Local Citizens Band Together To Draft Prescott Art Policy

"The first artisans to arrive in Prescott were the men and women that built the Governor's mansion and the Territorial Legislative Assembly meeting place with hand tools and the materials that they found locally. These works of art, completed in the Fall of 1864 stand today on the grounds of the Sharlot Hall Museum, which has been financially supported by the City of Prescott since the original founding agreements in 1927.

"With the first Governor's party, musical instruments were brought so that the children could celebrate Christmas in 1864 with music, dancing and gifts.

"Their work was preceded by the creation of the Citizen's Cemetery with the earliest interment in 1864. Soon after elaborate and ornate tombstones started to appear, and then native stone wall in the 1930's.

"Throughout the early years in Prescott, performances were created, costumed and acted by the townspeople and families stationed at the Army Post in Fort Whipple. Opera houses and small theatres built by entrepreneurs popped up over the years, until through a popular subscription campaign the Elks Opera House came into existence.

"Artists of all genres have made Prescott their hometown over the years. Actors brought writers, followed by painters, sculptors, choral and musicians.

"In 1964, when this building was constructed, Paul Coze, then the Honorary Consul to Arizona from France, was asked to paint this mural in Council chambers. Also within the Council chambers are two paintings by "Artist of Arizona" Kate T. Cory-the 1880's Courthouse and the first school in the territory-now the Washington traditional school on East Gurley.

"Clearly, Prescott enjoys remarkable assets, both natural and man made. From the original design of the townsite, to street embellishments, historic buildings, magnificent sculptures and murals. The only missing element is for the City of Prescott to adopt policy and procedures in the form of an ordinance to call out the specifics of a public arts policy to provide the appropriate guidance for the elected and appointed officials, and especially for the citizens.

"Prescott Area Arts and Humanities Council was formed as a non-profit in 1974 to seek out funds to bring arts and culture to the City of Prescott. Its very first endeavor was to bring "ARTRAIN" to the Santa Fe Depot for five days, so that children from throughout the county could see displays of art from around the world. Five cars were filled with the very best art for children to experience and enjoy. This gathering was the largest gathering of people in Prescott until our recent BEST FEST. Prescott Area Arts and Humanities Council was involved with Best Fest from the very start, and put together the best of artists from across the State for that celebration, and will be doing that again this upcoming weekend in Phoenix.

"PAAHC mission is to support, promote and advocate for the arts. In cooperation with the City of Prescott, we have accomplished this for the past several years by administering the City's art grants funding. These funds have been utilized over the years for organizations offering wonderful public art events like: The Phippen Museum's Western Art Show and Sale, Mountain Artist's Guild Mother's Day Show, The Smoki Museum's Southwest Indian Arts Festival, Blue Grass Festival, Tsunami on the Square, Chalk It Up!, Prescott Center for the Arts "Ghost Talk" and many, many others. The City's Department of Tourism recognizes the importance of art in our community ... Don Prince, Director of Tourism has stated that "Art is a major tourism destination driver." And just yesterday, Prescott's Arts and Culture video went live on the Tourism website featuring some of the very best in art that Prescott has to offer.

"A small group of individuals, citizen volunteers, have come together to DRAFT an Arts and Culture Policy for the City of Prescott. I would like to recognize these individuals now: Elisabeth Ruffner, Historian and Founder of PAAHC Gregg Payne-can't be here today. Former Commissioner for the Arts in Chico, CA and a founding member of that Commission ... and a public artist Elynn Colaianni, Art Teacher at Northpointe High School Debra Owen, Arts Activist and Community Organizer Cindy Gresser, Executive Director Smoki Museum.

Paul Ruby Foundation Announces Lineup of Artists in 2011 'Painting 4 Parkinsons'

The first “Paintings 4 Parkinson’s” fine art exhibit and sale will be on display from Nov. 4 to Dec. 9 at Art Box 514 W. State St., Geneva.

In addition to the ongoing exhibit, artists will be available every Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. throughout the show dates for an informal reception to meet buyers and guests. Attendees will marvel at the creative process of these pieces, which will consist of several mediums.

The signature piece, Santa from the Heart 2011 by Len Bielefeldt, will be on silent auction for the duration of the exhibit. Santa will go home with the highest bidder at auction close 8:30 p.m. Dec. 9.

A few of the featured artists include:

For Jordi Pedrola the universal language of art expresses itself through the strength of his Mediterranean roots. According to art critic Amalia Martinez, “To confront Jordi Pedrola’s works is to confront and experience color.”

