Fresno Summer Arts participation

Legendary guitarist Eliot Fisk and Juan Serrano  among performers for this year's Summer Arts program – classes begin in early July

By Karina Garcia
The Collegian

MANY THINGS WOULD never get done if it weren’t for the last minute. For Amanda Coy, this old adage couldn’t be any more true.

Coy, a recent Fresno State theatre arts graduate, was unsure about taking a course through the Summer Arts program in 2003 after her friend signed up for a class.

At the last minute, Coy decided to send in her application. While the classes were already full, the course coordinator kept her application in case the class opened up. Luckily for Coy, the coordinator informed her right before the class began she was able to be enrolled.

“It was one of the most rewarding experiences,” Coy said. “It was a great time for me. I met so many beautiful people and I gained so much.”

The California State University Summer Arts program is hosted by the college of arts and humanities at Fresno State. Two-week long workshops are offered in the areas of theatre, dance, music, visual arts, creative writing, new media and art education. The workshops will be held from July 2 through July 29.

“I think it’s a tragedy if students don’t know about it,” said Coy, who took a theatre course. “Anybody in the arts and humanities college should be informed. As a student at Fresno State, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do it.”

What makes the program unique is students are not taught by professors, but guest artists who are often world-renowned in their artistic fields. Past guest artists have included Jane Henson and the Muppets, New York New Music Ensemble and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. This year, members of the Michael Chekhov Association will be at the program, along with the HT Chen Dance Company and Dell’Arte International.

Coy said because of the connections they make with the artists, it can lead to future career opportunities for the students, from internships to letters of recommendation from the artists.

However, Coy stressed the workshops are very intense, and students must work hard and be committed throughout the two weeks.

“It’s an eye-opener,” Coy said. “You have to be able to put your best foot forward. Haphazardness won’t take you as far.”

Corey Whitehead, Fresno State music professor and course coordinator for this year’s classical guitar session, also found the lessons taught by the guest artists are both a treat and a rarity.

“In every field, you have some of the greatest artists in the world and one doesn’t need to travel out of state for it,” Whitehead said. “What’s even more valuable is the information given here is sometimes unique even at the festival. These guest artists don’t often teach. It’s got to be one of the greatest summer arts program in the U.S.”

Whitehead said musicians especially have much to look forward to at this year’s guitar session, “Flamenco Forms and Techniques in the Classical Guitar Repertoire.” Four legendary guitarists will be the guest artists, including Eliot Fisk and Juan Serrano. Whitehead said the session is exclusive because Fisk will address an important connection between flamenco music and classical guitarists, something that is rarely lectured about but vital for improving student knowledge. And while this year’s guitar festival will be similar to ones in years past, Whitehead also included private lessons for every student in the course with the guest artists.

CSU Summer Arts had its first run in 1986 at California State University, Long Beach as a dance program.

It eventually moved to Fresno State in 1999 and has been hosted here since. Recently, the campus won its bid to be held at the university through 2010.

“The facilities tie in well with performing and classroom space,” Jacqueline Doumanian said, the community relations specialist for the program. “It’s a feather in our cap for the program to be here again.”

Doumanian said CSU Summer Arts is for “anybody who wants to make a quantum leap into the artistic arena.”

“By the end of the two weeks you learn something,” Coy said. “It’s not something you walk away from and say, ‘It didn’t change me.’”

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