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Holland Center hosts second Glass Pumpkin Patch fundraiser
BY FOOTHILLS FOCUS STAFF
The Holland Center will celebrate the Halloween season from Oct. 22 to Oct. 24 with its second Glass Pumpkin Patch.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., this festive event will showcase over 1,000 whimsical, vibrantly colored glass pumpkins handmade by Gregory Tomb, an acclaimed local glass artist known for his intricate designs.
These one-of-a-kind works of art will be available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting the Holland Center, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization committed to enhancing arts, education and community in the Desert Foothills area.
The Glass Pumpkin Patch will showcase more than 1,000 whimsical, vibrantly colored glass pumpkins handmade by Gregory Tomb, an acclaimed glass artist. (Photo courtesy of The Holland Center)
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Tomb has been fascinated by glass art since childhood, when his family’s frequent road trips would often include visits to the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York.
After studying glassblowing as an art student at New York’s Hartwick College, Tomb explored a variety of personal and professional interests — but glass art always remained his passion.
He occasionally rented glass studio time over the years and began honing his craft as a production glassblower in a factory for world-renowned glass maker Simon Pearce.
In 2014, he started participating in juried art shows nationwide. Tomb has been awarded “best in glass” and served as the featured artist at the Nassau County Museum of Art, the Hampton Fine Art Festival, the Stuart Art Festival and the Scottsdale Artfest. For the next three years, he is serving as artist-in-residence for the town of Johnsburg, New York, where he will facilitate classes for over 500 students each summer.
In his work, Tomb incorporates classic techniques of furnace, fused, flameworked and cold-worked glass, while also exploring new processes and ways to use glass and light. Since 2013, he has taught glassblowing at the Bay Area Glass Institute, as well as through lessons from his own mobile studio. Tomb’s colorful autumnal creations celebrate the season and have been featured in museums and magazines around the country.
As a former artist-in-residence at the Holland Center, Tomb is excited to share the joy and beauty of glass art with the Desert Foothills community.
Glass Pumpkin Patch
When : 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, to Sunday, Oct. 24 Where : The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th Street, Scottsdale Cost : Free admission Info : 480.488-1090, hollandcenter.org or glasspumpkinpatchfundraiser.com
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 29, 2021
Robert Bartko keeps George Michael’s vision alive
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
Foothills Focus Executive Editor
Robert Bartko says his George Michael Reborn act is not a gimmick. The tribute did not choose him. In fact, it was the opposite.
“From the time I was in high school, I looked like George Michael when he began to emerge on the scene,” Bartko said. “I could grow a full beard at 17. I was a football jock and sang in the drama club. Usually, those are very polarized worlds in high school.”
But friends and family saw something special—his uncanny vocal resemblance to Michael. Bartko said he felt he found his musical home.
“In 1988, I went to his big show at the Orange Bowl in Miami. I thought I was going to lose my life that night,” said Bartko about the reaction to his look.
He spent the 1990s producing songs for rock acts like Korn (“A.D.I.D.A.S. Level X Mix,” “Wicked” and “All in the Family,” which featured Fred Durst) and dance artist Stevie B.
In 2018, he saw a resurgence of his dance career. When a booking agent called him to perform, however, he said, “Man, you look and sound just like George Michael. If you could put together a George Michael act, we could book it a lot more than we could book you on your own.”
Thus George Michael Reborn was off and running.
Now, he said, fans “lose their minds” at his shows, which includes a Saturday, October 9, gig at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino. Bartko’s act is a retrospective of Wham and Michael’s careers. He said he “nails” the whole “Faith” era and, at age 51, he “does not look a day over 32.”
“I’ve been really fortunate to be able to pull off a 22-year-old George doing ‘Faith,’” he said. “I touch upon all the hits from the ‘Fantastic’ album, ‘Edge of Heaven,’ ‘Faith’ and beyond that. I concentrate most on the ‘Faith’ era.”
“They love George Michael,” he said. “They put their claws in and don’t let go for 90 minutes. Their minds go back to high school.”
