(Sedona, Arizona) - Born in scenic
Alamosa, Colorado, John Spannagel’s passion for art and music
led him to double-major in Music Performance and Art/Graphic Design
at the Adams State College in his home town, and he is the only student
to receive a music degree in guitar
performance from Adams.After college he taught fretted instruments
to people of all ages, both
privately and as a faculty member at his alma mater,
and performed in numerous bands, sharing the stage with music icons John Conlee, Marshall
Tucker, Doug Kershaw and Michael Martin Murphy. He was also
the opening act for
the legendary western band, Sons of the Pioneers, in 2002 at the
then-newly-completed Sedona Cultural Park's Georgia Frontiere
Performing Arts Pavilion.
On the artistic front, John became a design artist and later a general manager for an art
gallery in Breckenridge, CO.
Twelve years ago he moved to Sedona and within two years he was painting professionally. Over time, John's art pieces became larger and larger.
For a long time John’s largest piece was a 30 x 40 inch painting
commissioned by the Village of Oak Creek’s IGA Food & Drug
owner, Jake Weber.
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"Art, The
Golden Thread of Life" - Mural in VOC |
Then in 1998 John successfully completed a 144 square-foot
painting of Bell Rock that sits just outside The Sedona
Trading Post in VOC. Titled, Like a Rock, this painting
led to
a 90-foot long, five-foot high wall that runs parallel to
Route 179 and The Sedona Trading Post.
In this project, entitled
Art--The Golden Thread of Life, John utilized his signature
style—a thread of golden metallic paint woven throughout the
piece—to provide a physical connection to the elements spanning the
history of art from ancient Egypt to the present…and beyond. The
mural is now a landmark.
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"Engelmann's Bounty" by John Spannagel
(Giclee) |
In 2002, John
donated a 20” x 24” Giclée print entitled Englemann’s Bounty to the silent auction held at the 5th annual Sedona Taste.
The Giclée technique uses a high resolution ink-jet printer to
produce a large format fine art digital image. This
stunning piece of artwork depicts the Southwest prickly pear cactus
brimming with fruit, detailed in rich designer tones of forest green
and deep red wines. Custom framed in rich mahogany it was a welcome
addition to the auction winner’s art collection.
John is known for his interest in furthering artistic awareness,
education and opportunity for children and he believes that by
supporting the Sedona Taste, an annual major fund-raiser for the
Boys and Girls Club of Sedona, he “…can help provide opportunities
for kids to be exposed to art and music and perhaps contribute in
some way to a youngster’s budding artistic passion.”
More recently, John
was nominated for the prestigious State of Arizona Governor’s Art
Award by the Arizona Commission on the Arts and Arizonans for
Cultural Development. His work has been recognized as among the best
and most creative contribution to the state.John’s work can be
found in many galleries throughout the Southwest as well as several
resorts, B & Bs, The National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum and in
numerous private collections around the world. Locally, John’s
artwork is offered at Spiritwind Gallery, Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts
Village on Hwy. 179. You can visit the gallery in person or go to
www.spiritwindsedona.com.
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John
demonstrating painting in front of
Spirit Wind Gallery (Tlaquepaque,
Sedona) |
A ‘people person’ at heart, you can
often find John on the Spiritwind Gallery’s patio,
painting-in-public, striking up conversations and making new
friends. “Most people,” he says with a warm smile, “love to meet the
artist and I take great joy, however brief, in each relationship.”
He stills stays involved in music, playing local gigs and at
informal gatherings.John is also opening his own gallery in VOC. The
John Spannagel Gallery—Fine Art and Custom Framing will be located
at #10, Bell Rock Plaza, Suite B—right next door to the Sedona
Trading Post and behind his 90-foot long mural! The gallery
will showcase John’s artwork including his Giclees, and the artwork of other,
hand-picked artists, as well as custom framing.
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Evening
Eloquence (Giclee) |
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