Carefree, Arizona
Big cactus and pointy plants are some of my favorite things.
Why we were there: Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival
When we were there: March 2021
How was the show: Honestly, this show wasn’t that great for us. Outdoor shows have a risk of bad weather and we experienced stormy weather for the first two days and the unexpectedly low 40 degree temps. (i.e. We had to go buy more clothes.) Maybe it was the low temps or maybe our work just didn’t fit the styles of the locals, but our sales we very low. We did sell a few amazing pieces, so those that did like our work went for the most dramatic selections. But, all-in-all, we need to think twice about doing this show again. I did meet some wonderful artists and made some connections for my other business, Studio Schlossberg, reminding me that it is not all about selling.
Where did we go: This is our first time driving west to a show. We welcomed the change of scenery on our trip and I discovered a love for very large cactus. Our first stop was in Tucson for the night, our airbnb was in a cute little mid-centry neighborhood and I would love to come back and explore Tucson more. On our way to Tucson, we stopped at the Road Runner Statue, made of recycled materials off of I-10 at a rest stop in Las Cruces, NM. We saw it on the side of the road and turned around to backtrack and visit. Who doesn’t do this when they see a giant road runner? In Tucson we visited the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum which filled all our needs on this trip for exploring the desert habitat, including visits with wolves, coyotes, and lots of huge cactus. We drove through Saguaro National Park to continue on our way to Carefree, AZ. The beauty of Carefree and the surrounding area is astounding. Large cactus, pointy plants, and huge boulders. On our way back home after the show we stopped at White Sands National Park and took a longer way home through the impressive Lincoln National Forest. I napped all the way through Midland, Texas ;-)
What is on our list for the next visit: Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home and desert laboratory.
Snapshots: Lots and lots of pointy plants!
