The Printmaking Pair
In September we're featuring Julie and David Williams, a married couple that shares a passion for the traditional art of printmaking. Their show opened at ArtWalk September 1st and will be up all month.

 The Reduction Woodcuts
Locals and visitors alike have fallen in love with Julie Williams's woodcut prints. She captures the intimate spirit of a place or a moment; "I know this spot!" customer's often say.

Julie uses the color reduction technique in her woodcut printing, an old form of art that begins with carving into a flat, wooden block. She mixes her inks to create her unique palette, then inks the carved image and transfers it to a piece of paper by running it under pressure through a press.

After printing that image on a set number of pages to make what is known as an Edition, Julie returns to the original piece of wood to carve more away until the image is different and she's ready for the next color. She'll ink the wood and apply the new image on top of the first one, layering from light to dark colors, repeating the meticulous process of carving, inking, and printing over and over until the image is complete. It's time-consuming, but creates a stunning work of art.

The Lithographs and Intaglios
David Williams works in a different kind of printmaking technique, more attuned to his training in illustration. Instead of creating an image by carving into wood, David hand-draws directly onto the surface from which he will print. Lithographs are printed off stone blocks and intaglios are printed from etched sheets of metal, but both allow for highly detailed illustrations to be printed multiple times using a press. Longtime professor of printmaking at Northern Arizona University, David shares his knowledge of this centuries-old craft with the next generation of artists.
 
Inspired by history, nature, and his sense of humor, David has created a wide body of work, from tenebrous ravens to the surreal "An Extraordinary Afternoon" collection with an array of boats, planes, and wild animals in unexpected places.

A large variety of both Julie and David's framed work will be on display during the month of September, a wider selection will be available unframed, and we've recently added more of their pieces to the online store for those who live far away.

Blow Your Own Ball (BYOB) Signup Is Open!
In this annual event you blow your own glass ornament under the expert guidance of artist, George Averbeck! Sessions this year will take place on: October 14, October 21, November 4, and November 11.

    You'll select a 15-minute slot on one of those days to blow your ornament.
    It costs $37 per ornament and you can pay over the phone or in-person at the gallery. You must pay when you sign up.
    Ornaments need to be cooled slowly in a kiln and will be available for pickup the following day at the gallery.

Call 928-779-3790 or come into the gallery to sign up!

Jewelry Popup with Rachel Richardson
Rachel will be at the gallery from 11:00am-3:00pm on Friday, September 8 and Saturday, September 9. She'll be attaching permanent necklaces, bracelets, and anklets in sterling silver and a variety of gold chains.

Want a custom charm? She can stamp charms for you in-person: The initials of someone special, an important date, or even a whole word on a necklace! For more info about permanent jewelry, check out Rachel's page.

Fall Hours
Our extended hours for summer are ending with the Labor Day weekend.
Starting the first week of September, we will be back to our normal hours of:
10:00am - 5:00pm Everyday of the Week.

Sneak peek
The ArtWalk on October 6th will feature glass blower, George O'Grady (sometimes affectionately referred to in the gallery as "the other George"). We have more than one event in the works for October, so be sure to check out next month's newsletter (if you're not signed up, do so here)!

You can shop our handmade art from anywhere and we're constantly adding new items to our online store!
Don't see what you're looking for? Call us at 928-779-3790 and we'll send you pictures of items in stock and process your order over the phone.

Sending love from AZ Handmade Gallery!

Psst! If you subscribe to our newsletter you'll get these updates straight to your inbox!

A Neo-Traditional Approach
For August we're featuring jewelry made by Jonah Hill! Well-known throughout Northern Arizona, Jonah is not only a multi-media artist, but also a river guide, environmental educator, and ethnobotanist.

Jonah is from the Hopi and Quechan tribes, and while his heritage is a huge influence on his art, his self-described style is Neo-Traditional. He uses the silver overlay technique, but he brings a different approach than is often seen in Hopi jewelry. Like in his River's Edge Bracelet, where instead of displaying pottery-inspired designs, the top layer of silver creates large, flowing waves. Coming from tribes who are dry farmers, motifs of water and crops are often seen in his work.

"I have a vested interest in water issues as they pertain to native peoples and use the artistic process to express my love and concern for water and the related environmental issues surrounding this most precious resource." - Jonah Hill

Jonah also uses tufa and cuttlebone casting techniques. It starts with hand-carving into one of those natural materials to create a mold. When molten silver is poured in, it picks up the texture of the material's surface. Tufa is subtle (like the Frog Pendant) and cuttlebone is bold (as seen in the Ram Pendant), but they both lend an organic compliment to his designs.
 
