Featured photo: One of many dazzling sights from “Chihuly in the Garden,” glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly, at the Desert Botanical Garden. Photo by Deborah Ross. I bid farewell to 2013, but not without a backward glance at the rich bounty of art in Phoenix, Scottsdale and the Valley over the last few months. Not … Continue reading Photo highlights from the fall season
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
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
Our desert city’s underappreciated architectural landmarks take the spotlight in an informative photography exhibit inside The Gallery @ City Hall through March 29. It’s called “Phoenix Icons: The Art of Our Historic Landmarks,” and it will definitely leave you with new respect for places like the Carnegie Public Library near the Capitol, Luhrs Tower in … Continue reading Phoenix, strike a pose
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
In trying to come up with an analogy to artists who break form and create miniatures, I think of what it would mean to a writer: Condensing a major news story into a tweet of 140 characters? Completing a novel on an iPad mini? No doubt, it would be tough. The artists in the “Petite” … Continue reading Think small: ‘Petite’ at Calvin Charles
With this autumnal Phoenix weekend approaching, I thought it might be fun to preview Halloween-themed art exhibits around town. I could only come up with a few, listed below. Dear readers, what have I missed? — “Things That Go Bump in the Night,” at Vision Gallery in downtown Chandler through November 3. This family-friendly exhibit … Continue reading Scaring up some art
Sometimes an artwork just sticks in your mind long after you have seen it. Such is the case for me with an installation by Roger Asay and Rebecca Davis that I saw at Mesa Contemporary Arts about a year ago. The artists collected dirt samples from several geographic regions of Arizona and mounded them into … Continue reading Of dirt and other art-worthy materials
If you are on East Camelback Road in the next two weeks and have a few moments to pop into Shemer Art Center, you will see a few intriguing works themed around water – appropriate for the desert, no? In addition, you will see how Shemer — mostly known around the Arcadia neighborhood as a … Continue reading Drip, drip, drip …
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