The 47th annual Mayor’s Bright Night Awards for the Arts ceremony spotlighted local performers and recognized artists nominated by community members at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center Wednesday night. “I would like the Evanston art community to know that (the city) is a fertile ground for the arts to thrive and live,” Arts and Cultural Engagement Specialist Juelle Daley said. “I’m here to help pour some water and some fertilizer on it.” The awards were hosted by the Evanston Arts Council. Out of 21 nominees spanning a diverse range of visual and performing arts, two received awards. The first award was presented to visual artist Alfonso “Piloto” Nieves Ruiz, who began producing art years ago as a way of processing his move from Mexico to the U he said. In one of his earliest works, Ruiz said he combined garbage and clay to represent the overconsumption of material goods and society’s detachment from the natural world. Ruiz is currently working on a mural at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Center, using handprints to create an image of a Ghanaian sankofa bird to symbolize remembrance. “A mural is another member of the community,” Ruiz said. “Public art, it’s about mental health, about community health.” The second recipient, guitarist Donovan Mixon, owns the jazz performance venue Donovan’s Garage on Hurd Avenue. In his acceptance speech, Mixon told the story of how his business originated. After feeling isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic, he began playing music with his friends in his garage, eventually gaining the public’s attention. In addition to being a local business owner, Mixon is also a recording artist who released his latest album, “Finding Center, A Sonic Memoir,” on Tuesday. “It’s about life,” Mixon said. “This one in particular is a memoir about recent history of mine and trials and tribulations.” Before presenting the awards, Mayor Daniel Biss discussed the importance of art to create connections across the community, especially with federal government immigration activity occurring in Evanston. After the presentations and performances, audience members could meet the art council and award recipients. Ninth Ward resident Mark Ryter said this was his third time attending the event because without art, Evanston would be a “boring place.” “I just hope everybody comes out and donates to the arts, supports the arts and goes to Evanston cultural events, because that’s what makes the city rich,” Ryter said. Email: [email protected] X: @Deutsch_Allison Related Stories: Evanston Printmakers showcase best of the city with ‘Visit Evanston’ exhibit Local artist to create thousands of life-sized bird sculptures to prevent avian collisions.
https://dailynorthwestern.com/2025/11/21/city/mayors-awards-for-the-arts-showcases-artists-spirit-imagination/
Mayor’s Awards for the Arts showcases artists’ spirit, imagination
