WINNING ARTIST—Christopher Lopez, a fashion design student at the Art Institute in San Bernardino holds the gold (ADDY) advertising award he won for his fashion illustrations in the Inland Empire competition earlier this year. On June 13, he won a silver ADDY at the national convention in Las Vegas, becoming the first fashion design student to ever win a national award at the American Advertising Federation competition. The artistic designs are from his award winning HAUS of Wonderland-A Fairy Tale Couture collection of fashion illustrations. Photos by Robert Swapp Photography.
Christopher Lopez, a junior at the Art Institute wins a Silver ADDY, the first national award by a fashion design student from the Inland Empire
(San Bernardino, CA) A local college student has made history for being the first fashion design student from the Inland Empire to ever win a Silver Award in national competition sponsored by the American Advertising Federation.
Christopher Lopez, 28, of Moreno Valley won a Silver ADDY award in the student competition at the 2015 National American Advertising Federation Conference at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 13.
Lopez is a third year student in the bachelor of arts program in fashion design at the Art Institute of California-Inland Empire campus in San Bernardino.
His creation, HAUS of Wonderland—A c Tale Couture, earned the award for excellence in the Illustration Campaign category. To advance to the national level, Lopez needed to win at two levels of competition. He first won a gold ADDY in local Inland Empire competition, then a silver award at the district level earlier this year.
The American Advertising Awards (formerly ADDY’s) recognize excellence in professional and student artistic work in a three-tier system, starting in the Inland Empire and advancing to district and national competition. Over 40,000 submissions are received for judging every year at the national level in a variety of categories.
“This is a very prestigious award,” said Su Pak, president of the local chapter of the American Advertising Federation. “It’s the first time a fashion design student from the Inland Empire has advanced to win a silver award at the national level. This is a remarkable achievement and we are very proud of Chris!”
As a student artist, Lopez has a passion for design. “I always like to tell a story with each of my pieces. I want my audience to get drawn into a wonderland-like state when exploring each piece with my designs, and great attention to detail, and that’s exactly what I delivered with this fashionably adventurous collection.”
HAUS of Wonderland-A Fairy Tale Couture is a fashion illustration collection that Lopez says was inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and present day couture fashion.
His collection features four highly stylized sketches that are designed for a couture runway show or costumes for a film, play or musical. “Each piece is based on four characters from the story, featuring the adventurous Alice, the elaborate yet villainous Queen of Hearts and trouble making duo, the Tweedle Twins, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.”
After graduation from the Art Institute in 2016, Lopez wants be a costume designer for film, TV and the entertainment business. “I love telling stories and making them come to life with my designs. I love working with themes and concepts. I’m an artist at heart and my family says it’s in my blood.” At the Art Institute, career service advisors assist students with job placement as they near graduation.
Lopez is from Los Angeles and grew up in Arcadia where he developed his artistic passion for fashion illustration in high school. Later, he chose the Art Institute in San Bernardino because it was closer to his new home in Moreno Valley and offered everything he wanted to reach his career goals.
What’s his best advice for young aspiring artists? “Achieving this award truly made my Wonderland become a reality,” said Lopez. “Make your Wonderland become a reality by working hard and having true passion for your art and craft.”
For more information contact: John Barry, public relations, AAF-Inland Empire, jpbarry05@yahoo.com (714)457-2279 or visit www.aaf-inlandempire.com to learn more about coming events.
NEW AD CLUB BOARD: Top left to right: John Barry, Peter Mobley, John McCarthy, David Tercero, Susan Anderson, Kristine Elledge, Jon Burgess. BOTTOM, Left to right: Paul Lane, Bobbi Albano, Lacey Kendall, Julie Wright, Su Pak.
Contact: John Barry, AAF public relations jpbarry05@yahoo.com
(San Bernardino, CA) The Inland Empire advertising club has announced the new board of directors for 2013-2014.
Incoming president of the American Advertising Federation is Lacey Kendall of North Rialto, a broadcast consultant and radio advisor at Cal State San Bernardino. She manages Coyote Radio, the university radio station where she mentors over 140 undergraduate students who are studying broadcasting and media. Kendall has been a broadcaster and on-air host on several local FM stations, including KCAL and KGGI. She recently hosted the board’s strategic planning retreat to plan for the coming year.
Continuing as board treasurer, Bobbi Albano of North Rialto is a contract analyst with First 5 San Bernardino, a leading funder of support programs for children under five in the Inland Empire. Albano also produces IE Community, a radio show on KVCR. She is a script writer for ISLA Earth, produced by the Catalina Island Conservancy at Cal State San Bernardino.
Joining the board as secretary is David Tercero, a career services advisor for students in the school of design at Westwood College in Upland. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and helps Westwood graduates find jobs in their career fields after graduation.
Jacob Poore from Corona will advise the board as the immediate past president. He manages Coyote Advertising at Cal State San Bernardino and returns this year to host the Art Bash, an annual AAF art gallery fundraiser for local artists.
New board members at large are membership chair Peter Mobley, president of Mobley Marketing Group. He is also an active board member in the PickGroup of Young Professionals in Riverside. Susan Anderson, sales manager at Viamedia in Temecula will coordinate social media & communications. She is a web design instructor at the Art Institute of California, San Bernardino where she is the advisor for student career portfolio projects.
Also new to the board is Paul Lane, a local morning radio host and bureau chief for NBC News Radio, KCAA AM1050 in San Bernardino. He will help with outreach to the radio community in the Inland Empire and work on the American Advertising Awards gala.
Returning to the AAF board as co-chair of the American Advertising Awards competition is past club president John McCarthy of Upland. He is director of marketing at iHerb, a worldwide nutritional supplement company in Moreno Valley and is the incoming secretary of District 15 which includes all AAF clubs in Southern California and Southern Nevada. McCarthy will continue to be involved with finding speakers and scheduling monthly advertising events for the local chapter.
Jon Burgess, Vice President of Internet Operations at Red Fusion Media in Redlands returns to advise the board as past president. Burgess was recently elected District Governor of District 15 where he advises all AAF chapters in the district.
Julie Wright is stepping down after five years as secretary but the Wrightwood resident will remain on the board and assist with monthly luncheons and fundraisers. Su Pak of Los Angeles also returns, stepping up to assist McCarthy as co-chair of the American Advertising Awards. Pak is the founder of IEShineOn.com, an online search engine for travel and entertainment in the Inland Empire. John Barry of Newport Beach continues as public relations chair for the AAF.
New board interns are Anahi (Ana) Contreras, a student at Cal State San Bernardino and recent graduate Kristine Elledge, marketing coordinator and graphic designer at W.F. Taylor Company, Inc. in Fontana.
The local AAF chapter represents the advertising industry in the Inland Empire and annually sponsors the American Advertising Awards (previously called the ADDY’s) for the best advertising in the region. The club also awards academic scholarships to local advertising students. Each month the chapter sponsors a luncheon speaker who addresses issues and trends in advertising. Luncheons are open to the public. For more information about membership, visit www.aaf-inlandempire.com
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PHOTO CAPTION
NEW AD CLUB BOARD: Top left to right: John Barry, Peter Mobley, John McCarthy, David Tercero, Susan Anderson, Kristine Elledge, Jon Burgess. BOTTOM, Left to right: Paul Lane, Bobbi Albano, Lacey Kendall, Julie Wright, Su Pak.
