Since Exposures International Gallery of Art first opened 30 years ago on Oct. 1 1996, the Sedona gallery has hosted special events where artists mingle with customers. This year’s festivities are extra special and will commemorate over three decades in business. “We’ve been celebrating every October for the last 30 years, and this event is going to be our biggest event yet. It’s going to be over the course of three weekends, and we’ll have three decades of artists joining us,” says Jennifer Garcia, the sales director of Exposures. “A variety of different artists, some locals, some from out of state, joining us from all over different mediums. We have painters, sculptors, jewelry artists, glass artists, wood artists, metal artists-a little bit of everything.”
Guests can look forward to six show days spread across three weekends in October. Exposures estimates a few hundred people attend each weekend. The annual event is something Exposures clients look forward to every year. Some even plan to visit Exposures up to a year in advance. Attendees can enjoy a lively atmosphere that includes food, drinks and opportunities to watch artists working. On the first weekend in October, attendees can watch local artist Kristin McDonald applying patina to her bronze creations in the outdoor sculpture garden. Painters including Greg Creason and Dale Terbush will paint live. On the second weekend in October, jewelry artist Bellarri will be in attendance – her first time at the event – and will also unveil a new collection at Exposures.
“What’s really special about the shows is giving an opportunity to the client to meet their favorite artists that created their artwork,” says Jennifer. “There’s a buzz that you can only experience by being here. We love that feeling, and we love the positivity, the energy that comes with it, and being able to facilitate that connection between clients and artists.” The events are a key representation of how Exposures was structured right from the beginning. “The main thing is that when we first opened the gallery, I realized that the business was not about the gallery. It was about the artists and the clients,” says Marty Herman, owner of Exposures. “The business is based upon that, and I believe the artists really liked it, and the clients really liked it.” − Teresa K. Traverse
