Amerind Museum Art Gallery(Juried Exhibition & Art Sale 2024)

Daisies Unite was juried into the museum art gallery exhibition!

Pastel (dry medium) over ink. On toned paper. 18x24.

Museum Juried Exhibition & Sale

Thirty paintings will be exhibited in the Armind Museum art gallery and priced for sale. Each fine art piece captures the artist's inspiration to create an original using the traditional medium of pastels in our modern world. The collection of works will demonstrate the unique beauty of pastel painting, truly revealing "The Power of Pastels."

These works, which include a wide range of subject matter, such as landscape, figure, abstract, or still life, were juried from the Tucson Pastel Society's renowned pastel artists.

Juror

Nancie King Mertz - Fine artist and master pastelist.

Dates

June 1, 2024 - November 30, 2024

Admission

This event is open to the general public. Admission to the museum is required for any dates and times.

Artist's Reception

Saturday, October 5, 2024 (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM)
Admisison to the reception is at no charge.

About the Host

Explore Amerind, a museum of Native American art, history, culture, and archaeology. Here, you can learn about Native American history and contemporary lives. Indigenous communities share their traditional knowledge with all who visit. Amerind is an academic research center, museum, art gallery, historic property, scenic destination, and community gathering place.

Since 1937, they have been dedicated to preserving and illuminating the cultural objects and traditions of the Native Peoples of the Americas. What began as founder William Shirley Fulton’s personal passion for archaeology grew into decades of research advancements and cross-cultural understanding.

Address

2100 N. Amerind Road PO Box 400,
Dragoon, Arizona 85609

Directions

Amerind is located in Cochise County, Arizona, one mile south of I-10, an hour east of Tucson, between Benson and Willcox.
Take Exit #318, Dragoon Road (I-10 to Exit 318)

The Amerind entrance is on the left (just past mile marker 1)
2100 N. Amerind Road, Dragoon, Arizona 85609

Gallery Hours

Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Closed: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM for lunch each day
Closed: Mondays and any Major Holidays

Web

Amerind.org

About the Artist's Guild

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium, unite pastel artists, and organize professional development and artistic growth opportunities that increase the community's awareness of the versatility and value of pastel fine art.

Web

TucsonPastelSociety.org

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Meet Christy Olsen, Canvas Rebel (Interview Jan. 2024)

Published by Canvas Rebel on January 1, 2024.

Transcript

We were lucky to catch up with Christy Olsen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Christy, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been one of the most interesting investments you’ve made – and did you win or lose? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

On a hot summer’s day in 2015, a local artist’s guild in Tucson, Arizona, received an unexpected donation that changed everything. A non-profit organization called “Singles & Friends” decided to disband their organization after 43 years and donate their building and assets.

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS), an existing 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, accepted the 1,832 sq. ft. open space building conveniently located at 1st and Grant. It was perfect for studio art classes and workshops. Soon after, TPS would call upon the community to help fund building maintenance and renovations to bring it up to city code.

A small group of artists with the determination and vision to cultivate the visual arts community of Southern Arizona stepped up to assist. They rented the building to teach adult art classes. Their program was well received, and more classes were requested.

In the spring of 2016, a mobile school was born called the Art Verve Academy with the mission to enable adults at any skill level to learn, create, or practice the 2D visual arts within a studio environment, community, or in-person setting.

It was the best investment I ever made regarding time, funding, and personal commitment! Starting into our 8th year, it’s been an enormous return on inspiration, creativity, and personal gratification.

Desert Mesquite, pastel over ink on paper, by Christy Olsen

Christy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a fine artist. My work has been shown in multiple juried exhibitions, galleries, and selected solo shows across the United States. I teach adult studio art classes at the Art Verve Academy. I am an active member of the local Tucson Arts Community and have also instructed multiple international art workshops abroad in Italy.

My most recent juried exhibition was at the Herberger Theater in Phoenix, AZ. My most notable juried exhibition was the Power of Pastels, exhibited in the Ironwood Gallery at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, where I received an honorable mention for my work. I have also shown in juried exhibitions at the Porter Hall Gallery in the Tucson Botanical Gardens and the Best and the Brightest juried exhibition at the Scottsdale Artist’s School Gallery.

