Art Galleries, Shows & Events

                      Art feeds the soul...

 

An Affair With

 The Arts
An Outdoor Festival Celebrating the Arts  Saturday and Sunday    October 25 and 26, 2008    from 10 am to 5 pm
17420 North Avenue of the Arts   (114th Ave and Bell Road)

Admission: Adults  $3,     Teens  $2.00 Kids and Members free

 An Affair With The Arts is an outdoor arts festival held at the West Valley Art Museum.  This festive event showcases juried fine artists working in mediums from brilliant oils to glorious glass.  Live music and great food romance both the ear and palate.  A fine art silent auction furthers the up-beat atmosphere.  Indoors one discovers exciting and powerful exhibitions the Museum has become known for.  This is a fun time where you can abandon your inhibitions and have An Affair With The Arts.

  The fall An Affair With The Arts at the West Valley Art Museum includes 55 skilled artists from Arizona and surrounding states that are showing and selling their work around the Museum for two fun-filled days.  Every year art lovers and collectors return to see newly created artistic works by prominent and emerging artists.  Traditional and innovative materials and styles are showcased including sculptural works in clay, glass, metal, wood, marble, and found objects.  Other fine art mediums will include oil, watercolor, acrylics, photography, and glass mosaic.  The art ranges in size from the perfect fit for a wall, desk, or shelf to monumental sized pieces.  The event raises critical funds that helps continue the outstanding educational and cultural opportunities the Museum offers the community.

  Come to your senses and join the West Valley Art Museum for An Affair with the Arts Juried Fine Artists showcasing their work Food that will romance your palate Live Music:

• Aaron White  -  Americana and Great Acoustic  -  Sat,  Oct 25, 2008    11 to Noon

• Joan Johnson and Company  -  Rhythm & Blues, Jazz and more  -  Sat, Oct 25, 2008  12:30 to 4 pm

• The Desert Ukeazonies  -  Seven Decades of Songs Ukulele Style with Sister Jean Huling, ragtime piano virtuoso and Little Laundry on washboard Sunday, October 26, 2008 from Noon to 3:00 pm

 Silent auction items from participating artists Demonstrating Artists Family Fun Exciting  Exhibitions:

• “Passionate Vision” The Paintings of Joella Jean Mahoney
• Word Ribbon: An Installation by Linda Asakawa
• Joseph Labate: Digital Retrospective, A Dozen Yeaars of Photography
• Traditions East to West: Global Attire from the Permanent Collection
• Asia II: Eastern Borders - Image, Icon and Adornment From the Permanent Collection

 

Edward Weston: Mexico
August 9, 2008 - November 15, 2008
Tuesday 10:00am-9:00pm, Wednesday-Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm
 Edward Weston: Mexico Phoenix Art Museum 1625 North Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85004  Admission:  $4-$10
On July 29, 1923 Edward Weston boarded the steamer S.S. Colima in Los Angeles, bound for Mexico. Accompanying him were his lover, the actress Tina Modotti, and fourteen-year-old son Chandler. Weston had every reason to escape: his commercial portrait business had stalled, he was estranged from his wife Flora, and a pivotal meeting with Alfred Stieglitz in New York the previous year had reignited his passion to create personal work. When several of his photographs on exhibit in Mexico City unexpectedly sold, Mexico began to appear the ideal place for adventure and respite. He arrived in the midst of the Mexican Renaissance, and over the next three years, came to maturity as an artist. This exhibition, drawn from the collection of the Center for Creative Photography, will feature Edward Weston's photographs of Mexico, as well as archival materials such as letters, news clippings, and snapshots, that help tell the story of his Mexican sojourn. 'A consummate technician with a marvelous eye for formal beauty' Phoenix Art Museum 
 

Small Works: Little Stories
May 12, 2008 - September 30, 2008
Monday-Saturday 10:00am-5:30pm, Sunday 11:30am-5:30pm

Name:  Small Works: Little Stories Address:  2301 North Central Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85004  Location:  Berlin Gallery at Heard Museum Shop

The Berlin Gallery at the Heard Museum Shop summer show Small Works: Little Stories offers a selection of distinctive artworks that range in size from inches, to just a few feet, depending on the scale of the art the artist typically produces. Featuring woks by the gallery’s featured artists, this new show makes a big impact, emphasizing tiny works and art forms that more typically measure their dimensions in feet.

“The Small Works: Little Stories show features works in many different mediums and offers the experienced or beginning collector the opportunity to purchase an original work of art on a smaller scale.” The Berlin Gallery in downtown Phoenix boasts an unprecedented retail gallery experience and an innovative way to view and purchase contemporary American Indian art by established and emerging Native artists for today's collector. The gallery is the latest extension of the Heard Museum's educational mission with a retail focus on contemporary American Indian paintings, sculptures, photography, prints and drawings.

For more information, ww.heard.org

Around the World: The Heard Museum Collection
 Around the World: The Heard Museum Collection
Address:  2301 N Central Ave Phoenix, AZ 85004
Location:  Heard Museum
Phone:  602-252-8848
Admission:  $3-$10
Tour the global span of the Heard Museum’s permanent collection. This exhibit will focus on more than 75 years of collecting and preserving Native art and cultures in the Southwest and beyond. Starting with examples of work collected by museum founders, Dwight and Maie Heard, and including donations by artists and collectors such as Byron Harvey and Richard Faletti, the exhibit features objects and artwork from indigenous peoples of North and South America as well as Oceania. Housed in the newly renovated COMPAS gallery. Curated by Ann Marshall.

