Arts

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 Wakeman.

Tillman stressed the importance of his project. “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 want to give a spotlight to that,” Tillman added. “And it’s even harder to get people to give money to that. At this point, it’s not a belief, it’s just pure fact. Nobody’s really doing 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

Musician Deswood Tillman is the recipient of a grant from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, which he plans to use for a project to give a sense of empowerment to Native youth and community. (Courtesy of Deswood Tillman)

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 collaboration 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

Oliverio Balcells

Chandler, EV musicians mark orchestra’s 10th year

BY SRIANTHI PERERA

Contributor

The Pangean Orchestra, which highlights instruments and music from around the world, is celebrating its 10th year with a virtual concert.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to kick off America’s birthday with a celebration of life, liberty, and our pursuit of happiness,” said Colin O’Donohoe, founder and a resident of Chandler.

The concert will be livestreamed at 7 p.m. July 3 via Facebook Live at fb.me/e/1nGOrik8y.

Although no tickets are being sold, viewers are encouraged and expected to donate what they can afford through the group’s website, thepangeanorchestra.com.

More than 20 musicians, playing world instruments such as Ngoni, Guzheng, Kaval and Santour, will perform alongside symphonic winds, a jazz rhythm section and diverse percussion. Kathak dancing and break dancing will enhance the show.

“It is our largest and best ensemble since our 2010 inaugural performance,” said O’Donohoe. “We have universally suffered through this pandemic, let’s celebrate universally.”

The music spotlights pieces from countries such as Burkina Faso, Burundi, Iran, Turkey, Brazil and Japan.

Some are original while others are traditional pieces that have been arranged specifically for the ensemble. They include “Djelika” from Mali, “Ar Erinn Ni Neosfainn Ce Hi” from Ireland and “Bahudaari Jathiswaram” from India.

The Pangean Orchestra, also known earlier as The Immigrant Orchestra, has a mission to unite people and promote world peace with the language of music. Since its founding in 2010, it has performed in the East Valley, New York and Turkey.

Now an official nonprofit, the group continues to attract talent and volunteers.

O’Donohoe said the forthcoming concert’s theme recognizes that we are “one people.”

“Acknowledge our differences and biases and work through them with the very people you may be wary of,” he said. “When people of diverse backgrounds unite towards a common cause, the results are astounding. We want to be a unifying force.”

Tempe History Museum is Pangean’s unofficial home venue and has hosted its concerts to full houses since the beginning. With positive show themes and diverse sets of musicians, curator Dan Miller said it’s a good fit for the community history museum’s performance series.

The July 3 virtual concert will be played at the museum.

“We (staff and our audience) always look forward to seeing and hearing the veterans of the group and the newcomers,” Miller said. “It’s nice to be thought of as a group’s home – they are sort of our house band.”

New Pangean member Wen Wu came from China to Tempe in 2012 for a master’s degree and a doctorate in music at Arizona State University.

Wu didn’t speak any English at the beginning. Music is a universal language and the Pangean Orchestra is a true example of its universality, she said.

“I had trouble in class, communicating with others, or even just ordering food. But I never had any trouble playing in band,” she said. “Now that my English got better, I find that in many situations, I don’t need words to communicate.”

Wu said she’s “not totally surprised” that the Pangean Orchestra has been around for a decade. It uses the simplest way – music – to bring people together, she said.

“It’s diverse, because of the variety of cultural backgrounds. It’s also uniform because we are all using instruments to express feelings.” Nita Mallya is a Bharatanatyam dancer and a choreographer in Chandler who has worked with Pangean almost since its inception. She collaborated with O’Donohoe to perform a dance routine in 2011 during the first concert.

Colin O’Donohoe

Above: The Pangean Orchestra plays a concert at the Tempe History Museum. The next virtual concert, on July 3, kicks off America’s birthday. (Courtesy of Tempe

History Museum) Right: Wen Wu, a new member of The Pangean Orchestra, plays woodwind instruments, including the

Chinese Hulusi. (Courtesy of Wen Wu)

See PANGEAN on page 49

BALCELLS from page 47

at ICAN. “He wanted to create a power box project with some of our teens.”

