" I was introduced to the Celebration in 2012 and coming regularly over that time every year, I’ve discovered a whole new world. I’ve come to know a lot of the artists and I’ve really come to learn about art. When I walk through the doors now, I bubble. I enjoy the people I’ve met and appreciate the differences in art, and that it truly is part of their soul. It’s adding to me as a person. I get a lot of joy here. I feel like I’m coming home." -Wendy Nickel
creating a community and sense of place
of land have been devel- oped to ac- commodate growth. Any move can come with trepidation and won- dering if the community will follow, but one thing has become clear, it’s never been about the location. It’s this sense of place we’ve been able to
Painting by of the Celebration of Fine Art by Michele Stapley
T he “big white tents”. Throughout the decades and several location changes, our signature white tents have become somewhat of a calling card for the Celebration of Fine Art. And while they may serve as an im- portant landmark, these tents are so much more. They’ve served as a home away from home for hundreds of artists over the course of our 34-year history. They’ve been a place of respite from the chaos of everyday life, a place of joy, inspi- ration, camaraderie, connection, and friendship. For some, they’ve provided a place for quiet contemplation, and for others a place to recharge the soul. And while these tents have been many things to many people, it’s never really been about the space. It’s the community inside these tents that has created a sense of place and the ethe- real magic that seems to be coursing through it. Though each experience is unique to every individual––artist and guests alike, one thing we’ve come to recognize over the years is that this show has an uncanny ability to uplift nearly anyone who passes through the doors. This has been universal across individuals of all backgrounds and ages. Year after year, we overhear
the chatter in the tent, see the expres- sions on peoples’ faces and receive handwritten notes expressing this sentiment. What is it about the Celebration of Fine Art that makes it so uplifting? We like to think it’s the collection of magical components that have come together under one roof––the tangi- ble and intangible: the exquisite art, artists, and art lovers, as well as the creativity, beauty, love, and a spirit of connection and discovery. There’s a sense of excitement as art lovers discover a new piece that speaks to them in some way or swap stories with artists about shared expe- riences. Artists partake in that excite- ment as well through collaboration with one another, discovering a new technique or forming a relationship with a new collector. This excitement was palpable that very first day we opened our doors in February 1991 and it has persisted ever since. The making of a community Bringing the Celebration of Fine Art to fruition was not without its challeng- es. It was something that had never been done before and to carry it out, it required a lot of faith from a whole lot
duce a one-of-a-kind experience to Scottsdale, but what we didn’t realize at the time was that what we were really building was a very special community. The artists during that first year were asked to do something relatively unheard of––make a com- mitment to be available at the show daily for weeks on end and create their work on-site. Their work also had to be of high quality. As it turns out, this model attract- ed––and continues to attract––a very special breed of artists: talented, wel- coming, open, dedicated, collabora-
"The word ‘celebration’ is the perfect title. We celebrate not only the art and the artists, but all of the people who love to absorb art, see art, and listen to the artists. If you come regularly, you get to meet people and hear their stories and what they’re interested in. You learn so much every week you come here about what goes into the art, their motivations, etc." -Carol and Ned O’Hearn
create in any locale that keeps this wonderful community alive and coming back year after year. Our hearts are filled with gratitude as we reflect back over the years of this unique and happy community and we look forward to celebrating for many more.
Clockwise from top left: Advertisement from 1994. Top right: Jake & Susan Mor- row Potje with Ann & Tom Morrow at the Celebration of Fine Art. Bottom right: Original drawing of the Celebration of Fine Art.
Creating a true sense of connection Over the years, we’ve also seen art- ists band together to support one another and the entire Celebration of Fine Art family––staff, collectors, and art lovers––through challenging times and to celebrate significant life moments. There have been countless collaborations between artists and life- long friendships that have emerged from this magical community. There is a true sense of connection in these tents, but what’s amazing is that spirit seems to continue even after the tents come down every March. Since our first show in 1991, we’ve moved to various locations as parcels
tive, supportive, and big hearted. From this, combined with the type of visitors the Celebration of Fine Art attracted, emerged a beautiful and supportive community and atmosphere. By year two, the number of artists and art lovers who returned, along with the growth in new guests proved that people were craving a welcoming, joyful place to experience and share exceptional art. For the artists, the Celebration of Fine Art also became a place where they could engage with collectors directly and be fueled by the level of talent and creativity of their peers in the tent.
of individuals. The city of Scottsdale, cham- ber of commerce, artists and visitors, to name a few, took a big chance on this show. No one quite knew what to expect, but they believed in the vision and the potential. We knew we were attempting to intro-
"We’ve been coming here for about 10 years, and every year we look forward to the new artists. We like to celebrate the artists’ creativity–– coming to the Celebration of Fine Art is one of our favorite things to do every March. We say we’re returning to our happy place." -Linda Nudd
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Issue 2 | Fall 2023
Issue 2 | Fall 2023
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