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We have so much to be thankful for here in this beautiful land of the red rocks.
Mostly I am thankful for all of you who make it possible for us to do this amazing work on behalf of more than 1,000 artists throughout this state and nation. If not for you, Sedona Arts Center would not exist.
While we are working hard to bring workshops, classes, exhibits, programs and events to you throughout the year, we continue to need your support. Now more than ever.
As a thank you, we are offering a 10% discount in our Gallery Shop from November 24 through December 31.
And please be sure to check out our Contemporary Surrealism exhibit up now through November 30 (it’s received fantastic reviews) and stay tuned for Celebrate Sedona on December 6 – which will be a holiday dance party -and the opening of the Big Gay Art Show.
On behalf of all of us at Sedona Arts Center,
I’d like to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving
and wonderful holiday season.
Again, thank you.
Warmly,
Julie A. Richard
CEO
Following a historic season, both NAU cross country teams placed second at the NCAA National Championships: the women scored 124 points and the men scored 71 points. Along with being the best team finish in school and conference history, this also is the first time the women have placed three athletes in the top 20. This is the eighth consecutive year that the men finished in the top two at the national meet.
UPCOMING School Offerings
Taking Classes and Workshops on our campus in Uptown Sedona affords the opportunity not only to explore the arts, but also to meet new people and immerse yourself in the Sedona arts community. We also have a variety of online workshops as well.
Besides what you see in this email, there are more offerings on our website.
Click here to see all of our classes and workshops.
InterTribal Economic Summit recap
Last week, the park hosted the Emergence Summit, the second Grand Canyon InterTribal Economic Summit. More than 60 participants were in attendance including Tribal vendors, tour operators, entrepreneurs, partners, and park staff. The purpose of the summit was to discuss ways the park and its many partners can best work together to improve economic benefits for the park, private companies, Tribal partners, nonprofit partners, and the surrounding communities.
Keynote speaker Natasha Hale (Navajo and Saudi Arabian and pictured above), cofounder of Change Labs, offered lessons from her 15 years of experience supporting Native entrepreneurs and economic equity on the Colorado Plateau.
“To move past these wrongs, we still have to keep talking about them. But I think we’re all eager to move past it,” said Hale. “That’s what Emergence is about – we want to be able to co-manage these lands, but we also want to be able to have access to that economic power.”
You can learn more about the summit from Grand Canyon Trust’s website here.
Rock Your Mocs Week November 12-18
As part of Native American Heritage Month, next week is Rock Your Mocs Week, when Indigenous people across the country show their cultural pride by wearing traditional moccasins.
Moccasins are not always worn in public by Indigenous people. They hold special significance and are most often worn for ceremonies and other cultural events. During Rock Your Mocs Week, the National Park Service encourages Indigenous employees to take pride in their heritage by wearing moccasins. A flyer for this week can be found here.
Grand Canyon National Park is proud to celebrate Native cultures and traditions by helping to share their rich histories and ongoing contributions to our park and our country.
So rock those mocs!
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – In celebration of Native American Heritage month, Grand Canyon National Park is proud to announce the release of a new podcast series focused on Indigenous perspectives and the people who have called the canyon home since time immemorial. On November 3, 2023, the park released seven episodes of “Grand Canyon Speaks.”
During the summer of 2023, park staff created an interpretive program called “Grand Canyon Speaks,” which features live in-person conversations between park rangers and members from the 11 traditionally associated tribes of Grand Canyon. The program is one of many parkwide efforts to include Tribal members, voices, and culture in public outreach and education. Over 1,500 park visitors from all over the world attended the live events.
NAU, which sits on lands sacred to Native American tribes, will celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a plethora of culture-oriented events which will run through Nov. 30. Events include Stew Fest, a basketball game against SAGU Indian College, meetings with NAU’s Indigenous elders and more. “We are honored to share about our legacy and ways of being with our communities,” said Ann Marie Chischilly, vice president of Native American Initiatives.
Message from Mary –
November is Native American Heritage Month, an opportunity to spread awareness of Indigenous history and contemporary Native issues. At the Museum of Northern Arizona we share and celebrate the Indigenous peoples of the Colorado Plateau year-round, both in our exhibitions and through special programs. This month we have a panel discussion about Indigenous foods with a Diné chef and a performance by a group of young Native dancers who have earned international recognition. Both programs are rooted in tradition while being contemporary and relevant – an appropriate reflection of Indigenous peoples and culture today.
A visit to the Museum is always a good way to learn about Native American Heritage, this month and year-round.