Lopez picked six students to work with five artists, including a student who wishes to only be called, “Omar,” for his privacy.

Omar, 18, is a first generation Mexican-American and a Chandler High School student who likes cars and also drives a truck.

According to Lopez, he’s quiet in nature but with a respectable, commanding presence.

“He brings a sense of leadership into our teen center that’s something needed for a male role model,” said Lopez, adding that Omar doesn’t care if he’s perceived as ‘cool.’

“He’s here to have fun. If he wants to play kickball with a third grader, he’ll play kickball with a third grader.”

Lopez said that Omar is a good example for the other children and was a good choice for the project. Because he wanted to best fit the artists with the students, he presented Omar with Balcells’s portfolio.

“I knew they were going to identify when it came to cultural language and self-identity,” Lopez said, adding that he gave Omar an outline of the box and told him to take the entire length of the teen center’s program time, around two hours, to complete the assignment.

An hour later, Omar said, “‘Hey, dude. I think I’m done,’” and handed him the finished project on a piece of paper.

An Aztec Calendar. A truck with a Mexican flag. An Elotero, a vendor who sells corn. These were a few of the images that Omar felt represented his community.

And just like that, they had their power box.

“We handed (Oliverio) the concept and he did his magic,” said Lopez.

Balcells also used colors representative to Mexican culture for the work. He used turquoise and a bright orange.

“I did the acrylic on campus in my studio,” said Balcells. “Then I painted the box and the city took a photograph and printed a vinyl.”

Balcells said he spent weeks discussing the project with Omar, back and forth until they got the vision right.

“I was really happy,” said Balcells. “My student was great with me.”

A month before the project was complete, Oliverio showed Omar a black-and-white outline.

“For Omar, that was mind-blowing,” said Lopez, especially because Balcells had kept the Elotero. Street vendors selling corn are popularly seen in Mexico, said Lopez, and is an important aspect to Mexican-American heritage.

“What more can you ask for?” Lopez said. “That is such a representation of who we are.”

When the artists had finished their co-created power boxes with the students, a presentation was held to show the finished project.

“At the presentation his mom was crying,” said Lopez. “I told him, ‘Check it out! Out of everyone at Chandler High, your box is right here. Everyone is going to see this and this will be your legacy.’”

Lopez said the power box was not only important to Omar but to all of the students who participated in Chandler’s commission, because they all felt it accurately represented their community.

“My inspiration comes from that, to preserve and give to the next generation,” said Balcells. “To take care of what is important. It incorporates family, friends and a neighborhood – even a whole city.”

Historical Museum features multi-talented Arizona artist

BY SHANNON MAKI

Guest Writer

As a young girl, Karen Kuykendall would make frequent trips to the San Diego Zoo because she was fascinated with the animals.

Born in 1928 and a child of the Great Depression, she also had a keen interest in geology and astronomy as she got older and spent a lot of time at the Museum of Natural History.

All of these interests are reflected in her artwork – now on display in a dedicated room at the Mesa Historical Museum. (mesahistoricalmuseum.com)

Kuykendall studied advertising illustration at the Art Center in Los Angeles and motion picture costume design at the Chinouard Art Institute in California.

She visited Arizona in the 1950’s and fell in love with the desert landscape, which would later become the inspiration for the landscapes she created for her fantasy realm, “The Outer Regions.”

She moved to Arizona and obtained her master’s degree in art history from the University of Arizona.

She eventually moved in 1966 to Casa Grande, where she remained until her passing in 1998.

Early in her art career, Kuykendall was interested in science fiction and fantasy art. However, her artwork was often dismissed as being “illustrations and not art.”

She abandoned fantasy illustrations until 1977, when she attended a sci-fi convention in Los Angeles and discovered that her sci-fi/fantasy artwork was finally being appreciated.