Len Bielefeldt, artist and gallery owner, has been painting fulltime for the last 25 years and has donated the third Santa of the Heart. He began as a portrait painter, so these breathtaking paintings of Santa are a natural fit for him. He truly captures the magic and love of Santa with his portrait.

Award winning pastel artist Brian Sauderland has donated a soft pastel painting Flowing Water. This piece accomplishes one of Sauderland’s goals—to have people notice and appreciate the beauty of things seen in everyday life.

Genevans are sure to recognize the watercolors of Fatima Figueiredo. Her mural Once Upon a Time is featured at the Geneva History Center. She has donated Wild Orchids, a transparent watercolor on archespaper.

Jeannette Marie Rehmel has competed in shows since the age of 12 as a professional artist. Her most recent accomplishments include a third-place showing in a 2009 invitational art competition in Croissy-sur-Seine, France, and in 2010, placed first in the Kaneland Fine Arts Festival professional show. She has donated Roses from France.

Andria Burchett has always loved blues and greens together. She has incorporated these colors in her piece Gathered for the Holidays putting a “twist” on tradition, giving this piece a contemporary feel.

Pamela Hamilton, an oil pastel painter, has provided three paintings. The first is Blue Sky Flowers inspired by the Mississippi Palisades State Park and Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly and Black Swallowtail Butterfly from her experiences in the garden.

Joan Andreassen has donated the watercolor, Country Walk. Joan had a long career in custome rservice and was looking forward to retirement so she would have the time to devote to her real passion—watercolor. That day finally came, but along with it a diagnosis of Parkinson’s.

“On ‘bad days’ I can’t quite make my hand and brush do what I want. But on my ‘good days’ … well, painting is what keeps me going” Andreassen said.

Award-winning artist and art instructor Janet Wickham has been showing her paintings since 2002. She creates both representational and non-representational abstract images in minimalistic, contemporary style. She has given the foundation Negative Exposure, an oil stick painting created with her fingers.

Fred Ullrich has donated a black-and-white, high-resolution photograph of a historic barn with sunlight-entering space. The photograph The Angle Has Left the Barn is a time exposure using large format film
processed in pyro and printed on fine art paper.

Steve Estes is a photographer whose work can be seen on the album cover art of Ryan Meisel’scd Motion and Celia Whiren and Ryan Meisel’s CD Method to the Madness. He has donated three pieces photographed at National Park, MO.

“I am overwhelmed by the talent and generosity of so many artists," said Paul Ruby, who developed the foundation to help fund research for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease. "It should be a wonderful event.”

Established gallery gets a new game plan By Chiquita Paschal

Hidden in a nondescript cove on Fourth Street between Central and Gold, the space formerly known as 105 Art Gallery is reopening as Downtown Contemporary. Mixing old and new, this embodiment of the gallery is refreshing its motives and crafting a high-caliber debut with the upcoming concept show ca-thar-sis. Louie Va, who joined 105 directors Stacy Hawkinson and Val Hollingsworth, is heading up producing.

Va, who creates large-scale oil paintings in one of the gallery studios, is taking full advantage of the chance to stretch her curatorial wings. Former gallery manager Santiago Perez, who single-handedly curated the majority of 105’s shows over the last few years, left the gallery to pursue his own work. Va says his absence gave them an opportunity to put on a show that wasn’t like anything that had been done in there before. She conceived of the concept for ca-thar-sis, which she says is about the aesthetic experience of art and the purpose it serves.

“I think a lot of times artist get bogged down thinking about what will sell and what the public will want,” says Va. “We're not having artwork that's for sale. We're just showing video pieces, installation pieces and visual art.” Va goes on to say she doesn't know if that will be the plan for future shows, but all of the creators involved are excited for the excuse to make art for art's sake. “Sometimes we just like showing our stuff. It doesn’t always have to be about the money,” she says. “It can be very cleansing for the artist's mind to think about art as the creative process and not just as a way to pay the studio rent.”

Like its predecessor, Downtown Contemporary is a community of artists who work out of the gallery's studio space. Co-director Stacy Hawkinson says each is featured on a rotating basis, offering them the opportunity to show at a pace that won't burn them out. However, ca-thar-sis is breaking all the normal patterns; none of the artists involved, except Va, are associated with the gallery.

