EDITOR'S PAGE

EDITOR'S

IN NOVEMBER, with the approach of colder weather in much of the United States and Canada, the call of the sunny Sonoran Desert starts the annual migration of winter visitors to Arizona. One of the resort communities most affected by this seasonal activity is Wickenburg, whose population more than doubles during the months of greatest tourist and winter-resident impact. This month Wickenburg reaches the climax of its 125th anniversary observance with several special events. We invite you to accompany writer Jerry Eaton and photographer Fred Griffin on a visit to one of Arizona's most historic and most pleasantly situated towns.

Along with our salute, we enthusiastically affirm that Wickenburg is not only an appealing travel destination but also an integral part of the famed Valley of the Sun.

Let me elaborate. The November 1986 Arizona Highways contained a special section, "Your Vacation Guide to Sun Country." To help organize the elements of the article, we divided the Arizona map into six regions. This arbitrary division permitted us to illustrate representative communities and activities throughout the state.

To achieve the desired photographic distribution, we drew one of the lines between Phoenix and Wickenburg; this placed the two in differently numbered regions and therefore in different sections of the story.

The Wickenburg Town Council promptly met and passed a resolution that read in part: "Whereas, Wickenburg was removed from its Maricopa County base and listed in region 4 with [western Arizona]... Be it therefore resolved that the Town Council of Wickenburg, Arizona, requests that all future editions of Arizona Highways Magazine show Wickenburg to be part of...central Arizona."

In my effort to cheer up the city fathers and explain how the map came about, I wrote: "Obviously Wickenburg, either on the map or on the ground, was not moved any farther from Phoenix or closer to Yuma by the drawing of the line." But I was never sure they were appeased. Now we have a new opportunity to show Wickenburg's location in relation to Phoenix, and we are happy to do so.

The arrival of November also means the annual renewal in Arizona uplands of one of nature's extravagances: the autumn transformation of deciduous foliage. Willis Peterson, who now lives in Sedona, has spent many hours tramping the banks of Oak Creek and its West Fork tributary. Under certain conditions of cloudfiltered light, he discovered, the marvelous hues that might appear flamboyant in bright sun become subdued and delicate. In this issue he shares his observations with us.

I am quite sure that no architect has had more words written about him or her than the late Frank Lloyd Wright. Yet I venture to suggest that you will find some fresh insights in our article on Wright, written by an architect who spent his first years in Arizona as an apprentice working under the direct guidance of the famous man. Vernon Swaback offers us a personal perspective.

Reader interest in the artistic talents of Native Americans never seems to slacken. Two highly experienced interpreters of this specialized field are Jerry and Lois Jacka, whose new book for Northland Publishing has just been released. We are privileged to present a sampling.

Works of three other artists also grace this issue. Nick Wilson's cover and nature portfolio typify the meticulous detail of his wildlife portraits. Bill Ahrendt presents the tenth in his popular series of historical scenes. The inside back cover is devoted to a vista of the Grand Canyon by Dave Flitner.

Abe Chanin, one of the Southwest's best-known sportswriters and editors before he became a journalism professor, recently launched a third career as an administrator and archivist. The new Bloom Southwest Jewish Archives at the University of Arizona in Tucson yielded much of the research material for the Chanin article that begins on page 30.