Phoenix Music Blog

By koka_sexton on flickr Creative Commons.

This list is for wimps. We can do better than that!

​Today is one of those days where I look at my giant stack of blogging options and I get a little sad.

You see, I've only got three blog slots per week to fit everything in and sometimes I fail to get it all in. I know, I know, it's tough to believe Arty Girl could fail at anything isn't it? It's true, I tell you. No, really, it is! The only thing I can do is repeatedly applaud myself for being humble enough to admit it. Because, otherwise, I would seem really arrogant.

Anyway, every time a blog opportunity is missed because I didn't have the space at the right time, a little pain fills my heart, it does.

Well, not today, dammit. I'm already on a roll with the list-making thing, so that's what I'm going to do now.

The following (in no particular order) outlines all the arty stuff you can do over the weekend.

She's a badass.

​Before I talk about the Roller Derby Dames, here are two paragraphs about something for the ladies of a more dainty persuasion.

Today, I'm in a fine mood, I am. It's Wednesday, so that means I'm getting into the Phoenix Art Museum tonight by throwing just a couple bucks into their donation box, rather than paying full ticket price. Not to mention, they are showing a documentary at 7 p.m. about the life and art of the incomparable Yayoi Kusama (read about it here).

I can't wait. I've been freaking out over Kusama's permanent installation, Stepping Into You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies, for about three years now. I'm obsessed.

Now, to completely change the subject, I'll move on to the main topic of today's blog. This really couldn't be further from a night at the museum: it's the try outs for the Arizona Derby Dames.

Courtesy of SMoCA.

William Wegman.

​

Even those who aren't that into art know who William Wegman is. Or, at least, they remember when his Cinderella book hit it big in the 90's. Remember? The book that has a photo of a dog in a blonde wig on the cover?

Yeah, that's Wegman.

But there's a lot more to the artist than dogs in dresses. Which is what Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art has been trying to remind everyone with their Unexpected Wegman exhibition, where his lesser-known prints and videos appear.

By Joe Lanman on flickr Creative Commons

You're going to need something bigger than that.

​I did my fair share of being out and about these past two weeks, soaking up the Nick Cave lecture at SMoCA, making a jaunt to First Friday and hitting the Canalscape opening at ASU Art Museum (among other events). So I was thinking I might stick my head in the sand over the weekend. Literally - I wanted to spend my daytime hours hitting some hiking trails.

No such luck. Silly me. There's really too many great things going on for me to pass up. Which is definitely a good problem to have. But I'm still going to sleep in tomorrow and fit in a nice, long hike at some point. Which means I'll probably stop at one of these events in my hiking gear. Is it tacky to show up in spandex, hiking shoes, no make-up and a camelbak?

Anyway, check out the goods for this weekend after the jump...

Now that Martin Cizmar has baited me to respond to his blog (he's good at that, isn't he?) about the Swell Season mural, I'll go ahead and let everyone know that I actually really like it.

The new and improved mural by Joe Pagac.

​Surprised?

You shouldn't be. Even though I can be critical from time to time, I make a careful effort to be fair and give credit where credit is due.

Speaking of credit, I'd like to clear something up here: never, not once, did I bad-mouth the idea for this mural. In fact, in my original post, I applauded the project (4th paragraph, if you're interested). I simply thought the result was an eyesore. So everyone who thinks I'm "not supportive enough" can stop snotty-crying now.

And I absolutely applaud Joe Pagac's latest mural promoting the Swell Season show on November 17th at the Mesa Arts Center.

Courtesy of ASU.

​I am such a moron sometimes, I swear.

I can name a handful of people I personally know who have coughed up a bunch of dough and trekked across the globe to Venice, Italy. And, of course, I've always wanted to go, too. Why? For the beautiful canals, of course.

I grew up in the Arcadia neighborhood. I've driven along Indian School, east of 44th Street, more times than I can count and it never, not once, occurred to me that we have the similar potential for our canals. Nope, never made the connection. I know, pathetic.

I'm so thankful for great minds like Nan Ellin. She's the Planning Program Director and Project Director for a brilliant plan called Canalscape.

By Hamner_fotos' on flickr Creative Commons.

Now this is a good sign.

​Didja hear the big, big news?!?!?

Finally, at long last, after years of fighting a sea of people on the sidewalks of Roosevelt, dodging cars while jaywalking and breathing the exhaust of the slowed vehicles, Roosevelt Street is shutting out all traffic from Central Ave to 7th Street tonight.

