Fiesta 2024!

One important aspect of being a successful artist is the ability and willingness to talk about your art and promote it. That ability, and honestly willingness, to be able to communicate about what you are creating is a main ingredient to becoming the successful artist you want to be I tell the kids at Topeka High.  In talking about your art, promoting it, you never know who your message will reach and you never know who your art will resonate with.  No risk, no reward. 

So in that regards, when Joan Barker, head of Topeka High's Historical Society reached out to me to talk to Topeka High Alumni during a Luncheon about Topeka High's Art program, I of course jumped at the opportunity!

After my talk with the alumni, shortly thereafter, there was a knock on my classroom door and it happened to be Joey Rocha, Topeka High Alum, and the person in charge of the Fiesta Art show.  At this moment, the hair on my arms stood on end because I had seen 2023's Fiesta Art show, and at the time I had a personal goal of getting Topeka High kids into it, and here was Joey to talk to me about that exact thing.

I asked for some help finding work that would work for the Fiesta from Topeka High's Drawing, Painting, & Printmaking teacher Amy Cline.  She gave me 4 pieces from Kevin Cuevas-Reyes along with some other artwork we thought would fit.  I then put together a collection of photographs I thought would be interesting, and with the other art pieces I presented them to Joey at the end of May to find out which ones would be showing.

All together, Joey and I, with some help from my wife, picked out 7 art pieces to represent Topeka High  with a better understanding of what Topeka High would want to hold back for next year.  Yes, it has already been confirmed that Topeka High will be participating in the Fiesta Art show for years to come. 

With the 7 pieces picked, all that was left to do was get the art pieces some frames and labels created.  When Joey got ahold of me for hanging, the art pieces were well prepared and ready to be hung!

This year the weather was FANTASTIC for the 91st year of the Fiesta and closing day was packed.  I made it down that day with my lovely wife to of course support the kiddos who were in the art show and doing multiple other things at the Fiesta, and of course to get some tacos!  

For me, the Fiesta is a big part of my childhood and are some of my earliest memories, as I am sure any local Topekan can attest to.  The food, the rides, the dancing, hanging out with friends, reconnecting with friends you bump into.  So having Topeka High students be a part of the 22nd Art show was more than pride, having them be part of such a huge part of this community, and plans to continue to do so are surreal. 

Talking with Joey on closing night he said the show had been a huge success.  Thursday night the rooms were so full he couldn't talk to everyone, and it was also featured on the news.  The students getting to be a part of an event like this get to feel the love of their community, and also get a taste of what it is to be a professional artist, encouraging them to continue creating because they have the support of their community.  It is truly a beautiful thing that I am fortunate to be a part of.