MADISON, Wis. — Excelling both in competition and the classroom, 187 student-athletes from University of Wisconsin sports teams were named to the spring and at-large 2022-23 Academic All-Big Ten team, as announced by the Big Ten on Monday.

Across 11 teams competing in the spring and at-large for the conference, women’s rowing led the list with 36 honorees, while women’s track and field tallied 35, men’s rowing had 25 recipients and women’s lightweight rowing added 20. The Badgers’ men’s track and field team had 19 honorees, while softball and women’s hockey tied with 16 honorees each. In tennis, the UW women earned six honors and the men’s program earned five honors, while in golf, the UW women earned six honors and the men earned three recognitions.

The Big Ten Conference recognized a total of 2,224 students on spring and at-large sports rosters who have been named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team.

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be on a varsity team, as verified by being on the official squad list as of May 1 for spring sports, have been enrolled full-time at the institution for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

Leading in the classroom, an impressive 13 Badgers maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average (bolded below):

• Danielle Bellino, Women’s Track and Field, Gr., Biology and Nutritional Sciences
• Armoni Brown, Women’s Track and Field, Gr., Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
• Breck Duncan, Men’s Rowing, Gr., Mechanical Engineering
• Brandi Gueths, Women’s Rowing, Gr., Kinesiology
• Vivian Hacker, Women’s Track and Field, Sr., Landscape Architecture
• Kayla Konwent, Softball, Gr., Sports Leadership
• Cami Kronish, Women’s Hockey, Gr., Sports Leadership
• Nicole LaMantia, Women’s Hockey, Gr., Sports Leadership
• Kylie Magnus, Women’s Rowing, So., Conservation Biology and Spanish
• Ava Markham, Women’s Tennis, Sr., Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
• Maggie Munson, Women’s Track and Field, So., Legal Studies and Political Science
• Josie Schaefer, Women’s Track and Field, Gr., Sports Leadership
• Rianne Wagner, Women’s Lightweight Rowing, So., Agronomy

Overall, Wisconsin totals 382 student-athletes who have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors during the 2022-23 academic year across all sports. Read the fall announcement here and the winter announcement here.

Men’s Golf (3)

Cameron Huss, Jr., Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies, Kenosha, Wis.

Graham Moody, So., Business: Supply Chain Management, Vancouver, Wash.

Coalter Smith, Sr., Legal Studies and Political Science, Gross Pointe Farms, Mich.

Women’s Golf (6)

Chloe Chan, So., Civil Engineering and Geography, Hong Kong

Nicole Ciskowski, Sr., Business: Marketing, Barrington, Ill.

Gia Feliciano, Jr., Business: Finance, Investment and Banking, Concord, Calif.

Vanessa Ho, So., Psychology, San Diego, Calif.

Camille Kuznik, So., Health Promotion and Health Equity, Orono, Minn.

Emily Lauterbach, Sr., Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies, Hartland, Wis.

Women’s Hockey (16)

Natalie Buchbinder, Gr., Rehabilitation Psychology, Fairport, N.Y.

Britta Curl, Sr., Kinesiology, Bismarck, N.D.

Lacey Eden, Jr., Business: Marketing and International Business, Annapolis, Md.

Chayla Edwards, Sr., Psychology, Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Jane Gervais, Sr., Business: Operations & Technology Management, Valcourt, Quebec

Sophie Helgeson, So., Personal Finance, Roseau, Minn.

Katie Kotlowski, Sr., Rehabilitation Psychology, Warroad, Minn.

Cami Kronish, Gr., Sports Leadership, New York, N.Y.

Nicole LaMantia, Gr., Sports Leadership, Wayne, Ill.

Casey O’Brien, Jr., Business: Marketing, Milton, Mass.

Marianne Picard, So., Biochemistry, Repentigny, Quebec

Grace Shirley, Sr., Rehabilitation Psychology, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Sophie Shirley, Sr., Health Promotion & Health Equity, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Mayson Toft, Jr., Rehabilitation Psychology, Lowry, Minn.