Yes, that's right. The street closure and vendor tables are moving from their former home on Garfield Street to Roosevelt Street.

High five to Phoenix!

"El Viaje (Coyote)" by Hector Ruiz & DOSE

​Now, Arty Girl doesn't usually like to double dip on covering art events. This time around, however, we've got two artists, two gallery locations and two receptions. So it seems only appropriate that there would be two blips of coverage on the Phoenix New Times radar.

Yep, the exhibition, "colLABORation" certainly has a dual nature.

By .:Siddhartha:. on flickr Creative Commons.

​First, you have just two days to get a little scratch together and purchase tickets for the "Nick Cave: Meet Me at the Center of the Earth" lecture and soundsuit performance. But you already knew that, right? I mean, we've written a night & day piece and an entire review about the show so I won't beat a dead horse.

Second, you have just a few hours to get yourself together and head down to the celebration for the Day of the Dead from 2-4 p.m. today at ASU.

Ok, just a warning: I'm going to be mean in this blog.

But I assert that anything I say here does not hold a candle to the suffering I feel everyday on my way to work, when I've had to take in a begrudging eyeful of the Monsters of Folk Tour mural.

The Monsters of Folk Mural by Joe Pagac.

​Yeah, I know, ouch.

Now, I really do appreciate the story behind the mural (our music editor covered this a while back). I love that one of our best Roosevelt Row art galleries, eye lounge, allowed local promoter Charlie Levy to commission an original mural to advertise the exciting arrival of the "Monsters of Folk" tour. The tour only stopped in 16 cities so it's no wonder Levy wanted to celebrate the arrival in Phoenix. The artist, Joe Pagac, is a friend of Levy's and painted this for free on a First Friday, in one night.

Joe Pagac lives in Tucson and has a lot of experience painting murals. And I have to say, the work on his website looks way, way better than what he threw together here.

Yes, let's!

If you ever meet me, you can pretty much assume that the accessories I'll be wearing have come from frances, the adorable boutique on Central and Camelback. It's kind of embarrassing, really. But every time I go there, I find something I just "have to have". And before I know it, I've thrown down some serious cash.

This is what you'll be walking into...

​But what's really impressive about frances is that I have never, not once, not ever felt even a slight sting of buyer's remorse.

Frances is that good.

"Seventy Flights in Ninety Minutes, Looking West From Hayden Butte" by D. Bryon Darby.

​I make no bones about my feelings for the city of Phoenix: I love it.

Sure, we certainly have our problems and while I believe such issues should always be addressed, as soon as the conversation turns to unproductive bashing on my home town, I get seriously T.O.'d. You may as well sling insults about my mother.

So if there's an art show about Phoenix, I'm interested. And there just happens to be one at ASU, opening tonight.

Red Top II by Norman Akers.

​I live in a small apartment fourplex that was built in 1927. Sometimes when my mind wanders, I imagine what has happened within these walls. What kind of people lived here? How many times has someone gotten freaky here? And has anyone ever died?

Then I start to get a little creeped out and I have to stop.

I naturally think this way about old buildings but I forget to ask such questions about the actual land the building sits on. How very Western of me.

The Heard Museum North unveils an art show tomorrow called "Personal Journeys: American Indian Landscapes" in which American Indian artists consider the importance of land.

By ChrisL_AK on flickr Creative Commons.

Writers know how they feel.

​This blog is about a writing contest and it goes out to all my fellow writers out there.

I hesitated about this blog because I'm a little late in the game. This particular writing contest has an October 31st deadline, which is just ten days from now.

Then I remembered who the audience is here. I know first-hand that anyone who is interested in a writing contest will hear about it and then constantly scold themselves for not working on their piece right up until the night before the deadline when they finally sit down to hash it out in a stressed frenzy of creativity. So, really, I saved writers days, maybe even weeks of mentally thrashing themselves. This way, they only have to do it for ten days.

I know, I know...I'm a giver, what can I say?

By "T"eresa on flickr Creative Commons.

A skilled crafter can make magic with this...

​It's really no news that crafting has become a very hot thing in Phoenix. I guess we could blame it on the need for indoor activities during the summer months. Regardless, it seems like everyone is knitting, sewing, hot glue gunning and glittering everything in sight.

If you happen to be one of these people (or if you happen to be like me and just want to buy the stuff), ASU Art Museum has got just the thing for ya.

It's called "Indie Chic @ 10th Street" and it's set to go down December 5th from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on 10th Street and Mill in Tempe. Now, I realize this is a ways off, but if you're interested in selling your stuff, read on, my friend.

