Longtime followers of the Phoenix art scene must have done a little happy dance upon hearing of Annie Lopez’s solo show at the Phoenix Art Museum. Lopez is a fourth-generation Arizonan and has been a steady presence in the Phoenix-area art scene since the early 1980s. Remember MARS Artspace? Lopez showed her inventive photography and … Continue reading Arizona artist profile: Annie Lopez
Here I am, blatantly stealing Justin Germain’s lines from a media statement for June’s First Friday show “Thermal PHX” at the MonOrchid gallery: “The title for this exhibition comes from my memories of learning from my parents, both hang glider pilots, about how to fly using heat bubbles, or ‘thermals’ that rise from the desert … Continue reading Catching a few thermals on Roosevelt Row
An attractive building amid the Mesa Arts Center complex, the MCA Museum usually mounts four to five shows at a time in its relatively small galleries. There have been times I’ve visited when not all the shows appealed to me. Last visit, though, I feel like I hit the jackpot, and I recommend you see … Continue reading 5 reasons to visit Mesa Contemporary Arts
I’m enjoying my ascent up the learning curve as I get to know more about the downtown Phoenix art scene, and much of that enjoyment comes from matching particular galleries with particular people — and recognizing more and more names in our city’s stable of artists. A couple of hours were well spent at the … Continue reading Putting good art together with names in downtown Phoenix
I have heard Mayme Kratz described as one of the hardiest souls to be working as an artist in the desert. There is an obvious reason for that accolade once you understand how the process of creating her gorgeous resin panels begins. Kratz’s first step is donning her sun hat and hiking shoes and traversing … Continue reading Finding the ethereal in Mayme Kratz’s work
Although I can’t exactly say that I did justice to our city’s annual Art Detour — a weekend-long central Phoenix art walk, kicked up a notch — I can say that my handful of “detours” into galleries were quite worthwhile. Unfortunately, I had to miss out on a ton of artful antics and diversions, including … Continue reading Phoenix’s Art Detour is 25 years strong
If you’re OK with visual art that not only provokes thought, but also produces a little emotional discomfort, then I recommend following the work of Phoenix-based fiber artist Ann Morton. Here’s what you can see — and squirm about — in her current show at Modified Arts on Roosevelt Row, a four-part installation called “Unentitled: … Continue reading Arizona artist profile: Ann Morton
The Phoenix area is fortunate to have a number of shops offering unique, handcrafted items — some items quite affordable and some approaching art gallery prices. In many cases — icing on the cake — the items are locally made. I stopped by two shops in the last few weeks and within minutes of visiting … Continue reading Places to support your local artisans
It’s always a pleasure to become newly familiar with an Arizona artist, so I am glad I came across an exhibition of Ellen Wagener works this week at Gebert Contemporary in Scottsdale. Technically, Wagener creates landscapes, using pastel on paper in amazingly detailed work and delivering reverent views of Arizona agricultural fields, deserts, rivers and … Continue reading Wagener’s cloudscapes capture beauty of Arizona
You might know it as the Saturday in the fall when the somewhat homely looking Lower Grand Avenue near downtown Phoenix draws the crowds — mostly young — for visual art, performances, vendors, fashion shows and studio tours, along with a festive display of community arts and crafts along its fences and trees. While last … Continue reading Grand Avenue gets its groove on
Explore Art: Phoenix 