Illuminated sculptures will light up pathways on the 50-acre ranch. The renovated barn will turn into a nocturnal gallery. A blacksmith in a working forge will shower sparks into the darkness. A movie will be projected onto the outdoor water tank.
And assorted artists will do performance pieces in the moonlight. Mat Bevel will pilot his kinesthetic sculptures; Mary Lucking will project a piece about bugs; Simon Donovan is planning a surprise; and Imo Baird and fellow musicians will play accordions and xylophones under an ancient mesquite.
"A couple dozen people will participate," said Sharon Holnback, artist, owner of the ranch and mastermind of Glow. "From 8 to 10 (p.m.), we'll have performances in two main staging areas. From 10 (p.m.) to 12 (a.m.), we'll have a dance party," with DJ Kidd Squidd spinning techno/disco music.
The former owner of the old Apparatus Gallery downtown, Holnback bought the ranch three years ago and moved to the country. Triangle L was one of the first dude ranches in Arizona, dating back to the 1880s, and it continued on into the 1960s as a working cattle spread. Today, it doubles as an art workshop and bed and breakfast. Holnback and artist Sarah Kucerova work out of the ranch forge, collaborating on garden art and furniture under the name Apparatus Iron. Last winter, they won a commission for a series of illuminated metal sculptures, which ultimately led to Glow.
Holnback is hoping this is just the first annual edition.
"We wanted to spark a creative interaction, something fun in the summer," she said. "And it's beautiful out here at night."