I was born in Memphis, Tennessee, as a third-generation artist and grew up within a family of oil painters who encouraged me to be creative. My family took me to multiple museums and notable art exhibitions that I remember affectionately.

My visual art skills developed from formal education, drafting, self-directed practice, experimentation, and tutelage under several contemporary masters. When most university curriculums did not offer representational or figurative arts in the ’90s, she chose to study the Old Masters via the classroom instead. She earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in Art History & Anthropology.

I am also a member of the last generation of drafters formally trained to draw with pencil on vellum paper before computer-aided design software. My earliest professional drafting experience was architectural blueprints and technical drawings I meticulously drew by hand. I also successfully worked as a systems engineer and earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Computer Science from Arizona State University.

Saguaro on a Sunday, pastel over ink on paper, by Christy Olsen

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

There are numerous aspects, but if I had to pick one, it would be the connections I create with others through art. Working alone in the studio can be solitary, but it doesn’t have to be. You can create with others or build an entire community around art with other artists or creatives, which enriches my life.

Saguaro on a Sunday, pastel over ink on paper, by Christy Olsen

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, I always want to keep learning and growing. I’ve been a perfectionist for most of my life, but those days are over! I have since learned “how to fail” early and as often as possible. I have gotten used to working outside my comfort zone so I can take my work to the next level.

Reference
Wright, James (2024, January 18). Meet Christy Olsen. Canvas Rebel Magazine. Retrieved from canvasrebel.com/meet-christy-olsen-2 on January 18, 2018.

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Printmaking without a Press - Monotypes (Feb. 2024)

Delve into the captivating world of monotypes, an enchanting printmaking technique that needs no traditional press and may be taken with you on the go! Monotypes combine the spontaneity of drawing, painting, and printmaking and are renowned for their individuality and expressiveness. 

Discover the freedom of spontaneous mark-making. This class will have everything you need to try this unique and forgiving medium! Learn the various methods, tools, and materials to produce one-of-a-kind evocative prints. Learn to manipulate ink, textures, and surfaces. The possibilities to create stand-alone artwork that may be realistic, painterly, or abstract are limitless! 

Meets: Saturday Afternoons, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Dates: Feb. 3, 10, & 17
Location: TPS Art Center (2447 N. Los Altos Ave., Tucson, Arizona 85705)

Instructor: Christy Olsen
Format: Lecture & demonstration, studio practice with individual feedback, and one-on-one instruction.
Level: No prior experience is necessary. Just be open to trying new drawing methods or tools!

Medium: Printmaking (Akua ink or waterbased oils)
Technique: How to create a monotype using the additive and subtractive methods.
Materials: The instructor will email the materials list before the first day of class.

Click to register or enroll!

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Posted on January 18, 2024  by Christy Olsen
Location: 2447 N Los Altos Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705, USA
Tags: 2024 , Adult Visual Art Class  

TPS Program Review (Dec 2023)

All About Degas!
(November Program Review)

Review by Ellen Cholski, published by TPS, December 2023. p. 2.

Christy Olsen was the guest speaker for our November meeting. She is a noted Tucson pastelist who is our vice president, a teacher at the Art Verve Academy, and an engineer. She has a B.A. degree in Art History and Anthropology as well as a B.S. in Computer Science.

All about Degas was the title of her interactive presentation. Edgar Degas was a French impressionist famous for his pastel and oil paintings, especially of dancers. He was also an avid user of monoprints in his paintings. While showing examples of his work, Christy shared that these monoprints helped him be painterly and loose.

Monoprints or monotypes create an image that can only be printed once with sometimes one additional ghost image. Christy demonstrated how to make a monoprint. She uses Akua ink because it dries quickly and prefers Strathmore printmaking paper. First, she placed ink on a glass pane and then rolled the ink smooth with a brayer. Then she drew in the ink with her finger covered with a baby wipe and mentioned how a variety of devices could be used to make a design. Once she had her desired design, she placed paper over it and pressed the paper with a clean brayer to make the monoprint. This is printing without a press.

