ISSA MIRAZO

2006-09-05T20:32:00.000-07:00

Issa Mirazo 2008

Issa Mirazo

Issa Mirazo And Mother Delia M.

Painter, designer, muralist, and singer Issa Mirazo is a renaissance woman of the twenty-first century. Born in South Baja, California, Mexico, and raised in Obergon, Sonora she draws from her culture’s strong sense traditions and customs. By the age of six Mrs. Mirazo was already displaying and cultivating her talents as seen in her work My People inspired by the Mexican Revolution.

In 1992 Mrs. Mirazo moved to Tucson, Arizona where she made the acquaintance of nationally renowned muralist/artist David Tineo who inspired and nurtured the young artist to create a cohesive body of work debuted in her first art exhibition in 1999. In 2001 the two artists were commissioned by the Tucson Pima Arts Council to paint a life size pony statue Essence of the American Heart. It was one of TPAC’s largest philanthropic projects in Southern Arizona. The ponies where later auctioned off for charity.

Throughout the beginning of this first decade Issa Mirazo continued expanding her body of work exhibiting in several galleries around the Tucson area. In her free time she donated her skills as an art teacher for children at the Rose Family Center. In 2007 Mrs. Mirazo moved to Yuma, Arizona with her family. Here she has also had the opportunity to enrich the Yuma valley through art exhibits housed and sponsored by Barnes and Nobel Books and Yuma Palms Regional Center, as well as her philanthropic work with arts organization such as Yuma Ballet Theater and ArtBeat, sponsored by the Yuma Arts Center. Much of her visual repertoire remains deeply rooted in her Latino heritage.

Mrs. Mirazo is pleased donate her work Cielo Rojo in the hopes that the children of Tucson are afforded the expansive opportunities granted through a fine arts education.

The Best Presentation Award for a piece representing thoughtfulness in artistry in displaying artwork was given to Issa Mirazo
and two other artist from Yuma, AZ.

ARTbeat BY WILLIAM ROLLER, SUN STAFF WRITER (YUMASUN.com)
The launch of the first ARTbeat, the 'eartbeat of Yuma, helped shine a spotlight on local artists eager to discuss their work with fine arts enthusiasts who strolled historic Main Street on Saturday.

"Bringing artists down here also brings people to the downtown area so they patronize shops as well as take in new works of art," said Rex Ijams, Yuma Arts and Culture program manager.

For a first-time event, Ijams said, it was an excellent turnout. He added next year the city plans on more artists, music and food to make a really inclusive, diverse event.

Theodora Rodriguez was in Yuma for the first time from her home in Pomona, Calif., to hear her brother, Alfredo, a University of California, Los Angeles, vocalist sing opera selections at the exhibit. She was also impressed with the Yuma Youth Choir, which performed on Main Street.

"The choir was great," Rodriguez said. "I loved the way they sang the Spanish songs, especially 'Des Colores.' I love the weather here and I look forward to next year."

The exhibit not only brought out the patrons but artists themselves. Lia Littlewood, an Arizona Western College sophomore showcasing some
of her acrylic paintings, said she didn't know there were so many artists in Yuma.

"Usually there's a lot of desert themes but this had a lot of variety," Littlewood said. "I hope it becomes an annual thing. I'd definitely come back next year."

Littlewood pointed out a self-portrait with an unraveling ribbon garlanding her face as one of her favorite pieces. It is titled "Dear Grandpa" in honor of the man who taught her to draw. Her grandfather is ill right now and the portrait is her way of saying, "I'm coming a little undone," she explained.

At another booth offering jewelry, pendants, and crockery of fused glass was Judy Phillips, who has worked in the medium for six years. Colored glass is melted in a kiln and then a second firing, called slimping, done inside a mold gives a piece its shape.

"I call it functional art that can be shown on a mantel or used to serve food."

Pointing to a large blue bowl, Phillips said it was a piece titled "Ocean" and that she liked the way the different elements came together to make a nice design.

Shelly Potter, a black and white photographer who prefers to use a 35-millimeter film camera, said she is really happy Yuma is doing the exhibit.

Potter singled out a piece called "Pier," taken at a beach resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The city of Yuma purchased the photo as part of its permanent collection for City Hall.

"It's a great function for the city and they expect it to grow," Potter said of ARTbeat.

She added that the exhibit was a chance to talk to people interested in the arts. Some had told her they still use film cameras as well.

"I crave the creativity I get in a darkroom," Potter said. "I feel more creative using the chemicals. It's a true photo, not everyone agrees, but it's just the way I feel."

ARTbeat also presented three awards for distin- guished work. The Best Presentation Award for a piece representing thoughtfulness in artistry in displaying artwork was given to a trio of artists who shared a booth: Issa Mirazo , Villasenor and Cuen.

ARTBEAT in spanish By Diana Rosas.
ARTbeat es la primera exhibición que se organiza para mostrar el talento de alrededor de 35 artistas en Yuma, AZ

El Centro de Arte de Yuma, la Comisión de Cultura y el Comité de Arte Público de Yuma conjuntamente decidieron escoger a tres de los mejores trabajos para ofrecer un premio a los expositores y al mismo tiempo impulsar y dar a conocer el arte que se genera en el Condado de Yuma.

El pasado 19 de abril, dos estudiantes de Arizona Western College destacaron: Lia Littlewood, por vender cuadros y Chris Smith, por recibir el premio del artista en ascenso de manos del administrador de arte y cultura, Rex Ijams.

Tres artistas compartieron el premio por calidad de presentación: Issa Mirazo y otros dos artistas de la comunidad de Yuma.

Y para finalizar la entrega de premios, Shell Potte, fotógrafa, fue escogida por el Comité de Arte Público de Yuma para comprarle uno de sus trabajos para ser exhibido permanentemente en un edificio público.

El programa musical del evento estuvo a cargo de tres bandas de Jazz, dos de ellas de la Secundaria Kofa, bajo la dirección de Jim Davis; y la Compañía de Jazz de Yuma dirigida por Steven Hannei; además del grupo de Opera de Mexicali (Círculo de Estudios Operísticos) bajo la dirección de Salvador Caldera Adame y el Coro Juvenil de Yuma.

MURALS:
Home or Office Murals and designs are currently available to be commissioned by you!
FREE at home estimates.
Email: IssaMirazo@hotmail.com

"My art is an expression of my reality. I paint because it is part of my life. Each piece will carry a timeless soul-felt message throughout its existence." - Issa Mirazo