Where to begin?
That is the biggest question when it comes to the annual free festival and self-guided tour that is Art Detour. Now in its 26th year, the celebration of Phoenix's growing arts scene covers more than 100 stops, including galleries, pop-up shows, art spaces, cultural venues, and studios.
See also: 13 Favorite Places to See Art in Phoenix
Lucky for attendees, there will be a handy map available at all those participating locations as well as a double-decker bus circulating through the Roosevelt Row and Grand Avenue districts, among other arty hubs in the area, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, March 8 and 9.
Your best bet? We'd recommend perusing the map of participating locations in advance. It's available online at www.artlinkphoenix.com, along with more details. Pick and choose the spots and shows that sound coolest to you and have at 'em. If all else fails, prioritize your must-sees, improvise, and wear comfy shoes -- you've got a lot of ground to cover.
Here are Jackalope Ranch's 15 picks for must-see shows and events during Art Detour 26.
"Banned at the Herberger" at R. Pela Contemporary Art This long-awaited exhibition contains works from artist Mike Ford that were slated to appear at Herberger Theater's gallery space in a show called "Prime Example" that was curated by New Times contributor Robrt Pela. Upon seeing some of the works slated to appear in the exhibition, including one of Ford's, called The Sodomite, the venue unceremoniously canceled "Prime Example" in September 2013.
"Banned at the Herberger" will feature Ford's works, pieces by Ronnie Ray Mendez, another artist who was slated to show in the same censored exhibition, and Lisa Albinger, who wasn't involved with the Herberger show. Read the New Times cover story about how the Herberger censored art.
"Douglas Miles and Apache Skateboards: A Retrospective" at MonOrchid MonOrchid looks at the 25-year career of versatile Native American artist and his decade-old business, Apache Skateboards.
Paint PHX Though it's not technically an Art Detour-affiliated event, it will be near impossible to miss the many murals going up around Phoenix this weekend. With support from The Hive, Barrio Café, and Fifth Street Paint Supply, detour-ists can expect to see new street art along Calle 16, RoRo, and Grand Avenue, among other places. Keep tabs on the in-progress works at Paint PHX's Facebook event page. Read more.
"Twenty-Six" at Modified Arts This James Angel-curated who's-who exhibition features works from Colin Chillag, Timothy Chapman, Sue Chenoweth, Kristin Bauer, David Dauncey, Randy Slack, Carolyn Lavender, James Angel, Greg Esser, Steve Hofberger, Emmett Potter, Monica Martinez, Brent Bond, Lori Fenn, Kate Timmerman, Annie Lopez, Pete Deise, Casebeer, Christina Ramirez, Rick Toerne, Abbey Messmer, Ann Morton, Brian Boner, Jeff Falk, Amelec Diaz, Katie Hratko.
Mutant Piñata Show at Frontal Lobe Gallery The sixth annual edition of Frontal Lobe's non-traditional piñata show features more than 100 works hung from the space's vaulted ceiling.
"Urban Focus" at 720 Gallery This contemporary gallery's grand-opening show features works from Susan Osborne.
"The Future of Me" at Combine Studios ASU hosts Emerge 2014 on Friday, March 7, and on view at Combine then and throughout the weekend is what organizers are calling a forensics lab that delves into how Emerge's theme, "The Future of Me," was envisioned. Visitors can expect photos, text, video, and audio that detail how the Emerge elements were created and received.
"Wright at Home" at Drive-Thru Gallery New Times photographer Andrew Pielage presents shots of the homes of architect Frank Lloyd Wright and his family: Taliesin West and the David and Gladys Wright house.
"Abstract Abstract" at 1Spot 1Spot presents an exhibition of contemporary abstract Native American art that pushes past artists' cultural backgrounds.
Free Ego Launch at The Lab Pop-Up Gallery Designer Brian Cresson presents a new fashion collection, Struggle, along with a collaborative theatrical performance with Liliana Gomez of Phoenix Center for the Arts.
Mini-Golf at Icehouse Icehouse blends art and games with a mini-golf course designed by Arizona artists. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids under 12. Proceeds benefit the Icehouse Urban Garden Project.
All Member Exhibition at Five15 Works from the collective's members -- Donna Atwood, Henry Bellavia, Scott Cerasano, Samuel Dahl, Deborah Hodder, Jane Howey Falvey, Marlys Kubicek, Susan Risi, Mary Shindell, Michelle Terry Helmick, Joan Thompson, and Wendy Willis -- hang in a multi-media exhibition.
"A River in a Time of Dryness" at Eye Lounge Nic Wiesinger presents an exhibition of works that "explore the complex issues of place, water, drought, and the future of water management in the Valley."
Phoenix Phabulous History Mural at Walter Studios In case you missed the Art d'Core Gala debut of the Hugo Medina-curated indoor mural portraying Phoenix's past, present, and future, you can catch it at Walter Studios. Storytellers and authors will be on hand to discuss the mural.
"Multi-Verse" at The Hive The Hive presents works from Thomas "Breeze" Marcus, Chris Pappan, Debra Yepa-Pappan, and Dwayne Manuel that look at the duality of Native life, straddling rural and urban settings with traditional and contemporary awareness.
