by Joe Szabo, Szabo Group

Below are some of the highlights of the best things to see at the Heard Museum in Phoenix:

Visit the HOME: Native People in the Southwest exhibit, which features pre-historic, historic and contemporary art, artifacts, and video presentations. All of these elements combine and tell stories about the cultures of American Indians in the Southwest. Be sure to take note of the art fence located at the entrance of this exhibit. It’s made of glass and clay and was designed to represent borders and the conflicting feeling of living in two worlds. Also be sure to check out the collection of katsina dolls on display in this exhibit.

In the We Are! Arizona’s First People exhibit, be sure to check out the mural titled “Fear of a Red Planet” which showcases scenes from American Indian history that have had an impact on the lives of American Indian people living in the Southwest.

For kids, there are three galleries which feature hands-on take-home activities and interactive displays. They can make a Yaqui-inspired paper flower or bandolier bag.

Claiming to provide moving stories is the Remembering Our Indian School Days: The Boarding School Experience.

The Heard Museum shop buys directly from hundreds of American Indian artists and offers jewelry, pottery, katsina dolls and more. It also features a great selection of books by and about American Indians.

Be sure to grab a meal or snack at The Café. The food is has a Southwest-inspired flavor to it.

The Heard Museum is located at 2301 N Central Avenue in Phoenix. For more information visit: www.heard.org

The Szabo Group offers first class real estate services to clients in the Scottsdale Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.  Award winning Realtors and Re/MAX top producers, The Szabo group delivers experience, knowledge, dedication and proven results. Contact Joe Szabo at 480.688.2020 or visit www.scottsdalerealestateteam.com

[Source: Kerry Lengel, Arizona Republic] – There’s no point in soft-pedaling it: The great financial panic of 2008-09 sent Valley arts organizations into a tailspin.  Cautious consumers sat on their wallets instead of opening them up at the box office, and big corporations had less cash to send trickling down to the non-profits.  So performing companies canceled shows, slashed production budgets and cut staff.  MyArtsCommunity.org, a high-profile campaign to raise donations, fell flat.  The latest bad news comes from the West Valley, where the Heard Museum plans to shutter its satellite gallery and the West Valley Art Museum has closed its doors while scrambling to raise $150,000 to keep it afloat.

With the 2009-10 season revving up this month, anxiety about ticket sales and charitable giving remains high.  But the show must go on, and there are hundreds of dedicated individuals, in the spotlight and behind the scenes, who are working to make sure that the crisis doesn’t spin into an arts apocalypse.  To counter the gloom and doom, here are seven reasons to be optimistic about the state of the arts:

