"Garden of Dreams": WCAAD 2027 Class Art Show

The West California Academy of Art and Design (WCAAD) Senior Art Show "Garden of Dreams" opening ceremony was successfully held on October 18, 2026, showcasing selected works by 21 young artists on the verge of entering college.

“Today is a special day for another reason as well — it also marks our school's 30th anniversary. ” the WCAAD Principal Lei Wang said, “Three decades ago, our school began as a small seed planted in the soil of education. Thirty years later, we have not only seen generations of students flourish, but today, here in the Garden of Dreams, we see something new: a young generation lighting up the world through art.”

San Gabriel council member Denise Menchaca and Jorge Herrera Avila highly praised the significant influence of this art show.

“Thirty years is an incredible milestone for a school devoted to nurturing young artists.” Denise said, “Right here in San Gabriel, your institution has helped shape our community while inspiring generations of students to discover their creativity, build confidence, and carry their artistic vision into the world. That lasting impact is a powerful reflection of your mission and your success.”

“For three decades, WCAAD has remained committed to its founding mission: cultivating well-rounded creative talents.” Jorge said, “you have not only cultivated talent but also created a space where young people can express themselves, grow, and find their voice. The seeds you have planted over the past three decades continue to flourish in the lives of your students and throughout our community. “

According to Omar Gallegos, the WCAAD Vice Principal and Director of Education, the theme “Garden of Dreams” was chosen by the class 2027 and he believes it’s no coincidence of a theme that celebrated nature especially in the age of AI and advance technologies. “We can already see their true greatness and great ambition.” he said, “These works aren’t quiet but loud. A thunderous rebel yell on who they are and about their environment and society. A critical view and understanding of how their voices can have an impact though their visual language in all aspects and realms in our world and the future. ”

WCAAD art instructor Chuy Hartman said that the works on display today clearly reflected the solid art and design skills that students had acquired at this school with a thirty-year educational heritage. “These abilities not only allow them to present a mature and confident vision in the present, but also lay a firm foundation for their future advanced studies and professional development.”

Jenny You, the student representative, believed that the art becomes a poignant reflection of both the viewer and the artist, and a universal yet deeply personal language is shared. “Though the interpretation a viewer draws from a piece could be completely different from what the artist intended,” she said, “the beautiful fact is that every piece of art contains numerous and uncharted multitudes draws people together, forging connections and building community. It may be our shared experiences, our shared passions, or our shared dreams that brings us together, but it is ultimately the community that nurtures this garden of creativity and expression.” 

According to Lei, it means a great deal to hold this exhibition at this historical moment. “It is both a loving look back at thirty years of arts education and a declaration of what is to come — our students are standing on the shoulders of those thirty years, reaching toward a wider world.”

“Its no secret that some starting here as young seedlings and some even weeds.” Omar said, “But they all have blossomed and went beyond my expectations. I began hosting senior shows as a way creating an outlet for students year after year. I want them to understand the importance of their art practice and professionalism. We have a wide range of majors including non-art majors who can use this art form to bring a different perceptive and supplemental creative work in their applications and balance to their lives for enrichment.”

The 21 students (Stella Wang，Selena Chen，Cruella Yin，Jenny Tang，Wendy Xu，Aline Tran，Angela Liu，Qizhen Fu，Yoyo Ren，Nicole Gu，David Lee，Yina Lu，Dennis Li，Jenny You，Isaac Bian，Sophie Shao，Oliver Zhu，Grace Yang，Maggie Chen，Camille Cao，Alucard Gallegos) also shared their creative ideas and the stories behind their art creations.

Oliver: I painted a dreamlike pond. Different colors represent different emotions. The mixed colors and messy brushstrokes show the confusing feelings in life that are hard to control. The lotus flowers represent peace. Through this painting, I want to express how I try to find inner peace when life feels messy and confusing.

Grace: My painting is called “Farewell,” and it features the characters from the Chinese opera Farewell My Concubine. What interests me about Chinese opera is how much of the storytelling is visual. The costumes, makeup, and gestures are all part of how a character comes to life. In this painting I focused on those details, especially the patterns and colors of the costumes. The stage frames the two figures, with mountains and trees behind them as scenery. On the pillars, I wrote “入梦” and “入戏,” meaning entering a dream and becoming absorbed in a performance. These words connect to the way a story on stage can feel real both to the performers and to us watching.

Dennis: I'm a concept artist whose main focus in the future is entertainment design. My favorite piece is a character I designed called "Hughes," who plays a former police officer who suffers injustice in my story. The character's backstory incorporates my views on issues related to legal procedures.

