On July 1, a new session began in the SAAG Gallery. Last month we introduced our newsletter readers to four of our newest gallery artists. Here are three more.

Sandra Johnson Krause

Sandra creates miniature paper collages on wooden panels. Her typical sizes are 3.5 x 2.5 inches and 4 x 1.5 inches. Most depict landscapes, skylines, interesting buildings, and private homes. Her process includes using Gelli printing techniques to create many of the papers she incorporates into these whimsical pieces.

"I am self-taught," said Sandra. "Over the past year I have received awards in several juried exhibitions, including an Award of Merit from the Tubac Center for the Arts, First Place at the Tombstone Gallery, and the People's Choice Award at United Gallery, to name a few."

"My real journey started in August 2024, when my sister encouraged me to take a collage class at The Drawing Studio in Tucson," she continued. "She had taken it herself and thought I would enjoy it. She was right. I started creating large skylines, but things really took off when I randomly made a tiny collage of my daughter's house. After that, it became the tinier the better! I still create a few larger pieces, but my passion is the tiny ones."

Sandra says she is still quite new to the art world, so she joined the Guild for the camaraderie and inspiration.

"During a Meet & Greet, Diane Loving encouraged me to apply to the gallery. I did a little research and decided it would be a wonderful place to show my work—and here I am!"

Cecilia Ojeda

Cecilia works with fused glass and enameled copper, two highly complementary mediums she combines in her studio, NOOPOH. Both require extremely high temperatures, creating fascinating physical reactions that make every piece unique.

"There is no repetitiveness in my design process," said Cecilia, "which is the part I enjoy most. I begin by cutting and arranging glass elements into designs that combine many different colors and shapes. Sometimes my designs represent natural elements such as mountains, cacti, sunsets, or stylized animals of the Sonoran Desert. More often, I create abstract, geometric designs with a whimsical quality or a three-dimensional effect."

Once her design is complete, Cecilia places the piece into a kiln programmed to approximately 1,400 to 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The firing process is slow, often taking about 24 hours from heating through cooling. Both stages must occur gradually at carefully controlled rates to prevent cracking or fracturing. She finishes each piece by adding dimension through woven or attached copper wire.

"My art education began with my fascination with museums around the world from a very young age. My particular focus on glass is the result of unforgettable visits to London's Victoria and Albert Museum and the Corning Museum of Glass in upstate New York."

"The actual journey of creating with glass using my own hands began in earnest three years ago with timid attempts to make very small pieces just to see what the kiln would produce," she shared. "I have had some very patient tutors who have guided my efforts."

The Navajo (Diné) people of northern Arizona, New Mexico, and beyond have a blessing that has always resonated deeply with me and reminds me of the SAAG Gallery:

"In beauty I walk.

With beauty before me I walk.

With beauty behind me I walk.

With beauty above me I walk.

With beauty below me I walk.

With beauty all around me, I walk."

"The Gallery reminds me of the Diné wisdom. To be part of a space that promotes beauty, creativity, and cooperation is a true gift."

Melinda Kane

The name of Melinda's studio is The Pink Saguaro, where she creates desert-themed artwork using acrylic on canvas and gouache on paper.

"I am inspired by the Sonoran Desert, and I love vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes," she explained. "Most of my paintings are based either on my own photography or on photographs people send me of Sonoran flora and fauna that excite them."

Melinda is a self-taught painter, although her mother is an artist and she has taken art classes over the years.

"I've loved art my whole life, but my current journey began when my toddler was a baby. We did only contact naps, so while she dozed, I drew and painted on my iPad. That grew into what I create today."

As an artist, Melinda says she loves the community aspect of SAAG.

"There are so many opportunities, gatherings, conversations, and just ART. It's been a goal of mine to join SAAG and be represented in the SAAG Gallery for several years, and 2026 felt like the right time to put myself out there and find my place in this creative community. There's so much for me to learn, and so much growth on the horizon. I can't wait to see where it takes me!"

www.thepinksaguaro.com

“Time After Timme” by Sandra Krasue.

Don't miss the Artistry in Fiber Exhibition at the Tucson Botanical Gardens

The Artistry in Fiber exhibition at the Tucson Botanical Gardens is running now through September 6, 2026, showcasing unique decorative and functional fiber works created by members of the Tucson Handweavers & Spinners Guild (THSG).

“Strong Intentions” by Peggy Rubin.

Among the show's artists are SAAG members: Lawrence Peters, Cris Crichton, Corinne Babcock, Linda Dewey and Caryn Stedman.

The public is invited to the opening reception which takes place on August 23 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Admission is free to the Gardens during the reception. You may register to attend at www.tucsonbotanical.org, but it is not required.

Artistry in Fiber is a vibrant collection of work produced by members of the Tucson Handweavers & Spinners Guild. THSG artists work in a diverse range of fiber arts, including weaving, dyeing, basketry, and felting, to create one-of-a-kind decorative and functional pieces.

