A CURATED COLLECTION OF INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS
6 imagesarizona.com August/September 2023 Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7, Carefree, AZ | 480.575.8080 | GraceReneeGallery.com Hours: Tue.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. By appointment Sun. and Mon.
Grace Renee
Gallery is a refreshingly beautiful way to explore fine contemporary art in the breathtaking shadows of the Sonoran Desert
foothills of Carefree, Arizona. Couture fine jewelry, inspiring sculptures, spectacular wall art, stunning ceramics and more await.
Left clockwise: Cathy Hegman, Figure with Dove, Acrylic on Canvas, 50” by 45”
Keneth Peloke, Found My Way, Oil on Wood Panel, 60” by 48”. Martin Blundell, Red Rock Cottonwood, Oil on Canvas, 20” by 24”
7 imagesarizona.com August/September 2023 Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7, Carefree, AZ | 480.575.8080 | GraceReneeGallery.com Hours: Tue.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. By appointment Sun. and Mon. CONTEMPORARY ART + FINE JEWELRY CAREFREE ARIZONA
Left clockwise: Gabriela Aguilo, From Bloom To Fade V, Encaustic Painting on Walnut Panel, 24” by 24” John Bell, Sky III, Oil Painting on Wood Panel, 19” by 19”. Cathy Hegman, The Beekeeper, Oil on Canvas, 24” by 24”
PPhoenix is known for many things: its perpetually blue skies and warm temperatures, its stunning desert landscapes, its vibrant culture filled with Native American and Mexican influences and its spicy Sonoran cuisine. But for architecture buffs, the Valley of the Sun offers another attraction: a plethora of midcentury modern homes and buildings.
According to the National Register of Historic Places, Phoenix has the second-largest concentration of midcentury modern architecture in the country. Its California neighbor Palm Springs comes in at No. 1. Both cities have attracted visionary architects who created sleek residences and innovative commercial structures that embraced the sunny environment.
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Arizona Biltmore
MID-MOD DESTINATION
The first non-Native settlers arrived in what is now Phoenix in the mid-1800s. Some of the city’s most historic buildings were constructed during those early years, including the Queen Anne Victorian-style Rosson House, the Spanish Revival-style St. Mary’s Church and the art deco Luhrs Tower.
The arrival of architect Frank Lloyd Wright in the late 1930s brought with it a new aesthetic — a more utilitarian one that embraced sleek lines, minimalist decor and a connection to the surrounding natural environment. As the city continued to grow, especially following the end of World War II, residents and local architects fully embraced this design movement known as “midcentury modernism.”
What exactly is midcentury modern design? A response to post-war optimism and the fussy styles of the art deco-jazz age that included tufted furnishings; chintz, floral and plaid fabrics and wallpapers; and wall-to-wall carpeting.
Midcentury modern homes, on the other hand, showcased a more orderly, stripped-down look. Clean lines and sharp angles, concrete floors, floor-to-ceiling walls of windows, open floor plans, and the use of organic materials such as stone and natural wood, were defining elements of the era. The emphasis was on functionality over ornamentation.
From the 1940s through the ’60s, neighborhoods filled with low-slung midcentury modern homes began to pop up around the Valley. Eye-catching businesses with dramatic rooflines and expansive glass fronts lined the main streets. Innovative construction materials, such as precast concrete, breeze block and modular components, became commonplace.
By the 1970s, midcentury modern design had fallen out of style, replaced by planned communities filled with ranch houses and street after street of identical-looking beige faux-Pueblo — and later faux-Tuscan — homes. But recent years have seen a resurgence in the demand for the midcentury modern look. Luckily, many of these original structures survived and have been carefully restored to their former glory.
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Writer Rebecca L. Rhoades
MASTERS OF DESIGN
The leader of the Valley’s midcentury modern movement was Frank Lloyd Wright. In the late 1930s, the architect built a winter home in what was then the middle of nowhere — 26 miles from downtown Phoenix, in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains. Known as Taliesin West — named in concert with his home and studio in Spring Green, Wisconsin — the residence also served as a place to train his apprentices.
Wright and his students built the home by hand, using rocks and sand culled from the surrounding area to ensure that the structures looked as though they were an extension of the desert floor. Mixed with concrete, the stone composite became known as desert masonry. It is used on the exteriors of virtually every building at Taliesin West, and it became a characteristic element of Wright’s Southwest designs.
During the next 20 years — the architect passed away in 1959 — Wright designed and constructed multiple buildings throughout the Valley. Some are private homes; others are open to the public.
