The 31 Women Artists exhibition has generated a lot of buzz and attendance by locals interested in art and art history. On Friday, January 17^th from 4 to 6 pm, art historian Mark Rownd will present a talk in the 31 Women Artists exhibition space at the Sedona Arts Center. For many years Mark has been conducting specialized research on Max Ernst and Dorthea Tanning centering around the time they spent in Sedona. He will present interesting stories about the art scene and Surrealism in and out of Sedona surrounding the mid 1940’s. Mark has also focused his art collection, some of which will be available for viewing, on works by noted female artists from that time period.

Surrealism was the prevailing modern art movement in 1943 when Peggy Guggenheim launched a special exhibition entitled Exhibition by 31 Women at her “Art of This Century” gallery in NYC. The Sedona Arts Center’s exhibition is anchored by works from Mark Rownd’s collection representing six of the artists in the original show from 1943 including Leonora Carrington, Dorothea Tanning, Leonor Fini, Hedda Sterne, Sonja Sekula, and Hazel Guggenheim.

Women are the unsung heroes of contemporary art, creating artworks and actively participating in all aspects of modern art from early on. This exhibition, timed to overlap with the Sedona Women’s March and Rally in January of 2020 is themed on the empowerment of Women and the diverse heritage of Surrealism.

Responding to an international call to artists over 220 women artists applied for the 31 Women Artists exhibition from 38 states and 8 countries representing work that has in some way been influenced by the surrealist movement. The scope of the exhibition is very diverse. Surrealist influence appears in abstract expressionism, process art, conceptual art, and various forms of magical realism and visionary art as well as collage, sculpture, assemblage, and photography that relies on evocative juxtaposition of various imagery.

Also open from January 17 to 19, is an exhibition in the adjacent Special Exhibition Gallery featuring art by local women who were not included in the juried show. The Salon de Refusee is an expression of the enthusiasm of local artists for the theme and content of the 31 Women Artist’s exhibition and features an additional 33 local artists. This exceptional exhibit is a tongue in cheek reference to the 1863 Salon Des Refuses art exhibit in France, where local artists—who later became famous (e.g. Degas, Monet, etc.)—were refused entry as their work was so different from mainstream traditional realism. 

On Saturday, January 18^th Sedona Arts Center will be the location for the beginning and end of the Annual Sedona Women’s March. Following the march that begins at 1pm a rally will take place in the Arts Center upper parking area with the speakers, food trucks and hot chocolate. The rally will feature Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, Mayor Coral Evans of Flagstaff and State Senate candidate Felicia French, as well as other speakers from local organizations addressing a variety of issues. The event ends at 5pm.

The final event of the 31 Women Artists Exhibition is the Curators Talk: 30+1: Dorothea Tanning, Sedona and Contemporary Art with Dr. Catriona McAra, University Curator at Leeds Arts University. Catriona is an international expert on women artists carrying forward in their work the influences of Surrealism. She will be visiting from England for this special event taking place on January 23 from 4 – 6pm. All events are free and open to the public. The last day to see the exhibition is Sunday, January 26, 2020.

• January 17, 2020, 4-6pm – Talk with Art Historian and Collector Mark Rownd
• January 18,^, 2020, 1-5pm – Women’s March & Rally – Sedona Arts Center Campus
• January 17 – 19, 2020 – Salon de Refusee in the Special Exhibition Gallery
• January 23, 2020, 4-6pm – Curator’s Talk, 30+1: Dorothea Tanning, Sedona and Contemporary Art with Dr. Catriona McAra, University Curator at Leeds Arts University

Sedona Arts Center is one of Northern Arizona’s most well-established cultural organizations and serves as the creative heart of Sedona. Founded in 1958, the nonprofit organization is based at the Art Barn in Uptown and offers year-round classes, exhibitions, festivals, and cultural events that enhance the creative life of the Verde Valley. The Center’s Fine Art Gallery, open daily from 10am to 5pm, promotes the original works of over 100 local artists and regularly offers special assistance for collectors and art buyers, offers private studio visits, and fosters hundreds of arts education opportunities each year.