ARIZONA’S LARGEST INDIAN MARKET BEGINS SECOND 50 YEARS WITH NEW ATTRACTIONS, OLD FAVORITES
Heard Museum’s Signature Event Expected to Draw Nearly 20,000 Visitors and
More Than 700 Artists for Weekend of Artistry, Culture and Fun

WHAT:    51^st Annual Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market    “Where Art Meets Entertainment”

One of Arizona’s most significant cultural events, the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market isn’t about to slow down as it enters its second half-century. Beginning life as a small community event, the Fair has matured into a world-acclaimed festival that draws nearly 20,000 visitors and more than 700 of the nation’s most outstanding and successful American Indian artists. Among the guests are thousands of collectors from across the country who arrive early to be the first to purchase one-of-a-kind artwork like jewelry, pottery, baskets, katsina dolls, textiles, fine art and more. But there’s far more to the Fair than just the nation’s very best American Indian art! In fact, the Fair is the perfect place for families wishing to enjoy a cultural and inexpensive weekend of music, entertainment and food. Festival lovers can enjoy an array of American Indian music and dance performances in the museum’s outdoor amphitheatre throughout the weekend. A variety of foods including American Indian favorites like fry bread, posole stew, piki bread and Hopi stew as well as Mexican and American fare tempt the tastebuds. There’s even gelato available to satisfy sweet tooths.

 New entertainment and attractions highlight the 51^st Fair The Indian Fair & Market will feature new American Indian and indigenous entertainers, some of whom have not visited Phoenix for many years. The Guild’s Web site, heardguild.org, is your one-stop source for information about the entertainers as they are confirmed.  In addition to exciting new performers, expect to see some old favorites such as the Apache Ga’an (Crown Dancers), Hopi/Choctaw dance sensation Derrick Suwaima Davis and singer Stephen Alvarez, Mescalero Apache/Yaqui/Upper Tanana Athabascan.  
Signature Artist Nora Naranjo-Morse Acclaimed Santa Clara Pueblo artist, poet and filmmaker Nora Naranjo-Morse is this year’s signature artist. Naranjo-Morse’s career has taken her into the realms of pottery, sculpture, poetry and film. Meet Naranjo-Morse and other winners of the Heard’s juried art competition at the Best of Show Reception on Friday, March 6 (more information below). 

 EW ATTRACTION – “Hopi: The Matriarchy”During the Fair, visit the Pritzlaff Courtyard for a special celebration of Hopi culture. Revered Hopi women artists will be honored in conjunction with Women’s History Month. Also, learn more about Hopi communities with special exhibitions by Hopi artists and tribal members, and enjoy visiting a replica of a trading post.

  WHEN:  Saturday and Sunday, March 7 & 8, 2009, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(A Best of Show Reception will be held Friday, March 6 at 5:30 p.m. Visitors can preview the winning artwork, meet the artists and enjoy a catered dinner.  A special cultural performance will highlight the evening.)

 WHERE: Heard Museum, 2301 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Ariz. 

 COST:Single-day admission: Adults and American Indians $15; Children under 16 FREE; Students with ID $5; 2-Day Passes available. Best of Show: $75 Heard Museum members, $100 non-members. Tickets go on sale January 5, 2009. Best of Show tickets sell out fast.

 Heard Museum members also can get in the fun early during exclusive Early Bird Shopping starting at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 7. Not a member? Join today, 602.251.0261 or heard.org. All admission prices include the festival and the museum.

 INFO:  To obtain current information, please visit heardguild.org or call 602.252.8848.

ART TOUR time varies, based on date Location:  downtown arts district Phone:  (602) 488-9494
An exclusive tour of the downtown Phoenix Arts Scene. This tour targets the arts enthusiast and buyer, providing a guided tour of The Roosevelt Row and Grand Avenue Arts Districts.
ARTOUR's provided for groups large and small, in town and out of town. Each ARTOUR caters to the tastes and flavors of the attendees, and offer intimate connections to our downtown arts culture. Tours can be any length of time and personalized for your group to include suggestions for culinary, musical and theatrical endeavors to compliment your experience in our emerging Downtown Arts Scene.
Tours are $100 per person, per hour for the tour. Transportation can be provided for an additional fee, cost varies based on references. Group Rates are available.

____________________________________________________________________________________________

 

High Level of Talent Highlighted at Arizona Pastel Artists Association Show
BRIO Fine Arts Center: Oct. 25-Nov. 14; Opening Reception 6-9pm, Oct. 25
Consisting of 65 members, the Arizona Pastel Artists Association (APAA) was formed in May, 1994. While the majority of APAA members are concentrated in the Valley, the organization is expanding into Tucson, Flagstaff and Sedona. "We're delighted to welcome such talented artists -- both amateur and professional -- to BRIO,"says Diane Sanborn, director of the North Scottsdale art center located at 8340 E. Raintree Drive. "This show offers art lovers a closer look at a very distinctive medium," she adds.

A richly rewarding medium  Made from pure powered pigment and formed in chalky crayons, pastels reflect light like a prism.  "No other medium has the same power to represent color in its purest and most brilliant form," says Phoenix's Paulette Redmond, APAA President, whose work will be on exhibit.

    Liz Kenyon, another star of the show, concurs.  "I love the soft edges in pastels and the incredible way the light reflects off the pigment," says the artist.  "Just looking at a stick of chalk can trigger my desire to paint!"

    Adept at animal and people portraits as well as still lifes and landscapes, Kenyon is originally from California¹s Monterey area.  Majoring in art at the University of Arizona in Tucson, she illustrated book covers for Harper Collins after graduation.  Moving to Phoenix, Kenyon ran her own advertising agency for a number of years.

      "I started working with pastels in 1999 as another way to express myself," she says.

A signature member of the International Association of Pastel Society, Kenyon has won 20 awards including First Place at the Arizona Art Alliance 2008 Spring Show. The May issue of Pastel Journal featured an article devoted to the artist.

Study with an award-winner!  Artists who would like to discover the creative rewards of pastels (or those interested in mastering the medium) will want to consider joining Kenyon¹s fall workshops at BRIO.  The Sensational Still Life version is slated for September 19th- 20th followed by Landscape: Big Skies & Powerful Trees on October 17th-18th. To join either workshop, call 480-941-8310 or sign up on the website: www.briofinearts.com  <http://www.briofinearts.com/>

Meet the artists at the opening reception  Many of the APAA members exhibiting in the BRIO show will be present at the October 25th reception, 6-9pm. Canapés and wine will be served.  "Since a number of the artworks will be on sale, don¹t forget to bring your checkbook and/or charge cards," says Sanborn.  "A pastel painting would make a distinctive and treasured holiday gift!"

