Meet Tim Rodgers, Phoenix Art Museum's new director and CEO
The Black Theatre Troupe celebrates their 50th Anniversary
THE ARTS ISSUE
LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | Vol. 32, #1 | Issue 733 | October 2020 | COMPLIMENTARY
Now offering TeleTesting! It's more than a test kit. It's someone who's here for you.
Available in English, ASL, and se habla EspaĂąol.
Book a FREE testing appointment with us today! We'll ship a test kit right to your door! 602-307-5330 | Testing@swhiv.org
BRADLEY BRAUER Associate Broker 602.690.1400 Brad@B3RE.com
Matthew Hoedt
Realtor®, EcoBroker, CIAS, RSPS, SRES, CIPS
Cell: 602-790-9677 matt@myPHXagent.com www.myPHXagent.com
View my listings online at B3RE.com
7975 N Hayden Rd, Ste A-101 Scottsdale, AZ 85258
Proud supporter of the Arizona LGBTQ community for over 20 years!
602-920-6888
Dave@HomeTeamAZ.com
www.HomeTeamAZ.com
Proudly serving our LGBTQ community for 25 years!
Jeremy Schachter Branch Manager • NMLS # 148435
480-703-8088 • jeremys@fairwaymc.com www.mortgageloansaz.com 5229 N. 7th Ave., Suite 108 • Phoenix, AZ 85013 Copyright©2019 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. NMLS#2289. 4750 S. Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718, 1-866-912-4800. Other restrictions and limitations may apply. All rights reserved. AZ License #BK-0904162.
BOBBI RYALS, REALTOR® ABR, E-PRO 602-486-3587 DowntownPhoenixAgent@gmail.com TRICIA AMATO, REALTOR® 602-540-1070 AmatoTricia@gmail.com DowntownPhoenixAgent.com
Your Downtown Phoenix Agents!
A Breakthrough Solution for Men Seeking Better Erections & Optimal Sexual Performance The GAINSWave™ is a drug and surgery free non-invasive procedure that uses pulse waves to improve sexual performance.
Benefits include: Enhances Erections Improves Sexual Performance Increases Sensation Treats ED & Peyronie's Disease
American Regenerative Medicine 8417 E. McDowell Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85257
CALL NOW:
(480) 415-1052 For more info visit: americanregenerativemed.com
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE
David Hemphill, Black Theatre Troupe’s executive director. Photo courtesy of Black Theatre Troupe.
Issue 733 | Vol. 32, #1 | October 2020
NEWS 8
Editor’s Note
12 News Briefs 14 Publisher’s Letter
COMMUNITY 44 Without Reservations 46 At The Box Office 48 Parenting and Caregiving 50 Bands 52 Recordings 54 Between the Covers 56 Talking Bodies 58 Not That You Asked
ON THE COVER Installation view, India: Fashion’s Muse, 2020, Phoenix Art Museum.
16
The Black Theatre Troupe celebrates 50 years of performances For five decades, this group has given African American entertainers a creative space to develop and present theatrical works. Timothy Rawles talks with the current executive director, David Hemphill about their past, present, and future.
Courtesy of Art One Gallery.
Courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum.
Meet Tim Rodgers, Phoenix Art Museum's new director and CEO
The Black Theatre Troupe celebrates their 50th Anniversary
THE ARTS ISSUE
LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT | Vol. 32, #1 | Issue 733 | October 2020 | COMPLIMENTARY
6
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
18
Arizona’s Kraig Foote helps young artists navigate the art world Art One Gallery’s founder started his business more than 25 years ago. He remains dedicated to using support and education to help up-and-coming artists.
Courtesy of Phoenix Mercury.
22
Bigger than basketball: The Phoenix Mercury’s season of protest Niki D’Andrea talks to team members about how they are using their platform to advocate for social justice.
Courtesy of Prescott’s Plein Air Art Festival.
In living color: Fall arts events across the state and online The fall arts season looks different this year, due to COVID-19, but there are still ways to enjoy online and public events. Michelle Talsma Everson has compiled a to-do list of creative virtual and in-person happenings.
24
Unknown, Hill censer jar (Vasija para incienco), Han dynasty, 206 B.C.-220 A.D. Glazed stoneware. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Drs. Thomas and Martha Carter.
28
Arizona’s Jill Kimmel is blunt, funny, and not famous enough to be #canceled
The great curator: Tim Rodgers readies Phoenix Art Museum for reopening
Comedian and actress Jill Kimmel has a fearless wit. Buddy Early has an in-depth conversation with her longtime friend about family, working during COVID-19, and the many facets of her life in comedy.
SMoCA’s former director returns to Arizona as the new Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum. Find out what he has planned for the organization.
Courtesy of Mark Kelly for Senate.
36
Arizona’s Democratic Nominee Mark Kelly wants to be part of the solution Tom Reardon speaks with the United States Senate candidate about what he hopes to offer Arizonans, including continuing to fight for LGBTQ rights.
32
Model and photographer, Emily Eizen.
Meet Emily Eizen: inspirational queer artist, model, and cannibas advocate Megan Lane talks to Eizen about her creative process and how her role in the cannibas industry relates to her artwork. ECHOMAG.COM
|
42
OCTOBER 2020
7
EDITOR’S NOTE By Amy Young
I
f you read last month’s issue or keep up with what we’re doing online, you know that we have recently had a big change here at Echo. New owners. Yes, that kind of change can be daunting, but we have found ourselves in a very productive flurry, with a new team at the helm who are dedicated to making the type of changes that will allow us to both sustain and grow. You can read a letter from DJ Doran, our new publisher, on page 14, to find out more of what is in store. October is our Arts issue. COVID-19 has changed the arts landscape and, while it’s devastating in a million ways, creatives from individual artists to large organizations are striving to create, develop, and present — the latter is currently done in a virtual format in many cases. There are things happening and I am a firm believer in the arts giving us life, education, information, and something to grasp, especially in a climate where curveballs are being lodged at us on the daily. Michelle Talsma Everson rounds up of some of the arts events happening in October and beyond. The Black Theatre Troupe is celebrating their half-a-century anniversary — talk about staying power! Timothy Rawles spends time with executive director David Hemphill and explores the organization’s past, which is rooted in social justice, as
well as the present, and what’s ahead. We’ve been talking about voting for months. That hasn’t stopped. I said it last month and I’ll say it again — your voice matters. Please try and remember that, even when it seems like the odds are not “ever in your favor,” like that movie quote says. If you need information about voter education, email me at the address at the end of the letter and I’ll send you some links. We have resources in Arizona and we are happy to connect you to them. Speaking of voting, Mark Kelly is Arizona’s Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate. Tom Reardon talks with him about the importance of voting and many other topics, including LGBTQ rights, and what he would like to do if elected. Attention, writers! We are always looking for new voices. If you would like to write for Echo, please send a resume and link to three samples to editor@echomag.com. Stay safe!
Amy Young is the editor-in-chief of Echo Magazine. A longtime journalist, her work has appeared numerous publications, regional to international. Please contact her at editor@echomag.com.
LGBTQ NEWS, VIEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT PUBLISHER: Aequalitas Media EDITORIAL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Amy Young CONTRIBUTORS: Chris Azzopardi Alison Bailin Batz Kimberly Blaker Grace Bolyard Edward Castro Niki D'Andrea Jenna Duncan Buddy Early Michelle Talsma Everson Brian Falduto Jason Kron Jeff Kronenfeld
Megan Lane Laura Latzko Logan Lowrey-Rasmussen Tuesday Mahrle Judy McGuire Ashley Naftule David-Elijah Nahmod Tia Norris Timothy Rawles Tom Reardon Romeo San Vicente Terri Schlichenmeyer
ART DEPARTMENT PHOTOGRAPHY: nightfuse.com. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING: Ashlee Singleton 602-266-0550 x103 or Ashlee@echomag.com National Advertising Sales: Aequalitas Media at 312-600-8823 or sales@aequalitasmedia.com ECHO READERSHIP: 50,000 SUBSCRIPTIONS: $29/year Echo Magazine LLC MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 16630 Phoenix, AZ 85011-6630 PHONE: 602-266-0550 EMAIL: manager@echomag.com Copyright © 2016 • ISSN #1045-2346
MEMBER:
Echo Magazine is published by Echo Magazine LLC, Inc. Echo is a registered trademark of Echo Magazine LLC, Inc. All rights reserved. Written permission must be obtained in advance for partial or complete reproduction of any advertising material contained therein. Opinions expressed therein are not necessarily those of the publisher or staff. Echo Magazine LLC, Inc. does not assume responsibility for claims by its advertisers or advice columnists. Publication of a name, photograph of an individual or organization in articles, advertisements or listings is not to be construed as an indication of the sexual orientation, unless such orientation is specifically stated. Manuscripts or other materials submitted remain the property of Echo Magazine LLC, Inc. 8
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
Luxury Apartments
$2,000 OFF THE FIRST FULL MONTH’S RENT!* CurveAtMelrose.com | (602) 635-7352 | 4333 N. 6th Drive Phoenix, AZ 85013 Located in the heart of Phoenix’s desirable Melrose District, The Curve offers studio, one and two bedroom apartment homes. Enjoy mid-century modern vibes and lux amenities. *Special on select units. Call the Leasing Office for details.
TELE-TESTING & TELE-PrEP PROGRAMS Get your FREE home test kit now. Obtenga su kit de prueba en casa GRATIS ahora.
PUEBLO FAMILY PHYSICIANS
4350 North 19th Ave. Suite #2 Phoenix, AZ 85015 1-602-661-0666 CANHIVTEST.ORG SCAN THIS CODE TO ACCESS NOW
NEWS BRIEFS
“I’m so proud of the work that NEMA and the board have done over the years. I am a better publisher with better tools and knowledge because of the organization. I look forward to continuing that work with the ACCA”. Also, as a part of the merger, the newlyexpanded association will help publishers develop new products and revenue streams to sustain LGBTQ+ media as well as introduce new technologies and strategies to make publishing more cost-effective. About the merger, Aequalitas Content Creators Executive Director and Aequalitas Media CEO, DJ Doran said:
Aequalitas Content Creators Association (ACCA) and The National Equality Media Association (NEMA) merge Courtesy of HRC
“The impact and strength of both organizations is already substantial in LGBTQ+ publishing. This merger makes them even stronger and more impactful. The merger will allow the Aequalitas Content Creators Association to increase its reach and resources for its members, improving content creators’ chances for sustainability in the future. Many of our members are leaders, sharing their industry experience with each other creating a deep well from which everyone can draw support. Doran adds: “I am happy to welcome the members of NEMA into our family. The merger presents an unprecedented opportunity to create a content creators association committed to excellence in content creation across the geographic spectrum, from local and regional to national and global.”
M
DJ Doran; photo by Joe Morales.
ichael Aaron, President of the National Equality Media Association, and CEO of Aequalitas Media, DJ Doran, announced that they have reached an agreement to merge Aequalitas Content Creators Association (ACCA) and The National Equality Media Association (NEMA).
Leading national nonprofit publishing association, The National Equality Media Association (NEMA), and the newly created Aequalitas Content Creators Association, have formally agreed to merge their operations, creating one of the largest, most influential not-for-profit publishing associations in the country focused on industry advocacy, accountability, and promotion. The newly merged association will host its first content creators conference in the spring of 2021 in Chicago. In a statement from NEMA, Board president Michael Aaron wrote: 12
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
NEWS
THE NEW Echo Magazine has been a staple in the Phoenix LGBTQ+ community for the last 31 years and we are still going strong. Newly acquired by Aequalitas Media you will see some immediate and some longer term changes in our publication. The new changes will include: •
A complete re-design of the magazine and website
•
A significant increase in our social media engagement
•
We will add a podcasts tab to our website as we build a podcast studio onsite and begin producing our own local LGBTQ+ podcasts as well as present podcasts from other LGBTQ+ content creators from around the country
•
We will invest in developing our video content via our YouTube channel
•
We will seek out and offer up-and-coming content creators (podcasting/video internships to work with our team to develop new shows
•
As a member of the Aequalitas Content Creators Association we will be able to share our content within the network reaching an audience of over 500,000 each month
•
We will create special issues including, but not limited to, a Phoenix Pride Guide in 2021
•
We will host an annual Echo Readers Appreciation Party with FREE pizza and beer for all attendees. Live music, dancing, and raffles for great prizes from our advertisers and sponsors will create a festive night of appreciation and fun for all. 20% of all money raised will be donated to a local LGBTQ+ charity or organization
•
We will host and partner with the Phoenix LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce to create an annual Power Gala. This black-tie event will recognize the movers and shakers who have influenced change by their commitment and contribution for the greater good of the Phoenix LGBTQ+ community
•
Given the impact of COVID-19 we will be expanding our paid subscription service. For $39.99 annually you can have each issue of Echo delivered hot-off-the-presses to your front door
•
We will be launching a weekly newsletter emailed directly to our 10,000+ subscribers
•
We will be expanding our partnerships with local businesses and organizations to promote events
Photo by eberhard grossgasteiger on Unsplash.
