If anyone knows how quickly life can change, it’s artist and gallery owner Andrea Smith. In 2007, while living in Maui, Andrea suffered a double brain aneurysm. Andrea and her husband of 48 years, Gary, had lived in Hawaii for 30 years. But after the aneurysm, things changed, and the couple moved to Sedona where they already owned the Andrea Smith Gallery in Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. The gallery celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. “It took a brain aneurysm to get me to Sedona because I always said I’d never move here,” says Andrea, who grew up in Detroit and taught school for 10 years before becoming a full-time artist. “But now I love it.”
Andrea’s spiritual paintings and prints feature imagery such as mother and child, angels and cherubs, and even Egyptian royalty. (Andrea and Gary have traveled to Egypt at least 15 times.) Her work, along with paintings by her son, Hawaii resident Matthew Smith, figures prominently in the gallery. Their art hangs next to realistic paintings by artist Kurt Wenner and among sculptures of Buddha, Quan Yin and Ganesh. Glass cases display semiprecious jewelry. Andrea says the art in the gallery evokes a peaceful feeling – there’s even a “peace pole” decorated by Andrea in the sculpture garden in front of the space. “When you do something you love, you are peaceful,” says Andrea, who donned lavender nails and a pink headband during our conversation. “My paintings reflect peace because I love what I do.”
After the aneurysm and subsequent brain surgery, Andrea thought her paintings would be different, but that didn’t prove to be true. The imagery has stayed the same, though she is now painting on cow skulls too instead of just on canvas. Andrea works from her home studio, but she can be found in her gallery every first Friday of the month during the Sedona Gallery Association’s 1st Friday Gallery Tour. She also pens a weekly inspirational newsletter and her booklet, Enlighten Up, is sold at the gallery. “I’m really blessed,” she says. “My aneurysm was a gift. It taught me how to stay in the moment.” – Erika Ayn Finch. Photo by Deb Weinkauff.
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