New York Is Dangerous Town by Ruth Hiller

The 6th Annual Encaustic Invitational exhibition opens Saturday, March 5th at the local Conrad Wilde Gallery on 6^th Avenue. Before the opening of the exhibition there will be an artist talk at 5 p.m. followed by a reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This exciting exhibition features 20 established artists from across the United States.

Doing Time by Molly Geissman

The Invitational responds to growing interest on the part of artists and the public in the encaustic medium (combining melted beeswax mixed with paint, pigments, and natural resins). The lush, sensual surfaces, translucent layers of rich color, vibrant texture, and incredible depth are just a few of the many reasons for the enthusiasm!

Summer Leaf by Karl Kaiser

Works exhibited represent a range of visual and conceptual themes as they demonstrate many of these intrinsic qualities of the medium.

Featured Artists Include:

Willow Bader, Deborah Kapoor, Brandy Eiger, Sharon Kyle Kuhn,

Fanne Fernow, Catherine Nash, Molly Geissman, Jane Allen Nodine,

Alison Golder,  Gwendolyn Plunkett, Ruth Gooch, Toby Sisson,

Lynette Haggard, Margaret Suchland, Cari Hernandez,

Donna Hamil Talman Ruth Hiller, Rodney Thompson,

Karl Kaiser, Deanna Wood

Conrad Wilde Gallery, 439 N 6th Ave. #171, Tucson, AZ 85705

Open Tuesday- Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visit www.conradwildegallery.com or for information call 520.622.8997.

Still Life Lady by Cynthia Miller

The Temple Gallery opens a new exhibition, Cynthia Miller: Paintings, featuring recent work by Tucson painter Cynthia Miller. The exhibition opens with an artist reception Friday, March 4 from 5:30-7:30pm and runs through April 5. The show features new work from the series Domestica.

New York by Cynthia Miller

Inspired by recent travels and a love of what she playfully describes as “the unstill still-life,” Miller’s work speaks to the immediacy of daily life. In the joyous world of Domestica, a series of mixedmedia paintings of furniture and household goods, (both real and imagined), everything is fodder for her paintings, from 14^th century fabric swatches and oddball studio props, to the bloom of cherry blossoms in New York’s Central Park. Painted in her loose signature style, Miller creates impressions of daily life using pattern and bold washes of color. In Still Life Yellow (2009), brightly patterned teapots and pitchers float in an ambiguous space. Fleurs 1 (2008) channels Matisse, as washes of terracotta and green collide with a vibrant blue and white striped vase and casually arranged flowers. Miller, a modern day Fauve, waxes lyrical about “the possibilities, the poetry of it all!”

Still Life Yellow by Cynthia Miller

Fleurs-1 by Cynthia Miller

Cynthia Miller’s work reminds us that spring is on its way and that renewal is possible for us all. Put a bounce in your step and head over to the Temple Gallery on Friday, March 4 for the opening reception. The Temple Gallery is located in SoCo (the recently designated cultural district South of Congress) at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. in downtown Tucson. For more information about the exhibition, please contact Etherton Gallery, which manages Temple Gallery, at (520) 624-7370 or info@ethertongallery.com. To confirm Temple Gallery weekend hours, call the Temple of Music and Art box office at (520)622-2823.

Dates:                                      March 4 – April 5, 2011

Reception:                           Friday, March 4, 2011, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Regular Hours:  Monday–Friday, 10am–5pm & before Arizona Theatre Company performances on Saturday & Sunday

Valley of the Moon Gnome & Fairy

Bring the whole family for a night of adventure, imagination and entertainment under the stars, when Valley of the Moon shows a great motion picture, The Neverending Story in their amphitheater.

The Neverending story is a tale of the powers of imagination and kindness. Bastian Bux, a quiet boy who loves to read, is accosted by bullies on his way to school. He hides in a bookstore and begins reading.  The book describes the fantasy world of Fantasia which is being threatened by a force called “The Nothing,” a void of darkness that consumes everything. Suddenly, Bastian finds himself face to face with the Empress, who reveals that The Nothing has consumed all but one grain of sand from Fantasia!!! However, Bastian’s wishes and imagination can help to restore the world to its former glory.  Will Bastion’s imagination be strong enough?

The films shows Saturday, March 5 at 6:30PM. Admission is free. $4 suggested donation per person. Food and snacks will be available. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and a friend. 2544 East Allen Rd. north of Prince Rd. and east of Tucson Blvd. Admission donations will help to restore some of the areas of this fantasyland for future generations. If you have never been, you are in for a real treat. If fairies and gnomes exist, they will be at this historic park.

Grass Amphitheater at Valley of the Moon Tucson

Valley of the Moon is a non-profit historic fantasy fairyland garden park dedicated to the idea that Kindness to All is the Golden Key to Happiness.  Built by George Legler in the 1920′s for spiritual relaxation, it continues as an all volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the historic sculptures, and a philosophy that Happiness is Given and Not Sold.

The Spider Tree at Valley of the Moon Tucson

Visit www.valleymoon.info for more information and find them on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Valley-of-the-Moon-Park/185692823650

or call 520-270-1041.

Show date: Saturday March 5, 2011

Showtime: 6:30PM-8:30PM

Address: 2544 East Allen Rd.