On July 16th, the Pinetop-Lakeside Chamber of Commerce presented the 23rd Annual Native American Arts Festival. The three day event showcased the work of outstanding Native American artists as well as award winning musi­cians and performers. The pre-show (shown above) took place at Hon-Dah Resort and Conference Center on July 16th and the event continued through­out the weekend at the Blue Ridge campus on highway 260.
Shown above are talented artists Melvin L. John (at top) who not only paints, but also works with reclaimed metal, my friend Don Whitesinger …

On July 16th, the Pinetop-Lakeside Chamber of Commerce presented the 23rd Annual Native American Arts Festival. The three day event showcased the work of outstanding Native American artists as well as award winning musi­cians and performers. The pre-show (shown above) took place at Hon-Dah Resort and Conference Center on July 16th and the event continued through­out the weekend at the Blue Ridge campus on highway 260.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Shown above are talented artists Melvin L. John (at top) who not only paints, but also works with reclaimed metal, my friend Don Whitesinger (middle) …

Auditions for three shows will be conducted at Northland Pioneer College’s Snowflake/Taylor – Silver Creek Campus Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Tuesday and Thursday, Aug. 24 and 26, from 6:30 to 10 p.m.
Eight men and three women are needed for Ag­atha Christie’s And Then There Were None, which will be directed by NPC student Jessica Keryne Davis. This murder mystery will be presented on the PAC main stage on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 5 and 6 as dinner-theatre, and Thurs. through Sat., Nov. 11 to 13 as show-only performances. …

On June 26th, the Arts Alliance of the White Mountains hosted the first an­nual “Put’n on the Ritz” fun-raising event, a sparkling evening of fun, wine, entertainment and support of our local art community. For more information on how you can help support local art, please visit www.ArtsAllianceWM.org.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In celebration of the National Day of the American Cowboy, the 5th Annual White Mountains Roundup featured cowboy poetry and music from national entertainers as well as local talent such as the White Mountain Saddle Band (shown above) and Chris Isaacs. The three day event also showcased local authors like Catherine Ellis, Kenneth Jackson, Jo Baeza, JoAnn Hatch, Gene Luptak, Jim Olson, Gary Holdcroft, Laurie Acree, Miles Gilbert and John McDonald as well as displayed the work of more than twenty artists with Steve Taylor’s Western Art Invitational.

The White Mountains …

On August 7th, the White Mountain Belly Dancers along with Veiled Enchantment will host their 4th Annual Summer Sultry Gala to benefit the women and children of the White Mountain S.A.F.E. House at Blue Ridge High School Auditorium.
“I would love to invite the public to come and join us for this event. The White Mountain Women’s Safehouse is a non profit group who takes in battered women and families. S.A.F.E. stands for Safety Against Fearful Environments. In this troubled economic time, we want to help an organization that is …

August
6 Visit Payson’s Artists of the Rim Gallery on Main Street for First Friday activities, browsing through the gallery and enjoying refreshments and music August 6 from 5 to 8 pm. Guest artist Sarah Reay McAnerny will show her representational art. Outside there will be a show of children’s art created with recycled materials such as pop cans and buttons from the Sonshine Club of the Payson United Methodist Church. 928-472-1159.
7 Awakening Earth Expo 2010: From 10 am to 4 pm, the Awakening Earth Expo will be held at …

photos by Rodgers and Birnbaum

On the weekend of July 9-11, the Mountain Meadows Recreation Complex in Lakeside was transported back in time during the annual Medieval Mayhem Renaissance Faire. This event had it all: royalty, live steel, music, dance and even the ever-friendly Captain Jack Sparrow. For more information, visit www.azmayhem.com.

 
Navajo County Fair & Rodeo. The first Navajo County Fair was held in the Snowflake-Taylor area 79 years ago when the county seat was located in the southern part of the county. Back in the 1930’s the County Supervisors decid­ed to move the county fair to Holbrook due to it being the county seat and its central location in the county. The fairgrounds and other facilities were built as a permanent location for the county fair and other events.
The Navajo County Fair and Fairgrounds are supported by the Navajo …

by Jo Baeza
In a recent interview on Show Low’s City4 TV Connect show, Wendy Koch­heiser asked Steve Taylor, Chris Isaacs and me, “Why should people attend the White Mountains Roundup of Cowboy Poetry, Music & Art?” It didn’t take me long to answer, “Because it is one of the best cowboy poetry and art events in the country.” There are only two other major cowboy poetry events in Arizona, in Prescott and Sierra Vista. Aside from that, you’d have to travel out of state to find cowboy entertainers and artists …