CALEXICO – “Ohh, look at that,” a Calexico resident told one of the student-models walking buy in an elegant nightgown.
“You look so pretty!” the woman exclaimed. “Thank you!” the student, Dominique Macias of Southwest High School, said.
Such was the scene as the sweet sounds of Mozart, model poses, mannequins and picture frames bursting with color filled the eyes and ears of attendees of what might be the first Garlan’s Art, Music and Fashion Night on Tuesday, April 30 in Calexico.
The event, hosted by Garlan’s store, a long-time staple of Downtown Calexico businesses, saw dozens of works of art, musicians and interested art enthusiasts come together to both support local student-artists and local business.
“We decided to have it because there’s so much talent here locally in the schools, and we feel like sometimes it’s not recognized,” Garlan’s store manager, Myrna Rodriguez, said, “so we decided to do some community outreach and invite Calexico and Southwest high, and of course Southwest’s Orchestra.”
The event saw approximately 61 student art pieces on display, the majority from Calexico High School, from two art classes. About 15 musicians from the Southwest High School Chamber Orchestra serenaded store patrons with a variety of classical and movie soundtrack song selections. Two students also modeled different outfits throughout the event, walking through the store dressed in various fashionista outfits and dresses.
“We also donated some mannequins for the fashion (portion) of the event, and the students decorated them,” Rodriguez added.
Ramirez said the store held the event to support local students who are artists, as well as a way to revitalize the downtown Calexico business area due to recent “changes” in the COVID pandemic aftermath.
“I see that the students are very excited,” she said. “For example, this (decorated) mannequin (design) in front of me was created by a student with special needs. She got here with her mom, and she was very excited talking about her piece and explaining what it is.
“Just to see what the students are trying to voice and express with their art is just fantastic,” Rodriguez said. “Even though some of the students got here a little bit later because of tests and they’re getting ready for Grad Night and stuff like that, we do appreciate their efforts because they were willing to be here today.”
The art teachers from the two participating schools agreed, saying that the event allowed their students to showcase their art but also helps them feel like part of the community through the store and its patrons’ support.
“Usually local businesses don’t (open their doors like this),” Eddie Schiffer, Calexico High School art teacher, said.
Schiffer said in the past his art students would average two art shows a year, whereas this 2023-2024 school year his students have had eight art shows, thanks in part to local venues like the Carmen Durazo Cultural Arts Center and the Camarena Memorial Library opening their doors to student art events.
“(The community) is starting to open up more and communicating more with the students saying… ‘We are all part of the community, so let’s bring you and your work, and your parents.’ They’re very inclusive,” Schiffer said.
“(These kinds of events) just opens up more opportunities,” the art teacher said. “The more showcases they can do, the better for them. It kind of opens up their self-esteem.”
Schiffer also said individuals supporting art without the community have helped the students, noting a recent art show where his students were able to sell 23 art pieces, where normally one to two sales of art pieces is “a lot.”
“So they sell their work, they get some self-esteem, they come out and bring their families and expose their art to the community, so it’s all good,” Schiffer said. “It brings it full circle for them. The community benefits and they benefit from it as well.”
Southwest High School art teacher Jackie Pleitez agreed.
“It’s a great opportunity for my students to display their hard work and show it to people, and they get very excited like, ‘Oh my gosh, they’re going to see our art work,’” she said.
“As an artist myself we cover ourselves behind our art – and I do get all the shy (students) – and we let the art speak for itself.,” Pleitez said. “(Through these types of events) the students really get to express their thoughts and feelings through their art.”
“I do get all the shy ones, but when they see that support from the community … they get this positive reinforcement, and they get all excited. It builds them up and really motivates them to keep on doing it,” she said.
Pleitez said she was happy the students from her advanced art class participated because “many of them do want to become artists in the future – artists or art teachers.”
“I just give them a theme and they work and let their creativity lead them,” Pleitez said. “It’s beautiful…for the students, at the end, to turn out these beautiful pieces.”
The numerous smiles on the faces of the students as they were thanked for participating, or took photos near their art works, told a tale of the event’s success.
Garlan’s co-owner Robert Gronich said the store will be looking to do similar events at the store in the future.
“I get very excited when they call us and ask us to do a little collaboration with the community,” Pleitez said.
