First Friday Artist's Reception

Make The Artists’ Gallery your destination on First Friday, May 5th, from 5 to 8 p.m., as we welcome you for a rousing evening of art and music! Meet our Featured Artists for the month: Ron White discovered the inspiration for his artwork on remote canyon walls. Collecting photographs of the petroglyphs from various sites he visited, he began to study the methods of creating this ancient art. Ron developed a meticulous process to replicate the aged “desert varnish” of canyon walls, onto natural sandstone. He skillfully hand carves replicas of petroglyphs, as well as wildlife and contemporary designs, onto the prepared stone, creating spectacular art pieces that range from dramatic custom wall panels to symbolic “totem” necklaces. Ron’s wife, Cathy, collaborates in the production process, and together they are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their art business, “Derived from Nature”! Sue Davis, owner of Designs by Qzitz, has been designing her eclectic jewelry for over 15 years. Early on she noted that some of the individual stones she used, though spectacular, were getting lost in the overall designs. She ventured into the intricate technique of “wire-wrapping” special stones to emphasize their distinctive characteristics, and found it was a marvelous way to let each “jewel” shine on its own! Sue’s newest addition to her one-of-a-kind creations, are casual lariat necklaces, which are very much in style. Painter, Merri Daley’s art work, is driven by the passion she feels while exploring the back country of Colorado. Merri’s landscapes are usually painted on location, or from studies made on location – as she expertly wields a palette knife and oil paints to quickly capture the fleeting mood and scene! A former art teacher in public schools, she majored in art at Ball State University, and has been developing her art skills over a lifetime. Her splendid artwork has earned Merri numerous awards, including 2016 Best of Show at the Rocky Mountain High art exhibit at the Bell Tower. By request, we are extending “A Mother’s Legacy—a Retrospective Exhibit of the Art of Eneyd Andrews. As a special Mother’s Day offering, purchasers of a framed painting may select three unframed pieces at no additional charge! And, be sure to participate in the drawing for one of Ron White’s hand carved sandstone art pieces! Join us to revel in great local art, be entertained with live music performed by Tom Gudding, and enjoy complimentary refreshments! The Artists’ Gallery, 416 Main St., Canon City, is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information call (719)345-4070 or visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheArtistsGallery/.