REFERENCE TITLE: honoring John Waddell

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fiftieth Legislature First Regular Session 2011

HR 2004

Introduced by Representatives Alston, Campbell, Chabin, Fann, Farley, Hale, Hobbs, Kavanagh, Miranda R, Tobin, Senator Sinema: Representatives Adams, Arredondo, Ash, Barton, Brophy McGee, Crandell, Dial, Fillmore, Gallego, Gonzales, Harper, Judd, Mesnard, Miranda C, Proud, Robson, Saldate, Ugenti, Yee

 

A RESOLUTION

 

honoring john waddell on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday and for his outstanding accomplishments as an artist.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Whereas, Arizona resident John Waddell has distinguished himself as an outstanding artist and world-renowned sculptor; and

Whereas, from an early age, John Waddell immersed himself in the world of art training and teaching.  At the age of seven, he enrolled in art school and at the age of thirteen, he was apprenticed to an artist.  At the young age of twenty-one, he had his first solo show in Peoria, Illinois.  He enrolled in the Art Institute of Chicago, where he eventually received two Master's degrees in Fine Arts and Art Education.  John Waddell went on to teach for several years at various colleges and design institutes, including serving five years as head of the Art Education Department at Arizona State University.  At the age of forty-three, he left the academic world to continue his work as a sculptor full time; and

Whereas, John Waddell has gained a worldwide reputation as a master artist through such important works as "Dance," "The Family" and "Generations."  Distraught at the Birmingham, Alabama church bombing in 1963 that killed four young black girls, he created "That Which Might Have Been," a representation of the women these girls might have grown up to be.  John Waddell's sculptures were recently on display in a new exhibition, "inFLUX:  an Exhibition of Dance" at the Coconino Center for the Arts.  Current displays of his work are at the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doyleson, Pennsylvania (Bucks County), and at the Yavapai Community College, Verde Campus in Clarksdale, Arizona.

Whereas, John Waddell's dedication to his work and tremendous talent in his chosen medium have earned him numerous awards and honors during his career.  In 1995, he was awarded the Governor's Arts Award in the Artist Category and he was the honoree for the first Red Rock Canvas Event in 2007 presented by the Sedona Gallery Association; and

Whereas, John Waddell continues to create his inspiring art at his art studio in Cornville, Arizona.  It is indeed fitting that we honor him on his ninetieth birthday, February 14^th, for a lifetime of achievement in the arts.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona:

That the members of the House of Representatives honor John Waddell, on the auspicious occasion of his ninetieth birthday, for his outstanding accomplishments as an artist and for his many contributions to the Arizona arts community.