National Hispanic Cultural Center

NHCC Children’s Bilingual Book Festival Image Shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2019

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Albuquerque, N.M.--The logo/image designed by Albuquerque artist Zahra Marwan for the 2019 National Hispanic Cultural Center (NHCC) Children’s Bilingual Book Festival has been shortlisted for the 2019 World Illustration Awards. The image, titled, "Mi abuela tiene un caballo blanco/My grandma has a white horse," was commissioned by the NHCC and Artful Life and is being considered under the "New Talent" category. 


Shortlisted illustrators are featured in a catalogue that is distributed worldwide and the image will appear in a prestigious exhibition at Somerset House in London after the winners are announced at a high-profile awards ceremony July 10, 2019.

 

Illustrators were invited to submit work made in 2018 under one of eight categories. Each category will be judged by a panel of international experts, with Kirstie Johnstone, Creative Production Partner and Board Director at Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO; Stefan Bergmeier, Designer and CEO of Neue Formation GmbH; and Leyla Reynolds, Editor at gal-dem, representing some of the industry’s most respected names.

 

"I was given a description of the book festival and the phrase ’Mi abuela tiene un caballo blanco’ to implement in Diné, English, and Spanish," Marwan writes about the image. "The book festival and poster are supposed to attract under-served children in New Mexico. I decided to add a flying woman with an oud as a reflection of the lyrical history of poetry and literature. The white horse is looking on as the children read, and the Zia symbol on the building is included as a distinct symbol of New Mexico. I was proud to create work for this festival."

 

Marwan grew up in two deserts, New Mexico and Kuwait, which vary drastically and have many similarities in culture. One is close to the sea and the other is close to the mountains. She studied the visual arts in France, and continues various pursuits to further educate herself. She currently lives in the Barelas neighborhood of Albuquerque, N.M., and works in her studio at the Harwood Art Center, where she incorporates Kuwaiti tendencies into her daily life.

 

Festival t-shirts and posters featuring the image can be purchased at the NHCC festival webpage.

 

A high-resolution version of the image is available upon request.

 

 

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The National Hispanic Cultural Center is dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and advancement of Hispanic culture, arts, and humanities, and is a division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs.  

 

If you would like more information, contact Kinsey Cooper, marketing and public relations officer, NHCC, at 505-377-8968 or kinsey.cooper@state.nm.us.


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