Now In Our 18th Yea r !
Community News Excellence Since 2002
CAVE CREEK
SCOTTSDALE
Rodeo Days Royalty Contestants
29
Desert Gardens Seminar Series
21
New DFT Director
28
NORTHEAST PHOENIX
BLACK CANYON CITY
FOUNTAIN HILLS
ANTHEM
TAKE ONE COURTESY OF CITYSunTimes JANUARY 2020
Fine Art & Wine Festival Returns for 27th Annual Winter Event
ore than 5,000 original works of art from 155 juried fine artists will be showcased Jan. 17–19 at the Thunderbird Artists’ 27th Annual Winter Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival. The fine art festival will run along Ho Hum and Easy Streets in Downtown Carefree. A popular event for locals and tourists alike, Thunderbird Artists’ Winter Carefree show was recently ranked No. 45 among the “Premier 100 Fine Art Events” throughout the nation by Greg Lawler’s Art Fair SourceBook. “It’s an honor to receive such a prestigious industry accolade, and a true testament to the quality of our show,” said Denise Colter, president of Thunderbird Artists. “We love being a part of the Carefree community — people love strolling through the streets, meeting the artists, tasting wine and listening to live music. It’s a beautiful, serene setting, and our artists provide plenty of inspiration!” In addition to a wide variety of paintings, sculptures, bronzes, sparkling hand-blown glass, wood, clay, metal, stone, gourds, batiks, scratchboard, one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry and exceptional photography, attendees are expected to be especially taken with the oil paintings of the event’s featured artist, “Blowhard” by bronze sculptor Jason Napier Brent Flory. Oil painter Brent Flory enjoys learning about and painting the Wild West. Raised in Parker, Flory was always intrigued by the illustrations in picture books. His favorites depicted cowboys, farmers, ranchers, Native Americans and wildlife from the American West. Flory finds subject matter for his life-like paintings all around him, especially in journal entries or historical books. “Every life has a story, and some are just amazing,” says Flory. “People did what they had to do to survive. I try to capture that human experience.” Each of Flory’s pieces are given a well-thought-out title to help people think about the paintings in a different way. “Most artists hope that people will appreciate the beauty of their work,” says Flory. “I hope that my work makes people think, and that it makes them appreciate what we often take for granted.” In addition to meeting award-winning artists and enjoying live musical performances, festival attendees can participate in a world-class wine tasting program. For $10, patrons will receive an engraved souvenir wine glass and six tasting tickets. Additional tasting tickets may be purchased for $1 each. Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival runs Friday through Sunday, Jan. 17–19, 10am–5pm daily. Admission is $3 for adults, and free for all Carefree residents and children 17 years or younger. Parking is free all weekend. For more information, call 480.837.5637 or visit “Hudson Bay Comfort” 24”x48” oil painting by Brent Flory www.thunderbirdartists.com.
POSTAL CUSTOMER
news.CITYSunTimes.com
CAREFREE
Carefree/Cave Creek
54