  Arizona Pastel Artists Association Show at BRIO Fine Arts Center  Slated to run October 25th through November 14th, this impressive show features still lifes, landscapes, animal and people portraits. Opening reception on October 25th from 6-9pm.  Many artworks will be on sale.  Free and open to the public, refreshments will be served.  BRIO Fine Arts Center, 8340 E. Raintree Drive, C-6, Scottsdale Airpark.  Three blocks west of Loop 101 on Raintree.  Regular business hours are M-F 905 and Sat. 9-12.  Contact 480-941-8310 or www.briofinearts.com for more information.  

Mahaffey exhibit at Museum of Northern AZ
 Renowned Grand Canyon Painter Merrill Mahaffey Is Honored at the Museum of Northern Arizona with a 50-Year Retrospective Show and Gala Weekend Opening Weekend to include Gala Dinner and Brunch at the Museum of Northern Arizona

 A Gala Weekend is scheduled for June 21st and 22nd in conjunction with the opening of the new exhibit Merrill Mahaffey: Interior Landscapes of the West, A Fifty-Year Retrospective. Meet the artist and dine alongside the Rio de Flag at two featured events at the Museum of Northern Arizona.

 MNA’s 2nd Annual Summer Fundraising Gala Dinner, Live Auction, and Exhibit is Saturday June 21. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $250 per person and underwriting opportunities are available. Seating is limited and reservations are required. Some of the Mahaffey paintings on exhibit will be for sale.

 An Artist Reception and Brunch for Museum Members on Sunday, June 22 at 10 a.m. includes a silent auction and exhibit sales. Tickets are $45 per person and can be purchased in advance along with memberships. Underwriting opportunities are available.

 Both events will be held at the Museum of Northern Arizona, 3101 N. Fort Valley Road, Flagstaff, Arizona. To request an invitation or for more information, contact Cassie Dakan at 928/774-5213, ext. 225 or e-mail at cdakan@mna.mus.az.us.

 Merrill Mahaffey: Interior Landscapes of the West, a Fifty-Year Retrospective will be on display at the Museum of Northern Arizona from June 22 through November 9.

 Merrill Mahaffey has spent his life and career as an artist of western landscapes, with the Grand Canyon becoming a great influence on his work. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he grew up in Grand Junction, Colorado. By the age of eight, he had already begun what would turn into a lifelong passion for art and the monumental landscapes of the West. Attending California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland and Sacramento State University, he continued his education at Arizona State University, receiving an MFA in 1965. He has taught at Phoenix College and Arizona State University.    Mahaffey’s work can be found in numerous private and public collections. Selected Mahaffey collections are owned by the Phoenix Art Museum, the Smithsonian, The Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts, Phelps Dodge, Robert Redford, Sky Harbor International Airport, Palm Springs Desert Museum, Guinness Beer, Arizona Supreme Court, Arizona State University, US West, and United Airlines among others. Merrill Mahaffey resides in Phoenix, Arizona.
 

___________________________________________________________________________________________

NEWS from SCOTTSDALE ARTISTS’ SCHOOL

  Two of America’s foremost landscape artists return to celebrate SAS’ 25^th Anniversary

 Scottsdale, AZ (June 11, 2008) Two of America’s foremost plein air landscape artists, Kevin Macpherson and Matt Smith, are coming back to Scottsdale to help celebrate SAS’ 25^th Anniversary. They are “coming home” to demonstrate and exhibit the considerable artistic talent  they began honing years ago as students at Scottsdale Artists’ School, which today is widely recognized as the Southwest’s premiere traditional art institution.

In an all-day special event commemorating the School’s founding, the two nationally acclaimed artists will conduct separate three-hour art demonstrations with accompanying commentaries beginning with Smith’s demo at 9 am followed by Macpherson’s at 2 pm on Saturday, November 8, 2008.

Because of anticipated demand for tickets, the Macpherson/Smith event will be held at Stagebrush Theater on 2^nd Street and Marshall Way across the street from Scottsdale Artists’ School. Seating is limited and available on a first come first served basis. The demonstrations will be separated by a buffet lunch and followed by an evening reception with the artists and an exhibition of their work at Scottsdale Artists’ School.

Tickets are $195 per demonstration or $350 for both. Cost includes lunch, reception, the exhibition and a 20% discount on advance copies of SAS’ planned DVDs of the Macpherson-Smith demonstrations. A chance to purchase the paintings created by the artists’ during their respective demonstrations will also be held. Those attending both demonstrations will also be invited to participate in a “Coffee and Critique” session with the artists beginning 9 am, Sunday, November 9, at Scottsdale Artists’ School.

Each presentation will be digitally captured for large-screen overhead projection and recorded for later use in SAS’ planned production of commercial DVDs.

                Highly-respected among collectors and fellow artists alike, Kevin Macpherson is past president of Plein Air Painters of America. His painting instruction book, Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light and Color, is in its ninth printing, including a Chinese language translation. Winner of numerous awards, Macpherson is the first artist named Master Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America. He began studying at SAS in 1983 and was recipient of SAS’ “Best and the Brightest” Purchase Award in 1986.

                Following graduation from ASU with a BFA degree in painting, Matt Smith became an ardent student of traditional art at Scottsdale Artists’ School in 1984. He won Best of Show Award at SAS’ “Best and Brightest” show in1990.   Today, Smith is a nationally prominent plein air artist, who spends half the year traveling, painting landscapes wherever he goes. He has participated in many major shows and exhibitions throughout the country and has received numerous awards at such prestigious venues as Prix de West, the National Museum of Wildlife Art and Western Rendezvous of Art. Like Macpherson, Smith’s work has been featured in many of America’s leading art magazines.

