‘Cultivating Joy’ art exhibit brightened up Tempe’s Danelle Plaza

On a day when many people were struggling to think positively, Rocket Space Gallery in Tempe's Danelle Plaza was full of good vibes.

Rocket Space, so named because it's the former home of alt-fashion mecca Rocket a Go~Go, was bustling on Jan. 20; in addition to a full table of visitors working on collages, there was a steady stream of visitors to see "Cultivating Joy," a pop-up art exhibit curated by artist and teacher Kyllan Maney.

"Cultivating Joy" opened on Jan. 16 and featured the work of 65 local artists.

"The genesis of the idea for the show was I wanted to create a show that was a post-holiday, pre-inauguration place to come and recharge your mental health batteries, and really celebrate artists and their creative processes," Maney says.

Artists in the show ranged from 14 to 70 years old and included students from New School for the Arts & Academics in Tempe, where Maney has taught for decades.

To her delight, the opening night was "gangbusters," she says. "At 6 o’clock when we opened our doors, it was packed. It was pretty unbelievable, because we’re usually off to a slow start with art openings. But it seemed to get a really great response."

That night and through the holiday weekend, hundreds of people filed through the space to see the works that the participating artists thought best exemplified the theme of the show.

The responses from attendees were "really great, positive ones — people just loving the energy in the space, loving the artwork and finding a piece that really spoke to them. There’s a lot of play in the exhibit, nice places to sit down and enjoy, and then there were a lot of people who hadn’t seen each other in a really long time making connections," Maney says.

While there are no concrete plans in place for a follow-up show, Maney says she would love to see the show grow and include even more artists in the next iteration.

Up next for Rocket Space Gallery is "Powers Out: A 7-Year Anniversary Celebration of The Danelle Project," a free, all-ages pop-up event by The Coven Phoenix that will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31. The Danelle Project is a collaboration that aims to save and preserve the historic plaza for future use by locals and creatives. "Powers Out" will feature artists, vendors, live painting, music and more. Danelle Plaza is located at 37 W. Southern Ave., Tempe. See the Facebook event for more information.