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
A welcome from Echo’s new publisher, DJ Doran
H
ello Echo Readers!
As many of you may or may not know we recently purchased Echo Magazine. We are proud to be the publisher of this legacy LGBTQ+ publication and continuing the 31-year legacy of delivering vital news, commentary, and entertainment to our readers. 2021 will see many new changes coming to Echo and I am excited to share some of them with you. First, we have made some changes to the wonderful team who have created Echo Magazine over the last few years. Managing Editor Amy Young will assume the role of Editor-in-Chief and will have expanded responsibilities in creating the "new" Echo Magazine. Amy has been amazing in her previous role and we have full confidence that she will continue to deliver the superior product that our readers have come to expect from Echo.
Former Associate Publisher Bill Gemmill has be promoted to Group Publisher for Aequalitas Media and will oversee an expanding portfolio of LGBTQ+ print/digital assets that include Echo Magazine (Phoenix), Gaycation Magazine (Chicago), CAMP Magazine (Kansas City), OUT & ABOUT Magazine (Nashville), and several other titles in various stages of negotiations. Director of Sales & Marketing Ashlee Singleton will be given an expanded role in creating a new Sales team focused on promoting the many new initiatives being created and scheduled to go live by the end of the year. I will expand more on these initiatives a bit later. Over the last few months as COVID-19 ravaged our economy I have asked myself how can LGBTQ+ media survive and thrive in an environment that is delivering a death blow to many publishers of print media? The answer lay in a fundamental broader understanding of what our readers want and expect. As a source of ideas, criticism and reporting for and by the LGBTQ+ community for the last 31 years, Echo has consistently and with integrity delivered content that our readers have grown to trust and it is our intention and commitment to continue to live up to that sacred trust. It can sometimes be easy to become jaded by the rigid ideologies of people on the forefront of change. Our Editor-in-Chief and her staff are committed to challenging themselves in 2020 and beyond to listen 14
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
more, search for the truth, and engage in civil debate in our discourse about the issues that our community is passionate about. In a time of incivility in our national politics we will continue to strive to be intellectually curious in our quest for the truth and share with our readers content that promotes greater understanding of what’s happening in our world. As we begin this next chapter in Echo’s history, I am looking forward to helping Echo stand out by focusing on the better aspects of our community, educating our readers with features that challenge conventional thinking by presenting varied opinions and fact-based articles. We will continue to work hard to uphold the reputation of Echo Magazine as a clear-eyed fearless and grounded LGBTQ+ publication that moves local, regional and even the occasional national debates forward on a plethora of issues that directly and indirectly affect all of us by telling stories that inspire those in positions of power and leadership to do the right thing. Some of the things that we will be focusing immediately is the re-design of our website to make it easier for readers to navigate and get information. We will be investing in increasing our social media voice by creating a dedicated social media staff who will work to ensure that our message is being seen and heard. Our commitment to grow our digital footprint will include the construction of a new podcast recording studio in our offices where we can create original content while also featuring content from other podcasters from around the country. We will also offer studio space to rent to up-andcoming podcasters to record their shows. Our studio team will work with podcasters to create professional grade shows while also assisting them with methods to promote their podcasts. Our new revenue sharing model will allow podcasters to be a part of a larger network and share in any advertising revenue. We have already begun working with local schools to offer internships for publishing, video creation and filmmaking and will publish their content on our expanded YouTube Channel. Echo is developing two new events for 2021. The first is the Phoenix Power Gala. We will partner with the Phoenix LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce to create an annual Power Gala. This black-tie event will recognize the movers and shakers who have
influenced change by their commitment and contribution for the greater good the Phoenix LGBTQ+ community. The second is an annual Echo Readers Appreciation Party. We will partner with Phoenix Pride as we create a fun filled event on the last day of PRIDE with FREE pizza and beer for all attendees. Live music, dancing, and raffles for great prizes from our advertisers and sponsors will create a festive night of appreciation and fun for all. 20% of all money raised will be donated to a local LGBTQ+ charity or organization. We are developing several special issues in 2021 along with a pocket-sized Phoenix PrideGuide that will feature a map of the pride ground, vendors, entertainment schedule, stage locations, discount coupons for food and beverages and articles about the history of Phoenix Pride and much more. Beginning Monday October 5, 2020, we will launch a new weekly newsletter that will arrive in over 10,000 opt-in subscribers email boxes. This newsletter will highlight (5) things to know as you start your week. At the same time, we will begin launching a new paid subscription option. Given the current circumstances you can receive 12 monthly issues of Echo delivered right to your front door and directly from the printer for $39.99 annually. As a member of the Aequalitas Content Creators Association we will be able to share our content with other publishers reaching an audience of over 500,000 each month. We will also be able to use other members content in our print edition giving us a wider resource for national content from other LGBTQ+ publishers. Lastly, we will be expanding distribution to more areas surrounding Phoenix and will engage in greater efforts to partner with local LGBTQ+ businesses and allies to promote their products, services and events across our 360-degree media platform. Boy, that is a lot, I know, but I wanted to take this opportunity to share with all of you our vision and commitment to the Phoenix LGBTQ+ community. In these strange times we hope that you will continue to support Echo as you have done for 31 years. The necessity and value of local LGBTQ+ media is more important now than ever before. The team at Echo will continue to work hard to deserve your trust and support. DJ Doran Publisher
Here’s to chasing rainbows.
Meeting the man of your dreams isn’t as hard as you might think. Especially here in Key West. Because with gay tours, an eclectic art scene and other LGBT friendly attractions, you’ll discover new friends – and maybe something more. Add our colorful history, authentic architecture and vibrant cultural scene, and Key West could be the pot of gold you’ve been searching for. fla-keys.com/gaykeywest 305.294.4603
Courtesy of Black Theatre Troupe.
The Black Theatre Troupe celebrates 50 years of performances The group has also helped Phoenix heal during times of social unrest By Timothy Rawles
W
hether it be love or loss, the theater is a place to watch characters go through conflicts and struggles, much like our own, and hopefully come out the other side with a better understanding. But what if that experience is a specific one? One that explores a community you aren’t familiar with but could be if you took the time to learn about it. For 50 years, the Black Theatre Troupe has done just that; provide a space for African American entertainers to tell their stories and hopefully connect with people outside the community. David Hemphill is the Executive Director of the Black Theatre Troupe in Phoenix. It is a well-respected organization which was founded in 1970 by Helen Katherine Mason, who saw a need to not only give African Americans an outlet to express their
16
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
(1991) Charles St Clair — former artistic director, Brenda Williams — former executive director, and David Hemphill, current Black Theatre Troupe executive director; courtesy of Black Theatre Troupe. FEATURE STORY
A scene from Trouble in Mind. Photo by Laura Durant.
experiences, but also to build a cultural bridge for those seeking knowledge about diversity. The saying goes, "The more things change, the more they stay the same,” and in 2020 that was truer than ever after the killing of George Floyd, an African American man, by white police officers. This set off riots and protests; some peaceful, some violent, across the nation. Hemphill recalls that this was the type of unrest which led to the founding of the Black Theatre Troupe five decades ago. “One of the biggest things that hasn’t changed that really shocked us — so to say — our theater troupe started as a parks and recreation department program to head off the worst of the riots that were going on around the country during the late sixties,” he says. “So, in ’69 — Phoenix gets everything late — so in ’69 it looked like everything was going to get very, very bad in terms of racial unrest here in the Valley. It didn’t get that bad because there aren’t that many African American people in the state of Arizona. So as a means to head off the worst of it, The Black Theater Troupe was started.” The company was established on the foundation of activism. “Mason was with the parks and recreation department at the time and she got a meeting room in one of the housing projects,” Hemphill explains. “She told all the residents of the neighborhood to write a poem or write a song or do a dance, ‘come in and let’s talk about how you feel about the racial situation in Phoenix.’ So that’s how the troupe was started.” Fifty years later and the country is again in a turbulent state. The Floyd murder set into motion a dialogue that polarized the population. You either understand the meaning of Black Lives Matter, or you don’t. Those that don’t are either racist or choose to not understand. Hemphill says it’s discouraging. “But it is very, very great for us in the sense of when we were founded, we were able to show that art could bridge cultures, that we could help the city heal by telling the stories that people weren’t aware of and showing prejudice on stage and showing why the African American communities around the country were upset.” These stories were told through social justice and racial unrest works. “We were able to show through those pieces, and help heal the community, and make those in the majority aware of some things they may not have been aware of in terms of people of color.” “We are at that point again today, and we are hoping that we can do the same in terms of bridging those divisions in all of those things that have divided communities and all those things people are talking — raising their voices to be heard — about now. We’re hoping we can do the same as we did when we were founded.” During its half-century many famous and influential African American writers and FEATURE STORY
“There were a lot of great playwrights that came out of that school. Woodie King, the great director at the Negro Ensemble Company, he would try plays out here. One of them was Goin’ a Buffalo, and Ceremonies in Dark Old Men, those old shows like that. There were a lot of them that were tried out here because black theaters were a new thing so-to-say in the late ‘60s early ‘70s.”
my co-worker has gone through something like that, or has a family member experienced that kind of circumstance in their life,” Hemphill says. “So, that’s one of the fortunate things. That has been easier to do because there are so few African Americans here in Phoenix that, weird enough, the non-African American theater-goers felt ‘safe’ — so to speak — going to a theater where there were, uh… where there were other non-African Americans.”
When it comes down to it, in order to bridge the cultural divide, people from outside the community need to show up. And that’s something Hemphill says the troupe tried to do early on. Those efforts seem to have worked.
For now, The Black Theatre Troupe's 2020-2021 50th anniversary season is on hold because of COVID-19. This season the lineup includes: Sistas the Musical, Sunset Baby, Black Nativity, A Soldier’s Play, and Ain’t Misbehavin’.
“We had to build those audiences,” he says. “We had to get them in the theater so they could see the stories and understand the stories, and most importantly they were able to see that stories are universal; all families have a gay family member, all families go through economic trouble, it’s not just particular to the African American experience. So, once we were able to get them to do that to see the universality of our stories, we were able to build those audiences, and now audiences are 35 percent non-African American.”
Despite the delay Hemphill says he is hopeful that the doors will open sometime soon. “It’s up in the air. Everybody’s kinda shootin’ for January though.”
actors have come through the theater, sadly many have passed.
Hopefully, those audiences will come away with something more than what they came in with. They may be nervous at first, but it gets them pondering and that leads to conversations. Those conversations are important, especially now. “Being able to get them into the theater and showing them works provoking them to think deeply and then go back out into the community and act upon those beliefs and say, ‘well, I never thought about that in terms of African Americans. I wonder if my neighbor feels the same way or I wonder if
The theater has changed in the last 50 years, but that’s good news, says Hemphill. “One of the most important things is that we’ve grown immensely,” he says. “We have a great national reputation. We have a lovely new theater — all of those things, operationally and artistically. We are very, very glad — it’s wonderful those changes have happened.” Timothy Rawles is an award-winning journalist and California native who moved to Arizona with his husband and two children in 2019. He attended San Francisco State University many years ago and somehow managed to pass math and continue pursuing his journalism degree. His story is not as interesting as the people he writes about, but Timothy has discovered that everyone has one, and good or bad, they all share the same thing; heart. ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
17
Art One Gallery’s Kraig Foote.
