OLLI QUARTERLY ART SHOWCASE - ANNIE WATERS   

OLLI QUARTERLY ART SHOWCASE - Annie Waters

This month we’re thrilled to showcase original works from OLLI member Annie Waters. Annie’s work was selected for the cover of TINY REMEMBERINGS, an anthology of poetry and micro-prose written by OLLI members this year while enrolled in one of Dr. Rosemarie Dombrowski’s classes. 

The anthology, along with Annie’s cover art, will be featured at an OLLI event to be held at the Musical Instrument Museum on November 13.  All OLLI members are warmly invited to enjoy this inspiring afternoon of poetry and shared creativity. Registration for the event is open on the OLLI at ASU website. Click here to:  Register for Tiny Rememberings. 

In addition, Annie’s work will be presented in the gallery show OBSERVATIONS: Two artist’s journeys through nature opening at the Olney Gallery at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (1). A First Friday artist reception will be held on November 6th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm and Annie’s work will be on view through November 25th.

Annie’s pieces reflect unique perspectives, personal expression, and the joy of artistic exploration.  They remind us that creativity flourishes with lifelong learning to guide its path. Her work inspires us to keep creating, experimenting, and challenging ourselves.

Thank you Annie for sharing these stunning pieces with us!

Left to Right: Memento box; Stuck at the Edge, 2023

Left to Right: Canna Pagination, 2025; It Doesn’t Matter, 2020

Left to Right: Losing It - The Garden of Memories; Memory Garden, Dusk

Left to Right: Scraps; The Most Beautiful and Thoughtful Minds, 2023

Left to Right: Flowers for Apostolos, 2008; The Summer Garden, 2000

Above: The Tree of Life, the butterfly, and my lover, 2020

Left to Right: Thinking About Blossfeldt, 2004; Walking the Dream, 2020

ARTIST STATEMENT:

I want to tell you

the name of Everything,

its Line and Shade and Hue,

the smallest bits

described—

a Bug’s Wing cunning Blue

against the isolating Green,

of This and That cast off,

forgotten then Found,

a Stone or Stick considered,

this Leaf—its scent once mattered.

Compelled by the elegant twist

of this dead Stem,

then that small Stone—

Ochre of my Heart

where Blood runs

Yellow and Black and Magenta

and Brown—

Colors of the Earth.

Colors laid out and lying fallow.

For Imagining, Drawing and Explication

Here on the paper, there on board

and canvas held for slashing the surface—

Gesture defined in paint.

the feel of it all, the daubs,

definition of a scrawl—

that’s why I do it.

It’s buried in my Soul—I must!

A Child, my Father taught me Names of Growing Things by

Scent.

Close my Eyes; the Scent became Shape and Color and

Habit.

A Poplar or a Pine—an Oak or Muscadine.

How Divine the Shape of Each—

the Color at the Edge

and up the Trunks and Vine

The Sky!

It is not Blue today but Gray! Can you see It?

My Heart cries, my Hand makes a mark—

I must put It down for you; I have no choice.

This is what I do.

MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST:

Annie Waters has maintained an art studio in downtown Phoenix for over 30 years where she works in acrylics and various drawing media. Her work is in private and corporate collections in Arizona, California, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama. Annie graduated from Auburn University in Alabama with a BFA in painting and drawing in 1966. After graduating with a MEA from Arizona State University in 1972, she embarked on a series of careers that included teaching, landscape design, gallery management, and for several years, art consulting with her company Facets/Designs & Consulting, specializing in Art Collections Management.

RESOURCES:

1. Olney Gallery at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral - 100 W Roosevelt St, Phoenix, AZ (free parking garage available for guests. Exhibit duration: November 2nd - November 25th, 2026; Business Hours: Monday-Thursday 10:00am - 2:00pm, Saturday Closed, Sunday 8:00am - 12:00pm

WE WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK!

Please send your questions or comments on this post or the blog in general to: asuolliblog@gmail.com