Yuma Fine Arts hosts two shows Friday

A new show at the Yuma Art Center measures "Three by Thirty-three."

Dedicated to artists who call Yuma home, the show opening Friday will feature three pieces of art from 33 of Yuma's best artists.

"We have some truly gifted artists in Yuma and this is a wonderful chance to celebrate them," said Carolyn Bennett, executive director of Yuma Fine Arts. "Part of our mission is to support local artists, as well as regional and national artists. This is our way of giving local artists a venue, a forum."

"Yuma Artists Annual 2009: Three by Thirty-three" kicks off Friday with a reception at the Yuma Art Center, 254 Main St. The reception is free and open to the public.

The event will run from 5 to 7 p.m., serving two other art shows as well. Also opening Friday is a show dedicated to French artist Jean Rougeron and a show featuring works by the North End Artists' Co-op.

Bennett said Yuma's art lovers are truly in for a treat with "Three by Thirty-three."

"This is the best show we've had in the years we've been doing the Yuma Artists Annual. It has some really wonderful work. I would say it's also a third larger than last year's show and that feels good. We had so many people who submitted artwork."

The art featured in "Yuma Artists Annual 2009: Three by Thirty-three" will be on display in the art center's central gallery, which is the building's largest gallery. The art will remain on display through the end of the year.

"I believe this is some of the best art in Yuma," Bennett said. "There may be people out there who didn't apply, but once they see how wonderful the show is, they will submit their work next time."

Most pieces displayed in "Three by Thirty-three" will be for sale, although a few works will be from private collections.

Yuma Fine Arts' other show features works by Jean Rougeron, a French-born artist, director and filmmaker who lives in Yuma. Rougeron and his wife, Dawn, own Channel 1 Yuma.

Rougeron has created his own genre of art, which involves painting on photographic negatives.

"Artists have tried to do this for many, many years. They haven't had good results, but this man has," Bennett said. "This is truly a unique art form that he has developed."

Rougeron's show will boast 101 pieces, all which will be signed.

"I like to explain what I like and what I do through my pictures," the artist told the Yuma Sun. "This art is for me. I need some food like that and I like to express myself like that. It is my soul food."

WHO ARE THE 33?
Sandi Antonacci
Armen Avetisyan
Patty Barak
Adair Bentley
Janice Barnes Boyd
William F. Butler
Molly Brauhn
Thomas Cabral
Marjorie R. Cates
Ellen Cohen
Amy Crawford
Steve Embry
Lorraine Fielding
Sara Gardner
Andrea Maria Garza
Rosemary Hawkey
Deanie Holbrook
John Hoskin
Mary Jean Klingenberg
Patty Lachance
Lia Littlewood  
Angel Luna
Michael J. Obney
Judy Phillips
Naomi Pullen
Gene Richison
Masako Robbins
Christopher Neil Smith
George Tomkins
Neely Tomkins
Angeler Tripajayako
Linda Willets
Larry Yanez

Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.