Tempe-based musician and Gilgongo Records’ head honcho James Fella once wrote, “This is the sound of modern absurdity,” about Fat Worm of Error’s Pregnant Babies Pregnant with Pregnant Babies.He’s so right. With Pregnant Babies, the Massachusetts-experimental-music-scene anchor has created a document that mindfucks every notion of traditional music, ranging from…
Following last night’s Toumani Diabaté concert at the Musical Instrument Museum, it’s easy to see why so many name-power musicians have collaborated with the Malian kora player. (Those names, by the way, include Björk, Taj Mahal, and Herbie Hancock.) The first and only kora player to win a Grammy Award…
If you fall into the ugh-school’s-starting-soon-and-I-can’t-find-a-cool-class-to-take category or are just looking for something eccentric and/or fun to do with your time, three Phoenix-area artists with a lot of creative pull are offering some out-of-the-box courses beginning next week.At Phoenix College, found-object-sculptural specialist, out-there musician, and former eye lounge member Joe…
The night started off awkwardly, but by show’s end, a master percussionist of Haiti had the Musical Instrument Museum audience in stitches.On Friday night, Gaston “Bonga” Jean-Baptiste and his five-piece ensemble presented mizik rasin, otherwise known as Afro-Haitian roots music. The percussion-heavy group featured Bonga and two male drummers/little instrument…
Steve Bass, the local Phoenix artist who was involved in a head-on car collision on State Route 169 near Dewey, Arizona, underwent successful surgery on Thursday at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix. Says Bass’ sister, Lori Bassani, “Steve is still critical, but making progress every day.” more information following…
It’s about time Phoenix sees some serious mural love. In the interest of giving credit to their artists and because we’re losing track of the times we’ve said, “Woah, when did that go up?”, we bring you Mural City, a series on the murals springing up around town — their…
Earlier this month, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art took hold of more than 100 donated artworks. This may not sound like a big deal, but for a small-ish museum like SMoCA, whose permanent collection numbers around 2,000 pieces (comparably, Phoenix Art Museum hordes 18,000 works), the Eason Collection addition…
Here’s another instance in which an opposing player is the only reason to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks these days. In this case, it’s Mike Leake, the ex-Arizona State University standout who’s been tearing it up for the surprisingly successful Cincinnati Reds. At press time, the hard-throwing righty, who won his…
Think of Gaston “Bonga” Jean-Baptiste as the Fela Kuti of Haitian percussion, and you may start to understand how much this artist means to mizik rasin, Haiti’s traditional roots music. The master percussionist is known all over this planet for his wizard-like merging of Vodou rhythms with ceremonial drummers, singers,…
It’s nice that some of the country’s top indie spaces are getting the love that they deserve. And it’s all thanks to a couple of ambitious cats from one of the most selfish cities in the country. Iamprimate is the solo project of New York City-based artist PJ Norman. Together…
Here’s a scenario where art changed a life. Two years ago, Alan Fitzgerald attended an Art Intersection/One Revolving Door workshop in the small Italian village of Vitiana. The program, founded by Phoenix-based artists Julie Hampton, Carol Panaro-Smith, and others, was one of Fitzgerald’s first hands-on experiences with art during a…
For its tenth year, the 2010 Scottsdale International Film Festival plans to roll out a collection of seriously dynamic feature films. The five-day, thirty-film festival will screen several award winners, such as Reykjavík-Rotterdam, a thriller that, to date, is one of the most expensive films in Icelandic cinema history; the…
New Times has confirmed with the Arizona Department of Public Safety and the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office that longtime downtown Phoenix artist Steve Bass was the driver of the Dodge 3500 pick-up truck that collided head-on with a car carrying three Yavapai County Sheriff’s detention officers over the weekend. Officers…
ペチャクチャTranslation: PechaKucha (pronounced “Peh-cha Kuh-cha” with emphasis on the first syllables). It’s another way to say that anyone with the gift of gab, public speaking, or creative ideas can present whatever they have cooking in the brain cavity.The creative networking event geared toward up-and-coming designers was invented in Tokyo in…
It’s about time this stuff was seen on a bigger stage. Beatrice Moore, owner of Bragg’s Pie Factory, Kooky Krafts, and many other central Phoenix art spaces, announced this week that several pieces from the Moore-curated “Mutant Piñata” show have been selected for the “People’s Biennial.” Phoenicians can check out…
Pardon the dust at Jackrabbit Lounge, but it’s much needed, according to co-owner Don Serpe. For the past few weeks, the fancy-pants Old Town Scottsdale club, known for its 4,000 square feet of glitz and glamour, has undergone some minor renovations as well as some rumor squashing. This weekend, the…
Lisa Albinger will probably never be thumping Bibles any time soon. However, her new painting exhibit at Perihelion Arts is influenced by religion. But not in a cliché way. You see, the work in Albinger’s “Holy Mary Mother of Birds” includes a likeness of Saint Francis of Assisi. With a…
Lisa Albinger will probably never be thumping Bibles any time soon. However, her new painting exhibit at Perihelion Arts is influenced by religion. But not in a cliché way. You see, the work in Albinger’s “Holy Mary Mother of Birds” includes a likeness of Saint Francis of Assisi. With a…
Lisa Albinger will probably never be thumping Bibles any time soon. However, her new painting exhibit at Perihelion Arts is influenced by religion. But not in a cliché way. You see, the work in Albinger’s “Holy Mary Mother of Birds” includes a likeness of Saint Francis of Assisi. With a…
Somebody should have thought of this sooner: The End of Summer Bowling Blowout merges two way-fun activities – shopping and bowling – into one awesome thingy. On the fashion tip, expect to score jewelry, accessories, and True Religion jeans on the cheap. Bowling-wise, knock down some pins for Phoenix Day,…
Yes, Phoenix is forever trying to be all L.A. However, until we pop into a Starbucks on a weekday afternoon and witness the entire joint brimming with laptop-wielding folks looking busy while sculpting their “screenplay,” the Los Angeles-ification of the Valley probably isn’t happening soon. But that doesn’t mean that…
Lisa Albinger’s “Holy Mary Mother of Birds” opens with a First Friday artist’s reception from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, August 6. New Times rapped with her about her latest series of works, which will hang at Perihelion Arts through month’s end. The following is in Albinger’s words:”Holy Mary Mother…
