Katherine Hagstrum and Alvin Sandler enjoy a marriage of life and art that began when they met in New
York City in 1975. Katherine was busy as a textile designer. Al was preparing an exhibition of his paintings
from Mexico. He invited her to see his etchings (smile). Eventually she did, and this led to her turning her
talents to fine art, to etching and especially to the exploration of the monotype. Fine art freed Katherine from
the NY based textile connection, and so they chose the Southwest in which to make a new life together.
Katherine and Al have now lived 28 of their 33 years together in Bisbee, Arizona, the capital of Cochise County.
Why Bisbee? The natural beauty of the mule Mountains, and the charm of the historic town clinging to the hillsides
won them over at first sight. Only 90 miles south of Tucson and 10 miles north of Mexico, Bisbee had the climate,
the clean air, and the natural splendor of the American Southwest. Not remote like most small towns, Bisbee has an
active art scene, shops, restaurants, a friendly community, and nearby Cochise College, an important resource
where Katherine taught English and Humanities for 16 years and Al goes to draw from the model. They encourage
those interested in
their art, finding themselves nearby, to come and visit their studio/showroom, by appointment,
at Art Entrée in Old Bisbee.
Please click on their names below to see more biographical material for each, and on their picture to see "Homage to K".
Katherine Hagstrum
Alvin Sandler