WELCOME
As Co-Chair for the Z-Arts! Literary Committee, I am excited to be involved in bringing a variety of literary events into the community. In collaboration with Co-Chair Mavis Madsen, I plan on using my long experience as a bookseller in bringing local and national authors to the Canyon for readings, presentations and workshops.
Currently the owner of Sundancer Books in Springdale, I have lived and worked in Zion Canyon since 1994, and have been involved in bookselling for over twenty-nine years since moving to Utah in 1980. I began my bookselling career in Salt Lake City as assistant bookkeeper for Cosmic Aeroplane Books. In 1985 I made the big move to Southern Utah and continued working in the retail book industry, eventually managing B. Dalton Bookseller in St. George. I later became involved in working for non-profit bookstores, and eventually the Center Manager at the Zion Natural History Association Bookstore in the Visitor's Center at Zion National Park.
Z-Arts! programs and events have a tremendous positive effect on this community. In my new position on the Board, I plan on continuing the tradition of offering interesting and educational events that engage and inspire members of our community, as well as visitors. Thanks again for all of your support and I look forward to seeing you at Z-Arts! events in the near future.
Therese Feinauer
Literary Co-Chair
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MEMBER PROFILE
BARBARA ELLARD
The saying goes that one wears many hats, however, Z-Arts! member Barbara Ellard rather wears many aprons in expressing her creativity and diverse talents. Barbara has been gracing this canyon with her beautiful patterns of art and stylized food since 1990.
Her culinary arts career began when she was in high school working part-time with her sisters at her mother’s new venture, Harvest Catering, in Boston. The business soon grew into one of the biggest catering companies on the North Shore of Boston and creating many beautiful galas, weddings and receptions in the mansions and historic homes of the area.
Barbara says: “My sisters and I all attended art school while working in the catering business. The two worlds were inseparable to us.” She attended Boston University’s (B.U.) Arts Program, with a focus on ceramics and textiles. She completed her Journeyman's piece in ceramics with an emphasis on wheel-thrown functional pieces. Later attracted to surface design textiles, she filled electives with silk screening, dyeing, design and finding expression for her love of pattern and color work. Following B.U. she was chosen for two very desirable apprenticeship positions: one with the long-standing Rugg Road Papers Studio, and; the other at the Fabric Workshop of Philadelphia working in textiles. Following college she worked full-time in the family catering business for another ten years.
Choosing to make Springdale her home after an exploratory visit, she opened the Harvest House Bed & Breakfast, naming it in honor of the family’s catering business. Filling a unique niche in the B&B market, Barbara quickly gained a reputation as owning one of the best B&Bs in the area. So many guests were interested in recreating their unique breakfast dining experience that Barbara published her very popular cookbook Sweet and Savory in 1996.
to be continued...
Article by: Olu Adeyanju
For the complete quarterly e-newsletter of Zion Arts and Humanities Council, please become a member!