Sheep Week!

Did you know that Arizona ranchers used to herd their sheep north through Tempe and nearby areas toward the Grand Canyon?  Their goal was to find their animals fresh grazing areas and to protect the animals from Arizona’s brutal summer heat.  Someone at Friendship Village researched this now bygone practice and decided to make a celebratory occasion of it.  So last January Friendship Village Tempe, in conjunction with Sheep Ranchers of Arizona, developed a plan to create a variety of activities for “Sheep Week” to be held at The Village. The event was designed to honor the herders (and sheep) who undertook that arduous journey, and to help us all appreciate the history of sheep raising in our state and its contributions to
Arizona’s early economy.  Artwork immediately became part of this celebration.  There are miniature sheep displays, raw woolen fabric art, wood carvings, sheep-inspired jewelry, drawings and much more.  The variety of contributions is truly inspiring, and includes three current members of the Tempe Artists Guild.   TAG members, Janet Fagan, Laurelie Brawley, and John Mainieri contributed paintings and a collage for display.  To see this inspiring display, you must act quickly — by November something else will be in place.