George Michael Reborn Mirage
WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13 WHERE: Anthem Golf and Country Club, 2708 W. Anthem Club Drive, Phoenix COST: Call for info INFO: 623-742-6200
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16 WHERE: Harold’s Cave Creek Corral, 6895 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek COST: Visit website for info INFO: haroldscorral.com
Why are relationships so hard?
CHURCH COMMUNITY CONNECTION Pastor Ed Delph
Foothills Focus Columnist
Here’s a concept attributed by some to Mother Teresa about life. Her attitude, compassion, work ethic, and incredible belief in God have inspired the whole world.
“Life is a challenge; meet it. Life is a promise; fulfill it. Life is a duty; complete it. Life is sorrow; overcome it. Life is an adventure; dare it. Life is a struggle; accept it. Life is a tragedy; confront it. Life is beauty; take time to admire it.” Don Kraft, an old acquaintance of mine, added two more thoughts about this. “Life is an opportunity; seize it. Life is chaos; organize it.”
I like this upgrade in perspective. It’s authentic and inspiring. It’s realistic about the present, but it makes way for a future. It says one door may be closed, but another door opened, and I will find it. The challenge adjusts our attitude and outlook. It assures us that we can get back up given time, commitment and perseverance if we fall. So please permit me to add one more perspective to this list. Life is about relationships; value those relationships. Consider this neglected family relationship.
It was a couple’s 60th anniversary. The couple’s three grown children, all successful, agreed to a Sunday dinner in their honor.
“Happy anniversary, mom and dad,” their oldest son gushed. “Sorry, I’m running late. I had an emergency at the hospital with a patient, you know how it is, and I didn’t have time to get you a gift.” “Not to worry,” the father said. “The important thing is we’re all together today.” Their second son arrived. “You and mom look great. Dad, I just flew in from Montreal between depositions and didn’t have time to shop for you.” “It’s nothing,” the father said. “We’re glad you were able to come.” Just then, their daughter arrived. “Hello, and happy anniversary! Sorry, but my boss is sending me out of town, and I was swamped packing, so I didn’t have time to get you anything.”
After they had finished their dessert, the father said, “There’s something your mother and I have wanted to tell you for a long time. You see, we were poor, but we managed to send each of you to college. Through the years, your mother and I knew we loved each other very much, but we just never found the time to get married.” The three children gasped and said, “What? You mean we are illegitimate?” “Yep,” the father said. “And cheap ones, too.” Well, as they say, the truth will first make you miserable, but then it sets you free. Free from what and whom? Free from yourself. So, why are relationships so hard? We were raised to think that everything revolves around us. We learned we could get whatever we wanted when we wanted it and there would be no consequences. We cried. We manipulated. It was all about us. “I deserve and am owed the best.” We didn’t want green grass; we wanted green grass with a horse on it. But, then, the horse was not enough; it had to be a unicorn with a hat, standing on a flowery carpet. Then the hat was not enough; it needed to be a flower on top of the hat.” Thanks to the Huffington Post for this observation.
Then, when we got married. Or we met someone else or work with someone else with the same upbringing and expectations we have, who is taking our spotlight. Suddenly the focus is on someone else. Then we competed. We demanded attention. “My need matters the most.”
As a result of this, we radiate our self-absorption to others. “Wait until the world sees how amazing I am. I’m special. I don’t want the American dream; I want the American dream my way, and don’t get in my way.” That creates dissatisfaction, envy, jealousy, shame, conflict and coveting. The result is relationship issues from the consequences of broken or neglected relationships that should have lasted years. Ego anger not transformed is ego anger transferred.
Here’s our takeaway. I said, and I’m pretty sure Jesus would say, life is about relationships; value those relationships. But, first, understand that there is nothing wrong with having a good self-image. That’s a good thing. But good things taken to extremes become bad things. Self-centeredness and happiness don’t play well with each other.
“You have an ego — a consciousness of being an individual. But that doesn’t mean that you are to worship yourself, to think constantly of yourself and to live entirely for yourself” (Billy Graham). “I have more trouble with D. L. Moody than anyone else I have ever met” (D. L. Moody). That’s a challenge; meet it. That’s a struggle; accept it. That’s an opportunity; seize it. That’s a tragedy; confront it.