Maddi Wheeler, Jr., Kinesiology, Erinsville, Ontario

Sarah Wozniewicz, So., Business: Finance, Investment & Banking and Actuarial Science, Cochrane, Alberta

Men’s Rowing (25)

Joshua Barth, Sr., Business: Risk Management & Insurance and Finance, Investment & Banking, Verona, Wis.

Henry Benton, So., Business: Finance, Investment & Banking, New Canaan, Conn.

Benjamin Burke, Jr., Political Science, St. Louis

Joseph Cleary, Sr., Business: Accounting and Information Systems, Brookfield, Wis.

Peter Davis, So., Mechanical Engineering, Alamo, Calif.

Breck Duncan, Gr., Mechanical Engineering, Brookfield, Wis.

Olin Frederiks, Sr., Statistics, Old Lyme, Conn.

Connor Goff, Jr., Economics, Kenilworth, Ill.

Daniel Hintzman, Jr., Business: Real Estate & Urban Land Economics and Music, New Berlin, Wis.

Matthew King, Sr., Agricultural Business Management, Naperville, Ill.

Will Klipstine, So., Mechanical Engineering, Middleton, Wis.

Dylan Knanishu, So., Electrical Engineering, Batavia, Ill.

Mitchell Lafferty, So., Mechanical Engineering, Madison, Wis.

Sebastian Murrell, Sr., Data Science, Washington, D.C.

Jack O’Brien, So., Civil Engineering, Cos Cob, Conn.

Jonah Rane, Sr., Communication Arts, Glencoe, Ill.

Andrew Sabee, So., Computer Sciences and Computer Engineering, Oshkosh, Wis.

Aidan Schmidt, Sr., Biology, Eagan, Minn.

Liam Smith, So., Personal Finance, Rockford, Mich.

Walter Stanwood, So., Biology, Duxbury, Mass.

Luke Truog, So., Economics, Pewaukee, Wis.

Grayson VanLue, Sr., Microbiology, Brookfield, Wis.

Henry Voeller, So., Economics and Philosophy, Cedarburg, Wis.

Garrison Waugh, Jr., Data Science and Computer Sciences, Williamsburg, Mich.

Josh Wehking, Sr., Civil Engineering, Marshall, Wis.

Women’s Lightweight Rowing (20)

Maddie Buckley, So., Neurobiology and Psychology, Fox Point, Wis.

Claire Carlson, Sr., Industrial Engineering, Bloomington, Minn.

Emma Collins, Jr., Communication Arts, Duxbury, Mass.

Camila Darvin, Sr., Wildlife Ecology, Madison, Wis.

Grace DeNunzio, Sr., Business: Accounting, Nashville, Tenn.

Olivia Foli, So., Psychology and Spanish, Golden Valley, Minn.

Miranda Gilbertson, Sr., Data Science and German, Chanhassen, Minn.

Kate Hughes, So., Mechanical Engineering, Waukesha, Wis.

Helena Ikenberry, So., Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

Falcon Jaacks, Jr., Computer Sciences and Textiles & Fashion Design, Brownsville, Vt.

Carly Johnson, So., Business: Marketing, Jupiter, Fla.

Hannah Klein, So., Business: Information Systems and Finance, Investment & Banking, Orinda, Calif.

Alicia Le Bars, Jr., Neurobiology, San Jose, Calif.

Olivia Moore, So., Nursing, Elkhorn, Wis.

Evelyn Payne, So., Kinesiology, Minneapolis

Sarah Rab, So., Biology and Latin, Skillman, N.J.

Abby Stoa, So., Elementary Education and Education Studies, Lakeville, Minn.

Aubrey Trimbach, So., Neurobiology, Dayton, Ohio

Rianne Wagner, So., Agronomy, Wilmette, Ill.

Gracie Walker, So., Horticulture, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

Women’s Rowing (36)

Anna Ardito, Sr., Microbiology, Mahtomedi, Minn.

Grace Belson, Sr., Legal Studies and Sociology, Stevens Point, Wis.

Alexandra Bogner, Sr., Agricultural & Applied Economics, Environmental Studies, and Psychology, Middleton, Wis.

Katherine Breen, Sr., Engineering Physics, Mississauga, Ontario

Susie Bruce, Sr., Data Science, Oxford, Md.

