19 minute read
FEATURES
4October 21, 2021 FEATURES
Between 1950-1964, Riverside City College had six diferent publications. The publications were called Tequesquite, Tiger Times, Tiger Tales, Expressions, Nightimes and Tiger Talk.
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JULIANNA HERNANDEZ | VIEWPOINTS
October Riverside Arts Walk
Art community comes together in downtown
ELAINA KLEVEN FEATURES EDITOR
The Riverside Arts Walk is a monthly event for Inland Empire artists to display and sell art. It has grown into a communal space for anyone to network, exchange ideas and openly express themselves through unique craftsmanship.
Various vendors set up tents in a parking lot near the Life Arts Center to display their work for many to enjoy and to interact with local artists.
Although the walk may seem intimidating to frst-timers not planning to purchase any pieces, the event has become a community-friendly gathering place for artists and consumers. Some even put the importance of public feedback at the same level as actually purchasing art.
“The atmosphere in general, everyone is very nice and even if they don’t buy anything they voice their opinions about our artwork, which is the whole point of the art walk,” said Brianna Page, a volunteer at The Porcelain Crane. “It’s a good stepping point to see what sells and what doesn’t and that helps us grow to fgure out what we should go for.”
Thomas V. Marquez, a fne arts painter, has attended the Arts Walk for nine years. Over those nine years he has not only watched firsthand how the event has fourished, but his own business as well.
“It was here in the parking lot,” Marquez said. “I had maybe not even a handful of pieces. It was nice, it was a great experience. From then on I got a studio right across from the lab art center. It’s been wonderful. I love it. It’s a great vibe.”
Rolando Pulido has been selling his art at the Arts Walk for six years but has also been attending it as long as he’s lived here.
“It’s always going on,” Pulido said. “People just like art. I’ve always been out here and it’s always been busy, even when I think it’s not gonna be busy”
Like Marquez, Pulido’s experience through the years at the Art Walk has allowed him to see art culture in Riverside expand.
“The art culture in Riverside is growing,” he said. “I was born and raised in Riverside, I’ve never seen it this much.”
The event itself has grown tremendously but still stays true to its roots by giving new artists in Riverside the opportunity to network and expand business.
Stephanie Odriso, the founder of Moon Cupido has been a full-time entrepreneur for over a year now and, even without years of experience under her belt, the opportunities that Riverside builds for small business has allowed hers to develop further. She encourages other budding small businesses to take the leap as well.
“If you wanted to start your own pop-up at an art walk, I would say go for it,” Odriso said. “I feel like you should do whatever feels right to you and if you wanna go, and this calls to you you should defnitely do it. Or if you just wanna check it out it’s a lot of fun you can see there’s a lot of vendors, it’s so diverse. That’s what I love. And you meet really cool people so why not get out of your house for a little bit and have.”
Orange
by Julianna Hernandez
DIEGO LOMELI | VIEWPOINTS
COLD BREW LOU
DIEGO LOMELI PHOTO EDITOR
When the idea of starting a business turns into an obtainable reality, it’s followed through with a well thought-out plan.
However, that wasn’t the case with Louis Espinoza and his brother Josué Ticas. The story of “Cold Brew Lou” began during the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While discussing their future in February, Ticas asked Espinoza about opening up a coffee shop together, saying, “That’s what you’ve (Espinoza) always wanted to do.”
Espinoza gladly agreed to the business idea.
Now, the Salvadorian brothers attend the Riverside Arts Walk to share their brew with the community.
“I love cold brew, and I would love to be able to share that,” Espinoza said. “We didn’t really have a plan at frst; we just started off with a basic cold brew and, slowly but surely, we started coming up with new recipes and stuff like that, and we started sharing our love and craft with the community.”
Inside the Life Arts Center, their table sat cloaked in a black cloth topped with mason jars, autumn themed ornaments, aluminum coffee shakers and a dimly lit sign reminiscent of old theater marquees reading “But First Coffee.”
“They actually used to call me ‘Cold Brew Lou’ back when I used to work at a coffee shop. I loved cold brew,” Espinoza said.
Several passersby stopped to glance at the prices written out on a chalkboard, and both brothers greeted them almost simultaneously with a warm, “Hi, let us know if you need help.”