Second, maybe it’s time to re-establish the
THE FOOTHILLS FOCUS | THEFOOTHILLSFOCUS.COM | SEPTEMBER 29, 2021
BY SHEA STANFIELD
Foothills Focus Contibutor
Charles Lindbergh is quoted as having said, “Life is like a landscape. You live in-the-midst of it but can describe it only from the vantage point of distance.”
Artist Matthew Killick provides us with the opportunity to describe the various landscapes of our inner and outer worlds through his medium of oils.
Born at Stanford University Hospital in
see KILLICK page 20
“Season of Dust” by Matthew Killick
DELPH From page 18
relationships with your parents, siblings or others who you think have hurt you. Or, almost as likely, your ego was bruised by them, just being them, because you believed the lie that life is all about you. Perhaps the offended is the offender, and the offender is the offended. That’s sorrow; overcome it.
Most of us don’t like self-evaluation because we don’t want to open a letter that has bad news. Hint: Look at yourself, and you will look at others differently. That’s a duty; complete it. That’s a promise; fulfill it. That’s an adventure; dare it. That’s chaos; organize it.
These days life is defined by O.U.Y., which means You – Others – Jesus. The definition of J.O.Y. is Jesus – Others – You. That’s beauty; take the time to admire it. Your joy depends on it.
Ed Delph is a noted author of 10 books, as well as a pastor, teacher, former business owner and speaker. Ed has traveled extensively, having been to more than 100 countries. He is president of NationStrategy, a nonprofit organization involved in uplifting and transforming communities worldwide. For more information, see nationstrategy. com. Ed may be contacted at nationstrategy@cs.com.
KILLICK From page 19
California, Killick grew up on the great plains of Alberta, Canada, in Calgary. He credits his creativity to the lack of creativity in his environment. An interesting juxtaposed perspective on his own landscape from childhood. Killick claims his most significant influence was the Group of Seven.
“The Group of Seven was also known as the Algonquin School of landscape painters,” Killick explained. “The group was founded in 1920 as an organization of self-proclaimed modern artists and disbanded in 1933.
“I am distantly related to A.Y. Jackson, a painter who was a leading member of the Group of Seven, helped to remake the visual image of Canada.”
Today, Killick proudly displays a few drawings and paint sketches from his ancestor in his home studio.
The turning point for Killick’s life imagined was enrolling in an introductory art class at the University of Montana.
“I entered a state of bliss while doing a self-portrait for the class,” Killick commented. True to his vision, he completed his B.A. in art and soon after moved to the Phoenix area to accept a job teaching art. After 12 years in the classroom, Killick knew it was time to step off the edge into his own art career.
“I took over the family dining room table, went to work, and never looked back,” he described, revealing, “I remember admiring artists for being brave and leading their lives with an artistic lifestyle unconcerned with materialistic, greedy and competitive outlooks. I also remember thinking art was one of the few things you can dedicate your whole life to and never get bored because you are always growing, improving and learning.”
An example of this: “I draw or paint every day. I didn’t choose it; it chose me. I’m in this for the long haul.”
Where does his inspiration come from?
“Creativity isn’t a problem for me,” Killick revealed. “Controlling all the ideas and editing the ideas that come to me is the trick.
“I constantly switch from art I do for the gallery in Scottsdale and the fun stuff that I create just because,” he mused.
Experiencing Killick’s work, one would think it’s all destined for an environment in someone’s home or office; the pieces are simply mesmerizing. His work includes a peaceful, winter landscape holding a solitary barn or that old gas station from a bygone era that reminds one of their childhood. The subjects are thought-provoking and soul-moving, all rendered in Killick’s casually detailed style.
The last year has put a damper on many shows and venues for the arts, but On the Edge Gallery in Scottsdale stayed the course, representing local artists and their life supporting work. Killick’s paintings can be seen at the gallery, on its website ontheedgegallery.com, or on his website matthewkillick.com.
“Highway and By-way” by Matthew Killick
Matthew Killick shows his work “Around the Corner.”
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