As the spring semester comes to an end, students and teachers reflect on some of the most memorable moments from this semester and what they are looking forward in the fall.

Spring semester is always a time of transition as students transfer and move on, and relationships coalesce with a spirit of collaboration and friendship across the art and art history classes, said Cynthia Minet, faculty in the art department.

Minet teaches Figure Sculpture, 3D Design, and Sculpture classes this semester, other times Drawing and Composition and sometimes Life Drawing.

“It is always rewarding to watch students build skills, confidence, and community from their work together all year long,” said Minet.

The Art Department had several fun projects this semester; one project that Minet enjoyed was a solo exhibition of sculptures and drawings in February in Ventura at the Vita Art Center.

Another highlight for Minet was a group project where her students figured out how to create inflatable sculptures that were at least 9 feet high, and could fit up to 12 or 13 students inside, she said.

“This semester my 3D Design students did some outstanding huge inflatable sculptures,” said Minet. “While this project is one we do every semester, this time they were challenged to make pieces that could accommodate half the class’ students, 12 to 13, inside the sculpture at once. I am really impressed with their results.”

Minet has a lot to look forward to, including using a 3D printer that the 3D Design program received, possibly re-locating the Moorpark College Art Gallery into a larger space, and installing the Summer Student Art Show with Katrina McElroy, who has been the gallery director this semester. The gallery will feature some of the best works of the semester and be on view through the start of the fall term.

“Students have made a lot of progress in our program this semester,” said Minet.

In the fall semester, the Art Department will welcome a lot of new, exciting elements.

Erika Lizee, who has been on sabbatical, will be the new department chair, a new full-time art historian will be welcomed as faculty, new exhibits in the Campus Art Gallery will be shown, and hopefully lecture series featuring guest artists and designers will be started in addition to their regular lecture series of exhibiting artists, said Minet.

“Our work is always collaborative among full-time and adjunct faculty in the Art Department and I look forward to our conversations around program and planning in the fall,” said Minet.

As for the Photography department, Steve Callis, professor of Beginning Photography, Studio Lighting I and II, and Lab Practices, is mainly looking forward to final critiques for projects students have done this semester. One of the critiques being the five photo series where students document something that they care about in the Beginning Photography class.

Students also completed a photo book of the zoo animals from the Exotic Animals Training and Management program that was showcased at the photo gallery on Monday.

“It’s a collaboration we do every year and it has always been a very good experience for the students,” said Callis.

In the fall, Callis will be teaching Advanced Photography and looks forward to working with students on large format cameras.

“It’s been a great year,” said Callis. “We’ve seen a lot of great work and have had a very good turn out for the photography scholarship, which it made it difficult for the faculty to choose.”

Stephanie Rodriguez, 20-year-old photography major, held a photography gallery earlier in the semester, “INK-Opening Reception,” as part of her photo series at Moorpark College’s Pink Flamingo Art Gallery. The scholarship-winning piece was about depression and Rodriguez based it off her experience. It was a memorable experience for her because she had over 50 people who came to see her gallery, said Rodriguez.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Rodriguez. “It was a suprise for me. It was amazing that many people came to support me and my art.”

Another memorable moment for Rodriguez was making new friends in her ceramics class and learning something she has never done before. Rodriguez is also excited for another art show gallery in the fall.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to join forces with another artist and combine it together,” said Rodriguez.

Make sure to catch all of these fun projects in the fall and if it’s something you think you might be interested in, make sure to sign up for an art or photography class in the fall 2016 semester!