Autumn & the Arts in the News
ICOE’s Autumn & the Arts Celebrates Artists, Mentors
Artists Utilizing Various Media Awarded “Champion of Arts” for Their Impact in the Imperial Valley
Four “Champions for the Arts” were honored for their influence in the Imperial Valley while student works were auctioned — with the top bid of $300 going to Southwest High student Dayana Cantu’s piece, “My Black Bear” — all in the name of youth scholarships.
Live music and artwork, from ceramic to culinary, made by Imperial Valley students and recognizing community “champions” for the first time was the central focus of the Imperial County Office of Education Foundation for Education’s fourth annual Autumn & the Arts fundraiser on Thursday, Oct. 3, in El Centro.
A new award was launched as part of this year’s sold-out festivities, “Champion for the Arts,” dedicated to individuals and organizations who had the greatest affect on the arts and arts education within the Imperial Valley. The Foundation for Education recognized the Rainforest Art Project, Debi Smerdon, Miriam Villareal Marcuson and Chef Fernando Nuñez.
“Oh, we love the Valley, when we came here there was very little public art, we started it and we’re seeing more and more of it around, but the most important part is engaging the kids,” said Dan Evers, founder and chief executive officer of the Rainforest Art Project, on Thursday evening.
The Rainforest Art Project began in San Diego and has since then extended to enrich communities across the nation with art. The program has worked with Imperial Valley schools and organizartions for more than 15 years, and the latest contribution came with the team-up with Brawley’s Oakley Elementary School’s after-school program to create a mosaic fountain titled, “Desert Oasis Fountain.” The fountain was auctioned off during the event for $2,500.
Evers received the Champion for the Arts award on the program’s behalf. Evers expressed his love for the Imperial Valley and felt honored to receive the award. He felt that it brought more recognition to not only the Rainforest Art Project but artists in the Imperial Valley as a whole.
“Art for some people is just a simple pastime, for others it’s a lifeline, it is the most important thing in the world to them … the way it is for us, art is our passion and there are so many kids out there that deserve that art experience in their lives,” Evers said.
Debi Smerdon, owner of DS Arts Studio & Gallery in Brawley, was also recognized with a Champion of the Arts award due to her contributions in instructing art through her studio and gallery.
“It is my pleasure to support Autumn & the Arts live auction,” Smerdon said in an earlier statement from ICOE. “I believe that giving students the opportunity to create art helps them have balance with all other subjects in life.”
Honoree Miriam Villareal-Marcuson became an art teacher after earning her bachelor’s degree in fine arts and has been teaching at Wilson Junior High for the past 10 years. Villareal-Marcuson worked with her students to create ceramic vases for the past four years, which attendees could purchase for $100 a piece and were sold out within the first 10 minutes of the fundraiser.
“I see the change in their behavior, look forward to our class, it’s kinda like that hour where they’re using another part of their brain, using their hands, and also the classroom environment, they work together, collaborate, they get to talk, it’s a positive environment,” Villareal-Marcuson said on Thursday.
“I’m really happy that every year this (event) gets bigger, we’ve gotten a lot of support from businesses, and all the money goes back to students, it’s just more art and the more we can get the better,” she said.
“Champion” Chef Fernando Nuñez, Culinary Arts instructor for Calexico High School for the past 17 years, worked with his students to provide dessert for the guests. The Calexico Culinary Arts program served a deconstructed fruit pie tart with homemade French vanilla ice cream. Nuñez spoke on the impact that the Autumn & the Arts event leaves on the young Imperial Valley artists and how it motivates them to develop and hone their skills.
The culinary students have been working diligently for the Foundation for Education event for the past week by preparing more than 200 individual desserts. “Very delicate ingredients and layer of flavors, every day we did something different until this morning we put it all together,” Nuñez said.
“It is very dear to me, the connection with the students and the day-to-day interactions makes my day,” the chef expressed. “I’m really proud of Calexico Unified School District, I have been having all the support.”
The Foundation for Education also hosted a silent and live auction for guests to bid on various artworks from the Imperial Valley students. The silent auction ran its course throughout the night in which attendees were able to bid on 16 different artworks, with each receiving at least one bid. While the highest bid on a piece was for Dayana’s “My Black Bear,” in total, the silent auction earned $2,300 through the bids, with each student receiving 100 percent of the money from their art piece sold in the form of a scholarship.
The foundation’s live auction featured seven different artworks that were bid on back and forth.
- 1959 Chevorlet Impala Photograph by Richard Salgado
- “Toiling Under The Sun” by Letty Guerra
- “Desert Oasis Fountain” by Maria Marcial and Oakley Elementary students
- “Desert Blooms” by Rebecca Taylor
- “Orange Cat” by Danelly Lizarraga
- “Ceramic Christmas Tree” by Debi Smerdon
- “El Árbol De La Vida” by Cristina Salazar-Saucedo
“El Árbol De La Vida” by Cristina Salazar-Saucedo earned the highest bid at $3,100.
Through the support of fundraisers, in 2024 the Foundation for Education awarded more than $18,000 in scholarships to 32 local students. Their scholarship programs help increase college access and success for some of the county’s most vulnerable students, according to ICOE.
The foundation seeks to continue its support with its fifth annual golf fundraiser on Feb. 15, 2025, at the Del Rio Country Club in Brawley.
Autumn & the Arts Fundraiser Slated for Oct. 3 Will Recognize Individuals and Organizations for the First Time in Addition to Already Popular Aspects
The Foundation for Education, a non-profit dedicated to supporting Imperial County students, will host its fourth annual Autumn & the Arts fundraiser on Oct. 3. The sold-out event will feature live music, a dinner, as well as a student art exhibit, and both a silent and live auction.
