FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact Information:
Bishop Amat High School
Ms. Deborah Oswald
14301 Fairgrove Avenue
La Puente, CA 91746
(626) 962-2495 ext. 7444 doswald@bishopamat.org
www.bishopamat.org
Bishop Amat – Six Amat artists selected for 5 th Annual Art Exhibit
LA PUENTE, CA, March, 2015 – Congratulations to six Bishop Amat Advanced Placement Art students who were invited to participate in the 5 th
Annual Robert Graham: A Memorial Art
Exhibit, sponsored by artist Gayle Garner Roski from the USC Roski School of Art & Design.
The Graham exhibit, named for the creator of the Cathedral’s Bronze Doors, takes place every year during Lent and showcases art pieces related to inner contemplation, life, forgiveness, and resurrection. The exhibit also provides an opportunity for students seeking to pursue a career in fine arts, to show they have participated in an exhibit, as well as teaching students to use the creative side of their brain.
Seniors Lisa Brennan, Patrick Cunanan, Marisa Saldana, Casey Santillan, Larissa Mendoza and
Ariana Munguia submitted their pieces along with a personal statement:
-Lisa Brennan,
“Holy to the Bone”
(watercolor and ink): The spirituality of this work,
“Holy to the Bone,” consists of the idea that religion comes from bits and pieces of a person. The idea was to make it so that although there are different variables that create a person, there is the invisible religion that ties your soul together. There is the essence of floating in prayer through the leaves, as if surrounded by grace in its physical form. The faceless-face represents the generic building block that holiness has to go through in order to manifest itself into our world today.
-Patrick Cunanan,
“A Reading from the Letters According to Leonardo”
(charcoal, pencil, and ink): The spirituality of my piece is evident in the Christian themes of the anatomical crucified body of Christ, the gospel verses, and the palms showing stigmata mirroring those of the risen Christ. The Gospel verses were taken primarily from the passages within Luke’s depiction of the mystery of Christ’s resurrection. The work was done in the style of Leonardo Da Vinci and is reflective of his scientific sketchbooks.
The piece weaves together the themes of art, scientific thinking, and religion.
-Marisa Saldana,
“Agony & Olives”
(acrylic paint): This painting depicts Jesus Christ during his agony in the garden of Gethsemane, Luke 22: 36-42. The Cubist style is made to draw the eyes in different directions to cause the viewer some confusion, in a way exploring the confusion and frustration Jesus must have felt during this time. I chose this

verse because I believe that among all of Jesus’ trials and tribulations, this was the one that defined his love beyond that of human ability. For me, this was the moment of truth, the moment where God himself must choose to die for his people, out of nothing more than pure love.
-Casey Santillan,
“Mother Mary”
(watercolor on watercolor paper): The spirituality of this piece deals with the role of Mary as the Mother of God. A mother would not want to see her own child suffering, and would want to take that pain away from them. This painting depicts Mary bearing the pain from the crown of thorns once placed on Jesus’ head, partially taking away His suffering, which exemplifies her motherly nature.
-Larissa Mendoza,
“Light of the World”
(acrylic paint): The Central Spirituality of my work consists of my love and respect for God. His mighty power and authority to Light up the World constantly enables me to envision a spiritual image in my head.
-Ariana Mungia, “Doubting Tom” (charcoal and pencil): This piece is inspired by the scripture where St. Thomas doubts the resurrected Jesus. “Then He said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” John 20:27
The Art Exhibit opened on March 8, 2015 and began with Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. Following the Mass, certificates were awarded to the participating students. The exhibit runs through May 2 nd and includes art from students from approximately fifteen other
Catholic high schools.
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About Bishop Amat High School: Bishop Amat Memorial High School www.bishopamat.org
is a four-year coeducational Archdiocesan Catholic high school. The mission of the school is to form a faith-filled community and to provide a quality education that addresses the needs of a culturally and academically diverse student body. The school, working in partnership with parents and the community, promotes education in Goodness, Discipline and
Knowledge by preparing students to embrace Gospel values, to respect themselves and others, to become life-long learners, and to contribute positively to the community.