RJ's Escondido Walk
By: Ryan Alegre
Hi creĀRTus supporters!
Here I am impacting the culture for Christ!
I have grown and evolved as a media artist since stepping out of the box of just being a comic artist. Walking as a graduate during the John Paul (JP) Catholic University Commencement Ceremony of 2026, is a milestone for me as an artist and as a whole person. Being in the spectrum (autism spectrum disorder-ASD), a degree in Communications Media and working with creĀRTus as a resident artist, I am gratefully blessed; though it comes with huge responsibilities. It is my hopeful prayer that this article will inspire others, especially those with a disability to do it, and not be afraid to build milestones too.
So here is my journal of the 2026 John Paul Catholic University Commencement Ceremony graduation events from August 26 to the 29th, that I journeyed with my brother, Jayden:
First off, as we didn't have a car, our mode of transportation was the great American railroad—TRAINS! So aboard the Metrolink (Orange to Oceanside) and Sprinter (Oceanside to San Marcos) with luggage and backpacks on August 25, a Tuesday afternoon, finishing with a 20-minute walk to our hotel. I learned again that public transportation definitely works since I don’t drive.
August 26, Wednesday was graduation rehearsal at the Ritz Grand Theater. So good thinking from Jayden, taking the Lift, though $5 more than the Sprinter, saved us time from walking and was more convenient. We then went straight to JP Student Life Center to hold our luggage, and walked to Ritz for the 9 AM rehearsal. After rehearsal, we attended campus Mass then back to the Sprinter to Oceanside, and checked in at Club Wyndham Oceanside Pier Resort, huge thanks to our parents!
Thursday, August 27, was personally a homage walk through Escondido, since I felt like I was walking through the city as maybe my last time, but my mom reminded me that it doesn’t have to be. Here is an account of my day…
I took the Sprinter from Oceanside to Escondido with my heart and mind focused on making this day as an art viewing and critic day, putting to use skills I learned at JP. First on my list were JP’s Student Art Showcases, in particular, Aaron Cantu’s science fantasy project “Dragonborn.” I am inspired by Aaron’s work from a standpoint of being a comic book/graphic novel artist.
Then it was time for the 11AM Campus Mass. I shifted my thoughts to the passing away of Peter Cullen, a veteran voice actor, to characters such as Optimus Prime and Eeyore from the beloved Winnie the Pooh series. I asked Father Dominic to offer a prayer intention for Cullen’s soul in Holy Mass:
Continuing my art gallery journey, I handed out creĀRTus’ business cards to two art galleries:
https://news.tfw2005.com/2026/08/27/peter-cullen-has-died-572700
https://people.com/peter-cullen-cause-of-death-revealed-12079109
Interestingly, I met August Williams, a staff at the Distinction Gallery, who shared with me that he is also in the Spectrum (Autism) while we discussed creĀRTus. August also shared an art project among kids and teens in the spectrum that is perfect for creARTus, and offered to discuss it with Melisss Walker, the gallery owner. I have to say that this may be my very first direct marketing interaction —it felt very empowering and productive. After handing business cards at Escondido Arts Partnership, it was off to the Sprinter station and back to Oceanside.
Here are my takes on a few chosen art works from the JP Student Art Showcase:
Waterfall was from my colleague, Bessy Fuentes, and since she was there, I complimented her art piece saying, “I really love waterfalls.”
Sorry, but I forgot the artist for the fantasy volcano castle; I enjoy this art mainly because of its dramatic energy, visual storytelling, and answering the question, of what’s going on: Is the knight on his way to rescue someone from the castle or does the castle actually belong to the knight who has an extreme lifestyle? Altogether, I love artistic landscapes and visual storytelling, it’s common in my art work too.
These are some of Aaron Cantu’s art pieces, which I think emphasizes great visual storytelling.
I am a Star Wars fan and its character designs and worldbuilding are my thing. These two art pieces have excellent costume design, especially the look of the female character’s poncho-split cape; and as for Anakin, the dynamic silhouette—cape motion and hair movement makes it very intriguing.
As I left JP and visited the galleries in Escondido, these two art pieces from the Escondido Arts Partnership were most interesting because of its polynesian tattoo like patterns and the use of metal pole— the artificial wired “moss” and “plants” gives me major Bionicle (LEGO) vibes.
Then on Friday, August 28 were the big senior events:
Jayden watched the stage production Seussical the Musical!
While I hung out at the Student Life Center and made a drawing of myself as a Yautja (Predator), whom I named Rynn.
Then Jayden and I got dressed for the Senior Project Screening. An hour before the screening, we met up with two colleagues, Gabriele and Dominic. We discussed creĀRTus and Dominic then showed us a creative game mod for Friday Night Funkin’ (video game footage) and a unique game called Machine Party.
At the Senior Project Screening, four projects caught my attention the most:
Carby & The Magic Fountains, a video game trailer by Charles Whitford and Maleach Bereendsen.
Wedding Ring by Gabriel Ahlquist, the only live-action film that I enjoyed, had gorgeous stylized cinematography which instantly reminded me of Robert Rodriguez & Frank Miller’s 2005 film Sin City, but in color.
Animated short films:
Solace Strings by Aaron Cantu: I think it is a shared universe from his comic Dragonborn.
Coyote's Flame by Anna Madiason, and my friend Viggo Magdaleno, writer and voice for Coyote character.
After wrapping up the Senior Project Screening, s’mores were shared at the Creative Arts Complex building!
Then finally on Saturday, August 29, after breakfast and the 9AM Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church, I walked as a graduate at the Grand Ritz Theatre during the 2026 Commencement Ceremony of John Paul The Great Catholic University!
After the event, our family celebrated at Best Pizza & Brews in Escondido.
Guess what was Dr. Connolly’s last words for me and Jayden when we asked him about creĀRTus—”Just do it.”
Impacting the culture of Christ! - RJ