Millennium Magazine_2ndEd

146 MILLENNIUM-SECOND EDITION G ene Kirby Garrison’s career has been one of becoming attuned to her artistic abilities. Ms. Garrison always had a passion for higher education and wanted to explore painting, writing, photography, sculpting and acting. She began taking a course at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, followed by a year at Arizona State University and more night classes, which subsequently led to her receiving an Associate of Arts from Phoenix College in 1964. She remained in the educational environment, completing postgraduate coursework at Glendale Community College. Ms. Garrison was encouraged to pursue writing after moving to Cave Creek, where her fascinating story about a run-down bar full of cowboys was well-received by The Arizona Republic. This accomplishment subsequently led her to begin a writing career with Carefree Enterprise Magazine, which she did for 20 years. After her tenure with Carefree Enterprise Magazine, Ms. Garrison and her husband moved to Sedona, where she continued to expand her knowledge by taking intensive five-day workshops at the Sedona Arts Center and a digital storytelling course at the Yavapai College of Arts and Technology. While in Sedona, she joined The International Society of Experimental Artists, the Sedona Camera Club, the Sedona Area Guild of Artists, the Sedona Writing Salon, and Professional Writers of Prescott. During her career, she has written a variety of books, including “From Thunder to Breakfast,” “Widowhood Happens,” and “There’s Something About Cave Creek: It’s The People.” She also wrote a children’s book titled Javelina (Have-uh-WHAT?). She is most proud of her book “Artists of Sedona,” which highlights artists such as John Waddell, who is known all over the world for his sculptures, and John Soderberg, a bronze sculptor and humanitarian. Hers is the first art history book about Sedona artists. Ms. Garrison attributes much of her success to many artists and instructors she has had the privilege of working with, including Jason Williamson, William Ahrendt, Jan Sitts, Joella Jean Mahoney and Allen Dutton. GENE KIRBY GARRISON WRITER, ARTIST Sedona, AZ