We commemorate and celebrate Native American Heritage Month throughout the month of November to recognize the important contributions Indigenous people have made and continue to make to the country and to the Grand Canyon. This year’s theme is Celebrating Tribal and Indigenous Sovereignty and Identity. Tribal sovereignty ensures that any decisions about Tribes about their property and citizens are made with their participation and consent. The federal trust responsibility is a legal obligation under which the United States “has charged itself with moral obligations of the highest responsibility and trust” toward Indian Tribes.
Grand Canyon National Park is built on Native lands, and although we cannot change the past, we can change the present and ultimately the future by strengthening our relationships with the associated tribes and the land we all share.
Culinary Class: Holiday Side Dishes
The holiday season is quickly approaching! Time to spend time with friends and family, start thinking about defrosting the turkey, and cracking out the side dish recipes. This special holiday focused culinary class will teach you how to make a variety of classic Thanksgiving side dishes such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, mac and cheese, and grilled brussels sprouts.
This cooking class will be held on November 19, noon-3:00 p.m., at the Fort Tuthill County Park Mess Hall in Flagstaff, AZ. It will be taught by our incredible culinary instructor, Willa McAuliffe.
The cost for this program is $25* for Adults (18 and older) and $15* for Youth (8 – 17 years old).
Pre-register here.
A Christmas Carol: A Twisted Musical Comedy Opens November 24, the day after Thanksgiving.
“This is not your Grandmother’s A Christmas Carol,” said show director and Theatrikos Executive Director Chris Verrill. “Theatrikos’ A Christmas Carol: A Twisted Musical Comedy is inspired by the most popular form of theatre in the UK. And we’re bringing it to Arizona. Our version of this holiday classic is interactive. It’s a crazy comedy. It’s a musical; with songs that are parodies of popular music. It’s hilarious. You’ll have a fun Christmas time and you’ll leave clap happy in the end!”
Since the early Middle Ages, Europeans feared that phantasms, ghouls, and spirits somehow found their way back to earth and do harm to people, animals, and crops during Halloween. Igniting protective fires and torches and tolling the town’s church bells were especially important on this night to whisk off the mischievous entities.
William Shakespeare brilliantly depicts the Christian beliefs about witches during those times: the three nameless witches in Macbeth embody wickedness, obscurity, madness, struggle, and have a twisted sense of scruples. Using this curse, they warn Macbeth of his upcoming troubles:
FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces this week offered a big THANK YOU to everyone who supported and attended the 20th anniversary annual Celebraciones de la Gente — Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead festival at the Museum of Northern Arizona on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21 and 22.
This year’s event featured the return of the ever-popular InTlanextli Tlacopan Aztec Fire Dancers and Ballet Folklorico de Colores — Flagstaff performing on both days of the festival in the Branigar/Chase Discovery Center, along with daily performances in the historic Jaime Golightly Courtyard by El Charro Bohemia.
The 2023 Celebraciones de la Gente was supported in part by the Arizona Commission on the Arts which receives support from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional Premier Sponsors include Coconino County District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez and the Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) and APS. Celebraciones presented in partnership with the Museum of Northern Arizona.
The event celebrated the history and culture of Mexican, Mexican American and Latin@ communities in Northern Arizona at this annual fall event, which will include music, dance, food and heartfelt remembrances.
Friday, October 27, 5–7pm
Awards Night Celebration
& Reception
Sedona Arts Center, 15 Art Barn Rd
This is the big night! Join us as we celebrate an amazing week of the 19th annual Plein Air Festival. Best of Show and final awards will be presented by our special judge, Tim Newton. Tim is the publisher of Western Art & Architecture magazine and is also Chairman Emeritus of the famed Salmagundi Club.
Patron’s Circle members can arrive at 4pm for a preview and chance to purchase before the reception opens to the public. VIP parking included. To become a Patrons Circle Member click here: https://sedonaartscenter.org/donate/
Halloween Carnival at Grand Canyon School October 28
Grand Canyon School and the High School Student Council will be hosting the All Hallows Halloween Carnival on October 28 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
There will be a haunted house, activity booths, and games for all ages. Be sure to wear your costume!
If you are interested in having a booth there, you can contact rrobertson@grandcanyonschool.org.
Be Bold, Be Fearless! Plein Air Demonstration
with Michele Usibelli
October 28, 2023 | 4:30 – 6:30 pm | Theatre Studio
Registration: Each student must register individually. Click on the “Cancellation Policy” tab above for more information, then the “Add to Cart” button to the right to start registration/payment process. Students enrolled in the 3-day Be Bold, Be Fearless! Plein Air Painting Workshop with Michele Usibelli do not need to register here.