                This special event is part of SAS’ Anniversary Year plan to add many more top-notch professional artists to its guest faculty and to expand the School’s curriculum to accommodate virtually all important genres of traditional art, including western art and wildlife painting.

                Scottsdale Artists’ School is a 501(c)(3) non-profit school of traditional art founded in 1983. It is one of the country’s premiere art institutions, offering more than 2,000 students a year approximately 200 art classes and workshops featuring a roster of as many as 140 visiting artists-instructors, many of them nationally and internationally renowned.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 Fountain Hills Community & Event Center Arizona artist Tom Haas
Arizona artist Tom Haas will exhibit and sell his oil paintings July 2-30 at the Fountain Hills Community & Event Center, 13001 N. La Montana Drive.
Haas is known for a colorful palette and variety of subject matter. He has painted the Phoenix area and neighboring states for more than 30 years.
The show features Haas' Sonoran Desert and Rocky Mountain landscapes, figurative and still-life paintings, and pastoral, ocean, Western and wildlife scenes.

Art Archives

WEST VALLEY AND EAST VALLEY MUSEUMS SHOWCASE 
SUSAN FALCON-HARGRAVES’S PAINTINGS IN 2008
 DREAMS AND TOTEMS: THE PAINTINGS OF SUSAN FALCON-HARGRAVES  February 22nd through April 13th, 2008: West Valley Art Museum  More than 20 paintings including works from Memory and Table series; highlights of solo exhibit also include Red Leopard from new Eccentricities series.  This work has attracted critical comments such as “We’re not just looking at people in a painting; we’re seeing two women poised on the threshold of another dimension fraught with intrigue.” The museum is located at 17420 North Avenue of the Arts in Surprise. 623-972-0635.

 Rising star Susan Falcon-Hargraves enjoyed a very successful 2007 the highlights included an exhibit at Scottsdale’s BRIO Fine Arts Center, a presentation at Phoenix’s First Monday Art Salon, and the purchase of a major painting. “We’re proud to have Susan’s The Elephant in the Room in our portable artworks collection,” says Rex Gulbranson, Arts and Culture Administrator, City of Glendale. Of course, Falcon-Hargraves is not a stranger to the spotlight. In previous artistic incarnations, she danced professionally in both NYC and LA and had small roles in Hollywood films, including Boyz in the Hood. Getting ready for two museum shows, Falcon-Hargraves is destined to command considerable attention in 2008.

 Exciting new works dominate her upcoming show at the West Valley Art Museum February 22nd-April 13th., Dreams and Totems The Paintings of Susan Falcon-Hargraves exhibit. The spell-binding Red Leopard, from the Random Eccentricities series, involves an intriguing visual scenario.We see two women seemingly on vacation surrounded by an aura of adventure, maybe even danger. “I see this work as embodying the juxtaposition between comfort and danger, wildness and domesticity, the natural world vis-à-vis the civilized world,” points out Falcon-Hargraves. “By accentuating the difference inherent in the two sides of one’s face, Susan deepens the psychological tension in the interplay between her characters,” points out George Pavlovitch, curator at the Surprise museum. “It all adds up to a sense of unease in the picture’s dynamic that makes the viewer unable to look away.” (West Valley Art Museum, 17420 N. Avenue of the Arts, Surprise, 623-972-0635)

 At the Arizona Museum for Youth from March 29th-August 10th art lovers have the opportunity to peruse works from the painter's Table series at the upcoming Table Manners show. “Actually it was Susan’s Table paintings that inspired the theme of this exhibit,“ says Jeffory Morris, Director at the Tempe Museum. Inspired by old photos, these paintings provide intimate glimpses of family members gathered around the focal center of a table. For instance, Picnic Table captures the artist’s 19-year mother (“she’s the middle of the group on the left) on vacation with her beauty school colleagues. A nostalgic look at a family celebrating a festive dinner is provided by Elaine’s Table. “I’ve always been fascinated with the mysteries that some old photos present, particularly those that hint at an unspoken social or emotional dynamic among several figures,” says Falcon-Hargraves.  “These castoff moments of real and/or imagined drama often provide the visual starting point.” (Arizona Museum for Youth, 35 N. Robson, Mesa , 480-644-2468).

 Whatever the source of inspiration, those who collect the artist’s paintings find her sensitivity regarding family especially endearing. “You really capture everyone, you’re so talented!,” says Pamela Hewitt of Chicago. “I knew it was a success when the women portrayed in the painting loved it”, says John Krsul of Sawyer, Michigan.

 

Phoenix, Arizona – Nature and art come together as one in the fourth annual Arts & Flowers™, March 6-9, a four-day event at Phoenix Art Museum featuring sculptural floral designs inspired by and partnered with works of art in the Museum's collection.  This spectacular event is presented by the Phoenix Art Museum League. For four days, breathtaking arrangements by dozens of Valley floral designers and garden clubs will be on view throughout the Museum’s galleries to complement and illuminate the Museum’s works of art. 

 Arts & Flowers 08 will launch with a luncheon at the Museum’s Whiteman Hall on Thursday, March 6^th. The luncheon is open to the public with reservations required. For information or tickets to this event, please call Phoenix Art Museum League at (602)-307-2050, or visit www.phxartmuseumleague.org

 Demonstrations and workshops will be available during Arts & Flowers.  As in previous years, raffle tickets are splendid. Raffle tickets will be on sale at the Museum, or call the League for more information.Proceeds from all the events at Arts & Flowers benefit Phoenix Art Museum.

   Museum-goers will find that Arts & Flowers ( included with the Museum’s general admission) is an enjoyable addition to the Museum’s special, ticketed exhibitions, particularly, Illuminated Manuscripts, which  runs from December 11, 2007 to March 9, 2008, and Masterpiece Replayed: Monet, Matisse & More, which runs from January 20, 2008 to May 4, 2008.

