Coastline Pays Tribute to Retired Art Professor

One of the founding members of Coastline Community College’s visual art department was honored for his contributions during Friday's “Collective Knowledge” reception at Coastline’s Art Gallery. 

Supporters, including college Dean Ted Boehler and Vinicio Lopez, gathered to watch Jay Sagen receive an honorary professor emeritus of visual arts award and a painting from artist Tom Dowling.

Sagen retired in January after 34 years of teaching and 17 years as Coastline Art Gallery’s first curator. His interest in art developed in the 1960s while serving in the U.S. Army, where he took military-sponsored classes on base.

From there, Sagen received his bachelor’s degree in 1972 from San Francisco Art Institute and in 1975, his master’s in fine arts from UC Irvine. He joined Coastline shortly as an instructor and has since been recognized several times for his efforts as an instructor, a curator, program chair, and mostly, as an inspiration to the community. 

“Jay has been vital to the department,” Coastline art professor Jane Bauman said. “This is one of the most innovative college galleries here in Orange County because of the well-known artists he often brought here.”

For Sagen, his decision to retire does not mean leaving the world of art, nor is he far away from Coastline. He shared that he is currently taking a life drawing class from Bauman and is still trying to rediscover himself through experimenting with different styles.

“It’s time to move on, but I'll always be doing art,” he said.

The exhibit features Sagen’s recently completed piece, “Augmented Theme,” along with 27 collective works of various mediums submitted by faculty members from Coastline, Golden West and Orange Coast colleges.

“Collective Knowledge” will be on display until April 23 at Coastline’s Art Gallery, 10156 Adams Ave., Huntington Beach. Gallery hours are Thursday to Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 714- 963-8475.