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Donna Gennicks, of Kearny, works includes beautiful florals and outdoor scenes.
Nancy MacClennan, of Kearny, is willing to tackle almost anything.
Frankie Olmos, of Kearny, is known for not being afraid of using lots of vibrant color.
Peg Middleton, a winter visitor, likes to recreate the outdoors especially scenes of her home state of Wyoming.
Cobina Martinez, of Hayden, likes to experiment with all sorts of subject matter but is mostly drawn to Southwestern material.
Gary Hill, of Kearny, is mostly drawn to old vehicles and buildings.
Lina Cruz is from Dudleyville and her work is filled with a folksy and whimsical quality.
Guyrene Ward, who winters in the Copper Basin from Colorado, loves the Arizona desert and wildflowers.
Pinal Nugget
The Copper Basin area ArtUs Guild will be showcasing the group’s work with an exhibit in The Little Gallery in Kearny starting with an opening reception Sunday, Apr. 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. The exhibit is hosted by the Church of the Good Shepherd and will remain in The Little Gallery for several weeks. The reception is open to the public and refreshments will be served.
This group, for the most part, has been together 17 years or more, starting with a class offered by Gila Pueblo College. Last fall the organized class was discontinued due to the illness of the instructor, but the artists wanted to stay together and decided to continue to meet and formed the guild. Although this year’s show will be the first for the ArtUs Guild on its own, it is also the 10thArtUs show featuring most of the same artists from previous shows.
All work on display is new and has been completed within the last year.
The group is made up of people from Dudleyville to Riverside, and all points in between, including Kearny and Hayden. All the artists started their journey into the creative world in much the same way, a classroom situation and a dream. Several winter visitors are also part of the group. The guild meets once a week from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and new members are always welcome.
Artists in the group are free to explore whatever subject matter and medium that interests them and the results are spectacular. The guild experience has proven to be unique as the artists learn from each other offering and asking for advice. Mostly the group works in oils, but oil pastels, acrylics, pencil and charcoal are also included.
Exhibitors are from all walks of life, age groups, and levels of experience and offer a unique look into what can be accomplished when people who share the same interest get together and do what they love.
Students studying, associated, and/or showing with the group this year include Lina Cruz, Cobina Martinez, Darlene Dull, Gary Hill, Ellen Endsley, Vicki Clark, Frankie Olmos, Richard Olejniczak, Sam Hosler, Guyrene Ward, Peg Middleton, Joyce Palmer, Donna Gennicks, Carol Hosler, Nancy MacClennen, Becky Drew and Sherry Jordan.
The show can be viewed after the opening on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by request by calling Sam Hosler at 520-363-9781. The Little Gallery is located in Ray Hall next to the Church of the Good Shepherd on Senator Chastain Street in Kearny.
The church compound also offers a spectacular walking experience through The Little Garden. Paths lead walkers through the desert around the church with amazing views of the mountains in the distance and the valley surrounding the Gila River below. This time of the year the desert is alive with the beauty of spring and the walk is very rewarding. The Little Garden is always open.
Vicki started her career in the journalism field while attending Ray High School in Kearny with an excellent teacher who took her by the hand and guided her. She worked on the school newspaper and as a senior was a co-editor. Her dream was to go on to college to study journalism and eventually to travel the world reporting the news. This dream was interrupted by life circumstances. She stayed in Kearny and went to work for the Copper Basin News in 1964 as a typesetter. Her editor was Ira Q. Toler and he also was a good teacher. After marrying and having children, her desires to again work in the newspaper field surfaced. She responded to an ad for a position in advertising for the Copper Basin News which included selling, lay-out and design. She was hired on the spot. The business has greatly changed with technology and the introduction of desktop publishing. She was fortunate enough to be a part of it. She has now worked for Copper Area News Publishers on and off for over 30 years, starting when John Seater was the publisher. She has held many positions over the years, but is most proud to be named a reporter. She loves to write and is so grateful for being given that chance.
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