9 Cool Things We Saw During Phoenix First Friday on April 3

First Friday seemed to ramp up a bit earlier than usual on Friday night, as people hit local galleries, explored tables covered in artwork and other wares for sale, and watched a few aerosol artists painting live during outdoor demonstrations. Story strips at Eye Lounge Art lovers got to double…

7 Must-See First Friday Shows in Phoenix on April 3

April’s First Friday has plenty to offer — including vintage film posters, princess glam photography, and street art by metro Phoenix muralists. Take advantage of weather that’s merely warm rather than blistering to explore a new film offering, celebrate the life of a local arts activist, and consider issues related…

Inside John and Liz Tavarez’s Gothic Glam Home in Phoenix

If Tim Burton and Betsey Johnson were to build a life together in downtown Phoenix, it likely would look something like John and Liz Tavarez’s 1926 Sears Craftsman home. Located in the Fairview neighborhood just east of the Arizona State Fairgrounds, the historic abode is best described as gothic glam…

Modern Phoenix Week 2015: Your Guide to This Year’s Events

Midcentury Modern masters and mavens, we don’t have to remind you what’s happening April 10 through 19 in Phoenix. For everyone else, we’ll give you a hand: It’s Modern Phoenix Week. With 26 speakers and seven event locations, the weeklong architecture and design bonanza is going to be something every…

Postcommodity Retools Mechanisms of Western Culture to Critique Itself at SMoCA

Indigenous art collective Postcommodity’s two installations currently on display at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art as part of its “southwestNET” series until April 26, 2015 transform idyllic imagery into a subversive spectacle, utilizing Western culture to critique itself. The Southwest-based interdisciplinary collective currently consists of Raven Chacon, Cristóbal Martínez, Kade…

“Minimally Speaking” Plays With Art History at Bentley Gallery in Phoenix

Plenty of ink has been spilled on the topic of minimalism, a particular type of art process and product popularized during the 1960s. John Reyes, director for Bentley Gallery, describes it as art meant to be “totally objective, unexpressive, and non-referential.” It followed something called abstract expressionism, a style prevalent…

2015 Arizona Governor’s Arts Award Winners Announced

Winners of the 2015 Arizona Governor’s Arts Awards were announced in a Tuesday, March 24, ceremony at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel. The awards honor both individuals and businesses who have made substantial and outstanding contributions to arts and culture in Arizona and are presented by the Office of Governor…

Suzanne and Bud Selig Donate $2.5 Million to Phoenix Art Museum

Suzanne and Bud Selig have donated $2.5 million to Phoenix Art Museum, the museum’s board announced in a March 19 statement. Suzanne, a member of the museum’s board of trustees, and Bud, former Major League Baseball commissioner, reside in Scottsdale. Their donation will be used to fund a chief curator…

Lindsay Kinkade on the State of the Arts in Metro Phoenix

When Jackalope Ranch issued a 10-question survey asking Phoenicians (and anyone with an opinion of Phoenix) to sound of on the state of the arts in the Valley of the Sun, dozens provided insights on what’s happening in the city’s creative realm. We’ll present a selection of survey responses here…

6 Must-See Third Friday Art Shows in Phoenix on March 20

We’ve finally hit the art-meets-weather sweet spot, when temperatures are just right for making the art walk rounds during First and Third Fridays. A whole new crop of shows opens this week, and some cool shows are about to close. So start early, and enjoy this mix of art and…

Greg Esser on the State of the Arts in Metro Phoenix

When Jackalope Ranch issued a 10-question survey asking Phoenicians (and anyone with an opinion of Phoenix) to sound of on the state of the arts in the Valley of the Sun, dozens provided insights on what’s happening in the city’s creative realm. We’ll present a selection of survey responses here…

Kevin Vaughan-Brubaker on the State of the Arts in Metro Phoenix

When Jackalope Ranch issued a 10-question survey asking Phoenicians (and anyone with an opinion of Phoenix) to sound of on the state of the arts in the Valley of the Sun, dozens provided insights on what’s happening in the city’s creative realm. We’ll present a selection of survey responses here…

8 Must-See Art Shows in Metro Phoenix This Spring

An artist who created a fictional queer family history. An artist best known for rendering soup cans. An artist who works with bits of screen and guitar strings. They’re all part of spring exhibitions in metro Phoenix, which invite reflection on everything from the commodification of nature to the cult…

Downtown Phoenix Murals and Property Defaced During Paint PHX Event

We saw some beautiful murals go up during Paint PHX 2015, a four-day mural painting event organized by Thomas “Breeze” Marcus and other local artists, which officially kicked off last Thursday, March 5 and continued through Sunday, March 8. Most of the activity was centered in Roosevelt Row, Grand Avenue,…