Linda Shannon-Hills
Art comes in many forms and our SaddleBrooke Ranch residents showed the diversity of the arts during our sixth ARTwalk. Many artists have been doing their craft for many years while others are neophytes, discovering their hidden talents since living at the Ranch.
Unlike typical arts and craft shows, the SBR ARTwalk provides artists an opportunity to show and even sell their work from their homes to the neighborhood visitors. A new location this year for some of the artists was showing their work in the new Creative Arts and Technology Center, built for SaddleBrooke Ranch by Robson Communities. Artists found that showing their work in their homes created a relaxed environment for visitors to view and purchase cherished gifts for themselves and family. The talents ranged from oil and water color painting, local area landscape photography, jewelry and beading, wood furnishings and furniture, paper crafting, gourd design, pottery, model building, glazed ceramics, glass designs, fiber arts which included crocheting, knitting and sewing.
We couldn’t ask for better weather on this beautiful Saturday afternoon in late October which allowed over a hundred neighbors of SaddleBrooke Ranch to tour the Creative Art and Technology Center, the artists open-studios as well as displays in their homes and casitas. Several artists combined together in one location, while other artists had a large amount of artwork in their own home. Residents were excited to be able to purchase the various artwork for holiday gifts for family and friends, while many found art to adorn their new homes at the Ranch.
It was required that all items displayed must be made or created by a SaddleBrooke Ranch resident only. This event is a great opportunity to discover the many talents of our Ranch neighbors but also to meet your neighbors and cultivate friendships.
The following artists participated in this year’s SBR ARTwalk: Susan Swanson, acrylic impressionist painting; Vern Nulk, acrylic painting; Leslie and Peter Schlesinger, jewelry and gems; Steve and Mary Schneck, gourd design and painting; Lydia Reichard, jewelry, sewing, needlework, paper crafting, and fused glass art; Raynelle Duhl, fused glass art and jewelry; Ellyn Biggs, miniature doll houses, furniture and boxes; Carol Smith, sewing, embroidery, and knitting; Jack Smith, walking sticks, wine and candle holders and kiva ladders; Teri Baer, jewelry – beaded bracelets and stone; Alex Anna, jewelry – beaded bracelets and stone; Stephanie Hendricks, fiber arts, wine tots, hot pads; Stephanie Hendricks, hand crafted mesquite wood crafts; Barbara Beckley, hand crafted cards; Madoka Knight, hand crafted candles and soaps; Dan Carter, wood jewelry boxes, cutting boards, furniture and candle holders; Sylvia Harmon, painting and stained glass; Karen Rassmussen, gourd design and pottery; Bob Hills, photography of Arizona landscapes and native American on metal; Doug Miller, painter, realistic landscapes on canvas; Janice Mihora, painting; Pam Wample, fiber arts of many varieties; Sharon Morey, watercolor painting; Fay Farquhar, Kumihimo Necklaces; Sharon Olivia Marchant, jewelry and glass arts; Larry Marchant, fused glass arts; Rainie Warner, glass arts and Ann Sack, jewelry.
If you decided later you wanted to purchase an item you saw, contact the artist to see if it is still available or if they can make another item for you.
As with any event of this size, it takes volunteers to make it run smoothly. A special thanks goes out to Ken Levitt for donating the street signs and house signs for the ARTwalk from his company, OakleySigns. Also, to Bob Johnson and Mark Morgan for volunteering their help with putting up and taking down the ARTwalk street signs. To Alex Baker and Sandy Seay for office assistance and to ARTwalk coordinator, Linda Shannon-Hills.
Thank you to all the artists that participated in this year’s very successful ARTWalk.