1. Up-and-coming companies: Arizona Opera and Ballet Arizona remain strong, but they are no longer the only game in town.  The upstart Phoenix Opera has brought in top-notch singers for two years of traditionalist stagings, while Novaballet, entering its second season, is committed to cutting-edge choreography that brings dance into the 21st century.
2. New works: For theaters, the temptation might be to rely on familiar titles to fill seats.  Yes, there’s a bit of that in the coming season.  But in addition to the return of “The Phantom of the Opera,” ASU Gammage is bringing in-the-now Broadway hits “In the Heights” and “August: Osage County” (last year’s Tony winners for best musical and best play, respectively).  Actors Theatre has four Arizona premieres on the bill, while Arizona Theatre Company will be staging a new adaptation of “The Kite Runner” and commissioning a world-premiere comedy, “The Second City Does Arizona.”
3. Investments in venues: The building boom that gave us new performing-arts venues in Mesa, Tempe and Peoria isn’t over.  The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and the Herberger Theater Center are undergoing extensive renovations, while future projects, including an expansion at Phoenix Theatre, are in the works.  The economic downturn is sure to slow the pace of big capital projects, but the momentum hasn’t been lost.
4. Fresh blood: The Scottsdale center’s rebuilt theater comes with a new artistic director, Jeffrey Babcock, who promises to reach out to a broader audience with splashy events, such as its first Festival of Latin Jazz & Culture.  New leadership always presents an opportunity to rethink ways of doing things, which means we could soon be seeing innovative programming at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, ASU Art Museum and Heard Museum: All are on the lookout to fill director positions this year.
5. Experienced leaders: Shaking things up can be good, but there’s also something to be said for a steady hand on the tiller.  That’s what many major companies have: savvy executives with track records for success.  At the Phoenix Art Museum, Jim Ballinger has been in charge since 1972, growing it into a multimillion-dollar company that attracts well over 200,000 visitors a year and overseeing two major expansions.  On the artistic side are such leaders as Ballet Arizona’s Ib Andersen, a Balanchine protege who in 10 years has elevated the company to one of the most respected ballets in the country.
6. International networking: The arts community forms a web that crosses all borders, and some of the greatest performers in the world are Arizona-bound this season.  There’s the incomparable cellist Yo-Yo Ma, of course, at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, which also will host top dance troupes, including the pioneering Paul Taylor and Martha Graham companies.  Then there’s the conducting world’s biggest superstar, the charismatic Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel, who will bring the Los Angeles Philharmonic to Phoenix’s Symphony Hall for a performance that’s sure to be a highlight of the season.
7. Grass roots: Even if the unthinkable happened and every major company in the Valley were forced to close, that would not be the end of the arts.  There will always be actors and singers and dancers, and art lovers who want to see them.  In good times and in bad, every generation breeds a crop of optimistic entrepreneurs who aren’t satisfied with how everybody else does things.  Just one example is Chyro Arts Venue, which opened last year in south Scottsdale and offers provocative, independent-minded theater without the benefit of a six-figure budget.  Many such companies come and go, but some will thrive and move to the next level, becoming the Nearly Naked Theatres and Center Dance Ensembles of tomorrow. The future is always unwritten.  [Note: Read the full article at 7 healthy signs for the metro Phoenix arts scene.]

Summertime in the desert of Phoenix, AZ doesn’t sound very enjoyable at first thought, but when you really investigate what the city and the surrounding areas have to offer, anytime in Phoenix can be fun and full of adventure!  By mid-September the hot temperatures start giving way to more moderate daytime temperature which is awesome for outdoor activities during your free time.  The average rainfall in the fall months is less than 1 inch per month, so rain is rarely and issue.  Arizona has gorgeous azure blue skies with a beautiful desert landscape that keeps one mesmerized for hours.  Mountains look like they are just a few miles away in the landscape, but are actually 50 -100 miles away.  The desert which looks like nothing could survive in it is teaming with life upon examination.  The vegetation and plant life is extremely unique and beautiful in its own right.  Within Phoenix metro is a huge 16,500 acre park, South Mountain Park Scenic Dr.  This park has fantastic view of the desert and a summit lookout of 2330 feet above sea level.  There is an Interpretive Center for information on the area and multiple hiking trails for outdoor enjoyment.  Another similar area is Camel Back Mountain with red rock cliffs and abundant desert wildlife and hiking trails.

Of course, our Native American heritage is very abundant in Phoenix and the surrounding areas.  In Phoenix is the Heard Museum which is an excellent Native American culture and art museum.  This is a must see!  Free tours are offered daily.

If you enjoy picnics or want a day out with the kids, visit Encanto Park.  Encanto Park opens at 5:30 AM and closes at midnight daily.  This park is a 200 acre no-fee picnic area and hiking trails.  Also inside the park is an amusement park, “Enchanted Island” which is great fun for the whole family.

Phoenix and the surrounding areas such as Scottsdale, Chandler, and Tempe (home of Arizona State University) have a great selection of restaurants.  Dining options include everything from southwestern style foods, fast food, Italian, seafood, elegant dining, to sushi!  You shouldn’t have ANY problem finding what suits your palate any night of the week!

Nightlife is also in full supply in the Phoenix area.  If you want to be culturally inspired, check out the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.  They have performances regularly.  Classes, tours, lectures and workshops are also offered on a variety of topics. There are many bars, live music, and concert offering in the area all the time.  One of the old time “watering holes” that has been around for three decades is Greasewood Flats in Scottsdale.  This is an outdoor camp with campfires, adult beverages, live music and GREAT BURGERS!