Ticas would then explain the plethora of favors they had available for passing customers to try.
The brothers didn’t begin their venture at the art walk, however.
“Obviously we had to start somewhere, so by our local farmer’s market in the palms area, they actually had an opening specifcally for a coffee business —my brother and I started talking,” Espinoza said. “Shortterm, we want to open up a mobile coffee trailer and be able to go from area to area, announce where we’re going to be at, have people turn out and be able to enjoy it even though we’re not at a brick and mortar yet. Eventually, when we do expand to a shop, I want to be able to provide that same concept that we have here.”
He reached for a bottle of Bulleit Whiskey, which now holds syrup meant for coffee rather than bourbon meant for old fashioned cocktails.
“We repurpose bottles and have that bar-like aesthetic,” Espinoza said. “I want to continue that and be able to present that energy and vibe that we have going on. People can come in with their friends, sit down, and enjoy a coffee but also take in the atmosphere and taste our creations. A lot of what we love to do is come up with unique coffee ideas — like we do one that combines hibiscus and roses for example, or lavender and butterfy pea flower. It’s just innovating and coming up with new stuff constantly.”
DIEGO LOMELI | VIEWPOINTS
Tattoo artist shares philosophy
Personal style and confdence surpasses all else
DIEGO LOMELI PHOTO EDITOR
Valentino Cornell’s studio sits towards the back of the Life Arts Center in downtown Riverside, past the front doors and just after the staircase near the main entrance of the building.
The first thing passersbys see is his work desk topped with sketch pads, pens, pencils and a thin-framed desk lamp.
On the brick wall at the back of the space hangs a tattoo parlor tank top and partially finished sketches, along with concept art and plants everywhere.
Cornell started out doing shop help around 12 to 13 years ago. During that time he would work in exchange for tattoos. He got most of the tattoos on his arms before he even turned 20. On the upper half of his left forearm is a black cross tattoo that he did himself.
“Tattooing is one of the sketchiest things you can do to yourself because it’s two handed, so realistically the only spot you can really do is your legs,” Cornell said as he drew on the sketch pad in front of him.
He then set his pencil down and pointed to the cross on his forearm.
“I did this one on myself recently, but that’s seven years in the game already and that s--- still is hard.”
Despite the difficulty and seriousness embedded into the art of tattooing, Cornell’s confidence in his skills outweighs the nerve-wracking nature of it.
“It’s like, when you take a self portrait of yourself you know you can just delete it,” Cornell said as he remained transfixed on the drawing in front of him. “If you do a portrait of somebody else you got a couple of shots until you feel like you have to get it done quick ‘cause if you don’t get it done quick, if you don’t do it well the first couple of times, you feel like you look unprofessional.”
“The biggest part about tattooing is you’ve gotta be f---ing confident; the second you second guess s--- is the second you mess something up. You gotta know you’re going to mess up the first two years. The first two years you’re going to do so many mess ups, but just… own it. See what you did, know you messed up and learn from it.”
During his first three years as a novice, Cornell was taught to do tattoos straight from books. It wasn’t until around four years later that the monotony of repetition began making him feel like he was working the typical nine to five.
For him, developing a distinct, signature style stands at the forefront of tattooing.
“I feel like everyone else is just in it for the money, and everyone is trying to do the same thing. Everyone is just trying to make a dollar off it, trying to have the jersey of being a tattoo artist without actually putting in work and doing their own style,” Cornell said.
“So now, I do a certain style, and the first year it sucked ‘cause I didn’t have any clients ‘cause nobody wanted it. Now, I’ve got a full clientele of just people who want to get stuff the way I do it. That’s the coolest f---ing feeling, money aside. That’s super cool when people just hit you up and they’re like, ‘Hey, I want to get a butterfly done with a rosary, but I want you to do it cause I like your style.’ That’s way cool.”
Two battles, one survivor
One person’s struggle for breast cancer treatment
JENNIPHER VASQUEZ NEWS EDITOR
Nykia McKenzie initially experienced two of the nine most common signs of breast cancer in June 2019 and immediately visited a doctor. McKenzie was brushed off and given antibiotics for a cyst.
Following ten days of antibiotics, she noticed no change in her symptoms and eventually returned to see a doctor in November 2019 where she was told that it was, yet again, a cyst.
