PAST EXHIBITIONS & EVENTS
Please stop by this week and view many of these artist's works in our South Gallery.
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October 2008
Artist of the Month: Bernice Evans
Bernice Evans is a charter member of the Virgin Valley Artists Association.
She is a survivor in life, and more importantly, she came to art later in her life, which proves the point: it’s never to late to try something new, or something you have always considered not to be one of your strong points. Who knows, you may be really good at it, as is the case of our honoree this October.
Bernice Anna Wiebe was born in Aberdeen, Idaho on 14 October, 1916. She grew up there and completed her schooling, graduating from Aberdeen High School as Valedictorian of her class. She attended college at Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho where she acquired a teaching certificate. She became a music teacher in Rockport, ID for two years and in Shelly, ID for another three years.
By then, Bernice had enough of teaching, so her father, who was a banker, helped her secure a job at the Walker Bank in Salt Lake City. About a year later United Airlines was looking for someone to do auditing for the passenger agents. A bank employee recommended Bernice for the opening. She soon filled that position for both United and Western Airlines.
That was a good move for her, as she soon meet a young man, Cecil Evans, who was a Clearance Officer, clearing private and small planes to fly out of the Salt Lake City Airport. Bernice married Cecil in her home town on 25 June, 1943. They were married for fifty seven years and raised two sons, Dix and Bill, and one daughter, Lynn. Her son Bill has a daughter, Audrey Evans, who is a senior at Beaver Dam High School.
A couple of years after Bernice and Cecil were married they started their own business, Evco House of Hose, selling industrial hose. Eventually they had offices in several western cities. Bernice became the business’s bookkeeper.
In 1976 they purchased land in Beaver Dam, AZ and in 1986 they decided they liked the climate and the area enough to become permanent residents.
Bernice began creating art while still living in Salt Lake City. On a whim, she took an art class taught by her friend, Jane Swenson, a very accomplished artist in the area. Bernice believed that she had no talent beyond stick figures. Her first painting was a traditional still life. The results surprised her and delighted her teacher. Soon she was doing landscapes and some portraiture and was thoroughly enjoying the whole process.
After moving to Beaver Dam, Bernice began using watercolor, inspired by the magical colors and shapes of the desert Southwest. She also loved the ease of clean-up with the watercolor medium as opposed to oil.
Not only a founding member of the VVAA. Bernice may be the oldest! It is fitting that October is the month she is celebrated as the Artist of the Month because on October 14, she will be a beautiful, 92 years old. Which again proves the point: art will keep you young and you are never too old to learn something new.
September 2008
Artist of the Month: Karlynn Glieden
Karlynn has enjoyed art in one form or another all her life. For example, for over 21 years she designed and created gift baskets and packages for corporate clients in Utah, California and Nevada.
Her adventures in watercolor began when a friend talked her into taking a class with a recreation department in California. While she enjoyed the medium, it was very frustrating. However determination won out after many classes and seminars.
What was once frustrating is now pure joy. Just see the magic happen when the watercolor explodes on paper, bringing excitement and adventure to her paintings. Karlynn's focus is on the color and texture she can achieve with watercolor.
Pottery is a new medium for Karlynn. After many years of admiring and buying from other artists, she is now creating her own pottery peices. Karlynn exhibits and sells her paintings and pottery in art galleries and shows in Nevada.
She is a member of the VVAA, SUWS and MVAG.
August 2008
Artist of the Month: Carolyn Chuatiuco
Carolyn wanted to begin by saying that at the age of 34 she looked just like Marilyn Monroe and was offered numerous parts on the stage and screen. But then she confessed that there was no truth to the statement.
So, instead we begin her biography with her understanding of the elements of art. They include
color, texture, light and design. Carolyn believes in taking these elements from nature and
surrounding herself with them. When she begins the search for a new home, Carolyn looks for
a location with a view that includes mountains, water, or both. These elements of creation have
both an inspiringand a calming quality, and were certainly evident during the sixteen years she
lived in Hawaii.
When considering interior design, she applies color to the walls, and keeps the furniture in a neutral palate.This proved to be especially efficient as she has decorated 13 homes while moving between Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, California, Florida, Nevada and Hawaii. These moves included raising a daughter, Gretchen, now living in Seattle, and a son, Richard who resides in Rockville, Maryland, and career changes from teaching to
banking to the timeshare resort industry, where she thoroughly enjoyed sales operations management.
Efforts in this developing field earned her two national Gold “ARDY” awards from the American Resort Development Association – in 1993 for Customer Service and in 1997 for Project Management. And the best part is that an article
in a timeshare resort/travel magazine led her to retire in Mesquite in 2005. Returning to the subject of the elements of art, Carolyn believes it’s important to see the ways in which texture affects color. For example, the nap of a piece of cloth will subtly change the intensity of its hue.
