Turnout to inaugural art show ‘fantastic’

Art on the Veranda, Maricopa’s first fine arts show, was a hit Saturday at The Duke.

“The turnout is fantastic,” founder of the Maricopa Artisans Committee Cynthia Portrey said. “The turnout is exactly the way we imagined it would be.”

Mayor Christian Price and Councilwoman Julia Gusse joined members of the committee in the ribbon cutting to kick off the event, which founders hope will be annual.

“I think a strong arts culture in a city is important,” Price said. “It helps bring businesses and tourism and, in general, it’s good for the community.”

The event was open to the public and each guest was entered into a raffle to win a handmade wooden bowl created by artisan Scott Portrey.

The Maricopa Music Circle volunteered their time and played music throughout the event.

The art show featured 37 artisans who each had a tent or booth set up along the patio at The Duke at Rancho El Dorado.

Portrey said artists had to apply to be part of the show and, to be accepted, had to have quality, handmade items.

“I’m very pleased with our selection of artists,” Portrey said. “They were juried and they are all very talented.”

Artisan Paula Pavlosky, owner of Designs by Paula, filled her booth with her illuminated and hand-painted wine bottles.

“It was a hobby and then a really good friend of mine said ‘Why don’t you start your own business?’” she said.

Pavlosky said she doesn’t go to a lot of shows, so when she found out about Art on the Veranda, she was excited.

“We need more stuff like this in Maricopa,” she said. “We have a lot of artists; it’s good art.”

Artisan Alice Voth, “The Bag Lady,” showed off her knitted and felted purses and bags at Saturday’s show.

“I used to knit sweaters and give those as gifts and a girlfriend turned me on to the bags,” she said. “I’ve been doing this for about five years.”

Voth said she participated in the Province Arts and Crafts Fair and joined Art on the Veranda to express her love of art and to get to know the other artists.