For ArtWalk on Friday, August 4th, Jonah will be at AZ Handmade Gallery with some of his works in progress starting at 6pm! Pablo G will be playing live music and there will be art at over 20 businesses in downtown Flagstaff! See the ArtWalk map for a full list of locations.

Gals' Get-Together at the Gallery!
 On Saturday, August 19 from 7:00-9:00pm we’re holding a special event featuring four female artists from Flagstaff, and it will be a perfect time to hang out with some of your girlfriends! So, what's happening?
 
Nancy Foo will have a huge selection from her newest jewelry line as well as hand-cut stone jewelry
Emma Gardner will be painting live in the window
Rachel Richardson will have her equipment set up to attach permanent jewelry and talk custom orders
Jenna Holzer will be doing free henna all night
Old Barrel Tea Company will be set up with tea tastings!
 
We’ll have giveaways from each artist, as well as one for a hand-blown glass vase by Holly Averbeck with fresh flowers.
 
Call up some friends and mark your calendars for August 19th!

Jewelry Popup with Rachel Richardson
In addition to the Gals' Get-Together event, Rachel will be at the gallery from 11:00am-3:00pm on Friday, August 18 and Saturday, August 19. She'll have chains in a variety of styles, all ready to be turned into a permanent necklace, bracelet, or anklet! Chains are available in sterling silver, 14k yellow gold, rose gold, and white gold. She also has a huge selection of charms that can be added - including ones with diamonds and sapphires!
 
Rachel uses a tiny welder to connect the ends of the chain so it stays on all the time and doesn't have a clasp! (If you no longer want it on, don't worry, it can be easily removed with a nail clipper.)

Rachel’s passion is custom jewelry (especially engagement rings). The popup is also a perfect time to chat with her in-person about making a special piece!

August Moons
August 2023 is a special month, book-ended by two Super Moons: one on August 1st and one on August 31st. What's even more noteworthy, though, is August 31st will be a Blue Super Moon!

Holly has inspired George to make these new Full Moon glasses. As he says, "They're perfect for kicking back with a drink and howling at the moon!" Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram. After experimenting with some colors, there will likely be a Blue Moon glass out later this month! The Full Moon glasses are available in the gallery, as well as our online store, and can be shipped across the country.

Sneak peek
The ArtWalk on September 1st will feature printmaking couple, Julie and David Williams - more details in the next newsletter!

You can shop our handmade art from anywhere and we're constantly adding new items to our online store!
Don't see what you're looking for? Call us at 928-779-3790 and we'll send you pictures of items in stock and process your order over the phone.

Sending love from AZ Handmade Gallery!

The month of July we'll be featuring one of our newest artists at the gallery, Antoinette Thompson. Antoinette is an indigenous contemporary artist from Lukachukai, AZ. Though she always enjoyed art, her painting began as a healing process as an adult and blossomed from there. Gaining acclaim as a self-taught artist, she later earned her BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has won awards, and been in exhibits, art shows, and galleries across the country, as well as in Italy.

For Antoinette, art is an expression of emotion: "I don’t approach a piece with an idea, I let the emotions take over and guide me…I let the art breath and come alive." Her paintings are vibrant, abstract compositions that incorporate her Navajo heritage. She takes the teachings of her elders and her culture, and entwines it with modern society so people of all generations can appreciate what she shares.

Antoinette has come back to the Navajo Nation to use her Master's degree in Healthcare Administration and work in her community, but she's still an artist. In fact, she takes inspiration from her work in the healthcare field. She continues to see art as a healing process for both herself and others - let's decorate the world with more art!

Antoinette will be at the gallery during ArtWalk along with some new paintings. Come by from 6:00-9:00pm on Friday, July 7th to meet this passionate artist! John Volk will be playing live music for us, and as always, you can check out a full listing of ArtWalk events at artwalkflg.org.

Wally Grover Carving Kachina Dolls at the Gallery
Hopi artist, Wally Grover, will be at AZ Handmade Gallery on June 24th from 10:00am-5:00pm.  He’ll be carving Kachina dolls, as well as talking about the traditional art and how he approaches his own creations.

Grover is from the Kachina/Parrot clan and from the Tewa Village on Hopi’s First Mesa at Polacca, AZ. He was 18 when his brother-in-law, Marlon Huma, taught him to carve cottonwood root. If you've ever been curious about Kachina dolls or Hopi art, this is the perfect chance to ask questions and learn about them!

