Made in Clarkdale serves as a venue to display the creative talents of the
residents, college students, and workers of Clarkdale in all forms of art.
Established in 1986, this organization has been a home to the community's
creative expression and community spirit that:

• Offers motivating arts education classes for youth
• Encourages and nurtures creativity and appreciation
  
• Is inclusive of the many levels of experience and talents of local artists
  
• Brings the surrounding communities together to celebrate each
  other and the arts

Made In Clarkdale Born in 1986

For nearly a quarter of a century, artists from Clarkdale have joined together to share their artistic experiences at a community art show called Made In Clarkdale. It began as an avenue by the Clarkdale Chamber of Commerce in December 1986 to fund a community newsletter. At the first show seventeen local artists were invited to participate by the show's creator, Ellie Bauer. Without her vision and drive, the first show, would not have survived its three-day run. The artists did not really know each other and certainly did not understand what responsibilities and dedication were needed. But despite everyone's inexperience, the show was a success from the beginning. We were truly amazed to discover that our little community saddled between two of Arizona's most popular "art towns," had so much to offer.

By the second year, the advertising brochure grew from a postcard to a seven-page brochure featuring the work of twenty-one artists. It also contained a four-month calendar advertising such local events as the Elk's Charity Ball and the Clarkdale Women's Club Annual Fashion Show.

By 1991, the annual brochure featured thirty-two artists and the Made in Clarkdale show was scheduled for ten days. Gala festivities opened the show and the week continued with the addition of workshops offered by the artists for both adults and elementary school students.

MIC Expanded to Educate School children
Over the years, the workshops expanded and began to fill the need to introduce schoolchildren to the arts. Schools throughout the valley were invited to participate. Through our workshops, students have explored drawing, interpretive dance, stained glass, solar photography, block printing, watercolor, ceramics, petroglyphs, gourd masks, and fused glass. An artist-guided tour through the gallery has been a constant feature.

By 1995, we added dance performances to the gala opening and APS generously took over the printing of our brochures. Though still printed in black and white, the quality of our main advertising tool was greatly improved. The artists' photography skills were still not the greatest and several artists chose to draw illustrations instead. Perhaps out of a desire for being colorful, fabric and screen banners were created and hung over Main Street for the duration of the show. The best banners were designed by two of our original artists, Eleanor Mead and Pam Fullerton.

Grows to Over 50 Artists
Color came to our all-important brochures in 1999. By then, the number of artists swelled to more than fifty. With so many artists, things had to get more organized. Committees were formed and sitting the show became mandatory. Student workshops were very popular and so everyone had their "arms twisted" to teach them. Ellie showed herself to be a trouper and when three classes showed up at once, she had no problem teaching drawing to them all.

Though painting and photography generally dominate the show, the show has also displayed stained, fused, and blown glass, fabric arts, metal, stone, and ceramic sculpture, turned and carved wood, mixed media collage, drawings, and many types of jewelry. Most artists usually stay for just a year or two, but as the years have progressed, many more artists have chosen to stay with the show ten years or longer: