Only after the urging of her professor, Kimberley Esslinger entered her short mixed-media video into the 22nd Annual California State University Media Arts Festival (MAF). She earned fourth place in the experimental category. “I wasn't even going to enter this project because it really didn't fit in any category. I thought it was just a throw away,” Esslinger said of her 1:16 minute video “Noble Truth 2,” which she did on the Buddhist second noble truth–desire, for a digital graphics class (ART 346) taught by assistant professor, art and design Elli Zenhari last spring. “I was so surprised when I saw that I was a finalist. I felt really super honored because it wasn't just for our class, ... Read More
College of Arts and Humanities
Day of the Dead: A Lively Celebration
An altar adorned with papel piccado (festive cut tissue paper) sits strewn with candles, edible calaveras de azúcar (sugar skulls), fishing rods and lures, potato chips, hard liquor, and a pack of cigarettes. But fishermen haven't snuck into church for late night fun. This altar, or ofrenda, was constructed at California State University, Dominguez Hills for Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in honor of the late Rodney King. In years past, alumna and former staff member Victoria Almeida (Class of '92, B.A., fine art) has made private tributes to loved ones, but she constructed this ofrenda as part of a “Day of the Dead Altars” exhibit being displayed concurrently with the national ... Read More
University Hosts Third Annual Pan African Global Trade and Investment Conference
International business leaders from several African nations along with faculty experts from California State University, Dominguez Hills and other institutions met during the third annual Pan African Global Trade and Investment Conference held at the university on Oct. 18 and 19. The conference was designed to establish a U.S.-based public/private coalition that serves to develop and implement policies and strategies for bilateral economic development between the U.S., the African continent, and the African Diaspora. Munashe Furusa, executive director of the California African American Political and Economic Institute (CAAPEI) and acting dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at CSU ... Read More
Salim Faraji: Book Reveals the Roots of Nubian Christianity
Salim Faraji has been on a 25-year quest for answers to a transformation that took place more than 1,500 years ago. His findings led him to author the book “The Roots of Nubian Christianity Uncovered: The Triumph of the Last Pharaoh” (African World Press: Trenton and London, 2012). In it, Faraji, associate professor and chair of Africana studies at California State University, Dominguez Hills, explores the influence that a 5th century Nubian pharaoh had on ancient Nubian culture and its conversion to Christianity. “This king, Silko, is pivotal. He is like Constantine was in the Roman Empire. Constantine is really the emperor who makes Christianity the legitimate religion in the Roman ... Read More
Life and Art a Work-In-Progress for Alumna Jeanne Allen
Artist, retired teacher, and California State University, Dominguez Hills alumna Jeanne Anderson Allen (Class of '82, M.A., humanities) has always found a way to keep following her passions. One of those ways, which led her to CSU Dominguez Hills, was putting a slew of extra units to use – in the form of a master's degree. “As a teacher, you're always going to class to get something that's required here or there. So, I added up all these units I had and I thought I should utilize this and make it into something that's worthwhile for me,” recalled Allen. “I thought the humanities program at Dominguez would be ideal because I like literature, art, music, religion and history. The ... Read More