Monsoon storms in the desert with dark and forbidding clouds crowning high mountain peaks, and bursts of lightning streaking across the sky, are an awe-inspiring sight to behold. And in the Kingman, Arizona area this has been a monsoon season unlike anything experienced for at least a decade. 

As the storms roll in the canyons are transformed with cloud shadows framed by towering thunderheads that provide stark contrast to bright blue skies. And in what seems to be the blink of an eye, the rains transform the desert from brown to green. 

For the photographer, or the artist, these storms provide opportunities to create a stunning masterpiece. Add the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Cerbat, Black and Hualapai Mountains, a sunset or sunrise, and those opportunities are only limited by the imagination. 

Many of these scenic locations are easily accessible by car including the historic White Cliffs Wagon Road trails and the Cerbat Foothills Recreation Area that includes the site of historic Camp Beale at Beale Springs. And if you are an ambitious adventurer both areas are laced with miles of scenic trails. 

But what do you do after capturing a breathtaking scene with your camera or paint brush and canvas? You take it to Mohave County’s premiere print and frame shop, Avant Print & Frame in Kingman, of course!

Our professional staff that includes Sara Peterson, an internationally acclaimed artist, John Erickson, a certified master framer, and Jay Butler, will provide personalized service. And we can also provide giclée fine art printing and museum quality custom archival framing. 

Once you have a museum quality photograph or painting, now it is time to share it with the world. Kingman has an array of galleries in the historic business district, and there are several festivals scheduled for the fall. 

The ArtHub facility on Beale Street alternates between a gallery that showcases the work of area artists. It is also an arts education center. 

This a unique setting to display your work as it is a well-lit territorial era gem. Completed in January 1912 as the Powers Building, it housed the Citizens Bank. And the building also served as the Kingman post office. 

During its renovation contractors with an eye for detail renovated the building to appear as it did after a 1917 remodel. It continued in use as a bank into the 1950s, and the vault on the main floor is used for storage of art supplies. The building is also a point of interest stop on the self-guided, narrated historic district walking tour developed by Kingman Main Street. 

Until September 10 the ArtHub will be hosting a special exhibition entitled, American Southwest, Old & New. This show features artists from Kingman and the surrounding Mohave County area. 

For more information about local exhibitions and galleries contact Kingman Center for the Arts.  You may also want to check out the calendar of events or contact the Kingman Area Tourism office at www.explorekingman.com

Written by Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley’s America