Surprise artist shows off her talent in Sedona

What: Myrna Harrison: Exhibition and Sale

When: Sept. 6-29

Where: Sedona Heritage Museum, 735 Jordan Road, Sedona

Admission: Free

Information: sedonaartscenter.org

Acclaimed artist and Surprise resident Myrna Harrison will be honored by Sedona Arts Center and Sedona Heritage Museum in “Myrna Harrison: Exhibition and Sale” opening Sept. 6 for both organizations.

The joint exhibition opens with an artist’s reception from 4 to 6 p.m. at 735 Jordan Road, Sedona, held in conjunction with Celebrate Sedona.

The afternoon features artist demonstrations, a ceramics sale by SAC’s ceramics department, food, wine, beer and music by a duo from the Sedona Symphony. Both events are free and open to the public. Visitors will be shuttled between SAC and Sedona Heritage Museum by Sedona Trolley during the afternoon’s festivities.

The exhibition and sale features more than 30 artworks on view at SAC and the Sedona Heritage Museum that span Harrison’s career — color-saturated abstract and desert landscapes that evoke the vivid and dynamic terrain of the West.

From jagged mountains and deep canyons to dusty roads and expansive skies, her artworks are executed with traditional and crayon watercolors often outlined with Japanese Sumi ink.

“We are excited for this collaborative, month-long event,” said Nate Myers, executive director of Sedona Heritage Museum. “Myrna is such a talented artist. We are delighted to showcase her stunning artwork in Sedona.”

The exhibition and sale also reflect SAC’s 2024-2025 season theme of elements integrated into all exhibitions, programs and events, literally and conceptually, providing a captivating year of exploration, experimentation and emotion.

“This show is our ‘element’ of history,” said Julie Richard, CEO of Sedona Arts Center. “Myrna has enjoyed a remarkable career spanning more than 70 years. It is an honor to celebrate her artistry and legacy, in partnership with Sedona Heritage Museum.”

Born in 1932 in Hollywood, California, Harrison has been enveloped in the arts since childhood. Her father was an animator and her mother a hat designer. She studied in New York under abstract painters Morris Davidson and Jack Tworkov and finally at the renowned Hans Hoffman School of Fine Art in New York City and Provincetown in Massachusetts, where she honed her style under the guidance of Hoffman, one of the most prolific figures in postwar American art.

In 1959 she received a BA (magna cum laude with honors in English) and in 1960 an MA (English) from New York University (NYU).

At NYU she studied with Philip Guston, a founding figure of the New York School. She showed in numerous juried and invitational group shows in the 1950s, including the International Watercolor Biennial at the Brooklyn Museum.

In 1960, Harrison returned to California where she taught and exhibited throughout northern California for the next 20 years.

In 1980, she moved to Arizona to become president of Rio Salado Community College (1980 to 1985), Gateway Community College (1985 to 1988) and Phoenix College (1988 to 1993).

She retired in 1993 and moved to Wickenburg and most recently to Surprise. Her work has been exhibited throughout the U.S. and abroad, including solo exhibitions at Sedona’s James Ratliff Gallery, Cortland Jessup Gallery in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and group shows in the U.S., Europe and Japan.

“Myrna Harrison: Exhibition & Sale” is on view through Sept. 29.

Visit sedonaartscenter.org.