MEET THE ARTISTS

DESIGN A BACKPACK

Working for Herschel Supply, Jon was Creative Director for Vans for 12 years and helped define the direction of the brand, with the responsibility of Vault, Syndicate, California Collection, and Classics in both men, women, and kids all falling under his responsibility. Most importantly I am the husband of Anika Wijenayake and father Rebel Warren, who keep me on my toes and continue to inspire my creativity.

SCREEN PRINTING

What's up I'm Evan Smith! I am an upcoming junior at Otis College of Art and Design. I make furniture, design clothes, love to screen print, sew, and getting hands on with many aspects of art. I have recently worked with Deathwish Skateboards and am pursuing a career in Industrial Design.

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GRAPHIC DESIGN

Amie is a freelance graphic designer and illustrator with over 20 years of experience in the marketing industry. Her clientele ranges from large global corporations to small beachside boutiques. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from California State University, Long Beach, Amie entered her career in the digital arts. She has worked on many projects over the years which include advertising campaigns, logos, social media ads, invitations, websites, packaging design, large signage, book covers and more. In addition, she occasionally works as a commissioned painter. Amie is truly grateful everyday that she gets to call her lifelong passion and hobby of creating art a “job”. Currently, Amie resides in P.V. with her husband and two daughters who are both Dapplegray graduates.

FASHION DESIGN

Juan was born and raised in Puerto Rico in 1964. He got his BFA in Illustration at Pratt Institute, in New York. Then he worked for many years at Seventeen Magazine, focusing his sketching and graphics within the fashion and beauty industries.

Once In Los Angeles, he has pre visualized commercials, television, costumes and music videos, having his drawings and storyboards serve as concept art for numerous famous campaigns for around the world, such as for L’OREAL.

Juan has resided in the South Bay of Los Angeles since 1995 as a sketch artist, and presently teaches at the Fashion Institute, as well as with Parker Anderson, with elementary school’s fashion art and design programs.

He is currently developing his own collection, books and inventions, and is available for live fashion sketch portraits at private parties, as well as custom surfboard and skateboard fashion sketch designs.

SURFBOARD SHAPING

Whether in the classroom or out in the waves, Chris Pekich brings passion, dedication, and creativity to everything he does. Now in his third year at Palos Verdes High School, Chris serves as the ceramics teacher, surfboard shaping instructor, and head coach of the PVHS Surf Team. Known for his supportive, hands-on approach, Chris has made a lasting impact on countless Sea Kings. With a deep connection to both the ocean and the arts, Chris Pekich continues to shape the lives of young creatives and athletes alike—one wave and one piece of clay at a time.

MARTIAL ARTS

Master Brent is the owner and instructor at American Legacy Karate Academy located in the Promenade on the Peninsula. He has been teaching martial arts in the South Bay for over 20 years. American Legacy Karate focuses on teaching practical and safe self defense based martial arts. The schools curriculum is designed to help deal with bullying and the character and discipline needed to know how to assert oneself.

DANCE

Choreo Company is the highest level of technical dance offered at PVPHS. They train in jazz, contemporary and hip hop and perform at a variety of venues. Choreo Company performs at pep rallies, Homecoming, produces a full-scale concert called Momentum in April, and The Last Chance To Dance Showcase at the end of the year. In addition to performing, students have an opportunity to explore their own self expression and do their own choreography.

CHEER

ACTING

Ranjiv has been teaching the Meisner Acting Technique since 2013 at the Sanford MeisnerCenter in Burbank. He also worked with child actors at Weist Barron Hill acting school from 2008 until 2014. Apart from teaching acting, Ranjiv also works in casting under Lisa Essary, specializing in independent horror and thriller films.

COMEDY SPORTZ

Dash Tyler (co-captain)

Gavin Kresser (co-captain)

Rachel McGinty (manager)

ACTING

Ansley Rowell is an actress and comedian who got her start in improv in Second City Hollywoods youth program where she was a member of their teen ensemble, “Detention Hall”. In LA she also trained with UCB and ComedySportz. She moved to Chicago to attend Columbia College Chicago, where she got a degree in Comedy Writing and Performance. After graduating, she moved to Melbourne, Australia where she spent a year teaching and performing sketch and improv. Now, she’s back in Chicago where you can see her performing at theaters across the city!

BROADCAST JOUNALISM

MOVIE MAGIC

AN ADVENTURE THROUGH ROCK!

Juan Croucier is a professional musician / singer-songwriter / solo artist.  He is best known for his work with the multi-platinum selling band RATT.  He has sold over twenty-million records throughout his career and toured the world extensively.  He is also a long-time record producer / engineer, recording numerous bands from his studio known as The Cellar.

MAKING THE BAND

Ryan Gonzalez is a professional music teacher in Southern California for over 15 years. His Company, South Bay Mobile Music was started in 2009 to provide music programs for schools that lacked the budget to hire a full time music teacher. In those 10 years he has earned an extensive client list including annual contracts with LAUSD, PVUSD, TUSD, City contracts with Redondo Beach, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, and Torrance as well as private school contracts with the Los Angeles Arch Diocese, Chabad of the South Bay and several private schools. 

Ryan also has a packed weekly schedule of private students both online and in home. His classes have an attendance of around 600 students per week across several age groups. 

A professional musician with over 25 years of performing and recording credits to his name, he has also been featured on 7 studio releases, 3 video game soundtracks for Sony Playstation as well several thousand hours of live performances. Ryan resides in Huntington Beach with his wife, Mikaela, son Jack and their daughter Dahlia. 

DRUM CIRCLE

CHILDREN’S BOOK AUTHOR

Celinda (CC) Rechsteiner, born with a physical disability (Cerebral Palsy), has experienced rejection due to being different. She also has experienced being accepted by others once they understand that her disability is no big deal and she is just like them. Therefore, through her story “Apollo With His Friends In Colorland,” she wants to share both of her experiences with young children - that is, how everyone is special the way they are. Despite CC’s experience of rejection, she has a great group of friends, graduated from a University with a BA degree and from Trinity Law School, ran the L. A. marathon and the Disney one-half marathon, is a Deaconess at her Church, and works for the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Apollo’s website:

www.ccrechsteiner.com

JOURNALISM

COOKIE DECORATING

Trish makes the cutest cookies and wants to teach you how!