By Michael Ruiz on flickr Creative Commons.

This glorious view of the Civic Space Park can be yours if you go out tonight.

​Hey everybody! It's the third Friday of the month.

There's just all kinds of things going on tonight in the local art world. You know you can visit any of the Roosevelt Row and Grand Avenue galleries to check out what you may have missed on First Friday. You can also see the opening of Lisa Sipe's show at Eye Lounge. And you can see what Perihelion Arts has going on here, read about the Sherman Alexie event at the Heard Museum here and check out the fabulous New Times Best of Phoenix Wonderland art exhibition reception here.

Yes, we like to cover the crap out of events here at the Phoenix New Times so now I'll tell you about what's happening at the Civic Space Park tonight.

"Adipose Suspended (detail)" by Lisa Marie Sipe

​Now, I know I just mentioned Lisa Sipe in a blog last week but this time it's different, I swear.

The encaustic (melted wax) artist is having her final solo show at Eye Lounge, opening this Friday, October 16th. She's at the end of her three year term at the artist-run collective and a whole bunch of events have been planned for the occasion.

Courtesy of Handmade Nation.

​Attention all crafters: put down your hot glue gun, knitting needles or bedazzler and pay close attention.

It's finally happened...your favorite documentary is coming to DVD!

"Handmade Nation: The Rise of D.I.Y., Art, Craft and Design" is a 65 minute documentary by artist/crafter/musician/filmmaker, Faythe Levine, about the nationwide rise in popularity of producing (and purchasing) handmade wares. In 2006, Levine hit the road and interviewed 80 artists in 15 U.S. cities whose work has propelled the movement (check out the trailer).

By late 2008, the movie was finished and an accompanying book was published. She toured the country, showing her film at arts venues to sold out crowds (she hit our own Modified Arts this past May...read about it here).

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, November 3rd when the Handmade Nation DVD is available for $19.95. Or just sign up here for an email reminder.

Now get back to work. Those googly eyes aren't going to glue themselves.

Courtesy of SeeSaw Designs.

My personal favorite...

​Wow. 2010. Do you think we're going to stop saying "two-thousand-ten" and start streamlining with "twenty-ten" like they do in movies that take place in the future?

Well, regardless, here in two-thousand-nine, we gave a Best of Phoenix award to SeeSaw Designs. We called them the best letterpressers in town and now their gorgeous 2010 calendar is up for grabs.

And, if you hop on their blog today, you can enter to win one for free.

This little gem will make perfect Holiday gift for someone you want to impress but you may not know well enough to give a squishy, sentimental present. Plus, they're beautifully created with simple and clean geometric letterpressed designs that visually interpret each season (the remaining calendar images are posted after the jump).

By lowjumpingfrog on flickr Creative Commons.

Here's a photo of someone writing because this is a blog about writing.

​Apparently, Arty Girl is all about education this week.

Monday, I blogged about the encaustic workshop at Eye Lounge and today, I'm going to tell you about a couple of writing workshops for all you writers out there looking to improve your craft.

First, we've got "Writing for the Stage" with playwright Kim Porter and then I'll tell you all about the "How to Build a Home for Your Stories" workshop with writer/performer/instructor Tania Katan.

Painting from Lisa Marie Sipe (on left) and Christopher Jagmin (on right).

​Hooray! It's a new artist workshop! I love these things.

And it's an encaustic workshop...one of my all-time favorite media.

Encaustic is a painting method that uses melted wax to cover a surface. Of course, wax is thick and malleable so this can border on sculpture from time to time. I've heard that encaustic is incredibly tricky and takes a lot of patience. But, those who are into it, are into it. As with most art practices, the actual art-making process is a large component of what compels the creator. Plus, encaustic artists use beeswax and it smells really, really good.

From www.lib.udel.edu.

​Do you like the pretty flowers? So do I. But I'll get to that in a minute.

Now, I don't want to beat a dead horse. But I'm just going to mention (again) that the Best of Phoenix Wonderland art opening is tonight. What's that? You'd like to know more, you say?

Then go right ahead and click here, here, here or here. Or here. Oh, and here. And then, just, riiiiiight here.

Feel informed now? Wonderful.

And, of course, it's First Friday tonight. You can read a detailed blog by Benjamin Leatherman about it right here.

Right. So what am I supposed to blog about then? Let's just get away from the whole downtown First Friday thing and talk more about that pretty flower picture.