She has always enjoyed working with fabric – from the time her grandfather gave her a sewing machine to make doll clothes, through the days of making clothing for the family and pillows and drapes for her home, to her current efforts at quilting throws and wall hangings and using fabric strips to create unique designs for wall art and greeting cards.
Her grandfather, an amateur photographer, prompted another form of creativity when he taught her to enlarge and develop photographs. Then, many years later and just before she retired, her son gave her a digital camera for Christmas, and she was off on a quest to photograph the color, texture, light and designs in nature.
Carolyn has included examples of her wall art and fabric art greeting card designs in her exhibit, as well as a quilted wall hanging. Her photographs include a series titled "Winter in Zion" and a second series titled "Blooms, Bees and Bugs."
Carolyn says “Fabric arts can be made in the company of others or in quiet, contemplative moments. Having a
camera takes you to wonderful places with family and friends. Who could ask for more?
July 2008
Artist of the Month: Gordon Pugh
Pugh's medium is the common #2 yellow school pencil. What he can create with that humble tool is truly amazing.
As a kid, I liked to draw,” states Pugh. “Most drawings were of hot rods.” Like many that start out with art as a
pastime in their growing up years a time comes when real life moves in. Such is the case with Pugh.
After graduation from high school Pugh put away his pencils, went to college, then spent the next forty-one years in various managerial positions with Blue Cross-Blue Shield in Salt Lake City.
Pugh tells us, “After my retirement in 1996, and subsequent move to St. George,
Utah in 2000, I again began drawing as a hobby.” He continues, “My loving wife then
decided that we needed a home with a studio. So, in 2002, we moved to a larger
home with a studio and when I was not drawing I was buying art supplies. I tried
painting and pastels.”
In 2003 Pugh enrolled in art classes at Dixie State College where he
was encouraged to continue his “hobby”. He learned much and refined his techniques.
Now days Pugh spends most of his time drawing but he also enjoys painting with acrylics and his new pastels.
With all the art he has created he has filled the homes of his four children, four brothers, one sister, his neighbors and some of his doctors. If not he states the stack of pictures would be twenty feet high.
“I draw and paint only because it’s fun. There is no “message” in my pictures.” Pugh has discovered the secret to being an artist. Art should be done because of the love of it.
June 2008
Artist of the Month: Marcia "Koko" Kokoczka
"Koko's" art is imaginative, innovative and beautiful.
Marcia “Koko” Kokoczka comes to Mesquite from Jackson, Michigan were she was born and raised. She spent her entireworking life as an employee for the local Jackson power company. After thirty threeyears of service she retired. And during those thirty three years Koko andher family vacationed every year in the west, including Wyoming, Colorado and Nevada.Throughout those travels the family decided that the west was for them.
While vacationing in the west, Koko developed an appreciation for and an interest in pottery.
And as she purchased and enjoyed other artist’s work, she felt a desire begin to grow in her
to someday try it herself. In 1993 she learned of pottery classes being offered through a local museum in Jacksonand made the decision to develop the skills tomake her dream a reality. Every year from then on she learned and honed the skills needed to make fine pottery. She learned from a gifted teacher who soon became her friend, Mary Humphrey. Like allnew potters, Koko started on the wheel and a love affair with clay was started. Besides the wheel she also learned hand building techniques, which became her focal point.
“When I hand build a creation I have something when I’m done,” Koko states. “On the wheel I could end up with
“another” short fat heavy tea bowl and I already had enough of those. But to create a bowl, candle lantern or vase using the hand built method was a pleasant ask because it always turned out. It was a good feeling.”
May 2008
Artists of the Month: Our talented Mesquite area school children and youth
Original, vibrant and imaginative school days student art was displayed throughout the Gallery.
April 2008
Artist of the Month: Katherine Bailey
Katherine Bailey’s accomplishments read like an entry in Who’s Who.
As a matter of fact it is an entry in Who's Who in America, Who's Who
in the World, the Dictionary of International Biography as well as other non-fee collections.
A list of Bailey's accomplishments include:
Ph.D, 1982 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society and scholarship
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
Honorable Mention Bosque Art Gallery, NM 1985. Second Place 1986.
Positive review in Jan. 1987 Manhatten Arts Ariel Gallery in Soho.
Certificate of merit at fourth Annual Holiday Exhibition of Oil Pastel Association, 1994
Honorable Mention at Multi-Media Art Exhibition of OPA, 1999.
General Pencil and Pastel Journal Award at Multi-Media Exhibition of OPA 2000.
Charles Hughes Award at OPA/UPA Edward Hopper Art Center Show 2001
First Place in "Lucky 13" International Small Works Show, Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery, Mesquite, NV 2006.
