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BUSINESS HAPPENINGS - March 2020

Tumbleweed: A Southwest Rhapsody of Hand-crafted Art
By Linda Schmidt


What is a rhapsody? In music it is “a one-movement work that is episodic yet integrated, free-flowing in structure, featuring a range of highly contrasted moods, color, and tonality. An air of spontaneous inspiration and a sense of improvisation make it freer in form than a set of variations” (Wikipedia).

What a fitting description of Amanda Domenick’s Main Street art emporium, Tumbleweed! She has integrated a wide range of colorful, beautifully hand-crafted pieces of art—serious, fanciful, and practical, into an outstanding collection. The choice of display units of old furniture, finely restored, and the diverse inventory reveals careful thought, and yet has a feeling of spontaneity that is truly delightful.

Quality is the keynote of every piece of art in Tumbleweed, which is now entering its seventh season. Most of the artists represented are local either to Moab or the Southwest; a few have studios as far away as Oregon, California, and even New York. Some of the pieces that fill Tumbleweed’s shelves and walls are the works of Amanda’s long-time acquaintances, including the ceramics of her fifth grade teacher, Joanne Savoie! Several visiting artists have happily added their creations to this exciting collection. The weathered steel cactus sculptures that adorn Tumbleweed’s Garden are among various pieces that have been discovered on Amanda’s occasional road trips.

After a brief foray elsewhere as a young adult, Amanda, born and raised in Moab, chose to return to her home to live and work. She is comfortable in this smaller but lively town, where she has lots of family. Employment at Dave’s Corner Market and Earth Studio gave her the opportunity to develop relationships with both local and visiting artists. When Earth Studio closed in 2013 she took over their lease, well prepared to create her own business.

A crucial contributor to the beauty of Tumbleweed’s happening is Amanda’s partner, Marc Antonuccio, a finish carpenter who has his own business, Westside Woodworks. Together he and Amanda sought out old furniture which he transformed with skill and talent into display units, including a dresser from his childhood. Look carefully at the jewelry display cases—old framed glass windows cleverly serve as their tops. He also produced the business name “Tumbleweed,” a spontaneous inspiration that came in the middle of the night!

Some of the elements of this one-movement work are a wide variety of ceramics—entire dinner settings, unique salt and pepper shakers, wall plaques and other room décor; bicycle chains repurposed into keychains, picture frames and more; wine bottles transformed into drinking glasses; shoulder bags made from recycled Guatemalan clothing; unique artwork for the walls, from original paintings with southwestern themes, some serious, some fanciful, to superb photographs; hand-made Tibetan bells with a Moab twist; and life-size cactus sculptures. These are woven together with many more goodies into one harmonious presentation.

And the Garden! In this unexpected oasis adorned by colorful murals and amazing cacti that bloom year round, customers will find a sweet respite from the intensity of Main Street. At odd moments during the day, even Amanda finds refreshment in this pleasing hide-away, tending its live plants.

Come in! Enjoy Tumbleweed’s engaging rhapsody of fine hand-crafted art, so invitingly displayed. Be sure to visit the Garden! This lovely shop is located at 31 North Main Street in a fine old historic building. Spring and late fall hours are 10am to 5/6pm; during the summer, evening hours extend to 9pm. 435-259-0099. Check out the website at www.tumbleweedmoab.com for a colorful preview.




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