Qizhen Fu :This residential hall sits just up the hill, right in front of a dining hall. The gym, study rooms, laundry, and activity rooms are located inside. Solar panels cover the roof, providing electrical support to the building. Numerous windows maintain natural light in each room. A pathway to the lower roof provides outside access to the building. This gives residents access to basic living needs inside the building during extreme weather conditions.

Cruella: As spiders grow, they molt and shedding their old exoskeletons to emerge stronger and in a new, larger form. The process of molting symbolizes how people overcome difficulties and grow through pain, eventually becoming stronger versions of themselves.

David: I'd like to introduce my most recent automotive design project, the Lotus Evant. The name follows Lotus' tradition of naming its vehicles with the letter E, reflecting the brand's heritage while introducing something new. With this design, I focused on creating a low, streamlined silhouette with smooth surfaces, aerodynamic elements, and a sense of motion even when the car is standing still. I drew much of my inspiration from hypercars competing in the World Endurance Championship, particularly their aggressive rear-end designs and aerodynamic proportions. My goal was to include racing-inspired elements in a street-legal supercar while maintaining Lotus' distinctive design philosophy. Throughout this project, I challenged myself to experiment with new forms and proportions while continuing to develop my own design language. Ultimately, the Lotus Evant is an exploration of how I can combine my love for motorsports with my own creative approach to automotive design.

Jenny Tang:This artwork is about teenage drug overdose. These behaviors should not be seen as just personal choices. They are serious problems that society should care about. For some teenagers, drug-induced hallucinations may become a way to escape reality. Teenagers’ mental health should not be ignored.

Angela: We often become stuck in the aesthetics of the past without fully understanding what made it so appealing. This artwork celebrates the impact that rock musicians have had on society. This piece displays an arrangement of rock stars from their respective eras; The 1960s Jimi Hendrix, 1970s Johnny Rotten, 1980s David Bowie, 1990s Kurt Cobain. Each had a distinct role in forming movements that criticized social injustices and political vices. More broadly, they represented the music revolution in the 60s to 90s. Their ability to write meaningul music deeply connected with and unified the youth of their time whether through political frustration, feelings of alienation, and desire for change. This, I believe truly made the Rock&Roll Era a unique and impactful time in humanity. Addressing the title of this piece, rock isn't dead so long as music continues to fuel change and passion.

Selena: My favorite piece of artwork in this Senior Art Show is probably the character design of Trabalis. For this design, I was presented with the opportunity to research about cultures from across Central Asia and the Middle East. I really enjoyed combining new cultures and ideas together while playing with different body variations. Besides that, I also had a fun time building the story and lore behind this character. I think what made me really treasure this design is the intricate details I created to enhance the personality and uniqueness of Trabalis. I had to create the Empire and environment he lives in from scratch, the way he lives, and how he interacts with the world. Writing all of these details really helped me understand my character better.

Wendy: After seeing many videos of animals being killed for their meat, fur, teeth, and other body parts, I began to think about the harm caused by human desires. I made a pangolin in the style of a dessert to show how some people treat animals as ordinary food or objects to satisfy their desires and follow trends. Through this contrast, I hope to encourage people to rethink the value of animal life and how humans treat animals.

Yoyo:生 THE CYCLE This installation explores the relationship between time, life, and feminine power. The three rotating circles represent the hour, minute, and second hands of a clock. Moving at different speeds, they symbolize the continuous flow of time and the cycle of life. The baby represents the beginning of life, while the floating spirits act as guardians between the physical and spiritual worlds. Through them, I express my respect for life and celebrate the power of women to create and nurture it. Pink and yellow create a warm and lively atmosphere, while the flowing fabric gives the installation a dreamlike and sacred feeling. 生 THE CYCLE is not only about time passing. It is about how time and life are connected – from birth, to growth, to continuation, and eventually, a new beginning.

Maggie: I want to talk about one of my favorite artworks, Swans in the Eye. The main idea of this painting is the balance between peace and chaos in our lives. In my painting, the white swan represents peace, and the black swan represents chaos. I think everyone experiences both in their life. Sometimes, everything feels peaceful, but sometimes, things get messy and stressful. I believe both are normal parts of life, and we can’t always have one without the other. Around the main lake, there are also smaller lakes with flesh and organs inside them. They represent birth and growth. I wanted to show that growing up is not always easy or beautiful. Sometimes, we have to go through difficult things to change and grow as a person. I think that’s what makes life interesting. We experience good things and bad things, and they both become part of who we are. For me, finding balance doesn’t mean having a perfect life. It means learning to accept both the peaceful and chaotic parts of life. That’s what I wanted to express through this painting.

