Audio By Carbonatix
When we last put the spotlight on 100 creative forces in Phoenix, it was no secret there were more than 100 individuals who were making waves in the local arts community. So as we count down to our annual Best of Phoenix issue, we’re profiling 100 more. Welcome (back) to 100 Creatives.
Ashley Harder grew up around old buildings in Boston, and says she learned a lot from her sister, who currently redevelops big-city structures and neighborhood buildings in their hometown.
In 2005, she landed in Arizona (for the second time, but more on that later) with a cosmetics gig and a social life in Scottsdale. But after she started driving Downtown and becoming involved in the arts and business scene, she decided to ditch the cosmetics industry and start investing in the infrastructure in the heart of the city.
In 2011, the local arts advocate started her own business, Harder Development, and transformed the 3,000 square-foot space at 335 W. McDowell Road into a multi-use retail spot that’s hosted gallery shows, community meetings, and will soon be home to a handful of local retail businesses (and a pretty sweet mural going up this weekend).
I came to Phoenix with… My high school sweetheart in my Mom’s Volvo station wagon. I wanted to escape a New England winter and thought moving west to California was too much of a cliché. I’d never been here and immediately thought I’d moved to the ugliest city I’d ever seen. But being 18 years old I was determined to not admit defeat by leaving and I stayed on for a year. I came back in ’05 because I was ready to admit that I loved AZ, ugly parts and all.
I make art because… I don’t consider what I do ‘making art’ but I am a creative person that seeks out ways to express my creativity. Something within nags me to give it an outlet. This something would probably eat me alive if I didn’t tend to it. I don’t know, I’m trying to not find out so I take that monster out on a walk as much as I can so to speak.
I’m most productive when… I’m nurturing my creative side and pursuing work I’m passionate about. Deadlines and ample time alone don’t hurt either.
My inspiration wall is full of… Photographs of my family, pictures of places I want to travel to, lots of maps and aerial photos of Phoenix and artwork made by my nieces.
I’ve learned most from … Getting real with myself and acknowledging my fears, then more importantly taking a giant cannonball jump through them. This has allowed me to “do” and you learn from doing.
Good work should always… Engage its audience and be well crafted.
The Phoenix creative scene could use more… Entrepreneurial investment. We definitely aren’t lacking the talent but some vehicles to guide its growth and harness the potential could be helpful.
The Creatives, so far … (And while you’re here, check out 100 Tastemakers on Chow Bella.)
100:Lara Plecas
99. Isaac Caruso
98. Brandon Gore
97. Kelsey Dake
96. Hector Ruiz
95. Caroline Battle
94: Jennifer Campbell
93. Jeff Chabot
92. Tiffiney Yazzie
91. Daniel Germani
90. Irma Sanchez
89. Daniel m. Davis
88. Kirstin Van Cleef
87. Emmett Potter
86. Sarah Hurwitz
85. Christine Cassano
84. Fred Tieken
83. Lindsay Kinkade
82. Ruben Galicia
81. Robert Uribe
80. Heidi Abrahamson
79. Josephine Davis
78. Travis Ladue
77. Taz Loomans
76. Mikey Jackson
75. Alex Empty
74. Joe Ray
73. Carol Roque
72. Daniel Funkhouser
71. Carla Chavarria
70. Hugo Medina
69. Cavin Costello
68. Claire Carter
67. Lindsay Tingstrom
66. Catherine Ruane
65. Christopher Crosby
64. Aaron Johnson
63. Brenda Eden
62. Colton Brock
61. Ernesto Moncada
60. Benjamin Phillips
59. Brad Armstrong
58. Angela Hardison
57. Tyler Quinn
56. Andrew James Benson
55. Charles Anthony Darr
54: Tiffe Fermaint
53. Eric Cox
52. Victor Vasquez
51. John Randall Nelson
50. Lauren Lee
49. Kyle Jordre
48. Julie C. Kent
47. Sean Deckert
46. Niba DelCastillo
45. Joseph Benesh
