Making a Dent in art

Williams arist awarded with Education in Art

Bonnie Dent, 30-plus-year Williams Unified School District visual arts teacher, has yet another feather in her proverbial cap for being a proven leader in art education.

On April 18, Dent was one of more than 900 who attended the 25th Anniversary Governor's Arts Awards Dinner and was chosen to be one of six individuals/companies who received an award for contributions to growth and development of the arts in Arizona.

Nearly 120 nominations for the categories came in from across the state and Dent was picked to win the Arts in Education award. Her prize was a hand-woven gathering basket by Hopi artist Dorleen Gashweseoma Lalo, a piece that has been on display in Arizona museums.

"It was an amazing experience ‹ it was amazing to have been chosen," Dent said, adding that until her name was announced, she had no idea she'd won. "I nearly fainted when they called my name."

Dent was nominated by the members of the WUSD school board, who had the bug put in their ear by Dent's husband, David.

"For years, she's really served the district and our kids very well," said board member Dan Barnes. "And we were happy to recognize some of her accomplishments and achievements within the district."

Dent was especially recognized for engaging her students in art-related service projects, such as using culturally significant mosaic stepping stones to assemble components of an outdoor classroom, creating artful shoeboxes and packing them with donations for kids around the world, and promoting a multi-grade program where Williams High School art students serve as instructors to kindergarteners.

Being chosen among a select few, however, is no stranger to Dent. In 1995, she was one of 34 American teachers to serve on a United Nations/China-sponsored educational visitation team and was a delegate to the U.S./China Joint Conference on Women's Rights held in Beijing.

In 1999, Dent was awarded a U.S. Fullbright scholarship to study Japanese art education overseas. The major difference between Japanese and American art education, she said, was that in Japan, instructors seem to focus more on skills and technique while in the states, the emphasis centers around expression and creativity.

Dent says one of the most beneficial aspects of art in the educational system, aside from inspiring creativity, is that students are forced to make choices ‹ such as the materials, themes and colors used ‹ and then expand on those choices to produce an outcome.

"Once they go through that process, they learn how to be able to start predicting the outcome of things, which is very important in everyday living," Dent explained.

Dent wished to thank all of those involved with nominating her for the award, adding that the winners selected are a very exclusive group.