 For information or tickets to Arts & Flowers events, call Phoenix Art Museum League at (602) 307-2050, or visit www.phxartmuseumleague.org

 The Phoenix Art Museum League has been coordinating fundraising events in support of the Museum for over a half a century. The League also presents informative programming – such as the Women in Art lecture series – and it sponsors one-day and multi-day trips, which are both educational and enjoyable.  League membership is open to all Phoenix Art Museum members who share a love for this community and Phoenix Art Museum.

 The classically progressive design of the 203,000 sq. ft. Phoenix Art Museum integrates art and architecture with the South­western landscape, accommodat­ing large traveling exhibitions and a collection of over 17,000 works in American, Asian, modern & con­temporary, European, Latin American and Western American art, and fashion design.  Visitors also enjoy the Sculpture Garden, the Thorne Miniature Rooms of historic interiors, PhxArtKids interactive space for children, Art Museum Café and The Museum Store.  Visitors can learn more about the Museum’s collection through its bilingual, random access MP3 audioguide, available at the admissions desk.  The Museum recently opened its $50 million expansion project, which included the addition of a new glass-enclosed lobby and entry plaza, 4-level gallery wing, sculpture garden and expanded store.

 General Admission & Hours: Admission: $10 adults; $8 senior citizens (65+) and full-time students w/ID; $4 children 6-17; and, free for Museum members and children under age 6.  The Museum general admission is free to all on Tuesday evenings, 3-9pm.  Some exhibitions have special admission fees.  Hours: Tuesday, 10am-9pm; Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm.  Some exhibitions have special hours.  The Museum is closed Mondays and major holidays.  The Museum Store is open during Museum hours; Art Museum Café by Arcadia Farms is open 10am-5pm.

 Recorded Museum information is available 24 hours at (602) 257-1222.  Visit the Museum’s Web site at PhxArt.org.

  **************************************************************************************************************************************************

SCULPTING WITH LIGHT!
 McNeill: Continues to create artwork 'outside the box' For more than a decade, this Scottsdale based artist has been combining multiple-dimensions of subject matter and intertwining different layers of composition between ornate relief woodcarvings and colorful painted imagery. In essence, McNeill has been developing a new multidimensional art form! These achievements have not gone unnoticed; he was the inaugural recipient of the Dexter Jones Award, NYC's National Sculpture Society's Award for outstanding bas-relief sculpture.

 McNeill has added another dimension, light! Continually “pushing the envelope”, McNeill has developed another unique art form by creating colorful relief wall sculptures that 'glow-in-the-dark' all night long. Those who appreciate unusual talent combined with a unique technique will experience a special visual treat at the West Valley Art Museum. “This is Scott’s third solo show with us,” says Museum Curator George Pavlovich. “We’re preparing a special showcase for him, complete with black walls, blacklights and a black-out curtain!” The Glow Series encompasses 20 works; including an 18-foot wall with more than 70 images in a myriad of colors.

 Refining a unique process from his bas-relief woodcarvings, McNeill formed molds, then cast the forms in resin. "Instead of painting on the surface, I add bright colored pigments mixed with a special crystal powder into the resin itself," says McNeill. "As I worked with these new glow powders, called Strontium Aluminate, I was excited by their artistic effects. I began experimenting with this material in the early spring of 2005, and since then I have been doing a lot of exploration."

 "My priority was to create these sculptures to look beautiful and completed for the daytime. The fact that they glow all night, makes them twice as cool. I have to think in terms of the color composition for both day and night, and often apply colors from light to dark, working in reverse of what the final sculpture shows. I apply the colors in layers within the resin. Some layers of crystal may be an inch deep overlapping with the colors above to create some interesting light effects" Stated McNeill.

 Jungle Boogie is a complex vertical carving packed with glowing creatures. Off white daytime branches glow violet tinged with blue shadows and create a compositional structure for a dense interweaving of green, veined, yellow tipped leaves and, brilliant tropical flowers that become perches for monkeys, toucans, parrots, frogs, a jungle cat and other animals. McNeill leads the eye through the composition by subtly having each animal pounce, yell or gesture towards one another. "I thought of the composition for Jungle Boogie as a DNA strand, or double helixes shaped like figure eights," says McNeill.

 McNeill's symbolism is profound. The Dreamer in the relief titled, "Wake Up And See The Light," incorporates three different realities: underwater, earth and sky. A man asleep in a boat is adrift on a mounding swell of a wave that undulates across the panel. In the distance is a rocky promontory and a lighthouse, but the boat is pointed in the opposite direction. Above the man, two white seagulls fly upwards like heavenly messengers pointing the way. We see the wave in a cross section the surface and the depths below which teem with bright schools of fish and coral. In dreams and myth, large bodies of water and the creatures within often represent the deep unconscious, upon which man rides and must confront before he can soar to a higher reality and rebirth. This man in the boat is asleep, as in a dream, resting on a huge underworld, seemingly unaware, and going away from the light, a metaphor of modern man.

 While Jungle Boogie and Dreamer are directly narrative, McNeill's Fish Wall is a big explosion of color and design. Seventy-two different colored panels each with a multi-colored, brightly patterned tropical fish. "I made them to stand in smaller sections or to be combined with others in a wall that could be any length or height," says McNeill.

 McNeill's elegant sense of color leads from panel to panel and fish to fish through every color variation, yellow-green, blue-green dusty-green, aqua, orange, purple, red, pink, gold, silver-gray, all relating to one another. The colors glow harmoniously at night, and with more than 30 pounds of glow crystal illuminates the entire room.

 Enjoying local and national recognition McNeill’s distinctive artwork has been recently seen at the Arizona Youth Museum. McNeill has been the recipient of awards from the National Sculpture Society and grants from the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation as well as the Artists’ Fellowship, Inc. Numerous private collectors in the United States as well as abroad have sought out his painted woodcarvings.

