LAKE HAVASU CITY – Did you know that during the turn of the century, Arizona and the Southwest had several emerging female artists? Last week the Lake Havasu Community had the opportunity to learn about the journeys of these incredibly historic women.
The New Women/New Lives: Arizona Early Women Artists discussion was Tuesday, January 6 at the Lake Havasu City Library. This free event was brought to Havasu by Arizona Humanities.
The nonprofit organization welcomed Arizona State University Professor and Curator Dr. Betsy Fahlman. A scholar of Arizona art history, Fahlman is an expert of the Southwest and early Anglo women artists.
Fascinated by the pioneers, Fahlman is using their stories as subjects of a book she is currently writing about western female artist from 1900 to 1945.
Diverse circumstances brought many of these early artists to Arizona. Some of these painters and photographers wanted to explore peace and seclusion in some of the state’s most scenic landscapes.
Other creators dived into Native American cultures which made some question ongoing colonist stereotypes. Overall, many of the artists were attracted to the west because of its representation of freedom and adventure.
Several of the artists discussed at the event were inspired by nature and their involvements were life changing as new women in Arizona and the southwest.
One of the artists discussed was photographer Laura Gilpin.
The Colorado native was inspired by the works of famous printworker William Blake and began creating photography books of her own. During Gilpin’s European travels, the photographer became very well versed in art history. Her experiences there enhanced her pride as someone of western American culture.
Gilpin went deeper into this interest by visiting the Navajo reservations in Red Rock Arizona. Today, Gilpin is regarded as one of the greatest platinum printing photographers.
Her work can be viewed at museums all over the world as well as at the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona. Another artist Fahlman shared with us was Spanish Painter Mabel Alvarez.
Alvarez was a student at the Arts Students League of Los Angeles at a very young age. She is well known for her large mural for the Panama California Exposition in San Diego.
The mural earned her a gold medal. Her style was spiritual in nature and in 2001, Alvarez’s paintings were featured at an exhibit in Mission San Juan Capistrano in California.
Famous painter Helen Henderson Chain was also introduced. This painter who was also an art instructor, loved the outdoors of the southwest and often painted on location.
She was also a mountaineer and painted beautiful national parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite. It was shared that Chain was the first woman to paint the Grand Canyon.
Several other artists of the era were discussed as well how they enriched the southwest with their unique talents. Arizona Humanities brings education to communities so that they can celebrate historic topics that make Arizona so distinct.
Phaedra Veronique
