CAVE CREEK – The nonprofit Sonoran Arts League has announced a new board of directors who are dedicated to promoting art, art education and artists in the Desert Foothills community.
The 2025 executive board includes David Court, president; Jim Bruce, vice president; glass artist Carole Perry, secretary; and David Shields, treasurer. Court spent more than 10 years serving as the executive director of the Desert Foothills Library in Cave Creek prior to his retirement. Bruce is a former town councilman and attorney. Shields is a clinical assistant professor at Arizona State University’s School of Accountancy. Perry is owner of Laughing Glass Studio in Cave Creek.
Returning board members include painter Beth Zink, architect Nick Mancusi, Candy Vermillion, owner of Vermillion Promotions Festivals, and Jo Gemmill, owner of the English Rose Tea Room in Carefree. Gemmill joined the board last September.
Newly elected board members include Suzanne Johnson, film producer, author and owner of Gnosis Media LLC, Evelyn Holbrook, former community education director with Cave Creek Unified School District and Don Senneville, musician and former director of the Foothills Academy.
“We’re very proud of the impact the Sonoran Arts League has made on our community over the past five decades,” David Court, Sonoran Arts League president said. “We also realize that we must adjust to serve different generations. Whether we are showcasing our members’ art at our Carefree gallery or during a special event, such as Hidden in the Hills, hosting art classes for adults, youth and veterans at our Studio in Cave Creek, collaborating with municipalities on public art projects, or partnering with local businesses and nonprofits, our goal is to enrich our community through innovative, diverse art and art education.”
Ways to support the League include becoming a member for $95 or sponsoring an upcoming event or program. The League conducts a variety of art classes at the Sonoran Arts League Studio, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Suite 144, in Cave Creek’s Stagecoach Village. Fees range depending on each class. Veterans and children in 7th to 12th gradecan attend some classes for free, thanks to a generous Kiwanis Club of Carefree sponsorship.
The Sonoran Arts League hosts many events and programs throughout the year, including its signature event, Hidden in the Hills. This year marks the 29th year of the popular artist studio tour which takes place during the last two weekends of November.
The Sonoran Arts League Gallery also showcases and sells diverse fine art from its member artists. The current juried show, “Different Point of View,” is on exhibit through Feb. 27. The gallery is located at 7275 E. Easy St., Suite A104 in Carefree (across from the Carefree post office).
The League is also hosting The Sonoran Arts Festival on March 21, 22 & 23 at The Holland Community Center in Scottsdale. Guests to the free, inaugural event can immerse themselves in a colorful display of artistic creativity, enhanced by live music from Chuck Hall, a variety of food vendors, a silent auction and selections of wine and beer, all contributing to a lively and festive atmosphere for everyone.
To learn more, visit www.sonoranartsleague.org or call 480-575-6624.
