Anthem Fine Arts Festival offers something for everyone

ANTHEM – Many people think of art as a painting on the wall or a statue in the hall, but art takes many shapes and forms.

More than70 award‑winning and emerging Arizona Artists as well as 13 noted Arizona performing arts companies will present a showcase of visual, performing and culinary arts Jan. 12‑14 at the 3rd Annual Festival of Fine Arts in Anthem.

In addition to the artists' work,  Ballet Arizona, Great Arizona Puppet Theater, Arizona Opera, AZDance Group, Meadowlark and others will perform at various times during the three‑day event, along with a special event performance by Arizona Broadway Theatre.

The festivities will take place in the Anthem Community Center.

Highlighting the show will be artists including watercolorist and winner of Best in Show last year, Steve Stento; Southwest painter and 2005 Best in Show, Tom Haas; contemporary western painter Lance Headlee; contemporary sculptor, Ed Meyrowitz; bronze sculptor, Kim Obrzut; ceramicist, Tandy Beard; jewelry designer Donna Law, plus many more.

Meyrowitz, an artist from Black Canyon City, is exhibiting his work for the second time at this year's festival. His medium is carving three‑dimensional images on the back of plexiglass.

"It's very unusual," Meyrowitz says. "You'd have to see it. I'm happy to be going back to this year's show. I went the first year and loved what I saw so I applied for last year's show. It's an extremely classy‑looking show. They have excellent lighting and the art looks really good. The artists are very good and they are all strictly Arizona artists."

Community performances will include Boulder Creek High School Dance Classes & Honor Choir, Desert Foothills Theater, Dulce Dance Company, Movement E‑Motion & Children's Christmas Company, Starlight Community Theater and Youth Theater.

"We encourage people to come early, to visit with the artists who are on hand and eager to discuss their work," says Willine Evans, festival chair. "We have expanded the number of artists this year since there is so much enthusiasm for the festival. So there will be much more art to see."

Gourmet lunch creations specially prepared for the event by Our Kitchen to Yours, Phantom Caterers, and Garden Angel Tea Room will accompany the numerous stage productions.

Jaime Palenque at Phantom Caterers has been serving up his special dishes since the inaugural festival.

"We're always excited to be invited back," he said. "The first year we were the only one serving food. It has grown a lot. This year I'll be using the grill and making paninis, an Italian grilled sandwich, along with traditional Italian sandwiches using ham, salami and turkey. It's a lot of fun."

First time exhibitors Cheryl Stapleton and Gil Gustavsen will be exhibiting landscape photography at the festival this year.

"For me it's only a mile from my house," Stapleton quipped. "Really, it's very tightly juried. It's becoming a top‑notch show with only top‑notch artists. Very professional. I'm very excited to be invited to be a part of it."

In addition to the festival, a Black Tie Gala will be held from 7‑11:30 p.m. on Jan.13 at the Community Center in Anthem. The event will feature a gourmet dinner, silent auction, youth awards, live entertainment and dancing. A Meet the Artist Reception will be from 5:30‑6:30 p.m. at Ironwood Country Club.

"We are thrilled to have the quality and diversity of performing artists at this year's festival," says Kenda Newbury, performing arts chair. "These amazing performing artists are not to be missed."

Organized by the Arts Council of the North Valley, the Fine Arts Festival offers something for everyone.

"Our vision was to promote increased access to the arts and to contribute to the development of an appreciation of the aesthetic aspects of community life in the North Valley," says Donna Kublin, Arts Council president. "Last year's events were a spectacular success and served as a catalyst for people to become more involved in volunteer efforts to help advance the arts."