November 2016 featured artist: Wolfgang Vaatz
Through November 30, all Wolfgang Vaatz jewelry is 15% off
For 30 years, Wolfgang Vaatz focused his talents on paintings and sculpture. But four years ago, this celebrated artist began combining painterly and three-dimensional design to create a line of jewelry that is nothing short of wearable fine art.
Aspen pendant by Wolfgang Vaatz Carved & engraved pendant with gold nuggets, 22k, 18k rose, & 14k yellow gold on argentium silver.
“I use modified techniques, drawing from my experience in painting and sculpture, adjusted to the new media of multiple precious metals and gemstones,” Wolfgang says. “In doing so, I keep the same artistic language which is solely inspired by the natural landscape, its elements, texture, and light.”
The artist uses all manner of inspiration for his work: sunlight in the trees, landscapes, the ocean, or even the stones themselves. “Everything that is happening around me when I am in nature, sparks a creative process,” he says.
Wolfgang Vaatz sterling silver pendant oxidized with14k fused gold and 8mm concave-cut natural topaz. Oxidized sterling silver chain 16″ long with 3.5″ extension.
The end results are exquisite miniature works of art that we are pleased to share with you.
We are delighted to have Wolfgang as our Featured Artist for November, 2016. You can meet Wolfgang in person at his trunk show during the Fall ArtWalk Friday, November 25th and Saturday November 26th from 1 to 4 pm.
For information about Wolfgang’s work, please contact the gallery.
We’re Open All Summer! Plus Hi-Art Scholarship Results
Our doors are open from 10AM to 4PM every day this summer! Be sure to stop in.
We’ve had a great season this past year and welcomed great new artists into our gallery. We’re proud to provide our patrons such meaningful art from such talented artists.
If you are in Tubac this summer (or never left!) we invite you to come by and see what’s new. And to get you started, check out the folded-paper art of our newest artist, C. A. Santa Maria.
“Summer” by Annie Santa Maria – cut and folded paper – 21″ x 19″
Hi Art show and scholarship results
Every year in December, we throw our Tubac village-wide party, Cowboy Christmas, as a thank you to all our patrons and the community that we love.
With the money we raise from the event, we sponsor a scholarships and several awards for the “Hi-Art,” a Tubac Center of the Arts program which encourages and supports area high school students interested in exploring fine art.
Grand prize
The largest scholarship of $3,000 went to Dillon Riling, a senior at Rio Rico High School for his painting of “Attempt” (oil on canvas). His plans are to attend Grand Canyon University, majoring in Biology. He hopes to become a medical illustrator.
Hi-Art scholarship winner Dillon Riling with his winning painting
Other Awards
- $300 Best in Show: “Garcia of Wealth” (Mixed Media) by Justine Rivera, Esmeralda Ramos and Megan Trejo of Walden Grove High School
- $200 Sponsor’s Award: “Black Sparrow” (Watercolor) by Lia Hernandez of Walden Grove High School
- $150 Award of Excellence: “Less Than Air” (Inkjet Print) by Bei Di Gulino of Walden Grove High School
- $100 Award of Merit: “My Future in My Hands” (Ceramic) by Yamiley Ramirez of Rio Rico High School
- $50 Honorable Mention: “Dave Grohl” (Graphite) by Erik Amaya of Rio Rico High School
- $50 Honorable Mention: “Lion” (Scratchboard) by Vance Weavers of Rio Rico High School
On Friday April 29th, the Center hosted a Hi-Art show, exhibiting works from students in the Santa Cruz Valley high schools from Sahuarita to Nogales. We are so glad we have the opportunity to give back to young artists.
Questions about gallery hours, Annie Santa Maria’s work, the High-Art scholarships, or anything else? Please contact the gallery. We look forward to hearing from you!
