A Multi-cultural Instructor for a Diverse City
New York is home to a conglomeration of people from the world over. Ethnic identity is often blurred by intermarriage and cross-cultural connections. Students at The Art Institute of New York City in Tribeca perfectly reflect this diversity.
Isobel Melgarejo teaches Graphic Design at the school. She is passionate about art, and equally passionate about what makes a great artist. She says, “People all over the world can understand the language of symbols, form and color. It is diversity of experience that is the most important element of Graphic Design. This global quality is essential to design.”
Isobel’s father is Peruvian, her mother Irish; she grew up primarily in Sweden, but lived in many other countries, including Costa Rica, Brazil, Switzerland, Peru, and Italy. She and her five siblings went to school wherever they were living at the time. Consequently, she is fluent in English, Spanish and Swedish, and can get along well in French and Portuguese.
Isobel brings her unique gifts to teaching students. “My students come from mixed backgrounds and live in multicultural New York City. But they are often not even aware of what a benefit that is to their creativity.”
Students feel her approval, and blossom under it. According to Graphic Design student Malachi Cameron, “She encouraged me to incorporate my culturally diverse background into my artwork. She makes me feel that it’s a gift. My cultural backgrounds are strong, and there is always something for me to take pride in.”
Malachi’s mother is half Japanese, half Scottish; his father, half Egyptian and half Native American from the Blackfoot tribe. When Malachi was two months old, the family moved to Kochi, Japan, where he lived until he was 10.
Isobel brings to her students the glorious gift of self-acceptance. She is a teacher who can change lives. Rather than feeling odd for coming from diverse backgrounds, or like “mutts,” she urges them to channel all the strands of their backgrounds, and to appreciate and revel in their uniqueness. Malachi says, “Isobel is such a positive person. I, and most students, feel so comfortable around her. I cherish the fact that I know her.”
Romantic addendum:
Recently, Isobel’s own life changed.
She attended the wedding of fellow Art Institute instructor Ross Williams in Australia. Ross is Australian, and his wife is German. While there, she met Dan, from Denmark, raised in London. They communicate in Swedish and Danish which are similar in structure.
Hollywood has an expression, “meet cute.” Isobel and Dan met romantic, on the dance floor, and their relationship took off from there. They found they had travelling in common, but also art. Dan is in the jewelry business, currently working at Harrods, and Isobel is now designing for a company they are starting together.
Update as of March 2010: When the material above was submitted to Isobel for her approval, here was her response. “I am sitting on a plane taking off in 10 minutes for Panama, then Lima Peru. I’m going to see my family, reunite with Dan and see the Inkatha ruins again among other things! A journey of love and passion. Thank you for your generous spirit! Isobel.
Ross Williams
Isobel & Dan
Malachi Cameron
Isobel Melgarejo
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