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You are here: Community Features ‘Art Walk’ showcases Diné college artistic talent

‘Art Walk’ showcases Diné college artistic talent

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Instructor: November ‘Art Walk’ A Success

TSAILE, Ariz. — Diné College students Brian Jones and Marvin McKenzie stood amid a slew of digital conceptions on display at the recent “Art Walk,” an annual community and campus event whereby students showcase their work to the public.

Such sights are part of the new look intending to promote Diné College’s new Bachelor of Fine Arts program in studio art. As part of “Art Walk,” participating students displayed paintings, drawings, digital photography, graphic design and computer illustrations.

Jones is a finance major from Chinle, Ariz., and McKenzie is from Shiprock, N.M., and studies fine arts. Each displayed recently done digital works.

“Our goal is to share the professional motivation of our students with local folks, while also regionally promoting our academic programs in Arizona and New Mexico,” R. Matthew Bollinger, a faculty member with Diné College’s Fine Arts and Humanities Department, said. Bollinger assisted in the organization of the event. “We want to be the premier academic resource for folks seeking dynamic careers in art and design.”

Dozens of student works were on display at the Guy Gorman Sr. Classroom Building and the Charlie Benally Library. Among them were “The Dark Knight,” a computerized Batman caricature by Jones and another caricature by McKenzie called “Tom Waits,” also computerized and done in homage to the California-based rock musician.

Jones won a first place award for the graphic design of Batman and McKenzie won first, second and honorable mention awards for his digital photography, graphic design and painting. More than two-dozen Diné College graphic art and design students participated in the event.

“This was all done on a computer,” McKenzie said of the “Tom Waits” graphic design piece. “He [Waits] is one of my favorite musicians. That basically was the inspiration.”

Bollinger noted that a goal of “Art Walk” is to give participating students recognition and confidence through their work. “It takes a lot of courage and commitment to make art and design in a professional sense,” Bollinger said. “We want to celebrate that passion for expression and making.”

Bollinger, himself a graphic artist, said another goal of “Art Walk” is alert the public about the myriad of artistic talent at Diné College. “Each of these artists is learning interdisciplinary skills to help them toward their professional goals as artists, designers, photographers and critical thinkers,” Bollinger said.