Henna by Jenna
You may know Jenna as one of the staff members at the gallery, but she's also an artist herself and does beautiful henna work. On July 8th, the Saturday after ArtWalk, she will be doing a Henna Popup in the gallery from noon-4:00pm!

Unfamiliar with henna? It is a natural, plant-based paste that is applied like a paint on top of the skin and temporarily stains it. The designs will usually last for about two weeks, and can be removed earlier with lemon juice. If you have questions or want to talk to Jenna about body art or mehndi designs in anticipation of the event, reply to this email or text the gallery at 928-779-3790!

JULY 4th HOURS
The gallery will have shortened hours on Tuesday, July 4th: 10:00am - 1:00pm.

Otherwise, our Summer hours are the same:
Saturday-Wednesday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Thursday & Friday: 10:00am - 7:00pm

Enjoy the holiday!

Sneak peek
The ArtWalk on August 4th will feature Jonah Hill - more details in the next newsletter!

You can shop our handmade art from anywhere and we're constantly adding new items to our online store!
Don't see what you're looking for? Call us at 928-779-3790 and we'll send you pictures of items in stock and process your order over the phone.

Sending love from AZ Handmade Gallery!

Psst! If you subscribe to our newsletter you'll get these updates straight to your inbox!

Flagstaff jeweler, Rachel Richardson, will be at AZ Handmade Gallery attaching eternity bracelets from noon-4pm on Sunday, May 14th!

Eternity bracelets are beautiful, classy, and wonderfully low-maintenance - perfect for busy moms and for grads ready to take on the world. Or mom and her grad can get matching ones!

The bracelets are chains that Rachel attaches using a tiny welder so they stay on all the time and don't have a clasp! They do not penetrate the skin in any way and can be easily removed with a nail clipper if you no longer want them on.

Bracelets start at $40. Rachel has chains available in sterling silver, 14k yellow gold, rose gold, and white gold, as well as plain charms that can be added or ones with diamonds and sapphires. A perfect way to commemorate a new step forward in life or celebrate mom and all she does! Stop in after brunch  downtown to check them out and say hello to Rachel!

New Show: Introspection on the Wild
During the month of May, the front of the gallery will be filled with wildlife and nature paintings by Flagstaff artist, David Lash. He is well known for his highly-detailed portraits of local fauna and flora, often paired with a thoughtful examination of the complexities within the natural world and how humans interact with it.

David will be at AZ Handmade Gallery for the opening of his show at ArtWalk on Friday, May 5th from 6:00-9:00pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear the stories behind his paintings and see his new work. Live acoustic folk and jazz will be played by Pablo G! A full ArtWalk map can be found at artwalkflg.org.

We're excited to introduce a new addition to the gallery, Denise Incao! From her studio in Paulden, Arizona, Denise makes art inspired by nature with an earthy color palette, hand-formed ceramic elements and found objects. Sharing her passion for art, she also teaches children and adults the magic of working with clay.

“I choose to work without drawings or plans," Denise says of her own artistic process, "allowing a natural expressionistic process to unfold. Much of what comes through is influenced by years of adventures in nature, travel, my education in anthropology and psychology, and love of all that is close to the Earth and that reflects her mystery and bounty.”

Denise will be at Arizona Handmade Gallery for ArtWalk on Friday, April 7th starting at 6:00pm, along with Jim DeBusk of Streetwise who will be playing live music! Check out the ArtWalk page for a map of where you can find art and come enjoy a beautiful spring evening in downtown Flagstaff!

BYOB - Blow Your Own Ball! In this fun event you make your own blown glass ornament under the expert guidance of artist George Averbeck! Sessions will take place on four days this year: October 29, October 30, November 5, and November 12.
UPDATE: ALL BYOB SESSIONS ARE FULL.
Thank you to everyone who signed up!
How does it work?
Call the gallery at 928-779-3790 or come in to sign up!

• You'll be scheduled for a 15-minute slot to blow your own ornament.
• It costs $37 per ornament and you can pay over the phone or in-person at the gallery. You must pay when you sign up.
• On the day of your appointment, you'll go to Fire on the Mountain studio located at 324 W. Birch Avenue (on the corner of Birch and Sitgreaves across from the public library) to blow your own ball!

September 2nd ArtWalk
As part of the Colorado River Days event across Flagstaff, we'll be showing the River through artists' eyes with artwork from Serena Supplee, Dawn Sutherland, John Bond, Cathy Jolma, and many others.
The show will open during ArtWalk with Jim DeBusk of Streetwise playing music starting at 6:00 pm!