Nora Byrne, Jr., Legal Studies and Psychology, Shorewood, Wis.

Fiona Campbell, So., Political Science, Washington, D.C.

Sarah Chan, Jr., Business: Real Estate & Urban Land Economics and Finance, Investment & Banking, Manhasset, N.Y.

Nora Clements, So., Elementary Education, Chicago

Caitlin Cowan, Jr., Economics, Los Angeles

Kendra Davis, Gr., Data Science and Computer Sciences, Oshkosh, Wis.

Julia DiNapoli, Sr., Biology, Northford, Conn.

Victoria Dugan, Jr., Human Development & Family Studies and Education Studies, Princeton, N.J.

Allison Elli, Sr., Anthropology and Environmental Studies, Wilmette, Ill.

Paula Filios, Sr., Economics and German, Alexandria, Va.

Jaclyn Garwood, Gr., Biological Systems Engineering, Burlington, Wis.

Brandi Gueths, Gr., Kinesiology, Shawano, Wis.

Lizzy Hanemann, Jr., Civil Engineering, Bridgewater, N.J.

Sophia Henshue, Gr., Kinesiology, Madison, Wis.

Morgan Jensema, Jr., Geography and Environmental Studies, Hortonville, Wis.

Tatum Korb, So., Interior Architecture, Los Gatos, Calif.

Eliza Lacoursiere, So., Undeclared, Green Bay, Wis.

Josefina Laznickova, Jr., Communication Arts and Journalism, Prague, Czech Republic

Ana Magana Campos, So., Communication Arts and Art, Sevilla, Spain

Kylie Magnus, So., Conservation Biology and Spanish, Fitchburg, Wis.

Katelyn Mamrick, So., Business: Risk Management & Insurance and Actuarial Science, Greer, S.C.

Lindsey Meyer, Jr., Psychology, Madison, Wis.

Jordan Morrissey, So., Biochemistry, Milwaukee

Georgia Morrow, Jr., Data Science and Computer Sciences, Minnetonka, Minn.

Macy Mosner, So., Psychology and Human Development & Family Studies, Lancaster, Pa.

Rebecca Sands, Sr., Biology, Miami

Jadyn Schensky, So., Kinesiology, Madison, Wis.

Sky Teegen, Sr., Psychology and Legal Studies, Crystal Lake, Ill.

Genevieve Whitehead, Sr., Agricultural Business Management and Economics, Glen Innes, NSW, Australia

Avery Wright, Jr., Rehabilitation Psychology and Psychology, Stillwater, Minn.

Oona Zilavy, So., Interior Architecture, Seattle

Softball (16)

Christaana Angelopulos, Sr., Communication Arts, Arvada, Colo.

Peyton Bannon, Jr., Human Development and Family Studies, Spring Grove, Ill.

Eden Dempsey, So., Civil Engineering, Jefferson, Wis.

Fiona Girardot, Sr., Business: Real Estate and Urban Land Economics, River Forest, Ill.

Abigail Herbst, Sr., Business: Management and Human Resources, Greenwood, Ind.

Kayla Konwent, Gr., Sports Leadership, Salem, Wis.

Brooke Kuffel, So., Undeclared, Crystal Lake, Ill.

Kate Linkletter, So., Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies, Johnsburg, Ill.

Tessa Magnanimo, Sr., Psychology, Los Angeles, Calif.

Alyssa McClelland, Sr., Biology and Health Promotion & Health Equity, Kenosha, Wis.

Marytherese Nevin, So., Psychology, Orland Park, Ill.

Grace O’Brien, So., Mechanical Engineering, Hudson, Wis.

Gabi Salo, Jr., Health Promotion & Health Equity, Escanaba, Mich.

Molly Schlosser, So., Health Promotion & Health Equity, Oconomowoc, Wis.

Maddie Schwartz, Gr., Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies, Chanhassen, Minn.

Skylar Sirdashney, Jr., Psychology, The Woodlands, Texas

Men’s Tennis (5)

Gabriel Huber, Sr., Business: Finance, Investment & Banking and Risk Management & Insurance, Innsbruck, Austria

Mihailo Popovic, Jr., Computer Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia

Robin Parts, Sr., Economics, Tallin, Estonia

Jared Pratt, Gr., Chemistry, Charleston, S.C.