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Frank Lloyd Wright’s First Christian Church Phoenix Financial Center
Two of the most easily accessible structures are Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium at Arizona State University and First Christian Church in Phoenix. Considered by many to be the crowning jewel of ASU’s Tempe campus, the auditorium, which seats more than 3,000 people, features 50 columns that frame the glass-walled lobby. It was one of Wright’s final projects. The church was commissioned in 1949 but not built until the early ’70s. It is defined by its towering roof spire filled with stained glass and a dramatic freestanding stone-and-concrete bell tower that appears to be floating above the grass.
The Price House, located on Tatum Boulevard just north of Lincoln Drive, was built in 1954 as a winter retreat for Harold and Mary Lou Price, who just two years earlier had commissioned the architect to create the now-famous Price Tower in their hometown of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. At 4,500 square feet, it is the largest Wright-designed dwelling in Arizona with seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and a large central atrium with a fountain, fireplace and open skylight. The house occasionally is opened for corporate and charity events, as well as public tours.
While the Arizona Biltmore hotel is often credited to Wright, the extent of the architect’s involvement was limited. What is known is that Albert Chase McArthur incorporated Wright’s textile block construction — precast blocks with a geometric pattern made on-site from desert sand — resulting in an appearance that echoed many of Wright’s residential designs.
Future renovation would play up the hotel’s connection to Wright. A large stained-glass window designed
by Wright and fabricated by Taliesin students was installed in 1973. It greets visitors near the front entry. Reproduction “sprite” statues, also designed by Wright, dot the property. Officially, the complex is recognized as a collaboration between Wright and McArthur, a former draftsman at Wright’s studio.
Architect Ralph Haver is best known for designing modest tract homes from the 1940s to the early ’80s. His signature midcentury modern dwellings — known as Haver Homes — are characterized by their low-slung single-gable roofs, floor-to-ceiling and clerestory windows, and patioports, covered patios that connect the carport to the main house.
A number of “Haverhoods” remain scattered throughout the Valley. Some of the most popular include Marlen Grove in midtown Phoenix, Windemere in Arcadia and the Town & Country communities in Scottsdale and north Phoenix. These darling neighborhoods are chock-a-block with Haver Homes that have been meticulously restored or updated with contemporary design features. Brightly colored front doors, mature foliage and vintage cars add to the picture-perfect appeal.
Originally built as affordable starter houses, Haver Homes now fetch upward of $1 million.
Another architect whose Valley residences command top dollar is Alfred Newman Beadle. Inspired by Bauhaus and greats such as Mies Van Der Rohe, Beadle designed homes and apartments, including the only case study home outside of California, the Triad apartment complex on North 28th Street.
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Two of Beadle’s most well-known works are the landmark 21-story Executive Towers complex and White Gates, one of the city’s most Instagrammed architectural sites. Nestled at the base of Camelback Mountain, surrounded by contemporary McMansions, the tiny ultramodern box is defined by its white ellipsoid bris-soleil. It has never been lived in and, sadly, now sits abandoned. Next door is a similar white Beadle creation, the Uhlmann home, which has been lovingly rehabbed to showcase its characterdefining breeze block walls.
INNOVATION ON DISPLAY
Of course, these three masters are just the tip of the modernist iceberg that is Phoenix’s architectural legacy. Adding to the design landscape is Bennie Gonzales, an Arizona native whose work merged modernism with regionalism. Some of his signature details were parabolic arched windows and doorways and glass-tiled roof canales. Gonzales is best known for his work on the Scottsdale Civic Center and Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Paradise Valley.
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Hotel Valley Ho
A Haver House in Marlen Grove
Al Beadle’s White Gates
Blaine Drake was one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s original apprentices. He built hundreds of houses across the region, but his largest work was the Unitarian Universalist Church at 40th Street and Lincoln Drive.
On the commercial side, some must-see buildings include the Phoenix Financial Center on Central Avenue. Designed by Peruvian architect Wenceslao Sarmiento, a student of Oscar Niemeyer, the eye-catching complex consists of a curved tower and two rotunda buildings. The glass rotundas are wrapped in sweeping parabolic arches that call to mind the arched designs of Niemeyer and Broyhill’s famed Brasilia line of furnishings.
The Valley National Bank building, now a Chase bank, at 44th Street and Camelback Road is fronted by a forest of concrete dendriform columns. The whimsical shapes recall “Alice in Wonderland’s” magic fungi or the Seussian baobab trees of Madagascar. Architect Frank Henry was inspired by the mushroom-shaped columns of Wright’s Johnson Wax Headquarters. The curved main building is clad in a stone and concrete finish, echoing Wright’s desert masonry. Henry later went on to teach at Taliesin West.
