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Home › News & Events › News › School of Art alumna earns national Murrow Award

School of Art alumna earns national Murrow Award

June 27, 2019

University of Arizona School of Art alumna Arlene Islas (BFA Photography, 2015) along with her colleague and fellow Wildcat alumna Sandra Westdahl (School of Journalism, 2012) recently won the National Edward R. Murrow Award for Feature Reporting for their Arizona Public Media (AZPM) story “Where Dreams Die.”

The story also aired on PBS NewsHour Weekend on June 8.

“Where Dreams Die” features local artist Alvaro Enciso’s efforts to honor the lives of more than 3,000 migrants who have died in the Sonoran Desert in Southern Arizona attempting to cross the U.S. border in remote, dangerous terrain due to changes in U.S. policy. Enciso has assisted the Tucson’s Colibrí Center for Human Rights connect family members.

WATCH NOW: AZPM: Where Dreams Die | PBS NewsHour Episode

“Ever since it aired, it has prompted all kinds of reactions from the community especially because of its humanitarian subject matter and our present political climate,” Islas explained. “The feedback has been positive, motivational and empowering. Visual storytelling not only raises awareness and prompts strong emotions but it can move people into action.”

Islas served as videographer on the feature; Westdahl was the producer/editor.

“It’s an honor to see that our hard work has been recognized with such a prestigious award,” said Islas. “It means that it’s made an impact and that some of the most phenomenal and respected journalists saw the value in it.

“It floored me. It feels surreal!”

Islas graduated in 2015 from the School of Art with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography, which has been recently renamed Photography, Video and Imaging. She worked as a Production Technician before accepting the position of Television Director at Arizona Public Media. Islas is now using her experiences as a visual artist to communicate compelling messages that evoke emotional responses. Since her days as an undergraduate student, she has been interested in creating work about her Mexican heritage. School of Art faculty member Carlton Bradford described Islas as dynamic and driven, and noted her undergraduate work addressed Hispanic identity issues for those living near the US-Mexico border. Having the opportunity to work for Arizona Public Media has enabled Islas to create work that is meaningful to her and to Southwestern border communities.

“The School of Art prepared me not only to understand the power of images, but also to understand our power as individuals, our role in the community as professional artists, and the responsibility that comes with conveying our identity and ethical values through our art. We hope that our story can inspire others to continue to raise awareness on similar topics and enhance interconnectedness in our society.”

In 2018, Islas also won two Emmy Awards at the 2018 Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and two Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards.

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University of Arizona School of Art
12 hours ago
University of Arizona School of Art

The national APA Wayzgoose conference began yesterday! We're so happy that the Amalgamated Printers' Association selected Tucson and the School of Art for its annual workshops through Sunday. Go to apa-letterpress.com/2023wayzgoose/ for more details. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Amalgamated Printers' Association ... See MoreSee Less

The national APA Wayzgoose conference began yesterday! Were so happy that the Amalgamated Printers Association selected Tucson and the School of Art for its annual workshops through Sunday. Go to https://apa-letterpress.com/2023wayzgoose/ for more details. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Amalgamated Printers AssociationImage attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
3 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Students in galen dara's ART 404 class used their sketchbooks to explore and ponder the immersive space installations and video exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) — moca-tucson.org/ — including "Sonoran Quipu" by chilean poet cecilia vicuña, "Subrosa" by Na Mira and "While Hissing" by Ravon Chacon. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona MOCA Tucson ... See MoreSee Less

Students in galen daras ART 404 class used their sketchbooks to explore and ponder the immersive space installations and video exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) — https://moca-tucson.org/ — including Sonoran Quipu by chilean poet cecilia vicuña, Subrosa by Na Mira and While Hissing by Ravon Chacon. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona MOCA TucsonImage attachmentImage attachment+8Image attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
3 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Join us for the opening reception of "Scratching the Surface" on Friday, June 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Lionel Rombach Gallery. The exhibition is open now, with work from students in galen dara's ART 404 sketch class. The reception will include refreshments and drawing activities! (Artwork by Phoebe Dubisch) Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Galen Dara University of Arizona Museum of Art ... See MoreSee Less

Join us for the opening reception of Scratching the Surface on Friday, June 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Lionel Rombach Gallery. The exhibition is open now, with work from students in galen daras ART 404 sketch class. The reception will include refreshments and drawing activities! (Artwork by Phoebe Dubisch) Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Galen Dara University of Arizona Museum of Art
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University of Arizona School of Art
1 week ago
University of Arizona School of Art

A visit to the International Wildlife Museum yielded excellent sketching opportunities for galen dara's ART 404 class yesterday. The students' show, "Scratching the Surface," is now open at the Lionel Rombach Gallery. (thewildlifemuseum.org/permanent-exhibits/) Arizona Arts The University of Arizona University of Arizona Museum of Art ... See MoreSee Less

A visit to the International Wildlife Museum yielded excellent sketching opportunities for galen daras ART 404 class yesterday. The students show, Scratching the Surface, is now open at the Lionel Rombach Gallery. (https://thewildlifemuseum.org/permanent-exhibits/) Arizona Arts The University of Arizona University of Arizona Museum of ArtImage attachmentImage attachment+Image attachment
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University of Arizona School of Art
1 week ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Artist Lisette Chavez (MFA '14) visited our Book Art and Letterpress Lab, where she chatted with Professor Karen Zimmermann about her career and next week's national APA Wayzgoose Conference hosted by the school (tinyurl.com/soawg2). Chavez works remotely from Tucson as a research assistant for the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation. She also hosts a cool Instagram site, “Show me your print shop” (tinyurl.com/3xpvc4w8) as a resource for printmakers. Book art and letterpress labs from all over the world send her photos, and she posts them with information or tips shared by the printmakers! Her website is at www.lisettechavez.com/.

Arizona Arts The University of Arizona University of Arizona Museum of Art
... See MoreSee Less

Artist Lisette Chavez (MFA 14) visited our Book Art and Letterpress Lab, where she chatted with Professor Karen Zimmermann about her career and next weeks national APA Wayzgoose Conference hosted by the school (https://tinyurl.com/soawg2). Chavez works remotely from Tucson as a research assistant for the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation. She also hosts a cool Instagram site, “Show me your print shop” (https://tinyurl.com/3xpvc4w8) as a resource for printmakers. Book art and letterpress labs from all over the world send her photos, and she posts them with information or tips shared by the printmakers! Her website is at https://www.lisettechavez.com/.

Arizona Arts The University of Arizona University of Arizona Museum of Art
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1 week ago
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Photos from Arizona Arts's post ... See MoreSee Less

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