Sebastian Vile, Sr., Psychology, Rochester, Minn.

Women’s Tennis (6)

Xinyu Cai, Sr., Communication Arts, Wuhan, China

Taylor Cataldi, So., Political Science, Corona, Calif.

Ariel Johnson, So., Undeclared, Coconut Creek, Fla.

Ava Markham, Sr., Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, Demarest, N.J.

Alina Mukhortova, Jr., Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies and Information Science, Krasnodar, Russia

Charmaine Seah, Sr., Computer Sciences, Singapore

Men’s Track & Field (19)

Cade Amborn, Gr., Kinesiology, Bangor, Wis.

Sam Amusan, Jr., Biology, Rochester, Minn.

Liam Belson, Sr., Athletic Training, Stevens Point, Wis.

Jake Bourget, So., Kinesiology, Stevens Point, Wis.

Sam Coil, Gr., Business: Accounting, Sturgeon Lake, Minn.

Rowen Ellenberg, Sr., Civil Engineering, Appleton, Wis.

Colin Enz, Gr., Business: Accounting and Finance, Investment & Banking, Neenah, Wis.

Elliott Harris, So., Biomedical Engineering, Franklin, Wis.

Abdullahi Hassan, Jr., Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies and Information Science, Toronto, Ontario

Robby Hatch, Sr., Biology and Nutritional Sciences, Lodi, Wis.

Nick Hruskoci, Jr., Personal Finance, Fishers, Ind.

Quinn Lansill, Sr., Art, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Bob Liking, Jr., Physical Education, St. Charles, Ill.

Max Peckenschneider, Jr., Biology, Minneapolis

Jacob Schaefer, So., Personal Finance, Baraboo, Wis.

Adam Spencer, So., Business: Finance, Investment and Banking, Mckinnon, Australia

Jason Swarens, Sr., Mechanical Engineering, Terre Haute, Ind.

Joshua Truchon, So., Mechanical Engineering, West Allis, Wis.

Jacob Zednik, So., Landscape and Urban Studies, Elmsford, N.Y.

Women’s Track & Field (35)

Danielle Bellino, Gr., Biology and Nutritional Sciences, Lakeville, Minn.

Lauren Bilau, Jr., Neurobiology, Fort Atkinson, Wis.

CP Breit, Jr., Zoology and Biology, Downers Grove, Ill.

Armoni Brown, Gr., Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, Waukesha, Wis.

Mya Bunke, So., Kinesiology, Slinger, Wis.

Lucinda Crouch, Sr., Business: Finance, Investment & Banking and Risk Management & Insurance, Brisbane, Australia

Tia Dorshorst, Gr., Public Health, Rudolph, Wis.

Kylie Finger, So., Biology, Oconomowoc, Wis.

Taylor Gilling, Sr., Health Promotion & Health Equity, Highland Park, Ill.

Vivian Hacker, Sr., Landscape Architecture, Madison, Wis.

Victoria Heiligenthal, Sr., Biomedical Engineering, Milford, Mich.

Heidi Heuerman, Sr., Business: Supply Chain Management, Operations & Technology Management, and Marketing, Columbus, Ohio

Mackenzie Heyroth, Sr., Psychology and Art, Lodi, Wis.

Destiny Huven, Sr., Human Development & Family Studies and Psychology, Milwaukee, Wis.

Danni Langseth, So., Business: Management and Human Resources, Weston, Wis.

Chloe Lindeman, Sr., Sociology, Fulton, Ill.

Madison Mooney, Gr., Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, Broomfield, Colo.

Julia Moore, So., Business: Marketing and International Business, Hartland, Wis.

Maggie Munson, So., Legal Studies and Political Science, Plymouth, Wis.

Chikere Oduocha, Jr., Nursing, Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Danielle Orie, Gr., Law, Buffalo, N.Y.

Abby Peeler, So., Sociology, Elburn, Ill.

Ashley Peterson, Jr., Psychology, Minocqua, Wis.