April 2016 featured artist: Annie Santa Maria
Meet Annie Santa Maria
We invite you to explore Annie’s dimensional cut-and-folded paper art
We are pleased to introduce you to Annie Santa Maria, our featured artist for April, 2016. Annie’s cut-and-folded paper artwork is a collector favorite, and we know you will enjoy learning about this talented woman and her fascinating journey to the fine art world.
“Summer” by Annie Santa Maria – cut and folded paper – 21″ x 19″
First stop: the Peace Corp
After Annie earned a master’s degree in anthropology from Dartmouth University, the new graduate devoted herself to teaching in economically disadvantaged communities, first as a Peace Corp volunteer in Africa and then as an English teacher in Mexico.
But Annie soon discovered that her pupils had much to teach her in return – powerful lessons about the value of friendship and community.
“I learned how to be an anthropologist at Dartmouth, but Africa and Mexico taught me how to be a human being,” Annie says.
Discovering fine art
But how did Annie go from teacher to artist? It all started with wanting to tell a story to children.
18 years ago, after returning from Mexico, Annie decided to write and illustrate a children’s book about the Huichol Indians, an indigenous group in Mexico with whom she had become close. She wanted to illustrate the book in a way that would both engage the young readers and also be reminiscent of the Huichol’s traditional bead and yarn art forms, eventually choosing cut paper craft to fulfill her vision.
Once she discovered cut-and-folded paper, Annie kept exploring the medium, along the way creating a unique art form that borrows from collage, origami, and kirigami – but is greater than the sum of these parts when the work is taken as a whole.
The artwork today
Annie uses her artistic talents to pay homage to the people she met abroad, creating her works from her studio in Tubac, the community she now calls home.
Her signature images feature African and Mexican women, dresses flowing as they engage in their daily work. Although difficult to discern from photos, Annie’s images are highly dimensional – the paper elements providing both depth and height. Almost all the images are created with paper alone – even the fluffy clouds floating across the sky are paper, not paint.
Keeping with her global aesthetic, Annie sources her papers from all over the world, including Nepal, India, Mexico, and Japan. She uses only archival glues and finishes each work with framing under UV-protectant glass.
Though Annie has been successful in fine art for almost two decades, she is still thankful for the reaction to her work. “I am humbled that people like the images I create,” she says. “It is still delightful to me how much people love the art.”
We invite you to come by the gallery to see Annie’s work. We think you will be as enchanted by the images as much as we are. For information about any of Annie’s work, please contact the gallery.
“Esperanza” by Annie Santa Maria – cut and folded paper – 10″ x 14″
March 2016 featured artist: Del Curfman
Meet our newest artist, Del Curfman
New to Rogoway Turquoise Tortoise – contemporary Native American painting
Painter Del Curfman
We are pleased to introduce you to Del Curfman, our featured artist for March 2015.
Del is an extraordinary emerging artist who blends his Crow heritage, lessons from the French Impressionists, and contemporary Native American culture into an exciting body of work. Even this early into his fine art career, Del’s fluid images delight collectors through the marriage of ancient culture and a contemporary vibe.
“My biggest inspiration is my culture,” says Del. “All my work starts with family and connects to my home and my people.”
Del, a registered member of the Crow tribe, is a student at the elite Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe where he is working on a double major in Fine Art and Museum Studies. His educational pursuits help guide his work:
“Working with museum items connects history for me in time and space,” Del says. “Interacting with artifacts hundreds of years old helps shape how I communicate with my art.”
After he receives his bachelor’s degree in 2017, Del intends to pursue a graduate degree while growing his fine art career. Eventually, Del hopes to return to the Crow Agency reservation in Montana to start a community art program. Regardless of where he is on his career path, we believe that Del is an artist to watch.
“That people are responding to my work is really a credit to all the people who came before me and who influence me now,” Del says. “I feel like I am just an outlet for my people’s expression.”
We invite you to come by the gallery to see Del’s work. We think you will be as excited by this young talent as much as we are. For information about any of Del’s work, please contact the gallery.
