Artists at Work

FRESH • ARTS Artists at Work

Celebration of Fine Art returns with high ambitions

By Alex Gallagher

After seeing record sales of art last year, the Celebration of Fine Art has returned for its 32nd year with high energy and hopes for continued success.

Located off of Loop 101 and Hayden Road, 40,000 square feet of tents comprise home to 100 artists who have covered just about every inch of wall space with art and converted their slice of the space into their own studios where guests and buyers can get an inside look into the artist’s creative process.

“It’s diff erent than a gallery setting where we would put the art in the gallery and be void of the clients,” says Kirk Randle, one of the few artists who has displayed at every Celebration of Fine Art over the past three decades. “I have developed relationships and a client base over 32 years of doing this, and that’s how this has come together.”

While those who have been with the celebration since its inception admit it was a crazy idea at fi rst, it has turned into an event that artists circle on their calendars every year.

“I have been involved since the beginning, and back then everyone thought it was a crazy idea to put a tent in the middle of the desert and put artists and collectors together,” says Susan Morrow Potje, the show director of the Celebration of Fine Art and daughter of the show’s founder, Tom Morrow.

“But it’s turned into an amazing experience where people can stand at the elbow of the artists while they’re creating their work,” she says.

Although the show has remained steady in its space size, Potje has noticed a demand for larger pieces in the years she has been involved.

“We haven’t grown in size as we have stayed at 40,000 square feet of exhibit space and 100 artists, but what’s grown over the years has been the quality of art in every aspect,” Potje says. “It used to be really simple where each artist had two 8-foot-by-12-foot walls. … We learned over time that display is important, and the size of paintings has substantially grown as bigger homes were built here.”

“A lot of these artists sell almost as much art as they create in a year at this show,” Potje says. “It’s a great choice for artists to be here fi nancially. Th e weather is also great, and there’s such a sense of community. A lot of our artists have compared this to art camp only with the public there to buy and support it.”

Because of this, the artists are able to translate their enthusiasm to potential buyers and give a sneak peek into their creative process — which also happens to be a great sales tool.

“My biggest selling tool is sitting there painting while people watch me do what I do,” Randle said. “Th at makes it personal, as people can see the person creating the art.”

Not only has this technique attracted

Surrounded by her paintings, Beth Zink works at her easel at the end of one hall at the Celebration of Fine Art 2022, which began its run recently and will continue through March 27. It’s as much an educational experience as it is a chance to see some of the Valley’s most talented

artists. (Photos by David Minton)

buyers, but it has also drawn the attention of artists like Erin Matlock, who is displaying her art for the fi rst time at the Celebration of Fine Art this year.

“For me, it’s watching the progression of the artists and to see how their work changes and evolves over the years,” Matlock said. “To me, the growth of that spirit of art is interesting to me.”

Other artists were sold on the opportunity to create a bond with the guests who walk through the spaces.

“One of the reasons why I won’t do other tent shows is because by the time you set up, you don’t get the chance to paint or talk with the collectors or viewers like you do here,” says Priscilla Nelson, who has been showing her art at the Celebration the past four years. “It is fun, educational and the people coming through here learn a lot about what they like and the variety.”

While Potje tries to create a show with good spirits, she also tries to keep the show diverse.

“Each year at the end of the season, any artist who is in the show and wishes to come back submits an application and goes through the jury process,” she says.

“We look at the quality of work, sales, ability to play well with others and provide an artistic balance. However, we try to have at least 15 new spaces available each year for new artists to come in.”

However, Potje admits this is a hard task at times.

“It does get harder to eliminate, because we have so many high-quality artists,” she says. “But having the new art is exciting for our collectors who come back year after year.” Potje also believes that the show’s educational component has become a draw for guests, especially in the past two years. “One thing we’re also proud of is how much education we have provided the community through our website, podcast and art discovery series we host every Friday at 4 p.m. during our season in our cafe,” she says. “People can walk through and talk to the artists to get diff erent perspectives on art all day, but we thought it would be fun to put together

Artists at Work

an organized method to pick topics. We felt this would be more formal and it would build the educational platform.” In addition to being drawn to the educational component, there is a sense of longing among the guests who are eager to experience the arts once more. “I feel like this is an escape,” Matlock says. “We all have been through quite a bit, so if someone can leave all of that behind and be completely immersed in art, that’s a therapeutic experience and the celebration of art for me.” “We’re hardwired as human beings to appreciate beauty, and most of what we experience here is art that will take you back to a memory or inspire a creative thought process,” Potje says. Th ere appears to be a consensus among artists and Potje that the show has picked up right where it left off in 2021. “As events and festivals have picked back up, artists are having their best years ever, and 2021 was our highest year of sales ever,” Potje Judith Dickinson adds details to a piece she is painting during the Celebration of Fine Art 2022. says. “If it continues like this, it could be a banner year,” Randle adds.

Celebration of Fine Art 2022 show director Susan Morrow Potje, the daughter of the event’s founder, says that over time, pieces on display have grown larger as the region sees bigger homes get built.

Erica McKay has built a reputation for herself as a passionate and successful matchmaker. She helms the company Erica Suzanne Fultz.

Dating Apps Ditch the

It’s February, the season of valentines, and love is in the air – unless it isn’t.

Cue renowned professional matchmaker Erica McKay. e Minnesota native helms her own boutique matchmaking company, Erica Suzanne Fultz, and has spent over 20 years connecting men and women nationwide with their forever someone.

Despite the rise of digital dating apps, McKay has built a reputation for herself as a passionate and successful matchmaker. Her clientele spans professional athletes and TV personalities, including working with an on-air cast member from “ e Real Housewives of Orange County.”

