From classroom to gallery

For Laguna College of Art and Design senior Mallory Rose, dreams of pursuing her passion for drawing and painting became a reality unexpectedly, when she received a generous donation from a high school classmate’s family to attend art school.

“Their daughter, Amy, was killed in a car accident on her way home from a portfolio day at an art college she planned to attend in the fall,” Rose said. “Since she no could no longer fulfill her dream of going to art school, her family wanted to honor her memory by helping someone else live out that dream.

“Their generous donation has been a great source of motivation and helps me appreciate what I’m doing at school that much more.”

Rose has illustrated her appreciation by taking advantage of every opportunity throughout her college career, from tireless hours in her studio to working in the school’s admissions office to extracurricular art shows.

She even plans to volunteer at the Boys & Girls Club when her schedule allows, where she will help the kids explore their own creativity through art projects.

“Mallory is a wonderful example of how we want all of our students to be,” said Robin Fuld, an art professor and director of career services at LCAD. “She’s a well-rounded student who has really experienced all that she can in her college years.”

It’s because of eager students like Rose who want to immerse themselves and experience all facets of the art world that Fuld established the Mentor Program, which pairs seniors from her fine arts professional studies class with First Thursday’s ArtWalk professional galleries.

“The program is designed to demonstrate the intricacies involved in the business of operating a gallery and professionally exhibiting artwork,” Fuld said. “One day it occurred to me that there wasn’t a big connection between galleries in town and students at the art college — I wanted to see students interning at these galleries and alumni work being shown. So, I proposed we connect the two.”

The eighth annual LCAD ArtWalk is from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, and will feature an array of figurative paintings, drawings, sculpture and mixed media from 19 students in 18 different galleries.

A percentage of the proceeds from the students’ work will benefit the student artists, LCAD’s Scholarship Fund and ArtWalk.

Rose, who will display female figurative graphite-on-paper pieces at the JoAnne Artman Gallery, said her has been an essential learning tool.

“It not only gives you a taste of reality in the professional world, but you learn things the school can’t teach you,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to learn how this [industry] operates on your own.”

Another student exhibitor, Catherine DeWilde, who will share her oil and watercolor landscape and still life at DeRu’s Fine Arts, said the program is equally as important to her.

“The process teaches students about the outside world and how to be professional,” she said. “Most artists are introverted and lack social skills, but this forces you to talk about art with other people.

“It’s also great to learn about things like framing, hanging and pricing because those are important if you want to be successful in the art world.”