Join + Cast: A Field Guide to Contemporary Art in Phoenix has been a labor of love for the past year-and-a-half for co-creators (and local artists) Jennifer Campbell and Catherine Akins.
The book features maps and information for many urban galleries in the Greater Phoenix area, interviews and profiles of local artists, a Do-It-Yourself section, and about 50 examples of the artists' works.
"We wanted to bring together the Phoenix art community more so that everybody was aware where the contemporary galleries were, how they can reach them, and what artists are doing important work right now," says Campbell. "We also wanted for non-artists to get interested in what's going on as well. We wanted all of this information in one place."
Check out where to grab one after the jump ...
Tonight, you can take a peek at a copy and check out work of the artists involved with the book, including Jason Koster, Ani Tung, Sean Deckert, and Kelly Flanagan, with performances from MAN-CAT, Kon Stamadianos, and Angelica Jubran Bishara at A.E. England Gallery.
The book was funded by ASU's Performing Arts Venture Experience feed grants and contains unique goodies from the group of more than 80 artists who contributed, which means that each book will be its own original package.
Campbell says she and the Join + Cast group just finished packing the first 75 copies and that proceeds from the book will go toward printing more.
Tonight, the group will be taking reservations for future payment. Campbell says the book will then be delivered to each buyer by July 15.
"It's a good coffee table book," Campbell says. "I think it has something for everyone."
Join + Cast's opening reception/book release party takes place tonight, July 1, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the A.E. England Gallery at 424 North Central Avenue in Phoenix, with the closing reception on July 15th.
The exhibit will run until July 29. Visit Join + Cast's Facebook event page for more information.
