The hot Valencia air
It is a hot June afternoon as I drive past Six Flags Magic Mountain on I-5 North, a place that always brought me so much joy, and yet we are not stopping there. As we pass by the freeway exit, I feel my stomach drop, nervous about being away from my parents for the next month.
However, as my family’s car pulls off at the California Institute of the Arts freeway exit, my nervousness melts away, replaced by feelings of excitement. Pulling into the university’s parking lot, I step out and am immediately hit by the dry heat of the summer air, which coats the back of my throat with dust. However, I do not falter as I walk into the air-conditioned student center to speak with a camp counselor.
Walking over to a camp counselor, she asked me for my name and age before handing me my room key, my camp badge, and CSSSA merch. “Welcome to CSSSA. You’re going to have an amazing time here,” the counselor said. While my nervousness wasn’t completely gone, I had a good feeling that this program would be something I would look back on positively.
CSSSA’s founding
The California State Summer School for the Arts was founded by the California Legislature in 1987 to provide high school students with the training grounds for a career in the film or arts industry. Students choose to focus on one specific area from their variety of programs in visual arts, theater, dance, animation, film, or creative writing, with hands-on experience through lectures and in-class projects.
CSSSA is open to rising California 8th-12th graders, with approximately 20 spots reserved for out-of-state and international students. Classes are taught by university professors and experts within their respective creative fields, providing students with comprehensive knowledge in their subjects as well as valuable insights to enhance their art.
The program has a teacher-to-student ratio of 1:9, placing a strong emphasis on small class sizes to maximize students’ academic enrichment. Tuition for this program is $4,830; however, financial aid is available, with approximately 50% of program participants receiving some form of financial assistance to support their attendance. Lastly, as future college students, completing CSSSA earns you 3 college credits, which are transferable to any university within the CSU system.
A week in my life
While looking at my introductory pamphlet, I didn’t realize how busy I would be as a CSSSA student.
As a participant in the visual arts program, on Monday and Tuesday, I would have photography class from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, followed by painting class from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, I had figure drawing in the mornings, followed by painting in the afternoons. On Fridays and Saturdays, I had drawing classes in the mornings, with my afternoons free.
During class, we were assigned long-term projects to be completed outside of the classroom, and we had designated Open Studio time from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Monday through Thursday to complete our projects alongside TAs. I was assigned a personal heritage project for my painting class, where I was tasked with painting myself through animals, developing my pattern and texture skills with acrylic paint.
CSSSA places a strong emphasis on in-class learning, but also offers other enriching activities to enhance the program and keep students engaged. As a participant in the visual arts program, Monday and Friday evenings are designated as “Arts and Culture” nights, where outside artists and guest speakers present their artwork and share their artistic processes with students, expanding our knowledge and fostering a better understanding of what it takes to produce a compelling piece of art. I especially remember Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s presentation, in which she discussed her art process, from which I learned about a wide range of techniques she has practiced over time.
Although every day at CSSSA is action-packed, the program still allows students plenty of free time to enjoy the experience for more than just academics. From going to the pool, playing games in the cafe, or getting dessert with new friends, CSSSA offers academic enrichment as well as a community of like-minded peers, pushing you to be the best, most authentic, and artistic version of yourself. Furthermore, through the program’s purple blurb, students are encouraged to read daily updates and information regarding meals, shows, and team-building activities that make CSSSA feel like a community any artist would want to be a part of.
My honest opinion
Overall, my experience at CSSSA was extremely impactful, pushing me to grow not only as an artist but also as a student. When I first entered camp, I felt overwhelmed by the fact that I would be away from my parents for a month, but everything changed when I met my roommate Hane. This was both our first time away from home, and we were able to bond through this shared experience, eating meals, staying up late, and working on projects together for the entire program.
While in class, I initially felt scared that my art wouldn’t live up to my professors’ expectations, but everything changed after I attended my first lecture with Professor Velasco. He stressed the importance of focusing on our artistic process rather than the final product, instilling in me the drive necessary to take full advantage of CSSSA. As I continued pushing myself in class, I realized just how similar I was to my classmates through our shared passion for visual art. Students were attentive, maintaining eye contact with the teacher and always asking clarifying questions. I didn’t mind putting in extra work on my projects as the passion of my peers and professors energized me to put out my best work.
While CSSSA has been an amazing experience, there were a few things that could have used improvement. The number of bugs around campus was greater than I expected, and I wish I had packed more bug spray. Initially, upon inspecting the shower, I noticed that a part of the shower head was broken, which affected its water pressure. However, these are all minor critiques of this program, with these factors affecting my overall experience at CSSSA marginally.
Is CSSSA right for you?
Since completing my time at CSSSA, I would recommend this program to any California student interested in studying the arts or film in college. The ability for high schoolers to be taught by highly educated professionals, while earning college credit, already makes this program valuable. Furthermore, the academic environment is incredibly passionate, with your professors and peers pushing you to be the best artist you can be, which has grown my resilience and ability for creative thinking.
Certain teachers, like my painting professor, Mr. Richards, place a strong emphasis on detail work, spending many hours discussing topics such as color relativity, saturation, and swatches. However, my photography teacher, Mr. Velasco, takes a hands-off approach throughout the learning process, challenging students to experiment and learn from their mistakes. Both of these teaching philosophies are valuable to me as a young artist, as I seek to develop my technical artistic skills while also getting the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned and continue learning from my mistakes, furthering my understanding and skills as an artist.
CSSSA has personally pushed me past what I thought my artistic capabilities were. Under the guidance of accomplished professionals and motivated by my hardworking peers, I have not only pushed the boundaries of my artistic skills but also formed lasting friendships and relationships that will endure for years.
