The Town of Fountain Hills Public Art Committee presents this year’s theme for the Pump House Program, “Expressions,” with the artist’s interpretation of a facial expression that portrays an emotion.

Seven finalists were selected from over 300 applications. Art will be digitally transposed onto 4x8 ft. Dibond panels to be installed along a 100 ft. stucco wall at the pump house at Fountain Park.

The park attracts thousands of visitors each year and the stucco wall is located on the main sidewalk with high visibility both from pedestrians and motor vehicles, a press release read.

The Public Art Committee is seeking sponsors for this year’s art exhibit who will receive a plaque that will accompany their panel of choice. The panels are first come, first serve and the cost to sponsor a panel is $1,000.

For more information on sponsoring a panel, contact Jenny Willigrod at jwilligrod@cox.net.

“Monsoon Twilight” is an acrylic painting by Alyssa Cumpton of Spring Creek, Nev. (Submitted photo)

“Monsoon Twilight” by Alyssa Cumpton - acrylic

“Monsoon Twilight” is meant to express a subtle joy at the power of nature. The woman is in the middle of a monsoon storm, but her expression is one of serenity, Alyssa Cumpton said. “This is at odds with what most people think of when they experience a powerful desert storm,” Cumpton said. “I wanted to examine a more subtle expression, one that is more personal than the fronts many of us put on when interacting with other people or on social media.

“This painting is meant to depict a private moment of joy between a woman and nature. My inspiration for this work came from my personal experiences hiking in the deserts of the western US. I’ve watched many storms roll in over the mountains and I find I am never more at peace than during a good desert thunderstorm.”

“Pearl” is a digital collage by Vincent Mattina of South Jordan, Utah. (Submitted photo)

“Pearl” by Vincent Mattina – digital collage

“She is like a fine pearl, a one-of-a-kind beauty,” says Vincent Mattina. “My work connects with spiritualism, environmentalism, and the ever-expanding realm of technology.

“I make connections to the spiritual world with symbols placed into the art such as portraits and draped figures.”

Commenting on man’s effect on the environment, Mattina shows seemingly abandoned structures with facial features.

“I like to establish familiar visual cues regarding time and space, then arrange them into densely textured representations,” Mattina said.

“At Calm” is a mixed media piece by Lizanne Galatis-Gazzo of Fountain Hills, Ariz. (Submitted photo)

“At Calm” by Lizanne Galatis-Gazzo – mixed media

This mixed media piece portrays Lizanne Galatis-Gazzo’s expression of relief.

“The significance of this is quite personal and also the inspiration for this piece,” Galatis-Gazzo said. “The dark side represents coming from a dark place of the unknown. Her expression is of relief and a sense of calm as she is now able to look ahead and move on, leaving the darkness behind.

“There is only brightness and vibrancy as she moves forward. The use of bougainvillea petals gives a bit of texture and they also have meaning. These were forgotten petals that had fallen to the ground but now given a second existence.”

“Maasai Girl” is a photograph by Kelly Graham of Long Beach, N.Y. (Submitted photo)

“Maasai Girl” by Kelly Graham - photography

The pictured little Maasai girls followed Kelly Graham around the day as she visited their village in July 2022.

“They loved having their picture taken and being able to see the results immediately,” Graham said. “Although we didn’t speak the same language my camera and their excitement spoke for themselves.”

“Grieving” is a photograph by Andrea Cloud of Medford, Ore. (Submitted photo)

“Grieving” by Andrea Cloud - photography

“The expiration of the ‘official’ 40 days of mourning did little to remove the heaviness of grief from the weary face of my neighbor after the passing of her husband,” Andrea Coud said. “The weight of sorrow on top of new financial worries lay heavily on the aged face of a strong woman who has already endured much suffering.”

“Unruly” is a photograph by Tom Griffithe of Houston, Texas. (Submitted photo)

“Unruly” by Tom Griffithe - photography

“Unruly hair and a steadfast stare alert one to the untamed spirit of wild horses,” Tom Griffithe said of his photograph.

“A Conversation” is colored pencil on toned paper by Mary Allan of Los Angeles, Calif. (Submitted photo)

A Conversation by Mary Allan - colored pencil on toned paper

Portraiture is an avenue for exploring human nature, according to Mary Allen who says her work, “A Conversation,” is a portrait of her partner amused as he listens to a Bewick’s wren singing.

“I am fascinated by the subtle variation in human anatomy that distinguishes our unique selves from others,” she said. “I am also interested in how our physical individuality is contrasted with universal human emotions that bind us together.”

The  Pump House  Program is an outreach to artists locally and regionally and brings recognition to Fountain Hills with a fresh artistic approach annually to Fountain Park giving visitors a reason to return.