 Anticipating new challenges “I’ve been doing professional wood carving for 12 years" says McNeill. Shortly after finishing his stint in the Peace Corps in 1994, the artist became an apprentice to a master wood carver in Honduras, where he perfected his artistry.“I’d really like to take on a large installation at this point; for instance, for a large home or resort, or an office building, even a cruise ship!”

 For more information and to see more of the artists work visit www.ScottMcNeillArt.com . The Glow Series by Scott McNeill is on display at the West Valley Art Museum, 17420 N. Ave of the Arts, Surprise Now - March 15th, 2008

 

 **************************************************************************************************************************************************

Bob Coonts Brings Blaze of Color to Arizona Fine Art EXPO

                                       Inside Out ­ a Book for All Seasons

Colorado artist, Bob Coonts returns to Arizona Fine Art EXPO for the 4th year with a surprise for patrons -- Inside Out: The Art of Bob Coonts. This newly published book features 140 pages of blazing color; an exciting sampling of Coonts imaginative work.  


The EXPO began Jan. 10 and runs everyday through March 23; showcasing 110 award-winning, nationally acclaimed artists working in studios, highlighted by a gallery-setting backdrop. The artist's are nestled under 44,000 square feet of festive white tents at the Southwest corner of Scottsdale and Jomax Roads (26540 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ  85255), 5 miles south of Carefree & 5 miles North of Loop 101 on Scottsdale Road.

Ever-exploring new media and art possibilities, Coonts is best recognized by the intense color and minute details in his artwork. The details, reminiscent of Gustav Klimt, take the form of geometric shapes that may morph into blades of grass and fields of flowers. Other details are reminiscent of Native American symbolism -- arrows for the heart line or a disk representing the sun. Coonts interest in prehistoric man resulted in a series of petroglyph-like works.  

His love of animals, domestic and wild, is felt in images of cats, horses, buffalo, roosters --- none quite realistically presented, except for the eyes. Not content to be seen as an expressionist only, his curiosity about shapes and colors and the process of abstracting, gave birth to a series of contemporary abstracts that, again, reflects Coonts love of strong color.  

An invited artist for the Parade of Painted Ponies, Coonts first life-size horse (Mosaic Appaloosa) is one of the 'retired' miniature collectible ponies. His Prairie Horizon has just been released in miniature.

Coonts has shown in 50-plus invitational and juried exhibits and is part of permanent museum and corporate collections in New York, Israel, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Poland, Mexico and Colorado.  Private collectors span the continent.   

Showcasing Coonts 13 years in fine art, the Bob Coonts retrospective at the Fort Collins Museum of Contemporary Art in 2007, boasted more than 130 paintings and sculptures. Museum goers were treated to the diverse array of creativity that is Bob Coonts.

Coonts fine art career follows a successful 25 year career in graphic design working with international companies and co-founding the biennial Colorado International Invitation Poster Exhibition whose global draw puts Colorado State University and Fort Collins on the arts radar. Coonts continues as an affiliate faculty member of the Colorado State University Art Department. His contributions to the Fort Collins community make him a treasured citizen, reflected in his receiving the first Arts Alive Medallion for community service to the arts.  


The EXPO takes place on the southwest corner of Jomax and Scottsdale Roads, Scottsdale, Ariz.  Season passes are $7 and $6 for seniors and military. Children under 12 are free. Parking is also free. More information is available by visiting http://www.arizonafineartexpo.com  

 

World-Class Performers to Descend on Arizona
What does the Super Bowl and
Arizona Fine Art EXPO have in common? Both are being held in Arizona during February and will showcase winners.

 Thunderbird Artists is a champion when it comes to producing top-quality fine art events, and the Arizona Fine Art EXPO is no exception.

 Scheduled for Jan. 10th – March 23rd, 2008, the Arizona Fine Art EXPO will showcase 115 champion (Super Bowl quality) artists working in a studio environment, highlighted by a gallery-setting backdrop. Each artist’s studio will be nestled under 43,000 square feet of festive white tents on Scottsdale and Jomax Roads (26540 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ  85255).

 In addition to enjoying magnificent bronzes, copper, clay, stone and metal sculptures positioned in the handsome Sculpture Garden, patrons can watch artists welding, fusing glass, carving and etching stone, patina finishing, plein air painting and more in outdoor cabanas. Indoors, world-class artists are also on display, passionately painting; sketching in pen & ink; creating in pastels; sculpting wood, clay and acrylics; assembling mixed media on canvas; and welding, sculpting and designing jewelry.

 During the past three years, the EXPO received rave reviews from the attending patrons.  The 2008 unveiling is sure to be another smashing success and captivating experience. Entertainment this year includes NAMY award-winning Brule’ and his band Airo; award-winning hoop dancer Brian Hammill; Mexican fiesta dancing; Paul McDermand performing on his steel drums and marimbas; chefs’ demonstrations; wine tastings; and more.  

The Arizona Fine Art EXPO is all about providing an ambiance like none other that will be forever remembered. The event combines the aspects of a juried fine art festival, the elements of a gallery and the inner-workings of an artist’s studio. The result is a unique celebration of art that functions as an educational tool for the children and art enthusiasts. The EXPO takes place on the southeast corner of Jomax and Scottsdale Roads, Scottsdale, Ariz.  A season pass is $7 and $6 for seniors and military. Children under 12 are free. Parking is also free. More information is available by visiting http://www.arizonafineartexpo.com .Story Continues

One of the country's premier arts fairs, the 38^th annual Scottsdale Arts Festival will be held on the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall on March 7 - 9, 2008.