Bailey states, " In my art I try to capture something of the beauty and mystery of nature. An underlying purpose in
all my work has been the search for unity in a world so often shattered by violent multiplicity. As a miniaturist, I
try to see and re-create "a world in a grain of sand."
March 2008
Artist of the Month: Barbara Withelder
How to describe Barbara Withelder, our Artist Of the Month for March? Some
adjectives that have been attached to her name are, lively, enthusiastic, hard
working, smart, beautiful, creative, and areal hand full. All of those words apply. She
is also a talented artist who takes her art seriously, but not too seriously. She paints
for herself. Her paintings are filled with personal meaning and humor.
Barbara was born in Southern California and spent her early life in Palm Desert and
San Jose where she attended San Jose State University as an art major. Throughout
her working life she has used her art and hasheld many positions where her art dominated. Withelder owned two large deli's.
She says, "I made the best looking meat and cheese trays in the Silicon Valley!!!"
Withelder and her husband, Geno, have four children and six wonderful grandchildren. Their family has always been
important to them and they have remained close. Six years ago Barbara and her husband retired and moved to
Mesquite, where once again she became fully immersed in the art world taking classes, workshops and retreats with many renowned artists. Some of the teachers who influenced Withelder's recent art are Carl Purcell, Roland Lee, Don Andrews, Gian Ferrari, Clay Platner, Char Lang and Sam Lawlor.
Barbara works in oils, acrylics, watercolor and clay, as well as experimenting with mixed media techniques. She has entered many local shows and exhibits and has won several awards. She says, "Art is mostly for enjoyment, creativity and personal fulfillment."
February 2008
Artist of the Month: Gary Vice
Gary Vice has a most unusual background. One you would not commonly associate with art. He was born and raised in Fullerton, California. He joined the army and was honorably discharged from the Army Security Agency in 1975 . He was stationed on Okinawa and in the Philippines working as a Search and Development Intercept Operator. Vice then attended Backster School of Lie Detection. He was one of California's first licenced polygraph examiners.
In 1981 Vice married his best friend, Carolyn. Together, over the years they founded and sold two investigation businesses. Vice then obtained a California Real Estate License where he "dabbled" in sales of existing homes. Next they opened Calico Gold Panning, a conncessionaire at Calico Ghost Town, as well as an antique/rock shop in the Rand Mining District in California. In 1994 Vice began to sell new homes in Indian Wells and LaQuinta, California, selling over $100,000,000 in inventory over seven years. He and Carolyn have most recently moved to Nevada from LaQuinta and he says, "We absolutely love living in Mesquite!"
In 1999, when Carolyn gave Gary a set of oil paints, brushes and canvases for Christmas, he had never thought about art nor had he painted anything other than walls. Not having the time for lessons he enjoyed playing with the colors and textures. Gary used bright colors and bold strokes while trying to make the colors flow and create the right emotions. Now that he has time, Gary has joined the Virgin Valley Artist Association where he can meet and talk with other artists and plans to take a few classes.
January 2008
Artist of the Month: Jan Hanson
Jan enjoys art education and paints in oils and watercolors and enjoys plein-aire painting. (painting out-of-doors) She says, “I just can’t get enough of seminars, workshops and art classes.”
When talking about her art Jan’s face lights up and her eyes sparkle with enthusiasm. In speaking of her love for watercolor she said, “I love Watercolors! I love the way the colors mix on the painting surface creating their own forms and colors. If I can keep a freedom of movement in my own brush strokes, I receive ideas from the flow of the paint. At times, I prefer to paint in half-light to maintain an over view of the values on the painting surface.”
In addition to her lyrical paintings, Jan has also used clay as part of her artistic expression. She uses both the wheel and slab roller to create beautiful pottery pieces. Recently she found another way to express her creativity; she takes an ordinary garden variety gourd and turns it into a one of a kind work of art using pine needles, weeds, sticks, twigs, rocks and other found objects to enhance the gourds.
Jan is an active member of the Moapa Valley Art Guild, a signature member of Southern Utah Watercolor Association as well as the Virgin Valley Artist’s Association, where she will begin her year as the Secretary of the VVAA on 1 January. 2008.
December 2007
Artist of the Month: Jenyth Bramwell
Inspired by the desert southwest, Jenyth's imagination and skills have led her to create Bench art, Driftwood Art, Gourd Art and Wall Art.
Jenyth knows creativity gives her a center of being and plein-air painting a spontaneity. Sometimes, when out painting there is a shriek of a canyon bird fluttering over a rapid to the silence of the wilderness, as a full moon rises over the red, purple and gold of canyon walls, motivating the artist with the need to paint. See light bouncing off rock, the cool life saving wetness of water, reflection and shadow and hues in distant vistas on rugged, raw landscapes.