Join Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon for coffee and a chat on Saturday, August 8 at 8:30 a.m. at the Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave.  The Mayor’s “Community Coffee” offers you the chance to communicate with the Mayor one-on-one, pose questions, and provide feedback for him and his office.  This month the Mayor and Deputy City Manager, Ed Zuercher, will discuss the status of securing federal stimulus funds and what this means to residents, jobs, education, and the City’s Green Phoenix Initiative.

The Heard Museum will offer a special tour at 9:30 a.m, immediately following the event. Community Coffee and the tour are free.  To RSVP, click here.

This discussion, held at the Heard Museum’s Berlin Gallery on 3/7/09 during the Annual Indian Market events, included Norman Akers (Osage),  Steven Yazzie, (Navajo/Laguna) and Patsy Phillips, (Cherokee), Director of the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Billed as an event where the three would “share insights on Current Issues and Trends in Contemporary American Indian Art,” the discussion was moderated by Berlin Gallery Manager Andrea R. Hanley, Navajo.

The event was well attended and audience members included Mr. Berlin, after which the gallery is named, Bob Martin, the President of the Institute of American Indian Arts, and Luci Tapahonso, famed Navajo writer and professor at University of Arizona. Artists in attendance included Kade Twist of the Postcommodity Collective, and America Meredith, among others. The discussion was interactive and lively with many comments from the audience.

Hanley loosely guided the discussion and should be commended for allowing the discussion to flow organically. Because of her moderation, the discussion was very dynamic. She started by introducing contemporary Native American art as an exercise in “cultural self-determination,” which gave me pause for thought—more on this in another blog post! The panel began by discussing the general state of contemporary Native American Art. Akers stated that many Native Artists were addressing global issues in their work; while Yazzie expressed his belief that artists were developing more collaborative pieces and that artist collectives. Both agreed that younger Native artists are exposed to more information and technology, which is influencing new works.

When asked whether or not artists were doing work for the market or for themselves, a spirited discussion followed. Yazzie immediately jumped and said he felt that artists did work for both themselves and for the market. Akers stated, “If you are painting for a market your voice is compromised. You have to find your voice and not compromise it. There is a certain hollowness to creating art for the market; although I am conflicted and reluctant to criticize those creating art for the market because it support so many. It is important that we have artists who do both [art for themselves] and to have artists that challenge the market.” Patsy Phillips followed up by remarking the museums ought to provide more opportunities and further that IAIA could present more cutting edge work than larger museums.

Next, Hanley asked the group if there was any decade they felt was more pivotal than another in contemporary Native American art. Patsy Phillips immediately and definitively replied “Now!” She furthered this statement by saying that there are so many opportunities today, that there are more artists and more younger artists. Although she cautioned that “we [Native Americans] need to create our own critical writing and scholarship.” Akers agreed with her assessment that we are in a the most important era of contemporary Native American art and that younger artists were doing the most inventive and important art right now. Phillips spoke again, “we’re missing our own critical interpretations. People don’t know how to write about Native art. We need our own scholars, but we also need to train others how to write about Native Art, especially in international contexts.” There was much discussion on this point and many in the crowd agreed, including me! I pointed out my background in critical theory and Native American art, but stating that there are few of us and few places to publish. The artists and museum folks in the crowd also got in on this discussion. All agreed that the need for scholarship and critical interpretations of contemporary Native American art is paramount. At some point in the discussion, someone mentioned, “haven’t we been having this discussion for the last 10 years?” This is a true statement. I built my academic career on the notion that there was no critical scholarship or theories for analyzing contemporary Native American art and I started my work in 2001 and it is 2009 and we’re still having the discussion.

This moved the discussion into the final question for the panel, if they saw Native artists moving into the National and International art scene in the next 5-10 years. All panelists said yes. Phillips talked about the Venice Biennale, but again expressed the need for scholarship so there is a critical language to talk about Native art. Phillips is right, if contemporary Native American artists want to move into international art events or any major national event, there must be scholarship about contemporary Native Art.

