By Alana Fletcher
The Gull
Gull Lake H
1st Place
Division 4, Yearbook
Personality Profile
Peach flowers paired with a cerulean sunset. Vibrant jalapeño peppers on top of an abstract khaki background. Sailboats cruise on top of a blue sea. Globular shapes, colors and textures mix together to form the composition that is Randy Walbridge’s fashion sense.
“I’m glad that someone acknowledges I actually have one,” Walbridge said.
He first began to collect Hawaiian shirts 10 years ago when he traveled to Florida on Spring Break. During his yearly visits, he adds to his collection.
“I would always look for a reasonably priced shirt, and I started buying a shirt every year. All of a sudden I had a dozen shirts, and now I have more than that,” he said
Walbridge estimates the number of shirts he owns to be approximately 50. To add to his collection, Walbridge now frequents thrift stores to see what they have, becoming more thoughtful of his attire.
“I didn’t used to be so picky, but now, it either has to be a nice brand or a unique button or pattern,” he said. “I have so many of them now, I have to be really selective.”
Gradually, Walbridge became more interested in the globular patterns and colors. Observing the colors, he evaluates if he feels comfortable in the shirt.
“Every once in a while if I’m wearing a shirt, I check it out from the corner of my eye,” he said. “I see if I feel at ease in the patterns. Eventually, those I don’t like or wear get recycled to my brother when he visits.”
Being the art teacher for the school, self expression is emphasized in his classroom through different mediums.
“I feel that to some extent I can get away with it a little bit being the art teacher,” he said. “I probably wouldn’t have that same flexibility in any other position.”