Arizona’s Kraig Foote helps young artists navigate the art world By Timothy Rawles; photos courtesy of Art One Gallery.
I
know very little about the business of art, but I learned some basics from Kraig Foote, owner of the Art One Gallery in Scottsdale. We talked recently about art, youth, and how he helps the two come together in a unique setting in Old Town. Kraig is a former musician, who was born and raised in Scottsdale. He went to Coronado High School and left higher learning to the scholars. He tells me that during his time in the band he would write ideas down on a chalkboard. One morning he woke up to the words, “open gallery for student artists.” He didn’t remember writing anything the night before, so he asked his roommate. “I looked at Kent and I said, ‘did you write that?’ and he said ‘no.’ So somewhere in there I must have been thinking about it.” It makes sense because Kraig was already a part of the Arizona art world. “I worked at the Arizona Design Center way
18
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
back when and worked for about nine years with two different companies,” he recalls. “I realized we were selling some artwork in the design center and my roommate — who was actually my husband at the time — his students would come to the house during the summer and some of them were doing art. He taught design but some of them were in art classes so when they would come, they would bring in some of their artwork so it wouldn’t melt in their cars. This girl kept on asking, why don’t you buy some chips and dip, sodas and all that?’ and I thought, ‘Well you have money. You have all these paintings and sculptures — you make all this.’ And she said ‘no, we dumpster-dive. We take what the kids throw out in the dumpsters.’” That was over 27 years ago and now his Art One Gallery is a place for aspiring artists to showcase their works while learning the ins and outs of the often fickle industry. But it wasn’t any easy sell at first. The students were wary because they had been ripped off
in the past. Also, they were unsure about how much to charge for their pieces. “So I was like, ‘I do. I can help you guys, we can figure this out,” says Kraig. “We did have some complications. There were professors who were absolutely not happy with this model. So we made it a point to let the professors know, ‘listen we don’t do any commission work, students aren’t going to be asked to paint colorful paintings for our designers, but we want the projects when they’re done, and then we’ll sell them to the designers.’ So when I opened the doors I instantly had clientele. I think that’s why some of the newer galleries, when they try and open they think it’s cool, but they don’t know who their buyers are. That was really the main thing that helped us.” After 17 years another problem arose. That of the space he had been renting which is right next door to his current location. “It was an issue,” he says. “Our landlord sold the building; our best friend bought it. FEATURE STORY
Our best friend then kicked us out. I have never talked to him since. They still run the business next door. We went from about 3,400 square feet, thanks to them, down to about 920.” It didn’t matter though. Kraig’s showroom may have shrunk but he still had the support of about 80 local galleries. “What I didn’t realize at the time was the reason that they loved us being here. In a way we were kind of a threat, but in another we stopped all the students going into their galleries and driving them crazy trying to get in. What we offered is: display your work here and let the other gallery owners watch your work until they think it’s time for you to go, then go into their gallery. We don’t hold exclusives so that really helped a lot, in fact quite a few of the galleries over the years took our students over which is fantastic.” Kraig also went a step further by mentoring the “kids” as he calls them. He would teach them how to prepare portfolios, what to say to gallery owners or just give them confidence to keep up the good work. He wanted them to be prepared. He wants them to succeed. Still there is the question of what he chooses to display in his own gallery. He doesn’t accept everything but that’s not because of the quality of the work, it’s because he knows his clients too well. “Before I’ve always had my manager help me pick what art goes in, but because I knew all of the designers and all of the architects, we already had an idea of what sells. We don’t bring in severed heads and bloody body parts and all of that — we just don’t
have the clientele for it — we just don’t. What we do, is we go through and pick and say, yes we have clients for this work; we don’t have clients for yours.” That rejection is all a part of the process. “It’s hard. It is really hard,” says Kraig. “That’s the hardest thing of this gallery is to turn someone away. But we explain to them to continue the road that you’re on because this is what you enjoy doing, we just don’t have clientele for it.” Enticing potential buyers with pieces that constantly interest them is not only a sale, but a repeat customer. Trends come and go and in the current state of the economy it might be harder to justify buying a piece of art. But Kraig has his finger on the pulse of what buyers want and there is plenty to choose from. “I think that people want something that’s bright and fun right now,” he explains. “They don’t want the dark. I think what’s happening is as they’re at home they are realizing — especially our clients — realizing how important artwork is. Even a small piece will change your whole entire attitude when you walk into the room and I think they are finding that.” Art One also has a borrowing program for those who want to experience the art in their homes before they commit to it. “If you walked into the gallery and saw a piece that you really liked or say three; you can’t decide. We send them home with you for a week. You don’t leave a deposit, you don’t pay for it, all they take is your name and phone number. And they walk out the door and they live with it for a week. That helps
because they can actually have it in their home for a week see what it looks like in the morning, in the afternoon, and at nighttime.” Kraig hopes the buyer will answer the internal question, “Does this make us happy?” Allowing people to take the works home is not just a way to see if it fits, but it starts building a relationship with its creator. “It gets them to trust the artist,” Kraig explains. “Honestly the rich-rich will always buy the expensive stuff. Our goal is to kinda help those from average income, low income, all the way up and help them start collecting and I think if you can get a couple pieces with them, they get it home then they understand the importance of real art instead of poster art.” To that end, people always ask Kraig if he knows who the next “big” artist is. Probably because they want some intuitive insider advice to make sure the art they buy grows in value. “It’s not an investment,” he warns, “What you’re buying is something you love and appreciate and you’re helping a student get through school or helping a non-student pay rent and buy food. Don’t buy it unless you love it.” The problem is twofold Kraig says. Just as artists are fearful of how to sell their pieces, laymen like myself get anxious to set foot inside something so culturally fancy. “People are afraid to come into the gallery. ‘Oh, we’re not worthy.’ You know, gallery owners, we’re all the same; we’re all nuts. We all put on our pants the same exact way,” he says. “I look at every single artist who walks through the door. I am absolutely nothing, nor is any gallery owner. We’re not better, we don’t have the talent that the artists do.” “Another thing I encourage people to do,” he adds, “is take their kids and family. Go, even if it’s the southwestern galleries and they don’t like it. Take them in. Some of those artists are absolutely amazing.” Kraig has come a long way in the 27 years since Art One moved into 4130 North Marshall Way. It all started on a chalkboard which, if you think about it, could be considered a canvas in itself. But at the core of everything he’s done, there is something that drives him to do even more. “My job on this earth is to educate people.” Visit artonegalleryinc.com. Timothy Rawles is an award-winning journalist and California native who moved to Arizona with his husband and two children in 2019. He attended San Francisco State University many years ago and somehow managed to pass math and continue pursuing his journalism degree. His story is not as interesting as the people he writes about, but Timothy has discovered that everyone has one, and good or bad, they all share the same thing; heart.
FEATURE STORY
ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
19
POLITICS / CURRENT EVENTS / PHILOSOPHY / INTERVIEWS / POP CULTURE/ AND MORE!
YOUR SANE LGBTQ PODCAST OBSESSION LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODES ON DJDORAN.COM OR
Bigger than Basketball: The Phoenix Mercury’s season of protest By Niki D’Andrea; photos courtesy of Phoenix Mercury
B
lack Lives Matter. Say Her Name.
These words were on the minds — and the backs — of Phoenix Mercury players every time they took the court inside the WNBA bubble at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, during a season marked by coronavirus, injuries, and social injustice.
Every Mercury player (in fact, every player in the WNBA) wore the name Breonna Taylor on the back of her jersey in every game this season, in tribute to the 26-year-old African American EMT who was shot and killed by police in Louisville, Kentucky on March 13, as they executed a “no-knock” search warrant at her apartment. The words “Black Lives Matter” were visible in big black letters on the court at every game. Players advocated for social justice at every opportunity — wearing T-shirts proclaiming, “Say Her Name” and “Vote,” talking to media, and refusing to play two games in August (see sidebar) in protest of the police shooting in Wisconsin of Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old African American man now paralyzed from the waist down. It was an unusual setting for the season to begin with: All 12 WNBA teams in a bubble (or “wubble,” as it was commonly called) at IMG Academy to guard against coronavirus. As the season wore on, the Mercury roster got thinner: in August, center Brittney Griner left the wubble for undisclosed “personal reasons,” guard Bria Hartley sustained a season-ending injury, and players Sophie Cunningham and Nia Coffey were questionable for most games with a hip and hand injury, respectively. The
22
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
Mercury, often down to just seven available players, still made the playoffs, and continued to speak out about social injustice. If the Phoenix Mercury had not been on the basketball court this season, they would have been in the streets. Some were, before undergoing coronavirus quarantine protocols to travel to Florida for the WNBA season. Diana Taurasi was one of them. She attended a Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest in Phoenix on June 5, marching in a mask and later posting black and white photos to her Instagram account (@dianataurasi) with the caption “no justice | no peace.” Being inside the WNBA bubble to guard against coronavirus while BLM protests took place in cities across the country sometimes made it a challenge to focus on basketball, even as the playoffs approached in September. “I was trying to be out in the streets, protest and try and do whatever I can, and donate to different funds,” Mercury guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough said via Zoom. “I want to be active. I can’t do that here. So, it’s hard to see some of my friends out. I would have been at the March on Washington. I wasn’t able to do that. But I made a decision to come down here. I made a commitment to be FEATURE STORY
Phoenix Mercury Statement Released August 26, 2020
here. I try to be locked in as much as I can, but it’s hard because of what’s going on. I try to stay focused. It’s easy to say that, but it’s hard to do. It’s just crazy what we’re seeing, and I wish I could do more.” In a Phoenix Mercury news article titled “From the Sidelines” that was published to the team’s website (mercury.wnba.com) on September 1, center Kia Vaughn said, “A lot of us wish we could be out there marching and helping and volunteering for voting organizations. When we are all using our platforms together, it becomes bigger. It says a lot. I hope we continue to stand with each other and get our point across.” Balancing basketball with social justice advocacy seemed a seamless act for most Mercury players, as they continued to bring up Black Lives Matter in on-court and postgame interviews, in-between answering questions about who’s stepping up on defense with Griner out and how deep their bench talent is. Speaking via Zoom after a game day shootaround in early September, Taurasi emphasized the importance of advocacy and achieving change. “This is the issue of our lifetime. This is something we’re not going to put up with. It’s simple as black lives matter,” she said. “The things that you see on TV, the discrimination, the injustice that black and brown communities face every single day — we’re not going to put up with it.” Brittney Griner grew up wanting to be a police officer like her father. She said in an interview with CBS Sports Network this summer that she was sad her father told her not to follow in his footsteps in the current climate. Forward Brianna Turner, whose parents are both police officers, said in an article on espn. com that “there is some confusing space for me, things I’m still trying to navigate. I look at some of my friends’ stories and protests, and the NWA song ‘F--- tha Police’ is just blasting in the background. And I’m like, ‘My parents are police. I can’t support blasting a song like that.’” FEATURE STORY
But at the same time, Turner says, reform is needed and “people should not be afraid to interact with police officers … maybe there are ways the WNBA could work more closely with law enforcement. I’m not sure what that would look like, but it could be a positive thing. If people come to games and see their favorite players having positive interaction with law enforcement, it could be a way to bridge the gap between police and the community. I believe sports can help with that.” The spotlight on the WNBA this season was bigger than usual, as league games began before almost any other team sport. Being one of the only sports on TV for a brief time expanded players’ platform and amplified their voices. Speaking via Zoom in September, Turner said, “We’re athletes. We’re not in a position of political power like politicians, but we do have a voice. We have a platform. We got to use our platform this season to shed light on a lot of these issues … it’s definitely an ongoing conversation throughout our season.” Taurasi says it’s time for elected officials to “step up.” “It’s almost incredible in this time and age that it’s up to athletes to speak up,” she said during a Zoom call. “Where are the elected officials? We work our whole lives to play
“We will not play tonight. Find a way to understand why. We are people we are concerned citizens. We are mothers, daughters, sisters, wives. We are free Americans who didn’t forfeit our right to free speech and protest when we accepted these jobs. You ask, well what does that do? What else will you do? We’re raising awareness with the name on our jersey, the names on our shoes, the moments of reflection to start each week of games, telling the stories of victims who deserve at least that. We’re raising money for organizations doing vital work on the frontlines. We’re focused on voter registration and participation, partnering with When We All Vote and the Office of the Secretary of State of the state of Arizona. In our down time, we’re learning, hearing directly from victims’ families, organizers, elected officials. We are doing the work – and we have much more to do. Don’t ask us what else we will do. What else will you do? Tonight, we won’t play. Find a way to understand why. And find a way to be alongside us seeking a solution. Because enough is enough. Because BLACK LIVES MATTER.” basketball. They worked their whole lives to be politicians. This is the time to step up. You’re either going to be on the right side of history or on the side of history that’s ashamed of you. Step up.” Niki D’Andrea is a Phoenix-based journalist and editor whose career spans 28 years and includes editor positions at Phoenix New Times, PHOENIX magazine, and Times Media Group. Her scope of coverage has included political elections, drug culture, funding for HIV treatments and medicine, LGBTQ art, fringe sports, and celebrities. When not chasing stories, D’Andrea cheers on her favorite sports team, the Phoenix Mercury, and enjoys playing classic rock records from her collection of vinyl albums.
