In a celebration of art, education, and community collaboration, Norco College art student Priscilla Phasakda unveiled her art exhibit, "What's Inbetween," at the Gota Coffee shop on Thursday, November 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The exhibit, primarily featuring Priscilla's drawings and watercolors created during the Intro to Figure Drawing (Art-40a) class with Professor Michelle Ramin, will grace Gota Coffee until November 30.
The success of the opening reception highlights Priscilla's talent and showcases the fruitful collaboration between art, education, and the local business community.
Priscilla, is the 2023 Norco College President's Award recipient for her outstanding piece, "The Fruits of My Laotian Household." It was purchased by the college and showcased in the Norco College Office of the President. Her current collection at Gota Coffee is available for purchase, with the generous owner, Skarlet Gonzalez, pledging 100% of the proceeds directly to the artist. A supporter of local artists and Norco College students, Gonzalez expressed her commitment to fostering community spaces that empower emerging talents.
"I come from a family of artists. I really like supporting local artists in the community,
and all of the sales proceeds from the art pieces in the shop from Priscilla go directly
to her. I want to make this coffee shop a community space that helps other people
in the community," said Gonzalez.
Gota Coffee, a minority and woman-owned business, welcomes more artists to utilize
their space, exemplifying their commitment to supporting Norco College students and
the local arts scene.
Assistant Professor of Art and Director of the Norco College Art Gallery, Michelle Ramin, praised Priscilla's dedication and talent: "Priscilla is an incredibly hardworking, creative, and motivated art student I've been working with since last year. Currently, in my Figure Drawing class, Priscilla's work just keeps getting better and better! Beyond her time at Norco, Priscilla plans to transfer to a 4-year fine arts program and continue her career path in art! I'm so excited for her and all the great things I know she will accomplish going forward."
'What's Inbetween' is not just an exhibit; it's a journey through the real moments of Priscilla's life. When asked what she enjoys most about her art, Priscilla revealed that it serves as a vivid display of her experiences—moments authentically lived. Take, for instance, the Norco College Art Gallery art piece, a snapshot captured in a photo shared with friends while receiving the President's Award. In her shoe painting, notice the deliberate imperfections: a chipped fingernail, a spot where the paint is missing. When questioned about this, Priscilla explained that it mirrors how her hands looked that particular day, a sincere attempt to encapsulate the essence of real life. In a world where perfection is elusive, Priscilla's art celebrates the beauty found in life's genuine imperfections.
Encouraging the community to support Gota Coffee, Dr. Monica Green, President of Norco College, expressed her esteem for Priscilla's achievements: "We are immensely proud of Priscilla's artistic accomplishments and grateful to Gota Coffee for providing a platform for our students. Supporting our student artists and local businesses is a powerful way to invest in our community's creativity and vibrancy. We are the community's college."
Visit Gota Coffee at 670 Hamner Ave STE 4, Norco, CA 92860, to experience Priscilla's art and join in supporting the flourishing artistic talents of Norco College students. As we raise our cups to Gota Coffee, Norco College extends a heartfelt thank you to Skarlet for being a fantastic supporter of the arts and our community!
Follow Priscilla's artistic journey on social media with the tag @LYECHII.