News Release for the 2016 Scholarship Recipients

February 29, 2016

Scholarship Chairs Tristyn Bustamante and Gayla Bonnell announce the 2016 awardees.

Arizona Artists Guild is pleased to announce that it has awarded $7,000 in Visual Arts Scholarships for the 2016 year. Begun in 1993 the AAG Scholarship Program has given over $100,000.00 to university enrolled, full-time fine art students in the State of Arizona.  Award recipients receive scholarship money deposited directly into the student’s college bursar account. In addition, they receive a one-year Arizona Artists Guild membership, and participate in a group exhibition of their work at the prestigious Shemer Art Center and Museum in Phoenix.

This year’s scholarship exhibition will be curated by 2015 scholarship recipient, Zachary Valent. Valent was awarded the 2015 Guest Curator Award which provides a fantastic opportunity to be the sole curator of the award exhibition. Funding for this award is given by Shemer Art Center and Museum through financial contributions made by the Roney Family Foundation.   The exhibition, titled, New Art in Arizona run from March 17 – April 28, 2016.
Shemer Art Center is located at 5005 E. Camelback Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018.  You can visit the exhibit during regular hours or join us for a reception on March 17 from 6-8pm.  For more information on Shemer Art Center and Museum visit ShemerArtCenter.org.

Recipient’s Presentations:
Each award recipient will give a 10 – 15 minute presentation of their work on May 17 at Arizona Artists Guild, located at 18411 N 7th Avenue, Phoenix. Come see what kind of new work student artists are working on! There will be a chance to mingle and meet the artists and the curator after the presentations. We hope to see you there!!

2016 was an historic year, marking a record number of applications from community colleges, undergraduate and graduate students. This made the juror’s work most challenging not only because of the volume of applicants but also due to the innovation, quality and artistic expression of the works submitted.  Congratulations to all who submitted!

This year’s scholarship recipients are:
Chris Vena | Marigold Linton Scholarship Award  $1600. | ASU – painting

Camila Galofre | Arizona Artists Guild President’s Scholarship Award  $1400. | ASU-MRA – painting/drawing

Hanna Irene Walsh | Ruth Magadini Scholarship Award  $1000. | ASU – MFA drawing/painting

Randall (Cam) DeCaussin | Erin O’Dell Scholarship Award  $1000. | ASU – Painting

John Tuomisto-Bell | Arizona Artists Guild Scholarship Award  $1000. | ASU – Sculpture

Jace Becker | Arizona Artists Guild Scholarship Award  $1000. | ASU – photography