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.
Game Over: Organizers of Annual Video Game Fest "Devastation" Cancel This Year's Event
Gamers of the Valley, put down your controllers for a second and pay attention, because we've got some bad news: This year's Devastation is a no-go.
According to an organizer of the annual event -- which has taken place since 2005 and is essentially a gigantic video gaming fest featuring professional tournaments, cosplay action, and other joystick-related fun -- the 2012 edition of Devastation has been cancelled.
Robb Chiarini, event director for Devastation, confirmed that it was game over of this year's event during a brief phone conversation.
Read on to find out more about why Devastation was cancelled.
--Benjamin Leatherman
The NFL Announces Support of Bob Carey's The Tutu Project with a Half-Time Show
It's been almost six months since Bob Carey's world completely changed. The photographer (who grew up in Phoenix, but now works in New York) had been working on a series of self-portraits -- in each, he wears only a large tutu surrounded by landscapes and city scenes across the country.
And this October, Carey added a few more epic backgrounds to the list -- National Football League Stadiums.
Carey started photographing himself in a tutu as a means of expression when his wife Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer more than six years ago. The series (which he calls "Ballerina") has been showcased in galleries and museums and quickly caught the attention of a few foundations that approached his with an opportunity to raise money for breast cancer research.
From Ballerina "The Tutu Project" was born, and has since been featured on The Today Show, Carson Daily, and Yahoo! News (to name a few). And Carey announced recently that the NFL will support the project by granting access to stadiums across the county, including The New York Giant's MetLife Stadium, Indianapolis Colts' Lucas Oil Stadium, and the Arizona Cardinals' University of Phoenix Stadium.
--Claire Lawton
A Downtown Phoenix Wish List: Seven Arts/Culture Resources We Need
Yes, downtown Phoenix has a (growing) culture of its own -- and plenty of spots that make us happy and proud to claim it as our own. But the grass, er dirt lot, could always be greener, and along with Chow Bella, we've come up with a few wishes we have for the hub we call home.
Here are a few arts/culture-related wishes we have for downtown Phoenix, inspired by lofty wishes, places we've been around town, and drool-worthy spots around the country. (And if we miss anything, feel free to add your own wishes in the comment section.)
See our full wish list for downtown Phoenix.
--Claire Lawton
Three Must-Attend Events at Phoenix Design Week 2012
When Phoenix Design Week kicks off on Monday, September 24, there are plenty of ways to get in on the design-centric fun -- whether it's your life's work or you're simply an avid admirer of desirable design. To aid in your choosing process (you have plenty of options), we picked three must-attend events that'll provide different insights into the design world.
Check out the full list of must-see Design Week events.
--Becky Bartkowski
The Seven Worst Theme Parks in the World
If you've ever been to Disneyland/World/Universe, you know first-hand how magical a day at the theme park can be. But last week when we shared the south-of-the-border theme park, La Caminata Nocturna, where guests enjoy a four-hour "illegal experience" akin to crossing the US/Mexico border we got to thinking about all the other crazy ways people can spend money to be entertained.
And if that's not bad enough, we've dug up a list of some of the most politically incorrect, disturbing, and downright terrifying (in a bad way) theme parks from the far corners of the globe. So come, take a ride on Skid Mark Rollercoaster with us. (Really, that's a ride.)
See our full list of the worst amusement parks in the world.
--Lauren Saria
Don't forget to check out Jackalope Ranch's continuing series, 100 Creatives.
