If Bob Ross were alive today, he'd be painting happy little trees all over the place in ecstatic fervor for all the arts and culture happenings in Phoenix. To help you see the forest for the trees, here's a recap of the top arts and culture stories of the week.
Scottsdale's Bentley Gallery to Close in October and Move to Bentley Projects in Downtown Phoenix
After 22 years of art business in Scottsdale, Bentley Calverley is on the move.
The director of Bentley Gallery, at 4161 N. Marshall Way Scottsdale, has had a huge part in shaping the Scottsdale art scene. She served on the Cultural Council when the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art was built, she's run a successful gallery alongside Marshall Way staples including Lisa Sette and Art One, and she helped revitalize vacant spaces in Scottsdale with a string of pop-up galleries in 2010.
In 2004, Calverley bought a warehouse and established Bentley Projects south of the train tracks in downtown Phoenix. And this October, she'll pack up her Scottsdale Gallery and focus solely on her Downtown venture. See why Calverley is making the move downtown.
--Claire Lawton
Tovrea Castle Now Open to the Public and Looking for Volunteer Docents
The small castle on the hill off Van Buren and 52nd streets that's viewable from Loop 202 is now open for tours and looking for a few smart volunteers to help direct traffic.
Tovrea Castle was built in 1929 by an Italian immigrant and sold in the 30s to cattle baron, E.A. Tovrea for his wife, Della. The estate was passed down through the Tovrea family, and wrapped up in one of Arizona's most sensational murder trials.
The building sat empty for years, and in 2010, plans to reopen the building to the public were put on hold because of budget cuts. A small group of community members joined forces, formed the Tovrea Carraro Society, and were able to register as an official non-profit corporation. And now, they need your help.
--Claire Lawton
Laurie Notaro Has a Hobo Problem
Laurie Notaro is an author, crafter, and expert at finding a good cocktail. She grew up in Phoenix, but is currently based in Eugene, Oregon. Each week, she'll be joining us to share a crafting adventure, draw a flowchart, or remember a few of her favorite things about Phoenix. Today, she tells the story of her recent encounters with hobos and yoga people.
"Holy shit, there's a body in there!" my husband said as he looked at me with wide eyes and backed away from the bushes he had been poking at a moment ago.
I just shook my head and closed my eyes.
--Laurie Notaro
Reanna "Missconstrued" Diehl Creates "Chicks-For-Gays" Fashion Parodying Chick-Fil-A Controversy
The recent controversy surrounding Chick-Fil-A and its president's anti-gay leanings have inspired plenty of sturm und drang both in the media and online over the past couple months, as well as a slew of protests, counter-protests, boycotts and even some amusing YouTube videos.
Its also inspired one downtown Phoenix fashion designer to conjure up a new t-shirt series for women that riffs on the hullabaloo and the fast food restaurant chain that instigated it. Reanna Diehl (a.k.a. Miss Missconstrued) recently printed up a batch of tank tops emblazoned with the phrase "Chicks-for-Gays" that parodies the restaurant's logo.
And according to the designer, who also runs Missconstrued Boutique on Fifth Street near Roosevelt Row, the shirts have been selling fast.
--Benjamin Leatherman
NASA's Curiosity Rover: Here's the New Hi-Res Video of the Mars Landing
It's been 21 days since NASA's Curiosity rover successfully landed on Mars and rekindled a global interest in space exploration. The landing was renamed yesterday in honor of Ray Bradbury, and American science fiction and horror author who penned Fahrenheit 451.
The Bradbury landing was watched by millions online on the NASA website and was replayed for days on international television channels, but scientists just released the Hi-Res video of the Martian landing so we can relive the last two-and-a-half minutes before Curiosity's landing in Gale Crater.
--Claire Lawton
Don't forget to check out Jackalope Ranch's continuing series, 100 Creatives.