Page 23 - June 2017
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IMAGES, FROM LEFT: CATHERINE SICKAFOOSE, JEREMIA SUNFELLOW, LORI MCDONALD, JANE MOORE & DAVID HALL
SEIZE THE LIGHT
Through Jun 10, viewers may look through the lens of The Alumni Photo Group for a trove of new original photographic prints. With Tom Greczynski as mentor, the group’s ex- cellent digital photography has won exhibitions in numerous galleries and awards in local and national venues. The Yavapai College Prescott Art Gallery is open Monday through Thursday and Saturday, 10AM – 3PM. yc.edu/artgallery
OUT OF THE ORDINARY
West of the Moon Gallery welcomes artist Terry Samples in a new series, “Off Grid.” An opening reception during First Friday ArtWalk also headlines the music of Paul Webber on guitar.
Says Mr. Samples: “I am attracted to landscape that surrounds me, ordinary places that become extraordinary when light illuminates the land form. In this high tech world I strive for simplicity in my life and in my painting process.” He uses oil paint sticks on canvas, pa- per, and prepared panels, drawing with the paint directly on the surface. “After many years of using the oil sticks I still find new ways to use them. My methods are simple and direct. My tools do not include brushes. I might use sticks, a knife, or just my fingers to blend the colors.” WestOfTheMoonGallery.com
SHOOTING FOR THE STARS
Lori McDonald has been content for years to work in a variety of different professions while investigating careers that were a better fit for her interests and intellect.
But the 42-year-old Yavapai College student is ready to let her wandering spirit rest and focus on finishing something she started. That something is an aerospace engineering de- gree now that she has been invited to participate in NASA’s Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) Project. The program’s aim is attracting and retaining students in science, technology, math and engineering (STEM) disciplines critical to NASA’s future missions.
“I gave up on engineering when it seemed like the doors were closed,” Ms. McDonald says, citing mounting college debt as one door-closing factor. “Now, my dreams from my previous life are starting to show up again. I don’t know how it’s all going to come together. It just is.”
As the Barbifer at Puscifer for many moons now, Ms. McDonald’s enduring curiosity and drive to learn drew her to Yavapai College, where she has studied a variety of subjects since 2006. She learned about the NASA program last spring and completed a battery of writing and other assignments initially. “My eyes were crossed, but everything was so interesting,” she said. “When something like that ignites you, you grab onto it.”
After completing the preparatory work, Ms. McDonald was invited to continue learning at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Southern California to spend four days work- ing with a team to build and test a remote-operated vehicle (ROV) and form a fictional company interested in Mars exploration. Ms. McDonald hopes to turn her experience into an internship, or perhaps even a job with NASA, which is not out of the question.
“NCAS has a legacy of alumni moving from NASA internships and ultimately entering the NASA workforce,” said Tania B. Davis, a manager at the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP), a funder of the NCAS program. “It is rewarding to see the progression of a student from NCAS participant to NASA colleague.”
Ms. McDonald is optimistic about her chances of working in aerospace. “How high can this go?” she asked rhetorically. “No matter what, I’m not going to get bored. And, no matter what, the end of this opportunity will be life-changing.”
ARTSBRIEFS: JUNE2017
FIRST SATURDAY JEROME ARTWALK
Warm, easy nights of June in Jerome will set the perfect mood to welcome art lovers as they stroll the lovely galleries and studios that circle the town from the Old Jerome High School to Made in Jerome Pottery and The Lincoln Gallery. This First Saturday ArtWalk on June 3rd continues to delight a growing group of regulars as well as lucky newcomers to a wonderful evening. The festivities start at 5PM throughout town with a free shuttle running until 8PM. With 20 open galleries and studios, there is plenty to spark any art aficionado’s imagination.
Made in Jerome Pottery will be celebrating its 45th anniversary. Established by Jane Moore and David Hall (pictured above) in 1972, Made in Jerome Pottery is still making the finest pottery on Main Street, hand-thrown, individually crafted. Live music is provided by Hall and the Howlers in the Kiln Yard, with refreshments. The potters say: “Wow, 45 years flies by when you’re having fun! Come party like it was 1972!”
Cody Delong has just returned from the Phippen Museum Show in Prescott, and still has works in the Nocturne show ‘By the Light of the Moon’ which runs through July 23.
Jerome’s Jewelry artist, Rick Hernandez has been busy creating some fabulous jewelry using some of his favorite stones such as Fire Agate & Peridot from San Carlos, Arizona.
Pura Vida Gallery will feature artist Andrew Iannazzi’s blown glass Tiki tumblers. These classic retro icons are blown in a variety of vibrant colors and are the perfect glass to serve up your favorite summer libation in playful, exotic style.
June is the month of wedding vows, and, at Yester Day’s Fine Art Gallery this month, Tom and Penny Posedly show that a loving (and artful!) marriage partnership can last ad infinitum. Amazingly, Tom’s first language is American Sign Language. After practicing ar- chitecture for over 35 years, his greatest expressions have always been through the silent beauty of his plein air watercolors. Penny also practiced architecture for just as long, and is a copper jewelry artist, who has also become over the years an ASL Interpreter.
“Going off on Tangents” continues at the Jerome Artist’s Cooperative. Sarah Harms has been a metalsmith, making jewelry for over 30 years. In her first solo show, she introduces new jewelry pieces and new forged steel works both functional and decorative. Felted wool and photographs printed on aluminum are incorporated into some of her steel works in new ways.
New wood assemblages, stabiles, combining desert woods and bedsprings found in the desert will be featured at Adrift this month. Alabaster bear fetishes in all sizes carved by Don Jones will also be shown. Adrift is located in The Old Jerome High School. And next door, stop by the wonderful Anderson-Mandette building to see what’s new with these two icons of the Jerome art scene.
Zen Mountain Gallery celebrates its 5th anniversary, representing 30 artists from the region, including Christopher Mull, Luna Patterson, Erica Farieo, Donald Voss and Susan Moody.
Gallery 527 presents Sharron Vincent Porter’s new work in the show ‘Sticks and Stones’ inspired by her move to the Southwest. Slightly abstracted with rock-like textured surfaces, the resulting paintings appear to focus on the sheer visual and tactile qualities of experi- ence. Somehow, however, they also exude an undeniably anthropomorphic feeling: close- ups of rocks, trees, water, twigs, caves, interestingly arranged, in an emotive relationship with each other and the light in which they bathe.
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