David Conley Hawkins

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“I feel very fortunate to be selected as a JKC Scholar. I certainly worked hard to get an education, but I've also benefited so much from dedicated professors, supportive friends and family members. As an undergraduate sculpture major, I tried to work as if everything I made was intended for a gallery or museum -- a professional venue, rather than a classroom critique.”

  • Program: 2011 Graduate Scholarship Recipient
  • Resides: New York, NY
  • Hometown: Reno, NV
  • Age: 26

Biography

Profile:  It wasn’t as a child growing up in Nevada that David Hawkins decided on a career in art.  No, like most young men with a love for the outdoors, David was enjoying his time with his family fly-fishing and camping in the nearby Sierra Nevada Mountains, or skiing on his varsity high school squad, or earning Eagle Scout status, or being part of his school orchestra.  His “ah hah” moment came in South America.  David spent two years living in the Amazon region of Brazil and “a lot of my time was spent doing community service.”  Several times David was invited to paint murals in different communities.  “The happiness and excitement of combining art with service and community led me to wonder if I might be able to have a career in art, and I think that was a turning point.”  David returned to college at Brigham Young University, put all his energies into sculpture and by the time he graduated his works were on display in several galleries in Utah and on the East Coast. He knew he was on his way when as a senior he won an Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award given by the International Sculpture Center.

Inspiration:  In addition to his family and his faith, David said his faculty advisor, Brian Christensen, had a major impact on his life and future career choice.  “He was a true mentor to me.  He was never too busy to talk, give pointers, and help out whenever I needed it.  He was super supportive and kind, and he's a talented artist.”
 
Aspiration: David hopes to earn his Master of Fine Arts at Columbia University, quite a culture change from Utah.  David said he wants “to have as much formal education in my field as possible.”  Similar to all the Graduate Arts Award recipients, David is already set on his career path and is currently working in Utah as an artist and has a busy freelance business on the side.
 
Making a Difference: For David, community service and dedication to the mission of his church are inseparable to him and are even more important to him than his artwork.  Everywhere David has been he has touched people.  Whether as a volunteer mural artist for the United Way or through his missionary work in Brazil, David has reached out and made a difference.
 
Accolades: In addition to the JKCF Scholarship, David also was awarded the 2010 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award.
 

Interesting Fact: David also answers to the nickname “Jethro.”

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