The creative spark ignited by Cal State San Bernardino continues to shine brightly in the community through the smARTshow, an annual exhibition of student artwork made possible through a decade-long partnership between CSUSB and Manuel A. Salinas Creative Arts Elementary School.

Now in its fourth year, the smARTshow is a collaboration between Oraib Mango, professor of world languages and literatures at CSUSB, and William Beshears, a fourth-grade GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) teacher at the elementary school. Held at the Garcia Center for the Arts in downtown San Bernardino, this year’s exhibition featured conceptual art created by fourth and fifth grade students and reflected powerful themes of grief, friendship, resilience, forgiveness, and the fleeting nature of life.

Mango described this year’s show as “particularly moving.

“Many works also reflected a deep understanding of how language and memory shape our human experience,” she added. “The event was a celebration of families, educators and community members who all came together to witness the transformative power of art.”

Throughout the 2024-25 academic year, Mango and Beshears guided students through conceptual art sessions inspired by the works of artists such as Marina Abramović, Marcel Duchamp, Félix González-Torres, Richard Long and Ai Weiwei. The goal was to introduce students to the idea that art could go beyond expressing emotion.

“It was amazing to see students learn that art could question, challenge and reflect the world around them,” said Mango. “They discovered the importance of translating their fears, hopes and dreams into deeply personal works of art.”

The exhibition pieces were the result of sustained exploration, reflection and collaboration, extending beyond the classroom to include the input and support of families and friends.

The smARTshow is an extension of the Al-Najm program — “Najm” meaning “star” in Arabic and also the school’s symbol — which was co-created by Mango and Beshears to bring college-level thinking into elementary classrooms. The program fosters student agency and offers families a more engaging educational experience. Mango launched the initiative after receiving a 2012-13 Community-Based Research Mini-Grant from CSUSB’s Office of Community Engagement.

“I’m proud of how the smARTshow continues to grow each year,” Mango said. “It’s a testament to what is possible when young voices find their power and when creativity is nurtured beyond the boundaries of traditional curriculum.”

Caption: Aaliyah’s piece, “Guys Don’t Cry,” captures the moment in time when she saw her father cry for the first time after losing his best friend.
Caption: Aaliyah’s piece, “Guys Don’t Cry,” captures the moment in time when she saw her father cry for the first time after losing his best friend.
Camila’s performance piece, “Three Years,” honors her grandmother, who passed away when she was only three years old.
Camila’s performance piece, “Three Years,” honors her grandmother, who passed away when she was only three years old. The performance piece features the artist cutting a rope that represents the short time they had together, inspired by the Greek myth of Atropos, the Fate who severs the thread of life.
Emily’s piece, “Untitled,” explores the intense sadness and anger that she experienced after her father’s passing in 2023. Her artwork features a dual-sided canvas with blue melted crayons and the words, "I can’t anymore," contrasted with a red side stating, "I’m sorry," as a letter of apology to her mother.
Emily’s piece, “Untitled,” explores the intense sadness and anger that she experienced after her father’s passing in 2023. Her artwork features a dual-sided canvas with blue melted crayons and the words, "I can’t anymore," contrasted with a red side stating, "I’m sorry," as a letter of apology to her mother.