Yavapai News

The city of Sedona, Arizona is set to host an artist reception on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Council Chambers and Vultee Conference Room in City Hall. The event will showcase paintings by Ed Buonvecchio and photographs by Terry Shoulders, which will be on display until September 4, 2024. Jazz musician Erroll Foldes is also scheduled to perform.

Buonvecchio's exhibition, "Between ME & AZ: A Painter’s Journey," chronicles his experiences as a painter living in Maine and Arizona. His career began as a graphic designer, art director and illustrator in New York before he established a freelance business in design and illustration in the 1990s. After relocating to Arizona in 2004, Buonvecchio was inspired by local artists to pursue fine arts.

His artistic journey led him to paint murals for the Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium in Litchfield Park and the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Goodyear. Artist Michael Cunningham mentored Buonvecchio, guiding him through his first series of ten abstract cat portraits that won third place in the oil painting category at West Valley Art Museum’s “Celebration of Artists” exhibition.

Buonvecchio served on the City of Goodyear Arts and Culture Commission for two years and was the Master Artist for the West Valley Arts Council’s “Gallery 37.” He later moved back east and joined the Plein Air Painters of Maine where he honed his skills for plein air painting. In 2021, he returned to Arizona where he continues to paint desert landscapes.

Shoulders' exhibit, "A 65 Year Retrospective," features images captured over many years across Southwest and West landscapes. He began his photography career after high school when he took photos for a local newspaper in Vincennes, Indiana. After attending art school in Chicago and apprenticing at a commercial studio, Shoulders opened his own commercial photography studio in 1971. His work has been featured in numerous galleries from Carmel, California to Taos, New Mexico and Sedona, Arizona.

Arts and Culture Specialist Nancy Lattanzi expressed her excitement for the upcoming exhibit. "Ed’s paintings bring back fond memories of my trips to Maine. He masterfully captures scenes from coastal life to rustic cabins in the woods, as well as Sedona’s magical terrain. Terry’s large photos are beautifully shot with such skillful compositions that instantly engage," she said.

Viewings are available by appointment only. For more information on the City Hall Art Rotation Program or to schedule an appointment, contact Nancy Lattanzi at (928) 203-5078 or nlattanzi@sedonaaz.gov.