Sharon Sieben Paintings
Exhibited October, 2008

       The works of Mesa Art League board member Sharon Sieben capture the vivid vernal blooms of cactus and the peaceful autumnal reflection of the trees and towering volcanic rock formations that line Queen Creek. Some of her more whimsical pieces even celebrate death, with a "dia de los muertos" series including skateboarding -- even break-dancing -- skeletons. View a video about the artist and her work!

       Her art celebrates the beauty of the Arboretum and our surrounding Sonoran Desert - and it was a timely exhibit during the month of October, 2008, because of her interest in "dia de los muertos" motifs in her work.

       "The first time I painted two pieces for a Dia de Los Muertos show, it was such fun to create skeletons that were having fun," said Sieben. "It didn't take long to realize many onlookers felt the same way when viewing them. I am grateful to those who have taken the time to offer insightful bits of information about this important festival. The message seems to be: "Muertos is a path we will all take, so take time to embrace the many joyful people, places and festive events along the journey!" Painting these happy figures is part of my enjoyment along the way."

           "I began painting four years ago. Prior to that I was focused on children or career. I traveled frequently on my job and saw many places and people that I thought would be great subjects to capture on canvas, and made a goal of that. The urge was there - but 2004 was the year when the passion blossomed."

      "Since then I’ve been obsessed to create, experiment and share my work with others. It’s such a good feeling when somebody takes the time to look at and react to what I create. The Southwest provides an abundance of scenery, interesting people and glorious color. Boyce Thompson Arboretum, in particular, seems to capture the flavor of it all and is an inspirational gold mine of source material. It’s such great fun to set up an easel and just paint, or take photos for studio work later. There's so much to paint -- and so little time!"

      "To learn a secret that is hidden in plain sight, to discover something new that has always been there; these revelations are what I try to capture in my sketches and paintings. My goal is to share these experiences, but what is even better happens when a viewer finds something in my work that I did not realize was there -- another hidden secret!"

        Originals on display ranged in dimension from 12 to 36 inches. Prices ranged from $250 to $600. For details contact the artist by email at sasieben@cox.net or by phone at 480.219.1027. Check out her website at http://sharon-sieben.fineartamerica.com or http://ssieben.mosaicglobe.com

         Boyce Thompson Arboretum is located near Highway 60 milepost #223, just three miles west of the town of Superior - a drive of about one hour east of Phoenix or two hours from Tucson (take Oracle Road North to Highway 79 past Florence to Highway 60, then East for another 12 miles). Monthly exhibits may be seen in our Visitor Center gallery daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from September-through-April. Summer hours during May/June/July/August are 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Arboretum is an Arizona State Park and daily admission must be paid to enter the Visitor Center where the gallery is found. Admission is $7.50 for adults and $3 for ages 5-12. Annual memberships at the Arboretum begin at $45, and include a year's access, guest passes for your friends and family, along with many other benefits. A membership may be purchased in the gift shop on the day of your visit. Review other recent gallery shows by ...

Nicole Royse September 2008
Gila Community College Art July-August 2008
Judy Bottler Photography May 2008
Bob Estrin Photography April 2008
Mary Isham Watercolors March 2008
Susan Strom and Cathy Franklin Lightning Photography February, 2008
Arizona State Parks Plein Air Paintings January, 2008
Carolyn Gray & Connie Thomas December, 2007
Jean Sullivan November, 2007 Sue Cullumber October, 2007
Adriane Grimaldi September, 2007
Pima College print-making students July-August, 2007
Mesa Arts League June-July, 2007
Fred Charlton May, 2007
Paul Mudersbach March-April, 2007
Linda Kaiser February, 2007
Edith Kreueger-Nye December, 2006 - January, 2007
Cindy Carrillo October-November, 2006
Bob Rice September, 2006
Bud Heiss July-August, 2006
Mesa Arts League June-July, 2006
Sandy Tracey April-May, 2006
CJ Rider March, 2006
Jessica Green February, 2006
Steve Davidson January, 2006
Don & Carole Schupp December, 2005
Carolyn Gray November, 2005
Martha Burgess October, 2005
Boeing Photographers September, 2005
Lightning Lady Susan Strom July/August, 2005
Mesa Arts League June/July, 2005
Jeanette Bronson May, 2005
Tom Stanley April, 2005
Kathy McClure February-March, 2005
Pam Smyth January, 2005
Tina Faust December, 2004

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