Page 43 - the NOISE October 2012

Wolf by David Lash, who is featured at two galleries this month: the Artists’ Gallery in Flagstaff & the Gallery in Williams.
our country, as I finish one painting — I can’t wait to start the next!” Flagstaff-Arts.org
CLAIR ANNA ROSE’S ART BRIEFS
During the Flagstaff First Friday ArtWalk Fire on the Mountain Studio, 324 W. Birch, is having their final “Blow Show” of the year. Come by to see George Averbeck as he crafts his one-of-a-kind blown glass pump- kins. Mr. Averbeck is also having his famous
“Blow Your Own Ball,” holiday ornament glass blowing event on October 20 and 21. Space is limited, so if you want to blow your own ball, sign up at the Arizona Handmade/ Fire on the Mountain Gallery, where the glass pieces by George Averbeck will be featured this October. AZHandmade.com
For American Craft Week, the Flagstaff Potter’s Guild will hold their first group pot- tery showcase at the Thomas Byers Guitar Studio, located at 120 S. Beaver Street. Open for the first Friday ArtWalk on October 5, from 6PM to 9PM, and Saturday, October 6, from
10AM to 6PM.
October at West of the Moon Gallery,
located at 14 N. San Francisco, features the dot-ilized art of Dave Rentz. Mr. Rentz is a talented multi-instrument playing musician, as well as a dotter of things. If you can catch him, ask him about his latest bicycle trip. WestoftheMoonGallery.com
RAVENS IN THE AIR
On October 13 the final Second Saturday ArtWalk of the season will be taking place in downtown Williams. The Gallery in Wil- liams will be featuring the raven art of David Lash, Sandy Thybony and Claudia .Schro- eder.
Williams celebrates the 2012 Alpine Har- vest Festival and the Gallery in Williams joins in the celebration with raven art work throughout the gallery. The businesses of downtown Williams will be displaying scare- crows throughout town as a part of the fes-
tival and ArtWalk goers can vote for their favorite.
I talk to Mr. Lash about his paintings. His love for nature is apparent in every brush- stroke, yet his paintings are also a statement about the way we treat the animals we share this planet with.
I ask him about a wildlife painting with a chessboard for the forest ground. “The for- est represents tens of thousands of years of harmony and balance within nature. The downed barbed wire fence and chessboard are symbolic of man’s need to control and manage, which are based on man’s fear. Fear, ignorance and prejudice have led us to view the wolf as an adversary. Wolves and elk, mountain lions and deer, coyotes and ante- lope have coexisted without our interference. Only in our supreme arrogance we think we can improve upon the creation. The trap rep- resents a characteristic of our species having the ability to premeditate a device as cruel as a leg hold trap. My vegetarianism and activ- ism is a life style that does not support the unimaginable cruelty of our modern meat industry,” Mr. Lash tells me.
I ask Mr. Lash about the paintings he has been working on recently, “They are my cel- ebration of the animals we share our home the Earth with. I have changed my pallet to achieve earth tones. I’m also experimenting in surrealism and linear expressionism.”
“As always my inspiration comes from studying nature,” he says, “And the nature of my relationship with my muse, my wife. She is my best critic as well as my support.”
The gallery, located at 309 W. Route 66, will be having a party during the Second Satur- day ArtWalk. TheGalleryInWilliams.com
| Clair Anna Rose has the most abbreviated writer’s end-cap of any contributor to this magazine. Have art? arts@thenoise.us
thenoise.us • the NOISE arts & news magazine • OCTOBER 2012 • 43