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THE SUNDAY SANTAN SUN NEWS | JUNE 20, 2021
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Chandler musician recognized by Arizona panel BY SRIANTHI PERERA Contributor
Deswood Tillman wants to give voice to the voiceless. The Chandler-based singer, songwriter and music producer of Dine’ (Navajo) and Anglo heritage plans to highlight a selection of Native artists with the help of a grant he received recently from the Arizona Commission on the Arts. “I’m planning on bringing in the actual Native artists who nobody ever seems to give a voice to or they don’t ever seem to put on any platform or stage to be able to give their voice,” said Tillman, who also goes by “Dez.” For a decade since 2011, he has been using his talents to engage in charitable work to benefit Native American communities with the Native-rock group “Clan-Destine.” As an artist and academic, he continues to be an outspoken voice in his community raising awareness to critical issues and critical thinking. The current project will run along similar lines. “I’m going to do that for them by bringing them into the recording studio, allowing them to record their message into my studio and I’m going to take that and I’m going to put it into a composition and then distribute that composition worldwide,” he outlined. The half-dozen artists Tillman has in mind to work with include professional artist David Montour of Mohawk, Cayuga, Potawatomi and Ottawa descent, and professional flute player Anthony
“As time goes by, the voice of Native country just gets smaller and smaller, the population trends continue to change, so if somebody doesn’t take action right now to give voice to the voiceless, nobody else will,” he said. “I’ve spent 10 years trying to get that voice heard and I’ve been turned down by everybody, so for once I get to choose who I get to highlight.” With their compositions, the artists often highlight domestic abuse, raise awareness for veterans and receive funding for their living situations and donating to children and the communities. “We really just can’t get anybody to Musician Deswood Tillman is the recipient of a grant from the want to give a spotArizona Commission on the Arts, which he plans to use for a light to that,” Tillman project to give a sense of empowerment to Native youth and added. “And it’s even community. (Courtesy of Deswood Tillman) harder to get people to give money to Wakeman. that. At this point, it’s not a belief, it’s Tillman stressed the importance of just pure fact. Nobody’s really doing his project. this for Native country; that’s why I
have to do it now.” Tillman owns and manages a private music production studio in Chandler known as Sonic Alchemy Studios, where he has produced music for television, movies and other artists. The $5,000 grant will be used to rent recording studio time and contract with artists and musicians to share their craft. Tillman said the body of music in the works will not be a typical selection as the album will blend music, poetry, spoken word and storytelling. “It’s hard to classify what it’s going to be; I’m going to create something new as an artist,” he said. The artist has many irons in the fire. He founded a band “out of necessity” called Guitarzan, named for the guitar influence and a subtle reference to Tarzan, the king of the jungle. “I realized I had to take on the responsibility myself to fund the project. To put the people together, to write, produce, record and engineer it so that I can express myself the way that I wanted to do. So, I became my own record labels,” he said. Another project, a collection of music titled Sacred Union, is a collaboration with his fiancé, Serene Isabelo. They have written the music and are halfway through recording. “It’s got a really positive message for the world,” he said. But music isn’t his sole talent. Tillman is clever at math and physics as well. He has earned a bachelor’s degree See
TILLMAN on page 49
Chandler student inspires public art project BY ALLI CRIPE Contributor
Oliverio Balcells is a local multimedia artist whose work includes bright colors and inspiration from Mesoamerican culture. For three years, he’s been especially busy with public art projects – including some in Chandler – that he doesn’t take lightly. “It’s a responsibility as an artist, what you leave behind,” said Balcells. “I like that idea. I like projects where I can integrate part of the history of the place.” Balcells doesn’t just paint. He spends time connecting with the communities he helps to represent. He’s worked with Free Arts of Arizona, Childsplay, and taught art for 10 years. He’s a scholar in Mesoamerican culture, originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, and his Mexican contemporary social art and can be seen everywhere in the Phoenix area. Most recently, you can see Balcells work on Chandler Boulevard and California Street. Completed in December 2020, the power box was in collabora-
Oliverio Balcells tion with the nonprofit ICAN, inspired from the mind of a Chandler High School student. “The whole project started with Peter Bugg, who is the art commissioner for the City of Chandler,” said Chacho Lopez, the team program coordinator See
BALCELLS on page 48
Tempe artist Oliverio Balcells painted this power box in Chandler on the basis of ideas presented to him by a Chandler High student.