The show features pieces by Va, as well as established artists Stephanie Lerma, Danielle Rae Miller, Zona, Ted Laredo, Lea Anderson and Joe Barron. The second-story loft features wide floor space in the main gallery and two long hallways with conjoining rooms and studios. Many of the artists are using the unconventional setup to their advantage. “The space is so amazing and usable, the possibilities are endless as far as what can come out of future shows,” says Va. “I think even the past shows have been a reflection of that.”

Ted Laredo is transforming a room with bioluminescent paint and crafting an optical entrance to another dimension. Danielle Miller is choosing to go naturalistic, creating twig mobiles that cast shadows as important to the work as the objects themselves. Zona's large, imposing, ceiling-hung textile installations have an authoritative presence that dwarfs the tiny space. Is it a fabric cage? Is it a plant hanger gone wild? The contemplation demanded by the show is invigorating and a welcome diversion from the commercial-friendly art threatening to take over the Albuquerque scene.

Signs of rebirth are already emerging: The front door is emblazoned with the new name in neon green. The Downtown Contemporary directors plan to take turns curating shows each month. Va and Hawkinson hope that this will keep the themes and perspectives fresh and bring diversity. “You don't want to throw the same party every time,” says Hawkinson.

MUSEO features oil painter Terry Leness | AT THE GALLERIES

This month, MUSEO in downtown Langley features the work of oil painter, Terry Leness. Her work reveals her fascination with the play of light on objects, as well as her love of deep, saturated color.  Leness’ subjects are eclectic and provocative: older houses, rundown buildings, vintage trailers, and eccentric landscaping schemes. Her paintings suggest the beauty and mystery of ordinary things; things that are often unnoticed.

Also this month, Dona Anderson exhibits works in fiber. In all her work, from her “Woman Warriors” to her contemporary basketry, she uses a variety of materials, including bamboo, round reeds, cloth, paper, wood, metal and screens.

Stained glass artist Gioia Boerrigter is featured at Artworks Gallery at Greenbank Farm through September.

Using lead, copper foil and plating techniques and working outside the traditional notion of stained glass, Boerrigter pushes the boundaries with her three-dimensional objects.  Each is a unique, one-of-a-kind creation.

Boerrigter has received numerous awards, including a three time First Place Stained Glass Professional and Peoples Choice award winner at the Glass Craft and Bead Expo Gallery of Excellence in Las Vegas, Nev. Her work is also featured in “Best of America Glass Artists Volume ll.”

Artworks Gallery is a cooperative of artists whose work includes paintings in oil, watercolor, colored pencil and acrylic, handcrafted jewelry, color and black-and-white photography, fiber arts, metal sculpture, pottery, raku and vessel-gourd art.

A new show at Whidbey Pies Café at Greenbank Farm shows the photos of Linda Schwarz through September.

"Twenty-one Landscapes of Whidbey Island" is a collection of photographic images by the island photographer. Strong composition and a painterly style capture the timeless beauty of island scenes including mountain and water views, pastoral themes, barns, woodlands and flora.

Framed and unframed limited-edition prints are for sale in addition to the artist's Whidbey Island Photography Calendar available at local businesses and holiday fairs beginning this fall.

Belov, a masterful painter and printmaker, and Kamera, a seasoned textile artist, blend their mediums in a show that promises to be rich in color, texture and patterns.

Belov's prestigious career spans 35 years. She is well known for her portrayal of light, structure and color in luscious landscapes and stunning still life images. Her paintings create a conversation with the viewer in narrative scenes that play on the interaction between natural textures and manmade patterns. Belov's goal is to create a believable fiction, which tells a story and engages the viewer. Her paintings in oil and watercolor, as well as her monoprints, will be featured in this exhibit.

Kamera creates wearable accessories that transform cloth into art. The artist starts with pure white — a blank canvas. Finished pieces feature up to three elements: unusual color combinations, intricate patterns and sculptural elements.  Kamera employs surface design techniques such as shibori, dye painting and screen painting to produce beautiful and unique wearable art.

Tudor home show-off its attitude in style

FLINT — Mary Ryan saw the house for the first time when she was a teenager out for a drive with her parents. She noticed the large, round window and told them, “I’m going to live in that house some day.”

Years later, she heard the house was for sale. She and her husband, Dan, contacted the owners, Mary and Walter Solomon, and bought it before a for sale sign went up in the yard. They moved into it in May 1987.

The English Tudor house sits on a rise surrounded by gardens. Built in 1938 by Theodore and Pearl Curtis, owners of Curtis Flowers, the house had casement windows, four bedrooms, five bathrooms and a solarium.

