Por Jocelyn Maggard | Reportero SDUN

At this years University Heights (UH) Arts Open, art and science teacher Jason Rogalski set up a three dimensional whale art project that his kindergarten through high school students have been working on for a year. The skeleton of the whale was erected like a tent and covered with painter’s drop cloths that the students have painted and written poetry and stories onto.

The whale is large enough for an adult to stand inside of, and took three hours to set up. Rogalski provided coloring sheets for kids to color and post inside the whale.

This was just one of the exhibits found at the Sixth Annual UH Arts Open, held Sept. 18, along with the Taste of University Heights.

“We wanted to exhibit our whale at the UH Arts Open because this is our neighborhood. We are located just up the road, near El Cajon Boulevard and College Avenue. Our students enjoy participating in their community events…” he said of the Julian Charter School’s Talmadge location.

The UH Community Development Corporation and University Heights Arts Association-hosted UH Arts Open was free and allowed guests to go on self-guided tours that featured 55 pieces of visual artwork from artists all around the region.

Local artists set up canopies to create an outdoor market atmosphere on the lawn in front of the Historic Teachers Building Annex, selling everything from photography to tie-dye to art supplies.

Music and dance performances ran throughout the day with Flamenco, ambient meditative music and belly dancing.

University Heights residents Steve Hurbert and Robert Bracz said they enjoyed the Taste of University Heights along with their friends John and Michele Schumate.

Hurbert, Bracz and John Schumate, said they consider themselves foodies, but that Michele can eat the most out of the four of them despite being the smallest. She and her group had plenty of choices to fill up on, as 20 dining establishments offered samples from their menu.

The group said the most unusual sampling was the pomegranate soup from Soltan Banoo, a Persian restaurant on Park Boulevard.

Besides the food, Hurbert added, “It’s cool to talk to the owners and see all of the neighbors.”

Around 3:15 Eclipse Chocolat on El Cajon Boulevard had a line almost out the door to get in one last sample as the event was set to end at 3 p.m.

Adriana Rodriguez was at Eclipse finishing her bite of apple cinnamon stuffed French toast, which would be her last tasting of the day. “I made it to almost all of the places and it wasn’t as overwhelming as I thought,” she said, adding that it was worth the $20 ticket price.

Brad Gardner came out from East County to participate. Gardner says he is a food snob with exotic tastes. “It’s great to go around and try a little something of everything thing and not sit in one spot.”

Gardner even admitted that he enjoyed the stewed beef at Musita Bistro and Luau Pork at World Spa Resorts even though he isn’t much of a meat eater.

General Manager of Musita Bistro, Michael Lunsford, emphasized the community significance of the event. “We want to support and be visible in the community. Everyone is connected and we want [neighboring businesses] to do well,” he said, adding. “You can also eat food from around the world on one street [Park Boulevard].”