 

Exhibiting artists include:

 

Nicholas Bernard (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Curly Vessel, earthenware, 12 x 10 x 10 inches

 

Julita Jones (Laguna Beach, Calif.), The Hummingbird, viscosity etching, 12 x 12 inches

Michael Cajero: We Need to Dream This All Again
Dates: February 7 - March 15, 2008  At Eric Firestone Gallery – Scottsdale  4142 N Marshall Way Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480-990-1037 ericfirestonegallery.com  Hours: Tu - Sat 10-6  and by appointment

Michael Cajero was born in Tucson, AZ in 1947, he holds a BFA from the University of Arizona and an MFA in Painting, Sculpture and Art History from Kent State University. Cajero has been the recipient of Visual Arts Fellowships from the Tucson Pima Arts Council in 1994 and 2001and a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in 1993-1994; his papier-mâché works are in the permanent collection of the Tucson Museum of Art and the Phoenix Art Museum.

Michael Cajero was born in Tucson, Arizona and remains one of Arizona's most unique, prolific and critically acclaimed artists. For the past thirty years Cajero has concentrated on furthering the Arte Povera and Process Art movements. With unbridled energy he summons his creations to life, directing them to act out universal dramas drawn from current events as well as the Mexican folktales that so impressed him in his youth. Exotically patterned gift-wrap, brown corrugated cardboard, and shredded computer and document paper culled from waste receptacles are Cajero's primary medium. These cast-off materials, heightened with acrylic paint, become the flesh, hair and clothes that cover skeletons of thick, yet easily bendable aluminum wire. For several years the figures were ablaze in wild color and pattern when a concurrent and ongoing exploration of ceramics made Cajero see that the carbon produced in the raku process could also be manipulated in his papier-mâché pieces. Black produced depth, defined breaks in color and movement, and emphasized mass; it helped create silhouettes and connected to his drawings like never before. Through color and papier-mâché, a time-tested craft borrowed from traditional Mexican folk artists, Cajero is able to imbue his figures with great realism; his sculptures take on individual personas and are empowered by the artist to exhibit a full range of emotions. A sculpture's personality, profession, or social standing is described by its visage, posture and the clothes they are given and how they wear them. Cajero always modeled the everyday person, tapping into the traditions of artists who did the same, Bonnard, Degas and Rodin in particular. Cajero gives a knowing nod to these artists in the way he uses mass, broken color and fragmented pattern to define shapes and set mood, and in how their almost autobiographical work conveys the artists' intimate understanding of the frailty, resilience and strength of their models and subjects. More impressive, perhaps, is how Cajero's sensitivity to his subject unveils his uneasiness concerning the world's current political, economic, religious, and social frictions. Cajero's ragged figures, feral creatures and turbulent installations draw inspiration from ancient history, art history, folklore, literature, music, mythology, poetry and a concern for the human condition. Cajero's works are powerful and magical performative creations, simultaneously baroque and surreal they captivate and puzzle, transporting all who enter his dark sculptural worlds into a profound sense of wonder and hope.

 

 

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

42nd Annual Cowboy Artists of America
Exhibition & Sale Rides Again

The most anticipated Western American fine art event in the country, is the Phoenix Art Museum’s 42 nd Annual Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition and Sale, will be at the Museum’s Steele Gallery, October 20th, 2007 – November 18th, 2007.
The 42 nd Annual Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition and Sale presents a depiction of the West only the members of Cowboy Artists of America can capture with such realistic skill and spirit. It is presented each year by Phoenix Art Museum’s Men’s Arts Council, and the Sale has become one of the Museum’s most successful fundraising events.

 
The Sale, the premier event of its kind, will take place on Friday, October 19th, 6-9pm, the evening before the exhibition opens to the public. The exhibition, sponsored by Wells Fargo, is included with the Museum’s general admission; the Sale tickets are $275 per person, which includes several events throughout the sale weekend. This includes entry into the sale, a Mix and Mingle lunch with the Artists, admission to the Autograph Party on the morning of Saturday, October 20th, and a seat at the Awards Banquet that evening. Sale only tickets are available for $225 per person. Sale tickets can be purchased by calling (602) 307-2007 or online at www.caashow.org .  All online purchasers will receive a discount of $15 per ticket. 

 More than 130 new works created in the last year by the 22 active members of Cowboy Artists of America (CAA) will be unveiled for the first time at the Sale on October 19th. Included are bronze and stone sculptures, oil paintings, water solubles and drawings that capture the life of a cowboy.  Some of the artists portray the West that is long gone and only visible through art, while others portray contemporary cowboy life, using their own life experiences on the ranch or reservation as their research. 

 The Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition and Sale has a rich and colorful history and continually captures the attention of art fans, young and old.  The Sale attracts hundreds of collectors from around the world. Rather than a typical art auction, attendees of the Sale submit intent-to-purchase slips and the first name drawn has the option to buy the work of art.  This method not only proves exciting but offers an equal opportunity for both the first time buyer and the seasoned collector.  Many works sell in the six figures and last year’s gross sales topped the $2.2 million mark.

 For more information about Phoenix Art Museum’s Men’s Arts Council, call (602) 307-2060 or visit online at www.mensartscouncil.com . For more information about Phoenix Art Museum, visit its Web site at www.PhxArt.org , or call the 24-hour information line at (602) 257-1222.

.................................

• ASU Museum of Anthropology, Cady and Tyler malls Alien Images: UFOs, Photography and Belief Through a series of large photographic prints, projections, movies and books, the exhibit will explore the 137-year history of photographic images purported to show unidentified flying objects and the variety of interpretations used to explain them. Through Aug. 15. ASU Museum of Anthropology, Cady and Tyler malls. (480) 965-6224.

• Art Editions, 3908 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. (480) 990-1200 Ext. 101.One-Woman Mexican Art exhibition Arizona debut exhibition of Mexican master painter Cecilia Amaro, who pa still lifes: landscapes and abstract paintings. Ongoing.

• The Bison Museum, 1.6641 N. 91st St., Scotlsdale (480) 837-8700.Dances With Wolves An array of American Indian artifacts and a vast assortment of bronzes, paintings and prints. Ongoing.

• Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave.(480) 917-6859. Art Quilts XII: Current Featuring the works of artists from the United States, Canada, the Netherlands and Germany in a juried exhibition of the latest trends in art quilting. Through Dec. 1.
   

