July 29, 30, & 31, 2005 Ft. Tuthill Fairgrounds 1(888) Art-Fest (278-3378)
Featured Artists
Maria Arango
Maria believes that working with a woodblock takes on the aspects of a struggle between antagonists. The wood is reluctant, the artist determined, and it is reasonable to suggest that the battle of wills brings about a result quite different from those media in which the hand of the artist moves brush or pencil or crayon freely over the working surface.
With wood, every movement of the tool involves overcoming resistance and demands the use of a certain amount of sheer physical force. Every block and every subject is a new challenge. The result is an emotional involvement between man and material that, enduring over the years, somehow takes on the character of an addiction, or a love affair, or something similarly irrational. At any rate, there seems to be no known cure.
Maria’s family moved to Barcelona, Spain only a year after her 1959 birth in Havana, Cuba. In 1974 they moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where other family members had migrated. Maria’s work is on display this month at the Flagstaff Festival in the Pines, July 29-31, 2005. She may be reached at her studio at (702) 798-8430, or on the web at www.1000woodcuts.com.
Mary Beier “If I can feel it, I can see it. If I can see it, I can create it.” - mary beier
About the Artist I am a metal sculptor/painter. In simpler terms, I am just a creative welder who likes to paint. I split my time between my studio in Sacramento, California and my studio in Phoenix, Arizona. As an artist, inspiration is all around me: I am blessed with a huge family, a great relationship and a cool dog!
My work is about everyday life, people, places and moments. The things that seem to inspire me the most are those I see everyday, whether it is a house on a hill or two people walking together at the end of a long day. These are simple things that make up our moments and frame our lives. I am truly fortunate to be living my dream and creating art. About the Art The medium I work with is metal; my metal of choice is aluminum. I shear, bend, torch, cut, grind, paint, bang and sometimes even stomp on a piece to get the result I am looking for. I like unusual sizes and shapes and strive for pieces that create conversation. Since my canvas is metal, I can fit even the oddest of spaces. My mirrors and spiral bowls are raw aluminum and can be cleaned with soap and water. My paintings are coated with a sealer to protect them from the elements of nature. The time it takes to complete a piece depends on the content; it could be four hours or four weeks, and the finished piece is usually the extension of my mood and some really good music!
Mary Beier’s work is on display this month at the Flagstaff Festival in the Pines, July 29-31, 2005. Mary can be reached at her studio in Phoenix at (916)995-4480, or online at www.metalworksart.com.
