See also: Harder Development to Open a Pop-Up Gallery and Diner on McDowell Road See also: Calle 16, A Mural Project
On August 11, a team of local artists will add some fresh paint to downtown Phoenix for a good cause.
The Great Paint Escape, presented by Harder Development is an art project, live mural painting, and silent auction to benefit Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona.
From 6 p.m. to midnight, artists Hugo Medina, Sebastien Millon, JB Snyder, Angel Diaz, Katie Beltran, Amanda Adkins, Colton Brock, Pablo Luna, Thomas Breeze Marcus, Gennaro Garcia and Aaron Johnson will create artworks with the kids from the group for sale and together, they'll cover a wall at Harder Development with what's bound to be an epic example of some serious artistic, collaborative talent.
Harder Development is owned and operated by Ashley Harder, who moved to Phoenix from Boston seven years ago. Since setting in, Harder ditched her cosmetics gig, moved downtown, started a development firm (which she knew a bit about from experience in Boston), and renovated the 3,000 square-foot space at 335 W. McDowell Road into a multi-use retail spot that opened a year ago.
Harder told New Times in May of last year that her goal was to create opportunities for development and support local business in the process -- all while maintaining a space's character and sticking to solid design standards.
And she's been sticking to that goal ever since.
This weekend, her space will be full of volunteers and members of Free Arts of Arizona, a nonprofit that brings art to homeless and abused children in Maricopa County. Local artists and members of Calle 16 will team up with kids from the community to complete the mural and to create artwork that will be on display and for sale during September's First Friday from 6 to 9 p.m..
On Saturday, DJ Shane Kennedy will spin beats in the background and snacks and drinks will be provided for participants and art fans. For more info, check out The Great Paint Escape Facebook page.