Nearly nine months later, McKenzie, 27, was diagnosed with breast cancer April 4, 2020. She was being treated for cysts that entire time.
“You can put it in the box of a horror story,” McKenzie said. “It is well known that Black and brown women are the least to be heard or listened to when it comes to their health and their bodies.”
“In March of 2020, at this point it was unbearable, my breast grew to the size of a mini watermelon. I went to a doctor immediately and they referred me to the third recommendation to get the answer of what was going on and that’s when she pretty much told me what I already knew.”
After the diagnosis, McKenzie went through eight rounds of chemotherapy, 25 rounds of radiation and underwent a mastectomy to completely remove her breast tissue. This was followed by physical therapy and frequent visits to the doctor.
“In April when I was diagnosed, the doctor told me very verbatim, ‘I’m very glad that you came in when you did’ because it was growing into stage three,” McKenzie said. “From June 2019 to March of 2020, by that time it grew into stage two.” McKenzie said her journey would have been completely different if she would have had a mammogram done, or had simply been listened to in 2019 when she frst visited a doctor.
She advises women to keep fghting to be heard — even if doctor visits become costly.
“Keep going to a doctor until you are heard,” McKenzie said. “Keep track of the doctors that said ‘no’ so that way you can advocate to other people in your community or in your area so that the same won’t happen to them.”
She added that everyone should advocate and stand up for themselves even though it is taught that a doctor’s judgment should be trusted.
“Nobody knows your body better than you because we’re the ones living in it,” McKenzie said. “If you feel like something is wrong, keep going until somebody is able to sit down and listen to you and not just write you off as a number.”
She said the physical aspect of being a breast cancer patient was bearable in comparison to the mental toll it took on her.
“You can’t prepare for breaking down in the middle of grocery shopping because it crosses your mind,” she said. “You can’t prepare for staring at the walls in the middle of the night, sobbing, because this is now your new life.” Affirmations, prayers and journaling were key components to maintaining her mental health. She told herself from the beginning, upon diagnosis, that she is a survivor.
“We are going to get through this because this is bigger than me,” she said when recounting her affrmations. “God wouldn’t give me this without a purpose behind it, a lesson behind it, so I am going to fght the best way I know how.”
McKenzie said that being mentally strong is key to getting through the physical aspect of any circumstance, especially after being in remission and cancer free for over a year. She added that it’s a process in itself adjusting to a “new normal” and it is a never ending journey in many ways.
“Living life to the fullest,” McKenzie said. “Do what you like to do, do what you want to do and make sure you live life to all capabilities and aspects of your happiness.”
Her experience has inspired her to advocate for Black and brown women — especially those under age 40 — to ensure they are heard, know how to self-examine and when to seek medical attention.
“I’m trying to advocate for women that are cancer survivors and how we can have a sense of normalcy,” McKenzie said. To accomplish her goal — McKenzie is a makeup artist, and was featured in Rihanna’s 2020 breast cancer awareness campaign about a month after being declared cancer free — she is working on furthering her career by receiving an esthetician license so she can provide microblading services to those suffering from hair loss due to any medical condition.
ELAINA KLEVEN FEATURES EDITOR
Because Breast Cancer is the most common form of cancer, it is important to perform breast exams to check for the signs of breast cancer. One should go through a breast exam routine once a month for optimal safety, as well as mammograms as often as a doctor recommends them. If any of the following symptoms are noticed, it is important to bring this up with your primary doctor.
Looking in a mirror, place both hands on your hips with straight shoulders. Make sure one’s breasts are the normal size, color and shape. The common signs of breast cancer would include redness, swelling, rashing, soreness or other discoloration. Repeat these steps but with arms raised above the head.
Dimpling, puckering and bulging of the skin should be noticed as well. While it is an uncommon symptom, it is an aggressive type of cancer that is best spotted early.
Check for nipple changes, such as enlargement, discoloration or inverting. Milky, watery, yellow fluid or blood coming from the nipples should be noted as well.
While lying down, use the opposite hand of the chosen breast to feel for lumps. Go top to bottom, side to side or in a circle. It is important to use light pressure when checking the outer parts of the breasts to not mistake a lump for muscle tissue or a bone.