Personalized HIV Care and Support • Guidance from pharmacists specially trained in HIV therapy • Medication refill reminders • Pick up at our location (below) or any CVS Pharmacy® or get delivery by mail at no extra cost*
Call 1-602-258-7051 or stop in. CVS Pharmacy Specialty Services 1002 East McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006 Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
*Where allowed by law. In-store pick up is currently not available in Oklahoma. Puerto Rico requires first-fill prescriptions to be transmitted directly to the dispensing specialty pharmacy. Products are dispensed by CVS Specialty® and certain services are only accessed by calling CVS Specialty directly. Certain specialty medication may not qualify. Services are also available at Long’s Drugs locations. ©2019 CVS Specialty. All rights reserved. 75-47585A 11261
ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
23
In living color Fall arts events across the state and online By Michelle Talsma Everson; photos courtesy of venues
A
s par for the course this year, this fall’s usual arts season is different due to the limitations placed on group gatherings because of COVID-19. However, as artists have always found ways to thrive even under challenging circumstances, many local arts centric organizations have found ways to present their work to the public — whether it be in-person or virtually. Some are using art as fundraisers for important causes, others are offering up virtual entertainment, and a few even are hosting in-person events with safety precautions in place. Read on to see what’s going on this fall in the arts world — both online and in-person. This list isn’t exhaustive in any way; just a few select events to consider. If you have a favorite arts organization, they likely need your support now more than ever before, so be sure to visit their website and offer your support.
CURIOUSER & CURIOUSER curiousertheater.org
TheaterWorks has reinvented how you, the audience member, can experience live theater, developing an entirely new theatrical 24
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
FEATURE STORY
Scottsdale ArtWalk.
production in Arizona. CURIOUSER & CURIOUSER is an immersive, multi-sensory, intimate theater production where audience members literally walk into and through the world of Alice in Wonderland. Every theater, rehearsal space and hallway in the Peoria Center for the Performing Arts has been transformed into Wonderland. Up to 10 ten audience members per performance will experience Wonderland as Alice would, flowing through the rooms to discover scenes, encounter inhabitants and immerse themselves in a new way to experience theater through the story of Alice in Wonderland. This 100-minute immersive theater production and multi-disciplinary arts experience showcases visual art, music, puppetry, dance, theater, and multi-media design. Shows are happening through October 18.
Art + Chocolate Gold Palette ArtWalk October 8 scottsdalegalleries.com
Not. Every clay bowl serves as a reminder of hunger in the community and that someone else’s bowl is always empty. Empty Bowls annual event.
The Scottsdale Gallery Association is pleased to announce the return of its long-running Gold Palette ArtWalk series with its Art + Chocolate-themed event on Thursday, October 8. Serving as the kickoff to the Association’s 46th season, the Art + Chocolate ArtWalk, held throughout the Scottsdale Arts District — which resides along Main Street from Scottsdale Road to Goldwater Boulevard and north of Indian School on Marshall Way to 5th Avenue — welcomes guests to peruse galleries and view local and national art and to be serenaded by a steel drum band as they stroll through the streets of Old Town. Participating galleries will feature chocolate tasting courtesy of local chocolatier Cerreta Candy Company.
MAC offers fall online classes and to-go art boxes
Empty Bowls at Arizona Center
Prescott Area Artist Studio Tour hosts online auction
wastenotaz.org/emptybowls
PrescottStudioTour.com
The signature fundraising event of Waste Not is Empty Bowls, which will be held outdoors from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on October 16 at the Arizona Center in Downtown Phoenix. For more than 20 years, Waste Not has partnered with the Arizona Clay Association, whose members make and donate hundreds of gorgeous clay bowls for attendees to purchase and all proceeds benefit Waste
Running Friday, October 2 through Friday, October 16, the Prescott Area Artist Studio Tour (PAAST) will host their inaugural online art auction. The organizers are excited give art lovers a chance to purchase works from over 60 award-winning juried Studio Tour artists. Among the auction items, art patrons will find a wide variety of mediums to suit their fancy, including painting, ceramics,
FEATURE STORY
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts opens for the fall season ScottsdalePerformingArts.org
mesaartscenter.com
While the building is closed due to COVID-19, Mesa Arts Center is offering fall Online Art Classes, a new series of virtual classes; Art To Go Boxes, at-home activity boxes for purchase; and Arts in Service online, classes offered exclusively for veterans and service members. The online art class series and Arts in Service classes are now open for registration. Art To Go Boxes are also available for preorder now, and will be available for pick-up later this month.
jewelry, sculpture, fibers and wearable art. Artists and patrons will also be able to connect virtually through enhanced information on the tour website and in person with artists who will have their studios open to visitors by appointment. Winning bidders will be announced on Saturday, October 17 during a gala online event. Proceeds will support the artists, as well as children’s art programs in the Quad Cities.
As Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts reconnects patrons to the arts during its 2020–21 season there are myriad changes the public can expect. These plans will be consistent with ordinances from the city of Scottsdale and Maricopa County, as well as the State of Arizona’s Phased Reopening Model. With these safety measures in place, the center plans to present a variety of in-person and virtual arts events. These include concerts, comedic and dance performances, and more. See their website for the most updated list.
Arizona Theatre Company’s digital season arizonatheatre.org Arizona Theatre Company’s digital season includes online readings of: Covenant by York Walker, directed by Tamilla Woodard – (ATC premiere October 27-31); and The Realness by Idris Goodwin, directed by Wendy Goldberg – (ATC premiere in November). Readings can be accessed on the Arizona Theatre ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
25
Foothills Food Bank auction item.
Company’s website as well as on Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo. There is no charge, but donations will be greatly appreciated to help continue to support the local nonprofit.
Hidden in the Hills HiddenInTheHills.org Arizona’s largest and longestrunning artist studio tour, Hidden in the Hills (HITH), is scheduled to take place during the last two weekends of November: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, November 20, 21 and 22, and November 27, 28 and 29. Coordinated by the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League, this year’s free, self-guided tour features more than 139 artists at 35 private studios throughout the scenic Desert Foothills communities of Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale.
2020 Foothills Empty Bowls Project foothillsfoodbank.com The 2020 Foothills Empty Bowls Project will be held completely online this fall. While the Art Auction has been online for several years, this is the first time in 21 years that the bowls also will be offered online. Individuals can bid on the art and purchase bowls donated by members and friends of the Sonoran Arts League, a key sponsor of the Empty Bowls Project. “We are excited to offer the art auction and bowl sale online so people can support this worthy cause and spend the time they need to bid on their favorite works of art and purchase as many bowls as they like (sight unseen of course),” says Carole Perry, founder of the event. The event goes until October 16.
Arcosanti Open and Ready for Tours www.arcosanti.org
rich 50-year history of Arcosanti as well as discover why and how the project continues to influence and inspire young architects, urban planners and designers around the world. Each tour is led by a knowledgeable resident who can offer first-hand insight to life at Arcosanti. During the tours, visitors will also receive free posters to remember their trip. Located in Mayer.
1st Annual Plein Air Art Festival highlandscenter.org/prescott-plein-air The Highlands Center for Natural History and the City of Prescott are pleased to hold the 1st Annual Prescott Plein Air Art Festival, an event featuring live, outdoor painting from famed Arizona artists, a reception and sales event, as well as an online art sale. From October 1 through October 3, more than ten professional Arizona artists will focus their artistic talents on the outdoors in an effort to celebrate Prescott’s diverse landscapes. The public is invited to observe and engage with the artists of the Prescott Plein Air Art Festival as they work from dawn until dusk at seven local sites. On October 4 from 2-8 p.m., the finished paintings will be displayed during the Reception and Sale at The Finn – Touchmark. The Online Sale of the remaining Plein Air artists’ paintings will take place October 6-17.
Art From the Heart Virtual Art Auction www.freeartsaz.org Arcosanti is a living work of art that locals can schedule a tour through and explore. During the tours, visitors will learn about the 26
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona was set to hold its annual Art From the Heart art auction in the spring of 2020, but had to postpone due to
COVID-19. A virtual version of the art auction is being planned for Oct. 21-26. The six-day event will take place fully online and feature the work of approximately 80 local artists. The auction will kick off on Wednesday, October 21 with a video welcome and toast. John Randall Nelson is the event’s featured artist. Inspired by American Outsider Art, he creates a visual folklore in his collaged paintings and sculptures with a menagerie of figures and symbols, from dancing jackrabbits and swaggering cowboys to lucky wishbones. Funds raised during the Art From the Heart art auction will go toward programs and services so that Free Arts can continue to serve neglected, abused, homeless and foster care children in our state. Watch for more details at www. freeartsaz.org.
MARIA HUPFIELD: Nine Years Towards the Sun heard.org/exhibit/maria-hupfield “MARIA HUPFIELD: Nine Years Towards the Sun,” a solo exhibition of Canadian / Anishinaabek artist Maria Hupfield will feature more than 40 works by the conceptual performance artist, according to Heard Museum. The exhibition, curated by Heard Museum Fine Arts Curator Erin Joyce, will take place over several exhibition spaces and range in content from performance, sculptural installation, video, and document. It runs through November 15.
Fall Concert Series at Scottsdale Quarter scottsdalequarter.com Cooler temperatures are just around the FEATURE STORY
Plein Air Art Festival painting at Highlands Center, amidst the scenery.
October 24. Featured bands include: The Instant Classics, Desert Dixie, Sugahbeat, and Rock Lobster.
FOUND:RE’s online gallery exhibits foundrecontemporary.com FOUND:RE Contemporary, the commercial Installation View —Maria Hupfield: Nine Years Towards the Sun.” Craig Smith, courtesy of the Heard Museum.
corner, and that’s one more reason to enjoy evenings at Scottsdale Quarter with your favorite Valley bands. After shopping or dining, unwind and stick around for the Fall Concert Series, a free concert series taking place in The Quad. Live music kicks off Saturday, October 3 from 5-7 p.m. and will run at the same time every Saturday through
gallery space located at 1100 North Central Avenue, is pleased to announce the launch of its interactive new website that offers art enthusiasts a digital component in which to view exhibits and purchase pieces online at www.foundrecontemporary. com. FOUND:RE Contemporary’s website gives at-home art enthusiasts a chance to view the gallery’s first show, Geometric Elegance: Art in the Age of Computational Beauty, which debuted in February, as well as upcoming shows.
Ballet Arizona offers online fall season balletaz.org Ballet Arizona’s fall offerings also include new ways for patrons to stay connected with the company. The company announced it will host its free, inaugural Ballet Arizona Book Club that will meet quarterly via Zoom. The first session, a discussion of School of Ballet Arizona alumnus David Hallberg’s memoir, has already garnered a large response and a second date has been added. Also on the community engagement front will be several educational programs that locals can take advantage of virtually throughout the year. Visit their website for more details. Michelle Talsma Everson is a freelance writer, editor and PR pro. A graduate of NAU, she’s been writing for Valley publications for more than a decade. You can find out more at mteverson.com.
