“There is one spectacle grander than the sea; there is one spectacle grander than the sky, that is the interior of the soul.”

--Victor Hugo

Artists create from their souls. The resultant variety and beauty of this accomplishment validates their God-given gift, enriches our surroundings, and in turn nourishes additional souls. It’s a win, win situation.

St. Anthony on the Desert Episcopal Church is pleased to share the results of this situation. The parish hall is currently home to the artwork of several St. Anthony artists.

Sally Allexan specializes in watercolor, acrylic and silk screen. She seeks and finds beauty in unexpected places, then expresses the humanity of what she finds. From a row of colorful bicycles stacked along a wire fence, to a young girl gazing longingly at a dress in a store window, her paintings tell a story. They reflect her natural humor and spunk. They make us smile.

Gratia Gibaut transports us to many places around the world, via her talented paintbrush. She states that “making memories” is what her art is all about. By using photographs from her travels as references, she brings these memories to life, taking us with her. Thus we see lumbering elephants along a river in Africa, a colorful, expansive landscape in Spain, or the splendor of Grand Canyon.

Claudia Johnson is a jewelry artist. Each piece owes its intricate beauty to Johnson’s talented fingers, but also to the inspiration that she feels (and captures) from Arizona’s geology and natural desert beauty. This love affair began back in Michigan, with her maternal grandparents and their Arizona Highways magazines. Since it’s wearable art, we can be happily adorned in this love and creativity.

Kaitlyn Hohl is one of our youngest artists. Her ability to draw belies her 11 years. Drawing -- no matter the subject: abstract or subjective -- is her forte. Her favorite media are India ink and watercolors. She enjoys drawing intricate collages and hands. Many artists avoid hands, as they are very difficult. Not Hohl, give her paper and a pencil, and she’ll zero in and zip out a quality drawing in no time.

Hal Hunt learned to paint later in life after a family friend introduced him to drawing. Thereafter it was a series of workshops and into painting. For the last two years, he has entered the Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic Association’s juried show. Both years he has been a ribbon winner. He particularly likes bright colors and dimensional themes, which lead us into adventurous places.

Jack Meinert enjoys creating art that reflects his love of the Southwest and the unique things found here: pueblos, Indian pottery and artifacts. His choice of medium is pencil and watercolors. He has participated in watercolor courses at Desert Botanical Gardens; his talent has blossomed as a result. For years, one of his favorite endeavors has been creating beautiful, handmade Christmas cards.

Marcia Nichols is inspired by nature and “God’s Art.” This inspiration lends itself to her varied subject matter: florals, landscapes, animal and human figures, as well as an array of media: watercolor, oil, pen & ink. As her subject matter varies, so does her technique -- from Oriental drawings in simple lines and brush strokes on white, to impressionist images in bold vibrant colors, exuding energy.

Claudia Smith is a multi-media artist. Her paintings (and accompanying poems) reflect a connective spirituality that she feels for the “oneness” of creation. Her interwoven, layered style, with its sweeping strokes, mirrors this interaction and energy. She’s intrigued by the transformative qualities of fossilized rock and weathered wood. She often incorporates these “found materials” into her pieces.

Carol Stewart loves being a watercolorist. It’s her first and only choice. Its difficulty challenges, captivates and excites her. Its softness charms her, with its alluring interplay of light and dark. Although she’s adept at painting any subject matter, the Southwest owns her heart, with its “golden” atmosphere of cattle, horses, cowboys, adobe buildings and Gambel’s quail.

Harrison Woods has an artist’s instinct, like his mother. And like his mother (Suzette Woods), he enjoys capturing nature’s beauty. His method is a camera, and his favorite subject is birds. He entered one of his bird photographs in the Arizona State Fair and won over-all for his age group. Woods is in the fifth grade, and is our other 11-year-old exhibiting artist.

Suzette Woods – As a printmaker whose favorite subject matter is nature and natural environments -- knows that etching and linocut are the perfect media to achieve the elements which fascinate her the most: shape and form and light and dark. Etching lends itself to atmospheric effects; linocuts offer bold contrasts. Both utilize her natural talent. Both excite and infuse her creative spirit.

This exhibit -- with its artistic variety -- reflects the interior of 11 souls. Which, as Victor Hugo suggests, is a grand “spectacle.”

St. Anthony on the Desert Episcopal Church is located on the corner of 130th and Shea. Visitors are warmly welcomed. For viewing hours, call the church office: 480-451-0860.