Art exhibit explores "Migration: Immigration"
The works of well-known Valley artists as well as emerging young talent are on display in Fletcher Library at Arizona State University’s West campus during February. “Migration: Immigration, Giving Honor to Latina(o) Cultures and Communities” features more than 40 paintings, murals, photographs, tiled art works and sculptures.<br /><br />The exhibit includes paintings by Arizona favorites including Jim L. Covarrubias, Martin Moreno, Larry Yáñez, Jorge Moreno, and Dennis Numkena. A sculpture by multitalented artist Zarco Guerrero is displayed, as well as black-and-white photographs by Emily Matyas capturing the lives of residents of Ciudad Obregón in Sonora, Mexico.<br /><br />Young artists participating in the exhibit include photographer Abigail Vorce, a Prescott College student; painter and graffiti artist Francisco Garcia, who attends Phoenix College; and students who created tiled art works through “Las Artes de Maricopa,” a partnership between the YMCA and PSA Art Awakenings, GED Achievement program.<br /><br />“Engagement in this exhibition gives the ASU community and Valley residents an opportunity to explore the concept of migration and community, while honoring the human story,” says Judy Butzine, “Migration: Immigration” curator. “Our intention is that these visual expressions will call upon our humane need to engage in dialogue and therein create shared understanding, causing us to pause for meaningful conversations around critical issues and public policies.”<br /><br />Butzine and Melanie Ohm are co-founders and co-directors of the Arizona-based <a href="http://www.artscare.org/cac.intro.shtml" target="_blank" title="Cultural Arts Coalition">Cultural Arts Coalition</a>, which worked in partnership with the Social and Behavioral Sciences Division and the Border Justice Committee in ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences to present the “Migration: Immigration” exhibit.<br /><br />The art exhibition is meant to raise awareness of migration issues in advance of the annual Border Justice event at ASU’s New College. The 2009 event, from March 31 through April 2, will focus on “Crime, Justice and the Border.”<br /><br />“The exhibit now on display in Fletcher Library is wonderfully moving and provocative,” says William Simmons, an ASU associate professor of social and behavioral sciences and coordinator of the Border Justice series. “It’s a fantastic combination of eye-catching, thought-provoking works by some of the leading artists in the Valley, as well as some new voices that deserve to be heard.”<br /><br />“Migration: Immigration” is available for viewing on the second and third floors of Fletcher Library through Feb. 27 during regular library hours: Monday through Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. There is no admission charge. ASU’s West campus is at 4701 W. Thunderbird Road in Phoenix.<br /></p>