Genocide Awareness Week
John Liffiton recalls walking through the snow-covered grounds of the former Terezin concentration camp just north of Prague. The experience inspired him to help launch Genocide Awareness Week, the annual event that explores historical and contemporary issues including cultural genocide.
Held at Scottsdale Community College, 9000 East Chaparral Road, the free event runs from April 9 through 14. Monday’s lineup includes several speakers discussing such topics as the Holocaust, the Navajo Treaty of 1868, and respect and tolerance in modern society. There’s a 3 p.m. screening for the film Architects of Denial, and an opening night presentation titled Genocide in the Modern World that begins at 6.
You can explore four exhibits while you’re there, including “Then They Came for Us … ”, which addresses the Holocaust, as well as topics like the U.S. civil rights movement. There’s also “We Remember: Holocaust Art” featuring work by Scottsdale artist Robert Sutz.
For a complete schedule and event details, visit the Scottsdale Community College website. Lynn Trimble
“Go Figure: 5 Figurative Artists”
Famous works of figurative art include Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Grant Wood’s American Gothic. But you’ll find art with a whole other vibe at Mountain Shadows resort, 5445 East Lincoln Drive. They’ve got a gallery that’s always open, so you can head over anytime on Tuesday, April 10, to see an exhibition called “Go Figure: 5 Figurative Artists.”
The show includes works in various media by Jeff Bertoncino, Philip C. Curtis, Daniel Funkhouser, Beverly McIver, and John
“Not Here, Not Now, Not That: Protest Over Culture in America”
Protests about arts and culture aren’t a new idea. But you can get fresh insights into the practice during a free talk called “Not Here, Not Now, Not That: Protest Over Culture in America.” It features Steven J. Tepper, dean of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University. Tepper will share information from his 2011 book of the same title, and bring perspective to more recent controversies.
Tepper has explored the cultural landscapes in several cities, such as Charlotte, Denver, and San Francisco.
And he’s considered protests surrounding several types of work, including books, clothing, film, music, performance art, television, and visual art. Hear him talk from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, at ASU Art Museum, 51 East 10th Street in Tempe. Visit the ASU art museum website. Lynn Trimble
Blast Radius
Artist Adriene Jenik is memorializing the loss of life caused by U.S. military actions in Afghanistan during a performance called Blast Radius, which starts at 7:30 a.m. (Pacific Standard Time) on Friday, April 13. She’ll walk the blast radius for the Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb dropped by the U.S. on April 13, 2017. The radius is the perimeter of the area around the bombing site where there were serious impacts on people and the land.
“This walk seeks to memorialize the civilians who have been killed, the villages being terrorized, the populations in migration, and the lands being scarred as a result of the endless wars being carried out in our name,” Jenik says in her written artist statement for the piece. Follow her performance through a Museum of Walking live stream. Visit the Museum of Walking website. Lynn Trimble
Free Family Weekend
Maybe it’s been a minute since you spent a day at Phoenix Art Museum. If so, you’ve been missing out on a lot. Carlos Amorales’ Black Cloud installation is back. Tech dresses by Iris van Herpen fill two galleries. And Valeska Soares’ acclaimed mid-career survey exhibition “Any Moment Now” is a downright must-see.
Lucky for you, there’s time to catch up — and it won’t cost a dime. Admission to the museum is free from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 14, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 15, for this month’s Discount Tire Free Family Weekend. Expect hands-on activities, performances, free tours, and
Cycle the Arts: North Scottsdale
April is bike month here in the Valley. Which makes sense, considering spring is in full swing — and there’s no better time to enjoy the outdoors. The folks at Scottsdale Public Art are on board and hosting Cycle the Arts: North Scottsdale on Sunday, April 15, when riders can admire outdoor works of art and the blooming desert landscape on a 30-mile guided bike tour.
Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of the Valley’s art offerings, as well as a full-body workout. So it’s really a win-win for everyone.? The tour is intended for experienced riders because of its distance and route conditions. If you’re up for the challenge, the event is free. The tour begins at 7 a.m. at Mustang Library, 10101 North 90th Street, and rolls until noon. To learn more, visit Scottsdale Public Art website. Melina Zuñiga
Guadalupe Car Show
The town of Guadalupe and Intimidations Car Club band together to organize the annual Guadalupe Car Show. Now in its 17th year, the event has drawn a larger crowd at each edition thanks to its combination of free and family-friendly entertainment. For its 2018 edition, more than 250 customized lowriders will be on display.
Programming also includes
The show runs from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 15, at 9201 South Avenida del Yaqui. For more information, contact Miguel Alvarado at 480-430-8446. Jason Keil
