Members of the Camp Verde Artists Group will exhibit works of five featured artists at Salt Mine Wines, from Friday, Sept. 5 through Saturday, Oct. 4, at the vineyard tasting room. An opening reception will be held Saturday, Sept. 6 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Featured artists will include Mary Rush, founder of the Artists Group; Jill Irvin, Jeni O’Callaghan, Cree Hyde Short and Sue Moning. The multimedia exhibit will be open during the tasting room hours of noon to 5 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The scenic vineyard is located at 536 W. Salt Mine Rd. off State Route 260.
“The Camp Verde Artists Group is delighted to exhibit our art at the local winery, Salt Mine Wines,” Rush said. “Pairing wine that is locally sourced and made with art made by local artists is a natural match. The wine is superb and the art is beautiful. We hope you will take some time out of your busy schedule to relax while visiting the show, supporting local business and
art.”
Rush will show landscape and abstract paintings. She works in oils, acrylic and mixed media.
“Clear, vibrant energy, bold color and movement with hints of spirituality, communication and humor are hallmarks of my artistic style,” Rush said.
Irvin’s works include jewelry and paintings. She has worked in metal casting, watercolor, pastels, photography and polymer clay. A retired teacher, Irvin has exhibited in festivals and galleries in Arizona, South Dakota and Illinois. “I strive to use my art to educate and raise awareness of the beauty of the natural world while conveying feelings of peace, love and joy,” Irvin said.
O’Callaghan’s family roots are in Arizona, where desert landscapes and birds provide inspiration for her drawings and paintings. “My mother, Noel Jordan, also an artist, told me to create strong lines in my art,” O’Callaghan said. “I do that in my art and in my life.” She enjoys depicting vultures and other birds, especially those bright red in color. “They are the rubies of the desert,” she said.
Short is well-known in the area for her wooden windmills which dot lawns in the Verde Valley and beyond. “I like working in my shop on my windmills, bird feeders and birdhouses with country western music tunes sounding off,” Short said. She cuts her wooden pieces and assembles her works on-site at her home.
Moning also is a multimedia artist with a preference for woodburning and photography. A former newspaper journalist and retired police officer, Moning likes to convey her “reverence for all of nature, from the skies and clouds to the beds of creeks and rivers. I have a particular interest in wildlife, and I enjoy using my own photos as patterns and reference material for burnings and paintings,” Moning said.
Works of the five artists will be for sale during the exhibit hours during the tasting room hours of noon to 5 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, Sept. 6 from 2 to 4 p.m. Salt Mine Wines’ vineyard is located at 536 W. Salt Mine Rd. off State Route 260. Artists may be available on-site to show their art and speak with customers.
Contact Rush at Mary@WildfeatherFineArt.com, or by text at (256) 279-7238 for more information about the exhibit.
