Capturing the Night Sky with Bob Shuman

The Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery is excited to present a unique Featured Artist Show entitled, “Capturing the Night Sky with Bob Shuman.” An afternoon-evening reception for the artist will be held during Jerome’s First Saturday Art & Wine Walk on April 6 from 4 pm-7:30 pm at the Jerome Co-op, 502 N Main St in Jerome.

Astrophotography and landscape photography have risen in popularity in recent years thanks to the advances of digital camera sensors that have allowed photographers to capture impressive images of the night sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, the best time to photograph the Milky Way is from April to September. The nearest star to the Sun is about 4.4 light-years away, and many of the brightest stars in our sky are less than 100 light-years away. To add to that the Sun lies roughly 27,000 light-years away from the center of the galaxy, in a partially formed arm known as the Orion-Cygnus Arm, which itself lies about midway between the two main arms. This places us about midway between the center and the edge of the galaxy, in what might be considered the suburbs of the Milky Way.

On a clear, dark night, you may be able to see around 2,500 stars in the sky. Every one of those belongs to the Milky Way Galaxy. As each star is just one of billions in the Milky Way Galaxy, the Milky Way itself is just one of billions of galaxies in the universe. While this sounds as though the Milky Way is nothing special, it’s worth remembering that it’s also the city of stars in which we live--and we’ve barely managed to step outside our front door!

Come to the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery to join Bob Shuman in exploring his view of the Milky Way from remote areas in Arizona. Find out why curiosity is the driving force behind his photography. Bob states, “I am motivated by the desire to explore the unfamiliar and drawn toward understanding the underlying beauty and mystery of our planet.” That was his impetus to become a chemist, and now it guides his path as a landscape astrophotographer. Bob continues, “There is an indescribable, tangible sense of awe in those moments when I stand alone in front of a great landscape; a feeling of complete connection to our amazing planet, and an awareness of the fragile nature of our relationship with it.” After spending several fruitless nights in the remote areas of Navajo land, surrounded by deep gorges, Bob feels the fear of solitude in that alien place melt away as he watches the Milky Way rise above. Bob became ecstatic to be part of the magic, conversing with each of the stars. Bob describes it as, “I had the universe to myself in that moment!” 

Come share the moments, the mystery and the magic that Bob has captured within his images!

Jerome’s First Saturday Art & Wine Walk from 4 pm – 7:30 pm on April 6. Snacks and beverages are available along with live music. Open to the public. Free parking at the Old High School with a Shuttle Bus available.

Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery 502 N Main St, Jerome info@jeromecoop.com www.jeromecoop.com 928-639-4276

Currently accepting applications for membership in all mediums.

 “Connection through Perception”

with Marsha Foutz and Jamie Kivisto

The Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery presents Jamie Kivisto and Marsha Foutz in their two-member Featured Artist show entitled, “Connection through Perception,” from Feb 3 – March 27 at the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery, 502 N Main St, Jerome. A reception for the artists will be held during Jerome’s First Saturday Art & Wine Walk on February 3 from 4 pm – 7:30 pm.

The show features paintings by Jamie Kivisto and ceramics by Marsha Foutz. Even though their mediums are different, both artists playfully comment on the human experience as a collective as well as include their personal outlooks and observations they themselves discover on their personal journeys.

                                

Kivisto's paintings are primarily layers of acrylic paint intertwined with mixed media. She often uses a collage of text and patterns as well as spray paint in her initial layers to create a depth beyond her subject matter. It is within these layers that a story unfolds. Kivisto states, “I intentionally leave certain words and sketches from my underlayers peeking through, which allows the piece to develop a deeper meaning, usually based on my spiritual journey.”

The message can be subtle, although ultimately this feature intends to create a personal connection between the viewer and the painting. While her subject matter can range from landscape to birds, buildings and desert flora, they are all met with a unique balance of abstract and representational qualities that tie the collection together.

Foutz began sculpting ceramic chess set pieces in 1983 when she was invited to participate in a local Art show in December that year. As a result, she became a founding member of the now famous, “Made in Clarkdale” show for which she has continued making game sets ever since. Marsha states, “I love creating humor with a satirical peek into the human condition which is what helps me keep the tedious process of making the sets alive!

Each set takes at least four months to create. The pieces are sculpted from low-fire clay and then glazed and fired multiple times. It takes a very long time to finish one set! But I’m happy making them because my satirical sense of humor makes it fun! This is why my viewers also get a laugh or giggle when they see of my work.”

