In a couple of weeks, it’ll be time for everyone to wallow in shame over all the things they should have done in 2015 but never did. For those already starting to fervently wish they’d spent more time supporting local arts and culture, December’s Third Friday is a chance to…
It could have ended in Dallas last June, when 18-year-old Miami tap dancer Gaby Diaz auditioned for season 12 of the FOX reality TV competition So You Think You Can Dance. Diaz didn’t make the cut that time around, after performing a routine the judges described as way too busy…
Artists with diverse styles took to exterior walls throughout metro Phoenix during 2015, creating a vibrant assortment of narrative, figurative, and abstract murals addressing themes from migration to desert wildlife. Here’s a look at the 10 best. For the Love of Color Phoenix artist Carrie Marill, an artist represented by…
December’s First Friday featured more exhibitions than anyone could possibly experience in a single outing. It’s a good problem to have, but it’s frustrating for those who want to really linger over the artwork or spend time in conversation rather than racing between destinations. Even with Third Fridays, which provide another…
Need proof that the Phoenix arts scene is filled with diverse and intriguing offerings? You’ll find plenty of evidence during December’s First Friday art walk, which features artworks exploring urban decay, ice, gender identity, light, and celebrity. Here’s a sampling of shows, including one that couples visual art with dance,…
It’s easy to get a steady flamenco fix in metro Phoenix, thanks to Flamenco Por La Vida, the dance company founded in 2009 by Angelina Ramirez, who continues to perform with the company and serve as its artistic director. This week, Flamenco Por La Vida presents its third Lluvia Flamenca…
A mural once imbued with authentic local love has been transformed into an American Express ad. For several years now, people cruising down Central Avenue near Civic Space Park in downtown Phoenix have been greeted by a blast from the past —- a mural depicting a trio of local legends…
It’s easier to feel good about devoting time and money to shopping when you know your gift choices help support local artists and small businesses. So we went in search of 25 cool holiday gift options with a local arts-and-culture twist — including several made by local artists and artisans…
Stray Cat Theatre, a Tempe-based indie theater company that presents classic and contemporary works with a smart and edgy vibe, will move to Tempe Center for the Arts in June of 2016, artistic director Ron May says. Stray Cat’s final production at its current venue, Tempe Performing Arts Center (TPAC) located…
This time of year, people tend to fall into two camps: those dying to get out and find the perfect holiday gifts, and those who can’t quite fathom the fact that holidays are fast approaching. This month’s Third Friday has plenty to offer either way. For holiday shoppers, it’s a…
British artist Bruce Munro specializes in immersive large-scale light-based installations and has created works for several metro Phoenix settings, including Lisa Sette Gallery and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. His installation for the Desert Botanical Garden opens Friday, November 20, and his installation for Scottsdale Public Art, already on view…
Issues related to racial injustice are prevalent in contemporary political rhetoric, as both activists and creatives acknowledge that American society has yet to keep its promise of liberty and justice for all. Artists like Kara Walker, whose large-scale cut-paper silhouettes depict scenes infused with racial stereotypes, are part of the…
The Heard Museum recently received a $1.1 million grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, which will fund two major initiatives at the museum — including refreshing and updating a long-term exhibition titled “Remembering Our Indian School Days: The Boarding School Experience.” The exhibition explores the history and impact…
After closing R. Pela Contemporary Art gallery in Phoenix during the summer of 2015, Robrt Pela has decided to forgo the brick-and-mortar gallery model in favor of presenting exhibitions in non-traditional spaces for 2016. Starting in January 2016, you’ll find exhibitions presented by R. Pela Contemporary Art at Central Arts…
After Jessica Rajko learned about the trend of Europeans holding American-style parties complete with hot dogs and drinks served in disposable cups, she started thinking more about drinking culture among young Americans. The Tempe-based performer, choreographer, and intermedia digital media artist has since choreographed a work titled I’m Not as Think…
Whether you’re a fine artist or casual crafter, you may find that at least one of these calls for art is well-matched to your interests. We’ve found all sorts of opportunities, from painting a piano for a local performing arts center to creating a Christmas wreath for an alternative theater…
November’s First Friday was all about vibrant art spaces. Museums, galleries, small businesses, and pop-up marketplaces filled with creatives showing and selling their wares highlighted the breadth and depth of the local arts scene — proving that giving people different ways to experience art across a wide spectrum is a…
Creative types in the Grand Avenue arts district in downtown Phoenix have big plans for Saturday, November 14 – when the seventh annual Grand Avenue Festival gives locals and tourists alike all sorts of cool ways to get to know the historic neighborhood and the people who give it life…
Phoenix gallery goers have seen works by artist Fred Tieken exhibited in several local settings from monOrchid in Roosevelt Row to ArtelPhx at the Clarendon Hotel, but soon they’ll be able to see work by the 80-year-old creative, along with 44 additional artists, exhibited in the new Tieken Gallery, located…
November’s First Friday will be a night of firsts and lasts. It’ll be your first chance to see an exhibition in the new Carline Center, an adaptive re-use project by Harder Development, and your first chance to see an exhibition at the new Public Image located at Roosevelt Point. It’s…
Alliance Residential Company, a Phoenix-based firm that has previously developed mixed-use properties in metro Phoenix using the Broadstone brand, plans to build a multi-family residential complex in the heart of Roosevelt Row. It’s the latest in a slew of changes slated for the downtown Phoenix arts district. A preliminary site…
Roosevelt Growhouse got a new look in late September as Carrie Marill, an artist represented by Lisa Sette Gallery, began painting a mural on a couple of its exterior walls. The mural, which Marill titled Hand Tools, features images of various items culled from Roosevelt Growhouse, which serves as community…
