“Heck Tabie, you’re so cool and also vital to the community! “ - a friend
Meet Tabie
Tabitha Nygaard is a passionate, driven artist and educator from Southern Utah. She graduated as an Art Major from Dixie State University in 2017. Throughout her college career at Dixie State University and the University of Utah, her award-winning work has been featured in student art shows and galleries across diverse mediums and styles. Living in St. George, UT with her husband Jay and Great Dane Jefa, Tabitha has enjoyed being the art specialist at Horizon Elementary, Majestic Fields Elementary, and Little Valley Elementary for almost 5 years.
She also runs a small art business called Last Chance Brass where she and her husband turn old musical instruments into functional art. Their work has been featured throughout the state, online, and at the St. George Arts Festival (2021). It can also be found on their website, lastchancebrass.com and Instagram. Some of Tabitha’s and Jay’s 2D art can be found downtown on a couple of power boxes near the Tabernacle. Look for the colorful doodles!
Musically, Tabitha is the administrative coordinator of the St. George Jazz Festival and facilitates jazz performances and education for hundreds of students. As a performer, she is a member of the Southwest Symphony Orchestra and plays both French horn and trumpet. In addition to her many artistic hobbies, she also enjoys playing games with her family and working with them on several ongoing, hands-on projects, including the restoration of her orange 1977 Corvette.
I am honestly just trying to enjoy life and make a small difference in my community. Sometimes I’m hard to recognize as my hair color changes constantly (I like to keep my students on their toes, and they like to guess what color my hair will be). I love the arts and want to share art opportunities with as many as possible! Nothing makes me happier than helping a student try a new art style, or watching a senior play drums for the first time. The arts have made my life worth living, and I want to help others find that passion as well.