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‘The Shoulders We Stand On’ Opens at Wickenburg Art Center & Gallery

A new exhibition in Wickenburg is celebrating the artists who built the foundation of the local art scene: The Wickenburg Art Club – and the longtime members who have carried that legacy forward. The Shoulders We Stand On opens Friday, January 2 at The Wickenburg Art Center & Gallery and showcases artists who helped start the Wickenburg Art Club in 1965, along with artists who have been part of the organization for 10 years or more. In addition to fine art, the exhibit includes historical photographs and commentary highlights that provide insight into the founding and growth of the Wickenburg Art Club and its role in shaping Wickenburg’s creative culture.

“Isaac Newton once said, ‘If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,’” notes Pamela Plummer, Executive Director of Wickenburg Art Club. “The Wickenburg Art Club today is a culmination of all the artists and art that has come together over our past 61 years. Our newest exhibit, The Shoulders We Stand On, acknowledges, celebrates and spotlights those whose artistic inspiration and efforts have made the Wickenburg Art Club the cornerstone of Wickenburg’s art scene.”

WAC Founding Members 1964

WAC Gallery 1971

WAC Art Lovers 1973

How the exhibit idea took shapeIn an interview, Jo Lauterbach, President of Wickenburg Art Center & Gallery, shared how the exhibit began – starting with a simple realization that many of the earliest artists who helped establish the Wickenburg Art Club aren’t widely known today.

“I remember thinking, there are probably a lot of older artists we don’t even know about – and we’re here today because of what they started. So why not create an exhibition that features those original artists, whether they’re still with us or not? That’s how this got started.” Jo also credited Cindy Salazar with the exhibit title – a phrase that captured the spirit of the entire show. “And the name – that was Cindy Salazar’s. She came up with ‘The Shoulders We Stand On,’ and it was perfect.”

The exhibit also arrives at a meaningful time, reflecting on the resilience it took for the organization to continue through challenging seasons. “There were moments this place almost went away. After COVID, leadership stepped up and gave us what I call a lifeline to where we are now. This exhibit reflects the artists who made the Wickenburg Art Club what it is.”

'Just A Couple Of Studs' Oil Painting by WAC Member Marian Koegele

Crater Lakes - Photography By Jiene White

Paso Fino Lady - Oil by Sandra Derau

Donald Vance's Hamburger, Fries & Pickle (Made entirely of Wood!)

Dates, hours, and artist receptionThe Shoulders We Stand On runs Friday, January 2 through Saturday, January 24. The public is invited to view the exhibit during regular gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Artist Reception: Saturday, January 10 | 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Location: Wickenburg Art Center & Gallery, 188 S. Tegner, Wickenburg, AZ Whether you’re a longtime supporter of the arts in Wickenburg or visiting the gallery for the first time, this exhibition offers a rare chance to see the art – and the history – that helped shape the community’s creative identity. A quick note on the Art Club and the Art CenterThe Wickenburg Art Club is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is housed inside the Wickenburg Art Center & Gallery facility on Tegner Street. The Art Club is dedicated to encouraging and exhibiting creative works of art, and providing a fellowship venue for artists, craft persons, and friends of the arts. The organization serves more than 200 talented members, representing a wide variety of mediums, from its office, studios, and gallery

Wickenburg Art Center & Gallery – 188 S. Tegner St., Wickenburg, AZ 85390 | (928) 684-0483 | Tues–Sat 10am–4pm

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