Across town, the 300 Bowl and the Western Savings building are two of the city’s most unique structures. The 300 Bowl, also known as Bowlera, features a dramatic three-point Googie-style roofline, while the circular Western Savings building, also designed by Sarmiento and used for many years as a Souper Salad restaurant, is known for its funnel-like roof structure that’s reminiscent of a crown roast. Today, the building is home to a gun store.
Modern Phoenix is a local organization that’s devoted to celebrating and preserving the area’s midcentury architecture and design. Its website is a treasure trove of information, from profiles of architects to stories and photos of buildings long since demolished. And each year, the organization puts on Modern Phoenix Week, the Valley’s answer to Palm Springs’ Modernism Week — which includes lectures, visits to architectural studios and the always popular home tour.
modernphoenix.net
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On Track For Success
The
part of what keeps her going and she says that her two brothers, sister and mom, who passed away in 2021, have been instrumental in all she does.
She ran cross-country, indoor and outdoor track during her undergraduate studies at Ohio Wesleyan University and eventually found that her love of teaching and coaching went hand-in-hand. She’s continued her training throughout her life, competing in many road race challenges and four marathons, including the 100th running of the Boston Marathon, which her late mother attended to cheer her on.
When DeReese was introduced to the sport of triathlon — which consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run — she immediately loved it. Since then, she has completed multiple half Ironman competitions and two full Ironman races in Panama, Florida and here in Phoenix.
DeReese, with the help of a dedicated team of coaches and volunteers, has created and nurtured a competitive and fun program that won runner-up at the Deer Valley Unified School District Track and Field Middle School Meet in March of this year.
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LLeft, right, left, right — the feet of the Boulder Creek Middle School Track and Field team stay diligently on the path, arms pumping and minds focused.
team members represent all the Boulder Creek High School feeder schools and are coached by Diana DeReese, a triathlete, marathon runner, Gavilan Peak teacher, wife and mom (not necessarily in that order). Family and faith are a huge
Writer Shannon Severson // Photography by Loralei Lazurek
Boulder Creek Middle School Track & Field coaches Diana DeReese (left) and Erika McDonald (right) have created and nurtured a competitive and fun program for fifth- through eighth-graders of Boulder Creek High School's feeder schools.
The no-cut seventh- and eighthgrade team’s junior varsity and varsity divisions compete in nine running events and four field events — including long jump, high jump, shot put and discus. The athletes learn 13 track and field events before choosing their favorites. Fifth- and sixth-graders also train for and learn all events and have a mock meet at the end of each season. A celebratory team potluck also brings everyone together at the conclusion of the season.
For DeReese, running is more than a sport, it’s a tool for overall well-being and connection — one she is excited to share with her young athletes.
“I started running in sixth grade in Kirtland, Ohio after my dad had unexpectedly passed away,” DeReese recalls. “Running became an outlet that I quickly learned I had a passion for, but never realized how greatly it would impact my life.
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My middle school and high school coaches made a significant impact on me, teaching me not only about the sports of cross-country and track, but balancing studies, sports, family and life activities.
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Diana DeReese
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Boulder Creek Middle School Track & Field coaches Diana DeReese (second from right) and Erika McDonald (far right) are building a foundation of runners for the Boulder High School Track Team coached by Zach Walling (far left) and Tom Clarke (second from left).
Having run cross-country, indoor and outdoor track during her undergraduate studies at Ohio Wesleyan University, Diana DeReese continued her training throughout her life, competing in many road race challenges and four marathons, and now coaches Boulder Creek Middle School Track & Field.
“My middle school and high school coaches made a significant impact on me, teaching me not only about the sports of cross-country and track, but balancing studies, sports, family and life activities.”
DeReese and her coaches Erika McDonald, Marwa Morsi, James Devere, and Jeff DeReese are not only building a foundation of runners for the Boulder High School Track Team coached by Tom Clarke and Zach Walling, but also a lifelong sport that gives athletes future opportunities in college and a sense of accomplishment, teamwork and healthy habits that will stay with them for life.
Practices held at the high school enhance familiarity and make for a much smoother transition for athletes entering their freshman year. Many middle school athletes have had great success at the high school level.
“Anthem is unique in that we have a single community with several feeder schools and one high school,” Clarke says.
He points out that, with the many challenges facing today’s students, sports provide the chance for youth to develop numerous success skills. When allowed to develop their running acumen at a younger age, they develop a passion for the sport early and can contribute to the high school team with a depth of experience.
“Coaching these athletes is very rewarding,” Clarke says. “It has been really special to work with Diana to build a connection between our middle and high school athletes. It has already been a positive influence in our community and schools, but we look forward to continuing to grow these programs for our kids.”
dvusd.org
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Writer Joseph J. Airdo
EEarlier this summer, Images Arizona invited its readers to share photos of their expeditions and adventures, eager to see where the road has taken them. From our state’s majestic mountains to its relaxing lakes, the resulting submissions prove that Arizona is home to some of the best summer livin’ on Earth.
