May 22, 2009

High Country Art Gallery, Gift Shop now openBy WMICentral.com

High Country Art Gallery and Gift Shop is now open for business. With a start date of May 19, Northeastern Arizona Fine Arts Association members began filling up the summer gallery with new works of art. The combination of summer members and year round members gives the gallery a wonderful balance of art.

Not only are member artists filling up High Country Art Gallery, many of them have expanded to other galleries both here in the White Mountains and in the towns and cities that they have been wintering, giving testimony to the growth of their art.

One of those members is Verna Weekley of Concho, who has 16 of her original paintings in the new Pinetop law office of Criss Cadelaria, former Apache County prosecuting attorney.

Several other NEAFAA members have their work on display at the Pinetop Contemporary Fine Arts Gallery, including Michael Overstreet showcasing beautiful pottery; Sandy Pendleton, NEAFAA president, displaying exquisite fused glass; Jan van Dierendonck with unique gourd art; and Ginny Linde with landscape fused glass.

Debbie Galante shows her very detailed graphite art, and Karen Spradling delights with her lovely floral paintings, and of course, Jim Beck, owner of Pinetop Contemporary Fine Arts Gallery and NEAFAA member, shows his original works of art. Around town, members Teri Williams and Galante are showing at the Show Low Senior Center.

This year Betty Amos won the Daniel Smith Catalog contest, receiving a $250 gift certificate. Amos studied with several well known artists in the Phoenix area as well as Prescott, Hawaii and Santa Fe. She has been a member of NEAFAA for a number of years and has helped organize the Diane Maxey workshop as well as other art workshops. Every year starting in April, they begin preparation for its annual Fourth of July Arts and Crafts show at Charley Clark’s Orchard in Pinetop-Lakeside. This will mark its 34th year presenting this show and each year is better than the one before.

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