Location: Sedona Arts Center, North Studio
FLAGSTAFF — Sugar Skull Workshops online reservations are now available for the 20th anniversary annual Celebraciones de la Gente — Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead festival at the Museum of Northern Arizona on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 21 and 22.
Sugar Skull Decorating – reservations required
Decorating sugar skulls is a favorite activity for kids and families during Celebraciones. Nuestras Raices makes the sugar skulls and provides frosting and decorations. Since this is a very popular event that always sells out, we require pre-registration. That way you know your child’s sugar skull is waiting for them and what time to arrive. You will also need to purchase admission tickets for Celebraciones.
Cost – $5
SOLD OUT — Click here to reserve a sugar skull workshop on Saturday at 10:30.
Click here to reserve a sugar skull workshop on Saturday at 12:00.
Click here to reserve a sugar skull workshop on Sunday at 10:30.
Click here to reserve a sugar skull workshop on Sunday at 12:00.
Celebraciones de la Gente is a partnership between Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces and the Museum of Northern Arizona, with generous funding of Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces’ programming by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, Coconino County District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez and the Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC).
North Rim Atoko Point prescribed fire
If you were near the rim or in the canyon this week, you probably noticed smoke on the North Rim and below the rim.
This is a prescribed burn in the Atoko Point unit, which is on the eastern edge of the Walhalla Plateau. Park fire staff are working with the Kaibab National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management to treat this unit and others, for a total of about 1,700 acres. They plan to continue burning through October 31.
Smoke impacts are anticipated along Cape Royal Road, the North Rim developed area, and the inner canyon from Bright Angel Point to Clear Creek. Fire plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of the land, and prescribed burns are carefully planned and only initiated under very specific conditions.
The saw must go on
NAU Logging Sports athletic captain Adeline Jones had been preparing with her teammates for the Choptober competition in Colorado for months. She was set to compete in five events—the pole climb, obstacle pole, single buck, Jack-and-Jill and horizontal chop—against athletes from throughout the western U.S. Then, just two weeks before the competition, she had a bouldering accident that left her with the temporary inability to use one of her arms. With nothing to lose, she decided to compete in the single buck event, sawing a wood cookie off a large log with a 5.5-foot saw, one-handed.
Volunteers needed for the
19th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival!
Sedona Arts Center invites you along to be inspired and experience master artists painting in the Shangri-La of the Southwest! The Sedona Plein Air Festival is a week-long celebration of extraordinary landscapes, world-renowned artists, unique workshops, and wonderful free events from October 20 through 29, 2023!
Sedona Arts Center needs volunteers for multiple positions during the festival: Canvas Stampers, Exhibit Installation assistants, Catering Support, Parking Lot Attendants, Certified Bartenders, Setup and Break Down Crew, Main Street Artist Support Crew, Gallery Attendants, Airport Artist Support, Community Paint Out Volunteers
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – Effective April 1, 2024, Grand Canyon National Park will increase the cost of overnight backcountry permits. Grand Canyon began charging for overnight backcountry permits in 1997 and last modified backcountry fees in 2022.
The cost recovery charge for overnight backcountry permits will increase for all permits that begin on or after April 1, 2024. The charge of $10 per backcountry permit remains the same; the nightly per person fee will be increased from $12 per person to $15 per person or stock animal camping below the rim in designated backcountry camping areas. This increase does not affect camping fees at Mather, Desert View, or the North Rim campgrounds.
Romantic comedy Stage Kiss
Now playing
Photos from last Friday’s opening night
Now through October 22, 2023
A kiss is not just a kiss in this whirlwind knockabout farce. When two actors with a history are thrown together as leads in a 1930s romantic comedy, they quickly lose touch with reality.
“Satirical, sassy and over-the-top, Stage Kiss has been one wild ride to read, and I’m sure it will be to watch,” commented actor Lindsey DeStefano (playing “She”). Actor Adam Wintz (playing “He”) noted that the playwright “has created a world that is both realistic and absurd. There are jokes within jokes and layers within layers. People will want to see the show more than once to pick up on all the subtleties.”
UPCOMING School Offerings
Taking Classes and Workshops on our campus in Uptown Sedona affords the opportunity not only to explore the arts, but also to meet new people and immerse yourself in the Sedona arts community. We also have a variety of online workshops as well.