Kate Ricks, Sr., Neurobiology, Indianapolis

Kiley Robbins, Jr., Biology, Milwaukee, Wis.

Olivia Roberts, Sr., Mechanical Engineering, Plymouth, Minn.

Shea Ruhly, Sr., Biology and Psychology, Middleton, Wis.

Josie Schaefer, Gr., Sports Leadership, Baraboo, Wis.

Anna Schoesser, Jr., Civil Engineering, Badhomburg, Germany

Peyton Sippy, Sr., Rehabilitation Psychology, Janesville, Wis.

Kate Sperka, So., Neurobiology, Muskego, Wis.

Samantha Stieve, Sr., Business: Accounting, Germantown, Wis.

Ellen Van Doorn, Jr., Biochemistry, Nijmegen, Netherlands

Emma Watcke, Jr., Political Science, Hinsdale, Ill.

Alexa Westley, Sr., Health Promotion & Health Equity, Washington, N.J.

BALTIMORE – Nearly 80 workers at the Walters Art Museum have overwhelmingly voted to form their union with AFSCME Maryland Council 3.  

Workers voted 60-5 in favor of their union during a June 15 election conducted by the American Arbitration Association. The new bargaining unit will consist of staff from the departments of retail operations, conservation, curatorial, safety and security, building operations, marketing and communication, installation and collections, learning and community engagement, and others. 

“I’m so overwhelmingly proud and happy to be a part of this amazing accomplishment. I’m in awe of my courageous colleagues who fought to make this happen. This is a great day and will be a lasting legacy we leave behind for future employees of the Walters,” said Will Murray, a lead maintenance technician at the Walters.  

The workers announced their intention to form Walters Workers United (WWU) in spring 2021 to resolve concerns regarding health and safety, pay equity, a voice in the workplace, and paths to career advancement, among other reasons. 

Throughout the organizing process, workers steadfastly fought for a “wall-to-wall” union — one union for all workers across the museum. Workers felt strongly that they should not be divided into two different bargaining units with multiple unions. 

“After more than two years of organizing, we are excited to see Walters Art Museum workers win their union election. The victory brings Walters Workers United closer towards a workplace where their talent and contributions are valued and their input and voices are respected and heard. We’re honored to have the members of Walters Workers United as part of the AFSCME Maryland family because all workers deserve the right to organize for the pay, respect and better working conditions,” said Council 3 President Patrick Moran. 

This victory is the third big win in the past year for Baltimore’s cultural workers organizing with AFSCME. Last year, workers at the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Enoch Pratt Free Library won their union elections with AFSCME.  

This wave of organizing is part of a national movement of workers at cultural and arts institutions coming together and organizing with AFSCME Cultural Workers United. CWU is a national organizing program that has enabled workers at museums, libraries, zoos and other cultural institutions to build power and gain a voice in the workplace.  

“I need to see what’s wrong in society, and then reflect it in my murals. At the same time, I wanted to reflect what’s beautiful in society and in my community,” Leo summarized while explaining the intenion behind his works.  

28 years after unveiling the murals, Tanguma spoke to Rocky Mountain PBS at his granddaughter’s home surrounded by family photos and artwork. His daughter and collaborator Leticia Darlina Tanguma was nearby offering emotional support, welling with pride as her father reflected on his artistic legacy. 

“It was a spiritual awakening for me,” he added. “I’ve always been spiritual, I think. But those experiences moved me more to consider that what I had in my abilities was a God-given talent. And I think that was made important in those murals.”  

DIA conspiracies  

The murals at the airport, now temporarily in storage, depict the terrors of war and pollution. Amongst the chaos is a group of sleeping children. From their minds extends a grey mist that turns into a rainbow, leading to a portrayal of an ideal world entitled “In Harmony with Peace and Nature.”

Image courtesy: Denver International Airport

Despite the effort Tanguma, Darlina, and their supporters poured into the murals, the type of fame and recognition they received wasn’t what many artists pine for. Since their unveiling, conspiracy theories about the murals have run rampant.  

Darlina’s learned about some of the rumors in the early 2000’s. She recalls hearing, “‘People hate that mural. They say, you wanted 9/11 because of that figure of war. They say that in the Bible, all these dirty animals are unclean. They say, ‘Why are you painting people in coffins?’ And, you know, just on and on where it became a terrible conspiracy.” 