Over the years, Foutz has created 26 chess sets. Contrasting themes have included rich versus poor, teachers versus students, men versus women, and most recently, indigenous people versus capitalists. Her work has touched on the environment, travel, and changing attitudes and experiences throughout her life.

“Connection through Perception” welcomes viewers to not only dive deeply into the minds of these artists, but also receive just enough information to spark and evoke their own memories and narratives about life itself.

“Meet and Greet” Marsha and Jamie during Jerome’s First Saturday Art & Wine Walk reception on

February 3 from 4 – 7:30 pm at the

Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery,

502 N Main St, Jerome. Open to the public.

Currently accepting applications for membership in all mediums.

Info@jeromecoop.com www.jeromecoop.com 928-639-4276

 

“Holiday Membership Show”

The Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery presents their annual “Holiday Membership Show” with a reception for the artists on Jerome’s First Saturday Art & Wine Walk on Dec 2 from 4pm – 7:30 pm at the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery located at 502 N Main Street in Jerome. The show is a Holiday-themed event with participation from members representing a wide variety of mediums and styles. The interesting and fun aspect of the “Holiday show” is that the work does not have to be restricted to the type of work each artist has been juried into the Co-op for. Therefore, some surprises are about to occur! Sometimes one cannot even imagine who an unknown style or type of artwork is attributed to! On the other hand, it shows the diversity of talent among the 30 + local artists that make up the Co-op membership.

Marjorie Claus’ delightful character, “Bernadette,” is something you won’t find at her display at other times of the year. But as a Holiday character, Marjorie says, “I really enjoyed getting into the seasonal spirit with this comical character. I think it will make you smile, or even laugh! For me, that’s the gift of the season: Being Joyful!”

About her handmade hats, Michele Cokl Naylor says, “A few years ago I made a funny hat for everyone I worked with for an office photo. Soon after, I decided that I should learn to make proper hats. I studied with a couple of well-known hat makers and fell in love with the process. The hats I have at the Co-op are fabric hats, and I sell felt blocked hats in my studio.” She sums it up with “You’ll always be stylish in a hat!”

Bob Schuman takes us outside into Nature for his Holiday adventure. With Bob’s fantastic landscape photography, you’ll be hitting the trail to see these marvels in person. Schuman’s photographs are awe-inspiring, and, as Bob believes “Landscape photography can not only please the eye but it can instill a deep reverence for Nature and the environment in my viewers. Having photographed scenes from the shores of Hawaii to the hills of New England, my favorite subject continues to be the red rocks of Arizona!”

Speaking of getting out, that’s exactly what Sid Freeman’s new painting is doing. “Around and About” is a 3-dimentional mixed media painting on 18” x 24” stretched watercolor paper with a 12” x 9” piece attached in the center. Sid points out that, “The brilliant colors and calligraphy were achieved with a combination of acrylic paint, colored pencils, and my calligraphic dip pen. Getting the acrylic to flow through a pen was a struggle, but necessary, to achieve my desired intensity of color. Using restrained amounts of water to liquify the paint to prevent it from clogging the pen was very time-consuming. But, with sleeves pulled back, I am happy with it.”

Judy Jaaskelainen shares an original watercolor painting in a custom Juniper frame with turquoise inlay for her entry in the show. She recalls the story behind the painting: “A few years ago our Historic Clarkdale Elementary School was purchased for conversion to an Airbnb. During the conversion the new owner removed the lovely century-old cactus garden. Our community mourned the loss. Fortunately, I had photographed the old garden ten years before it was removed. My painting serves as an effort to preserve the memory and beauty of the past.”

Please join us at the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery during the Holiday season where you’ll see a huge collection of art in the show and in the Gallery. Among the diverse mediums represented are paintings, prints, jewelry, pottery, wood, glass, clothing, photography, collage and much more.

The “Holiday Membership Show” opens on Jerome’s first Saturday Art & Wine Walk, December 2, with a “Meet & Greet the Artists” from 4-7:30 pm. Refreshments and snacks will be provided. The show ends December 26.

SHOP LOCAL! The Co-op is open daily, except Christmas Day, from 10 am – 6 pm. Accepting applications for new members in all media. www.jeromecoop.com Contact us: 928-639-4276