Learning to make dreams come true

Danette Goulet

COSTA MESA -- His sculptures adorn mansions in Beverly Hills and are

displayed in museums in California and Nevada. But Frank Afra sees

himself as a mechanic first and an artist second.

TeWinkle Middle School students awed by his work during a career day

presentation Wednesday may disagree.

Six years ago, the Costa Mesa resident began sculpting figures out of

scrap metal and used mufflers. He owns and operates a muffler shop in

Santa Ana.

“I’m an environmentalist,” he said. “Ninety percent of scrap and junk

metal I turn into a work of art.”

Since he started sculpting, Afra has created 150 sculptures.

A life-size, all-muffler Shaquille O’Neal graces Los Angeles Lakers

Coach Phil Jackson’s home. Afra’s first two muffler men, Bart and Homer

Simpson, belong to that show’s creator, Matt Groening.

“What got you into making these?” asked Steven Dean, 12.

The answer was boredom.

Unlike the attorneys, CPAs, nurses and architects who visited the

school, Afra did not set out to become an artist.

His story and interesting sculptures captured students’ attention and

helped them to realize that anything is possible.

But his was not the only inspiring or fascinating story.

A large crowd gathered to witness the culinary magic of James Douglas,

the executive chef of the Wolfgang Puck’s Restaurant at Fashion Island,

and sous-chef Carlos Sanchez.

The duo whipped the crowd into a frenzy with the mouthwatering aromas

that wafted from their skillets.

Students greedily sampled the creations.

“It was yummy,” said Frank Acevedo, 13. “And if I learn to cook, I

don’t need to eat out.”

Down the hall, Chris Amarel spoke about fashion design and offered

students an opportunity to submit marketing ideas to the apparel company

where she works.

For students who couldn’t begin to imagine how to get from the

classroom to making $400 an hour and working on top-secret government

accounting files, like Chris Money, the day was a success.