Isaac: I captured these images of a quiet neighborhood in Tokyo during a trip to Japan. I wasn't looking for anything specific, but the elements of that afternoon just lined up perfectly. Looking back, these photos mean so much to me because it was the exact moment I realized how much potential there is in simply paying attention to the atmosphere around me. There are many things we skip over in our daily lives, and looking just a little bit closer can change our entire perspective on a scene.

Jenny You: Out of my artwork, this piece Bottom-Feeders is the most meaningful to me, largely because of the work I do in marine biology research, focusing on cleaning ocean pollution. I work with sustainable development and bioremediation, and a huge system impacted are coasts, waterways, and rivers where wildlife like catfish reside. There's a misconception that catfish are natural filters and cleaners that help with breaking down waste, but they actually suffer the most due to human pollution. I think this is reflected in many other aspects of wildlife-urban relationships: issues are being ignored because the animals impacted are "not worth" human conservation efforts. I chose to represent my advocacy through this catfish sculpture made almost entirely out of recycled materials. The base is constructed using old cardboard, and I made paper-mache clay out of my old homework assignments to add dimension. Fabric, yarn and beads are all harvested off of old donated jewellery and reusedm. Arranged so that the catfish is vomiting the mess representing contamination, I am speaking out against the pollution and human waste that goes into water ecosystems, killing wildlife and corrupting their habitats.

Aline: I often imagine a world where people communicate through their minds rather than their bodies. In this piece, I combine human anatomy with plants. One side focuses on skeletal structures, while the other explores muscles. Plants fascinate me because they have no words, yet they express themselves through growth. Similarly, I believe our minds allow us to communicate, while our bodies allow us to experience the world.

Sophie:My piece, Addiction, explores the obsession of always wanting more, even after getting what you originally wanted. The idea actually originated from a meme I saw, which was something titled my next piercing, like an "I'm gonna kill myself" kind of joke. I had intended to portray the addiction of piercing initially, but that eventually connected with the theme of how humans, no matter what, will always seek for more.

Camille:Self-exploration is a lifelong task for every individual. Forming connections with the people around us gradually creates an even deeper bond with the each other. These are abilities unique to humans — and I believe that's exactly why only humans can create "art." I consider this ability the most precious thing, so my work tends to revolve around self-reflection and human emotion and the relationship between us.

Alucard: My line of zombie characters originated from an old fear of mine when I was younger that bloomed into a fun fascination of personal research for me. When creating "Type-Uranium" I wanted to fuse ideas around radiation to conceptualize and design a new form of zombies. Creating them was a fun process that really merged my imagination and knowledge together.

Stella:This piece resembles a piece of my identity. Vulnerability is something I've discovered within my personality when it comes to craving human connections and friendships. The vulnerable part of me that I show to others unintentionally others from my empathetic roots. The clear acrylic board and blue shades resembles my transparency as I talk about myself and to others.

Yina:My artwork represents pollution and its impact on nature. The hourglass symbolizes time running out to save our planet. Growing up surrounded by nature has made me appreciate how much our surroundings shape our lives and why it's important to preserve them. My message is that we need to act now before it's too late.

Nicole :My artwork is meant to represent how people change their personalities to better fit into established groups. Molding them into something new and becoming a different version of themselves. The star is stretched by my own hands showing my tendency to change the way I act based on the people I am around. Sculpting a new version of myself while labeling it as self improvement.

These students are in the middle of a crucial season — college applications — and yet their work here shows a maturity and technical strength beyond their years. Every piece in this room carries their exploration, their breakthroughs, and their own distinct perspective and creative energy.

According to Principal Lei, applying to college is, at its core, a long season of cultivation. Over their high school years, students accumulate knowledge, explore their interests, and hone their portfolios—much like planting seeds and waiting in a garden to bloom.

“Like the theme of this exhibition, their dreams begin here.” Lei said that thirty years of education is itself a long act of planting and tending, “This is their dream garden. Learning art is like planting seeds — you water them, you feed them, you give them time and care, and then you wait for them to bloom.”

The parents thanked the Academy for cultivating such a fertile ground for their children’s artistic growth.

As students present their works throughout their years of study, the Academy welcomes the public to purchase the works and prints to support these young artists’ creative journeys as they transition from high school, to college, and beyond.