Mr. William B. Johnson meant the world to many of his students and so when the news of his passing was heard many gathered to remember him. Over 70 people RSVP’d to the Memorial at Mr. Johnson’s home in Montara, Ca on Saturday evening. Another 15 attended a smaller memorial at Chabot College Sunday in the newsroom, room 2325.

.

.

.

Montara, Saturday November 6, 2010:

Former staffers, left to right, Ryan Baladad a.k.a Chief, Jack Barnwell, and Spencer Holladay share stories about Mr. Johnson Saturday at his memorial in Montara.

Photos of Mr. Johnson filled his home to celebrate his life. In this photo, top image is of Mr. Johnson and his wife Michelle Sherry when they got married.

A table full of photos or Mr. Johnson fill a table display.

Staff's favorite photo of Mr. Johnson that night, look how young he was, smoking a cuban in Cuba.

Chabot College, Sunday November 7, 2010:

Spectator staffers new and old gathered in room 2325 to honor and remember Mr. William B. Johnson.

Everyone shared stories of Mr. Johnson over some yummy food.

More staff... - Alexis Daniel/ Staff Photos

Susan Gonzales gets ready to set up the new Firefighters exhibit.

“The Hottest Show In Town” is back for a third time, “featuring the creative firefighter” at the Sun Gallery on E street in Hayward.

Firefighters from all around the country have submitted work for this exhibit, which showcases artwork from current and retired firefighters. Ten artists have work on display from as far as Maryland to as near has Hayward. The art varies from paintings, sketches, and photography to an installation piece.

Susan Gonzales, exhibit coordinator who has organized this exhibit for the past 3 years said, “This exhibit is different because it celebrates the creative firefighter… it celebrates an aspect of our society that we generally see in one area.”

The installation piece in the show, which was conceptualized by Santa Clara County Firefighter Shanna Kuempel, is a tribute piece for 9/11.

According to Gonzales, “the concept came about when we were doing the exhibit in 2009…it’s been a year in the making.”

The piece includes two steel towers welded by Kuempel symbolizing the world trade center and a painted New York skyline.

“The opening on 9/11 is significant!” said Kuempel who is not only a full time firefighter but also an artist in her free time.

Kuempel has a kiln at home where she created ceramic casts of firefighters gloves to hang in the backdrop of the installation piece.

The exhibit is on display through October 2 with and opening reception this Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be snacks and beverages available, which were kindly donated by Buffalo Bills Brewery and by the Castro Valley Trader Joe’s.

Next year the exhibit will be held at a new location for the first time, with plans of rotating venues each year.

To quote Gonzales, “it’s all love.”

For more information about this exhibit or upcoming exhibits at the Sun Gallery go to www.sungallery.org.

Audio Slideshow by Arpi Nakashian and Sean Jones

By Maggie Wilson

Jack Barnwell/ Staff Photo

The student portfolio show ranges from Asiatic prints to distressed photos of family.  This show is wonderful in its variety and splendorous in its passion for glances at what it is to be human.

Angel Carmona, a student in both the photography and gallery classes, shows me around the show.

“This guy’s something else,” Angel says as we look at the first of the works — a set of four trees with Buddha superimposed on each. In the center are four frames with Buddha, a decorated prayer shawl and a sacred place. The prints, like the bulk of the show, are monochromatic. The show is in the Chabot Art Gallereyopening May 12^th from 6pm to 9pm and closing May 26^th. It is refreshing to the eye when a splash of hand colored work is seen.

As I travel through the show, the nude female forms sticks out like a beacon. The forms were photographed by Emily Kiyomi Manson, a woman with an interest in many areas of photography.

“She’s young and does black and white with some digital photography mixed in,” says Christie Delgado, another photo major with two and a half years experience in photography. Manson just started doing nudes, and these pictures were her third visit to Glen Cook’s studio.

“They are a series. How I put it together just flows,” she says. “I love the curves of the body so beautiful and smooth.”

Manson will graduate in May with her A.A. in photography. “My younger friends come up to me and ask my about photography, I think they have fallen in love with it too.”

Christine Delgado’s set of distressed photos hangs like a rainy day. She said her intent for these works was to start out

“Originally I wanted to do a constriction. I have someone in a bodice and my dad with his head? wrapped up. Due to a lack of model and lack of time half or more is just random things,” She says with a satisfied smile.

Her work is visually enticing with a touch of drama and mystery.

She said the work that meant the most to her was “the one of my brother he’s just standing there leaning against a brick wall. Any time I take one of him it’s important. He’s the one who pushed me to start.”

She looks at the picture with pride. “This picture is the first and the one that inspires me.”

Her love for photography has encouraged her to major in it. This show is serious with a flash of color. Carmona walks over to his work of Alcatraz that is gritty. One is of the ways to get off the island: mental, roof or death. Pointing to the one next to his triptych he says “this one is of the kitchen, what I like best about it is that it is where a prisoner would get his food” He points to the bars “it’s from the prisoner’s perspective.” There is a serious tone to this show with glimpses of light.