Business, Commentary, Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Local, News

Sedona Arts Center update for Dec. 5 — Vivid Colors Flourish in December Exhibition Showing Now Through Dec. 31

by  •  • Comments Off on Sedona Arts Center update for Dec. 5 — Vivid Colors Flourish in December Exhibition Showing Now Through Dec. 31

Vivid Colors Flourish in December Exhibition
Showing Now Through December 31, 2018
Artists Reception December 7, 5–8pm

Color continues to thrive at Sedona Arts Center in an exhibition featuring Lyn and Ken Mikell, Susan Moody, Karen Puckett, Cheryl Waale, and Karl Williams. Vibrant ceramics, unique glassworks, and brilliant paintings will deck the walls and halls in the Arts Center’s Fine Art Gallery in Uptown, Sedona from now through December 31, 2018. Meet the artists and find your next collector’s piece, handmade ornaments or holiday gift at an opening reception on Friday, December 7 from 5 to 8pm.

About this month’s featured artists:

Lyn & Ken Mikell

A combination of talents come together to create the hand-painted raku vessels the Mikell’s are known for. Ken began his career as a ceramic artist in the early 80’s. His studies introduced him to the raku process of firing to achieve the smoky beauty of the bare clay. Ken does most of the wheel-throwing, while Lyn creates the surface designs inspired by the Arizona landscape they both love. After the firing process is finished, Lyn paints each unique vessel. Together their vessels have developed and grown into amazing works of art.

“We make music and pottery,” say Lyn and Ken Mikell, “Music is ephemeral, and lives in the memories of the audience. Clay pots, however, are some of the oldest articles of civilization. We find a sense of balance in combining the two arts.”

Susan Moody

After a longtime career in banking in the Midwest, Susan discovered her artistic calling at the Sedona Arts Center when she enrolled over ten years ago in and “Outdoor Mosaics” workshop. The creative door swung open as she continued to further her education with a series of workshops on mosaics and kiln formed glass. There was no turning back!

Susan has studied with many nationally known glass teaching artists around the country in order to fully understand the glass fusing and kiln forming processes. She strives continually to explore and experiment with glass and to push the limits of this fascinating medium. The endless possibilities of color combinations and glass layering continue to inspire her to this day. Susan’s glass creations are truly one of a kind.

Karen Puckett

Karen Puckett, a visual artist, loves playing with light, color, heat and glass. These are the elements that help to create light transmission through translucent forms. Over the years she has developed and refined many of her own techniques involving color combinations, glass combinations, hot-glass manipulation, custom findings, wire wrapping, wire embedding, grinding, and fire polishing. All this gives her jewelry creations their unique look and feel. Happily tucked away in her art glass studio in Sedona, Arizona, Karen’s exceptional jewelry creations are a gem in the desert.

Cheryl Waale
Paintings with a fresh perspective are Cheryl Waale’s niche. As she was transitioning from the corporate world, Waale returned to her lifelong love of paint and she hasn’t looked back. “When I go to art festivals or galleries, I always look for something fresh and different. I knew from the start I wanted to create paintings that caused you to stop and look,” says Waale. From horses to figurative to organic—Cheryl is inspired to use layers to create on canvas the vision she has in her mind.

Through independent study with artists she admires, excellent coaching, fearless experimentation and plenty of brush mileage, she has developed a truly recognizable style—turning ordinary subjects into extra-ordinary works which offer many layers of color and texture. Her art is in private collections throughout North America and Europe. She is represented by galleries in Arizona, Oregon and Washington.

Karl Williams
Karl Williams’ latest sculptures seek to depict emotions and responses that his pieces arouse rather than objective reality. This is accomplished through vivid use of glazes and dynamic application of copper, leather and cane. The combination of these embodies his spontaneous self-expression of what he creates.

Instead of relying only on the basic methods of carving and molding, Williams takes advantage of the complete freedom of using materials with which he is skilled in order to achieve maximum impact on each piece thus sacrificing representation of accuracy while allowing his inner passion to be expressed.

From youth to present day, it is the combination of the natural elements of wood, glass, stone, steel, copper, cane and clay with which Karl uses to fully express the passion and inspiration he receives from nature. His daily walks inspire his deepest passions which are reflected in all his work.

Guest Speaker: Iris Yang

December 7, 4–5pm
Guest speaker Iris Yang will introduce her debut work of historical fiction, Wings of a Flying Tiger, at the Sedona Arts Center on Friday, December 7 from 4-5pm!

In the Theatre Studio
Special First Friday Silent Auction Preview!
Bidding begins and ‘Buy it Now’ pricing is available!
This year a Special Silent Auction will offer fine art, donated services, and special experiences to the community! Two Silent Auction previews will be open to the public.The first is on First Friday, December 7 from 5 – 8 pm. The second preview on December 12, 5 – 7 pm, will feature demonstrations by three local artists. Watch as they create! Gretchen Lopez will be creating a unique portrait from life, Neil Kennedy will be demonstrating on the potters wheel and Vince Fazio will be working on a landscape painting. Guests are invited to bid on Silent Auction items and bid on these artworks while they are happening!  All Silent Auction items will have special “Buy it Now!” option. Refreshments will be provided at each preview!

Then the Sedona Arts Center will proudly present its annual Loving Bowls charity fundraiser on December 15 from noon to 3pm at the Historic Art Barn in Uptown Sedona. This fantastic fundraiser offers a beautiful selection of Loving Bowls for your purchasing pleasure, plus loads of food and fun! Over 1100 bowls have been made and lovingly glazed in a variety of finishes by professional volunteer potters. Bowls are $10 each and come with wonderful chili, bread and desert.
Fiber Artist’s Trunk Show
At the Sedona Arts Center’s Fine Art Gallery

A fabulous group of fiber artists have come together to create a special exhibition and sale of wearable art at the Sedona Arts Center. The Fiber Artist’s Trunk Show features 14 artists and their beautiful one-of-a-kind handmade works. Among the works are knitted, felted, woven and handspun works resulting in a variety of scarves, shawls and hats including sparkly holiday and party wear. Bookmarks and ornaments are also featured.

The Verde Valley Sanctuary will receive 10% of all sales from this special trunk show. Attend the opening reception and enjoy food, wine and first choice from the collection! The Arts Center gallery will feature trunks and mirrors and the artists themselves will be modeling some of the items. You can buy the works right off their backs!

Participating Artists:

Izzy Simmer, Nancy Black, Patty Boldenow, Marci Lebowitz, Janet Klebe, Nancy Bollard, Lucie Giebelhaus, Shelly Schmaltz, Cathy Davies-Sloan, Chris Guenther, Debra Baker, Sandra Blatnic, Caroline Giberti, Jill Suydan, and Molly Shuvani.

Note: Gallery sale pricing and Members discounts do not apply to items in the Fiber Trunk Show
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 organization is based at the Art Barn in Uptown and offers year-round classes, exhibitions, festivals, and cultural events that enhance the creative life of the Verde Valley. The Center’s Fine Art Gallery, open daily from 10am to 5pm, promotes the original works of over 100 local artists and regularly offers special assistance for collectors and art buyers, offers private studio visits, and fosters hundreds of arts education opportunities each year. For more information, call the Gallery at 928-282-3865, the Administrative offices at 928-282-3809 or visit us online at SedonaArtsCenter.org.