Art on the Veranda founding artists (from left) Bonnie DelTurco, Karen Stephenson, Diane Hebert and Cynthia Portrey. Photo by Raquel Hendrickson

Art is blooming again in Maricopa.

The third annual Art on the Veranda is expanding to two days to give busy Maricopans more time to see the show.

“I really think we’re going to get an onslaught on Sunday,” said Cynthia Portrey, president of the Art on the Veranda Committee.

The juried art show is Nov. 7-8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the veranda and part of the lawn at The Duke at Rancho El Dorado.

Oils, acrylics, pottery, jewelry, gourds, fabrics, woodworking, drawing, glass, weaving, mosaics, photography, baskets and more will show the talents of artists in Maricopa and the surrounding region.

“It is not a craft show,” committee member Bonnie DelTurco said. “This is fine art.”

The mission of Art on the Veranda is to provide a venue for artists to promote their creations. Most of the 40 artists participating live in Maricopa.
[quote_right]“It is not a craft show. This is fine art.”[/quote_right]
Some have had their art displayed at an exhibit at Bead & Berry Coffee House, some had their work displayed at Maricopa Center for Entrepreneurship and some will have their work on the walls at City Hall.

“We feel very confident that we are helping to bring artists out of hiding,” said DelTurco, who creates coffee-bag art. “We are helping to strengthen the art community.”

Blown glass artist Karen Stephenson, who is also on the committee, said the show gives a venue to artists who otherwise would not have thought of displaying in public. The experienced artists have used it as an inspiration to grow.

“I’ve expanded my skills to making my own glass beads,” said Hebert, a jewelry maker. “I have my studio in my backyard.”

Admission is free and includes a raffle ticket. More raffle tickets can be purchased for $1 each. For the children, there will be a balloon twister.

Carl Diedrich said the annual show brought in around 700 people last year. “We’re expecting 1,000 to 1,200 over the weekend,” he said.

Maricopa Police Department will guide traffic through the area.

Portrey said the Maricopa Education Foundation is participating this year with a tent for student artists.

“The Maricopa Historical Society will have a tent and show the history of Maricopa,” said committee member Diane Hebert.

The Maricopa Historical Society’s Brenda Campbell said the event will be used as a fund-raiser for the group, which will sell books, notecards and pictures, including pen-and-ink sketches from Vernon Barlow.

If You Go …
What: Art on the Veranda
When: Nov. 7-8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: The Duke at Rancho El Dorado, 42660 W. Rancho El Dorado Parkway
How much: Free
Info: VerandaArt.com

This story was published in the November issue of InMaricopa News.