This encouraged her to publish Cat People and Other Inhabitants of the Outer Regions, which details the fantasy “Out Regions” realm she created.

While a lot of Kuykendall’s later artwork focused on her fantasy realm, she used a wide array of subjects and styles.

She painted everything from Native Americans and ancient Egyptians, to 60’s and 70’s hippie-inspired art, to sculptures of people and animals in papier mache.

She often prided herself in the fact that when she showcased her work at a booth, most people did not believe that all of the art was created by one artist because of the various different styles she used.

She also incorporated different mediums in her artwork including watercolors, oil painting, tempera on sand, papier-mache, as well as costume and jewelry making.

Her 1,000+ pieces of artwork consisting of paintings, sculptures, dolls, jewelry, and costumes are now a part of the Mesa Historical Museum’s permanent collection and is the focus of a new exhibit.

This is the first time some of Kuykendall’s creations have been seen by the public in 25 years.

Left: The late Arizona artist Karen Kuykendall left a treasure of artwork for Mesa residents to enjoy. Above: Many of Kuykendall's pieces have not been seen by the general public for

more than 25 years. (Special to the STSN)

While the photo on the left indicates Kuykendall's fascination with cats, the one on the right shows her craftsmanship in jewelry design. All that is on display at the Mesa Historical Museum. (Special to the STSN)

PANGEAN from page 48

“It is a pleasure working for someone who is just as passionate about the art; he loves music and I love dance and we come together and work on a common ground and create something beautiful,” she said.

Due to a foot injury, Mallya’s senior dancer, Prarthana Prasad, will perform at this concert.

“The Pangean Orchestra is an amazing team of world music which erases borders, color, creed or any political difference. We artists who love putting our minds together to create something to entertain,” Mallya said.

Wu plays the clarinet and a Chinese wind instrument called the Hulusi.

“It sounds like a person humming to me. Every time I play this instrument, I have this calm, peaceful image in my head, with river, mountain, fog, trees, bamboo raft, egret,” she said, adding “But my Hulusi also has two vents that create harmonies, like an organ.”

As much as the musicians build on the musical components of their work, communicating their unifying message takes precedence.

“The music is nice, but it’s the thoughts as you walk away and ponder that stick with you. If this group can make great music from all different tunings and music systems, why can’t we ‘just all get along?’” Miller said.

O’Donohoe said: “We are living through a time of intensely increasing tribalism. Quarantine accompanied by a fact-optional internet is a deadly mix. Like the continents before us, we are drifting apart from one another.” “We acknowledge that differences among people are natural,” he continued. “We choose to let those differences enhance our ensemble.” Details: thepangeanorchestra.com

TILLMAN from page 47

in interdisciplinary studies in Mathematics and Music from Arizona State University.

“I started majoring in physics at ASU and realized it wasn’t the community for me. It’s not where I was going to attain my highest potential,” he said.

“Music’s always been something that I was drawn to and connected with. So, I knew the physics department and an academic degree really wasn’t a path for me. I chose to find a degree that would suit my life’s choices as well as earn me a credible degree that I could use possibly for employment in the future if I need to do.”

So far, he has made a fulltime career of making music, for himself, for others, and producing tracks for television, film and movies.

He plans to complete the latest project within a year, ideally before December.

The work will be distributed through popular online distribution sites. He plans to perform it at an arts center as well, when the pandemic-related policies are lessened and live audiences are permitted.

Tillman has only applied to one other grant earlier; hence this is the first one he won. He is grateful to the Arizona Arts Commission for its endowment and “focus on helping the little guy develop his art.”

An agency of the State of Arizona, the commission awarded 24 recipients Research & Development Grants for 2021.

Awarded through a competitive application and review process, these $5,000 grants support Arizona artists as they work to advance their artistic practice, expand their creative horizons, and deepen the impact of their work.

“It’s opening up a new horizon for me,” Tillman said. “To be able to get endowment for my creations is a great avenue for me to explore.”

Details: azarts.gov/grant/artist-research-and-development