"Quinn's Wandering: Of Books and Cities'"
Central Gallery, an art space located inside downtown Phoenix's Burton Barr Central Library, continues to host an exhibition of multimedia works this month. The two-month long display features the art of architect and designer Steve Valev. The artist, who earned a master's degree in architecture from Arizona State University, has called the Valley home for more than two decades.
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"Quinn's Wanderings: Of Books and Cities" tackles the intersection of politics, sociology, and everyday life as Valev sees it, using abstract design to create commentary. Through these prints and pieces, viewers are encouraged to explore and question their understanding of these topics.
The exhibition is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday, September 22, at 1221 North Central Avenue. "Quinn's Wanderings" will remain on view during normal library hours through Wednesday, October 15. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org or call 602-262-6157. Janessa Hilliard
"Journeys of a Photographer: The Photography of Sue Cullumber"
To Chandler artist Sue Cullumber, all the world's a stage. Passing up on phony poses and props, this outdoor photographer looks at the natural world through unique viewpoints at the times of day when the lighting and color are just right. Cullumber is special education teacher who interest in photography evolved from recreational activity to real life passion. Her works, inspired by her journey into the great outdoors both locally and abroad, serve as aesthetic tools to raise discussion about environmental conservation.
Journeys of a "Photographer: Artworks by Sue Cullumber" is on view Friday, August 15, through Saturday, October 25, at the Chandler Center for the Arts Gallery, 250 North Arizona Avenue. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free. For details, visit www.chandlercenter.org. Katie Johnson
There might be a few current pop stars that can forge a catchy tunes but it's unlikely they'd be able to wrap it in a memorable narrative like some of the singer-songwriters of the 1960s and '70s. The Storytellers sings their praise in the latest Lunch Time Theater production on Wednesday, September 24.
Annie Moscow is a singer-songwriter herself with songwriting credits for Sister Sledge, Sarah Vaughn, and Mickey Mouse via the 1997 Walt Disney Records release Scary Songs. Now a valley resident, Moscow's one-woman show, The Storytellers, is a musical tribute to the singer-songwriters of a bygone era whose voices include Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and James Taylor.
Lunch Time Theater presents The Storytellers at the Kax Stage of the Herberger Theater Center, 222 East Monroe Street, through Thursday, October 2. Showtimes are 12:10 p.m., and tickets are $6. Visit www.herbergertheater.org or call 602- 252-8497 for more information. Jose Gonzalez
Lit Lounge: Best of Phoenix Edition
Storytelling is having a moment. The craze for first-person tales and re-tellings has swept the nation - and Phoenix right along with it. The city's home to quite a few series, with Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art's Lit Lounge a perennial favorite. On Thursday, September 25, the banner series teams up with New Times to present Lit Lounge: The Best of Phoenix Edition at Crescent Ballroom.
Fittingly, the theme of the 2014 edition of Best of Phoenix is "Tales of the City." And it's no coincidence. With stories from bestselling author Laurie Notaro, SmoCA curator of performing arts Tania Katan, and New Times contributors Robrt L. Pela, Amy Silverman, and Katie Johnson, the evening's sure to include some unforgettable tales of our fair city.
Showtime is 7 p.m. at 308 North Second Avenue. Tickets are $10 and available at www.crescentphx.com. Call 602-716-2222. Becky Bartkowski
Filmmakers of Phoenix Showcase
The local filmmaking scene has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade, and Running Wild Films seems to be leading the current charge forward. The latest edition of the filmmaking outfit's FPS: Filmmakers of Phoenix Showcase shines bright on Friday, September 26.
Running Wild Films might be best known for its Herculean effort last year to churn out 52 short films in the 52 weeks of 2013. RWF hasn't slowed down this year; the monthly FPS series places the spotlight on the collective's efforts and collaborations. Friday will see a half-dozen shorts featured including Escort Driver: Dead End from Running Wild head honcho Travis Mills, Cinders in the Dark, the first filmmaking effort for Running Wild Films and 5J Media by actor-turned-director Mia Moss, and Deserted, RWF's submission for the recently revived Project Greenlight on HBO. This is all while pre-production work continues on Durant's Never Closes.
FPS: Filmmakers of Phoenix Showcase is at The Hive, 2222 North 16th Street. The showcase begins at 8 p.m., and admission is $5. For more information, visit www.runningwildfilms.com. Jose Gonzalez