The delayed construction of the airport continued to feed rumors of secret underground networks, and with each new idea came a web of uncredible theories attempting to tie other works of art at the airport, like the mustang sculpture nicknamed “Blucifer,” to rumors of plotted terror.  

People have profited from books and documentaries about the theories, but Tanguma and Darlina say they have rarely been asked about the actual meaning behind the murals. 

And while many people find the conspiracies laughable (DIA has even turned some into a marketing opportunity), the consequences of these rumors are far from funny for the Tanguma family. 

The Impact of the conspiracy theories 

According to Darlina, the conspiracy theories started before the murals were even complete.  

“We did have a few people come in at the time that were painting it. They said, don’t paint this. There’s like a new world order. We had no idea what they were talking about back then.” Darlina shared. 

As soon as the conspiracy theories began, Tanguma lost two valuable commissions, and according to Darlina, both of them were harassed. Some people even resorted to death threats.

“People have said things like, ‘You need to destroy the art, you need to destroy the artist who did this,’” she recalled.  

“I thought and I still think that these people are deranged,” said Tanguma.  “For example, one religious minister called the mural satanic. Others said that they saw demons.”  

Despite the airport allowing Darlina to have plaques installed explaining the murals, the conspiracies continued. 

Darlina said that while people have the right to interpret art as they would like, it’s important to acknowledge the cruelty behind how these theories unfolded. She said that to overlook the important messages of peace, justice and hope the murals were meant to portray causes harm to more than her family.  

“They’re [the conspiracies] destroying the artwork, too.” explained Darlina. “I’ve met other people that have been so depressed,” she continued, referring to people who feared the conspiracy theories were true.  

Faces of our community 

Family friend of the Tagumas, Cheryl Detwiler Mihaka, also helped create the murals and Taguma says that her talent combined with Darlina’s helped them portay a deep sense of compassion with the murals. 

“Both my daughter and Cheryl had experienced physical violence in relationships, so that also humanized them more. I think that’s one thing that happens,” he shared.  “So, I had not only fantastically talented young women working with me, but also they brought me back to the spirituality of what we were trying to do.” 

Leticia proudly poses by the mural (image courtesy Leticia Darlina Tanguma)

Tanguma also explained why he wanted the mural to come from the perspective of a child. “I think that there is a certain innocence among the oppressed, among the people that are uneducated, that don’t have access practically, to life.” 

Tanguma was also influenced by his work with youth who had been imprisoned, and others who were high schoolers that he painted alongside. 

“I think that my connection with painting with young people, there’s been that that I’ve seen the possibilities and I’ve seen the destruction,” he summarized. 

The focus of youth seemed to add to the draw of passers-by, who also impacted the direction of the murals. Between 1992 and 1995, Tanguma painted murals in a room in the Lakeside Mall. The combination of large panels and Mexican music drew in curious patrons.  

Word spread of the work in progress, and parents asked for their children to be depicted in “Children of the World Dream of Peace.” Amongst the parents were some who had lost their children and asked Tanguma to memorialize them in the mural.  

One mother asked for a depiction of her son who had recently passed from suicide, another whose daughter was killed while helping her friend escape an abusive situation.  Some had lost their children to gang violence. 

A clip from a Denver Post feature, mothers emotionally embracing after seeing their children memorialized in the murals.

Also featured in the mural was Tanguma’s young granddaughter and her Denver cousins and classmates, as well as children from around the world such as young activist Samantha Smith, (who passed in a plane crash), or brothers who marched for peace in Afghanistan. And while originally, he hadn’t planned to include political elements, Tanguma said the need to depict the injustices of war became apparent – an issue he was all too familiar with after having served in the military. 

Connecting Colorado to the rest of the world 

While painting the children, Tanguma asked for the families’ countries of origin, and depicted the children in the traditional clothing from each area. Over time, as many as 70 different countries were portrayed. 

“These are fantastic experiences that have to mold you, because you see the beauty of humanity daily, from many, many countries of the world,” he reminisced.

(Left) Tanguma painting traditional garb from various countries. 

