If you are not aware, please note that we will hold our annual vote for Sonoran Arts League Board members at our next monthly meeting on Monday, February 10, 2020. This is an important vote. This is your opportunity to select the people you want to represent your interests. You may be present to vote, mail your completed ballot to the League office to the attention of Paul Dief, hand carry your ballot to the League office, or submit your votes by email. Whichever method you choose, be sure to have your ballot in no later than February 10th. Ballots received after February 10th will not be counted.
Firstly, I would like to recognize those individuals who are leaving the board effective with this election: Tamsin Wolff, Marty Roop, and Marless Fellows. Thank you all for your dedication over the past two years and your service to the League.
Also leaving with this election is Robin Ray who has been on the Board a total of nine years. Her dedication is remarkable and her service to the youth art programs has provided myriad opportunities to our local young artists. Fortunately, Robin will continue to work on several committees for the betterment of the League.
Secondly, Bill (Gullwing) Goren and Jane Boggs are currently Board members and up for re-election for two-year terms. If elected once again in February, this will be their final terms in office and they will step down from the Board in December 2021.
Finally, and most important, we have three League members who have stepped forward to run for Board positions: Jim Bruce, Jami Goldman, and Carole Perry. These folks are on the ballot for 3-year terms ending December 2022. They will be eligible to run for second 3-year terms if they choose. The following is some biographical information about these candidates:
Jim Bruce from his online bio – Jim Bruce grew up in a small Midwest town with his parents who had an antiques business specializing in folk art. He has been married for 48 years to his wife Judy, who is an artist, and has been immersed in the art world for over 50 years.
After retiring from the practice of law in Chicago to reside in Cave Creek, AZ, 15 years ago, he began working in cement and rebar to pass the time while Judy was in her studio painting. People started taking interest in the sculptures while attending Judy’s studio during Hidden in the Hills.
In addition to the cement animals Jim has now taken up ceramics and is in the process of learning to throw and hand build, which eventually will lead to ceramic animals.
The animals have been chosen for exhibition at the Desert Foothills Library and the Shemer Art Center in Phoenix. Jim is a juried member of the Sonoran Arts League and has been a host studio for Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour. The animals are in collections all over the valley as well as well as nationally.
Also important to know is that Jim has served on the Cave Creek Town Council, he is a past member of our Board, he has been on the Board of the Black Mountain Conservancy as well as the Kiwanis, and he has been on the Board of our library for 5 years – three of those years as president.
Jami Goldman from her online bio – My artistic career path started when I moved to Arizona in February 2008. I had always been interested in painting and began taking a class through the Scottsdale Parks and Recreation Dept. in March of that year. I continue to enjoy painting and use photos I have taken throughout the years as my inspiration. I have expanded the types and locations of classes I have taken throughout the years to provide additional learning opportunities for me as an artist.
In early 2018 I took a fused glass workshop to learn how to make a bead for a necklace. I enjoyed the class, but discovered that bead making was not for me. I did decide to sign up for the six week fused glass class at the studio and I have been creating unique mosaic, string and lined glass plates, trays and hanging art ever since. I continue to paint, and always had wanted to start selling my art and it became a reality starting with my fused glass pieces.
I stopped working full-time in April 2019 to focus on creating an art career and business, knowing that I wanted to focus on selling my art at festivals throughout the state. I love spending time being creative, cutting and manipulating glass to create colorful, unique and individual pieces of art. As a new artist it is my hope to continue to be accepted into art festivals and share my creations with others.
Since moving to Arizona, Jami has experience as a member of the Maricopa Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance, she was on the Governor’s Council: Social, Health & Alzheimer’s Committee. In addition, she served as Chair and/or Facilitator of several volunteer participation organizations in both South Carolina and Massachusetts. She holds an MBA as well as an MSW.
Carole Perry from her online bio – A native of southern Oregon, Carole Perry has been creating functional and sculptural glass from her Laughing Glass Studio in Cave Creek for over 20 years. In 1990, Perry set aside a successful career in computers (IBM, Xerox, Alpha Micro) to pursue her passion for glass full time. “I ran after the executive brass ring for years before admitting it could never hold the same sparkle as the art glass I’d been collecting for almost as many years. My idols were Chihuly and Marquis rather than Iacocco or Watson.”
Today her Glass Tapestries ~ sculptural glass baskets with varied textures which evolved from a desire to help other overcome the dreaded “Do Not Touch” lessons of childhood ~ can be found in select glass galleries across the country, including PISMO Glass galleries in Colorado, Petri’s Fine Art in Sausalito, Philabaum Gallery in Tucson and Kuivato in Sedona.
Locally she has served on the boards of the Desert Foothills Land Trust, Sonoran Arts League, Cave Creek Film & Arts Festival and Arizona Glass Alliance. She became a Spur Cross Ranch activist in 1994, and co-founded the Foothills Empty Bowls Project in 2001. “I’ve learned some simple rules first hand: the more you give, the more you get. When you lead with your heart, the universe supports you.” Carole is a frequent guest speaker on the subject of the American Studio Glass Movement, and her studio is often filled with happy guests making glass bowls for the annual Empty Bowls Project held each October to benefit the Foothills Food Bank & Resource Center. She and her husband have been supporting two high school glass programs and managing a trash-free studio environment for over 15 years.
Carole
doesn’t mention that she has a degree in English and has many years
of marketing experience both outside the League and within the League
for our annual signature event – HIDDEN IN THE HILLS.
BALLOT:
Bill Goren for a term of 2 years ending 12/31/2021
Jane Boggs for a term of 2 years ending 12/31/2021
Jim Bruce for a term of 3 years ending 12/31/2022
Jami Goldman for a term of 3 years ending 12/31/2022
Carole Perry for a term of 3 years ending 12/31/2022
As a member of our League, it is your responsibility to select those individuals you want to represent your interests.
Please select the individual(s) you desire to serve on the Sonoran Arts League Board for the term(s) noted.