We hope that this month’s photo essay reminds you that while our state’s summers can be scorching, they also provide the perfect excuse to explore and experience all that Arizona has to offer. A short road trip in any direction will take you to surreal landscapes, peaceful waters and jaw-dropping rock formations.
Try your hand at paddleboarding, go fishing in a lake, ascend the highest peak, float down a river in a tube or simply lay down and take a nap surrounded by nature. There are plenty of opportunities to live life to its fullest around Arizona — and summer is the absolute best season to do so.
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SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS TO IMAGES@IMAGESAZ.COM OR TAG #IMAGESAZ ON INSTAGRAM FOR POSSIBLE PUBLICATION IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE.
“There is just something magical about water in the desert. Nature is my therapy and I am happiest outside hiking, climbing or paddle boarding. Kelly Hahs
Saguaro Lake // Photo Courtesy of Kelly Hahs on Instagram (@kelhahs)
We recently visited Guano Point on the West Rim of the Grand Canyon with family in town. My 15-year-old son Mason wanted all of us to hike to the top of the rocks but we were exhausted from a day of ziplining and visiting different lookout points. He went to the top to grab the best view and catch a look at the Colorado River, which made his day.
Vanessa Weaver
Camelback Mountain is one of my go-to hikes in the Valley. It is always a good workout to climb this mountain. I love the outdoors and I am always drawn to mountains. They always remind me that we all have our own mountains to climb in life. If you get tired, rest; but never quit. Just keep going. You will overcome these mountains someday.
Caren Mitchell
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(@miskey.outdoors)
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(@weaverpinephotography)
Camelback Mountain // Photo Courtesy of Caren Mitchell on Instagram
Guano Point
Photo Courtesy of Vanessa Weaver on Instagram
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I live about three miles from Watson Lake and it is a regular hangout of mine. Photography was something I have always been interested in but did not have the time while working. After retirement, that is where I spend most of my time. I love landscapes and nature photography — and the Prescott area is home to some of the best of both. Bob Luken
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Watson Lake // Photo Courtesy of Bob Luken on Instagram (@rluken)
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Rye // Photo Courtesy of Luis Lopez on Instagram (@shotsforthetop)
Willow Springs Lake //
Photo Courtesy of Arrem Lei Yanez on Instagram (@arremsdaytoday)
Horseshoe Reservoir // Photo Courtesy of Paul Adea on Instagram (@hiking_padawan)
Sedona // Photo Courtesy of Joanne Brown on Instagram (@jojo_living_life)
29 imagesarizona.com August/September 2023 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. #7 Carefree, AZ 85377 | gracereneegallery.com
I was sitting on my back patio in Scottsdale, hoping to get some good bird photos, when this little guy showed up on a cactus. I wondered why he chose such an uncomfortable-looking place and took the picture of him before he changed his mind about the location.
Don Powell
THE WILD BUNCH
Our readers are not the only Arizona residents who have been enjoying some fun in the summer sun; our furry, feathered and scaly neighbors have also been doing so. Fortunately, we live in an area that makes it possible for them to visit us as we embark on exploratory hikes of our desert surroundings, enjoy dinner on our backyard patios and even gaze out the windows of our air-conditioned homes.
As the sun began setting, I waited for that perfect light with no hot spots and gorgeous color. I followed this one little owl all over Scottsdale Community College’s burrowing owl habitat and finally said out loud, ‘Please just land a little closer to me’ — and he did. I audibly squeaked and he looked right at me. I took my shot and it was my favorite of the day.
Kelly Conrad
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Scottsdale // Photo Courtesy of Don Powell
Scottsdale
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Photo by Kelly Conrad
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Calderwood Butte is surrounded by open desert; so we have a large variety of wildlife, which includes coyotes, great horned owls, bobcats and — one of my favorites — chuckwallas. I hide behind some rocks up on the side of the butte and wait. During one of my most recent outings, I discovered that the male chuckwalla was not alone. I saw a little body come creeping up the side of the rock. I particularly love that the baby chuckwalla seems to already be imitating the behavior of the adult, perched up on the top of the rock to claim it as his own.
Sue Welter
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Calderwood Butte Trail // Photo Courtesy of Sue Welter on Instagram (@susan.kayimages)
HHidden beneath the red dirt, rugged boulders and scrubland of creosote and mesquite, are mineral and gem deposits to be discovered by the most intrepid seekers. The story of these precious resources are part of the history and character of Arizona, responsible for the rise, fall and sustenance of towns, industries and natural resources. Many are also prized for their perceived healing properties.
