Take time to view La Verne artist Stephen Rybacki's art at the Celebration of the Arts, April 30-May 1.
La Verne’s upcoming “Celebration of the Arts” at the Church of the Brethren, April 30-May 1, has brought together beginner and experienced artists to show their work to the community. Among the talented featured artists is 25-year-old Cal Poly Pomona graduate, Stephen Rybacki.
Rybacki was raised in Rancho Cucamonga, but currently lives in La Verne. Having graduated from Damien High School, the young artist is no stranger to La Verne’s artistic community. His passion for the arts started when he was a child and continued to grow at Cal Poly Pomona, from which he graduated with a bachelor of fine arts degree in 2009.
“I feel I have always been self-motivated with art,” Rybacki said. “In high school I didn’t have many art resources; I spent my junior and senior years working in a room alone. The silence taught me to focus on my work, and without anybody over my shoulder I had to figure things out on own. Since then I have always been creating works outside of school.”
That determination and independence will be on vivid display at the Celebration of the Arts, where Rybacki will showcase some of his latest work. For this exhibit, Rybacki’s work takes on a timely and timeless quality. He abandons pencil, paintbrush and the traditional canvas for the face of clocks and other home décor.
Stephen Rybacki wants you to enjoy your time at the Celebration of the Arts hosted by the Church of the Brethren in La Verne.
Rybacki has one prominent goal for his audience. “I want my viewers to be captured by the beauty in the work,” the artist said. “I know the subject is beautiful and usually emotional, but my subjects mostly come from actual sculptures and works of art from famous artists. It is also the media that I manipulate that I hope captures the viewers. I wish for the medium to give a beautiful feeling; shown through the colors, lines, and actual texture.”
Rybacki’s latest work has consisted of “creating and manipulating” the surfaces of clocks. “I would love to make 50 plus of my clocks for collectors to buy and enjoy in their home,” he said. “For now I have about 20.”
Only TIME will tell how successful this prominent young artist will become!
By Riley Hennessy, a Bonita High School senior who plans on majoring in communications in college.