Under the Influence of Art

By Amanda Brobbel, Student Affairs

A native Tucsonan and UA Professor of Painting and Drawing, Alfred J. Quiroz, has a passion for helping students outside of the college of art to explore their inner artist. At a recent Faculty Fellows luncheon, Professor Quiroz shared that he had just commenced a mural project with students at his Faculty Fellow site a Residence Hall called La Cienega. He noted that some of the students who assisted him with the preparation of the canvases had never wielded a saw or hammer and nails. But this is precisely what excites Professor Quiroz about being a Faculty Fellow. The program provides him with a new perspective on students as he “normally [works] with art students and this provides [him] with the opportunity to work with a different student population.”

In a few weeks, Professor Quiroz plans to take interested La Cienega residents on a tour of local galleries and hopes to do a tour of Tucson public art in the near future. Students participating in these events will have the unique opportunity to experience Tucson art from an expert perspective as Professor Quiroz has been a long time participant in the creation of public art and leader of such tours in the past. Indeed, through his work with the Tucson-Pima Arts Council, Professor Quiroz has played an important role in the selection of works of art that can be found around the city.

Students in La Cienega are fortunate to have the opportunity to collaborate with a Professor who possesses a wealth of knowledge and life experience. A Vietnam veteran, Professor Quiroz is known for his colorful, satirical works of art that explore the history and politics of the U.S. and the world. His works often caricature famous political figures and bring to light lesser known historical events that require detailed research. However, Professor Quiroz is not averse to turning the satirical eye on himself, as is demonstrated in a self-portrait, ¡No soy Chicano, soy Aztlano!, which explores his heritage as it interacts with stereotypes that are common in the American Southwest and Mexico.

Although Professor Quiroz’s work is featured in museums and galleries, in the near future the halls of La Cienega may be enhanced by something that is near and dear to this Faculty Fellow’s heart: a mural created by the students who live there.