Besides what you see in this email, there are more offerings on our website.
Click here to see all of our classes and workshops.
FLAGSTAFF — Library patrons had the opportunity to learn about Dia de Los Muertos ofrendas, the meaning behind items on a family altar and other cultural customs honoring the dearly departed during a session presented by Flagstaff Nuestras Raices at the Flagstaff Public Library on Oct. 5.
In preparation for its 20th annual Celebraciones de la Gente at the Museum of Northern Arizona on Oct. 21-22, Flagstaff Nuestras Raices has been presenting a series of information lectures for Coconino County employees and patrons at the Camp Verde Public Library.
Flagstaff Nuestras Raices President Lydia Anaya and treasurer Becca DeLapp presented the “Ofrenda 101” session, creating a temporary ofrenda in the library’s Community Room.
They presented information about the meaning behind the use of colored candles, marigold flowers, water, salt, and your loved ones favorite foods.
We’re getting a new look!
Beginning next week, the Grand Canyon Office of Communications will be transitioning to a new email distribution platform. The Wrap Up as well as news releases from our office will have a new layout and feel. If you are not receiving email communications from our office (through the Wrap Up or news releases), please check your junk email folder or email us directly at grca_public_affairs@nps.gov.
Powerful Plein Air with Krystal Brown
Tues – Thurs, Oct 17 – 19
If you want to paint effortlessly – Free from stress and better able to let the magic flow, this is the place to start. You will come to understand how to create more comfortably, confidently and joyfully while learning all the tips and techniques that have taken me years of cultivation. No more guessing! No more uncertainty! No more fear! Just SUCCESS. You are invited to paint in oil or water soluble oil if possible!
Krystal W. Brown is a fine art oil painter who captures the places, people and moments that matter most. She is an award winning artist who specializes in fine art oil paintings and commissioned portraits.
FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces will present a “Ofrenda 101” workshop on from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday Oct. 5 at the Flagstaff Public Library, 300 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff.
Join us for two back-to-back presentations by Flagstaff Nuestras Raices:
OFRENDAS 101
Join us as we learn about the history of creating your own family ofrenda / altar and about the meaning behind the use of colored candles, marigold flowers, water, salt, and your loved ones favorite foods. The presentation will include the creation of an ofrenda!
HALLOWEEN vs DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS
Día de los Muertos is celebrated in México and many Latin America countries on November 2nd. Given that Halloween (October 31st), All Saints Day (November 1st) and All Souls Day (November 2nd) tumble into each other, the confusion between the celebrations is understandable. Come hear a brief history of these cultural traditions.
Superintendent’s Corner: UPDATE-Potential Lapse in Appropriations
The federal government, including the National Park Service, is currently funded through midnight September 30. We remain hopeful that Congress and the President can agree on a budget or continuing resolution that would keep the government open.
Based on my time in Washington, I know that a lot of people in the Administration and in Congress are working to fund the government. However, if we are not funded by Sunday and there is a resulting lapse of appropriations, we will begin to significantly reduce operations of the federal government. We have experience in implementing an orderly shutdown, most recently in 2018-19.
If you are a resident of Grand Canyon, you will be able to stay in your assigned housing in the event of a lapse. Family and friends will be able to visit you, and you will be able to come and go from the park as you normally would. For those of you concerned about your personal finances if you do not get paid during a shutdown, Congress passed a law in 2019 requiring backpay for federal employees after a shutdown. You will get paid.
When two actors with a history are thrown together as romantic leads in a forgotten 1930s melodrama, they quickly lose touch with reality as the lines between offstage and onstage begin to blur. Stage Kiss (2011) walks a wobbly line between farce and romantic comedy with its play within a play.
“One of the most delightful things about this play is that it’s written for theater lovers,” observed Michael Rulon, sound designer/operator for Stage Kiss. “It examines love through the lens of theater, allowing the audience to peer behind the curtain not only of the plays-within-a-play, but also behind the curtain of the protagonists’ most private passions.”
Bring the family together and view this year’s on demand Science Bedtime Stories. In 2023, the Festival is proud to present the following four authors and their science books for kids!
Nancy Marshall reads her action-packed book A Rattler’s Tale: When Wild Animals Encounter Humans. Captivatingly illustrated by a fisheries biologist, discover what happens when a skunk meets Mom in the shed and when the mountain lion lands on the family car.
Monica Brown reads her coming of age story, Sharuko: el arqueólogo Peruano/Peruvian Archaeologist. Growing up in the late 1800’s, Julio Tello spent time exploring in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes. His bravery earned him the boyhood nickname Sharuko, which means “brave” in Quechua.
