ABOUT SVAC
 

HISTORY:

EXHIBITIONS:

In 1996 Nancy Robb Dunst, along with a handful of her artist friends met to discuss and share their artistic ideas, visions and processes.  The purpose was to pull artists together to develop a common bond.  This loosely organized group of visionaries laid the groundwork for our growth to almost 150 artists now known as the Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition (aka SVAC or the Coalition). 

The Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition became a 501c3 educational and charitable non-profit organization in 2006 and was profiled in the May 2007 issue of Sedona Monthly Magazine.

SVAC has sponsored many exhibitions since its inception which are open to all SVAC members.  Our Annual Fall Themed Exhibition is designed to push the artistic creative process and is a much anticipated event within the Sedona community.  Some past show themes include:  “Music of the Earth”, “Who Am I?”, “Unbounded…….Breaking Through Barriers Real and Imagined”, “Beneath the Surface” and “Blue”.

Past exhibitions include, two “Book Transformed” shows and two “Sustainable Visions”, shows at the Sedona Public Library.  In 2006 the “Behind Closed Doors” exhibition at the Sedona Arts Center, explored the subject of domestic abuse and recovery.

SVAC members participated in “Art in Public Places” events sponsored by the Sedona Arts and Culture Commission and displayed at City Hall.  The traveling exhibition, “Embracing time:  A Celebration Of Aging” was shown in Flagstaff, Tucson, Phoenix and Sedona.

For more information about current and upcoming Exhibitions please visit the Open Studios page or the Annual Exhibition page.

PURPOSE:

BENEFITS:

The purpose of the Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition is to create a supportive visual arts community which provides educational, exploratory and social opportunities.  This community of professional and emerging artists in Sedona and the greater Verde Valley area work in both 2-Dimensional and 3-Dimensional art encompassing many mediums and genres such as:  oils, acrylics, watercolor, fiber, wood, glass, clay, metal, photography, film, found objects, jewelry and mixed media.

A goal of the Coalition is to embrace community by pushing the artistic envelope and, thus, create a dialogue between the artists and the public.  To raise awareness, thought provoking themes for the annual Fall Show are chosen.  This provides both the artists and the public to view issues through many different perspectives.

Current members showcase images of their art work on their individual web page, which can include a link to their personal website.  To submit data for your individual web page, please see instructions & specifications under the JOIN page.

  • Participate in our annual Open Studios Tours and Exhibits
  • Have 2 of your images on our website with your contact information
  • Notification of meetings, programs, and other activities  
  • Opportunity to serve on any of our active committees
  • Network with other members in our dynamic organization

ACTIVITIES:

BOARD MEMBERS:

Monthly meetings are planned to share art work, techniques, opportunities, events and to provide a friendly and inspiring atmosphere for our members.  Meetings consist of a brief business segment followed by a 45 minute – 1 hour presentation on a topic of interest to the general membership.  There is also time to socialize and make new friends.

Two Annual Open Studios Tours (Spring and Fall) provide an opportunity for SVAC Artists to open the doors to their studios to the general public.  This event has grown from 29 artists in 2013 to 65 participating artists in the Fall of 2017.  It has been designated a Signature Event by the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and is attended by people from throughout the state and country.

The Annual themed Fall Show held at the Sedona Arts Center provides an opportunity for artists to creatively interpret a thought provoking or creative idea and share their art work with the public.

The Scholarship Giving Program was initiated to offer an annual scholarship to a graduating high school senior interested in pursuing a higher education in the arts.  

Some past SVAC activities include: Designing collaborative sculptures in the West Sedona Park, painting an “art car” for the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art Parade, representing artists on the

Sedona Arts and Culture Commission, presenting candidates for the Arts Forum to Sedona’s City Council and initiating and writing art columns in local newspapers.

President:                  Mike Upp          
Co-Vice President:    Laura Pokorny       
Co-Vice President:    Julie Ronning Talbot   
Secretary:                  Darleene Nelson                            
Treasurer:                  Julee Norton-Cohen

Directors:

Lon Walters
Patty Hoisch
Sheryl Leigh-Davault
Christie Palmer
Jackson Pierce

Committee Chairs:

Membership: Barbara Ragalyi......b.ragalyi@esedona.net
Website: Cher Norville.....cher@sedonaartistscoalition.org
Scholarship: Diane Phelps
Programs: Martin Hardy, Myrna Goldstein