Christy enjoys responsive drawing on paper that already has a design. Sometimes instead of a monoprint, she will use an inked brayer to make the marks for her background. Her advice was not to be meticulous and always experiment to make new discoveries. At the end of her presentation, we had the opportunity to either make a monoprint or paint on an already prepared monoprint. Thank you, Christy.

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Responsive Drawing (Jan. 2024)

Learn a new approach where we start without a blank page and respond to our drawings. Every element on the page affects how we perceive the other or surrounding elements. Shapes, forms, or patterns are all related concepts but have nuances that set them apart.

You'll be guided through exercises that explore figure-ground relationships. Learn to design shapes that integrate with the background and discover a variety of edges that may be used to distinguish shapes that share a common boundary.

Meets: (3) Saturday Afternoons, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Dates: Jan. 6, 13, & 20, 2024
Location: TPS Art Center (2447 N. Los Altos, Tucson, Arizona 85705)

Instructor: Christy Olsen
Format: Lecture & demonstration, studio practice with individual feedback, and one-on-one instruction.
Level: All levels are welcome! No experience is needed. Just be open to trying new drawing methods or tools!

Medium: Charcoal, Conté crayons, Pastels, or Sanguine
Technique: Learn how to create shapes, forms, or patterns that integrate with the background.
Materials: The instructor will email the materials list before the first day of class.

Click to register or enroll!

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Guest Speaker & Demonstration Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) (Fall 2023)

Invited to demonstrate and lecture!

Sponsored by the Tucson Pastel Society (TPS), this event will be held in the TPS Art Center in Tucson, Arizona. It is open to the general public and members of the guild. Admission is at no charge.

All About Degas!

Join us for an interactive demonstration! We'll cover Edgar Degas (1834 - 1917), a master pastelist during the late 19th century. It's well known that between 1874 and 1886, Degas participated in seven shows, now known as the infamous Impressionist Exhibitions.

However, what is less known is that Degas used monoprints as the underpainting for his pastels! Monoprints have a unique aesthetic, using a painterly process that does not require a large printing press or expensive materials. Try some of Degas' techniques. You'll be amazed by its simplicity and perhaps make a few discoveries yourself!

Before We Could Vote. 11x14. Pastel on sanded paper by Christy Olsen.

Date & Time

November 15, 2023 (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)

About the Host

The Tucson Pastel Society (TPS) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization established to advocate and promote the pastel medium and have fun doing art in the communities it serves. TPS is an active and vital art organization for pastel artists to flourish, fostering the skills and camaraderie of its members while encouraging community awareness of dry pastel fine art by offering exhibitions and events. For more information, visit the Tuscon Pastel Society.org.

Location

TPS Art Center
2447 N. Los Altos Ave. Tucson, Arizona 85705

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Post Event

TPS Newsletter included the following review of this event.

November Meeting

Review by Ellen Cholski, published by TPS, Vol. 9, December 2023. p. 1.

Christy Olsen was the guest speaker for our November meeting. She is a noted Tucson pastelist who is our vice president, a teacher at the Art Verve Academy, and an engineer with Raytheon. She has a B.A. degree in Art History and Anthropology as well as a B.S. in Computer Science.

All about Degas was the title of her interactive presentation. Edgar Degas was a French impressionist famous for his pastel and oil paintings, especially of dancers. He was also an avid user of monoprints in his paintings. While showing examples of his work, Christy shared that these monoprints helped him be painterly and loose.

During the demonstration

Monoprints or monotypes create an image that can only be printed once with sometimes one additional ghost image. Christy demonstrated how to make a monoprint. She uses Akua ink because it dries quickly and prefers Strathmore printmaking paper. First, she placed ink on a glass pane and then rolled the ink smooth with a brayer. Then she drew in the ink with her finger covered with a baby wipe and mentioned how a variety of devices could be used to make a design. Once she had her desired design, she placed paper over it and pressed the paper with a clean brayer to make the monoprint. This is printing without a press.

