Page 20 - the NOISE March 2013

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FROM ABOVE: Nine Peaks at Night and Shining Mountain are among the new pieces by Stephen Revering featured at Gallery One13 this month.
realizing it can be whatever it needs to be. What I enjoy most about the painting is the good feeling I am left with, all for just a mo- ment’s gazing.
I ask Stephen Revering what the paint- ings at his upcoming show at Gallery One13 are about. “Continued explorations into the themes that are prominent in my life,” he says.
“And that has to do with the various aspects of meditation and what’s it all about? The paint- ings are places you could picture yourself meditating in; places you imagine that you go when you’re meditating. When I think of meditation, I always think of landscapes. When I think about meditation and in my mind’s eye, I go places, it’s various landscapes and hopefully some of my meditation experi- ences express themselves in my paintings. If it was the same every time, it would always be the same landscape, but different times that I meditate, different things occur around the meditation, and that’s the landscape that gets painted. It’s not so much the meditation itself, but the landscape in which the medita- tion sits.”“I’ve got four pieces that are almost done, this is the only one that’s totally done,” he says, holding up Field of Stars, the paint- ing I described above. “The other four are evolving alongside each other. Two of them are variations on Field of Stars. I use the same mountain range in both of them but I’m go- ing for a variance in emotional reaction. It’s a little like Monet’s cathedral paintings or his haystack paintings — it’s the same view, but the time of day totally changes your percep- tion of it, and what it’s about and your rela- tionship to it.”
I ask Mr. Revering how having only a few months between shows has affected his cre- ative process, “Having shows near each other like this has pulled me out of my creative lethargy because there are deadlines, and I’m
tired of showing the same paintings, I want for people to see different things. I have many, many different paintings inside that are just waiting to get put on a canvas and having shows closer together is forcing my hand in actualizing it.”
When I enquire about his trip overseas, and how the experience reflects in his work, Mr. Revering answers, “Walking across Spain I got to spend a lot of time outdoors, in the landscape, contemplating. And Field of Stars, is kind of about my walk to Santiago. Because the name of the town is actually Santiago de Compostela, and Compostela means ‘field of stars.’ This painting has a bit to do with the sense of wonder that I got back in touch with as I went walking through a landscape for days and days — seven weeks and one day to walk from the French border to the north- west coast of Spain. I would not say that this show is about the trip to Spain, but the trip to Spain has colored how I approach a painting.”
Mr. Revering’s new show, “Continued Ex- plorations,” will be featured at Gallery One13 for the month of March, with an artist’s recep- tion March 1, from 6PM to 9PM during the First Friday ArtWalk. GalleryOne13.com
A CHANGE OF SPACE
The Artists’ Coalition of Flagstaff Gallery is changing locations. Despite being off the street and down a long hall in the past, the First Friday ArtWalk has always seen the ACF Gallery as a busy place, but now the group looks forward to their new digs, visible to passersby.
“The new space is at 111 E. Aspen, next to Gallery One13,” ACF Executive Director, Mike Frankel tells me over coffee. “Our opening is March 1, during the ArtWalk. It’s going to be a massive group show! We’ve got over 30 artists signed up already and there prob-
ably will be more. It will be a real showcase to emphasize the breadth and depth of the talent in the Artists’ Coalition. We’re going to be having events in the new space. We’ve already got a book signing planned for April.”
The new gallery space will be open five days a week, Thursday through Monday from 10AM to 6PM.
I ask gallery director, Delores Zeigler about the upcoming show. “We have some really good artists and I think it’s going to be fantastic!” she says. “I have a long list of people who want to be in the gallery. We’ll have a really good show with photos, paint- ings, ceramics and jewelry.” Ms. Zeigler is also excited to soon be leading a workshop on how to sell and market artwork for the ACF members, one of the perks of being in the Coalition.
This year the ACF has welcomed new mem- bers, with many students from the colleges in town. This month, it will also be setting the wheels turning as it prepares for the Annual Recycled Art Show at Coconino Center for the Arts. Flagstaff-arts.org
COLORING FUNDS
Almost every school has some kind of fundraiser during the year, but Peak School caught my attention with the innovative idea to have a coloring contest — for adults!
Elii Chapman, a teacher at Peak School has left a stack of coloring sheets at The Art- ists’ Gallery, Arizona Handmade Gallery, Gal- lery One13 and Flagstaff Coffee Company. Ms. Chapman tells me more: “As a Title I school, 87% of the current 156 K-8 students qualify for subsidized free or reduced cost lunch. Given the economic challenges faced by these families, field trip fees have to come from the community.
“This demonstrates to these students how
valued they are and how needed by our so- ciety are their unique life skills and perspec- tives. As they transition toward high school, a trip like this that involves connection to the natural environment links them to the innate beauty of this world that can always be there for them with their dedication to its protec- tion.”
“This year, we are scheduled to participate in a trip on the Diamond Down portion of the Colorado River,” Ms. Chapman tells me. “To prepare for our trip, I integrate relevant eco- logical and cultural studies into our standard academic areas, raising the awareness of the students while building their skills linguisti- cally and mathematically with the goal of ap- titude in expressing their environmental and social concerns.”
Coloring pages can also be found at both Peak School locations, or online at Eliic.tum- blr.com. Entries will be accepted before and on March 8. You can bring your completed coloring sheet in to The Peak School, 2229 Spruce Ave and 2016 N. First Street, Suite A, or email them to eochaman@gmail.com.
“Entries can include use of all sorts of media- sculpture, poetry, dance, food, digital formats, or just simply crayon,” Ms. Chapman says.
“Each entry requires the minimum $5 dona- tion, but larger is encouraged by the value of this cause. The conclusion of the Coloring Contest takes place March 27th at Wildflower Bread Co., where the river bound students serve customers, tables have donation jars, contest entries and prizes are on display.”
| Clair Anna Rose laments the loss of Flagstaff’s last video rental store. arts@thenoise.us
20 • MARCH 2013 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us