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Show Feature 20 The Rafters Gallery - Where the Southwesfs premiere artists have been coming out of the woodwork SOUTHERN UTAH NEWS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 6, 2003 come in. He knows each one of the glass. Enthusiasts feel a By Rachel Tueller Live music and laughter welcome visitors as they enter the cafe. The sounds are issued like an open invitation to follow; past the dining room, up the stairs at the back, and enter The Rafters. The local art gallery, with an easy atmosphere and balanced lighting, rests just above the Rocki ng V Cate on Center Street in Kanab, Utah. Here, quality works of art are neatly showcased in an open rustic space dubbed The Rafters by owners Victor and Victoria Cooper due to the ex posed wood beams overhead. VVorks featured at The Rafters are not entirely homegrown, though local communities do provide the largest talent base and all artists represented share a common thread - a love for and connection with the deserts of the southwest. When the Coopers first conceived of the notion, they never dreamed the excitement would spread like wildfire. It was a simple attempt at Feng Shui, to provide patrons with a flowing, comfortable atmosphere while waiting for seating at the cate. But the idea, and the space, quickly evolved from a waiting area to what Victor calls, an oasis of sensory stimulation. As a professional cameraman, Victor Cooper has always field a great appreciation for the arts, par- ticularly pliotography. As a local resident and businessman, he believes strongly in supporting area talent. He walks the room and studies each piece as they the artists, their story and history personally, and helps viewers make the same connection. Though the Coopers were surprised by the response of artists and patrons alike with sales in July totaling 24 pieces in 27 days, in some ways the sales are a sticking point for Victor. On any given night while visiting the gallery, Victor may be seen lead-in- g patrons excitedly through the Cooper collection. But the gleam in his eye, the hesitation in his voice, and the white knuckles he works to detach from each piece, are tell tale signs that he quickly forgets the pieces are, in fact, for sale. From the live music to the mixed mediums, Victor believes the gallery is a great example of the 70s poster titled simply, Expose Yourself. The Coopers simply enjoy creating and providing a space where people can enjoy something different. Art is what you like, said Cooper, its very personal. Thank God we dont all like the same thing. Featured art works vary in medium and style from plaster, wood, tin, and metal, in mat, sculpture and other formats. From his Alton, Utah home, photographer Gary Alan develops breathtaking scenes in black and white. The lighting ofAlans photographs casts long shadows on stark toweri ng wal Is ofGrand Canyon, while Anasazi dwellings and rock art raise up from framed mats and seem to touch strong pull to Alans works that, worth a thousand words, speak of a love and respect for the land and nature; The only thing that comes close to matching remnants of yesterday is to rediscover them once more in the developing tray of my darkroom as a N ative American rock dwelling or pioneer shack come back to life intensified by their contrast of black and white, enhanced by subtle shades of gray. House Rock Valley artist Si mone Sellin invites us to experience a vibrant, natural world, rich with life and color. From the brilliant, towering walls of Vermilion Cliffs, and unnamed rapids that glimmer with moonlight in the Grand Canyon, to ancient, hidden canyons that beckon at dusk from across desert floors. Selims use of bold, lively colors lends to her distinct flare and artistic view; art is fun and should not take itself too seriously. Not limited to one medium alone, Sellins art forms include rustic tin, Mexican art, colorful paintings, and masks. Her utilitarian art pieces are prized possessions that serve as a staple in an arsenal of gear, or as decorative domestics, adornments and reminders oflands and people alive with color. Moab-base- d Serena Supplees on location works are crafted from watercolors, oils, and Japanese wood cut block prints. Suppllees images offascination reflect enchanted journeys on sage-cover- ed IIXIIXXIIX IXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXIXXXXXXX j j Weve got a little more room for you j Get your ad in the 51215X1 5M Color Edition of the SUN and the Legends Program for 12 the regular color ad cost! Dont miss out on this chance to be seen by everyone vvho attends Kanabs biggest event! Call the SUN at 644-290before its too late! NEWS 0 rIIIIXIIIXXIIIIIIIII , . ? i: m n;:ln ::tr 7 : n 1 Carla Powell entertains guests in The Rafters, an upstairs art gallery at the Rocking V Cafe. the Colorado Plateau and the Grand, from its canyons and rims, to the thundering river and the tiny rafts below. Artist Sid Hadeans Birds of a tured recently on Los Angeles, Californias KNBC prime time show, the Travel Cafe. Admission and visitation to the gallery is open and free to Feather, a wood and metal sculp- the public during regular ture, leave the viewer with an ad- hours. Located at 97 West miration ofrefined handcraft skills Center Street in Kanab, Utah, and Candice Sweets pastel water-col- the Rocking V Cafe is open in canyons bring even sweeter summer months from 11:30 or reverieofwarmsummerdaysspent a.m. to 9:30 p.m. until Octoin exploration and wonder of these , ber when hours are slightly significant landscapes. Other artists work their wonder through the use of other formats. Kanabs Cathryn McCormick uti- lizes ink and clay, Raphael DePeyeFs works are natural abstracts, and Tom Forsythes photography collection proves thought-provokin- g and captivating. H Regional Utah artists include H sculptures by Alan Polzin, Salt in M Lake City, partial-glyph- s Tom stone Moabs Wesson, by N N H N Ui - tS scaled back for the winter. Catch the live music of Kathy Urpani (guitar and vocals), Tonia Brown (violin), and Victor Gotshalk (guitar), along with other featured talent at The Rafters most Friday and Saturday evenings 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., but feel free to browse the arts anytime during regular cafe hours. Check out the cafe scene, view the menu, and learn more about The Rafters gallery and oil and acrylic paintings from artists at www.rockingv.com Jane Kolbaska, Mount Carmel, and Ordervilles own 70 year old artist Hamilton Teichert with Blitz topped with a cold, smooth scoop stuff mom, N his Western paintings and cowN boy poetry. Continued from Page 7 include N Native Imports N American art, Navajo sculptures attempt delivery again, but deM and Kachinas by Benny Fowler, cided against. It wouldnt be in N retablos by New Orleans native good form to poison the minister Mejia, and the photogra- and her husband. (There might H Cyrus of producer, director Chris even be serious points lodged N phy Brock of Dallas, Texas. against you for that). N Patrons are not required to Hey guys, Ive got a treat for N dine at the cafe to view the art or you, I called out, trying to make N enjoy the music at The Rafters, the best of my predicament. I made an extra quiche. M but many are enticed by the saNo thanks mom, thats been deserts like vory homespun choco-late in the refrigerator a few days, N Chocolate Ganache a rich sweet said one. made of cake bitter N You know I dont like veggie Belgian chocolate and cream, N H of vanilla bean ice cream or the W M said another. Thanks anyway. Like I said earlier, I possess tangy pastry, Key Lime Pie, even Florida residents rave about. noble intentions....its just the Patrons also seek out Vickys spe- follow through thats the cial Carmel Pecan Cheesecake, fea- V |