During the demonstration

Christy enjoys responsive drawing on paper that already has a design. Sometimes instead of a monoprint, she will use an inked brayer to make the marks for her background. Her advice was not to be meticulous and always experiment to make new discoveries. At the end of her presentation, we had the opportunity to either make a monoprint or paint on an already prepared monoprint. Thank you, Christy.

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Saguaro Exhibit in the Herberger Art Gallery(Juried Exhibition & Art Sale 2023)

Was accepted into the show!

The iconic Saguaro Cactus is one of the defining plants of the Sonoran Desert. It can grow to over 40 feet, live for more than 150 years, and its blossom is the state wildflower of Arizona. The interpretation of this Sentinel of the Southwest will be the theme of this juried exhibition.

Saguaro on Sunday. 9x12. Pastel on paper by Christy Olsen.

Juried Exhibition & Art Sale

This exhibition showcases the distinctive characteristics of the iconic Saguaro cactus, featuring thirty artists who live in Arizona. Juried works on display reveal how artists express their unique interpretation of the Saguaro. This exhibit will be on display in the main gallery at the Herber Theater Center Main Gallery and is open to the general public.

Dates

August 4 – October 1, 2023

Artist's Reception

Saturday, August 12, 2023 (2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.)
Admisison is at no change. 

Exhibition Flyer

About the Host

The Herberger Theater Center actively contributes and has played a vital role in Arizona's education and cultural evolution for over three decades. Today, Arizona continues to come into its own and take its place among the most populous states in the country for diverse and engaging experiences in the arts. 

Built as a performance venue in 1989 in downtown Phoenix, the Herberger Theater provides a forum for time-honored musicals, award-winning new plays, classic operas, dance performances, and artwork exhibitions.

It is also an incubator for growth. It supports and fosters both the performing and visual arts and has paved the way as the foremost art institution for rich cultural events and diverse experiences. 

About the Gallery

All artwork is for sale, with a portion of the proceeds from each piece benefiting the Herberger Theater's programs that are committed to bringing artists and the community together. 

The Herberger Theater's Art Gallery features creative and inspiring work showcasing the artists of Arizona. The gallery curators are Connie & A.O. Tucker. 

Herberger Theater Center in Downtown Phoenix, AZ

Herberger Theater Center Gallery Second Floor

Herberger Theater Center Gallery Main Gallery

Location

Herberger Theater Center is located in Downtown Phoenix, adjacent to the Phoenix Convention Center and St. Mary's Basilica.
222 East Monroe Street,
Phoenix, Arizona 85004

Parking Options

Unfortunately, The Herberger Theater Center does not currently validate parking. Below are some options.

Discount Parking at Arizona Center (Most Affordable), where you may purchase your parking pass from the Herberger TTheater'sBox Office or online (Click Here) and park at the Arizona Center Parking Garage for only $6.00! Located at 401 E. Fillmore St. Valid Monday-Friday from 5:00 p.m. – 4:00 a.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday. Guests do not need their parking passes until exiting the garage. Click here for directions.

Chase Parking Garage (Nearest in Proximity) is located at 160 E. Monroe St. and is directly across 2nd street from the Herberger Theater. Click here for directions.

200 EVB, also known as Arizona Republic Parking Garage (The Straight Shot), is located at 460N N. 3rd St. and is a 1 block straight shot down second street from the theater. Click here for directions.

Street Meter Parking (Living on the Edge) as there are a limited number of street meter parking spots available in the downtown area. Please read the individual meters for details on what length of time it offers. Meters accept most debit and credit cards and Quarters, Dimes, and Nickels as payment.

Gallery Hours

Visit the Herberger Theater Center website for the current information on hours. This exhibit may be viewed before and after performances, during opening receptions, or other events. It may also be open Monday through Friday, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Sale (in-person)

Artwork may be purchased during the show but must stay hung throughout the exhibition. Enter the gallery through the box office doors and then go up the stairs.  

Sale (online)

Artwork may be purchased online via the Herberger Theater Center website or call +1 (602) 252-8497. Click here to view the exhibit online. 

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