As we get set for our final weekend for the Celebration of Fine Art 2009, we take a moment to reflect on what an amazing year it has been. We are deeply grateful that we have had such a successful year in all respects.

We are grateful to our wonderful artists who brought their best work and their most positive outlook to the 2009 Celebration. Every day they were turning out new works of art and challenging each other to reach new limits of creativity. We are humbled by their great talents and inspired by their creations. We applaud their artistic talents and passion and commitment to what they do! Without them, there would be no show, there would be no energy and there would be no creativity. They are the life force that that drives this show to higher levels every year. We are in awe of them. As you can see from this picture – we’re still having lots of fun around here! We couldn’t get everyone gathered for the picture, but these artists represent our entire collection of artists for 2009 – celebrating another great year!

We are grateful to our incredible staff. We have been blessed with an amazing group of people who are part of the greater Celebration of Fine Art Family. We have many staff members who have been with us for 5 years, 8 years, 10 years and even one who has been with us for 18 years! This is a true testament to what this show is all about – relationships. Our team members love being around the creativity of the artists and the warmth of the collectors. These wonderful people make the show hum like a well oiled machine. We are indebted to them. Here is just a small representation of our fabulous staff. We managed to get one from each “department” – cafe, maintenance, office, ticket sales and sales associates!

Representatives of the greatest staff on the planet!

And finally, we are deeply grateful to our amazing collectors. There are no words to describe how grateful we are to our fellow art lovers. Every year we strive to deliver a collection of artists that you will connect with, that you will be inspired by and that you simply can’t resist. Every year you tell us, through words and actions, that we have done just that! But, greater than that, we find ourselves overwhelmed by the deep and abiding relationships that we have developed with so many wonderful people. Our lives have been enriched through the many new friendships that we have fostered. We are humbled by the love and support of our fellow art lovers. We promise to continue to deliver a collection of artists that you will want to be a part of as we move forward.

We look forward to seeing you one more time this year if you can make it over the weekend or in 2010 as we celebrate 20 years of bringing art lovers and artists together.

with gratitude and joy,

Susan and Jake Potje

It is hard to believe that 8 weeks have passed since we opened our doors for the 2009 Celebration of Fine Art. Time has flown by. We’ve welcomed many first time visitors as well as long-time familiar faces. The common thread is we all love art! Every day we hear people saying “best show ever”!

The artists creative energy has been incredible. Every day new works emerge. I’ve included some photos of pieces that artists have been working on.

The first one is an amazing piece by Scott Rogers called “The Last Supper”. The piece is filled with detail on every face. It truly is something to behold. Stop by and see it before the show closes.

"The Last Supper" by Scott Rogers

This is a recent creation by Joseph Woodford. It truly pushes the limits of creativity in contemporary ceramics.  It’s over 6 feet tall.  You really need to see it in person!

Glass artist, Kevin Powers, working on a delicate vase

Martha Pettigrew taking a break from painting to work on a sculpture

Allen Lund blocking in a new landscape

Aaron Harker paints a commissioned work of art at the Celebration of Fine Art

The warm, welcoming smile of Graydon Foulger has been a fixture at the Celebration of Fine Art since 1991, the very first year of the show. His magnificent paintings greet visitors as they walk in the front door. There is not a day that goes by that he is not painting new works – large or small during the 10 week long event.

Color and texture are part of his signature in every piece that he creates. His thick textures can take weeks or even months to dry – we frequently have paintings hanging in our office at the show to help them dry. What a treat for us!

Graydon has been involved in art for as long as he can remember – drawing as a kid, taking art classes all through school and graduating from Brigham Young University in Utah with a BFA in painting and sculpture in 1967. He then studied in a master of fine art program and taught art as a graduate assistant. In 1966, Graydon studied with the European Art Academy, which provided him with the opportunity to learn in any of the museums and galleries throughout Europe. In addition, he has studied with several prominent artists.

Graydon resides in Utah, a state he enjoys painting for its diversity. He relishes plein-aire painting (on site) in all weather conditions, yet equally enjoys the challenges of studio work. His interest in a wide variety of subjects is served by traveling extensively in the U.S., South American and Europe. Graydon’s goal is to paint competent, honest, interesting paintings ranging from the subtle rendering to the colorful impasto.

It has been a pleasure to work with and watch Graydon over the 19 years at the Celebration of Fine Art. Along with a loyal and passionate clientele who return on a regular basis to see his new creations, he has the respect of many a fellow artist. He frequently paints on location – from Arizona to California to Mexico to France and beyond – with fellow artist friends. He is both the mentor and the mentee. His easy going personality and passion for art act as a magnet for anyone who loves art. Be sure to spend some time with Graydon on your next visit to the Celebration!