Laura Spalding Best’s “Tarnish No. 1”

Artist: Laura Spalding Best

Medium: Oil on metal

I have been exploring the urban landscape of the valley for several years now. My paintings separate and celebrate the blights on the vista. The utility poles and power lines that have undeniably become part of our collective vision join with the palm trees and saguaros to create a new shared aesthetic of the southwest.

The countdown to Best of Phoenix continues! Last year, we profiled 100 Creatives who made a mark on the local arts scene. This year, we’ll have 100 creative representations of Phoenix.  No scope or requirement on medium or size — we’ll include photography, painting, sculpture, video, installation, literary, and more. What do you see when you Imagine PHX?

Imagine PHX, so far: 100: Steven Revering’s Westward Ho

99: Jon Ashcroft’s Suspended in Geography 

98: William LeGoullon’s Table
97. Jason Hill’s Phoenix Financial Center96. Kyle DeWitt’s Tempe Center for the Arts95: Allison Elliott’s Walls of Downtown Phoenix
94. Fausto Fernandez’s Grid City
93. Chikara Kakizawa’s Ship Out of Water
92: Dayvid LeMmon’s Process / Gentrification
91. Irma Sanchez’s Phoenix Rising
90. Eduardo Rivera’s De Colores
89. Arnold Guerrero’s Camelback Mountain
88. Sean Deckert’s Ginae vs. the 12th Street Gang 
87. Pete Petrisko’s Admiral of Phoenix
86. Quincy Ross’ Lone Skyscraper
85. Andrew Armstrong’s Illustrated Cityscape 
84. Thomas Schultz’s Phoenix Artifact
83. Adrian Lesoing’s N. Evergreen
82. Suzanne Falk’s Kon Tiki Hotel
81. Lindz Lew’s Bon Voyeur
80. Kevin Patterson’s Phoenix Swamp Beast
79. Ramy Sidarous’ Three Windows
78. Will Mejia’s Orpheum Theatre
77. Steve Weiss’ Portrait of Louis Lee
76. Larry Willis’ Apparition on East McDowell
75. Claire Warden’s Untitled No. 3
74. Randy Zucker’s Dancing Saguaro
73. Robert Brandan Martinez’s Medical Cannabis Tax Stamp
72. Edward Jensen’s Phoenix Financial Center71. Andrew Knochel’s View from PURL70. Mark Dudlik’s Phoenix Rebound69. C.J. Dyer’s Bird’s Eye View68. Virginia Martinez’s Airport Scene67. Carrie Marill’s “It’s a Cowboy State”66. Eric Iwersen’s The Saguaros Have Been Here the Longest65. Danielle D’Aleo’s 602far64. Jesa Townsend’s Stars of Flowers63. Andrew Pielage’s Sandra Day O’Connor Courthouse62. Carol Panaro-Smith and James Hajicek’s Arc of Departure
61. A Military Parade in Phoenix (c. 1888)60. Charles Anthony Darr’s Phoenix Haboob59. Lisa Marie Sipe’s Sweeping Succulent 
58. Brad Armstrong’s Phoenix Carnival 
57. B. Spiderman’s “… And I Never Did Get That Pony Either”
56. Colton Brock’s 810 N. 4th St. 
55. Melanie and Michelle Craven’s Twin Cactus
54. 407 E Roosevelt St.
53. Betty Schlueter’s “The Sonoran”
52. Saskia Jorda’s “You are Here – Part I: Migration”
51. Tempe’s Mill Avenue (c. 1930)
50. Michael and Kemper Goodwin’s City Hall
49. Cornelius Keyes’ Dust Storm Over Phoenix
48. Melissa McGurgan’s Home Suite Home: PHX
47. Fred Tieken’s Western Civilization
46. Andy Brooks and Danny Stoeller’s I CACTUS PHX
45. Brian Brook’s Phoenix Arm
44. Kristin Heggli’s Downtown Architecture43. Jill Johnson’s Downtown Is …42. Peter Bugg and William LeGoullon’s Embedded
41. Downtown’s Hotel San Carlos (c. 1940)40. Rembrandt Quiballo’s Cinematic Panorama39. Sebastien Millon’s “Phoenix. It’s Fabulous.”38. Howdy from Phoenix37. beth tom’s “we live here” 36. Merz Studio’s Professional Building35. Evan Wyloge’s View from 44 Monroe34. Harry Herz’s Hole in Rock 33. Jason Kernevich and Dustin Summers’ The Valley of the Sun

And, hey! It’s lunch time. Check out Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes for some foodie inspiration. 

Have a suggestion for a Phoenix icon by a local creative? Leave it in the comments section or email Claire.Lawton@newtimes.com

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