Gem mining in our state dates back to the mid-19th century. The earliest settlers came in search of gold and silver, but copper and gemstones soon became the dominant quest for pick, axe and drill in the early 1900s.
The notable gems detailed here are peridot, amethyst, turquoise and ant hill garnet, but obsidian, fire agate and quartz crystal are also notable for their proliferation and cultural significance.
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Writer Shannon Severson
Copper // Photo by Gerson Repreza on Unsplash
KING COPPER
As “The Copper State” is but one moniker of Arizona — and one of the five Cs that school children still learn about as the industries that drove our early economy — copper remains a vital resource. It was first mined by the Hohokam, Sinagua and Anasazi Native American tribes who used the malleable mineral to fashion jewelry and tools and use for trade. In 1540, near what is now Nogales, the Spanish established the first recorded copper mine in Arizona.
By the early 20th century, mineral patents were granted to mining companies and large operations were established. The Phelps Dodge Corporation became a driving force in the state’s copper industry and developed enormous pit mining operations in Bisbee, Morenci and Bagdad.
This ultimately led to the development of modern mining technology and techniques, which can still be observed at the ASARCO Mission mine near Sahuarita. It’s the only public tour of a working copper mine in the area and also has a free exhibit center, video theater and cactus garden. A one-hour bus tour takes visitors to the open pit mine’s rim and gives them a glimpse inside the grinding mill building.
The Arizona Mining Association is an excellent resource for mine tours, museums and mining exhibits. Copper is still a very much in-demand mineral and is vital to the state’s economy as Arizona remains the top producer of copper in the United States.
The city of Bisbee is the spot to see where a mine’s boom and bust formed a town that is now a prime tourist destination. The Copper Queen Mine (1880–1975) can still be toured. In sum total, that mine produced approximately 8 billion pounds of copper, along with smaller amounts of gold, silver, zinc and lead, among other minerals.
The Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum offers a comprehensive overview, created in concert with the Smithsonian museums.
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Copper // Photo by Tjflex2 on Flickr
Bisbee Copper Mine // Photo by Mia and Steve Mestdagh on Flickr
azmining.com copperqueenmine.com bisbeemuseum.org
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Gem mining in our state dates back to the mid-19th century. The earliest settlers came in search of gold and silver, but copper and gemstones soon became the dominant quest for pick, axe and drill in the early 1900s.
CASTLE WONDERS
Fluorescent and phosphorescent minerals were probably indistinguishable to early miners. But with blacklight, the colors are revealed. How does it do that?
According to Castle Dome Museum CEO Allen Armstrong, it all starts with small impurities in the rocks that serve as activators for the collision of protons and electrons; calcite, fluorite, scheelite, willemite, barite, hydrozincite, aragonite and selenite are activated when hit with black light. The proton collisions in this former silver galena mine continue for up to an hour after the lights go out.
“It looks like a starry night,” Armstrong says of the Hull Mine’s massive 50-foot-high chamber. “It’s like you’re in the Milky Way. Even the sand you stand on is glowing. [Ours is] the most colorful wall on the planet; like a big kaleidoscope that reaches up as far as you can see.”
Founded by Arizona’s first citizen, Colonel Jacob Snively, and William Ehrenbergy in 1864, Castle Dome City and mining district lies just outside of Yuma at the base of Castle Dome Mountain. It was first used to mine gold and silver galena and spans more than seven miles, with 300 patented mines and a full ghost town that was home to 4,000 people back in 1878.
The town holds 80 buildings — including five saloons, a church, banks, mercantiles, a shower house and an operational stamp mill that was used to crush thousand-pound rocks. During World War II, 9 million pounds of silver galena was pulled out by the Holmes brothers and the area was mined until the late 1970s when falling silver prices made the endeavor unprofitable. The entire place is a piece of national history and a geological marvel.
“A lot of people go into the mine and say it’s the most beautiful thing they’ve ever seen,” Armstrong says of the glowing chamber 100 vertical feet below ground, discovered in 2017. “There are only three walls like this in the world but the others have only three colors. It’s a mind-blower. These are minerals they had no use for at the time and there are rare earth minerals they didn’t know about.
“The mine is big enough to drive through and even has a blacksmith shop inside. We paved it with 250
Fluorite // Photo by Tjflex2 on Flickr
Aragonite //
Photo by Hadley Paul Garland on Flickr Barite // Photo by Tjflex2 on Flickr
yards of concrete and put decking in a few places. It’s 75 degrees inside with good airflow. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration called it the safest mine they’ve ever been in.
