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.
Parazol Studios Hosting Custom Arcade Art Show During February's First Friday
A rather unique art event is coming to downtown Phoenix in time for February's First Friday, and its likely to be of interest to gamers or anyone who's ever killed an afternoon playing Ms. Pac-Man or Dragon's Lair at a local arcade.
The Artcade Show, an exhibition that will feature around 25 classic quarter-munchers and old school arcade titles that have been adorned with work from two dozen different creatives, is scheduled to take place at Phoenix's Parazol Studios on Friday, February 1. And according to the event's organizers, the show could be a first step towards getting another arcade-themed nightspot in downtown.
--Benjamin Leatherman
Jenny Poon's Phoenix Wish List for 2013
Jenny Poon is the fearless founder of two local startups. eeko studio, a Phoenix-based boutique design agency and CO+HOOTS, a coworking space in downtown Phoenix. She says her passion lies in analyzing information and developing clear and clever visual design and messaging for her clients.
The local entrepreneur has worked over 10 years in the design industry and has used these passions to fuel the creation of Phoenix's first coworking space, a shared workspace for valley entrepreneurs to connect and collaborate. Here are a few of her Phoenix wishes for 2013.
--Claire Lawton
Seven Things Steve Wiley Should Have Grown out of by Now
Common theory would be that I have spent my last 25 years in record stores because I love music. It's unequivocally true, music is way up the ladder of loves for me. But the very close, second-place motivational factor to forging a career as the Record Store Geek (my other "persona," because God forbid I could just write as Steve Wiley) was the ability to carry on like a teenager.
The music industry does have some adults, but those are the record company suits that have been fucking it up for years. The really passionate ones -- the ones that found rock and roll and all its delicious trappings in their youth and then had a hard time growing out of it (other than the musicians, who are the ultimate dream-chasers) -- are the record store geeks like me.
When we closed Hoodlums in September, there was probably some hope among some of my loved ones that I'd turn away from my extended childhood and get a real job. But it turns out the prolonged phase had nothing to do with the record store, or the music industry. The phase was me. Instead of growing up, I found another job that would allow me to carry on my stunted growth: Writing.
So why not celebrate this realization in this week's Parent Hood? Presenting: "Seven Things I Should Have Grown Out of By Now".
--Steve Wiley
The Jackalope Flea: An Arts and Crafts Supply Sale in Downtown Phoenix
Every January, we're big fans of cleaning out our closets, dusting out the studio, and buckling down with some serious inspiration for the New Year. And lucky enough for all of us, so are a few Phoenix-based artists.
Come one, come all to the first Jackalope Flea. We've invited a dozen or so artists and collectives to clean out their supply closets and sell their goods in the Phoenix New Times parking lot on Saturday, January 12, from 9 a.m. to noon.
--Claire Lawton
Go-Kat-Go to Become Jackalope Trading Post at Its New Home on Grand Avenue
The proprietors of vintage boutique Go-Kat-Go have come up with a new name and even more kitschier focus for their new location along Grand Avenue, which opens at the beginning of next month: Jackalope Trading Post.
Needless to say, we definitely approve of the new moniker.
Go-Kat-Go co-owner Brandi Kvetko says, as the store's new name portends, it will evoke the kitschy feel of old school Arizona souvenir shops and roadside attractions, which she explains is perfectly embodied by the mythical beast the jackalope.
Read more about Jackalope Trading Post here.
--Benjamin Leatherman
Don't forget to check out Jackalope Ranch's continuing series, 100 Creatives.