This year, the Foundation for Education is launching its “Champion for the Arts” award which will honor four individuals and organizations who have made a significant impact on the arts in our community:
- Rainforest Art Project
- Debi Smerdon, DS Arts Studio & Gallery
- Miriam Villarreal-Marcuson, Wilson Junior High School
- Chef Fernando Nuñez, Calexico High School
Rainforest Art Project
For more than 20 years, the Rainforest Art Project has been inspiring and empowering students across the country through the transformative power of art. Its mission began in San Diego’s Barrio Logan neighborhood and has since expanded to reach communities nationwide. In Imperial County, the Rainforest Art Project has collaborated with schools and municipalities to create stunning works of art that celebrate their unique identities and enrich their communities. From the vibrant logo for the Brett Driscoll Sidewinder Skatepark to the iconic sign for the Jimmie Cannon Performing Arts Theater at Southwest High School, each of the Rainforest Art Project creations leaves a lasting legacy.
“Involving students in the creative process can be life-changing, as they discover their hidden talents and abilities,” said Dan Evers, founder and chief executive officer of the Rainforest Art Project. “It is the Rainforest Art Project’s goal to engage students in activities that ignite creativity and passion for learning.”
The Rainforest Art Project has teamed up with Oakley Elementary School’s afterschool program to create a stunning mosaic fountain. The students, led by Maria Marcial, are crafting this unique piece, which will be one of the highlights of the Autumn & the Arts live auction.
Debi Smerdon
A professional artist for 40 years, Debi Smerdon is the owner of DS Arts Studio & Gallery in Brawley. Her specialty is painting and art instruction. She believes that we are “created to create” and has made sharing art her life’s work. This year, she has created a one-of-a-kind ceramic textured Christmas tree, a unique piece that will also be available for bidding in the Autumn & the Arts live auction. “It is my pleasure to support Autumn & the Arts live auction,” Smerdon said. “I believe that giving students the opportunity to create art helps them have balance with all other subjects in life.”
Miriam Villarreal-Marcuson
Born and raised in Central Mexico, Miriam Villarreal-Marcuson attended college in Los Angeles and earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Otis College of Art and Design. Passionate about fostering a love of learning art, she decided to become a teacher and has been teaching art at Wilson Junior High School for the past 10 years.
“Throughout my teaching career, I have been dedicated to creating a positive and inclusive learning environment that promotes student engagement and self-expression,” Villarreal-Marcuson said. “I strive to develop strong relationships with my students, fostering a supportive classroom community that encourages collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and respect. Receiving the award is a great honor to me,” she added. “I am very happy to know that my passion for teaching art has been noticed, and to be recognized as a “Champion for the Arts.” This award motivates me to continue to strive every day in my professional and personal life, as an artist and art educator.”
Villarreal-Marcuson’s talented young students at Wilson Junior High are busy creating beautiful ceramic vases that will be showcased and available for purchase during the fundraiser.
Chef Fernando Nuñez
For the past 17 years, Chef Fernando Nuñez has been inspiring and guiding students at Calexico High School’s Culinary Arts program. Known for his passion and dedication, Chef Nuñez emphasizes the importance of mastering techniques to succeed in the culinary industry. His students have honed their cooking and baking skills through hands-on experience, including catering events and real-world projects. As a testament to their talent, they were selected to showcase their culinary artistry and provide a delicious dessert for the Foundation’s Autumn & the Arts Fundraiser.
“I am proud of Calexico Unified School District and our Culinary Arts program. It is a great honor to teach and prepare students for college and career,” Nuñez said. “I always tell my students that the most important step in becoming a great success in today’s food industry is to master techniques. A great chef is first a great technician. As a culinarian, you must know the trade in your hand. You have to learn the process. You learn it through repetition until it belongs to you.”
“Our community is incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated Champions of the Arts,” said Dr. Todd Finnell, county Superintendent of Schools and president of the Foundation for Education. “We are proud to feature some of the individuals and organizations who work tirelessly to promote and nurture the arts in our community. Our Champions for the Arts have enriched the lives of countless students, and we are truly grateful for their passion and support.”
Proceeds from the fundraiser will support the Foundation’s scholarship program, which provides financial assistance to some of Imperial County’s most vulnerable students, including those enrolled in alternative education schools, special education programs, or Imperial Pathways Charter School, ICOE’s drop-out recovery program for individuals 17 and over.
“Receiving this scholarship was important to me because it helped me regain the motivation to become academically prepared in life,” said Gadiel Cervantes, a 2024 Valley Academy School graduate who was awarded a Foundation for Education scholarship in the spring. “This scholarship has pushed me to work and study harder to become someone successful.”
In 2024, the Foundation awarded more than $18,000 in scholarships to 32 deserving local students. Since launching its scholarship program in 2019-2020, the Foundation for Education has steadily grown its impact, awarding nearly $60,000 in scholarships to local students over the past five years. In addition, thanks to generous donations, the Foundation for Education was able to establish two new annual academic events: the Imperial County Arts Festival, launched in 2023, and an E-Sports Competition, launched in 2024.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support the Foundation for Education has received. The fact that the event is already sold out is a testament to our community’s generosity,” added Dr. Todd Finnell. “We can’t wait to celebrate the arts and support local students together!”
Those unable to join the Autumn & the Arts fundraiser can still support Imperial County students. Browse the student artwork available in the Autumn & the Arts silent auction by visiting https://givebutter.com/c/aata/auction, clicking “Auction,” and registering to bid. Bidding closes at 8 p.m. on Oct. 3. All proceeds from the silent auction will directly benefit these talented young artists.
For more information about the Foundation for Education and the Autumn & the Arts fundraiser, please visit foundation.icoe.org/fundraiser.