Mesa Community College Student's Artwork Chosen For Governor's Arts Awards Program, Invitiations

Desert Beauty, a watercolor painting by Mesa Community College student Shachi Kale reflecting the legacy of her Indian heritage and her fascination with Arizona's desert landscape, has been selected as cover artwork for the 38th Annual Governor's Arts Awards program book and invitation.

Kale, a visual storyteller, graphic designer and children's book illustrator, lives in Chandler.

The 2019 Governor's Arts Awards will be presented on March 7 at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown, 101 N. 1st St.

Kale's work was selected from submissions from around the state.

"Shachi's art is an exploration of her internal dialogue and an attempt at understanding herself and the many roles she plays," according to the artist's statement submitted with her entry. "It is a meditation on all her journeys - from India to Arizona, her journey through marriage and motherhood and the internal journey that she takes as she traverses new emotional landscapes."

Kale uses watercolors, acrylics, embroidery and digital arts influenced by her fascination with folk art from around the world and artists' use of flat colors, simple perspective and storytelling. She is also drawn to Indian miniature art and the patterns and decorative elements used in them.

Her work can be found at https://shachikale.wixsite.com/shachi.

The Governor's Arts Awards are presented by Arizona Citizens for the Arts in partnership with the Office of the Governor. Since 1981, more than 200 distinguished artists, individuals, arts and cultural organizations, educators and businesses have received Governor's Arts Awards.

For more information, visit www.azcitizensforthearts.org.

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