TERRY ETHERTON WAS APPREHENSIVE last spring when the concept for the current exhibit at the gallery that bears his name began to gel. 

Known nationally and beyond as a premier southwestern gallery of photography as well as of painting and other traditional art forms, this exhibit, Etherton says, “was a leap of faith” to create an ensemble from some of Tucson’s finest artists in a setting resembling spaces an exquisitely appointed home.

 The result is a welcoming balance among furniture with the design qualities of sculpture, marvelously hand blown glass, bold mural sized paintings and warm hand woven rugs.

Mesquite furniture by Stephen Paul; King's Canyon painting by Jim Wald.

(more…)

“OH MAN, IT’S CRAZY HOT OUT HERE,” Lucas McDonald said gulping water from a gallon plastic jug.

 McDonald was wrapping up a Saturday afternoon standing in the sun by the side of the road waiting for customers to pull over and check out his horseshoe saguaro creations.

Lucas McDonald

McDonald is a roadside art vendor, one of a coterie you’ll see at the side of North Thorneydale or South Silverbell in places where there’s room to set up shop and accommodate turn in traffic.

 McDonald is a novice at the trade, taking it up this summer while visiting from his home in Minnesota, using horseshoes he gets from a blacksmith friend for the pieces he makes that run in the $40 range.

 Mike Stephenson is a veteran.

 For 17 years, he says, “this is what I do,” surveying an array of objects he designs himself and crafts from steel using a plasma arc cutter. Sun symbols are popular and tourists, especially, like the kokopelli figures. 

Mike Stephenson

His repertoire now spans some 300 decorative items ranging from $20 up to the $950 asking price on an elaborate swing set he’s prepared to install at a buyer’s home.

 Over the years he’s traveled to art and craft shows in California, Utah and New Mexico and likes to make an annual trek to a show in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. Mostly though, he sets up at one of six local spots over the weekend, finding that business tends to be best between about noon and 2 pm.

 It’s been a real slow summer, he explains, “but if I do good today, you won’t see me out here ‘till next week.”

 Terry Paschen is a veteran too, selling his hand made furniture by the roadside as a sideline for the past 11 years. His pieces range from tables and chests to beds, dressers, armoires and grandfather clocks.

Terry Paschen

He was packing up the first afternoon I met him, racing to get out from under a belt of rain headed to his spot on Silverbell on Sunday afternoon. A bust of a day.

Mesquite table by Terry Paschen $650

A couple of weeks later along Thorneydale, Paschen told me he’d gotten a commission for a wet bar in one customer’s home and another had stopped by for a repeat sale.

 That’s the way it goes  by the roadside. You never really know until you just get out there and see what the day will bring.

CHRISSY GORAL’S TRACK RECORD is the to die for envy of most artists – once she can just get her work exposed to the public, it’s an almost instant success.

 A put together show at a local club a few years ago – blowout. The one designer – Content Interiors – who said Yes to scores of other phone pitches to just look at her work – sales on the spot. A long desired chance to exhibit at the DeGrazia Gallery – near sell out.

Chrissy Goral at home

Goral sort of stumbled on to what’s become unique to her. Working in an old, dark downtown warehouse several years ago she was experimenting with acrylic on window glass when she decided to take a piece outside to see what it looked like in the sun. Like stained glass, rainbows of color. It came alive. She’s been mastering and expanding the technique ever since.

  (more…)