You submitted nominations for awards given to the Valley's emerging creatives and the results are in. Introducing our Big Brain 2013 Finalists.

Leading up to the Big Brain Award awards announcement and celebration on April 27, Chow Bella and Jackalope Ranch will introduce the finalists.

Up today: 1Spot

Damian Jim and Michelle Ponce of 1Spot, plus work by Jaque Fragua, the cover of Ziindi zine, and the gallery's mural by Breeze.

Local artists Michelle Ponce and Damian Jim have worked on small projects and art pieces together since they met a few years ago, but when they connected over the idea of a contemporary Native art zine, the two knew they were in it for the long haul.

See also:
- Announcing the 2013 Big Brain Finalists
- Meet New Times' 2013 Big Brain Finalists and Celebrate the Winners at Artopia on April 27

More »

You submitted nominations for awards given to the Valley's emerging creatives and the results are in. Introducing our Big Brain 2013 Finalists.

Leading up to the Big Brain Award awards announcement and celebration on April 27, Chow Bella and Jackalope Ranch will introduce the finalists.

Up today: Ashley Cooper

photos by Becky Bartkowski, designs by Ashley Cooper

If Ashley Cooper likes it, then she'll want to put a pattern on it.

The Mesa-based textile designer creates bold graphics reminiscent of those by Trina Turk, Jonathan Adler, and Diane Von Furstenberg. Clothing, accessories, pillows, wallpaper; she wants her designs all over them.

See also:
- Announcing the 2013 Big Brain Finalists
- Meet New Times' 2013 Big Brain Finalists and Celebrate the Winners at Artopia on April 27

More »

You submitted nominations for awards given to the Valley's emerging creatives and the results are in. Introducing our Big Brain 2013 Finalists.

Leading up to the Big Brain Award awards announcement and celebration on April 27, Chow Bella and Jackalope Ranch will introduce the finalists.

Up today: Space 55

Photos by Jamie Peachey

"We're like a home for wayward artists," says Shawna Franks, cofounder of Space 55 Theatre, the tiny, off-beat playhouse that's lately been taking downtown Phoenix by storm.

The nonprofit all-volunteer company operates less like a conventional theater than a theater cooperative, offering late-night and series productions created and produced by a revolving cast of actors, writers, and directors.

See also:
- Announcing the 2013 Big Brain Finalists
- Meet New Times' 2013 Big Brain Finalists and Celebrate the Winners at Artopia on April 27

More »

You submitted nominations for awards given to the Valley's emerging creatives and the results are in. Introducing our Big Brain 2013 Finalists.

Leading up to the Big Brain Award awards announcement and celebration on April 27, Chow Bella and Jackalope Ranch will introduce the finalists.

Up today: Jon Arvizu

photos by Becky Bartkowski, design and artwork by Jon Arvizu

Jon Arvizu is a hired gun. That's how he describes his day-to-day work as a designer, illustrator, art director, and printmaker at Trapdoor Studio.

When he isn't working on freelance projects for a Swiss brewery, a local motorcycle club in need of a fresh logo, or Phoenix-based entertaining guru Cheryl Najafi's website, the 37-year-old indulges his hobbies of letterpress and mono-screen printing.

See also:
- Announcing the 2013 Big Brain Finalists
- Meet New Times' 2013 Big Brain Finalists and Celebrate the Winners at Artopia on April 27

More »

You submitted nominations for awards given to the Valley's emerging creatives and the results are in. Introducing our Big Brain 2013 Finalists.

Leading up to the Big Brain Award awards announcement and celebration on April 27, Chow Bella and Jackalope Ranch will introduce the finalists.

Up today: Kelsey Dake

Photos by Claire Lawton, Illustrations by Kelsey Dake

Kelsey Dake can remember who beat her in a coloring competition in second grade, and though she won't name any names, she says it was a pivotal moment in her creative career.

Dake now works as a full-time freelance illustrator. Her client list includes McSweeney's, Business Week, Lucky Peach, Wired, New York Times, and New York Times Magazine (to name a few). At 23, she's a big name in the national illustration scene but says she's ready to focus on her hometown.

More »

You submitted nominations for awards given to the Valley's emerging creatives and the results are in. Introducing our Big Brain 2013 Finalists.

Leading up to the Big Brain Award awards announcement and celebration on April 27, Chow Bella and Jackalope Ranch will introduce the finalists.

Up today: Brandon Boetto

Photos by Becky Bartkowski

Brandon Boetto's work is heavy -- but not as heavy as you'd expect.

The industrial designer deals in concrete. It's not just any concrete, though. Boetto explains that the mixture he uses is high-performance, meaning it's extremely durable and ideal for use in furniture and home accessories. Sure, heavy items can be crafted, but small pieces, like coasters and bookends, are lighter than they look.

See also:
- Announcing the 2013 Big Brain Finalists
- Artopia/Big Brain Awards 2013: Call for Craft Vendors

More »

If you're excited to find out which creatives up for this year's Big Brain Awards will be crowned and awarded cash prizes, you'll want to grab a ticket to Artopia on April 27 (where we'll celebrate the finalists and announce the winners).

And if you want to get in on the action, here's your chance . . .

See also:
- Announcing the 2013 Big Brain Finalists
- 2012 Big Brain Awards Winners Announced

More »

Take note and give your creative friends a big pat on the back -- we're announcing the finalists for the 2013 Big Brain Awards.

The award was created to recognize emerging local creatives, and for the past few weeks we've been narrowing the long list of submissions to 18 finalists in six categories.

See also:
- 2012 Big Brain Awards Winners Announced
- Big Brain Awards 2013: Nominate Emerging Phoenix Creatives for Cash Prizes

More »

Artopia 2012, photo by Ryan Wolf

We're throwing a party.

Our annual Big Brain Awards celebrate emerging creatives in a variety of media throughout the Valley (and give them cash prizes to put toward their passions).

And while you'll have to wait until this afternoon to find out who the finalists are, you're more than welcome to start gearing up for Artopia, an event full of music, food, and art, where we'll announce the 2013 Big Brain winners.

See also:
- 2012 Big Brain Awards Winners Announced
- Big Brain Awards 2013: Nominate Emerging Phoenix Creatives for Cash Prizes

More »

Photos of the 2012 Big Brain Winners by Claire Lawton and Jamie Peachey

If you (or someone you know) could use $500 for a creative project, pay attention.

New Times is presenting our fourth annual Big Brain Awards this year -- which means $500 cash prizes for creatives in each of the following categories: performing arts, visual arts, online, design, craft and culinary arts.

See also:
- Big Brain Awards 2013: Nominate Emerging Phoenix Creatives for Cash Prizes
- 2012 Big Brain Awards Winners Announced

More »