Valley Focus: Positive News and Local Events in the Central Valley

Margot Kim Image
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Valley Focus
Valley Focus

The end of the school year may be fast approaching but Sunnyside High School is sporting some new faces on the walls.

"The impact we have is to uplift people to have pride in who they are and just celebrate," said photography instructor Tamela Ryatt.

Students arrived on campus to be greeted by some of their own smiling faces. Three months were spent putting together the guerilla-style art project.

Charlij Vang a Sunnyside High Senior said," it took a lot of time and teamwork."

More than 24 hundred square feet of paper and more than 60 gallons of wheat paste, made from scratch, went into showcasing the diverse student body.

Photographs were sized, tiled and sequenced to cover pillars, walls, even staircases. All inspired by world renowned artist JR of Paris.

Ryatt says, "he goes into communities makes photographs and posts them at night and leaves them up for the community to experience and have conversations."

A type of engagement photography students wanted of their peers. Vang says," we are really proud of who we are and what we represent. "

Barne Nass is a Sunnyside High Senior. He says,"I hope that people know that we are a school with so many different cultures." Nass is a foreign exchange student from Germany and is embracing the cultural diversity in the valley.

He says this project showcases the community he's grown to know and love.

"I mean compared to Germany you can't really describe because it is so much fun here and this is really a family you feel the whole school is together."

COMMUNITY EVENTS:

Super Adoption

May 13

9AM-2PM

3934 N. HAYSTON

FRESNO

www.valleyanimal.org

African American High School Recognition Ceremony

Sunday, June 4

3PM

SaveMart Center

Contact: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

San Joaquin Alumnae Chapter

Open Cockpit Day

Sunday, May 28

9am-5pm

Castle Air Museum

Atwater

www.castleairmuseum.org

For the rest of the Valley Focus segments, click here.