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IAIA 2021 Scholarship Event and Auction-A Great Success

The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) 2021 Virtual Scholarship Event and Auction was an artistic and financial success, generating over $460,000 from event donations and art purchases for IAIA student scholarships. IAIA President Dr. Robert Martin (Cherokee) reports that "this extraordinary and generous support from countless individuals and businesses will make a college education a reality for hundreds of students."

On Wednesday, August 18, 2021, hundreds of people came together in person and virtually to raise critical scholarship support for IAIA students. Co-hosts Shane Hendren (Choctaw/Diné), artist and IAIA alum, and KOAT anchor Royale Da (San Ildefonso Pueblo), hosted the live-stream event from the IAIA campus, which featured virtual appearances by Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin, actor Mark Ruffalo, US Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández, New Mexico Senator Ben Ray Luján, Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber, IAIA President Dr. Robert Martin, and others.

The online Scholarship Auction featured 72 works by 63 Native artists, many award-winning IAIA alumni. An exhibition of the auction art was displayed in IAIA's Balzer Contemporary Edge Gallery on campus. The works of art included a rich mix of paintings, photography, ceramics, sculpture, textiles, jewelry, and more, including works by Keri Ataumbi (Kiowa) '96, Kelly Church (Grand Traverse Band) '96, Kenneth Johnson (Mvskoke/Seminole), Linda Lomahaftewa (Hopi/Choctaw) '65, Kevin Redstar (Crow) '65, Laura Fragua-Cota (Jemez Pueblo/Pecos) '84, George Rivera (Pojoaque Pueblo) '84, Cara Romero (Chemehuevi Indian Tribe) '05, Crystal Worl (Tlingit/Athabascan) '13, and many more.

The 2021 scholarship event featured IAIA alumna Kathleen Wall (Jemez Pueblo) '14. Wall created a collection of work specifically for the event, titled Create Our Future-Honor Our Past, featuring an extraordinary cohort of artists who contributed to the final work. Contributing artists include Tony Abeyta (Navajo Nation) '86, Penny Singer (Diné) '96, Diego Romero (Cochiti Pueblo) '86, Jody Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo), Marcus Amerman (Choctaw), Kelly Church (Potawatomi/Odawa/Ojibwe) '96, Wanesia Spry Misquadace (Ojibway) '04, and Linda Lomahaftewa (Hopi/Choctaw) '65.

In addition to the auction, the event also included a live paddle call for direct scholarship support, and special appearances by IAIA students, alumni, and celebrity supporters.

About the Institute of American Indian Arts

Offering undergraduate degrees in Studio Arts, Creative Writing, Cinematic Arts and Technology, Indigenous Liberal Studies, Museum Studies, and Performing Arts, MFAs in Creative Writing and Studio Arts, along with certificates in Broadcast Journalism, Business and Entrepreneurship, Museum Studies, and Native American Art History. The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) is the only college in the nation dedicated to the study of contemporary Native arts. The school serves approximately 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) Native and non-Native American college students from across the globe. IAIA is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

 

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