So Jerome turned out to be sorta cool, if you like to cruise local artists, with creations of all kinds from prints and ceramic, to textiles and glass and a lot in between. About half the place is falling apart it appears, the other half or so is either renovated or in process. Quite a few structurally dubious buildings that appeared to be inhabited, scarily enough. Lots of Harleys driven by visitors. I didn't see anything but (well, two ancient looking Hondas that I'd guess were actually residents or employees of shops, but hey). Used to be 15K or so residents during the height of copper mining activities which peaked in the 1920's. Sort of a Hippie revival started in the 60's and 70's. Hard to imagine in such a relatively small area. "America's Most Vertical City" and "Largest Ghost Town in America". I usually think of a ghost town being unoccupied, but, with a grand 450 current residents, it most certainly is not, small as it is. But, nice and funky and old, with less pretension than those shops in Tlaquepaque, I think.
More info for the curious: http://www.azjerome.com/default.htm
Bought my first piece of art (after much searching during the year), an ultra cool photo print by Tom Narwid of a slot canyon called Antelope Canyon. Abstract looking formations in close. Hard to describe. See his site below for more info. And he mans his gallery himself, which is great because he was fun to talk to and made me an offer I could not refuse on his print. If I'd had more $$, I would have bought more (so hard to decide! Not my strong suit anyway), but this my inaugural purchase, so I didn't want to get too crazy. If you are ever in Jerome, visit the American Landscape Gallery. The day I we were there,
Check out his gallery online:
http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/american-landscape-gallery.html
Also, check out Phil Timper's work, at the Artist's Coop, for "digital media" art, which I liked a lot (nice site, btw):
http://www.jeromeartistscoop.com/artist_timper.html
His personal site is also particularly nice: http://www.philliptimper.com/pt_high.html
This is the sort of digital non-representational work that looks like it might be easy to throw together on a computer (like so many things the art neophyte thinks are possible with a mere flick of the tablet), but oh, SO is NOT! Obviously personal taste here, but, you know who you are out there.
I was sorely tempted by "Doesn't Match My Couch", the title of which made me laugh out loud (anyone who has studied art in any way will understand), and "Bagpipe Innuendo." The titles are a whole fun by themselves, I thought.
Afterwards, alas, the trip ended early with a big 'ol raging funk. Me in the decidedly unhappy crosshairs. The more things change, the more they stay the same. My interstate vacating karma had slid suddenly and precipitously into the dark side. So, goodbye AZ. Apparently, our semi-dead lawn is contributing a lot of bad Feng Shui to my life...then seeping into the house from outside and hitching a ride into another state. Sounds serious, doesn't it? Is that even possible? Who knows. Glad I'm not superstitious.
