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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
19 hours ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Congrats, Mata Ruda (MFA '19), on your new installation in New York City! ... See MoreSee Less

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Alumnus Mata Ruda creates art installation in NYC - Arizona Arts

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Karlito Miller Espinosa (MFA ‘19, Studio Art) AKA Mata Ruda unveiled a new art installation “Esta Tierra es Nuestra Tierra” in New York City.
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University of Arizona School of Art
19 hours ago
University of Arizona School of Art

What a summer for Deborah Ruiz! Congrats! ... See MoreSee Less

What a summer for Deborah Ruiz! Congrats!Image attachmentImage attachment
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Penland School of Craft

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University of Arizona School of Art
2 days ago
University of Arizona School of Art

We're proud to share this Q&A with Gem Elena Abarca, a 3D and Extended Media major. Each year, the College of Fine Arts selects a student to highlight as part of TeenLife's Performing & Visual Arts College advertisement, which reaches prospective students internationally. "I came into my first year being an engineering student, but ... took a leap to follow my passion and dream of being an artist." We're so glad you took the leap, Gem! issuu.com/teenlife/docs/pva_guide_2023_digital Arizona Arts The University of Arizona ... See MoreSee Less

Were proud to share this Q&A with Gem Elena Abarca, a 3D and Extended Media major. Each year, the College of Fine Arts selects a student to highlight as part of TeenLifes Performing & Visual Arts College advertisement, which reaches prospective students internationally. I came into my first year being an engineering student, but ... took a leap to follow my passion and dream of being an artist. Were so glad you took the leap, Gem! https://issuu.com/teenlife/docs/pva_guide_2023_digital  Arizona Arts The University of Arizona
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Gem is the perfect ambassador for this program!

Gem! Truly outrageous!

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University of Arizona School of Art
2 weeks ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Check out our September newsletter — conta.cc/3LlzXRt — featuring the VASE Lecture series lineup for 2023-24; a border project by Mellon recipient and MFA candidate Nathan Cordova; Assistant Prof. Jeehey Kim's new groundbreaking book, "Photography and Korea" ... and more. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Arizona Alumni ... See MoreSee Less

Check out our September newsletter — https://conta.cc/3LlzXRt — featuring the VASE Lecture series lineup for 2023-24; a border project by Mellon recipient and MFA candidate Nathan Cordova; Assistant Prof. Jeehey Kims new groundbreaking book, Photography and Korea ... and more. Arizona Arts The University of Arizona Arizona Alumni
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University of Arizona School of Art
2 weeks ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Meet Nathan Cordova, an MFA candidate in the school’s nationally ranked Photography, Video and Imaging program, who's hard at work on his "Ghosts and Shadows" audio/visual project for the Mellon-Fronteridades Graduate Fellowship. Not only is Nathan interviewing his labor-activist uncle, but the grad student also is curious about "the way I’ve proposed to engage with the agency of the material that comprises a lot of the border wall.” tinyurl.com/388tydke Arizona Arts Confluencenter for Creative Inquiry The University of Arizona Mellon Foundation Society for Photographic Education University of Arizona Museum of Art Center for Creative Photography University of Arizona Center for Latin American Studies ... See MoreSee Less

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Mellon recipient Cordova hopes art project adds to border discourse – School of Art

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Mellon recipient Cordova hopes art project adds to border discourse September 13, 2023 By Michael Chesnick School of Art As part of his fellowship to study and interpret the U.S.-Mexico border, Nathan...
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2 weeks ago
University of Arizona School of Art

Way to go, Ricardo! ... See MoreSee Less

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Ricardo also is a Tyson Scholar in American Art for the fall 2023 semester at the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. art.arizona.edu/news/phd-candidate-chavez-named-tyson-scholar/

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