years. Hogensen’s classes possess a style like no other.

Students shuffle through the class asking questions, while Hogensen gives them helpful instruction. Each student possesses his or her own artistic flare.

A young women works busily on her project. She appears to be an average student, dressed in a pink blouse and gray dress pants. Her loud rainbow-colored socks and silver-studded boots quickly separate her from the rest of the students on campus, however.

Another young man is not so hard to separate from the crowd. He has on a comfortable T-shirt with long shorts and black combat boots. His long hair and glasses match perfectly with his loud voice and humorous personality.

One can plainly see the creativity is bursting from every student.

Hogensen encourages this creativity. “Experiment,” she said to her students “try different things.”

As the students prepare for First Friday, the class projects a family-like atmosphere.

The Fine Arts Department, the Palomino Center and few hallways here and there are the only places you will see the photography students’ work at the college because of security concerns.

Hogensen said that she and the other art teachers thought about putting on a show in the Palomino Center but decided there was no way to ensure the students that their work would not be stolen or vandalized. They are hoping for a secured gallery space sometime in the near future.

Regardless, Hogensen enjoys teaching her photography students and feeling like she is passing on some knowledge or advice to them. “I get to see the students expressing themselves visually. This class is a great creative outlet,” said Hogensen.

She also said what a great learning experience First Friday is for her students. “It’s a good way for them to get experience with hanging shows, placement and lighting,” said Hogensen.

The event is a place for various artists to display their work to a large audience. Performance art, paintings, sculptures and photographs are just of a few different forms of art that one might see. The festivities take place around the Blue Star Brewing Co.

Many students are willing to sell their work to an interested buyer, but there are also students who do not wish to sell. Either way, Hogensen said that making price lists for their art is another experience her students encounter during First Friday.

Though selling is not the ultimate goal for some, there are many students who would be more than happy to sell their work.

One of these students is Tessa Martinez, a sophomore at the college who is majoring in Fine Arts. Martinez has taken four years of photography and has hopes of owning her own gallery one day. She is currently working on her portfolio, which contains several pictures depicting human emotions, fantasy and, her favorite, renaissance style. This style contains photographs that focus on areas like the neckline, jaw and bare back.

Martinez said that she loves Hogensen’s class, and she plans to take it again. Martinez is also an aficionado of First Friday.

“It’s better than going to the movies, because there’s eye candy everywhere,” said Martinez.

She said that the event is very crowded, so she suggests you get there early
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Jessica Janavaras, a Communications major at Palo Alto, has never shown any work at First Friday, but she will have some of her photographs in the December show.
She is excited to know that her work will be on display. Janavaras explained that she has always had a problem with criticism until she took photography classes at Palo Alto.

“I learned how to take constructive criticism in Karen’s class. Now I am excited about what other people have to say about my art. It makes me feel like I’m doing something in my life,” said Janavaras.

Though photography is just a hobby for the young artist, she feels very strongly about it. She explained that taking a picture is like capturing a second in life that you can never get back. She also said that as an artist, you discover what type of person you are through your pictures.

Logan Cantu, a Computer Graphics major at Palo Alto, agreed. “After awhile, you see changes in your pictures that start defining who you are,” Cantu said.
Cantu has never had any artwork up at First Friday, and he is excited about the upcoming show. He said that he has attended First Friday twice before, and he enjoys viewing the art because it is like an open door to the artist’s mind.

Before taking Hogensen’s photography class, many of her students wouldn’t have imagined they would be displaying their artistic creations alongside many other artists. However photographs will be up, on Dec. 7 and the door to their minds will be open for the public to see.