After relatively few general questions from the audience, the panel discussion closed. The audience had been a part of the panel discussion as it took place, so there was little need for a question period after the discussion. In my assessment, this panel discussion was a good balance to the art market going on outside the walls of the Berlin Gallery. I do hope they continue on this path and schedule more scholarly discussions in the Gallery. Personally, I think it adds to the credibility of the Gallery. The Berlin Gallery, under Hanley’s direction has done more for contemporary Native Art on a National scale than any other gallery I know. The work and artists presented at the Berlin Gallery, are very representative not only of past decades of contemporary Native art, but demonstrate the vitality of this “pivotal” decade of contemporary Native art that we are in the midst of. It was a good event, you should be sorry you missed it.

Every weekend during the month of March, arts events will be hosted in downtown Phoenix and surrounding neighborhoods, along with events, exhibitions, and performances on other days throughout the month.  In recognition of the local arts community and these public festivals, Mayor Phil Gordon has proclaimed March as “Phoenix Arts Month” and invites everyone to attend and celebrate.

• March 7-8, Art Detour: The city’s First Fridays art walk of local galleries and art spaces organized by Art Link.  Free shuttles run beginning at Phoenix Center for the Arts, and take guests to destinations throughout downtown Phoenix.
• March 7-8, Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market: One of the nation’s most acclaimed gathering of Native American artists. 
• March 12-15, West of Western Culinary Festival: Celebrating Arizona’s chefs and culinary arts at the Phoenix Art Museum
• March 15, Phoenix Art Museum: Spring exhibition “In Contemporary Rhythm” opens.
• March 21-22, Valley Fever Art Festival: Phoenix’s newest festival celebrating visual and performing arts, including music, dance, poetry, theater, street painting, and more at Heritage Square.
• March 28-29, Phoenix Fringe Festival: Innovative, experimental and provocative theater by local, national, and international artists.

For a full calendar of events during the month of March, click here.

The Warrior -Heard Museum, Phoenix, originally uploaded by moonjazz.

This magnificent Indian mask in the great Heard Museum was a challenge. In a very dark area behind a glass case. I could not use flash so it has a grainy feel from 800 asa and long exposure which works add to the determination you see in this face. The artist is superb the spirit is moving. At Heard Museaum in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix is a great place to spend a vacation and looking at some of the top tourist attractions you will soon see why. Phoenix may be a desert city but there is nothing wanting about this thriving metropolis or the attractions on offer for visitors.

The city has grown rapidly from humble desert town origins, and indeed it is one of America’s fastest growing cities today. With a diverse community and a past rich in indigent culture, there is something on offer for the visitor no matter what their interests are and there is something for all of the family to enjoy.

Here are the top seven tourist attractions for Phoenix.

Arizona Science Center

With over 35 interactive exhibits, the Arizona Science Center provides an eye opening experience for all enquiring minds no matter how old they are. There is also a giant screen theater and a computerized planetarium offering great visual and educational films and experiences.

Desert Botanical Garden

With hundreds of different plants on display, you will be amazed at just how many different species of cactus there are as well as the multitude of displays that they create completely naturally. The Desert Botanical Garden is particularly impressive in the spring when the flowers are in bloom but you will find a wide range of events are arranged throughout the year for art and glass, cuisine, music and dancing.

Heard Museum

Bequeathed and initially funded by the Heard family, the Heard Museum focuses on the art and cultural history of the Native American people, and particularly the Indians of the Southwest.

World renowned for the collection of the art of the Indian people, you will find basketwork, jewelry, textiles and a very large collection of Kachina dolls scattered throughout the numerous exhibition halls including ten outdoors.

Heritage Square

The focus of Heritage Square is the Rosson House together with seven other homes lovingly and painstakingly restored to their original state in the late 1800’s. In addition to a large number of exhibits showing Phoenix’s origins you will also find ample opportunity for eating, shopping and educational activities.