“Items we have found inside are in perfect condition. We even found ‘denim gold’ — a 150-year-old pair of Levi’s 201s with no left pocket and no belt loops. There was even a little knife with two blades inside a pocket.”
Armstrong says there is so much left intact that the sights above ground are a treasure trove in themselves. He, his wife Stephanie and a dedicated group of volunteers have painstakingly restored the site, created sustainable power infrastructure and shaped it into a place for the public to enjoy. The CEO adds that it’s impossible to see it all in one day.
“The mining and trails from the Spanish Conquistadors in 1590 are still here,” he notes. “They’ve filmed movies here; it’s the Yosemite of the desert with beautiful trees and landscape. Everybody loves it. You can’t have a museum on 350 acres anymore. It’s not profitable, but it’s something people long for. It’s not commercialized.”
Small group tours of the Hull Mine transport visitors along two miles of old trails dotted with large pieces of metal art and sculpture. Once inside, an underground mine vehicle takes visitors down into the mine and back in time to see the burst of glowing phosphorescent colors and to view an existing silver vein, desperado hideout and blacksmith shop.
castledomemuseum.org
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JEWEL IN THE CROWN
Amethyst is a purple, quartz-based gemstone prized by royalty for its rich violet hue. It is believed that in the 18th century, Spanish settlers discovered what is now the Four Peaks Mine in the Mazatzal Mountains.
The amethyst that comes from within the mine is prized throughout the world for its deep color and flash of “Siberian red,” so called because the only other place in the world where these same characteristics can be found is in the Siberian mines of Russia’s Ural mountain range. It’s the high iron content, manganese and magnesium along with extreme heat that produces the highly prized gemstone color.
Susan Emberley, the general manager of Four Peaks Mining Company in Scottsdale, says the store opened to create a brand for the Four Peaks line of jewelry.
“It requires one ton of mined material to produce two handfuls of gemstones,” Emberley says. “The crystals that come out of the mine are transported by helicopter to be tumbled in Tempe. By the time it is sold in our store, it has traveled around the world.”
Promising pieces that emerge from the tumbling process are sent to Indonesia to be cut to specification by skilled craftspeople. Those cut stones then travel to New Jersey where the owner of the mine sets them himself in sterling silver, marries the gems with designated settings and returns them to Indonesia for completion. The store also sells Four Peaks amethyst set in yellow, rose and white gold.
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Amethyst //
Photo by Davin Lavikka
Emberley says the yellow gold settings are very popular because they really show off the flash of Siberian red. Cleaned, unadulterated crystals can also be purchased by collectors who want to polish and cut the stones themselves.
The store carries an enormous array of gems, minerals and rocks, including metaphysical healing crystals each labeled with their purpose. While Four Peaks Mining Company prides itself on carrying rocks and minerals from Arizona — fluorite from the Lucky Blue Mine; chrysocolla, a decorative secondary copper mineral often mistaken for turquoise, from the Rowley Mine; and turquoise from the Kingman and Sleeping Beauty mines — Emberley says there are gems, jewelry and geological specimens from all over the world.
“We also carry wulfenite, which is extremely rare,” she says. “It was named our state mineral in 2017. As miners dig out huge boulders of chrysocolla, they will come across a vein of wulfenite and it is usually damaged in the excavation process, but it’s bright orange and highly sought-after.”
There is even a replica of the mine within the store. Inside, young rockhounds can find and identify up
to 30 minerals embedded in the walls and ceilings. In the adjacent blacklight room, naturally fluorescent minerals can be observed. The store is like a museum where one can learn, explore and then actually purchase pieces to take home for personal collection.
“We try to appeal to all ages,” Emberley says. “You can break open geodes and children can buy bags of polished stones. Lots of young kids are junior geologists and they are really into rocks and minerals. They can come in and see specimens from all over the world tagged with names and origins.”
To really get up close and personal with Four Peaks amethyst, the company offers public and private mine tours with access via helicopter beginning in September, weather permitting. Fires and the rock slides that resulted from a total lack of vegetation ravaged the area and destroyed the mine in 2021, but the mining company has been rebuilding ever since and is back to offering exclusive tours by reservation.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the private tours have really blossomed in this past year,” Emberley says.
fourpeaksminingco.com
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Amethyst // Photo by Renee Kiffin on Unsplash
GLOWING GREEN
Peridot — the traditional birthstone for August and the precious gem-quality version of olivine — varies in color from pale green to deeper olive. The only known location where this gem can be found in the United States is at the San Carlos Apache Reservation near Globe.
Like amethyst, peridot also consists of magnesium and iron. The green hue depends on the amount of chromium or nickel and so ranges from yellowish green to deep green. The higher the iron content, the darker the tint.
