Artists thrive at Mesa Community College
The arts are on full display at Mesa Community College. While many schools across the country are experiencing devastating cuts to their fine arts programs, MCC continues to support its aspiring artists whether it is through the guidance of specialized art professors, holding events for students to display their work or even providing students with opportunities to compete for county-wide acclaim. One such opportunity was the Artists of Promise event held on April 15 at the Herberger Theater in Phoenix. Held to celebrate the arts of Maricopa Community colleges, the event began with a student art exhibition. Pieces from students throughout the county, including MCC, were submitted prior and then selected to appear in the show based on superior quality of technique and creativity. Many artists labored for months in order to have their pieces ready to display. Following the exhibition, there were live performances by the instrumentalists, singers, actors and dancers who had won first place in their respective category. Students from community colleges all over the county took to the stage at the Herberger Theater to show off their various talents.
Program Coordinator Don Jesus-Bobadilla stressed the significance of this opurtunity for young performers. “We wanted to give student this golden oppurtunity to perform in a professional venue. Their schools have venues and that’s great, but to be here at the Herberger is a great thing to put in their portfolios.” Winning first in Male Musical Theater and tying for first place Male Classical Vocal, singer Mario Yniquez spoke of the importance of having opportunities to see the work of fellow musical theatre students and artists. “Watching my peers perform brings out the best in me,” Yniquez said. “Watching people you know blow your mind, takes you to the next level. It takes you to that realm so rich with talent.”
During his performance at the event, Yniquez exhibited his emotional range as a performer. He sang “Now”, a ballad from the musical, “Warmth of the Womb,” after first performing a rousing comedic song from the musical “Barnum” titled, “There’s a Sucker Born Ev’ry Minute.” Yniquez recently used “Sucker” procure another victory that previous August. He performed “Sucker” at a competition hosted by The Nation Association of Teachers Who Sing, where he won first in musical theatre and was then recommended by his instructor to take part in the Artists of Promise Event. Yniquez says he sees every competition as a chance to receive important feedback that will help him improve his craft. “What I love about competing is the notes I get back,” Yniquez said. “I just like really educated people writing stuff down and telling me what they would like to see me do and improve upon. I like critique a lot.”
The guidance provided by professors on campus at MCC also helps to foster the talents of young artists like Yniquez. MCC is currently recognized as a premiere arts program throughout the district and even the state. The largest art department in the district, the amount of students currently enrolled in art classes help support the programs financially, allowing for more teachers and thus, more specialized instruction. “Alot of mys students say they drive past all the other campuses to come to MCC” said Gingher Leyendecker, an art professor on campus, “Because here we are so specialized in helping them build their skills.”
PHOTOS BY KATHRYN YSLAS
Drawing professors like Dan Fogel and Leyendecker strive to provide students with techniques, both artistic and professional that will help them achieve their goals in their area of interest. Skills such as putting together a portfolio and having experience displaying one’s work in a professional venue are essential to the young artist, according to Fogel. He recently organized the Art Student Show currently running on campus, allowing artists the chance to show their work and have written documentation of it on their resumes. The Art Student Show also inspires many other students to enroll art classes as well as show the district the wide variety of artistic talent at MCC. “It’s part of our responsibility to demonstrate our student outcomes to the college and the district, to show what all of our artists have been working on so diligently throughout the year” Fogel said.Leyendecker reaffirmed the role that quality art instruction provided by professors and the college itself play in the success of an aspiring artist.“I feel like it’s our job to get students where they want to go. Whether that’s showing in galleries, or into an art school, or a state college,” Leyendecker said. “It’s our job to help them get there.”
