Big Heart for Art
It started as a drive-by epiphany. Fullerton School District’s arts coordinator Lauralyn Eschner ’92 (M.A. educational administration) was cruising by artist Katherine England’s home when she was struck by the beauty of a large front-yard heart sculpture.
“Her heart hit me like a lightning bolt,” Eschner recalled.
Wouldn’t it be great, she thought, if artists created giant hearts that could be displayed all over town and, then, auctioned off, with the proceeds benefiting the school district’s arts programs?
The idea was greeted with great enthusiasm by the All the Arts for All the Kids Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the district’s arts education. And, All the Hearts for All the Kids was born.
“Everyone loves the message a giant heart sends,” said Eschner, the foundation board’s president.
With sponsors and artists on board, the work began on 20 5-foot-tall-by-4-foot wide hearts. The artists include England; CSUF alumni Marsha Judd ’82 (B.A. art); Jose Lozano ’83, ’85 (B.A. art, M.A. art-drawing and painting); Steve Metzger ’81, ’83, ’86 (B.A. art, M.A. art-drawing and painting, M.F.A.); and faculty members Don Lagerberg and Melanie Vogel. The hearts are on display all over downtown Fullerton.
On Oct. 30, they will be auctioned off at the foundation’s annual Artists’ Pin Auction and online http://www.allthearts.org/.
“We’re hoping to raise enough money to keep all of Fullerton School District’s arts education programs intact,” Eschner said. “With these extremely difficult budgetary times, the foundation is working tirelessly to ensure that not one child will be without an outstanding arts education. Creativity is the key to our children’s success. All the world’s great accomplishments stem from it.”
England calls Eschner an arts saint.
“It takes a saint to keep making happen what she makes happen,” England said. “Every time there are budget cuts, the arts are the first to go, but Lauralyn does a mostly thankless job keeping the program in the schools. She knows the importance of art in our lives. It allows you to be creative and have a space where you’re not wrong or right. It’s empowering.”
For more information about All the Hearts for All The Kids, call 714-447-7484
or visit www.allthearts.org. 