FEATURE STORY
ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
27
28
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
FEATURE STORY
Arizona’s Jill Kimmel is blunt, funny, and not famous enough to be #canceled By Buddy Early
C
omedian, Actor. Delightful Human Being. Those are words one might use to describe local comic Jill Kimmel. Mostly because those are her words.
“(My act) is very much about a middleaged, gonna be 50, children leaving for college, empty-nester.” She added “It’s me learning what it’s like being an adult.
Making a living as a standup comedian in Arizona is not easy. The state is not exactly a hotbed of comedy clubs and a thriving comedy landscape. But that’s exactly what Jill has been doing for the last six years, since she left her last office job to pursue her love of the stage. COVID-19 has put a damper on things for all entertainment professionals, however, and the comedy scene was no exception.
Catching up with Jill in mid-August, we chatted about all sorts of things, including a great many that are not suitable for print. Among those printable topics are her status as an ally for LGBTQ and other progressive causes; losing fans and followers as a result of her outspoken liberal views (“I’m not famous enough to lose anything,” she told me.); what’s acceptable in comedy these days; making funny in the age of Trump and The Rona; and her future.
“Before March I had a residency at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas, I was working cruise ships and touring. I had military tours scheduled,” Jill told me one afternoon over coffee. “It was really going great. It was like, this is my year!” The six years of pounding the pavement, hoisting shows at local bars, opening for “big names,” doing voice-over work, commercials and industrial films was about to pay off. “I really was going to be a working comic. No more of my dad helping me with my car insurance,” she beamed. “And then all this shit hit.” Since March, places “kept opening and closing” and it’s been difficult to maintain steady work. When she does get a gig nowadays, she brings her own microphone and refrains from any meet and greet afterward. I met Jill almost 25 years ago, when I was friends with her brother and would mooch off their parents for free meals and the occasional sleepover. To call the Kimmels a comedy family is an understatement. Jill and her brothers clearly had their sense of humor from handed down from mom and dad — the dry wit of father Jim and the outrageous (“soaking wet”) comedy stylings of mother Joan. And Jill’s children (known affectionately as First Born and Favorite Daughter) can dish out the snarkiness to mom as much as they receive it. While striking out on her own as a parttime performer Jill worked 9-5 office gigs, jobs like proofreader and executive assistant. Her comedy at the time was often mined from her days spent at those jobs, including one woman she simply refers to as “the dog freak.” Nowadays, with no office mates to lampoon, her act is focused more on social commentary, although she revealed she has been updating that resume in case Covid-19 keeps taking a toll, because “I like to eat.” FEATURE STORY
Echo: As a full-time comedian/actor, how have you been able to make ends meet during the COVID-19 pandemic? JK: I had a few decent paychecks coming in after the public closures hit, so those helped. Plus, I filed for unemployment like almost everyone else. I was fortunate that I didn’t have to wait on mine once it was approved … I have friends who filed in April and they still haven’t received any money. They’re in NY, AZ and Las Vegas. It seems there’s no rhyme or reason to why certain people are having issues, and some aren’t. It’s absolute chaos, and it’s terrifying to think about how long it will last. I recently wrote about how Trump and the climate of this country the last four years have drained me of my sense of humor. How have you been able to find things to joke about during this shitshow? The upside to not really performing right now is that I don’t have to pretend like everything is fine or find things about the situation to make funny. On the few occasions that I have been able to do a show, I make sure the audience knows we are all in this together — we’re fighting a common enemy, and that enemy is still Donald Trump. Oh, and COVID19. Standup comedy has always had a reputation for being misogynistic, both in male comedians’ sets and the general acceptance of women trying to break into the club. Have you experienced that in your career? I actually have not experienced any misogyny, and if I have, I’m just a stupid girl and must not have realized it. I mean, maybe the last name helps. If people think I am possibly in the position to either enhance or ruin their career, they’re probably more likely to be on their best behavior. The truth is I am too busy working on my own career to worry
about ruining someone else’s, but it’s a fun little piece of protection to keep in the weird useless little zippered portion of the pleather wallet I got on clearance at Ross. Kind of like a virtual can of mace. I really feel for anyone who faces the kind of prejudice and bullying I have heard about. It’s hard enough to get turned down for bookings because there are just too many comics and not enough weeks at a club to book everyone. But to have trouble getting work just because you’re not a man is such a slap in the face. I recommend looking at club calendars and emailing the booker: “Hi, I noticed you only have two female headliners booked for the next three months. I’d love to round out your calendar and get a weekend with you!” Puts the sexism issue right in their face. I know you offstage as someone who is loud and outspoken for progressive causes — LGBTQ equality, Black Lives Matter, treatment of trans individuals, as well as an advocate for all marginalized communities. Do these things ever come up in your comedy? I don’t talk much about progressive causes on stage because my style of comedy is what’s considered “relatable not debatable”. OMG I just made that up and I feel really cute. But yeah, I will speak out against homophobia, racism and other bullshit all day long in my private life or on social media. But when I perform, I just want to make people laugh. There are political or social commentary comedians who are great at educating people through humor, but I am not one of them. You have to be really informed and prepared for any type of heckling that may come your way, and all I know is “don’t be a shitty person,” as opposed to a lot of hard facts. How often do you lose fans or followers because of your outspokenness? I don’t lose a lot of followers or fans because they generally know what they’re getting into when they follow a Kimmel. But there have been friends I’ve lost along the way, either because I just couldn’t believe their archaic way of thinking, or they hated that I was a complete bleeding heart. There have been a few losses that really stung, but their support of Trump or #alllivesmatter is not something I can easily concede. It’s shocking when you find out someone you respected or liked or even loved has a view of the world that is so narrow and ugly. It makes you question yourself, and how you never saw it before. In the end, I’m better off when those people (who you calling “those people”?!) remove ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
29
get at the weight jokes. It was an interesting study in human behavior. In contrast, the audiences still loved jokes about my former husband, but they didn’t feel good for me to tell anymore, since I had moved past that stage in my life. Stories about him just felt I was one of those people who just keeps harping on how their ex did them wrong. It felt gross, so I moved on from those as well.
themselves from my social media, but it definitely takes me on a weird little journey of self-doubt. A lot of Americans seem to expect entertainers to not have opinions, or at least keep them to themselves. (We’ve all seen your brother become a target of this criticism the last few years.) How do you respond to someone who says you should “just tell jokes?”
Your parents are now in California fulltime, closer to your brothers. Now that both your children are off to college there, will there be a move to the Golden State in your future?
It’s amazing how people think that anyone should be exempt from having an opinion. Just like an office bookkeeper is allowed to talk about how to plant a garden, an athlete can discuss racial injustice, a comedian can talk about what stocks he has invested in, and a lawyer can recommend a great BBQ sauce. Everyone is allowed to state their own opinions. You don’t have to listen to or follow their advice. People know that, right? We seem to be walking a fine line between being sensitive to everyone’s triggers and the long-standing comedy tenet that “anything goes.” How do you draw the line? I think that anyone should be able to say anything they want. Then the audience gets to decide for themselves whether they find it funny, and whether they want to continue to support this artist. It’s the same principle as entertainers having opinions. if you don’t like it, you don’t have to endorse or listen to them. Too many people want to control what is being said so they don’t have to take personal responsibility for deciding who to support. No. I’m gonna say what the fuck I want to say, and you can take me or leave me. Not my job to censor myself so you can feel comfortable. A lot of people use the example of “punching down” as a guide for what is fair comedy and what isn’t. That seems like a nice, simple guide; but is it too simplistic? I don’t like punching down as a general rule, but sometimes funny is just funny. If the jokes feel right to you, tell them … and like I said before, let the audience decide. Hecklers are the worst. The. Worst. They should be thrown in a quarry for years of hard labor. You once had an audience member punch you. Please tell that story. I was on stage in Tucson, talking about how I like to find fault with certain people I don’t like. I was saying “No matter what she does I will say something bad, like ‘Look at this jerk feeding the homeless! Oh, what an asshole, now she’s curing cancer!’” So, a woman in the front row got up and left after I said that, and her friend stood up in front of the stage and told me that the woman’s daughter had cancer, which is why she left. That I offended her with what I said. At first, I felt bad about it, but then she started cursing me out and talking crazy. So, I told her I was sorry that I offended her, but I had no way of knowing that the woman’s daughter had cancer, and it was just a comedy show. 30
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
She ended up throwing a glass at me, jumping on stage, and physically attacking me. She was finally pulled off me by a manager, the sound guy and the headliner. The cops never showed, so I filed a report over the phone. I had the whole thing on video thanks to some audience members, and yet the cops dropped the charges the next day because they didn’t know who she was, even though I had the license plate of the vehicle she had arrived in. It was traumatic, because one moment you’re up there making a big room of people laugh, and in a split second you’ve got someone attacking you for no reason. I had a tough time getting on stage for a short while after that. Mentally, it messed with me. I was upset by the attack itself, but probably more so by the fact that the police didn’t seem to think it was important. They didn’t even tell me they had dropped the charges; I only found out when I called to check the status a few months later. I really thought they would be outraged and help me get justice. I guess I watch way too much Law & Order: SVU. Since you first ventured into standup, so much has changed in your personal life. How has your act changed? My comedy is personal stories, so after I lost over 100 pounds, went through a divorce and started dating again, it felt really unnatural to still be making jokes about a life that no longer existed. Certain jokes can be altered or adjusted, just by making them past tense, but they kind of lose that “oomph” when they are no longer important to me personally. I had a lot of jokes about being overweight, and I found out the hard way that those were not something I could keep in my act. The more weight I lost; the fewer laughs I would
Probably not until the first of the year, but absolutely, it is time. I’ve talked about it for years, but now that the kids are both attending college in California, there’s no reason to stay in Arizona. I love my house and my neighborhood and the comedy clubs here, but I honestly don’t see my friends very often, I don’t go anywhere except for work, and I always talk about how much I miss my cousins and everyone who lives in SoCal. So, it’s time to break away from my comfort zone and make the big move. Hopefully we can get a handle on this virus so acting and comedy starts up again, and I can make some real progress in my career. I should qualify for the senior citizen roles at the rate we are getting this pandemic under control, so if they’re looking to recast The Golden Girls,” I AM IN! Without a doubt, I’d say yours is the funniest family I’ve ever known. Who’s the funniest? We do have a very funny family ... lots of great personalities, and the willingness to display them. Of course, everyone knows that Jimmy is a genius comedic writer and creator, but there are so many more. My cousin Sal is irreverent and hilarious. His sister Ivy is whipsmart and diabolically entertaining. My cousin Micki has a way of saying the most innocent things in the most comedic way. But I guess I would have to say that my younger brother Jonathan is hysterically funny in a very dry, ridiculous way that appeals to me on so many levels. I love absurd humor, and Jon really nails it. Even with all the industry uncertainty right now, tell me there are upcoming opportunities for Arizona folks to catch your act? I wish I could tell you that and sum up this article on a super happy ending, but I can’t. People can follow me on Instagram and Twitter to keep up with me, but I have nothing booked, most of the clubs are closed, and my unemployment just ran out. But hey, at least I don’t have cancer! *ducks* Buddy Early grew up in Tempe and has been involved in various communities across the Valley since. He is a former managing editor of both Echo Magazine and Compete Magazine. FEATURE STORY
A distinctive voice in LGBTQ+ travel. Inspiring travelers to immerse themselves in experiences to create connections with destinations and cultures. Our purpose has always been to create a vibrant and interactive magazine about LGBTQ+ travel. This connection is further reflected in the pages of the magazine and across multiple travel related venues.
