Painting the Town

Artists from three cities color the nation's art land

Comments (0) Thursday, Mar 20 2003

3/20–4/26
Worlds collide – several sizable cities, at least – in the latest exhibition to grace New Urban Art. "Los Angeles, Phoenix, New York," showcasing works by painters from the three cities, opens at the downtown Phoenix gallery on Thursday, March 20. While gallery owner David White initially was struck by the commonality of the works' neutral palettes, he later realized that each set of paintings "has a thematic relationship to the city where the artist is based." The paintings by New Yorker Gayle Ruskin-White display "a clear influence of the New York school of abstract impressionists," White explains. L.A. artist Jimi Gleason's works "have a celluloid, or filmic, quality to them," while Valley artist Scott Murff conveys "depth and sparseness thematic to the vast desert landscape surrounding Phoenix."

Scott Murff

Paintings by numbers: Scott Murff is among three artists showcased at New Urban Art.

Pro-creation: Sara Hubbs addresses the art of the matter.

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The exhibition runs through April 26, with an artists' reception at 7 p.m. April 4. New Urban Art is located at 521 West McDowell; call 602-256-2900 for hours.– Jill Koch

3/20–4/3
Rating Arizona
Ask not what your artist can do for you, but what you can do for your artist. Come do your part to support local talent at the Second Annual "Arizona Room," a salon-style exhibition of work by Arizona residents. During the opening reception, from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 21, your duty is to cast your vote for the "People's Choice" award – with more than 300 artists anticipated this year, this task may prove difficult. The exhibition runs Thursday, March 20, through April 3 at Mesa Contemporary Arts, located within the Mesa Arts Center at 155 North Center Street in Mesa. Admission is free. – Eric Schandel

Visual Language
You may not have heard of Sara Hubbs, but listen up. Since graduating from the ASU School of Art only two and a half years ago, she's exhibited her works a number of times and is gradually becoming a fresh, new voice in modern art.

Wendy Haas, co-owner of the Cervini Haas Gallery, which represents Hubbs, says that "Post Motion," Hubbs' current show in the gallery, "incorporates and reflects her interest in Latin American culture, in particular flamenco dance."

Hubbs will host a discussion on her recent trip to Cuba, her work overall and "Post Motion." Don't look for a lecture here, folks. Expect a provoking discussion that will require you to express yourself verbally as well as Hubbs does artistically.

The free presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, at the gallery, 4200 North Marshall Way, Suite 6, in Scottsdale. For more information, call 480-429-6116. – Maidi Terry