Rodo Safranac reads his illustrated story, The Red Tail Tale on the Arizona Trail.. In his book, Rowen, a young, red-headed explorer, and Rojo, a clever, red-tailed hawk meet, bond, and experience a wonderful adventure on the fascinating Arizona National Scenic Trail.
Don Lago reads All About the Grand Canyon. With rich storytelling about this natural wonder, our youngest science enthusiasts will also enjoy beautiful illustrations as they wind down to sleep.
Tune in and enjoy these special stories. Bedtime Stories is sponsored by Bright Side Bookshop. Bedtime Stories are filmed in Flagstaff by filmmaker Morgan Boatman of Winter Productions.
FLAGSTAFF — In preparation for upcoming Dia de Los Muertos celebrations in the region, members of Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces took a road trip south to teach an “Ofrenda 101” workshop at the Camp Verde Community Library on Sept. 15.
Community parents and children learned the basics of creating an ofrenda / altar, the placement of colored candles, family photos, favorite foods and other items on an ofrenda.
The library, which created its own ofrenda, is presenting a series of workshops and programs ahead of the annual Dia de Los Muertos Celebration from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5 at the Phillip England Community Arts Center, 210 Camp Lincoln Road, Camp Verde
Federal agencies need appropriations to operate. You may have seen news accounts as we approach the new fiscal year of the possibility of a lapse in appropriations, which would lead to a government shutdown. Based on my years as the senior appropriations lawyer for the Department of the Interior, I can tell you that a lot of people in the Administration and Congress are working hard to avoid a shutdown.
The Park Leadership Team and I are watching this situation closely along with our regional and Washington office colleagues. We will be ready if there is a shutdown.
I understand that many employees depend on their biweekly paycheck to meet their families’ expenses and there may be some anxiety about the possibility of a shutdown. In case it helps, in 2019, Congress passed the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act ensuring full pay for federal employees during government shutdowns. Everyone will be paid, and retroactive pay will also reflect what is typically withheld from checks such as rent, insurance and retirement contributions.
For the time being, park operations are continuing as normal, and we encourage you to check on our park website at www.nps.gov/grca for the most up to date information on park operations. As we get additional information from the Department, we will keep employees and residents updated through this newsletter and the weekly employee, community, and stakeholder call. Thank you to all employees who have been fielding visitor questions and concerns over the last several days; it is important work that you do.
Turning Canvas into Comfort: How One Arizona Couple Made Art Their Residence
A ramshackle historic building in downtown Winslow has been transformed by an artist and his wife into a vibrant and eclectic live-work gallery space — a hidden gem along Route 66.
The 22,000-square-foot building now known as Snowdrift Art Space offers the room he always dreamed of having as a young budding sculpturist.
Fulfilling arts experiences enliven your body, mind, and spirit and spark imagination. The therapeutic benefits of regularly partaking in meaningful arts activities are endless and this is especially important as we age. A 2006 landmark study by the National Endowment for the Arts confirmed the relationship between creative expression and healthy aging. Over the course of three years, the Creativity and Aging Study tracked more than 300 individuals (aged 65+) across the country to evaluate the effects relevant to general health, mental health, overall functioning, and sense of well-being in older individuals. What were the results? Better health, fewer doctor visits, and less medication usage; more positive responses on mental health measures; and more involvement in overall activities. From painting, poetry, and pottery to music, theatre, and dance, it was clear. The arts are great for your health!
Governor Katie Hobbs visits Grand Canyon
Governor Katie Hobbs and Arizona tribal leaders met in the park this past Tuesday, September 12, to foster meaningful dialog about Arizona’s economic development and how to best work with tribal governments and communities. Superintendent Ed Keable and Grand Canyon Conservancy CEO Theresa McMullen participated in the meeting, discussing the work the park and GCC are doing relative to indigenous programs.
The highlight for most participants was getting a tour of the work being done at Desert View to re-imagine the site as an Inter-tribal cultural heritage site.
Thanks to all who helped make this a successful visit, especially the Desert View staff and FMD folks (trails) who are working on the next phase of paving the new trail system.
You can learn more about Gov. Hobbs’ visit and its purpose on her website.
Taking Classes and Workshops on our campus in Uptown Sedona affords the opportunity not only to explore the arts, but also to meet new people and immerse yourself in the Sedona arts community.
Besides what you see in this email, there are more offerings on our website.
Click here to see all of our classes and workshops.