Jenyth has exhibited extensively in Southern Utah, and is a member of the Southern Utah Watercolor Society. She has also exhibited at the Valley of Fire State Park Visitor Center, the Lost City Museum, and the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery, where she is a member of the Virgin Valley Artists Association.
November 2007
Artist of the Month: Warren Spooner
Logandale resident Warren Spooner began his career as an artist while in elementary school. His talents were recognized by his teachers and he was encouraged to continue developing his skills. His art classes included sessions at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia during his summer vacations.
Warren's family moved west to the San Fernando Valley after World War II where he began his career in the grocery business, as a bagger at the Piggely Wiggely. After a stint in the Navy during the Korean War, Warren returned to California and continued his career in groceries, retiring from the Albertson's chain in Las Vegas after 45 years of service.
Now, with the time to return to art with enthusiasm, Warren enhanced his skills by studying with Roland Lee, Carol Purcell, Max Bunnell, Shari Cannan, John Nieberg and Becky Whitney. He has attended classes at SNCC and various other workshops in the pursuit of perfecting his art.
October 2007
Artist of the Month: Gail Ashdown
Gail's art is representative of the variety of cultures and art styles she has encountered as a Navy wife and globetrotter. Her works display the needlework and sewing skills learned as a girl in her native Hamilton, Canada. Throughout her adult life she added the painting techniques and skills needed for such disparate works as still life and Chinese flower painting. When she settled in Mesquite, she studied with Harlo Birkholtz and added pottery to her list of achievements.
September 2007
Artist of the Month : Gian Ferrari
Born in Corpus Christi Texas, Gian paints representational art, expressed in a variety of mediums.The art has a strength of emotion, created with the use of intense color, light and texture. Gian's fine art experience includes oil, watercolor and hand sculpted/wheel thrown pottery. Her more commercial applications are found in acrylic, through murals and specialty wall surfaces. Subject matter is limited only by the passion felt to communicate with the viewer. Favored subjects are still life with ethnic overtones, and landscapes. Her art quilts are an artistic departure, where vibrant color is paired with original designs and strong themes.
August 2007
Artist of the Month: Pete Peterson
Pete Peterson is basically a self taught artist. He works mostly in oils and acrylics because he finds life in color and texture. An adventurer, he may use an "off the wall" process that talks to him, and to the viewer. He is willing to use unique approaches to tell stories on canvas. You can find his work in both businesses and homes in several states.
July 2007
Artist of the Month: Harlo Birkholder
Harlo has a wonderful sense of humor, and you can see it in the pottery and artwork he selected for his exhibition. He says he's done a lot of "stuff." That "stuff" has been inspired by Aristotle's statement "To be learning something is the greatest of pleasures, not only to the philosopher, but also to the rest of mankind, however small their capacity for it." And although Harlo doesn't take himself too seriously, you will seriously enjoy his works.
June 2007
Artist of the Month: Lisa Huber
This watercolor artist's favorite subjects are animals. She wants to portray their nobility, intelligence and service to man. The most enjoyable part of a piece of art for Lisa is the underlying drawing. She finds drawing a meditative and tranquil experience. She works mostly with a dry-brush technique, but, as with most watercolor artists, there is also the thrill of seeing the magic happens when water and paint blend together on the paper. Lisa has exhibited in the Clayton Williams Gallery in Salt Lake City and other Utah galleries, as well as the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery.
May 2007
Artist of the Month: Our talented Mesquite area school children and youth
Original, vibrant and imaginative school days student art was displayed throughout the Gallery.
April 2007
Artist of the Month: Helen Fitzgerald
Helen Fitzgerald considers herself an abstract expressionist. She describes her art: "Besides the pleasure I get from my work, I paint to stimulate thought and reactions within the viewer. It is for them to see whatever they see. . . . it's personal for each individual whether their view is what I intended or not. A watercolorist, Helen's favorite style of creating art is "wet-on-wet." She begins by immersing the paper in water and then adds wet paint to the saturated paper. She invests passion, intelligence and a seemingly boundless source of creativity in each artwork.
March 2007
Artist of the Month: Juanita Becker
Juanita Becker says painting is just one of her creative outlets. Painting for Juanita is being able to capture a moment in time so others can share in it and appreciate it later. Her ultimate goal is for others to see, through her paintbrush, what she sees. Juanita has been creating in art since childhood and in retirement has found pleasure and success in watercolors. The winner of many awards, Juanita has exhibited in St George, Cedar City and Rockville, Utah, as well as in the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery.
February 2007
Artist of the Month: Bonnie Ligouri
Bonnie Ligouri was born and raised on a small farm in Iowa and has been a resident of Nevada since 1960. Bonnie paints in a variety of mediums,including acrylics, watercolors and oils. Bonnie is currently a student of local painter Clay Platner.