Peridot Mesa, as the area is known, consists of volcanic basalt rocks which are painstakingly chipped away by hand to reveal the small, rough green crystals encased in gas cavities. Sometimes the gems will spill out when a cavern is opened. While small, usually one to three carats, they are hard enough to be faceted.
The largest peridot from Peridot Mesa is housed at The Smithsonian and weighs in at a whopping 35 carats.
The mine is not open to the public and mining or collection is strictly prohibited on tribal lands, but rockhounds can do a bit of research on deposits and mining permits in the Williams area.
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Peridot // Photo by James St. John on Flickr
INTO THE BLUE
Turquoise is perhaps the stone most closely associated with the culture and beauty of the American Southwest due to its use in Native American jewelry and the top quality of what is mined and produced here in Arizona.
In fact, turquoise and copper often go hand-in-hand as the deposits are found in tandem. The three most well-known types of Arizona turquoise are named for where they’re mined, including Sleeping Beauty and Kingman. Morenci and Bisbee Blue turquoise come from copper mining in their respective regions.
It’s a delicate stone, and yet mining crews must first blast away the rock and gravel layers that obscure it. Stabilizing processes are often used to make turquoise hard and durable enough to be set in jewelry. Early Native Americans used hot coals to heat rocks that contained the stones, followed by splashing cold water onto them so they would crack, revealing the blue-hued treasure within.
Sleeping Beauty turquoise has a distinctive, sky-blue color and little to no “matrix” — lines that naturally traverse the stone. The Sleeping Beauty Mine is located in the city of Globe, which was founded as a mining camp in 1875. The city’s economy is still largely dependent on the area’s mining industry.
The fairytale name of both the mine and its namesake turquoise refers to the location — a mountain that is said to look like a sleeping woman. Unfortunately, the mining operation ceased in 2012, making the sought-after stones even more precious.
The Kingman Turquoise Mine is the last full-time production mine remaining in the United States. Turquoise mining in the area is believed to date back to the Mayan culture in A.D. 1000, but the mine northwest of Kingman in the Acerbate Mountains has gone through many iterations and ownership since the late 1880s and is now owned by Colbaugh Processing, Inc.
The mine itself is not open to the public but a shop just off Highway 93 has a vast array of turquoise in many colors — blue and green being the most popular — for browsing and purchase. kingmanturquoise.com
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Turquoise//Photo
by James
St. John on Flickr
ANTS GO MINING
It may sound strange, but ant hill garnet is actually mined by ants on the state’s Navajo Reservation. Also known as Arizona ruby, chrome pyrope and pyrope, there’s no set production for these gems since ants aren’t exactly reliable employees. These small, shimmering, bright red stones are beautiful and made even more fascinating by their provenance.
First discovered in the 1500s by the Navajo and Hopi people, the tiny gems rarely weigh over a carat but can be faceted to be set in jewelry. When ants are repairing or digging their ant hills, the garnets they find in their way are pushed up and out of the hill where they spill down the sides and can accumulate for humans to find and collect.
Because these gems are collected on private lands — and mined at the whim of the ant population — the only way to secure an ant hill garnet is through a professional gem dealer or jeweler.
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Ant Hill Garnet // Photo by Mauro Cateb on Flickr
41 imagesarizona.com August/September 2023 Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 85377 Hours: Tue.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. By appointment Sun. and Mon. 480.575.8080 GraceReneeGallery.com 18-KARAT GOLD HANDMADE ITALIAN FINE JEWELRY
MMalvasia bianca, picpoul blanc, counoise, carménère, mourvèdre, tempranillo: No, these aren’t the names or exotic European cities. Instead, they’re just a few of the many grape varietals grown in Arizona. And they join their A-lister cousins chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and pinot grigio in creating awardwinning wines
While the Sonoran Desert might not conjure images of elegant chateaus surrounded by verdant vineyards, the Grand Canyon State has supported grape growing and wine producing for thousands of years. Spanish missionaries introduced viticulture to the Southwest in the 1600s, and Father Eusebio Francisco Kino, who founded
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the San José de Tumacácori mission and introduced wheat to the region, had a small vineyard in present-day Sonora, Mexico.
The first commercial winery in the state was established in Mesa in the 1880s; another popped up near Sedona a few years later. By the end of the 19th century, Arizona’s wine industry was flourishing.
Prohibition put a stop to the business, and it would take several decades for it to begin to come back. But come back it has — with gusto! Today, there are more than 120 wineries and tasting rooms across the state — located on more than 1,300 acres of vineyards — and most welcome guests for tastings, tours and even overnight stays. So join a group trip, hail the bus or hop in your car and head out for a vino-centric adventure through Arizona’s wine country.
