Scottsdale Gallery Association Hosts Holiday-Themed Gold Palette ArtWalk

The Scottsdale Gallery Association presents its last Gold Palette ArtWalk of the year on Thursday, December 9 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Held in conjunction with the City of Scottsdale’s monthlong Scottsdazzle holiday extravaganza, the ArtWalk invites art lovers to take in the sights, sounds and merriment of the season as they peruse through participating galleries.

Held within Scottsdale Arts District — stretching along Main Street from Scottsdale Road west to Goldwater Boulevard and on Marshall Way north of Indian School Road to Fifth Avenue — the holiday-themed Gold Palette ArtWalk features live strolling carolers filling the night air with classic holiday tunes, a visit from Santa Claus and ample opportunities to find just the perfect gift to put “under the tree” for those art aficionados on the list.

“We love how Scottsdazzle brings the festive season to life all month long for our residents and visitors,” says French Thompson, president of the Scottsdale Gallery Association and owner of French Designer Jeweler located in the Scottsdale Arts District. “Hosting our holiday-themed Gold Palette ArtWalk in conjunction with this event allows us to really get into the spirit of the holidays — and we encourage all our guests to do the same!”

In addition to live musical performers by traditional strolling carolers and Santa’s guest appearance, attendees can enjoy treats and sips offered by individual participating art galleries as they “check off” their seasonal shopping lists. Participating galleries featuring artists’ receptions and their own holiday celebrations include:

Altamira Fine Art Scottsdale 

7038 E. Main St.

The gallery presents a new exhibition for New Mexico Artist Alvin Gill Tapia from Monday, December 6 through Saturday, December 18. During the ArtWalk, the gallery is hosting a special artists’ reception from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Gill Tapia’s art is a reflection of his past, a descendent of generations of New Mexican ranchers and roots that trace back to Madrid, he believes sacred spaces envelope visitors in a sense of peaceful belonging; he captures this in his paintings of Southwestern religious structures and architectural abstractions featuring themes of calm and quiet suffused with love and light.

Bonner David Galleries

7040 E. Main St.

On the evening of the ArtWalk, Bonner David Galleries unveils Michael Carson’s Social Studies exhibit, which will remain on display through Monday, December 27. Through his exhibit, Carson showcases a rebirth of social gatherings in a post-COVID world. Depicting couples entering society again, dating, going to restaurants and attending live music events, Social Studies represents activities that were once second nature before the pandemic through his loose, impressionistic brushstrokes that capture expression and body language of figures reentering the world.

On the Edge Gallery 

7077 E. Main St., Ste. 1

During the ArtWalk, On the Edge Gallery features artists Jonathan Harmon, Sheila Kollasch and Shelly Taylor who will be on-hand to meet guests and discuss their works. Harmon creates intricate spontaneous pieces using ink and metallic powders with layers of “unintended effects” which he follows and accentuates as part of the artistic process. A native Arizonan, Kollasch has enjoyed a vibrant relationship with the desert since she was a child. Her pieces serves as reflections of that relationship, her childhood adventures and explorations. Taylor’s passion for unique jewelry design is evident in the comfortably elegant pieces she creates that are made up of thousands of tiny beads, semi-precious gemstones, crystals, hand-blown glass and metal beads. Constructed with the ancient Japanese Kumihimo braiding technique, each piece can be worn effortlessly yet makes a beautiful statement.

The Signature Gallery

7177 E. Main St.

During the ArtWalk, The Signature Gallery features an opening reception with artist Randy O’Brien who will showcase his newest volcanic rock vessel collection, “Ceramics on Fire.” The works displayed in this collection are created with 40 layers of a volcanic ash and metallic oxides mixture, then slowly fired to render a “crusty” appearance, a process that takes six weeks to complete. Each vessel possess a distinctly three-dimensional surface, with no two pieces exhibiting the same patterns.

Quantum Art, Inc.

7077 E. Main St., Ste. 16

Guests are invited to enjoy holiday refreshments during Quantum Art, Inc.’s “Very Merry” reception, which debuts in conjunction with the Scottsdazzle-themed ArtWalk. Featuring a celebration of great art and Scottsdazzle with “the original crazies” — John and Jacque, the show runs through January 31, 2022.

Van Arsdale Arts

7077 E. Main St., Ste. 14

Guests are invited to enjoy a “LEGENDary Holiday” event with former NBA All Stars Tom and Dick Van Arsdale. Tom and Dick will offer autographed tee-shirts that boast positive healing messages of sportsmanship and caring as well as each of their original artworks that make a great holiday gift.

Each Gold Palette ArtWalk takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and presents the finest art in Old Town Scottsdale throughout 28 galleries and two museums — Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. From 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. during the Scottsdale Gallery Association’s weekly Thursday evening ArtWalks, presented in partnership with the City of Scottsdale, the Scottsdale Arts District offers free trolley rides to various restaurants, museums, galleries and more throughout Old Town Scottsdale. For more, visit www.scottsdalegalleries.com.