March news & updates

March 2, 2025

Unlock your creativity, relieve stress, and discover the joy of self-expression by taking an art class at the SAAG Gallery in March. No experience required. Scroll to the end of the newsletter to see what is being offered and find a link to sign up.


Celebrating 23 Years!

A Message from Terese Butler, President

Dear THERESA,


Welcome to our March newsletter. If you recall from my last month’s message, we are now in the Chinese Lunar calendar’s Year of the Snake, which is a time for growth, creativity, and transformation. Our Guild’s first transformation was moving from our First Thursday Artwalk to our First Friday Art and Appetizers event. Now, I want to tell you about our next transformation. Hold on, this one is BIG! Our SAAG Gallery is moving! Yes, after six wonderful years at our locations at the La Encantada Shopping Center, we will be moving to another location. We are currently finalizing a lease for our new location, so it is too early to give you definite details. By next month’s newsletter, I will have more specifics to share with you. In the meantime, I urge you to include our email address in your contacts list, to ensure you don’t miss any emails we send you with updates. Also, we will be sharing information on our website, as we continue this journey. Until we move, we are still open at our current location, with all of our existing programs operating as is. 

 

Spring is just around the corner and so our Art and Appetizer event for March is honoring the occasion. Join us on March 7th, from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, to celebrate “Blossoms” which features the art and artists who capture this theme. You will have the opportunity to see live demonstrations and chat with our artists to explore how they create their artwork. At these events, we also feature the artwork of some of our Guild members who don’t regularly show at the gallery, so you can also see new artwork. These events are fun, low-key and are a wonderful way to begin your weekend! We hope to see you there.

 

Do you have a photograph to frame, or are you looking for a unique gift for a friend? If so, then join us at our monthly community Art Fest, which is on the third Saturday of the month, from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. This month, on March 15th, we will be creating Recycled Paper Frames! As always, these events are free and all materials are provided by the Guild. 

 

Don’t forget to join us at one or more of the many classes we are offering this March. There are at least eleven classes available and registering for them is very easy to do on our website. Just click on our “Classes” link at the top of our home page to see all of the opportunities we have for you.

 

In closing, I want to thank you for your support to our Guild. We have a passion for what we do and we love to share it with you!



Terese Butler

President, Southern Arizona Arts Guild


saagpresidenttb@gmail.com

Click here to discover who will be there!

Community Art Fest

Saturday, March 15


Join artist Corinne Babcock as she teaches attendees how to create Recycled Paper Frames. These decorative frames are useful and fun, and all you are required to bring is your imagination and creativity.


This is a free community event and takes place from 11 am to 1 pm in front of the La Encantada SAAG Art Gallery.

Sponsored by:

To apply to either exhibit or to learn about solo exhibit space visit the SAAG website and go to the member site. Click on the button that says "ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES"

SAAG Artists in the News!

Artist Peggy Rubin wins award


The painting pictured above "Sea and Sky" won the Certificate Award in the International Global Painting Conclave 2025 online landscape competition. 


This competition centered around Landscapes and painters from eight countries competed.


Click here to read more about this and other SAAG Artists in the News!

Artist Theresa Poalucci wins award


The painting above "Locally Grown Hops" won 3rd Place in the Into the Wild 2025 Exhibition by Fusion Art.


The exhibit received a diverse collection of artwork from all around the world, including the US, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, China, Taiwan, Belgium, Chile, France, India, Iran, Malaysia and South Africa.

SAAG Artists Are Invited to these shows . . .
Artist Spotlight

March Artist Spotlight Suzanne Sahakian


By Kathie Scrimgeour


From a young age, Suzanne Sahakian studied music, art, and dance, training in classical ballet in Michigan, Boston, and New York, where she performed and choreographed pieces. She received her first film camera, a Minolta, at the age of 18 and began taking it everywhere she went. When a knee injury disrupted her planned dance career, she returned to college at the University of Michigan and ultimately became a lawyer, practicing law in Detroit and Chicago. In 2010, after 26 years as a commercial litigator, Suzanne took early retirement and returned to her photography. By 2012, she was showing and selling her photos in Chicago at the Greenleaf Art Center and hosting Wine & Shots soirees at her condo.

Pictured above The Coronet by Suzanne Sahakian.

Click here to read the rest of the story
Start 2025 by exercising your creativity.   Take an Art Class at SAAG

January Classes

You can access information & registration for all classes here.

Stress-Free Watercolors

Red Flowers or Blue Bird

with Susan Oyler

Fri, March 7, 1 - 3 pm

$40.00

Learn more and/or register here!

Watercolor

Paint Your Favorite Flowers-Step-by-Step

with Elizabeth Iverson

Sat, March 8, 11 am - 2 pm

$65.00

Learn more and/or register here!

Paint

a Cut

Velvet Scarf

with Dye

with Mary Gavan

Sun, March 9, 1 - 4 pm

$90.00


Learn more and/or register here!

Camera Phone Photography

with Nancy Schroeder

Tues, March 11, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

$45.00

Learn more and/or register here!

Dye a Market Bag

with Mary Gavan

Thurs, March 20, 1:00 - 3:30pm

$55.00

Learn more and/or register here!

Stress-Free Watercolors ~ Golden Poppies or Hummingbird with Flower

with Susan Oyler

Friday, March 21, 1 - 3 pm

$40.00

Learn more and/or register here!

Gel Press Printing Workshop

with Dawn Stanley

Sat, March 22, 10:30am-12:30pm

$85

Learn more and/or register here!

Bird Collage

with Dawn Stanley

Sat, March 22, 2 - 4:30pm

$60.00

Learn more and/or register here!

Digital Single

Lens Reflex (DSLR) Photography

with Nancy Schroeder

Tues, March 25, 5:30 - 6:30 pm

$55.00

Learn more and/o rregister here!

Paper Quilling - Flowers

with Erin Newman

Fri, March 28, 1 - 3:30 pm

$55.00

Learn more and/or register here!

Art of Gel Printing

with Kathie Scrimgeour

Sat, March 29,

10:30 am - 12:30 pm

$90.00

Learn more and/or register here!

Watercolor Fun

Water-droplets and Petals

with Elizabeth Iverson

Sat, March 29, 1:30 -4 :30 pm

$65.00

Learn more and/or register here!

Sign up today for these great classes - Enrollment is limited.

Easy Online Registration


Classes are held at the SAAG Gallery at La Encantada in the back room of the gallery. 

All classes are taught by talented members of the Southern Arizona Arts Guild. Unless otherwise noted in the class description, all materials are included.




Classes are for beginners unless otherwise advertised. In most classes, students leave with a finished project!