Yumans nominated for support of the arts

Yuma's art community crowns its most valuable muse on Thursday.

The city of Yuma's Arts and Culture Division will host its ninth annual Tribute of the Muses awards ceremony that night. The award is given to a person, organization or business that has demonstrated a long track record of supporting the local arts.

"This event gives us the opportunity to recognize a person, persons or group who have provided valuable support and leadership to the arts in our community," said Rex Ijams, Arts and Culture program manager. "That support to the arts makes our community such a wonderful place. It impacts our very quality of life."

This year's awards ceremony is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Yuma Art Center, 254 S. Main St.  The following people have been nominated for the 2009 Muses honor:

John Dallabetta

Dallabetta was a student at Yuma High School under his father John L. Dallabetta. After his father’s death in Europe while touring with the Yuma High School Jazz Band, Dallabetta returned home to attend college at Arizona State College, now known as Northern Arizona University. He was awarded his bachelor of music education followed by his master of music education at NAU.  He has been awarded the O.M. Hartsell Award for being the best music educator in Arizona.  

Dallabetta has taught music education as a band and jazz band director in Kingman, Ariz., for 15 years and Yuma High School for 19 years. After his so-called retirement, he has taught at Somerton Middle School, San Luis High School and currently at Gila Ridge. Dallabetta has been teaching and contributing to the arts for over 37 years. In Yuma County there are six music educators who graduated from Dallabetta’s band program.

Jon and Caroline Jessen

"Liney" and Jon are longtime residents of Yuma who chose to raise their family and build a business, the Gowan Company, here in Yuma. They have supported fundraising efforts for areas such as the arts, health and medical issues, and education, making substantial financial donations to various nonprofit arts organizations, as well as to the visual and performing arts.  

The Gowan Company has grown into a multinational agribusiness that has over 600 employees and affiliate offices in five countries. In 1996, when it needed a new world headquarters, rather than build something new, they chose to preserve a community landmark. They purchased and completely restored the old post office under the historic commission guidelines. They enhanced the interior with art and furniture from Mexico, as well as murals and art by local artists.  

The Jessens share their building with many of the performing and visual arts groups in Yuma by loaning the Gowan Company’s backyard for performances and exhibitions. Many of local performing arts groups, as well as Yuma Fine Arts Association, have received support through the Caroline Lott Jessen Trust.

Holly Hendricks–Jones
and Scott Jones

Holly and Scott have been nominated for the tribute award separately for several years, but this year they were nominated together as a team. Both are local educators who have worked to promote the value and need of arts education in student lives.

Holly is an artist in her own right, exhibiting often through the North End Artist Co-operative, and providing leadership and many volunteer hours benefiting the Yuma Area Art Educators Association scholarship fund.

Scott has taught art for many years in Yuma and has volunteered time as a board member for Yuma Fine Arts Association and is involved with the North End Artist Co-operative. His paintings are showing up in more regional and national shows. He uses his vacation time each year to show slides and paintings and lectures about art and aesthetics at Cibola High.

Judy Phillips

Phillips is involved with the Parks and Recreation Commission, Public Art Committee, Yuma Area Art Educators Association, North End Artists Co-op and Girl Scouts.  

She has committed her time to help the Girl Scouts create artistic service projects for the community. She has also led Yuma Parks and Recreation and the Yuma Union High School District in the creation of tile mosaics at the Valley Aquatic Center.

Phillips has also closely supported and participated in the Yuma Dog Park, served and recruited participants for the panel to select student artwork to complete the tile wall at the new Yuma County Library.

She is an artist herself. Upon retirement, Phillips converted her garage into an artist’s studio. Every morning will find Phillips in her backyard creating art with glass.

Rebecca Taylor

Taylor designed the hot air balloon poster for the Colorado River Crossing Balloon Festival for two years. She designed and constructed costumes and sets for Yuma Ballet Theatre for over 10 years.

In 2000, Taylor developed an art festival at Yuma High School that has awarded over $5,000 to students pursuing a degree in the arts.  She received two grants to create a sculpture at Yuma High and another to create a student art gallery on campus.

Taylor has participated in Children’s Festival of the Arts for years, going back to the beginning when the festival was building momentum. She has influenced a generation of young artists through 22 years of teaching.

Taylor has donated her art to various fundraisers, such as the Yuma County Humane Society, Yuma Ballet Theatre and the Yuma Area Art Educators Association. She has also participated with fall festivals for Otondo Elementary School and Cinco de Mayo for Roosevelt School and the Yuma River Tour’s handicap children’s event.

She organized the Yuma High School Alumni art show and auction. She has also donated art for fundraisers for the Yuma Fine Arts Association. In 2006, Taylor was honored with the Teacher of the Year award for all Yuma-area high schools.

George Tomkins

Tomkins has been involved in Yuma's arts community for over 35 years. He has influenced students and young artists as a professor at Arizona Western College, in local schools and throughout the community.  

Along with his artist-wife, Neely, he has maintained and operated one of the most successful pottery shops in historic downtown Yuma. The couple, along with some fellow artists, created the nationally known Yuma Symposium, which has become a major art event in the city of Yuma today.  

Tomkins has supported artist groups through his participation, donation of art and sponsorship. He sits on and has chaired the Yuma Arts and Culture Commission, as well as the Ad-hoc Public Art Committee. He has helped the city formulate a public art agenda and has supported the development of new arts events, new arts venues and arts opportunities.

Chris Wright

Wright has served as the concert mistress of the Yuma Community Band for years, playing the clarinet. She is the choir and orchestra teacher at Woodward Junior High School. Before that she taught band to students at Woodward for years. Each summer she has organized the summer music camp, which provides additional music opportunities for children in band, orchestra, and choir.  

Wright has also helped to set up scholarship money for kids who need financial help to attend the summer music camp program. She has helped each year to organize the choir and band festival.

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PAST WINNERS

’08: Neely Tomkins
’07: Janet Jones
’06: Emil Eger
’05: Linda Farrar
’04: Marion Elliott
’03: Don and Luda Soldwedel
’02: Aura Mae Savage
’01: Taylor McBride

Source: City of Yuma Arts and Culture Division