Local artist Preston Graves has a fascination with the night. He’s not one of those creepy pseudo-goth types, nor is his art influenced by the occult, like that of Perihelion Gallery’s Rachel Bess. Graves is passionate about biology — specifically plants, cells, and living organisms that transcend the ordinary when…
Move over, MySpace and Facebook, Twitter is about to have its day. The social-networking site is three years old and has an estimated 4.5 million users worldwide. Flagstaff artist Mike Frick (a.k.a. Frickshow), is one of them. He lives on the outskirts of the town and, though he doesn’t own…
We’ve all snapped photos of our beloved pets before. And with the aid of websites like icanhascheezburger.com, we get to see everyone else’s mediocre kitty and doggy shots.So how is it that when William Wegman takes photos of his Weimaraners, it’s considered high art?I say one look at any of…
The Bragg’s Pie Factory Building, on Grand Ave, wants your trash. Of course, you have to make it into something first. And I trust that you local artists will do a spectacular job. I mean, you have an endless bounty of free materials to work with.Although I do ask that…
I am so sad to find out today that Leslie Levy Fine Art in downtown Scottsdale is closing at the end of August, after 32 years in business.It’s the latest in a string of closures in the area, famous for its well-established Arizona art galleries.Their final exhibition, “Cool and Collected”…
Last night, as Kathleen Vanesian and I were poking through the show at Lisa Sette Gallery (which is awesome, by the way), we were both whining about how much we wish we had some serious cash to throw down for art.Poor us. We, like many folks out there, just can’t…
Tomorrow, Scottsdale is getting all kindsa artsy on us. There’s the Summer Art Spectacular that you’re not going to want to miss from 7-9 p.m. But allow me to suggest another art event that you may be able to squeeze into the evening…and it’s a great way to stay in…
I have to say, I love the idea for the upcoming July exhibition at Lisa Sette Gallery. It’s called “Everything Is Illuminated: Revealing the Back Room” and it opens this Thursday, July 9, as a part of the Summer Spectacular Art Walk in Scottsdale from 7-9 p.m. I don’t know…
I love blogging about this kind of thing, I really do. Because if I’m putting words to paper (or laptop screen), that means I’m nearing the end of my deadline – just as I’m writing about a deadline for others. I feel like I’m passing some sort of stress-torch and,…
It’s been a year since I sat at Art One Gallery in Scottsdale with a Cornish Rex cat sleeping on my lap. And on a recent visit to check in with owner Kraig Foote, history repeated itself — thankfully. A year ago, Foote didn’t think Art One would stay open…
Much like the death of Michael Jackson overshadowed the loss of Farrah Fawcett, Bisbee, AZ artist Rose Johnson’s untimely and tragic demise diverted attention from the June 4th passing of 83 year old Robert Colescott, an internationally known artist who lived his last days in Tucson, AZ. We haven’t heard…
The social pressure is on to gain independence. I can’t tell you how many bitter divorced women have stressed the importance of financial and emotional autonomy to me.Of course, when I was most successful at being independent, I was pretty damn lonely. It’s a tricky game – gaining freedom without…
Just got a heads-up from Eric Iwersen, Senior Planner for the City of Tempe, that the city’s talking about preserving one of artist Rose Johnson’s murals that graces a bicycle locker at Tempe City Hall. The locker mural was executed by Johnson in 1997. Iwersen, whose job involves integrating public…
Writing a story can be disastrous if you’ve not received the proper education (just ask my editor). So if your kid is a little storyteller, likes to draw and you need a place to stick ’em for a week over the summer, local artist Cyndi Coon is your best friend.She’s…
So this whole Phx Bux idea is all over the internet. Yesterday’s report by Channel 15 has got twitter and facebook going a little nutty right now. So, of course, I gotta chime in with Arty Girl.If you haven’t heard, Phx Bux is the name of a local currency created…
Back in the late 80’s, little nine-year-old me saved my $2.50 per week allowance to buy my first cassette tape, “Faith No More: The Real Thing”. I played that thing to death on some crappy, portable tape player with one speaker. Needless to say, both the player and the cassette…
For all the talk of Rose Johnson’s good-bye fete at the Icehouse being a celebration rather than a memorial, the emotional climate at Saturday night’s send-off was more somber than sunny, as hundreds of people gathered to honor the former Phoenix artist. The Icehouse proved to be a particularly fitting…
I swear to God, if I make another, “Hey kids, with the economy being down and all…” comment on this blog, my creativity is officially tapped out.So I tread carefully as I write about MADE art boutique’s celebration of the recent, mini-recovery of the economy we’ve all barely felt with…
In the early 20th century, Marcel Duchamp stirred up controversy in the art world by displaying what he termed “readymade” art — everyday objects, like the urinal in his famous Fountain, displayed under the auspices of fine art. While some critics denounced the idea as artistic laziness, proponents argued that…
I get the feeling I’ve been pushing some early morning events on you lately and I apologize for that, I really do. But it’s summer and unless you want to go outside in devil weather, you have the choice of late evenings or early mornings for your outings (although this…
While reading this blog, please keep these catchphrases in mind:”Fake it ’til you make it.””Imitation is the highest form of flattery.””Originality is overrated.””Your living room could use some decorating.”Okay, I added that last one. I’m just trying to show that something like Phoenix Art Museum’s Archival Print Collection can work…
Yes, our state’s art budgets are in trouble – big time. But don’t panic yet. Keep cool, keep calm and keep your head because we need you out there, soldier!There’s still time to help and you can make a difference in just a few minutes without having to reach for…
