Events: Arizona - Phoenix - Scottsdale

Thunderbird Artists, leading producer of award-winning fine art and wine festivals in the Southwest, is so excited for our first ever event in the East valley – the inaugural Gilbert Fine Art & Wine Festival. The festival will take place on December 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd, outside the Gilbert Civic Center, just minutes away from rapidly growing downtown. The event will feature 100 juried fine artists, a high-end boutique area, wineries pouring samples, live music and more!

The Gilbert Fine Art & Wine Festival will feature scratchboard extraordinaire, Paul Hopman. Scratchboard is a technique that dates back to the 19^th century and was primarily used in newspapers before photography was widespread. Scratchboard is a chalk-layered board with a thin coat of ink applied to the smooth surface. The artist takes a series of needles and removes the ink in a subtractive method. Color is then added with fluorescent chalks and inks to achieve a natural look. Paul specializes in drawing a variety of animals, from exotic to domestic and he has been widely commissioned for not only his amazing illustrations of wild animals but also endearing pet portraits. Each piece has unbelievable detail and transforms the viewer into the wild. Paul also donates a portion of all proceeds to the Wildlife Conservation Society.

In addition to Paul Hopman, the event will host juried artists from throughout the state of Arizona, United States and abroad.  There will be 2,000+ pieces of art displayed, including paintings in all mediums, batiks, copper, glass, clay, stone, metal and wood sculptures, unique jewelry, photography and more.  Patrons will have the opportunity to meet and converse with the artists during all three days of the event.

Patrons will also enjoy an extensive collection of domestic and imported wines. Sampling a good collection of wines, all in one day, permits patrons the opportunity to select the perfect wine for future purchase.  For $10, patrons receive an engraved souvenir wine glass and six wine tasting tickets. Additional tickets are available for $1.00.

The event will take place at the Gilbert Civic Center – 90 E. Civic Center Drive. The festival is open 10am to 5pm all three days and parking is free. Join Thunderbird Artists, Paul Hopman and other talented artists for the inaugural Gilbert Fine Art & Wine Festival!