Artist John Gourley’s studio is in the hills outside of Arivaca just 10 miles from the American Mexican Border. John is a metal artist and has recently been added to the very prestigious group of artist at Metal Arts Village in Tucson.  A semi retired ranch broker, John has lived an interesting life, but chose the tranquility of the Sonoran desert to call home.  John has a unique way of seeing life which is reflected in his eclectic style from small table top pieces to life size sculpture. To talk with John one will learn that each piece is a narration of individual ideas meticulously welded together bringing dreams to reality through steel. As a fellow metal sculptor I highly  recommend a visit to Metal Arts Village and these two links, John Gourley Metal Art and Karl W Hoffman’s fabricated steel sculpture.

John A Gourley with Metal Sculpture, Photo by Karl W Hoffman

 

Photo and Graphics by Karl W Hoffman

The New Metal Arts Village

 

A Thriving Arts community Has Been Forged in The New Metal Arts Village

In the most unlikely of times, a new arts community has been forged at 3230 North Dodge Boulevard, attracting some of Tucson’s most renowned metal artists as well as other long-established custom art businesses.

 

Southern Arizona native, Steve Kimble, of Art Inc. built his very own field of dreams, designing and forging an architecturally-striking collection of  twelve working artist studios surrounding a central gallery and sculpture garden.  Almost entirely steel fabrication, The Metal Arts Village, is located at 3230 North Dodge Boulevard, between River and Fort Lowell, in the heart of the Fort Lowell Furniture District.

 

The Metal Arts Village has sprung to life, now that all twelve working artist studios are occupied with a variety of metal, glass and wood artisans, offering a vast array of products and services.  The Metal Arts Village gives visitors the opportunity to come see the artists at work as well as view and choose finished original art pieces in the central gallery and sculpture garden.  It is a one-stop destination where custom art creations are being designed and fabricated in metal, glass and wood.

 

Kimble’s dream project gained momentum three years ago when he shared it with Tucson’s own world-renowned artist Lynn Rae Lowe, who joined forces as marketing maven for the Metal Arts Village and made a commitment to relocate her Metal Arts Gallery to the space when completed.  Together Kimble and Lowe have created a new village of artisans working together to create some of the area’s most unique original and custom artworks for residential, commercial and liturgical applications.  In times like these, Kimble and Lowe have managed to create a highly functional and attractive space that entices artists to join forces to serve their art patrons.

 

“Metal art has a great history in the Southwest both functionally and decoratively and now area visitors and residents have a place to come to bring friends and family to see metal and glass art as its being made,” explained Lynn Rae Lowe, who also serves as Resource Director for the Village.  “We’ve created a true artist’ guild here where the artist share their knowledge with one another to the customer’s benefit.  It’s been my experience that it can be a cumbersome process for both artisan and patron to get a custom piece of art designed and fabricated.  At the Metal Arts Village that process is seamless, creating a better relationship with the customer and furthering artisan development, providing a great community resource,” Lowe said.

 

The Metal Arts Village is the new home of some Tucson’s most established metal, glass and wood artist including Lynn Rae Lowe’s Metal Arts Gallery, Everett Grondin’s Doglix Studios, Steve Kimble’s Art Inc., Antonio Falcon’s Finxsculpture, Andrea Islas’ Appaloosa in the Wood Custom Fine Furnishings, Altenburg Kraftwerks, and Genia Parker’s Ochoa Stained Glass. It has also enticed two long-established fine monumental sculptors to Tucson, Mark Wallis of MAW Studios of Indiana, and Al Glann Sculptor from Scottsdale, Arizona.  The Metal Arts Village is now the home of the latest Spill the Beanz Coffee Teaque.

 

This collection of artists provides a diverse selection of products and services including indoor and outdoor sculpture, garden art, fences, gates, fountains, privacy screens, wall décor, mirrors, furniture, home enhancement products, cabinetry, counter fronts, entryway doors, sidelites, transom, and clerestory custom glass art windows, signage, awards, lighting, jewelry, liturgical art and other art installations made from stainless steel, mild steel, copper, brass, iron, aluminum-glass, silver and more, fabricated and cast, as well as original designs in CAD (Computer Automated Drawings).

 

“It’s so nice to be able to collaborate with a talented group of artists on-site, in the moment, exchanging ideas and information.  It allows me to expand my capabilities and serve my customers on another level,” said Ochoa Stained Glass Custom Glass Art Studio Owner/Artist Genia Parker.  Ochoa Stained Glass has been creating custom glass artworks for more than 35 years for homes, businesses and places of spiritual worship.

 

“This is the perfect place for Appaloosa in the Woods Custom Fine Furnishings,” according to Owner Andrea Islas.  “We are thrilled to join this collection of fine artisans and craftspeople and are so happy to be a part of this thriving arts community,” she concluded.

 

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