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.
10 Favorite Oddball Landmarks in Phoenix
There are plenty of destinations to keep you busy this summer, and throughout the year -- especially if you're a fan of the unusual.
We've been on a hunt for lesser-known gems in our Hidden Valley series. From abandoned dog tracks to castles, here are a few of our favorite oddball spots.
--Claire Lawton
Phoenix Artist Sentrock Introduces the Steady Grindin' Award
Before local artist Joseph "Sentrock" Perez packs his bags and heads for Chicago for art school, he says it's time for some payback.
"I've been given a lot by the communty," says Sentrock, who won New Times' Big Brain Award in 2011 and was nominated for a Governor's Arts Award for his involvement with The Rise Project in 2012. "That means a huge deal to me. So I wanted to find a similar way to recognize and support local artists."
He says a few months ago, he thought of organizing an award for emerging artists. "Whenever my friends asked what I was up to, I was always making work -- I'd just say I was 'steady grindin' ... I guess the name just stuck."
He chose six local artists based on current work, and from those six, he's encouraging the public to vote for one artist who will win the Steady Grindin' Award -- a $250 gift card to Arizona Art Supply -- based on four qualifications: progressiveness, originality, work ethic, and community involvement.
--Claire Lawton
Now Open: Rack 'Em Up Pop-Up Shop in Tempe
If you happen to be in the hunt for some fly t-shirts from local labels like From Another Planet or 11th Monkey, graphic designers Eric John and Paul Martinez have 'em in abundance at their new Tempe boutique Rack 'Em Up.
The pair opened the pop-up shop earlier this month in the retail spaces at an upscale apartment complex Block 1949 and have been busy selling threads created by 15 different urban designers from around Arizona, including PottyMouff, Rolling Stoner, and Tucson's Pistols in Paradise.
--Benjamin Leatherman
Nine Creative Workshops to Attend In June and July
If you're tired of shopping for items to make that project you pinned on Pinterest just to escape your house, you're in luck. We have nine workshops you can attend this summer that'll provide more than a few ways to get going ....
--Dena Cervantes
We're Doomed: Hyundai Creates "Zombie-Proof" Car (VIDEO)
If you're a true believer in the upcoming zombie apocalypse (and not the one involving bath salts), buckle up.
Hyundai and The Walking Dead comic creator Robert Kirkman have joined forces to create a "Zombie Survival Machine" version of the Elantra Coupe, which they'll unveil during San Diego's Comic Con next month.
--Claire Lawton
Don't forget to check out Jackalope Ranch's continuing series, 100 Creatives.