SUBSCRIBE
TODAY!
www.gaycationmagazine.com
Photo by David Lezcano on Unsplash
ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
31
Tim Rodgers photo by Lynton Gardiner. 32
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
FEATURE STORY
The great curator: Tim Rodgers readies Phoenix Art Museum for reopening By Niki D’Andrea
A
rt is a bit like magic for Tim Rodgers. The new Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) says the thing he misses most about experiencing art up close and in person is its transportive power. “I really miss the way in which a firsthand experience can transport you into another time and place that allows you to focus and get outside of your current reality,” Rodgers says. “And that could be at times fanciful, it could be fantastical, it can be all kinds of different things, but it allows your imagination to really expand and to have a very important human moment that isn’t so much about the immediate circumstances of our lives, but something bigger. That’s what art does for me. I’m sure it does that for a lot of other people, as well. And I think all of us who really appreciate the arts are longing to renew ourselves by having these experiences again.” The good news: Phoenix Art Museum reopens to the general public October 1, and it’s chock-full of exhibitions cut short by coronavirus closures that would not otherwise be running concurrently. The not-so-good news: one of Rodgers’ tasks as director and CEO of PhxArt is to mitigate the long-term financial impacts of COVID-19 — and he says, “there are no magic solutions here.” But there are ideas, and there is
enthusiasm and optimism, and with continued community support, Rodgers is confident the venerable institution will weather the viral storm and its aftereffects.
committee appointed by the museum’s board of Trustees. He succeeds Amanda Cruz, who departed for a job as the director and CEO of Seattle Art Museum.
Rodgers is no stranger to Arizona, or to lauded art institutions. From 2009 to 2015, the Arizona State University graduate was director of the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. During his tenure, the museum launched a new website that increased online attendance dramatically and Rodgers served as vice president of the Scottsdale Cultural Council. His resume also includes seven years as chief curator at the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe, and most recently, a stint as director of the Wolfsonian-Florida International University in Miami.
“Tim brings not only deep experience as a director, but as someone who has served many roles inside a museum, from security guard to art installer to educator and curator, he provides invaluable insights into the key ways in which each of these roles contribute to the museum as a thriving cultural resource,” Don Opatrny, Museum Trustee and chair of the CEO search committee, said in a press release. “Tim understands that the role of a museum in the 21st century extends beyond the walls of the galleries and into the community … His substantial management experience, combined with his passion for art and his ability to engage intergenerational audiences, will be instrumental to Phoenix Art Museum’s continued success.”
PhxArt is special to him among the many art museums in his orbit. “The Phoenix Art Museum has always been my go-to museum since I was a very young person. I moved here when I was 19 and I started to go to the museum then,” Rodgers says. “I was an art history and studio art major at ASU. So, I was going to the museum and looking at and enjoying its art and continued to do that over the next 40 years. For me, it really is a very important touchstone in my life. It really helped me formulate my career in the arts. This is really a return home for me.” Rodgers was selected for the director and CEO position after a national search led by a
Rodgers officially assumed the role of director and CEO on July 1. His first few months have been marked by pandemic precautions. “I haven’t been able to meet most of the staff in person because we’re all working remotely. I am going into the museum a little more frequently than many, and there are a core group of staff members that are also coming in, but most of them are working from home,” he says. “So, I’ve only
Installation view, Sublime Landscapes, 2020, Phoenix Art Museum. Courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum. FEATURE STORY
ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
33
When the museum reopens in October, things are going to look and feel a little different than before it closed amid coronavirus concerns in March. “Masks will be required, and we will be pacing the number of people that will be coming into the museum. We will be encouraging social distancing even among the limited number of people coming in,” Rodgers says. “We have put up plexiglass barriers, so when people need to interact with any of the staff, there will be another level of protection. We have been painting with antibacterial paint in a lot of the high-touch areas in the museum, such as the bathrooms. And then of course, we’re doing a more intensive cleaning schedule so that our visitors can expect to be in a clean and safe space, or at least as safe as we can make it.” Because the museum had just opened new spring shows at the time of its closure, those exhibits will be reopened, along with additional programming for fall. One of the holdovers is the Teresita Fernandez traveling exhibit Elemental, featuring more than 50 large-scale sculptures, installations, and mixed media works that weave together ideas of nature, history, and identity. At the same time, Stories of Abstraction: Contemporary Latin American Art in the Global Context will be on display in the gallery. “So, we have two major shows that are going to be opening to the public at the same time, which is not something we would normally be able to do just because of the amount of time and effort that goes into these shows,” Rodgers explains.
shows up at the same time,” Rodgers says. Fundraisers have been rescheduled for spring 2021. Rodgers hopes they will help diminish the long-term monetary impacts of the pandemic on the museum. There are other methods, but Rodgers says, “There are no magic solutions here. I think that every nonprofit not only in the Valley, but throughout the world, is dealing with changes to their budget. And certainly, one of the first things we have to look at are the expenses. So, we’ve had to make a lot of cuts to our budget in order to better align it with the revenue that we think will be coming in. That’s rather an obvious, although painful, first move that was made prior to my arrival here and then has continued to be examined every day that I’m at work.” “We’re also looking at how we can do fundraisers,” he continues. “We generally do two major fundraisers a year, so we’re looking at what kind of format we’ll be able to do. Marta Chilindrón, Blue Cube 48, 2006. Twin wall polycarbonate. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Nicholas Pardon. Image courtesy Nicholas Pardon.
Also extended: The exhibits Ansel Adams: Performing the Print and India: Fashion’s Muse. “We actually have a lot on view, and I think people are going to be very happy to be able to come in and see all of these
Philip C. Curtis, Space Activity (Actividad espacial), 1946. Tempera on paper. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of the Philip C. Curtis Restated Trust U/A/D April 7, 1994.
been able to meet them on Zoom calls and telephone calls, and that’s a very peculiar way to start a new job, but that has been my reality.”
34
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
We’ve moved them into the spring with the hopes this situation will be better. Just like every other nonprofit, we have to really turn to our community and seek their help during this time of change, because we are going to survive and we will come out on the other side of it, but we’re going to need everybody’s help to get there.” For a museum to thrive, Rodgers says, it needs some key components: a great building, lots of scale, a beautiful courtyard, an abundance of wonderful works of art, and community support. He says PhxArt has all of them. “Particularly right now in such a challenging environment, to know that the museum already has so many different types of assets from people to art to the building, it has really given me encouragement to be optimistic during this time and see a better future for the institution,” he says. “I think a lot of people are really suffering and we are feeling very anxious and depressed and overwhelmed,” Rodgers continues. “And I try to hang on to a brighter vision for the future of not only the museum, but the arts community and the city and the state, because we have so many wonderful assets here and we’re appreciated by so many. We just have to remember that will return, and we will return to something closer to normal.” Maybe even something closer to magic. Niki D’Andrea is a Phoenix-based journalist and editor whose career spans 28 years and includes editor positions at Phoenix New Times, PHOENIX magazine, and Times Media Group. Her scope of coverage has included political elections, drug culture, funding for HIV treatments and medicine, LGBTQ art, fringe sports, and celebrities. When not chasing stories, D’Andrea cheers on her favorite sports team, the Phoenix Mercury, and enjoys playing classic rock records from her collection of vinyl albums. FEATURE STORY
FEATURE STORY
ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
35
Pia Camil, Espectacular (telรณn) (Spectacular [Curtain]), 2013. Hand dyed and stitched canvas. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Nicholas Pardon. Image courtesy of Nicholas Pardon.
Mark Kelly and spouse Gabby Giffords.
Arizona’s Democratic nominee Mark Kelly: “We want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.” By Tom Reardon; photos courtesy of Mark Kelly for Senate
U
nited States Senate candidate Mark Kelly took some time out of his busy schedule to have a short conversation with Echo about the upcoming election and it was pretty eye-opening. The retired U.S. Navy pilot and space shuttle commander is running the type of campaign that is fairly unheard of these days and frankly, it’s refreshing. While his opponent, Senator Martha McSally (who was not elected, but placed in office by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey), has used a barrage of smear tactics to discredit Kelly in her television and print ads, Kelly’s campaign is based on bringing the voters facts and open discussion about the problems facing our state and nation. Kelly would rather discuss what he can and will do
36
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
as opposed to merely stating negative things about Senator McSally. The husband of former United States Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in 2011 in Tucson, Kelly is running as a democrat, calls Tucson home, and looks forward to working with a new administration in 2021. We spoke over a zoom chat in late August with Kelly rocking an unassuming, plain black t-shirt as he chatted from his office couch. Here’s what Kelly had to say: A plain black t-shirt is a good look. That’s what I’m doing in my ads, mostly. Somebody called it my uniform. I put my Mark Kelly uniform on.
I went many years wearing nothing but black t-shirts and jeans. It’s a good look. Your ads have a very different tone than your competitors. I appreciate you noticing. What’s it like being on the receiving end of such a campaign (from Martha McSally) of bullshit and bashing? I would say it’s expected because for folks that paid attention in 2018 to the U.S. Senate race here when Senator Jeff Flake decided not to run for reelection and it was a race between Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally, we saw similar things from now Senator McSally in that race. Very divisive. Very negative. A lot of attacks. So, I knew to expect that, and it proved to be the right expectation. FEATURE STORY
Is that one of the reasons your ads have a very different feel and tone to them? No. Not at all. I feel that regardless of what Senator McSally will do and how she’ll run her campaign, I wanted our campaign to be about the future, about issues that Arizonans care about. Positive. When necessary, I think it is important to draw contrasts, but to run a positive campaign. One thing I learned from a lot of years of flying the space shuttle, first as a pilot and then as the commander of the space shuttle, is to focus on the stuff you have control over. I don’t have any control over how somebody else wants to run a U.S. Senate race. So, I focus on us, our message, we want it to be positive and respectful. We want to get information out there. We want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. I want to see other folks watch and maybe it can be a positive example. As I’m listening to you, I keep thinking, you have a whole different perspective on weightlessness than your opponent. Yes. I’ve spent a lot of time floating around a couple of spaceships. She just spends a lot of time putting weightless things out there. My words, not yours. I would not want to put words in your mouth. What do you want the voters in Arizona, many of which are Echo readers, to know about you that they aren’t going to see in your political ads? I’m the son of two police officers. My mom was one of the first female cops in northern New Jersey. I’m somebody who, I guess at the right time, decided to work hard to achieve some goals. I’m also somebody who really believes in our country and that are days ahead of us are going to be better than our days behind us. We do have some serious problems and they are hard to solve.
My experience has been that, when you’ve got something that is really hard to do and a hard problem to solve, you’re only going to solve it with teamwork. So, bipartisanship is important. Not being partisan. Often, members of Congress, not all of them but some of them, become incredibly partisan and only do what their party wants or some big corporation. I don’t take any corporate PAC money, which I’m very proud of. I made this decision early on that I’m going to do what’s in the best interest of Arizonans and not some big company in some other state. That’s a breath of fresh air. What about for Echo readers, many of whom are part of the LGBTQ+ community or allies, how will you stand up for LGBTQ+ rights in Washington? Well, I will fight for those rights, including the passage of the Equality Act. But then, we have got to figure out how do we extend those to other places, whether it is equality in healthcare or housing. I served in the military for 25 years. There is still bias in the military. We saw with the Trump administration decision which has taken us in the wrong direction, so that has to be fixed. I will be fighting for those rights, the rights of all Americans to be treated equally. What about transgender people serving in the military? That’s what I was getting at, actually, without mentioning it. Is that where he (Trump) undid the Obama administration’s ruling about transgender service members serving. That should not be a factor in their service. It doesn’t even seem to be an issue with the military. It’s just an issue with the Trump administration. So, I think with a new President, with President (Joseph) Biden and Vice President (Kamala) Harris being elected,
I think we’ll be able to straighten that out pretty quickly. But then Congress really needs to focus on these things with legislation. Clearly the Equality Act needs to be passed, but then, you know, we’ve to figure out and get legislation passed to prohibit discrimination across the board. I think our country is clearly at its best when everybody is treated equal and when our policies include everybody. It’s also what makes us great as a country is our diversity in so many different ways. I think when you have people with different backgrounds and experiences and you’re trying to move our country forward, it’s best to have those diverse opinions and backgrounds and it extends to a lot of different things. I noticed that, especially during my 15 years in the space program, that you’re much better off on a space shuttle crew to have folks that are different and not have everybody who is exactly the same, like a Navy or Air Force test pilot, that doesn’t help. How has your experience with your wife, Gabrielle Giffords, work in politics, helped with your run? When we started dating, she was in the State Senate. I remember asking her at one point, I don’t know how many months later, “Are you ever going to run for Congress?” and she said, “Probably not.” I was like, “Well, why not?” and she said, “Well, there aren’t many open seats.” Jim Kolbe was the member of Congress for district 8. He was the member of Congress at the time. He was a moderate Republican and she thought he was doing a good job, so she never thought she would have the opportunity. Then he decided that he was not going to run for re-election, so it became an open seat. We got married the year she was first sworn into Congress. Having been there for her, as a new member of Congress at that time, how has that changed your perspective on the race this year? Well, I would say for someone who has not run for elected office before, at least not since the 11th grade, having been married to a member of Congress who went through three Congressional elections and then served two and a half terms in Congress, at least I kind of knew what I was getting myself into. I understood what the process is like. How challenging parts of it is, how much fun it is. You know, this is fun, meeting folks and traveling all across the state. Not as much fun right now, I don’t think anything really is. The world is kind of stuck inside. But I knew what the experience would be like. I think I was at least a little prepared for it. What do you see as the biggest issues facing Arizona? We are clearly, there is the crisis part of what we are facing. Public health crisis, economic crisis, clearly a crisis of leadership. Not only
FEATURE STORY
ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
37
in D.C., but at the state level. We’ve got to fix all those things. It will help to fix the crisis of leadership. It will help us solve those other problems.
into cutting social security. That’s something my opponent has supported. These are the things we have to get back on track immediately.
