Arts awards
Girard wins Muses, Andrade takes Helios
In a night of glitz and glamour, a local advertising producer and a restaurant owner were honored for their contributions to Yuma’s art scene.
The 18th annual Tribute of the Muses Award ceremony took place Friday night at the Historic Yuma Theatre. The theme for the night was “Studio 54.”
Every year, the Tribute of the Muses award recognizes an individual or group who has shown exemplary devotion and excellence in arts. In the past, winners of the award have ranged from artists, performers, educators, advocates, patrons and the like.
Colby Girard was named the 2018 Tribute of the Muses Award winner. He was recognized with a custom, commissioned art trophy by Cibola High School advanced placement visual arts teacher Joanna Cardenas.
“Why would anybody turn me loose with a microphone? It’s always a scary and dangerous thing,” Girard joked upon receiving the award. “This is beautiful and very unexpected. I told myself potters, painters and the entire Lutes (Casino) family, how could I win? I mention the Lutes family especially because they support art in the most meaningful way. They write checks for it all the time…
“Art is wonderful and it’s meaningful but you got to make it pay somehow,” he added. “Can I get an amen
on that? Public art is a wonderful thing and it all comes from the individuals but the City of Yuma has done an exceptional job. It’s funding it so well and making it a longtime commitment. I know a lot of you are long-term residents and you see city council turnover and administration turnover and the people around the departments turnover, but the commitment has been there all along…”
According to his biography, Girard is known throughout Yuma as a musician, marketer and advertising producer. He began his art career at radio station KBLU where he not only created and sold ads, but wrote music compositions and jingles, his biography shows.
In 1980 Girard began performing music in Yuma at Lujano’s Pizza with Lisa Otondo and Pete Pancrazi. Since that time, he has performed in a variety of events throughout the Yuma community.
His biography states that Girard is a current member of the Chuckawalla Rhythm Kings band. Additionally, he has worked with various organizations that feature music or serve the arts including the Yuma Jazz Festival, United Way of Yuma County’s Music Festival, local segments of the Labor Telethon, Yuma County Democratic Party, North End Art Walk, Yuma Art Symposium and Yuma Fine Arts Association.
Also at Friday night’s award ceremony, Abraham Andrade took home the Helios award for the arts community’s top newcomer.
“…I really wasn’t expecting this,” Andrade said after being named the Helios award winner. “It was a huge honor to be a part of this community. I want to thank the Yuma Art Center for putting this together. I want to thank my mom… my friend Joanna Cardenas, who nominated me for this award, all the Chicano Art Collective, which are also here with me tonight.
“Thank you very much and if you haven’t checked out our events in San Luis Arizona, Southeast County, you should definitely stop by,” he added. “We do monthly cultural events…”
Andrade’s biography shows that he is the founder of the Chicano Art Collective and is the owner of Rolls and Bowls, a Mexican-infused sushi restaurant in San Luis, Ariz. His biography also reveals that his restaurant is covered wall to wall with custom murals and artwork that Andrade has commissioned, creating a backdrop for regular concerts and special events.
His restaurant is home to the Chicano Art Walk. Andrade’s biography states that he has a passion for providing platforms for local artists, filmmakers, and musicians. Through the Chicano Art Collective, he is building a collection of local and regional Chicano fine art that will be exhibited at the Yuma Art Center and other venues.
His biography also shows that Andrade regularly collaborates with the Littlewood Fine Arts and Community Co-Op and the Centro de Arte Cultural in San Luis Rio Colorado, Son., to bolster relations across the region.
This year, a total of nine community members were nominated for the Tribute of the Muses Award, while an additional seven nominations were received for the Helios Award.
The winners for the Tribute of the Muses Awards were chosen by the City of Yuma’s Parks, Recreation Commission and Ad Hoc Public Art Committee.
The ceremony included live performances by Dancer’s Workshop, Dawn’s Dance Studio, Infinite Imagination Youth Theater performers from “Xanadu Jr.,” Jason Irr, and Mallory Lemmon as well as presentations from Mayor Douglas Nicholls, City Administrator Greg Wilkinson and Director of Parks and Recreation Debbie Wendt.
After the ceremony, a VIP reception with a $25 donation to attend took place at the Yuma Art Center. Proceeds from ticket sales to the reception will benefit the arts and culture programming.