Pueblo Grande Museum

Discover the ruins of the original settles of the Valley of the Sun and the Hohokam Indians who carved the first canals and pathways across the land, many of which were followed by the white settlers in the late 1800’s.

You will find in the museum the actual ruins of the 12^th Century Hohokam settlement along with the remains of the original irrigation canals made to bring the Valley to life from the desert.

South Mountain Park

Phoenix is a city of firsts and no less than with South Mountain Park which is the world’s largest city park and a focus of activities for the whole area. You will find within the 15,000 acres of desert and arid country miles of trails for hiking, riding and mountain biking as well as many other activities catered for including rock climbing.

Phoenix Art Museum

With an enormous collection of European, Oriental and native art, the Phoenix Museum has something for all cultural and artistic tastes. There are more than 17,000 works of art on display in a museum which is itself an architectural work of interest providing scope for wide ranging exhibits and plenty of visitor interaction.

Even in a down economy, the city’s tourist attractions provide Phoenix jobs for thousands upon thousands of Phoenix citizens.

[Source: Arizona Citizens for the Arts] — Phoenix arts advocates, like supporters of numerous other programs facing the spectre of significant budget cuts, have expressed concern for the following programs “on the chopping block:”

Pueblo Grande Museum is facing proposed reductions including elimination of a museum curator, museum assistant, two museum aides, a secretary and a semi-skilled worker.  Special events, summer programs and lectures will be reduced by 50 percent; and school tours will no longer be available, and maintenance of landscaping and surrounding grounds will be reduced.

The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture grants budget of $890,000 will be cut by 50-75% or more. These grants along with grants from the state arts commission are typically the only source of unrestricted funds these organizations receive and have been the only source of stable funding they could count on for years to help provide affordable programs to the community.  The city’s grants budget over the last 20 years has never been lower than $460,000.  These reductions will take us well below that number — and with the growth of the city population and inflation over these 20 years, the support given to arts organizations will be dismal, at best. (Imagine how long it would take to rebuild to the current level of support.)

The Heard Museum, which relies heavily on sales made at its famous gift shop has seen a significant reduction in sales, forcing huge budget cuts and program reductions mid-year.

The Shemer Arts Center, a community arts center and Phoenix Point of Pride, is facing closure.

The Phoenix Center for the Arts, an affordable arts education facility, serving local emerging artists and arts organizations and located in the heart of the city is facing budget cut of 70%, essentially shutting down most of its programs serving students and artists.

Many large and small arts organizations have begun staff reductions and layoffs including the Phoenix Art Museum, the Phoenix Symphony, Ballet Arizona, and Free Arts of Arizona which serves young children, among others.

Due to these drastic budget shortfalls, grant guidelines have been rewritten at the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture.  These will result in elimination of funding to any organization that is not producing arts or located within the city will be cut.  Organizations who’ll see no further grants from Phoenix include Free Arts of Arizona, Herberger Theater Center, Boys and Girls Clubs, Habilitation Center, Artability, Childsplay, and local arts agencies such as the North Valley Arts Council and the West Valley Fine Arts Council.  [Note: For more information from the Arizona Citizens for the Arts, click here.  For City of Phoenix budget hearing information, click here.  For related Arizona Republic article, click here.]

[Source: Margaret Dietrich and Julia Tourville] — The Midtown Museum District Neighborhood Association’s Grand Stuffing Party on December 13 was a tremendous success and we’d like to thank everyone for their incredible hard work throughout the day. We’d also like to thank all the businesses that took part, and the team at Doxa LLC for allowing us to use their building for the day. It took over 270 “person” hours to fill 10,000 bags with over 160,000 pieces of information about the Midtown Museum Neighborhood. The bags will be distributed at the Metro Light Rail Party on December 27, 2008.

The MMDNA has a booth at the Light Rail station at Central Avenue and Encanto and is partnering with others at the party at Park Central. The MMDNA booth will look resplendent with the fantastic banner generously provided by Fast Signs on Central. Please drop by to admire it. We still need volunteers for the booths at the Light Rail Party on December 27. Please email info@midtownmuseumdistrict.org or call Margaret on 602-758-3129.

