Local stars in arts and science were shining brightly during the 2020 Viola Awards, Saturday, March 7, at the High Country Conference Center. Nine awards were presented, plus two Legacy Awards, which honored biologist Paul Keim and artist Shonto Begay.
“It was a wonderful surprise!” said Keim, Regents Professor of Biology and director of the Pathogen Genomics Division of the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). “I love sharing the legacy recognition with Shonto Begay. Where else can a nerdy scientist like me get lumped together with a creative genius like Shonto?”
Keim earned international fame during the anthrax investigations. He is a critical participant in the development of vaccines and has made Flagstaff an international leader in genomic research.
Begay has had a long, accomplished career as a working artist in Flagstaff. He was born in a hogan and raised on Dineh’ land of the Navajo Nation. His work captures the striking beauty of a traditional Navajo upbringing.
The awards, now in their 12th year, were created by historian Jim Babbitt and named for Viola Babbitt, a painter and long-time advocate of the arts who was born in the Arizona territory in 1894. Viola relative Caleb Cordasco represented the Babbitt family and the Babbitt Brothers Foundation in recognizing local legends Begay and Keim at the gala.
“These recipients should be honored not only for what they have been able to accomplish and the beautiful lives they lead, but for the lives and accomplishments they help to inspire,” he said.
In an interview with FBN, Cordasco said, “Dr. Keim truly exemplifies the kind of world-class research done in Flagstaff.” He called Begay “a cornerstone of art” in the community. “Young artists owe so much of what they will be able to accomplish in Northern Arizona to Shonto.”
Retired U. S. Naval Observatory astronomer Chris Luginbuhl received the Excellence in STEAM Award. The nomination form stated, “No single person has contributed more to Flagstaff’s well-earned reputation as the Worlds’ First International Dark Sky City.”
The award also recognized Luginbuhl’s efforts in events such as the Flagstaff Star Party and Celebration of the Night. “The creative arts and science are both ways for us to understand the universe we live in. They are not separate – they inform and enhance each other,” he said. “I’m pleased to be the first recipient of a new STEAM Viola award that recognizes this, that helps break down the idea that artists and scientists can’t understand each other.”
Flagstaff’s Lunar Legacy community- wide campaign won in the Community Impact category. “This effort involved the sciences, arts, education, recreation, food and beverage, conservation, communication and many more sectors,” said Lowell Observatory Historian Kevin Schindler, who spearheaded the effort. “Officials from NASA told us they are using Lunar Legacy as a model of how to create and implement community events.”
Other winners included the Museum of Northern Arizona for Excellence in Visual Arts; Shayne Smith for Excellence in Education; FlagShakes for Excellence in the Performing Arts; Donivan Berube for Excellence in Music; Lowell Observatory: Giovale Open Deck Observatory for Excellence in Placemaking; Andres “Dapper Dre” Adauto for Community Impact – Individual; and Audrey Young as Emerging Artist. FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN