Sedona Arts Center — Join us for an Opening Reception Friday, April 4 from 4 to 6pm!

IN THE SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS GALLERY

“The Element of Sport”
Celebrating the intersection of art and athletics
April 4-27, 2025

Art and sport meet at the “The Element of Sport” special exhibition from April 4 through 27, 2025. The exhibition kicks off with an opening reception Friday, April 4 from 4-6 pm, in conjunction with “Celebrate Sedona.” Visitors will enjoy an afternoon of artist demonstrations, food, wine, beer and music by DJ Shondra. Both events are free and open to the public, with complimentary parking located behind Sedona Arts Center’s Art Barn.

“The Element of Sport” explores the dynamic connection between art and athletics, showcasing a diverse range of sport-inspired artworks across artistic styles. From painting and photography to printmaking and ceramics, the exhibition brings to life the energy and passion of sports through creative expression.

“This show reflects the power, artistry and beauty of athletics,” said Julie Richard, CEO of Sedona Arts Center. “Sports fans and art lovers alike will appreciate the wide array of artworks inspired by athleticism, competition and play.”

SPECIAL EXHIBITION FEATURING:

William Barton III, Marc Brechwald, Mary Lois Brown, Tyler Cartier,
Michael Coyne, Enrique Diaz, Nicole Granat, David Jolkovski,
Denize Katzen, Leslie Koshland, Kathi Knox, Evgeny Kurkin,
Jessica Lambert, Kenneth Lenger, Sonja London-Hall,
Lisa Lune, Stephen Marotta, Jasmine McGlade, Kate Oltmann,
Melissa Pontikes, Robb Reece, Todd Richardson, Charlotte Selenski,
LeAnne Sowa, Nori Thorne, Tom Updike, Sterling West, Lee Willett

Also featuring work of the students from
Sedona Red Rock High School CTE Digital Photography Program

As part of the exhibition, a series of public programs are planned for April. The Sedona Film Festival will host two outdoor film screenings in the SAC parking lot: “42,” the inspiring story of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, on April 10, and “McFarland, USA,” the true story of a small-town underdog cross-country team, on April 24. Screenings will take place from 7:30 to 9pm and are free and open to the public.

FREE Art History Talk- The Visual Language of Sport: Identity, Culture, and the Games We Play
with Brandelyn Andres
April 19, 2025Sport – and the competition, teamwork, and entertainment it invokes – may be as old as humanity’s origins. It’s a universal phenomenon that transcends time and geography, one that brings people together in the spirit of both sportsmanship and shared cultural experience. This lecture surveys a range of artworks that examine the intersection of sports, community, and identity, highlighting how athletic events have shaped and reflected societal values throughout history.

FREE ART HISTORY TALK : CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Uptown Gallery Shop Featuring:
Joan Roberts, Mariann Leahy, Nori Thorne

Sedona Arts Center represents over 100 professional local and regional artists. The Art Gallery on campus is a dynamic, ever-changing display of local talent in all dimensions and forms. Part of that dynamic is the bi-monthly featured artists program where a section of the overall gallery allows for a special group exhibition of selected artists.

NO SALES TAX – FREE PARKING – UPTOWN SEDONA
Sedona Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax
SedonaArtsCenter.org

Joan Roberts

Joan retired to Sedona where the natural and artistic atmosphere renewed her love of the arts. Her work in jewelry design has become a passion as she looked for new ways to create distinctive art pieces. Her designs are unique and one of a kind. She works with PMC3, a silver clay which enables her to portray the organic essence of nature. When fired her pieces are .999 – fine silver. Joan offers individualized instruction using PMC in her home studio. Kumihimo is a traditional Japanese weave of silk cords. Joan utilizes this weave with beads to create unique jewelry. Joan has a BA in art education and an MA in school administration. She spent her career teaching students and teachers how to experience the joy of art in the classroom. Joan is a volunteer at the Sedona Arts Center Gallery since 2004 and has served on the Board of Directors.

Mariann Leahy

Mariann taught art on the high school level for over eighteen years in the multicultural Chicago area where she did her graduate work in Ceramics at the Chicago School of the Art Institute. Mariann has lived in Sedona, Arizona since 1997. She has won numerous awards for her artwork as well as having taught workshops at the Sedona Arts Center. In 2017 Mariann was named a Sedona Legacy Artist along with others in celebration of the Arts Center’s 60th Anniversary. A legacy artist is someone who has had their work shown in Galleries in Sedona for over 20 years and is still a practicing artist. In addition to SAC, Mariann’s work is represented by Turquoise Tortoise Gallery as well as galleries in Santa Fe, NM. While in Illinois, Mariann was named an Illinois Artisan.

Nori Thorne

A recent transplant to Sedona, Nori Thorne now claims the desert southwest as her home. She is a graduate in Studio Art from University of Pittsburgh and also spent a semester at Habib Bourguiba University in Tunisia “painting in the souk and skipping French class.” Nori taught art and art history in Montgomery County, Maryland, Public Schools where she was the recipient of numerous grants from the Arts and Humanities Council, National Art Education Foundation and the Fulbright/Hayes Scholarship. Nori received recognition for her canyonscapes at the 2013 Moab Plein Air Festival, winning first place in pastels. Currently she is working on a series of paintings inspired by ancient ruins and pictographs found in the red rock canyons near Sedona.

Our mission is to connect, enrich, educate and lead through the inspiring power of the arts and creative discovery.

Sedona Arts Center is one of Northern Arizona’s most well-established cultural organizations and serves as the creative heart of Sedona. Founded in 1958, the nonprofit is based in Uptown Sedona and offers year-round classes, exhibitions, festivals, and cultural events that enhance the creative life of the Verde Valley.

NO SALES TAX – FREE PARKING – UPTOWN SEDONA
Sedona Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax
SedonaArtsCenter.org