More Than 50 Arizona Artists to be Featured in 25th Annual Sedona Arts Festival

Fifty-five Arizona artists from communities are among a juried field of 125 artists from New York to California to be exhibiting and selling their artwork at the 25th annual Sedona Arts Festival, Oct. 10-11 at Sedona Red Rock High School.

The Festival also features 14 previous Best of Show winners in addition to the first-ever exhibit of metaphysical art and a special musical performance by world-renowned rock-blues-soul harmonica artist Lee Oskar.

The two-day celebration of the arts also will be highlighted by the works of renowned Oaxacan black pottery artist Magdalena Pedro Martinez, who preserves the ancient traditions of her native Oaxaca by concentrating her artwork primarily on beautiful sculptural images of traditional dress styles (or trajes) from the eight magical regions of Oaxaca.

Arizona artists and their hometowns are: Ahwatukee: Richard Altenhofen, wood; Apache Junction: Scott Thompson, glass; Avondale: John Ellis, photography; Mardo Ureta, sculpture; Black Canyon City: Edward Meyrowitz, mixed media; Philonese Baisden, mixed media; Cave Creek: Randy Galloway, painting; Cornville: Robert Brubaker, sculpture; Cottonwood: Cody DeLong, painting; Dewey: Lana Saint Michel, fiber art; Eager: Patty Fawn, jewelry; Flagstaff: Elizabeth Bonzani, ceramics; Zac Kothrade, jewelry; Christina Norlin, jewelry; Fountain Hills: Michael McKee, drawing/graphics/paper; Glendale: K. Nadine Booth, glass; Goodyear: Frank Williams, mixed media; Mike Greenfield, sculpture; Lee Hendrickson, photography; Lakeside: Marlena Winiarska, jewelry; Mayer: Jennifer Ernst, mixed media; Mesa: Mildred Gil Parada, sculpture; Meg Harper, mixed media; Diana Kempton, photography; Joey Ruppert, photography; Peoria: Rob Richards, drawing/graphics/paper; Susann Searles, photography; Phoenix: Gary Moser, mixed media; Rick Smith, mixed media; Dave Wilson, photography; Prescott: Jess Drake, ceramics; Lesley McKeown, jewelry; Jody Skjei, metal; Chelsea Stone, jewelry; Prescott Valley: Kathleen Long, ceramics; Queen Creek: Gary Johnson, sculpture; Rimrock: Gerry Quotskuyva, wood; Monte Voepel, ceramics; Rio Rico: Donna and Jeff Tousley, ceramics; Scottsdale: Steve Osback, jewelry; Fred Petermann, photography; Adrian Schwab, glass; Sedona: Robb Hink, wood; Ross Mazur, mixed media; June Payne-Hart, painting; Pilisa Rainbow Lady, glass; Sugatha Roeder, jewelry; Marilyn & Terry Alexander, glass; Tempe: Scarlett Lanson, jewelry; Tucson: Adam Homan, sculpture; Joe Zeller, ceramics; Vail: Margaret Aden, jewelry; Wilhoit: Scott Luchansky, wood.

Among the Best of Show winners displaying their works at Sedona's oldest and largest premiere arts event will be Donna and Jeff Tousley (Rio Rico, ceramics), Lisa Gastelum (Portland, OR; jewelry), Ed Kolle (Kanab, UT; metal), Jeff Davison (Huntington Beach, CA; wood), Paul Wisdom (Deary, ID; metal), William Fickinger (Sagle, ID; mixed media), Marla Schindler (San Diego, CA; painting), Victor Yurivilca (Cathedral City, CA; jewelry), Richard Altenhoff (Ahwatukee; wood), Scott Thompson (Apache Junction; glass), Gerry Quotskuyva (Rimrock; wood), Hendrickson (Goodyear; photography), and Adam Homan of Tucson, the 2014 Overall Best of Show honoree for his sculptures.

New this year is the Sedona Sacred Artist Tent featuring six local artists who represent spiritual meaning through paintings, jewelry, glass art, collage art and photography. An introduction to the sacred art of mini Divination Readings as well as Tarot, Heart Wisdom Guidance and Aroma Therapy will also be offered.

Lee Oskar and the Sedona Jam Band will perform Saturday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m. Oskar, one of the founding members of the jam band WAR whose gold and platinum recordings include "Low Rider," "Cisco Kid" and "Why Can't We Be Friends," introduced his own line of harmonicas in 1983 which are now considered the standard of the industry. As a visual artist, he has explored a wide range of imagery, styles and techniques. At the Festival, he will display and sell his line of harmonicas as well as prints from his series of paintings.

The Sedona Arts Festival also offers live music throughout the weekend, food, raffle prizes, and a KidZone for younger guests. The Gourmet Gallery will feature locally produced and packaged kitchen and bath items including soaps, lotions, spices and jams.

Festival admission is tax deductible and proceeds benefit the Sedona Arts Festival Scholarship and Grant Fund which financially supports arts education in the greater Sedona area.

Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 10 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 11. Advance tickets can be purchased for $10 online at www.sedonaartsfestival.org. Admission at the gate is $12. Children 12 and under are free. $2-off discount coupons can be used at the gate and are available at local hotels, the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center and various local businesses.

The Sedona Arts Festival is supported by the Sedona Community Foundation, the City of Sedona, Sedona Chamber of Commerce, the Kling Family Foundation, L'Auberge de Sedona, and Enchantment Resort.

The Sedona Arts Festival is a smoke-free event and only service animals are allowed.

For information, visit www.sedonaartsfestival.org or call 928-204-9456.