Jose Flores
By Amanda Jenae
Western Sun associate editor
Jose Flores
Ceramic major Jose Flores, is a student attending Cal State Fullerton, but due to his love of art, the studio environment and home he has developed at Golden West, still attends ceramic classes on campus but for his last semester.
Flores is a familiar face to the returning students of the ceramics classes each semester and has become almost like a family member to his peers.
Starting as a drawing and painting major, Flores then took a ceramics class to simply fill an art requirement, but found himself falling in love.
When asked about his favorite type of ceramic art he likes to create he explained, “I love Asian art, it’s so clean and precise, but from time to time I like to just throw the clay and add some of my own funk.”
While Flores continued making his piece on the wheel, which at the time was a teapot, he explained his future goals and aspirations.
With three more semesters at Fullerton, Flores would like to get his Bachelor of Fine Arts but only to continue on to his masters so he can teach ceramics and be considered a practicing artist.
Approaching the end of the semester, Flores may not be returning back to GWC, however; he did proudly explain, “Golden West is my home and where I fell in love with ceramics, and I always find my way back home again.”
Marianne Thompson
Marianne Thompson
What better combination than brains and an artsy, creative skill? Marianne Thompson, a microbiology major and artist in the prestigious class of Darrell Ebert, has combined both her knowledge of dissection, anatomy and great skill using terra cotta to create masterpieces.
“It’s funny how much pathology and my knowledge of muscles and the human body has really helped me develop and get into my sculptures.”
Although a very shy artist, Thompson enjoys the freeing, figurative art technique when it comes to sculpting. Most of her sculptures are pieces she created using real life models, but also enjoys sculpting mythological creatures from the India philosophy.
“It becomes a very peaceful, Zen-like and spiritual experience for me,” Thompson explained.
Besides her exceptional work in the classroom, Thompson is also part of the Huntington Harbor and Huntington Beach Art League where she has won first place for her sculptures in both leagues, leaving her artistic mark on the community.