The Ryans updated the house but kept its integrity. Mary added color, carefully chosen antiques and comfortable new furnishings to create a warm atmosphere throughout the house.

“I enjoy interior design very much,” Mary Ryan said. “I chose the colors, the fabrics, the wallpaper and the paint. The 73-year-old house is quite amazing. We wanted it to be warm, cozy and inviting, and we wanted to use all the rooms.”

The previous owners painted everything white, which was very boring, she said. The house now glows with color, with green walls in the living room, red in the dining room, yellow and white stripes in the foyer and earth tones in the solarium.

“I would not use black, brown or gray in my home,” she stated. “Michigan is much too gloomy.”

They replaced the metal casement windows with energy-efficient double and triple-paned windows. Magnetic storm windows mount inside the leaded windows in Dan’s bathroom and in the solarium.

“It’s so cozy,” Mary said. “We take them down in the spring. This made a significant difference in our energy bill.”

Patterned valances above the windows add color without blocking light. Narrow blinds underneath pull down easily and have no hanging cords.

They replaced the worn kitchen floor with Brazilian cherry and put Brazilian teak in the living room. When they removed carpet from the stairs, they found walnut beneath and had it refinished.

Original mahogany paneling covers one living room wall, behind the walnut fireplace surround. Several oil paintings hang on this wall, centered with a wide framed picture of a canal in Venice. Two comfortable couches flank the fireplace with a large upholstered ottoman between them.

Four of the five bathrooms have the original tile, intact and in pleasing colors. She put in new sinks and countertops. Upstairs, Dan’s bathroom has turquoise tile, faux-painted chocolate walls, and a new glass shower door. His light fixtures came from Restoration Hardware in Troy, where she also purchased train racks to hold towels in the full baths.

A small sitting room has a little Italian chandelier and a dressing table and stool from Barbara Koegel. Mary’s bathroom includes soft green and coral tiles. She added glass cabinets for decorative items, an Art Deco light over the sink and a Swarovski crystal chandelier.

“I’ve always wanted a chandelier in my bathroom,” she explained.

The master bedroom, painted red, overlooks the garden. The walnut marble dresser dates from 1880 and an armoire holds the television.

A guest bathroom has black-and-white tile and Parisian accents. Here Mary hung a sleek black and Swarovski crystal chandelier, with Lalique glass above the sink.

The guest room holds Mary’s collection of Maxfield Parrish prints dating from the early 1970s. Recessed lighting accents the prints, which show the artist’s brilliant use of the color blue.

Dan, an ophthalmologist, uses the fourth bedroom as an office and music room. He plays acoustic and electric guitar and sings with Flint Master Singers. He and Mary are part of the upcoming Flint Community Theater production “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

But the house is a work in progress, Mary said. Two years ago, they created a 10-by-20-foot walk-in closet in an attic space on the second floor. Last year, they painted the dining room red with one wall papered in white-flowered wallpaper.

They renovated the cramped kitchen four years ago, a process that took four months. They gutted four small rooms, creating a bar/office space, a charming breakfast room, and a large modern kitchen. Light pours in through the window above the sink and colorful dishes are displayed in hardwood cabinets.

“I wanted it to look like furniture,” Mary said. “I love the glass doors. With two people, you don’t have to worry about having dishes out of place.”

A frosted glass panel on a side door reads, “Wine Cellar,” and opens to the basement stairs. Another frosted door marked “Laundry” leads to the laundry room and a half-bath.

“I’m a collector,” Mary admitted, leading the way to her extensive collection of Coca-Cola memorabilia in the recreation room. All of the objects are retro, not reproductions. Starting years ago with one colorful tray, she now has clocks, carriers, and large button signs kids once used as sleds. With persistence, she found the right “Coca-Cola red” fabric for the couches in this room.

“I worked hard on the placement of everything,” she said, adding, “I’m through collecting.”

With an artist’s eye and ingenuity, Mary turned the stately English Tudor into a delightfully warm home. She also developed the landscape with her gardening skills. She is active in the Flint Antiques Club, The Art Club and National Women’s Farm and Garden Club.

The couple will share their garden with the public June 2, hosting a fundraiser dinner to support “Growing Up Artfully.” The program, directed by Linda Moxim, allows underprivileged children to attend events at the cultural center.

“This will be the eighth annual fund raiser in the neighborhood,” Mary said. “Last year, our neighbors raised $40,000. We are hoping we can do more.”