When checking fuller parts of one’s breasts, more pressure should be applied. Repeat the same motions but while standing up. Most people fnd it is easiest to conduct this self e am while in or while just having gotten out of the shower.
It is important to note that not all breasts are the same, and while some abnormalities are common, some are not. Keeping notes on what is regular for the individual’s body and what is not is the best way to notice red ags. ther factors include a family history of breast cancer, race, personal history with cancer or history with the symptoms of breast cancer.
For more information, go to breastcancer.org.
NORTE VISTA SKATEBOARDING CREW
DIEGO LOMELI PHOTO EDITOR
Every Friday, once 3 o’ clock rolls around, the sound of punk, metal and indie rock begins to echo through the halls of Norte Vista High School.
It all emanates from the quad, just after the Norte Vista Skateboarding Crew finishes setting up their extensive collection of wooden ramps and waxed rails, most handmade by the club’s advisor Ian Enriquez.
It’s all stored away just across Room 116, where Enriquez spends the day teaching economics. Once the fnal bell rings every Friday, the members of the NVSC gather at the tiny storage room to help carry everything to the campus quad.
The club started back in 2011 with 15 members, and it was those members who started the annual tradition of releasing a showreel composed of several skateboarding clips recorded throughout the school year.
“The frst year we did a small trailer-like video and we played it at an assembly,” Enriquez said. “That was the idea then, to have premieres, cause they used to have a renaissance assembly where they would recognize students, teachers and programs. They gave me an opportunity to do a fve minute video, so we made a skate video and played it there; it was kind of funny cause nobody really knew how to react, you know what I mean?”
The NVSC formed as a derivative of after-school programs that saw popularity in the late 90s. The idea of having a program where students could skate on school grounds began at the junior high level, and eventually made its way to high schools. Ten years ago, Enriquez was approached by NVHS’s previous principal Susan Boyd to be the club’s adviser.
“She knew I was into skateboarding, and she asked if I could do something for the skateboarders here at Norte Vista,” Enriquez said. Today, Enriquez is still the advisor of the NVSC, and doesn’t plan on giving up that title soon.
The sounds of skateboard wheels screeching, and the perpetual pop — followed by a brief pause — and then the landing slam of kickfips, ollies and one-eighties didn’t seem to show any sign of ending. It
DIEGO LOMELI | VIEWPOINTS
Unlike most of the other skateboarders in the Norte Vista Skateboarding Club, Tai Hoffman fnds having headphones in while skating distrcting and disorientating.
- Tai Hoffman
all blended in with the music blasting from the makeshift speakers resting on a utility cart covered from top to bottom in stickers.
Among the group taking turns attempting to land tricks off of a two-foot high slab of concrete is Alyssa Gomez, the NVSC’s club president.
“Skating is more like... it’s your own style,” Gomez said. “It’s whatever you like, some people ride goofy, some people ride regular, everything is going to look different.”
Also in the group is Tai Hoffman, a self-proclaimed music junkie and a high school junior. He rocked a “Black Flag” band tee coupled with ragged, baggy dark jeans; one knee torn, and the other covered in patches carelessly stitched in black and white thread.
When asked about what he listens to, his enthusiastic reply was, “Everything. I listen to so much music.”
He took a sip of his canned iced tea, handed it to a friend beside him then shifted his demeanor into something more sincere.
“I can listen to girly 80s music like ‘Madonna’ or like ‘Stevie Nicks,’ then listen to black metal or something on the whole other side of the spectrum.”
Surprisingly, he prefers not to listen to music while skating.
“I don’t listen to music when I skate. I feel like... it might be like a superstition thing, but I feel like I skip up a lot, or I just feel sloppy,” Hoffman said. “The thing is a lot of this stuff, (landing tricks) when it happens you’re going fast, so it kind of just happens. It’s kind of weird, you don’t pay so much attention to it, and it happens quick. You’d think music wouldn’t mess you up, but for me it’s the other way around.”
The decade-old club remains the same as it has always been: a space where young people can congregate, exchange ideas, encourage one another and learn from each other.
“We support each other and celebrate with each other,” Enriquez said. We try to model that sort of positive interaction and that behavior with everybody, with those who are skating and those who are not skating. Hopefully that’s something that we can pass on, because that’s the joy of skateboarding.”
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