Luna's art back in spotlight

  A local artist's work is back in the national spotlight.

  Just months after Angel Luna's clay sculptures were showcased in Chicago, the interesting pieces of art have earned entry into a major exhibition in New Mexico.

  Several clay sculptures by Luna, an art professor at Arizona Western College, have been accepted for a national, juried exhibition Jan. 30 through Feb. 25 at Eastern New Mexico University.

  The selected pieces come from Luna's "Border Monster" and "Gente Not Numbers" series, which address the issue of immigration and the contribution of immigrant workers. The particular pieces are "Whistle Mask," "Coveralls" and "Street Flower Seller."

  "Whistle Mask" has also earned an honorable mention from the New Mexico exhibition. The juror for that event is Lucy Lippard, an internationally known writer, theorist and activist.

  Luna's work was last honored at the national level when several sculptures were showcased during an art show called "Prospectus Reforming US Immigration Through Art" at Loyola University in Chicago. Three pieces were chosen for that event.

  Before Chicago, Luna's art was included in a Texas exhibition, where he earned first-place honors.

  Luna has been working with clay for 13 years. The native of Washington state is the grandson of immigrants from Mexico. He holds a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Eastern Washington University and a master's degree in fine arts from the University of Idaho.

  In addition to teaching at AWC, Luna served as the business manager for the North End Artists' Cooperative. He also has been nominated for the city's Tribute of the Muses Award.

---
Darin Fenger can be reached at
dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.