THSG is a fiber arts community founded in 1973. The Guild offers study groups and workshops in weaving, spinning, dyeing, felting, knit, crochet, basketry, beading, braiding, and stitching. Guests are welcome to the monthly meetings held at Unity Church, which feature programs on the fiber arts. The Guild’s annual show and sale, Fiber Arts Tucson, is held in October.

Fiber Art Bowl by linda Dewey.

SAAG Artist Tracy Ann Holmes Opens Solo Exhibition at the Tucson Jewish Community Center

Congratulations to SAAG artist Tracy Ann Holmes, whose solo exhibition, Meditation & Metaphor: Ceramic Sculptures & Watercolors, will be on display August 20 through September 27 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road.

A Tucson-based artist with more than 25 years of experience, Tracy creates expressive ceramic sculptures and luminous watercolors inspired by the beauty and resilience of the Sonoran Desert, as well as her faith, family, and the shared experiences of women. The exhibition showcases both her sculptural work and selections from her colorful Sonoran Desert Life Series, celebrating the plants and wildlife that surround her Arizona home.

Visitors are also invited to enjoy several special events during the exhibition, including an Artist Talk and Children's Art Activity on August 27, a Watercolor Quail workshop on September 4, and a Reception on September 24 from 6:00–7:30 p.m. The reception will also feature a Circle of Women Collection Drive, benefiting local women's aid organizations by collecting essential items for women and families in need.

Tracy's artwork is represented at the SAAG Gallery, Absolutely Art, Tohono Chul, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and her Etsy shop. We encourage all SAAG members to visit the exhibition and help celebrate this wonderful accomplishment by one of our talented Guild artists.

https://www.tracyannholmes.com/

Art, Identity and Connection Come Together in "Playful, Practical & Political"

What happens when science, abstract art and social advocacy intersect? The answer is Playful, Practical & Political, a vibrant new exhibition of mixed-media abstract works by Oro Valley artist Kellie M. Hazell.

The exhibition features 17 bold, colorful pieces woven together by flowing, neuron-like lines that evoke both scientific imagery and human connection. Rather than depicting literal anatomy, these organic forms become visual pathways through playful concepts, practical ideas and contemporary social issues, inviting viewers to discover their own interpretations.

A highlight of the exhibition is Hazell's Pride Kintsugi series, created in recognition of Disability Pride Month. Inspired by the Japanese art of kintsugi—the practice of repairing broken pottery with precious metals—the works incorporate vibrant Pride flags intertwined with shimmering golden lines that celebrate resilience, identity and healing rather than conceal imperfections.

The exhibition also marks the debut of a new line of greeting cards featuring the Pride Kintsugi artwork. A portion of the proceeds from card sales will benefit a local LGBTQ+ organization, allowing visitors to take home a meaningful piece of art while supporting the community that inspired it.

Before turning to art and writing full time, Hazell spent more than two decades working in clinical research administration. Today, she draws upon that scientific background to create visually compelling works that explore the intersection of biology, identity and the human experience.

The opening reception will include light appetizers and an opportunity to meet the artist while experiencing this thought-provoking collection in person. The public is invited on Sunday, July 19, 2026, from 4-6PM. It all takes place at the Overlook Restaurant at the Oro Valley Community and Recreation Center 10555 North La Cañada, Oro Valley, AZ 85737

Peggy Rubin won the Talent Prize in the Teravarna Art Gallery International Art Gallery for her piece titled "Strong Intentions." This piece is a bold abstract that conveys confidence through decisive shapes, layered forms, and a harmonious balance of earthy greens, warm ochres, and crisp whites. The painting invites viewers to find their own path through its intersecting lines and architectural spaces, suggesting that purpose and direction often emerge from complexity rather than certainty.

Peggy also received an Honorable Mention for ther work titled "Going Well," also with Teravarna Art Gallery. "Going Well" celebrates the beauty of forward momentum, where vibrant colors, layered textures, and fluid lines come together in a composition that feels both spontaneous and purposeful. Peggy Rubin's abstract invites viewers to embrace the idea that progress doesn't have to follow a straight path—sometimes the most rewarding journeys unfold through unexpected connections and joyful discovery.

Peggy has a feature story in Desert Leaf this month. Click Here to read it.

Chris is currently working on a project with local graphic designer Elisa Ng from El Design Studio to develop a set of products to promote Oro Valley. Chris, seen above, has had a great time staging these, including growing out his beard for the photo above.

SAAG member Chris Grey.© Sarah Morreim Photography

Pictured to the Left "In The Spotlight" by Chris Grey.

"Making a Splash" by Theresa Poalucci.

Theresa also recieved Honorable Mention in Grey Cube Gallery's 2026 COLORS show. Pictured below, the 4 paintings were chose from 91 artworks from all over the world. To see the whole show clck here. Pictured from left to right: "Desert Kaleidoscope," "Emotional Frequencies," "Chromatic Currents" and "Cathedrals of Stone."