Albuquerque Academy is honoring Jada Gonzales by creating an artist series fund to promote what she loved—art.
Gonzales, an 18-year-old student at the school, was shot and killed at a house party in northwest Albuquerque two months ago.
“We thought it would be appropriate to create an artist series fund that would bring artists, particularly artists from New Mexico to work with our students, to speak to our community, to work with our faculty, and to really breathe life and art into the Academy and community,” Julianne Puente, head of Albuquerque Academy, told KOB 4 recently. “[Jada] was here since sixth grade and just a tremendous artist.”
Gonzales’ passion for photography was evident to the administration and those who knew her well.
“I feel like Jada really pushed herself,” Karl Orozco, one of Gonzales’ art teachers, told KOB 4. “She took a lot of risks and the photos that she took. She was playing with long exposures as well as this concept of like a frame within a frame.”
Orozco noted that just like one of the last pieces of art she created, Gonzales’ impact will be everlasting.
“The last photo she took, this was like, mid-December, and I remember that week is like a really cold week,” he said. “I think she showed that to me maybe five days before her death.”
Those wishing to donate to the Jada Gonzales ’23 Artist Series Fund can visit giving.veracross.com/albuquerqueacademy/give/JadaGonzalezArtistSeriesFund#gift-amount-step.
