Courtesy of the Isac Amaya Foundation

German Cadenasa student who received a scholarship from the foundation

For years, the Isac Amaya Foundation has been raising funds for scholarships to distribute to Arizona students to attend college and/or a university.

But now they have a new strategy: empower students to raise money themselves.

To make that happen, they're asking for creative fundraising strategies from innovative people, like you. Think you might have the right moves to help students raise some cash for higher education? Submit an idea and you could also walk away with $2,000.

See also:
- Phoenix Art Museum Announces 2013 Contemporary Forum Award Winners
- Voice Media Group and Phoenix New Times Announce Summer Multimedia Internships

More »

Images Courtesy of Bucketfeet

Sentrock's design is on the left, Rhodes' entry is on the right

There's no other way to put it. Arizona is representing.

Artist Joseph "Sentrock" Perez, who's from Phoenix but now lives in Chicago, and Phoenix-based designer Joshua Rhodes, who often works under the name Subtle Takeover, are finalists in Chicago shoe company Bucketfeet's artist contest. It works like this: 10 finalists from across the country vie for the public's votes in hopes of having their original work produced on Bucketfeet's slip-ons or lace-ups.

See also:
Sentrock and Mikey Jackson's Mural on 15th Avenue and Grant Street
Resolution Guide: Manifesto -- Local Creatives and Their Words of Wisdom

More »

Carrie Wheeler

We have good news and bad about Seventh Avenue shop LollyPOP Vintage.

First, the bad: Owner Heather Powers announced that she'll close the Phoenix boutique Sunday, May 26.

See also:
Phoenix Shop Hard Goods to Close
Phoenix Boutique Vintage By Misty Opens Scottsdale Location Inside Nové

More »

Claire Lawton

A few of the items offered at Hard Goods

Sad news for fans of Hard Goods: Owner Brandon Gore announced via Instagram that the store, which carries concrete wares, along with local art and other home accessories, will close up shop soon.

"It's been a fun ride, but the Hard Goods pop up shop is coming to an end (for now)," Gore wrote in the post, which features an image with text that reads, "Big Thanks."

See also:
Hard Goods: Designs and Concrete Goods by Local Artists
Brandon Boetto: 2013 Big Brain Awards Finalist, Craft

More »

Phoenix Art Museum. Photo by Bill Timmerman.

On Wednesday night, Phoenix Art Museum's Contemporary Forum awarded eight local artists who've made a mark in the contemporary scene.

The annual event recognizes up to seven emerging Arizona artists with $1,500 grants to purchase materials and one mid-career artist with $5,000 plus a special exhibition of his or her work alongside past award winners.

See also:
- UPDATE: Disney Cancels Plans to Trademark "Dia de los Muertos"
- Scottsdale Public Art to Host ISConnects Panel Discussion A Conversation: Sculpture + Architecture

More »

http://youtu.be/nPTBxgDfmK8

And we thought the era of big boxes carrying high-end designer diffusion lines was all but over, thanks to lagging sales and a super-saturated market.

Wrong-o.

Target announced today that a 3.1 Phillip Lim capsule collection will be released this fall, to much shrieking and geeking from fans of the effortlessly stylish label, headed by designer Phillip Lim.

See also:
- Jason Wu for Target: The Good, The Bad, and The Stuff We'll Tear Your Hair Out Over
- Great Gatsby Fashion: The Good, The Bad, and The Must-Avoid Looks
- She's Back! Allie Brosh's Webcomic "Hyperbole and a Half" Returns After a Long Hiatus

More »

https://asunews.asu.edu/

Arizona State University's mascot has had a rough couple of months.

In March, the university announced that had called in the brain trust at Disney to help imagine a Sparky that would "appeal to younger audiences."

The cartoon-ified Sparky was poorly received and widely ridiculed by ASU supporters and rivals alike for having a face that resembled something between the mask from V for Vendetta, the Honey Nut Cheerios Bee, and Billy from the horror movie Saw.

See also:
- UPDATE: Disney Cancels Plans to Trademark "Dia de los Muertos"
- Walmart on Campus Coming Soon to Arizona State University

More »

If you see the world in visuals and aren't afraid of interviewing, recording, cropping, color adjusting, and rendering, we have good news.

This summer, Voice Media Group is kicking off a multimedia internship in each of its papers (including Phoenix New Times, Miami New Times, Westword, New Times Broward Palm Beach, Riverfront Times, Dallas Observer, LA Weekly, OC Weekly, City Pages, Houston Press, and The Village Voice) that wil include video production and visual storytelling.

See also:
- Best of Phoenix 2012: Get Scientific with Our Interactive Periodic Table
- Best of Phoenix 2011: Dig into the Local Underground with Our Interactive Map

More »

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SpunSugarMenagerie

When the legal braintrust at Disney Enterprises heard the roar of criticism aimed at its applications to trademark "Dia de los Muertos" earlier today, the corporation decided to quickly and quietly backpedal.

Disney had filed 10 applications last week in hopes of obtaining the trademark to the phrase "Dia de los Muertos" in conjunction with a new animated film focused on the Mexican holiday. The trademark would have given the company rights to sue anyone for using the phrase/name of the religious holiday for profit on a variety of goods.

See also:
- Yes, Disney Is Actually Attempting to Trademark "Dia de los Muertos"
- Five Ideas for Star Wars Spin-Offs Disney Should Consider Making (and Four They Really Shouldn't)
- ASU's Sparky Mascot Gets a (Pretty Scary) Facelift from Disney in Hopes of "Appealing to a Younger Audience"

More »

https://www.facebook.com/sugarskullcreations

Update: Since the publication of this post, Disney has canceled its applications for trademarks on Dia de los Muertos.

In 10 applications filed May 1 through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Disney Enterprises Inc. is attempting to trademark the phrase "Dia de los Muertos."

If successful, the corporation would be able to go after individual companies who attempt to use "Dia de los Muertos" for profit in the areas of education and entertainment, goods and services, apparel, toys, and food items.

See also:
- Five Ideas for Star Wars Spin-Offs Disney Should Consider Making (and Four They Really Shouldn't)
- ASU's Sparky Mascot Gets a (Pretty Scary) Facelift from Disney in Hopes of "Appealing to a Younger Audience"

More »