• Heard Museum North Scottsdale
  •  “Choices and Change: American Indian Artists in the Southwest.” The signature exhibit will include paintings, sculpture, jewelry, baskets, kachina dolls and pottery. Ongoing.
  •  “Our Weaving: Textiles From the Four Corners” An exhibition featuring 12 Navajo weavings. Ongoing.
  • “Interpretive Garden” A lush array of native plants, sculpture by American Indian artists and a water feature, as well as information to assist in education and interpretation. Ongoing. 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays, 32633 N. Scottsdale Road. Admission: $2-$5. (480) 488-9812.

• Herberger Theater Center Art Gallery, 222 E. Monroe, Phoenix. (602) 254-7399.First Editions Artwork includes, monoprints, lithographs, etchings, intaglio, serigraphs and relief prints, linocut, woodcut. Through  Jan. 2.

  

ART WALKS & EVENTS 

 

• Ken Harris Gallery May 16   6-9pm Artist Reception 6501 E Cave Creek Rd 480-437-9955
  
  

Past Events

• American Fine Art Editions  - One-Woman Mexican Art Exhibition Arizona debut exhibition of Mexican master painter Cecilia Amaro, who paints still lifes, landscapes and abstract paintings. Ongoing. American Fine Art Editions, 3908 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. (480) 990-1200, Ext. 101.
• Arizona Museum for Youth - “Artville” is an ongoing exhibition designed as a small town for kids up to age 5, featuring an art gallery, performing arts center and art studio governed by the imaginary mayor of Artville, Art.
  • Underwater FantaSEA” celebrates all there is to love about the living waters around the world and their colorful marine life with paintings, drawings, multimedia pieces and activities. Through July 22.
  •  “Discovering Nature’s Alphabet,” a series photographs of naturally occurring letters, offers children and their families a playful way of exploring and studying nature. Through July 29.
  • “Faces of Art: The Masks of Zarco Guerrero” The beauty, pageantry and power of masks have served as reflections of the ever-changing belief systems of different cultures. Through Oct. 7. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays, 35 N. Robson, Mesa. Admission: $5. (480) 644-2467.
• ASU Art Museum
  • “Renegade Clay” This exhibition uncovers the work of five artists from Western states who are defining a new generation of clay workers. Through Sept. 4.
  • “Visual Melodies: Selections from the Permanent Collection” an orchestra of images with violins, pianos, horns and drums playing a silent melody for all to see. Through Sept. 15.
  • “Connectivity Stage 1” sound artist David Birchfield explores works in the permanent collection by creating an audience-interactive mediated space. Through Sept. 29.
  •  “Sean Duffy: The Grove” A selection of albums by instrumental and vocal performers at each turntable allows participants to change albums and tracks. Through Sept. 29. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays, Nelson Fine Arts Center, Mill Avenue and 10th Street, Tempe. Admission: Free. (480) 965-2787
• ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center Showcase of ceramics from ASU’s collection. “Renegade Clay: 5 Views From the West” Uncover the work of five artists from Western states who are defining a new generation of clay workers. Through Sept. 4. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, Mill Avenue and 10th Street, Tempe. Admission: Free. (480) 965-2787.
• ASU Phoenix Campus, Mercado Building C -  Island Dreams Artist K.J. Gordon uses his art to bring ecological awareness to the people. Through Aug. 31. ASU Phoenix Campus, Mercado Building C, 502 E. Monroe. (602) 496-1500

• Fifth Annual Bon Appetit ArtWalk The evening features hors d'oeuvres and pastries from Scottsdale's best restaurants, Wine tastings and martini bars, and live music along the gallery route. 7 p.m. to 9 pm. Thursday, Oct.25.Main Street and Marshall Way. Scottsdale. Admission: Free. (480) 990-3939.

• Art on the Move: Eighth Annual Gala  food and live entertainment,  silent auctions,  jazz singer Rachel Price, and  post-performance dessert and champagne reception with the artist. Proceeds will support arts education programs for youth at Mesa Arts Center. 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St. Admission: $200. (480) 644-6500.

•  Central Gallery, Burton Barr Central Library  Permafrost: Recent Work by Matt Kruback This series of recent paintings and drawings are based on actual atmospheric events and locations witnessed by the local artist. Through July 30. Central Gallery, Burton Barr Central Library, 1221 N. Central Ave. (602) 256-3521.

• Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. (480) 941-1225 Picasso: 25 Years of Edition . Ceramics An exhibit of 65 ceramic works - plates, bowls, pitcher vases, and plaques, plus posters from previous Picasso ceramic exhibitions and photographs 0f Picasso at work at the Madour, workshop. Through Nov. 15.
• Fountain Hills Community Center, 13001 N. La Montana Drive. (480) 816-5200 Fall 2007 Art Show Diverse , paintings chosen from 210 entries by 92 artists who are all part of the Arizona Watercolor Association. Through Nov. 15.
• G2 Gallery, 4200 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale. (480) 429-1129. Paintings by Joanne Kerrihard and Russ Havard A showcase new works from Tucson artist Kerrihard, and Texas landscape artist Havard. Through Oct. 27. G2 Gallery,
• Heard Museum “Animals in Art Explore” exhibits and enjoy music and dance performances, children’s authors, hands-on activities and free snacks, as part of the Sizzlin’ Summer Saturdays. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 7. Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. Admission: $3-$10, kids are free with a paid adult. (602) 252-8848.

• Scenes From "Cabaret!” Join the cast and crew of Mesa Encore Theatre at Riverview's Theater District for singing, dancing and mingling. Specially pizza from Red Brick Pizza's "Cabaret Menu· will be available. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, Mesa Riverview, 1061 N. Dobson Road. Admission: Free. www.mesariverview.com.

•  Monsters Ball There will be live entertainment, costumes, Planet Poe, dancers, DJs, dungeon, spiders and