Del Curfman painting
Del Curfman with Vice President Joe Biden in 2015
February 2016 featured artist: David K. John
Meet our newest artist, David K. John
New to Rogoway Turquoise Tortoise – renowned for contemporary Navajo painting
David K. John is an award-winning Navajo artist who began to paint in earnest in high school. Since then, he has thrilled collectors with his highly symbolic Native American imagery based upon Navajo mythology and stories.
David was raised by his great-grandfather, who imparted to the young artist the the stories and teachings of his people, the Dine. He spent much of his childhood attending and participating in healing events-from seasonal rituals to sand painting ceremonies.
One of David’s iconic images is the Yei Be Chei, an ethereal messenger to the Dine. Since exact replication of the sacred icon is taboo, David modifies the image to the satisfaction of his tribe’s spiritual leaders.
“Paint from your heart; don’t just go along with the latest fad. Your art will last longer then.” ~David K. John
David has won awards for his paintings and masks, including awards at the Inter-tribal Ceremonial in Gallup and the Santa Fe Indian Market.
“Sun Carrier” by David K. John – acrylic on canvas – 24″ x 30″
We are pleased to have David as our Featured Artist for February, 2016. You can also meet David in person and see his latest works at the gallery Friday, February 12 – Sunday, February 14.
Are you ready to add a David K. John original painting to your collection? Please contact the gallery with any questions you may have.
January 2016 featured artist: Albert Dreher
Come see Albert Dreher’s “New Life Art”
“Midheaven Lure” by Albert Dreher – oil wash – 24″ x 38″
We are pleased to present our January 2016 featured artist: Albert Dreher.
The last time we checked in with Albert Dreher he was post-op from a heart transplant. Now, one year later Albert is doing well and loving life. And his art? Never better.
“I was back to the easel as soon as I could get there – I live for my art and work,” says Albert. “I’m determined to live the best life I can in honor of my donor – and that means continuing to paint.”
As homage to the donor of his life-saving gift, Albert puts “a moon event” in each painting. This gesture is his way of putting a thank you in every image.
We are pleased to have Albert as our Featured Artist for January, 2016. We invite you to come see Albert’s latest creations.
You can also see Albert paint, in person, in our live artist demo event on January 16, 2015.
“Mountain Shadows” – oil wash – 35″ x 30″
Are you ready to add an Albert Dreher original oil to your collection? Please contact the gallery with any questions you may have.
December 2015 featured artist: Lil Leclerc
Through 12/31/2015 – All Lil Leclerc art is 15% off
Young Love by Lil Leclerc – 12″ x 24″ – oil – $925
We are pleased to present our December 2015 featured artist: Lil Leclerc.
Lil Leclerc had always been interested in painting, but this self-taught artist didn’t fully come into her own until she moved from Canada to Chochise County 35 years ago.
“A friend of mine kept asking me to come outside and paint with her,” says Lil. “Little by little, our group increased to over 10 painters and our group, The Cochise Outdoors Painters, began having annual exhibits in Douglas, Arizona of our plein air work.”
In addition to her work en plein air, Lil also works extensively in the studio, with her outside endeavors informing the larger works she does inside. “The saguaros, ocotillo, and especially the beautiful Arizona sunshine inspires me when I’m in the studio,” Lil says.
High Lonesome View by Lil Leclerc; plein air – 6″ x 8″ – oil $350
Lil works almost exclusively in oils, but purposely keeps her prices in a range affordable for most families ($350 to $1,500). She also only produces “happy” images and destroys any painting with a more somber tone. “People tell me that when they look at my work, they feel peace and contentment,” Lil says. “That’s how I know I have a success – when I inspire people to be happy.”
Tumacacori Mission by Lil Leclerc – 12″ x 24″ – oil – $925
Are you ready to add a Lil Leclerc original oil to your collection? All purchases of Lil’s work from December 1 through 31, 2015 will receive a 15% discount.
Please contact the gallery with any questions you may have. You can see more of Lil’s work on our artist page: Lil Leclerc artist page.
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