Tanguma hoped that by including each of these countries, the artists could spread a message of peace to places beyond Colorado. 

“I saw that as an opportunity to take the ideas that I have learned in my own community, a community where there is aspiring for greater civil rights and cultural identity, that permitted me to share those ideas with the passers-by from almost any country in the world.” 

A resilient legacy 

Attempts to destroy the artwork of the Tanguma family are not new to them. Leo Tanguma has faced critiques of his work since he was a child in Texas. 

“When I was in the fifth grade in elementary school, I did some drawings on the blackboard about my classmates killing our town Sheriff,” he recalled. “So, I got severely punished for that. But the reason I did that is because the sheriff in our hometown was the killer. He had killed up to that point seven Mexican Americans, including two of my mom’s cousins.” 

Tanguma continued to do artwork portraying both injustice and visions for resolution. He was commissioned for a mural while stationed in Germany, and once again in the 1960s when he was transferred to California. There, he did a mural honoring the Mexican American movement for civil rights.

(Right)Tanguma painting a depiction of police brutality in Houston, TX. 

Eventually, his artist studio in his hometown of Houston was destroyed in a case of suspected arson. Around this time, his wife, Darlina’s mother, passed away from cancer. The family decided to try to start anew in Denver, where Darlina began her career as an artist while Tanguma continued creating well-known murals in places like the Denver Art Museum. 

“Imagine a person that’s blacklisted in Houston. When I got to Denver, the Denver Art Museum asked me to do a mural inside the museum. What beautiful feelings that I had,” he shared. “But I still kept painting issues. I thought that besides the beautiful city and surroundings that I see, still there remained police brutality, education, women’s liberation, war, all those issues still needed to be addressed.” 

Through it all, Tanguma and his daughter have remained strong in their messages of hope, connected to art, and perhaps most importantly, connected to each other.  

“My daughter has been the most important figure that I’ve ever painted with,” Tanguma shared. “Because not only is she talented, but she’s aware, aware of conditions, aware of our culture and our history.”

Tanguma proudly displays the endangered Snow Leopard daughter Darlina painted from memory.

And as far as the conspiracies go, they haven’t stopped the Tangumas either.  “It made me more dedicated, I think, because after that I did a number of other murals with social and cultural meaning,” he said. 

Darlina continues to collaborate with community in her artwork both independently and through the Redline Contemporary Art Center’s ‘Reach’ program, and Tanguma is planning a mural with students from East High School. 

“I think rumors like the airport conspiracies and the mural conspiracies, they really seek to destroy the human connection, the human spirit.” Darlina said. “But I want to create artwork that will bring us together.” 

Elle Naef is the multimedia producer at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach her at ellenaef@rmpbs.org.

Alexis Kikoen is the executive producer at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach her at alexiskikoen@rmpbs.org.

Peter Vo is the journalism intern at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at petervo@rmpbs.org.

Tracy McCormick, Rosalina Cardenas, Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, and Ken McCormick (Photo credit: Pasadena Community Foundation/Camille Stemmons Photography)

Phoebe Ray, Manager of Mt Lowe Chamber Players, shares remarks at the Pasadena Community Foundation Arts & Culture Grants Reception (Photo credit: Pasadena Community Foundation/Camille Stemmons Photography)

Reception hosts Rosalina and Frank Cardenas (PCF board member) (Photo credit: Pasadena Community Foundation/Camille Stemmons Photography)

Phoebe Ray (center left), Manager of Mt. Lowe Chamber Players, joins members of the Mt. Lowe Chamber Players and Jeannine Bogaard (center right), Program Director of Pasadena Community Foundation (Photo credit: Pasadena Community Foundation/Camille Stemmons Photography)

Pasadena Community Foundation’s Arts & Culture Grants Reception, celebrating the grantee recipient organizations (Photo credit: Pasadena Community Foundation/Camille Stemmons Photography)

Pasadena Community Foundation President & CEO, Jennifer DeVoll, shares remarks at the PCF Arts & Culture Grants Celebration, June 15, 2023 (Photo credit: Pasadena Community Foundation/Camille Stemmons Photography)