KNOW YOUR REGION
Arizona offers three main American Viticultural Areas, or AVAs, located north and south of Phoenix: Sonoita-Elgin (the oldest), Willcox (the largest), and the Verde Valley (the newest). Additional vineyards and wineries exist in other parts of the state, in places like Kingman, Williams and Chino Valley. The Arizona Wine Growers Association refers to these outliers as Mavericks & Pioneers.
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Writer Rebecca L. Rhoades
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While the Sonoran Desert might not conjure images of elegant chateaus surrounded by verdant vineyards, the Grand Canyon State has supported grape growing and wine producing for thousands of years.
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According to the AWGA, an AVA is “a designated wine grape-growing region in the U.S., providing an official appellation for the mutual benefit of wineries and consumers.” Some of the more well-known AVAs in the country include Napa Valley, Paso Robles and Sonoma.
Because Arizona’s regions sit at elevations between 3,500 and 5,000 feet above sea level, they tend to have climates and terroirs that are similar to regions in Italy, Spain and southern France: cooler temperatures, dry highdesert air, and rich loamy soil. It’s why so many grapes traditionally grown in the Mediterranean thrive here.
In order for a wine to be labeled with an AVA, at least 85% of the grapes used in the wine must have been grown in the AVA, and the wine must be fully finished within the state where the AVA is located. This also lends distinctive characteristics to wines from particular areas.
Established in 1984, the Sonoita-Elgin AVA covers about 320 square miles in southeastern Arizona, about an hour’s drive from Tucson. It was the first region in the state to be designated an AVA, and it has been recognized as one of the top 10 wine trails in the country by USA Today
More than 15 wineries dot a 10mile radius along Route 82 wedged between the Santa Rita, Whetstone and Huachuca mountains. Eonophiles can sip their way through the temperate hilly locale, sampling vintages from wineries such as Callaghan Vineyards, Rune Wines and Flying Leap Vineyards.
Dos Cabezas Wineworks is known for its rose blend, Pink, a refreshing mix of garnacha, syrah, graciano and more. Available in a bottle or carbonated in a can, it’s the perfect sipper on a hot summer day. The most recent addition, opened in February 2023 by Scottsdale restaurateur Pavle Milic, is Los Milics, a 20-acre vineyard, tasting room and winery. Overnight stays are available at Twisted Union Wine Co. and at NextDoor @ Dos Cabezas.
The Willcox AVA, which lies east of Tucson, produces about 75% of the state’s grapes. Covering about 833 square miles in northern Cochise and southern Graham counties, it includes the town of Willcox as well as Pearce, Sunsites and Sunizona.
Area vineyards supply fruit to local favorites, including Caduceus, Merkin Vineyards, Arizona Stronghold and Page Spring Cellars, all of which are based in the Verde Valley. Some stars of the region include viognier, tempranillo and mourvèdre, and its malbec, merlot, sauvignon blanc and cabernet sauvignon varietals are award-winning.
Stop by Birds & Barrels Vineyards to watch the hand-harvesting and pressing of the grapes, or play with the resident pups at Four Tails Vineyards. Carlson Creek Vineyard, Zarpara Vineyard, Laramita Cellars and LDV Winery are just a quick drive away.
For an overnight option, check out Rhumb Line Vineyard, which offers chic, comfortable Quonset huts set amid a blooming lavender field.
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Verde Valley AVA is the newest viticultural area, designated in November 2021. Located in the center of the state on 219 square miles in northeastern Yavapai County, the AVA encompasses the popular getaway destinations of Sedona, Jerome, Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Cornville, Page Springs and Rimrock.
The high-desert region boasts about 20 vineyards and two dozen of Arizona’s most scenic tasting rooms, many of which rest on the banks of picturesque Oak Creek. Here, travelers can sample white wines made with vermentino, seyval blank and malvasia bianca, and reds featuring syrah, sangiovese, tannat and barbera.
One unique way to experience northern Arizona’s wine country is to book a trip on the Verde Canyon Railroad. The Grape Train Escape takes passengers through the scenic mountains and red rocks of the Verde Valley while they sip on a selection of local wines. Additional trips focus on European varietals. Or, simply head into town, park and spend the afternoon walking between tasting rooms. If you don’t want to drive, the Wine Wagon will transport you from Scottsdale to the Verde Valley for a daylong hop-on hop-off drinking excursion.
No matter which region you choose to explore, you’re guaranteed to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the country and sample some delicious wine. Cheers!
azwinegrowersassociation.com
sonoitavineyards.com
willcoxwinecountry.org
vvwinetrail.com
Publisher, Images Arizona magazine
shelly@imagesaz.com