The Heard Museum Guild has invited MMDNA members to a Cheese and Wine evening at the Heard Museum on January 13, 2009 from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will be in the Berlin Gallery and will be limited to 50 people on a first come first served basis. RSVPs are essential. Please contact Beth Wickenden on 602-296-4263 to reserve your place.

If you’re like many crafters, perfectionism is a way of life for you. You notice blemishes in material, out-of-sync stitches, and shades that don’t quite match … small details the untrained layperson’s eye would probably never notice. And certainly there is a beauty and satisfaction in creating a flawless piece of work.

The thing is, whether you realize it or not, perfectionism is probably hurting you more than it’s helping. For one thing, unless it’s a blatant error like misspelling a name or sewing with the wrong side of the fabric facing out ( I have done this!), chances are really good you are the only one who will ever notice the mistake or know it’s there.

As a professional editor, I make a living by focusing on finding mistakes and correcting them. But there’s a truism about editing: you cannot proofread/edit your own work. Because you are so close to it, you can read the same mistake again and again and simply not see it. I handed out my own business card (for my editing business, no less!) with the word “brainstroming” on it for a few months before noticing the mistake. That was a pretty blatant error, and even though I was really embarrassed to discover the mistake, I recovered without any major catastrophes resulting. Any gaff you make in your crafting will more than likely be much smaller and a whole lot less noticeable. Yet, how much are you stressing yourself out by striving to make your creation absolutely perfect?

Another thing to consider is that perfectionism slows you down! The most glaring place my perfectionism rears its control-freak head is in my own writing. I will slave over an article or blog post, reading, re-reading, and re-re-reading a hundred times, trying to make sure I’ve got every comma and en-dash correct. Well guess what I learned recently. Done is better than perfect! Reading, re-reading, and re-re-reading takes up a lot of time I could be using to write or create something new. If I can just release the need to worry that it’s not perfect, I can move on to starting a new project.

Psychology Today online has a very interesting article about perfectionism. One thing they mention is that perfectionism keeps you from growing:

Perfectionism seeps into the psyche and creates a pervasive personality style. It keeps people from engaging in challenging experiences; they don’t get to discover what they truly like or to create their own identities. Perfectionism reduces playfulness and the assimilation of knowledge; if you’re always focused on your own performance and on defending yourself, you can’t focus on learning a task. Here’s the cosmic thigh-slapper: Because it lowers the ability to take risks, perfectionism reduces creativity and innovation – exactly what’s not adaptive in the global marketplace.

They even have a 25-question quiz you can take to determine how steeply ingrained your personal perfectionism may be.

I grew up in Phoenix, home of the Heard Museum, a world-renowned museum dedicated to the lives, work, art, and history of the Native American peoples. During a fourth-grade field trip to the museum, and I heard something that has stayed with me ever since. The tour guide was explaining the elaborate weaving method used by several of the tribes to craft their beautiful blankets. She said that if the weaver managed to complete the entire blanket without making a single mistake, she would deliberately weave a mistake into the fabric, so as not to offend the gods. Only the gods were perfect, while the human condition is inherently flawed. That was the coolest thing I’d ever heard because it gave me permission for my work to occasionally be less than perfect.

I don’t necessarily abide by this “rule” when crafting my stockings or writing … but it’s freeing to know it’s there. We’re not perfect because we’re human. The sooner we stop trying to achieve the impossible goal of perfection, the sooner we will learn the lessons we’re here to absorb and the happier and less stressful our lives will become.

Want the latest news (and perhaps gossip) about the metro Phoenix arts and culture scene?  Well go high-tech with one of the latest social media tools, Twitter, to follow what’s happening.  Here’s a sampling:

• Arizona Museum for Youth
• Arizona Tourism
• ASU Art Museum
• CenPho TV
• Heard Museum
• Maricopa Partnership for Arts & Culture
• metromixphoenix
• Phoenix Art Museum
• Phoenix Art Young Collectors
• Tempe Festival of the Arts

If you know of other local individuals and organizations “twitting” on this topic, feel free to reply back and we’ll add them to the list.