But beyond that, clearly there are a bunch of different things that are at the top of Arizonans’ minds and that’s making sure they can afford their healthcare, that they can keep it if they get sick, and they can get healthcare if they have a preexisting condition. The price of prescription medication is way too high and Congress doesn’t do anything about it.
Our state has so many other issues that have to be addressed: infrastructure, energy, climate issues, water. When you look at the water issue in Lake Powell and Lake Mead and the amount of water we get from the Colorado River. Lake Powell currently runs at about 50% capacity and Lake Mead as well. When Lake Mead gets down to a certain level, we go into a drought contingency and we’ve got to cut back on our water usage. That’s a big deal for not only residents, but agriculture here. We’ve got serious issues, but we’re only going to solve them if we are willing to work across the aisle. Not everybody in the United States Senate is willing to do that. Now, Senator Sinema is, which is a great thing for our state, she’s willing to do that, but not everyone.
Senator McSally, you know, she might say that she wants prescription drugs to be lower but doesn’t vote to allow the Health and Human Services to negotiate down the price of prescription drugs for people on Medicare. It really hurts seniors and it’s not fair. Seniors often have to pay more the same drugs that somebody is paying when they get it from the Veteran’s Administration. For the same exact medication. It’s just fundamentally unfair. I think 30% of all drugs are purchased through Medicare. That needs to be fixed. You can ask, “Why are certain members of Congress not fixing it?” Well, a lot of them take campaign checks from the corporate PACs of big pharmaceutical companies. So, healthcare is high on the list. Clearly, protecting social security and Medicare, as well as protecting Medicare. There have been Senators, including Senator McSally, who want to turn Medicare into a voucher program which will mean that seniors will pay a lot more for their healthcare. Also, in 2017, the Trump administration and Congress, collectively, through a budget resolution process gave the wealthiest companies and the richest Americans a 1.9 trillion-dollar tax cut. And then, because of the impact that had on the deficit, followed up with looking 38
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
It’s frustrating and I’m glad you’re willing to do something about it. Where can you improve and be a better leader? Well, this experience … a year and a half of campaigning has been helpful. You have to build a big team to be successful. Our campaign staff, it is a big organization. You’ve got to raise the funds to build it and then you have to manage it. You have to manage it efficiently and effectively. So that’s helped me. I’ve got 25 years of experience in the U.S. military and I’ve got some business experience. I was involved in building a company here in southern Arizona and I have some other business experience that I’ve been involved in, so I understand small business. Not every member of the United States Senate has anything like that, including Senator McSally. I respect her service in the
Air Force. She flew an airplane much like the one I flew in the United States Navy. My brother likes to point out that they are equally ugly airplanes. The A-6 Intruder and the A-10 Warthog, which she flew. I really respect her service, but I feel that I have a set of experiences that not a lot of U.S. Senators have. I’m an engineer by training. I not only served in the United States Navy, but I spent 15 years at NASA. I’ve been involved in business and starting organizations. I’ve worked on policy issues, so I feel I’m well prepared, but you can always improve, right? You need to. Constant improvement, improvement of processes, trying to do things differently, change. Change is important. My former commanding officer, a guy named Terry Toms who was my commanding officer in the first Gulf War, used to say, “If you are not changing it, it’s getting worse.” So, change is important, and I think it makes our country our better and stronger. Thank you, Mark. Any last words? Make sure you encourage people to get out and vote, even if they are voting for the other guy. The most important thing is that people get out and vote. Tom Reardon loves to write about people who are doing something to contribute to our community in a positive way. He also loves his family and family of friends, his pets, music, skateboarding, movies, good (and bad) TV, and working with children to build a better world. Tom’s favorite movie is Jaws, his favorite food is lasagna, and he loves to play music with his friends. He’s a busy guy, but never too busy to listen to what you have to say so tell him a story.
FEATURE STORY
ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
39
Easy home updates you can do yourself – most for under $100 By Kimberly Blaker
S
o you’ve been dreaming of updating your home, but the cost of new flooring or a kitchen remodel doesn’t fit your budget? Don’t despair. There are lots of ways to revitalize and update your home without breaking the bank. Check out these simple updates and fixes that’ll give your home a fresh new look, inside and out. Just a few inexpensive fixes, and you’ll be eager to show off your beautiful abode. Replace your front door. This is the first thing guests see when they walk up to your home. So it’s a great place to begin your updating. A higher-end wooden door will add beauty to your entrance. But even a new steel door painted in an attractive color will add a lot of curbside appeal to your home. Repair window screens. Torn window screens detract from curb appeal. Fortunately, they’re inexpensive and easy to fix. Buy a package of replacement screen and a screen rolling tool to do-it-yourself. If you›re not up to the task, hardware stores
40
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
Pick up paint brochures at your hardware store for color scheme ideas, and notice how unexpected colors are paired together to create fabulous designer looks. often do screen replacement at a reasonable cost. Just drop off your damaged screen, and they’ll have it ready for you in a couple of days. Cure dirty or crumbling grout. The wonderful thing about tile is not only its luxurious look but also its longevity. But filthy or broken down grout can spoil the look. Make your tile floor or shower look new again by freshening the grout. If it’s just dirty, you can clean it. For instructions, visit www. bobvilla.com. If the grout is broken down and
needs to be replaced, find grout removal instructions at www.thespruce.com. Update switch plates & outlet covers. This is a super-easy way to update a room, and there are so many choices for every decorating style. If you like the look of metal switch plates but don’t want the expense, buy some metallic spray paint in bronze, brushed nickel, or silver. Just remove the covers, spray them, and in an hour, they’ll be ready to put back on. Replace ceiling fan blades. Do your ceiling fans look decrepit? The blades often deteriorate faster than the fixtures. So buy new blades to make your fans look new again. Liven it up with paint. Fresh paint goes a long way toward updating and freshening a room. With hundreds of shades to choose from, there›s lots of room for creativity to achieve the designer look you want. Pick up paint brochures at your hardware store for color scheme ideas, and notice how unexpected colors are paired together to FEATURE STORY
create fabulous designer looks. Then play around with different colors against the color of your room’s flooring and furnishings. You might be pleasantly surprised to discover an unexpected color pairing creates a beautiful new look. Freshen trim & doors. Paint the trim and doors throughout your home in a single color. Not only will this freshen your home, but it’ll also give your home a cohesive look. If your home is small, then white or light grey paint will keep your home bright and make it feel more spacious. If you have a larger home, you can go bold with a medium or dark color. This will add richness to your living space. Medium grays and tans or dark charcoal and coffee colors are good choices. But before you get your paint mixed, pick up plenty of sample cards with various undertones. Hold them against the walls (or new paint colors) in each room to find a color that blends well with every color scheme in your home. Wallpaper a small room. Wallpaper is in again and can transform a small space, such as your bathroom or foyer. Choose from the latest patterns, textures, and colors for a great new look. Replace vent covers. Over time, banged up and painted-over vent covers become an eyesore. So new vent covers will go a long way toward making your home feel like new.
FEATURE STORY
Freshen bathroom caulk. Old stained and deteriorating caulk can make a bathroom unsightly. It can be removed and replaced relatively easily with a little patience. Visit www.houselogic.com to find simple removal instructions and the correct way to apply fresh caulk.
If your solid-wood bathroom or kitchen cabinets look worn, you can revitalize them by rubbing them down with Old English. Clean hard water stains off of your toilet & tub. If you have hard water, your toilet bowl and bathtub may be hideous. Luckily, there are several options to remove hard water stains. CLR calcium, lime, and rust remover does wonders on porcelain. If your bathtub is vinyl or acrylic, CLR must be diluted and can remain on the fixture for only a couple of minutes. So read instructions carefully. For more hardened buildup on porcelain, buy a handled pumice stone and sand off the accumulation. But don’t use pumice stones on vinyl and acrylic because pumice is too abrasive and will leave scratches.
Update cabinet hardware. New cabinet knobs and pulls can give your bathroom or kitchen a facelift, and there are tons of styles from which to choose. Revitalize or paint cabinets. If your solidwood bathroom or kitchen cabinets look worn, you can revitalize them by rubbing them down with Old English. Painting them is a good alternative since white or gray cabinets are the trend. You can also get creative and choose a bold color to liven up your kitchen or bathroom. Install a kitchen backsplash. A tile backsplash will add richness to your kitchen. Find do-it-yourself instructions at www. diynetwork.com. If that’s more work than you want to invest, choose from a wide selection of faux tile backsplash panels to add dimension and character to your kitchen. Update doorknobs. Do your doorknobs look shabby or dated? This is another easy fix. Brushed nickel is the latest trend in hardware. Doorknobs come complete with instructions and are easy to change with just a screwdriver. Also, consider replacing the hinges to match the doorknobs. Kimberly Blaker is a freelance family writer. She also does blog and content writing for a variety of industries and is an expert in on page SEO.
ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
41
Emily Eizen (model and photographer).
back to Southern California — Eizen said her creativity was stifling and college didn’t support her free-spirited nature. This is when cannabis entered her life, providing her with the fearlessness she needed to start creating again. But when she noticed the lack of diversity in the cannabis industry, she decided to use her abilities and platform for the greater good. Last year, she designed the PRIDE campaign for Kush Queen, where she placed gender nonconforming people of color right in the forefront. Her ‘60s-style, psychedelic-inspired art showcases the beauty, freedom, and diversity that Eizen considers essential for establishing equity in the cannabis space and beyond. She aspires to be a beacon of creativity, which in turn, will help cannabis culture maintain its soul in a very corporate shift. Eizen spoke with Echo, telling us a bit about her personal life — letting us in on her creative process, favorite artists, experiences with homophobia in the industry, plus so much more. Echo: Hey Emily, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions for us. Where do you draw inspiration from when you’re working? Emily Eizen: I draw inspiration from many different aspects of my life. As a queer woman, I always want to give credit and homage to queer culture. Also, growing up by the beach is something that I think has also influenced my taste for retro skating culture, roller skating, and the sun. The divine feminine is a constant subject in my work as well — as well as cannabis, the connection between femmes, and nature. Who are your favorite artists from the 1960’s or ‘70s?
