hero arts DAREN BRUBAKER

Many Hats

True statement: Daren Brubaker wears many hats. He’s a self-taught artist, a high school teacher and a swim coach, accomplishing great things in each field.

But what’s true about Brubaker may leave the wrong impression. He’s not an artist one moment and a coach or teacher at Brophy College Preparatory the next. He’s everything at once, at all times.

“I consider myself a tentmaker,” Brubaker says. “The coaching, the teaching of the arts at Brophy helps with financial needs regarding my artwork.”

That mixed-media artwork activates his life purpose. His art shows are always service projects. “I’m a firm believer in using your talents to help others,” he says.

Under the name D. Roy, Brubaker’s exhibitions have raised money for several causes near and far. The “Dreaming of a Cheeseburger” exhibition supported an effort to feed the homeless in Phoenix. It featured hand-made signs he purchased from homeless people soliciting help on the streets.

“Dreaming of a Well” raised money to build water wells for indigenous people in rural Guatemala. Other exhibitions supported causes ranging from Oak Flat in Pinal County to helping a friend from his swim circle run supplies of necessities to Kyiv, Ukraine, last year. His next show on April 29 will raise funds for a school in Peru.

Brubaker, who comes from a family of educators and has received “Coach of the Year” honors, likes the opportunities for discussion and goodwill that come from selling his works of abstract expressionism.

“They purchase a piece of me knowing they are helping somebody or helping a group of people,” Brubaker says. “It’s definitely a conversation starter when they hang it up in their home or their office. … It’s kind of something that people can look at and say, ‘Hey, I did something by showing up and caring.’ ”

Do you know an Arts Hero? Someone who works tirelessly to strengthen, improve and enhance the arts in our community?

Nominate him or her at onmediaaz.com