13 Nov Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour & Sale

Arizona’s largest and longest-running artist studio tour and sale, Hidden in the Hills (HITH), will take place during the last two weekends of November, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 17, 18 & 19 and November 24, 25, and 26, 2017. A signature event of the non-profit Sonoran Arts League, Hidden in the Hills features 174 artists in 44 studio locations throughout the scenic Desert Foothills communities of Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale.

Now in its 21st year, the free, self-guided studio tour offers seasoned collectors and art enthusiasts a rare chance to observe artists at work in their private studios, which are open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the six-day tour. Each studio has one or more guest artists who also display and sell their work. All HITH artists are Sonoran Arts League members, and several will be coming from different parts of the state to participate in the annual event. Many guest artists also set up to demonstrate.

Known for including both nationally-recognized and emerging artists, Hidden in the Hills attracts thousands of patrons who appreciate fine art and seek a variety of mediums, styles and price ranges. With the event taking place the weekends before and after Thanksgiving, the art tour also attracts holiday shoppers who want to find an original, unique gift.

Carlos Page is Selected as Directory Cover Artist.

A staple of the Hidden in the Hills event has been the four-color, glossy artist directory, which includes a comprehensive listing of participating artists with an image of their art, a large, easy-to-read map of the studios, and advertisements from participating artists and community art partners.

In May, participating artists were invited to submit original pieces for consideration of the artist directory cover during a selection process. More than 80 pieces of art were submitted, and the committee chose a striking, contemporary piece by Cave Creek artist Carlos Page to be the featured artwork on the directory cover. The untitled wall sculpture stands 59 inches tall, and it is 24 inches wide by seven inches deep. Modern in style, it is made of steel and a 200-year-old wood beam that Page reclaimed from a building in New York City.

“Choosing a featured cover artist was not easy, as there were so many terrific entries this year, but in the end, we were all drawn to Carlos’ stunning design and abstract form,” said HITH marketing chair Carole Perry, a glass artist who has opened her studio to patrons for all 21 years of the tour. “Carlos is a brilliant artist and a true visionary. He has an outstanding body of work, which patrons will have a chance to see at his host studio, along with the works of his guest artists, painter Michael McKee, jeweler Rollande Poirier and ceramist Myron Whitaker.”

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Page traveled extensively before settling in the United States in 1989 to pursue the study of fine art.  After an apprenticeship at a metal-works studio in San Francisco, he moved to New York City and graduated from a special honors program at Hunter College. At Hunter, Page focused on contemporary design and sculpture, creating functional and abstract pieces made with steel, concrete and wood.

In 2001, Page opened his first sculpture studio in Hoboken, New Jersey, just across the river from Manhattan. In 2014, he moved his studio to Cave Creek, where he works presently.

A grand part of Page’s inspiration has always come from the energy of the people and the places that he has encountered. His work reflects on the balance between the raw power of nature and the sophistication of the human experience.  

Page said he is honored to have his work featured on the cover of the HITH artist directory.

“I am thrilled to have been chosen for this year’s directory cover. I hope my sculpture resonates with people, no matter what their background. It’s a strong, rustic piece that blends my love of nature with my passion for architecture,” he said.

The Sonoran Arts League will begin selling the 21st Annual Hidden in the Hills artist directories for $5 in October. For more information, call (480) 575-6624, or visit www.HiddenInTheHills.org.

EVENT: 21st Annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour & Sale

As Arizona’s largest and longest-running artist studio tour, the 21st Annual Hidden in the Hills event will feature 174 artists who will exhibit and sell their work at 44 studio locations throughout Cave Creek, Carefree, and North Scottsdale. Artists are members of the non-profit Sonoran Arts League.

DATES: The last two weekends in November: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 17, 18 & 19, and Nov. 24, 25 & 26, 2017.

TIME: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

ADMISSION: A FREE, self-guided tour.

ARTIST DIRECTORY: The Sonoran Arts League will begin selling its popular four-color, glossy, collectible Hidden in the Hills artist directory in October for $5.

PLAN YOUR TOUR: Art enthusiasts can either custom-build their own map or download the Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour map from the League’s event website www.HiddenInTheHills.org.

INFORMATION: Call (480) 575-6624, or visit www.HiddenInTheHills.org. To learn about other Sonoran Arts League events and programs, visit  www.SonoranArtsLeague.org.

About the Sonoran Arts League

Based in Cave Creek, Carefree and N. Scottsdale, Arizona, the Sonoran Arts League is a non-profit, volunteer-based, arts service organization dedicated to actively advancing art, artists, and art education, affirming the belief that art and artistic awareness is essential to the well-being of life and the community.

The 750 members participate in community outreach programs, public art programs, youth mentoring and art education, as well as free veteran art programs and special art programs. Throughout the year, the League produces several popular events, including the annual Hidden in The Hills Artist Studio Tour and Sale, Sonoran Small Works Art Show, Sonoran Festival of Art, April for the Arts, and the Holiday Artisan Markets. In addition, the League partners with the Foothills Food Bank each year to support the annual Empty Bowls Project.  

By building strong partnerships with area towns, resorts and libraries, the League brings free art to the public. Art in Public Places programs include: The Gallery at el Pedregal and the Boulders Resort, the Desert Foothills Library, as well as the town of Cave Creek and Anthem, Arizona.

A new Center for the Arts at Cave Creek’s Stagecoach Village, where the League is headquartered, provides the public with opportunities to create art and learn new skills. The Center also facilitates art events, festivals, exhibitions, shows, group activities and art experiences, and free veteran and youth art classes, providing plenty of opportunities to “Be A Part Of The Arts.”