Colorado River Days Flagstaff returns LIVE with more than a dozen free events between September 2-12. This year, as the Colorado River Compact turns 100 years old, the water delivery and hydropower systems face unprecedented shortages. Events will look at the Colorado River through the lens of artists, writers, teachers, musicians, scientists, water managers, historians, and more. Learn what the river was like tens of millions of years ago, ponder the last century, and think about the future.

Check out the entire event listing at:
www.ColoradoRiverDaysFlagstaff.org

Plan for the October 7th ArtWalk
Featuring Flagstaff photographer, Doug Koepsel! Doug's work has been highlighted in Arizona Highways and he is known in the gallery for his vibrant and colorful photography. His autumn photos are magical. Put it on your calendar to come downtown on October 7th to meet Doug and listen to the tunes of Paul Webber!

ArtWalk is the First Friday of every month, and you can always find out what galleries, businesses, and artists across downtown are doing at the ArtWalk website.

​And don't forget that Art in the Park is happening this weekend at Wheeler Park!
Saturday, September 3 & Sunday, September 4 - 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Monday, September 5 - 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

You can get updates like this in your inbox by signing up for our newsletter!

AZ Handmade Gallery is highlighting the paintings of Flagstaff artist, Dawn Sutherland, in a show that will be up throughout the month of August. Featuring a stunning 22" x 28" painting of Grand Canyon and new work created this spring and summer, the show has paintings depicting landscapes across the state. Dawn always has fun stories and memories to share about the views she paints. You can talk with the artist about her work and inspiration during ArtWalk on Friday, August 5th starting at 6:00pm, and enjoy a classical guitar performance by Craig Yarbrough of the Grand Canyon Guitar Society!

If you're not able to attend ArtWalk or live out of town, a selection of Dawn's new paintings is on our website to view and purchase.

Dawn will be Plein Air painting in two different public events in the coming months (where artists paint outdoors in front of the land they're capturing with their brush, and visitors can watch and engage with them). This will be her 9th year participating in the Grand Canyon Celebration of Art! The Celebration includes an Artist Group Paint-Out, days of Plein Air painting along the South Rim, as well as an exhibition and sale in the Kolb Studio and online. It's a wonderful way to learn more about art, the Canyon, and meet some fascinating people! You can view the schedule of events and all the participating artists here. 

For the 3rd year, Dawn will also take part in the Prescott Plein Air Festival. The main event will be held October 13-15, but art education events and exhibits are being hosted on other days as well. More information is available on the Festival website!

We know, it's only August, who is thinking about the holidays? Well, George is because lots of folks have been ordering his glass! Which he LOVES, but he wants to make sure he can get it all made! With orders already coming in for the holiday season, we are asking customers to plan ahead. Orders for Christmas will not be accepted after November 1st. If you would like George to make a special blown glass piece for you, or have any questions, you can contact the gallery staff at info@azhandmade.com or stop in to talk with us. You can also place an order through our webstore!

BYOB
Is BYOB (Blow Your Own Ball) happening this year? YES! Once the dates have been confirmed we'll send an email out with sign up details, so keep an eye out.
We're so excited to get back to this fun event and are grateful for everyone who has expressed interest in participating!

Beautification in Action Grant with the City
Artists are invited to apply for up to $4,500 to complete a beautification, public garden and/or public art project with the city of Flagstaff. Submissions are reviewed bi-annually, and the next deadline is September 15th. You can learn more here. Examples of past Beautification in Action grants include murals, vinyl wraps, sculptures, and large installations.

Theatrikos Call to Artists
Theatrikos is looking for artists to exhibit their work in the playhouse lobby! Art remains on display for 2-month sessions. Contact Lottie Herkenhoff, the Gallery Coordinator, at theatre@theatrikos.com for details. 

ArtWalk Opportunities
There are more ways for artists to participate in ArtWalk than showing in a gallery! Downtown businesses are often looking for artists to partner with for First Friday ArtWalk shows, and Culture Connection AZ (in the Historic Ice House building) is a supportive organization for emerging artists to share their work. If you know an artist who is looking for a place to put their art (or if you are one!) you can contact Liz Hewat at the Downtown Business Alliance (liz@downtownflagstaff.org) to be put in touch with an interested location or Audra Travelbee (audra@cultureconnectionaz.org) for information about showing at the Ice House.

Do you have an art opportunity or event you'd like to spread the word about? Let us know!

Want to get updates like this straight to your inbox? Sign up for our newsletter! AZ Handmade and Fire on the Mountain Galleries' hours are 10am-5pm everyday of the week, and our online store is always open right here on this website.
​Wishing everyone a wonderful rest of the summer!