Page 17 - the NOISE June 2013

General Store by Catherine Sickafoose is an example of the
watercolorist’s skill & precision, taught at the Z House this month.
for the Arts and the Pioneer Museum for sup- plying the facilities and enthusiasm for our shared endeavor!”
“Giving everyone a chance to perform is a special aspect,” says Ms. Wittke. “We all have to start somewhere, and performing in front of people is different from practicing in private. This way we also ensure a variety of musical and performance styles. If one per- formance isn’t your style, you can always get up and sample another at one of the other three venues, or perhaps a workshop or an informal jam out under the trees. I got a comment last year from a visitor about how surprised they were that all the acts were so good! We have a lot of talent in this town and surrounding areas, and this is a great way to showcase it.”
This year Ms. Wittke hopes to bring back the “Band Scramble” in a different way. In- stead of artists being randomly placed to- gether, they will be encouraged to form their own groups with musicians they haven’t had the pleasure of singing with before.
The 12th Annual Flagstaff Folk Festival, June 29-30, 2011, and is from 10AM to 6PM both days. Bring your instrument, meet new friends, partake in the workshops offered
and listen to some fine home-grown music. The Pioneer Museum and Coconino Center for the Arts are located at 2300 N. Fort Valley Road. Flagfolkfest.org 928/606-2064
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH ART
Growing up in Glendale, Arizona, in a fam- ily of 6 on a modest income, Vera Baron found her entertainment as a child through creativity. Her mother made luxurious Barbie gowns, and out of the scraps of dresses came creations of a young Ms. Baron.
At the age of 11 she was given her first sewing machine, she made halter tops for the neighbor girls and took odd sewing jobs
from one of her mother’s co-workers.
“No one ever told me I couldn’t do those projects so I tried everything, mostly with success,” Ms. Baron recalls. “I also entered garments in the state fair youth exhibit and
won first and second place ribbons. To me, sewing equaled empowerment and accom- plishment.”
Ms. Baron found that she wanted to share this empowerment with others, and through- out the years has been helping others find a sense of self-esteem through creative expres- sion.
“When I worked with homeless children, I showed them how to make simple paper chains to use for Christmas decorations, as my mother had taught me. They beamed with delight as we decorated the room in their shelter with the chains they made. I saw that given permission to create, children and adults discovered a part of themselves they never knew or believed existed.”
Her work led her to be an executive direc- tor of the Indiana Arts Council. “My sewing led me to join the Indiana County Fiber Arts Guild where I became fascinated with ev- ery process of working with fibers,” she says.
“Combing, spinning and dying wool, weaving, machine knitting and my favorite, papermak- ing. I apprenticed with a skilled papermaker and she gave me full reign of her studio to explore the technique. I began to exhibit my work professionally.”
After moving to Cave Creek Ms. Baron was able to explore her art full time, and ex- pressed herself in a variety of mediums. She began to teach art classes and volunteered with Artworks, an organization that promot- ed children’s artwork in galleries to benefit non-profits.
“I believe art must be experienced in a per- sonal, non-judgmental way in order to realize its advantages. Physically participating in an artistic activity allows an individual to experi-
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thenoise.us • the NOISE arts & news • JUNE 2013 • 17