Downtown Phoenix at night (David Kadlubowski, New York Times)

[Source: Randal Archibold, New York Times] — Like the myth behind its namesake, Phoenix seems to have come out of nowhere to rank as the nation’s fifth largest city. Even long-timers have a tough time explaining the city’s appeal. Phoenix has left no firm mark in pop culture, aside from a bit role in the opening shot of “Psycho.”

The list of famous area residents is rather short: Barry Goldwater, John McCain, Jordin Sparks are among the better known.  And the city is an inferno in the summer.  The other nine months of the year, however, are gorgeous and sunny, making it a perfect time to visit the city’s new bounty of top-notch golf courses, fashionable resorts, eye-opening museums, and cool night life.  [Note: To read the full article, click here.]

In early October I received an invitation to an art Opening at the Heard Museum’s Berlin Gallery, the museum’s two-year-old commercial venture. Aside the from the museum shop that is. The invite came in the form of e-mail from artist Marla Allison and a subsequent post-card from the gallery. I met Marla during this year’s Indian Fair and Market. Marla is considered an emerging artist in the Native American arts scene, winning awards during The Market, and now featured at the Berlin Gallery. The Laguna, New Mexico, artist’s work is modern, expressionist-abstract, with ventures in experimental multimedia.

While we missed the opportunity to see Marla at the opening for the current Berlin show, we found ourselves lured to the Heard Museum by an exhibit-market of Navajo Master Weavers held November 1, 2008. The weavers’ market featured such master weavers as Ellamae Peterson, Florence Manygoats, Brenda Spenser, and many other great artists. The marketplace included demonstrations of the various aspects of weaving and related materials and tools.

We also took the opportunity to see the show at Berlin Gallery, our first visit. The gallery’s focus is the sale of national caliber, contemporary, Native American art. The current show, “Indigenous + Innovative”, running through December 28, 2008, features the works of Steven Yazzie, Tony Abeyta, Allan Houser, Marla Allison, Joe Feddersen and other great artist. Every piece worth the visit to this art space. But we would have to give the show prize to Joe Feddersen and his masterful glass work. Feddersen, an accomplished print-maker with work in collections at Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and the Whitney Museum of American Art, is also a sculptor and is displaying a series of gorgeous glass pieces. These blown glass pieces are from a series of work begun during his residency at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, Washington. Inspired and based on traditional fishing traps the art captures traditional lines of a basket trap, encased in smooth and precise glass shapes embedded with color they render a rather modern outline.

It is just so so hot in Phoenix that my time off from work is rarely spent outside beyond the short walk to my car. So I’ve compiled a list of great air conditioned spots to hang out in Phoenix. Drink lots of water and have fun!

• Metrocenter is a great mall in Phoenix. I usually head straight to Macy’s with my coupons or to Bath & Body Works where I always spend too much time and money. When I go with a girlfriend, Ruby Tuesdays and the movie theater are generally on the list.
• Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa – I’ve mentioned this one before and now I’ve finally gone and checked it out…WOW! I’ve become a spoiled spa goer!
• Phoenix Art Museum is another great indoor spot. This is a huge museum with a great collection, and a nice café.
• Arizone Science Center – I’m not such a science museum goer, but this does happen to be a very good one so I’m putting it on the list.
• Heard Museum – A unique collection of Native American art. This is a great place for visitors (but who would visit Phoenix in the summer??) because it truly epitomizes the southwester spirit. Definitely go to the café while you’re there.
• Paradise Valley Mall is another great mall (again with a Ruby T’s) and provides good solace from the heat. And I’ve been known to drop by their morning walking club…
• Cerreta Candy Company is a unique place to head when you need a change of scenery. A great place to bring kids, this candy factory offers free tours Sundays through Thursdays. Watching the chocolate flow is just mouth-watering.