In March 2020, McKay expanded her services to Scottsdale. “I think the clients I work with are pretty established. ey love to travel, and to be able to cross over to connect with someone like-mind — it’s diffi cult a lot of times,” the matchmaker says. “If you are on a dating site, it’s like going to TJ Maxx and looking for some specifi c Chanel purse. e biggest obstacle is fi nding it.”

While not all clients are celebrities or socialites, McKay says she represents individuals who are strong, passionate, driven and emotionally mature. ey want “a partner in the minimum to mirror their values and someone that prioritizes a relationship.” For those feeling particularly hopeless during cupid’s month of love, McKay assures that there is someone out there for everyone — it’s just a matter of fi shing from the right pond.

Professional matchmaker helps singles fi nd love

By Jordan Houston

A modern-day matchmaker

McKay works with a maximum capacity of roughly 20 clients at a time. Pricing ranges from $12,000 for a six-month membership to $25,000 for a year, depending on the client’s needs.

Clients may also opt to put their memberships “on hold” for as long as they want, should they begin to date a match, McKay explains. “I am pretty unique as far as matchmaking, because I do off er coaching along with it,” the mother of three says. “I think everybody has their story, everybody has their journey — who knows what that is, but it aff ects relationships.”

Prospective clients should fi rst call McKay via her website for a 15-minute phone call, followed by an in-person or Zoom meeting for intake and to create their profi le. During this process, McKay gathers as much information as possible about their backstory, interests and attractions in order to tailor a plan for their needs. en begins the scouting process for like-minded matches.

McKay and her team scour members from the company’s VIP database, as well as actively “recruit matches based on what” the client’s preferences are via social media profi les, LinkedIn, etc.

“My team is scouting people and I’m saying, ‘Hey, I’m looking for X, Y or Z,’ or people are calling me, or I’m taking that call for people who want to be in the database,” McKay shares. e matchmaker thoroughly vets all potential matches, including conducting background checks, investigating court records and conducting in-person interviews. After receiving the green light on both ends, McKay coordinates the fi rst meeting between the client and date. She then asks for client feedback and a breakdown, including a post-date survey. e process is then restructured from there.

A personalized approach

While dating sites like Tinder, Match.com, Bumble and Hinge are plenty, McKay off ers a more personalized approach for those really looking to settle down. It’s the one-on-one support, she says, that separates her fi rm from the rest. “ ey’re able to have access to me, I am the only one to client-face. I am not sending them off to an assistant or some other team member,” McKay discloses. “I connect with people on what I say is a soul level. I can’t just send them off to some other person because I’ve asked them to be vulnerable, I’ve asked them to talk about their (stuff ), their dreams and then dream with me. I’m honored to be working with them.” During the intake stages, McKay covers as much ground as possible, ranging from the client’s favorite color to religious and political

beliefs, income preferences and birth order. “When I get to know them, I am digging deep,” McKay explains. “I am talking about their relationships with their parents, the relationship their parents had together, their own relationships in the past. Is there trauma? Maybe it’s awesome things they’re talking about. ey get personal with me.”

Be whole fi rst

McKay says the key to connecting clients with their lifelong match is to fi rst ensure that they are happy with their own lives. e professional, who is divorced and happily remarried, encourages clients to focus on working through their “baggage” from previous relationships before adding another person into the mix. “I want to have them call me when they’re like, ‘Oh, my gosh, I have the best life ever and I want someone to be the cherry on top,’’’ McKay shares. “ at’s where the coaching comes into place. I want people to get into that space so that when we match that and meet their person, it’s on, instead of dealing with lingering issues of past trauma or exes or what not.” She adds that she is dedicated, through her work, to help her clients all become the best versions of themselves throughout the process.

A connector at heart

McKay hails from Stillwater, Minnesota. She graduated from Stillwater Area High School in 1993 and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in family social science from the University of Minnesota. She knew from an early age that she “loved being a connector,” McKay recalls. “I had an internship at an adoption agency. I was the go between birth mothers and prospective adoptive parents,” McKay remembers. “So, I knew that obviously connecting was a passion for me, but monetarily it was not suffi cient.” e matchmaker’s fi rst post-college job was a brief stint selling fax machines. In 1998, she stumbled upon an opportunity to work at a national dating fi rm in Downtown Minneapolis called It’s Just Lunch. At 22, she embarked on what would transpire to be a lifelong career in matchmaking. “I loved it, but that was a big learning time for me as far as how to work with clients that are really looking for love and wanting a relationship, while working with a national chain that was all about money,” McKay explains. After roughly two years at It’s Just Lunch, she launched Love In Style, a boutique matchmaking business in Downtown Stillwater. She sold it in 2004.

In 2015, McKay returned to full-time matchmaking and launched Erica Suzanne Fultz in 2018. “Going through my life journey has really changed my trajectory and viewpoints, because I’ve gone through life experiences and a divorce, then being single and meeting my now love,” McKay refl ects. e matchmaker is now newly married to her husband, Tom McKay, whom she met while scouting on the job, she laughs. McKay, who says she has a great relationship with her “wasband,” now co-parents her three daughters as well her two stepdaughters. She says her biggest piece of relationship advice is to establish strong communication skills and manage expectations. “I don’t have a secret sauce; I am a connector,” McKay says. “I know if I can get people to the place that I was and help guide them with clarity practices and their energy — whether I match them or not — they are going to fi nd their person.” For more information about McKay and her services, visit ericasuzanne.com.

Erica McKay has a bachelor's degree in family social science from the University of Minnesota.