Unveiling Set for Jan. 16.
Visitors to Carefree will notice a beautiful new totem sculpture in the center of town, thanks to a unique collaboration between the Sonoran Arts League and the Town of Carefree. In honor of the town’s 40th Anniversary, eight talented artists, who are League members, donated their time to create the stunning contemporary sculpture, “Sonoran Sol.”
Standing 11 feet tall and weighing some 200 pounds, the totem sculpture will be unveiled at 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 16 at Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion, 101 Easy Street in Carefree. A celebratory reception will follow at the Sonoran Arts League Gallery, located at 7275 E. Easy St., Suite A104 in Carefree (across from the Carefree post office). The gallery will also host an artist reception and awards ceremony from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. that evening for its new juried show, “Different Point of View.”
Sonoran Arts League President David Court said he was approached by English Rose Tea Room owner Jo Gemmill about creating a special piece in honor of the town’s 40th anniversary. Gemmill, who served as chair of the Town’s anniversary committee, is also a League board member.
“I felt it was important for the Sonoran Arts League to participate in the 40th Anniversary celebration,” Court said. “After some discussions with the artists, we felt the ideal way to commemorate this milestone anniversary was with a totem sculpture. The artists worked very hard on this public art project, and I am very proud of them for collaborating on such a spectacular piece. The League is fortunate to have such talent and generosity available,” Court said.
The artists who donated their time and skills to create the “Sonoran Sol” sculpture are Marilyn and Terry Alexander, Eileen Pettit, Sylvia Fugmann Brongo, Robin Ray, Jenifer Oberle, Jeanne Anne Baughman, and Carol Fleming Marks.
“The Sonoran Sol totem sculpture will live in perpetuity, and it will always be there as a reminder of the creative artists who worked on it and our supportive community,” Gemmill said.
The “Different Point of View” juried show at the Sonoran Arts League Gallery runs through February 27. The show includes a variety of paintings, sculpture, ceramics, glass, fiber, jewelry, photography, and mixed media with subject matters. To learn more, call 480-575-6624 or visit www.sonoranartsleague.org