Nick Cave, Soundsuits, 2008-2009, Images by James Prinz. Courtesy of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the artist and Jack Shainman Gallery. Copyright Nick Cave.

​I'm going to go ahead and focus on this Saturday event for today's blog since I know you already have your calendar filled for Friday...riiiiight?

If you don't, mark it right now for our Best of Phoenix Wonderland art show, will ya?

So now that you've got your Friday all figured out, here's a little something for Saturday:

It's a celebration of SMoCA's three fall season exhibition followed by a SMoCA Nights after-hours party.

Go here for some weekday Swayze.

​Sometimes I wish I had been in the movies. I mean, I know I would have cracked under the pressure of celebrity and developed a disgusting crack habit. But when I overdosed, Harkins Valley Art Theare in Tempe would have given me the raddest tribute ever.

This week, just like they did for John Hughes, Harkins is honoring the life and career of Patrick Swayze, who passed away on September 14th after a 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

The tribute started last Friday with a string of Swayze movie showings and I just want to remind everyone that you can still catch these fine films until this Thursday, October 1st.

The line-up includes Dirty Dancing, To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, Point Break, Outsiders, Road House, Ghost, and the unforgettable classic, Red Dawn.

All proceeds go to Hospice of the Valley.

Isn't that great?

Harkins, you are officially invited to my funeral.

Harkins Valley Art Theatre, 509 S. Mill Ave in Tempe, visit www.harkinstheatres.com for showtimes.

Learn more about this funky historic building on Saturday.

​Do me a favor and click this link to the Grand Avenue Festival website. I've been looking forward to this all day event for months (and I've been blogging about it along the way).

Hooray! It's finally here! Er, tomorrow, anyway.

So after you're done poking around and mentally selecting the tours, fashion shows, live music performances, artist studios, restaurants and retail boutiques you want to visit, come back here and read about another event happening tomorrow that is just down the street.

"Canary in the Coal Mine" by Suzanne Falk

​One of my favorite artists in town (if not, my absolute favorite) is trying to fill a painting class.

Trust me, if you have any fleeting interest in learning the craft, Suzanne Falk is the lady to take lesson from.

Falk is a self-taught painter who makes her entire living from artwork sales and teaching art. If that wasn't impressive enough, anyone would be further wowed by the imagery she creates.

By zebra.paperclip at flickr Creative Commons.

Eat them up, yum!

Every woman I know has described herself as "crazy" at least once. And that includes me. Totally.

Why do we insist on saying this? I can only speak for myself here - but I think I do it so I have license to misbehave, make mistakes or change my mind on a whim. But there's got to be something more to this overly aggressive habit of fake self-diagnosis.

That's just one of many issues that San Francisco performance artist, Shannon deJong, will tackle this weekend in her one-woman show, "Burst".

Image by Craig Smith, Courtesy of the Heard Museum.

​Talk about some big shoes to fill.

Back in April 2009, Heard Museum Director, Frank Goodyear announced plans for retirement for the end of this year after a decade of service. The man is responsible for the expansion of programming and the addition of two locations (one that will unfortunately close tomorrow due to our pathetic economy).

The Heard just announced that the search is over for his replacement. Dr. Letitia Chambers, a woman with a mile-long resume and who is of Native American descent (Cherokee) will start in January 2010. I certainly wish her the best of luck in this important position.

Text of Heard's news release follows:
 

By stevendepolo on flickr Creative Commons.

This is where fashion begins...

​In my college days, my "style" was pretty pathetic.

I was super poor and I biked to school so all my outfits went like this: ill-fitting jeans, Adidas (hey, it was the early 2000's) and a black or gray wife-beater from the Men's Hanes 3-pack I picked up at Target.

Like I said, pathetic.

Times have changed. Thank God. And now I have the privilege of mixing and matching my generic clothing from large retail chains with key, unique pieces from local boutiques and clothing exchanges. Life is good.

I've heard great things about Rowdy Boutique in central Phoenix and since they're throwing a charity event Thursday night, I figure it's the perfect kind of thing to pimp on Arty Girl.

What's left of House Studios.

​Man, there has been some shady business all up on Roosevelt Row lately.

Early Monday morning, the historic buildings (on 4th St., just south of Roosevelt) formerly known as House Studios burned.

According to the news report by abc15.com, Captain Hugh Chase with the Phoenix Fire Department said the fire seemed "suspicious".

I stopped by Monday evening to snap some photos and could still smell the smoke. A mural by former House Studios resident, Michael Little, survived on the west wall.

​