“Versions of
Arizona”
comes to Jerome Artists Cooperative
New Show
Celebrates Startling Beauty of the State
There is no denying the power
Arizona has to attract and motivate artists with its scenic beauty,
endless diversity, and magnificent sunsets. That inspiration is on
display at the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery in a vibrant new
show called “Versions of Arizona.” It opens on October 5.
The exhibition presents the work of
two women from vastly different backgrounds who come together to
celebrate the wonders of the state.
Michele Cokl Naylor grew up in a
small Indiana town, moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, where she continued
making art before landing on the other side of the country. Here the
vivid Arizona landscapes enhanced her passion for colorful paintings
and mixed media canvases.
Birgitta Lapides traveled halfway around the world, drawn to
Arizona’s shining light. Born in Sweden, Lapides lived and worked
for many years in southern France on the Mediterranean producing and
selling her hand-woven and hand-painted garments. By 1996, she was
living in Arizona and creating stunning collage paintings.
“Versions of Arizona” proves to
be as diverse as the state itself. The rich layers of the show reveal
the beauty and drama found amid the surrounding landscape and
interpreted by two talented artists who are both devoted to color.
Lapides never works from photos or sketches while creating images
that are familiar yet fanciful, tugging at the corners of the
viewer’s imagination. They are brightly-hued worlds of rolling
mountains, moody skies, and seductive horizons. Along with the vivid
collages on hand-painted papers, Lapides will also display abstracts,
alcohol ink paintings, and lovely heavy-paper earrings.
“I am an intuitive painter,”
says
Lapides. “I don’t want to know the result before I start.
For me, art is a discovery, and it’s the journey to create and to
be open to surprises that makes it fun and fulfilling.”
Naylor has focused on an Arizona
icon for the show. She has created an entirely new collection of
mixed media saguaros, more than 60 in all. Working from her usual
bold and colorful palette, Naylor reimagines the stately saguaros in
simple desert settings. She experiments with patterns, textures, and
added bits of ephemera. The tall cacti are created from paint,
buttons, bottle tops, bits of glass, pieces from board games, and
hardware. She’ll also have original 5x7 inch saguaros, matted but
unframed, and saguaro magnets available.
“I’ve lived in Arizona for 28
years,” says
Naylor. “And while I don’t live in saguaro
country, I love them. Elegant and majestic, they each seem to be
imbued with their own unique personality. I’ve injected a sense of
whimsey into my saguaros, because I detect some of that same humor in
the poses of the real desert giants.”
Naylor and Lapides are longtime
members of the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery and both reside in
Cottonwood. Naylor lives with her husband and a herd of
color-coordinated shelter cats. Lapides also lives with
her husband and their big, sweet rescue dog.
“Versions of Arizona” opens
Saturday, October 5, with a special reception from 4 to 7 p.m. Both
artists will be present to discuss their work and refreshments will
be served. The event will be part of the popular Jerome Art & Wine Walk, which includes several participating shops and galleries
throughout the town. The show will run through December 3.
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Lynnsey
Renolds, on the other hand, brings a profound sense of place and
identity to her work. Her artistic journey has been a lifelong
odyssey, inspired by the beauty of the Verde Valley and the tapestry
of her family history. “I cannot remember a time when art has not
been a part of my life,” Lynnsey reflects, revealing a deep-rooted
connection to her surroundings. Lynnsey’s art serves as an
invitation to vi
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