Burbank Adult School showed off 10 new large photos celebrating the diverse programs the school offers at an Open House held on Wednesday, January 29. BUSD staff and administrators, students and community partners gathered to toast the unveiling of the artwork, which was made possible by generous donations from local businesses, Coloredge and Outwater Productions.
“For many years now, the main hallway has been in dire need of a makeover—or as some have said, an ‘extreme’ makeover. Since I began at BAS several years ago, I’ve heard many times from students and other visitors to the site that although the main hallway is clean and orderly, it feels a little on the cold side,” Principal Joseph Stark said at the ceremony. He mentioned an interaction with community member and retired advertising creative director Bob Matsumoto which then jump-started the project for brightening up the school’s interior.
Matsumoto, who has worked with BAS in the past on advertising and marketing efforts, and BAS Art Center photography instructor Rob Outwater collaborated with Stark on the six-month project, a series of 10 photographs and new signage in the main hallway of BAS. Matsumoto brought David Luckenbill, a senior account executive at Coloredge, on board. Coloredge, a leading creative production agency in the world of visual communications, then donated the prints to the makeover project.
“Each photo is meant to capture the essence of the various programs we offer in a way that is immediately compelling and inspiring,” added Stark.
Mayor Emily Gabel-Luddy, City Council Member Jess Talamantes and BUSD Board of Education member Ted Bunch attended the event, along with BUSD Superintendent Dr. Jan Britz, Director of Elementary Education Dr. Tom Kissinger, Director of Secondary Education Emilio Urioste and Director of Human Resources Anita Schackmann.
“Thanks to the efforts of many people, but primarily Mr. Bob Matsumoto, this project is available for anyone that would like to visit the Adult School,” commented Bunch. “It was an outstanding event to introduce a project that adds beauty to the school.”
“Burbank Adult School is fortunate to have an innovative and creative principal who can envision how to make a cavernous hallway come alive for our students through art,” Britz said about Stark’s work at BAS. “He creates partnerships with local community colleges and businesses to keep academic programs updated and prepare students for career pathways.”
“On behalf of all the staff and students at Burbank Adult School, I want to express my sincere appreciation to Bob Matsumoto, Rob Outwater, Kathy Lencki and David Luckenbill, for the extreme generosity of your time, talent and resources in making this project a reality,” added Stark. “We are eternally grateful and look forward to enjoying our new hallway area for many years to come. I think that this is precisely the kind of giving that makes Burbank a special place. In BUSD we are truly so fortunate to receive such tremendous support from the local business community.”
BAS serves nearly 6000 members of the Burbank community and BUSD, providing programs for adult students’ needs and interests, including Career and Technical Education (CTE), Adult Basic and Secondary Education, Parent Education, English as a Second Language (ESL) and personal enrichment classes. Students of varied backgrounds and interests find BAS an important and affordable resource for personal and career growth. BAS partners with the City of Burbank, local educational and social service providers and hometown businesses to provide classes and programs. BAS is open to all adult students in the area, not just Burbank residents.