Stay cool!
Martha

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A two-year effort to create access from local downtown businesses and cultural interests to ASU’s downtown Phoenix campus achieved its first positive step on Wednesday, August 13.  A team of volunteers and business owners spent three hours at Roosevelt Commons at a “stuffing party” to make over 1,500 “Welcome Bags” of information and special savings for faculty, staff, and incoming ASU downtown campus dorm residents and commuting students.

The effort was a culmination of a meeting with ASU Downtown’s Associate Dean of the College of Public Programs Deb Gullett; Local First Arizona Executive Director Kimber Lanning; Grand Avenue business owner Anna Marie Gutierrez; and Downtown Voices Coalition Steering Committee Chair Steve Weiss.  The discussion focused on the limited ability for local business to interact with the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus.  The traditional “flier rack” information kiosks and bulletin boards normally found on college campuses have for two years been left out of the downtown campus, and the meeting was held to discuss options.

It was Ms. Gullett who suggested the info bag giveaway, and the three local participants rallied downtown troops to create the overflowing Welcome Bag with Artlink First Friday, Local First Arizona’s Small Wonders brochure, and Roosevelt Row maps as well as fliers for downtown and midtown restaurants, service providers, and entertainments.  Also included among others were cultural centers such as Phoenix Art Museum and Heard Museum and Urban Affairs publication, “You Are Here.”  Bags were obtained by Eric Gudiño, ASU Downtown’s Director of Community Relations/Office of Public Affairs, from both the ASU Bookstore and Downtown Phoenix Partnership.  DPP donated their soon-to-be-replaced “Copper Square” branded bags, and extra packages were filled using Devious Wig’s tote-bags.

The promise from ASU Downtown’s representatives is that this is the first of many coming innovations, including access to the electronic “bulletin boards” of the Taylor Place dorms and a flier rack for printed materials in the Administrative Building and other locations.  Upcoming meetings with ASU Downtown Dean Debra Friedman and Community Engagement Liaison Malissa Geer will focus on these and other efforts for the campus and the downtown to commingle.  Stay tuned.

The ShowUp Now Pass is an all-inclusive pass to the museums and attractions of the Greater Phoenix region.  For one low price — even lower with Summer Pricing — you’re invited to experience as many as 15 destinations unique to the Desert Southwest.  There are two pass options available: (1) ”Golden Triangle Pass” provides admission to visit the Phoenix Art Museum, Heard Museum, and Desert Botanical Garden, or (2) ”Total-Access Pass” provides admission to visit all 15 area attractions:

• Arizona Museum for Youth
• Arizona Museum of Natural History
• Bead Museum
• Deer Valley Rock Art Center
• Desert Botanical Garden
• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West Panorama Tour
• Heard Museum
• Mesa Contemporary Arts
• Phoenix Art Museum
• Phoenix Museum of History
• Phoenix Zoo
• Pueblo Grande Museum
• Rosson House
• Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
• West Valley Art Museum 

For more information and to purchase your Now Pass, click here.

I took a break from a weekend of dog shows to visit my friend, painter Ryan Singer, at the Heard Museum Indian Fair and Market. Turned out to be a great day for me, meeting and visiting with some very talented artists and creative people.

Navajo weaver Tahnibaa Naataanii and her prize-winning tapestry. A beautiful piece of art.

Had a very entertaining visit with painter Douglas Miles at the Fair. He asked me how I felt about his art. And I let him have it in return for a photo. Thanks Mr. Miles.

I met John Burton at the fair working as documentarist with a group from Tucson. I suggested he meet and interview award-winning painter Marla Allison. I had a chance to meet Marla a couple of days prior at the Museum’s awards ceremony. She is part of a growing group of Native American artists working in rather modern, or contemporary, styles. I thought this might make a good footage for Burton’s documentary work. One of Marla’s awards was for a multi-media piece combining video and painting, something I had never seen at the Heard Museum Fair works. I mentioned to Burton how I felt the museum’s acknowledgment of such work was significant.