Jerome Co-op Summer Membership Show “Celebrating Hotel Jerome: 100 Years”

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The old Hotel Jerome is King of the hill- Cleopatra Hill, that is. The venerated, iconic showplace built in 1917 (with indoor bathrooms!) still sits firmly planted on its solid foundation – the first building in the USA to be constructed of poured concrete. The views from its top floors include the nearby foothills where the exact geographic center of the state of Arizona is located.

On the ground floor of the Hotel Jerome, visitors will find the juried displays of 35 local member/artists of the Jerome Artists’ Cooperative Gallery who are responsible for all aspects of the gallery business. The artists will be celebrating their own longevity as a co-op (21 years) as well as “Celebrating Hotel Jerome: 100 Years.” The show opens on July 1^st in conjunction with Jerome’s First Saturday Art Walk from 5-8 pm. The show runs thru July 26.

The dream of creating a cooperative art gallery in Jerome took flight in February of 1996 when a space in the Hotel Jerome- which is owned by the town of Jerome- became available. Four months later, with the able help of a local accountant named Norrie Benjamin, a group of 20 dedicated people, of which only 12 of them were actual displaying artists, agreed to become partners in the new endeavor of starting a Co-op, by each putting $100 into the till to get it started.

Documents were signed, and in the words of one of the local founding members, Anne Bassett, “with a great deal of courage… a lot of curiosity and community support,” an official working cooperative gallery was born. Three founding members who are still in the gallery are Rex Peters (manager), Jim Rome and Brice Wood.

Please join the Jerome Artists’ Cooperative Gallery in “Celebrating Hotel Jerome:100 Years,” on Saturday, July 1^st from 5-8 pm in the Hotel Jerome, 502 Main Street, Jerome, Arizona. Refreshments will be served.

Save the date: a “RAISE the ROOF” event will be hosted by the Jerome Artists’ Cooperative Gallery on Saturday, July 29^th from 5-8 pm to raise funds to replace the Hotel’s roof. The main event will be a Silent Auction of artwork donated by local artists. In addition, items donated by local businesses will be raffled off throughout the evening. Come early to place bids on your favorite items. Come for a fun evening with friends and community members, and leave knowing that your support is helping to preserve a Jerome landmark. Entertainment will be provided by the Jerome Ukulele Orchestra and refreshments will be served.

Saturday, July 29 from 5-8 pm.  See you there!

Jerome Artists’ Cooperative Gallery.

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Sarah Harms, “Going off on Tangents,” Runs thru June 28th!

Going off on Tangents

Sarah Harms has been a metalsmith, making jewelry for over 30 years. In Harms’ first solo show at the Jerome Artists’ Cooperative Gallery, Harms introduces new jewelry pieces and new forged steel works that are both functional and decorative. Felted wool and photographs printed on aluminum will be incorporated into some of her steel works in new ways.  Additionally, Sarah has been exploring pottery-making, so her clay pieces may make their debut as well.

Sarah has taken previously developed ideas and pushed them to new levels. By pushing the boundaries of her work in this way, she has come up with a broad range of new work. For example, she has taken some of her symbolic elements, that she generally uses in her jewelry, like hearts and spirals, and redesigned them as functional items like forged steel hooks and hangers. This is a direct result of Harms deciding to not stick with a plan for this show, but rather, allow her creativity to take her where it wanted to go, and go off on tangents. “This way,” Sarah confesses, “I had no idea how the show was gonna end up, and I love that!”

The uncertainty of outcome is what makes this show exciting. And, by allowing her creativity to guide her, Sarah has indeed pushed the boundaries of her previous work into new directions. All the pieces in this show were developed because of Harms’ skill and dedication to her craft, and her desire to ‘go beyond’ and explore tangents. 

Since the show is being held in the Historic Hotel Jerome, which is 100 years old this year, Sarah thought it would be fitting to price many of her items under $100, to celebrate event.

Sarah Harms, “Going off on Tangents,” opens on Jerome’s First Saturday Art Walk on May 6 from 5-8 pm. Refreshments and snacks will be served. The show runs May 6-June 27.

Jerome Artists’ Cooperative Gallery        502 N. Main St.              928-639-4276