La Mina

La Mina, Superior, AZ

We are less than a week until Christmas. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.  Yes, I say Merry Christmas, because, well, I am that sort of person!

I took a personal day from work today.  It is a take them or lose them sort of thing.  Sunday, Liz and I went to Queen Valley to do some target shooting. Unfortunately we were not the only ones that had that idea and we could not find a place to set up. Being adaptable as we are, we headed to the Silver King Saloon in Superior and had a few drinks and an order of their famous loaded fries. Continue reading “La Mina”

Disaster averted.

Model Railroad at the Superstition Mountain Museum

Today will be a mixed bag.

First, I have to give a shout out to MochaHost, my web host.  My site was down and I did not even know it until I attempted to access it.  I won’t bore you with technical crap, but an updated plug-in that automatically backs up the website was incompatible with the version of PHP3 that my version of Word Press was running on. Continue reading “Disaster averted.”

Omens

Shrine on the 60 headed into Miami, AZ

Arizona summers are brutal. Two weeks ago, we lost a local who decided to go hiking at Second Water in the Superstition Wilderness. He has not been found. The official search has been called off.

From July through September, we take sanctuary in our air conditioned houses and local drinking establishments. The studio is inhospitable.  With no new art or photographs to share, I have little to share here.

Continue reading “Omens”

Apache Jii

Well, the great thing about living in the desert is the weather. The bad thing about living in the desert is the weather.

From June until September, we tend to hide indoors. We in the East Valley enjoy the lack of the winter visitors, which we call Snowbirds.

As our temperatures creep below 105°F our winter visitors creep in. But we also welcome the events that make this state the Great 48. Continue reading “Apache Jii”

Superior


This past weekend, tired of being housebound in 100+° heat, I suggested to Liz that we take a day trip to Superior.  Superior is 2,888 feet elevation.  Apache Junction is 1,722 – and that 1,000 feet make a difference.

The cloud cover added to the cooling effect of the elevation, and it was pleasant all day as we walked the streets of Superior, and stopped into the Silver King Smokehouse and Saloon. Best pulled pork this side of the valley! Continue reading “Superior”

Feeling Superior

Last weekend we attended the Mining Festival and burro races in Superior, AZ.

Superior is a town that has had its ups and downs.  Many times a ghost town, Superior is rising again.

The day’s events included a parade, live music, a beer garden, food tents and more.

We arrived early to get some photos before the crowds arrived.  We visited our favorite gallery, ate some fresh handmade donuts, listened to the music and had lunch at the Silver King. Continue reading “Feeling Superior”

Feeling Superior

Town Hall Superior AZApache Leap swerves as the backdrop to this old Arizona mining town.  Founded in the late 1870’s, Superior was originally named Queen, due it’s proximity to Queen Valley and the Queen Creek.

Later it became Hastings, and in 1902 it became Superior, after the Lake Superior and Arizona Copper Company.

The Magma mine (also the Silver Queen), and later the Silver King mine depleted all of the silver. The mines changed hands, just in time for copper to become king.

The copper industry supported the town for years. Superior has had its ups and downs following the trends of the copper industry. Continue reading “Feeling Superior”

Friday Night Shift

Friday Night Shift Friday Night Shift
Oil on Canvas, 24″x30″

Everyone needs a safe haven, a place where everybody knows your name.  “Friday Night Shift” is the latest in my American Bar Series of paintings.

Captain’s in Apache Junction is my home away from home. Captain’s, where you may one day see someone ride his horse through the bar. Captain’s, where you might see the owner dancing on the bar. Captain’s, where Mary one day took a sledge hammer to her credit card machine, and since then has been cash only. Captain’s, with the coldest beer on draught in Apache Junction. Continue reading “Friday Night Shift”

Alone

Alone
Oil on Canvas, 36″x36″
$800.00

Behind a building at the Goldfield Ghost Town in Apache Junction sits a decrepit 1950’s vintage International Harvester pickup truck.

I was wandering off the beaten track at this well known tourist attraction when I stumbled onto this gem. In its former life, this IH served as a fire truck. The original painting will be on display at my show in December at One-oh-One in Mesa.