanes and he does amazing photography and acrylic paintings. He has a really strong background in art and has been accepted to a bunch of art schools.

Kyung Chun is a Junior at Acalanes who hails from Korea. Shes been doing art for a really long time and is extremely creative. You can see slight hints of asian artwork in her own if you have a keen eye for it.

Andrew Moore is a graduate of Marimonte High and is a very talented photographer. He is the only one who has completed his amount of required art which makes me happy because the rest of us are slacking behind, but you can't rush the creative progress.

And then there is me. I've taken art for four years at Acalanes. I'm a senior and have taken five classes of art which is over the amount necessary for most. I've been studying art a lot more seriously the past year. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of my art up yet but there one the way!

The details

I'm talking to the employees of the Lafayette Library currently. I've left several messages as well as going into the Library itself. If conditions were perfect I could rent a room to leave the art in that is close to the main room of the library. The art is in the process as we speak. Kyung Chun and Graham Holoch have been working really hard and have been coming out with some really cool pieces and I'm really digging them. I myself have been trying to put the best stuff together I can but when I see the art that my colleges are putting out I'm not sure that I'm working hard enough. I'm really stressing out about the Library though just because I haven't been getting any feedback from them. I'm heading in tomorrow again to see if I can talk to someone in charge. If it doesn't work out there then ill find somewhere else. We just need a place to put up the art, and then we'll be set. Flyers will come out soon