Gourd and Mixed Media Artist Julie Hemer

A music major turned English teacher, Julie Hemer’s former side hustle was drawing pencil portraits, but she never felt “home” in the art world until she started working in 3D. Her gourd art and totems are veritable festivals of techniques and materials, such as hand-carved wood, turquoise inlay, cholla skeleton, fiber paste, hand-painted Hopi drawings, copper wire, designs drawn with a burn pen—the list is endless. Come see a master at work!

Copper Artist Ken Borchardt

Copper—it’s not just for pipes after all. Metal artist Ken Borchardt transforms copper panels with little more than a well-placed flame. Ken uses multiple torches; the closer the fire, the dark the color, while an extra millimeter of distance means an entirely different hue. When the artist adds a chemical reaction and some 3D texturing, then a powder coats to protect against oxidation, he transforms industrial metal into spectacular works of art, arrangements that can expand or contract to fit any space in any décor. Come hear how he does it!

Carefree Art Night Themed Event: Where the Wild Things Are

Where are the wild things? Many live in mountains. Enter Jerry, Terrie, and Marshall Locke, the family behind Mountain Sculpture Studios. Their “tablescapes” or double-sided mountain sculptures of Tiger Eye, Crazy Lace Agate, Rainforest Marble, Dendritic Jasper, Selenite, Travertine, Onyx, Calcite, Chrysocolla, and countless other sumptuous stones from around the world. The tight-knit family has devoted their lives to turning rocks into fine art, creating miniature landscapes for art lovers who want a little nature in their homes. Come hear their story!

Carefree Art Night Season’s Close Raku Ceramic Artist Alan Potter

Alan Potter doesn’t just like animals; he holds them in awe. That may be why he chooses to use the challenging medium of raku to create animal sculpture, instead of the more common pots. Raku artists put low-fired, molten-glazed pieces into canisters of sawdust which is ignited; the resulting vacuum creates some of the crackle, iridescence and mat finish so characteristic raku. Alan’s horses, donkeys, giraffes, cardinals, owls, and even Yetis holding balloons all bear his characteristic shapes and textures—and the fact that he has to maneuver pieces with tails and ears out of flaming containers just underlines his commitment to the (animal) form. Come chat with him about his work!