Artists exhibit at Camp Verde Community Library

The Camp Verde Artists Group is hosting their debut exhibit at the Camp Verde Community Library from now through July 15. 

The Camp Verde Artists Group is a recently-formed group of local artists intended to help local artists come together and create a thriving art scene and art community. The group is spearheaded by artist Mary Rush, who founded it in December. 

The exhibit features work by 10 of the group’s artists in a variety of mediums, including paintings, photography, metal sculpture and wood burning. The artists whose work is featured are Birdy Finch, Deborah Christy Love, Jill Irvin, Joshua O. Smith, Lenore Velky, Mary Rush, Sally Reeves, Sue Moning, Thomas D. Fleming and Zoe Reeves-Conway. The exhibit can be seen during regular library hours. 

Smith’s large-scale works will be on display at neighboring Rezzonico Family Park and can be viewed along a story walk. Stories have been installed next to each sculpture, some of which are interactive. This multidimensional aspect of the exhibit involved a collaboration with Camp Verde Parks and Recreation.

 “The library show establishes the Camp Verde Artists as a group, a unified source of artistic talent,” Rush said. “It is the beginning of creating a larger presence in the community and creating an arts scene in Camp Verde. This benefits both the artists and the community. The show solidifies our efforts of forward movement and growth as an artistic voice which is so vital to the general public.” 

The 10 artists whose work is displayed had never met prior to the show. 

“Meeting fellow Camp Verde Artists gives the artists a sense of belonging,” Rush said. “The exhibition provides the 10 artists in the show with a feeling of pride and satisfaction. Some have never shown their art before.” 

“I hope the 10 artists showing at this exhibit will gain a new appreciation for the group and one another,” Rush continued. “We can accomplish much more as a group than individually.” 

Rush said that the group and show will benefit the community by providing inspiration and new things for the residents to do in the community. The group plans to offer art classes as they continue to grow and expand. 

At one of the group’s meetings in March, library director Kathy Hellman, library manager Nicole Metz-Andrews and library specialist Carson Ralston spoke about the library’s support for the arts. Metz-Andrews stressed the importance of having art in a community and said that the library provides a great space to share that art. 

Artists 

Fleming works primarily in acrylic, oil pastels and chalk. He has been creating art since the early 1970s, doing commissions for professional and home offices in Texas. His career began when he won his high school art contest with an acrylic painting of New Zealand’s kea bird that he completed based on a photograph from a science book. He described his pieces as “warm with an Arizona motif.” 

“My passion is making old into new,” Smith said. He has worked in welding and fabrication and has built staircases, gates and fencing. 

Love has three acrylic paintings in the show and a card deck that displays inspirational words and her paintings. 

“I have always embraced my creative side,” Love said. “Mostly just because it brought more joy to my life.” 

She mostly paints nature and landscapes in acrylic. Her latest large project, which is also on display at the library, is a wisdom card deck featuring 50 of her paintings paired with guided messages. 

Reeves focuses on acrylic painting but also does semi-precious stone jewelry, silversmithing, clay art and photography. 

“I do think that because I’m a fifth-generation local of Camp Verde that I’ve always had a deep appreciation of the landscapes, history, wildlife, people and culture of the area,” Reeves said. “It’s all very inspiring to me and has deeply impacted who I am and the way I think about creating.” 

“The library show is a beautiful display and a delightful coming together of artists who never knew each other before they joined Camp Verde Artists,” Rush said. “Ten artists now know each other more than they did. As the show unfolds, more of our artists will go to see it. The awareness of each other will grow organically as the other artists witness the art of the 10 member artists in our debut show. This show is a perfect way for the artists to meet each other, helping to secure our group. This show is just the beginning of what the group can and will accomplish together.”