Rounding out the winter art exhibition season, St. Anthony on the Desert Episcopal Church joyfully presents an exhibit that is a tribute – and a HUGE thank you – to the many generous businesses that donated goods, and to the many hardworking individuals who, over the years, have dedicated hours and hours of service to planning, organizing, collecting donations, setting up, and cleaning up, for St Anthony’s Annual Spirit Auction.

The first auction was held in 2006, then after a two-year-hiatus, it began again in 2009 and proceeded at a “full gallop” until its finality, in 2015.

St. Anthony member and treasurer, Barbara Ells, skillfully “led the charge.

The exhibit will feature some favorite posters (that were saved for this purpose) by their creators: Carol Stewart and Claudia Smith. The posters reflect the variety of auction donations over the years which ranged from jewelry to footwear, excursions to salons, horseback rides to airplane rides, artwork to roof work, seaside spas to mountainside cabins, a variety of restaurants to a variety of golfing experiences. The list goes on and on.

Tucked in among the posters, the exhibit will also include several Stewart and Smith originals.

Stewart loves being a watercolorist. It’s her first and only choice (except when busy making posters). Watercolor’s difficulty and unpredictability challenges, captivates and excites her. Its softness charms her, and lends itself to the sky-blues, desert-tans and sage-greens of her favorite subject matter: the Southwest. And although she’s adept at painting any subject matter; adobe buildings, quail, horses and cattle, cowboys and cowgirls own her heart.

Her newest painting is of a cowgirl, and she will win your heart.

Claudia Smith is a multi-media artist. She’s always “on alert” for “found objects” -- especially intricate pieces of weathered wood, rocks and stones. Crystals and fossils from specialty shops are also a lure. These materials are then incorporated onto her oil paintings, adding dimension and texture. The underlying paintings are done in a layered style, with sweeping strokes that mirror the interaction, energy and “oneness” that intrigues Smith. Her most recent work won “Best of Show” for Abstract, in the Fountain Hills Cultural-Civic Association’s 2017 annual juried art show.

This exhibition of Spirit Auction nostalgia and current work is on display through May 2. Visitors are welcome.

Visitors are invited to come and experience—through art—the joy that is found and reflected in service.