Kristan Browne Swan, Phil Swan, and Emily Hopkins, Executive Director of Side Street Projects (Photo credit: Pasadena Community Foundation/Camille Stemmons Photography)

Karen Lang and Chrystal Johnson (Photo credit: Pasadena Community Foundation/Camille Stemmons Photography)

Julia Rodriguez-Elliot, Producing Artistic Director of A Noise Within, shares remarks at the Pasadena Community Foundation Arts & Culture Grants Reception (Photo credit: Pasadena Community Foundation/Camille Stemmons Photography)

Jeannine Bogaard with Katsy Chappell, Arroyo Repertory Theatre (Photo credit: Pasadena Community Foundation/Camille Stemmons Photography)

Danny Feldman, Pasadena Playhouse, and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, A Noise Within (Photo credit: Pasadena Community Foundation/Camille Stemmons Photography)

Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) is proud to announce funding to 18 local nonprofit organizations as part of its inaugural Arts & Culture Grant Program. The recipients range from  emerging to established organizations, and the grants, totaling $335,000, provide flexible support to help each  organization address ongoing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Arts patrons and PCF supporters Terri and  Jerry Kohl augmented PCF’s support with a $100,000 gift, which helped extend funding to additional  organizations. See complete list of grantees on page 2.  

PCF’s funding will help the organizations with post-pandemic adaptations like innovative program delivery, new  audience curation, and organizational changes. Among the projects planned are the creation of literature and  music education programs at several PUSD schools, technology upgrades, the expansion of family-centered and  emerging artists programs, hiring staff for marketing and audience engagement, and exploring works from  traditionally underrepresented playwrights and composers to create new performance opportunities.  

The Arts & Culture Grants are part of a long history of the Foundation’s support for the arts. PCF’s first arts grant  was in 1973, and since that time, with the help of PCF donors and endowment builders, it has awarded more than  500 grants totaling more than $3 million to local arts and cultural organizations. Learn more about PCF’s impact in  the arts.  

Since the onset of the pandemic, PCF has channeled additional resources to local arts organizations. In 2020, PCF  partnered with the City of Pasadena to support its emergency Art & Culture Relief Grant Program. In 2021, the  Foundation disbursed an additional $100,000 in unrestricted funding for arts recovery. 

Those initial efforts led to a “listening tour” in 2022, during which PCF visited 16 nonprofit arts organizations and  arts leaders to learn how the pandemic had created unique and enduring challenges within the sector. These  included a shift in audience demographics, attendance, and expectations; a dramatic rise in operation costs due to  the supply chain and national inflation; and an urgent need to invest in new technologies to support hybrid  programming and more sophisticated multimedia productions. Conversely, the organizations also recognize that  this period offers a great deal of opportunity to strengthen capacity, diversity, and audience support. They are eager to tackle this new reality creatively and will use PCF’s funding to do so. 

PCF President & CEO Jennifer DeVoll notes that PCF’s new grant program responds to similar issues that just led  the Mark Taper Forum to announce its temporary closure. “PCF is terribly saddened by news of the Mark Taper  Forum. We keenly understand that the Forum’s challenges are shared by many arts organizations. We feel that  expanding PCF’s commitment to arts and culture provides recognition of the important role that these organizations play in the vibrancy of our community.”

2023 Arts & Culture Grantee Organizations 

A Noise Within Parson’s Nose Theater 
Armory Center for the Arts Pasadena Conservatory of Music  
Arroyo Repertory Theatre Pasadena Heritage 
Boston Court Pasadena Pasadena Master Chorale 
Harmony Project Pasadena Photography Arts  
Light Bringer Project Pasadena Playhouse 
Los Angeles Children’s Chorus Pasadena Symphony Association 
Mt. Lowe Chamber Players Side Street Projects 
MUSE/IQUE Synchromy 

Founded in 1953, Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) is a tax-exempt public charity created by and for the people of  Pasadena. Managing more than $140 million in charitable assets, PCF works with individuals, families, and organizations to  establish philanthropic funds, create and build endowment funds, and distribute charitable gifts to nonprofit organizations. In  2022, PCF granted $2.2 million to 116 Pasadena-area nonprofits in six areas of interest.