Meet Emily Eizen: inspirational queer artist, model, and cannabis advocate By Megan Lane
G
rowing up in Manhattan Beach, California, Emily Eizen felt like she didn’t fit in with her peers. Her classmates bullied her relentlessly for being an outspoken feminist who marched to the beat of her own drum. Rather than allowing their negative vibes and hateful words to consume her, she decided to eat lunch with her middle school art teacher, where she
42
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
discovered her passion for the arts in the sixth grade. Eizen began using her creativity as an emotional outlet to cope with life during her younger years. Now 23, Eizen is an inspirational queer multimedia artist, photographer, sculpture, performer, and model. After a short stint as a political science major at George Washington University in D.C., she moved
My favorite artists, and one of my many inspirations from that time, is Andy Warhol. We actually have the same birthday, so I feel connected to him especially (big Leo energy.) I appreciate the way he embraced more than just one medium during his career, like myself. Warhol wasn’t just an artist, he also cultivated a community at The Factory (his legendary studio), which housed and fostered many icons of that time period. His colorful use of pop culture is really inspiring to me. Also, artists like Barbara Kruger and Keith Haring inspire my work visually and conceptually. The way they both speak about social issues through their art is something I want to emulate. What is your role in the cannabis industry, and how does it relate to your artwork? I would say my role is not just in the cannabis industry — my goal is to bring the narrative of art and representation into the cannabis industry, two elements that are very much lacking. Whether cannabis brands want to work with me or not, I will always advocate for not only myself, but more importantly, marginalized groups through my work— FEATURE STORY
Emily Eizen; photo by Nesha Torres.
flipping the narrative of the War On Drugs, showing my BIPOC friends and models enjoying life and thriving with cannabis, showing the diverse and vibrant range of cannabis users, while also speaking up about mass incarceration and inequities when it comes to cannabis profits. Your Instagram is filled with vibrant colors and photographs of people smoking pot — your audience loves it. Why do you think there is such a fascination with this? I think my audience resonates with my work because it is not only appealing to the eye, but it brings up feelings of nostalgia, for some, who remember or admire the early days of hippies and cannabis culture, free love, and revolution. I also think people engage with my work because although it relies on vintage aesthetics, there is a very modern aspect to it. Blending modern fashion and topics with older aesthetics is something that I like about my work. People are tired of the same old cannabis content, which traditionally objectifies women and is lacking in artistic vision.
My paintings don’t follow a plan. I usually have no idea what I’m doing until it’s done. I usually de-focus my eyes, so I’m in this sort of meditative trance where I only see some lines and blocks of color. It is a stream of consciousness. It’s not until the piece is mostly finished when I step back and say, “Oh, shit. So that’s what’s on my mind.” It’s very therapeutic. My art professors in school would give me shit for not picking a limited color palette from the start, but somehow my paintings always end up looking cohesive. Did you start off working with one medium, and if so, which did you have your first foray with? It’s crazy, even when I look at my artwork from when I was very young, even as a child, there were always elements of collage and mixed media. I would print out “My Scene” and “Bratz” and put them in my “dream room” or something of that nature, always cutting and pasting. But I started painting and drawing lessons before I got into photography. When I started learning darkroom photography at 14, I began drawing on my pictures, and that’s when I really started incorporating those two aspects of my work in a meaningful and serious way. When did you realize that art is an integral part of your life? FEATURE STORY
What are your favorite cannabis products? I love me some flower, all kinds really. Smoking is my favorite method of consumption. I draw inspiration from smoke patterns in the air. There is also something so elegant about how smoke looks in photos. One brand I really enjoy is Stone Road, an organic sun grown, queer-owned brand. Viola cannabis is also super great quality, as well as Black-owned. For CBD, Kush Queen is the best brand in my opinion. Their CBD gummies are insane and put me to sleep instantly. They also have amazing CBD bath bombs and most importantly, they are very socially conscious and inclusive. Before the coronavirus swept in like a tornado, how did you spend your days?
Can you describe your process, from start to finish, when you’re in the midst of painting? I always set up my studio before I smoke. That is very key — it makes the actual creative flow much more seamless after I smoke my joint. As a photographer and painter, something that is often overlooked is how long set up and break down actually takes, which is most of the process. So getting that out of the way before I get faded makes my life a lot easier.
courageous also means being vulnerable and treating yourself with kindness and compassion. I have always been outspoken, it’s just in my nature to want to speak out. Watching speeches by other fearless leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and learning how to emulate how they speak is a good tool if you don’t know how to start.
When I moved to Washington D.C. to learn the ins and outs of political science in college, that’s when I realized that I would be happier, and more impactful, using my art as a way to create change — as opposed to the traditional law degree and Capitol Hill intern path. That direction was simply lacking in art and creativity, and I recognized that I had abandoned my passion for the arts — I credit cannabis for that realization. Have you experienced sexism or homophobia in the cannabis industry, and if so, how did you handle that? Of course I have, especially as a conventionally attractive woman. Lots of men in the industry are sexist. I experienced this a lot when I was a budtender in a lot of different dispensaries, pre-recreational. There are still a lot of men who don’t want to believe that I’m gay based on how I look. I no longer put up with that type of treatment, but it can be really hard to stand up for yourself sometimes when you’re just getting started. This is why I try to mostly surround myself with womxn, and people who know how to treat other people. Now that I know my worth, I will walk off of a set if I am being mistreated or undervalued in any way. For anyone struggling with anxiety or low self-esteem, what advice would you give them? I ask this because you seem so fearless, outspoken, and courageous. E.E: I battle anxiety on a daily basis. I also deal with depression. For me, I find that meditation, breathwork, medications that help my anxiety, and remembering that I have so much to be grateful for is huge help. Being
Well, the things I used to do that I miss, which are now not safe for me are the following: photoshoots with many people on set, getting together with my creative circle and friend group and sharing weed, going out to restaurants with my girlfriend April, skating by the beach, splashing in the waves, going to the movies, and attending cannabis events. I actually was in the midst of planning my debut art show which was going to be epic. I planned on incorporating cannabis brands, art installations, and pop-ups of my friends businesses. I am mourning that, but I can’t wait until it’s safe again, and it will be for the better because during the pandemic, I have grown as a person and an artist. Skincare products you can’t live without? P.S.: your skin is flawless! I want to address this honestly because this is something I struggle with constantly. As much as I want to be an outspoken advocate on so many things, my skin has always been one of my deepest insecurities I struggle with to this day — it’s not flawless. I actually have acne and scarring, but I’m working on that within myself, and hopefully one day soon I will have the bravery to show my skin without makeup. I can’t wait till Fenty Skin (an extension of Rihanna’s product line) drops and hopefully that will get my life together! You can find Emily Eizen’s latest artwork and career happenings at emilyeizen.com and @ emilyeizen on Instagram. Megan Lane is a 30-year-old freelance writer from New York. She enjoys watching movies with her boyfriend, baking CBD-infused brownies, and practicing yoga. Megan’s work has been featured on various websites, including in Huff Post, Al Jazeera, and Insider. ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
43
Pizzería Virtù in Old Town Scottsdale.
WITHOUT RESERVATIONS
Story and photos by Jeff Kronenfeld
I
Osso is actually a native of New Jersey, though he calls it Italy’s far-left coast. As the son of Italian immigrants who spent his summers in the old country, you can understand why. Though now he credits those summer trips to the peninsula for his love for cooking, at the time he often just missed his friends back in the States. Osso laughs about that now, but when he talks about wanting to make pizzas like he ate
Pizzería Virtù’s The Reggio. 44
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
In January, Osso and his business partner got the keys and got to work on the remodel. Other than the décor, the biggest change was retooling from producing thinner, Roman-style pizzas to the more substantial Neapolitan variety. Osso was able to take advantage of the space’s woodfire oven, but to produce the most authentic pies he had to get certified by the True Neapolitan Pizza Association, more commonly referred to by its Italian acronym AVPN. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Naples, the organization ensures pizzerias selling Neapolitan pizza conform to stringent standards. These include restrictions on what kind of ingredients can be used and how they can be prepared. For example, the dough can only be made from flour, yeast, salt and water. This simple set of ingredients must be mixed by hand or with a specialized low-speed mixer. Osso traveled to the AVPN Americas headquarter in Los Angeles and got certified as a Neapolitan pizzaiolo.
Honestly good pie: Pizzería Virtù f you’re seeking a slice of pizza that can transport you to the sun-soaked hills of southern Italy, look no further than Pizzería Virtù. It’s the latest venture of Chef Gio Osso, who also owns Virtu Honest Craft, a local gem since 2013. As he has there, Osso succeeds in infusing every bite with the passion and palette honed by his annual visits to Italy as a kid.
took over the space where his journey in the Valley food scene began? Osso thought that wasn’t a bad idea and reached out to Cristiani to set up a meeting. It didn’t take much more than an hour for them to strike a deal.
back then, you can tell it’s no joke. This isn’t the only nostalgic reason Osso decided to get in the pie game while already managing a busy restaurant. When he first moved to the Valley in 2002, he visited Grazie Restaurant and Wine Bar, which happened to have just opened and be near where he was staying. Osso visited the Old Town Scottsdale restaurant and befriended the Italian owner, Maurizio Cristiani, who offered him a job. Osso took him up a few weeks later and moved to the Valley. He worked there for a year and a half before branching out, but he stayed in touch with his old boss. In November of 2019, a friend told Osso that Cristiani was getting ready to hang up his flower-coated apron for good. Wouldn’t it be perfect, the friend suggested, if Osso
TheDiamante.
“I decided I really want to make pizza in that style because that’s just what I grew up on,” Osso said. “I just remember the taste, texture and airiness of the dough, and so I really wanted to keep that tradition going.” Pizzeria Virtu is old school about ordering, too. There’s no app or online form, and they’ve even dispensed with a strict menu for the time being. Instead, you call up and chat about what’s cooking that day. Osso may be strict about authenticity, but he still loves to improvise with whatever is in season, so the pizzeria always offers up fresh takes, as well as time-tested classics. I actually preferred this to electronic ordering, especially since the staff are more than happy to answer questions, make suggestions, or just chat. While the pizzeria is currently open for dine-in, we opted to take our three pies,
The Affumicata, a pizza from Pizzería Virtù. DINING OUT
A kale salad from Pizzería Virtù.
cocktails and a salad to go. It’s a shame, too, because the place has the most romantic ambiance. Hopefully, we’ll be back in-person in not too long. Still, when I arrived early in the evening, I found plenty of parking, which would certainly have not been the case in this Old Town location pre-pandemic. After the amateur move of forgetting my mask, I called in and a server very kindly brought out my order, even huffing it across the street for me. The hardest part was not sneaking a bite on the drive home despite the hearty scent of charred wheat and tomatoes filling my vehicle. I popped the pies in the oven to reheat after a quick photoshoot, and in the meantime, we got to work on the kale salad. The base of dark greens was topped with chickpeas, roasted cherry tomatoes, and freshly shredded cheese. The flavor of the lightly astringent kale played well with the nuttiness of the beans, pungent cheese and creamy dressing. However, the real stars were the tomatoes, which exploded with sweet and savory warmth.
making it a little like a smoked Margarita pizza. The light, almost airy cheese really did add something special. The little tomatoes burst with flavor like ripe berries. The wheat crunch of the crust rounded it out. Our third pizza was called the Diamante, and it just slightly edged out the Affumicata as my favorite. It’s essentially a white pie with mozzarella, fennel sausage, garlic, a big pile of finely sliced prosciutto, a little bit of Calabrian chili and two types of peppers. This one is named after a little town just north of Osso’s family home which hosts a huge pepper festival every year. The well-diced blend of Fresno and Bell peppers adds a little sweet heat. The sprinkling of sausage contributes its own bite, which is evened out by the cheese and prosciutto.
Last but not least was our cocktail, the Sophia, a sweet pink drink with a punch. The to-go cocktails come with four servings sealed in a mason jar, meaning very little risk of spilling. It was a saccharine kiss with more The Sofia, a to-go cocktail than a little bite. I really enjoyed from Pizzería Virtù. this and if you want to get silly, The first pizza we tried was ordering one of these per person is a very the Reggio, but the Spilinga might be more tasty way to get the job done. apt. Both are the names of communities in Sofia means wisdom in Greek, which Calabria, the toe box of Italy’s boot. The was just one of the cultures to have left its former is a city, and the latter a nearby stamp on the Mediterranean melting pot village famous for ‘Nduja, a spicy-sweet that is southern Italy. Chef Osso reaches variety of cured pork. Osso worried Spilinga back into this ancient past to craft pizzas might tongue-tie non-Italians, and so he which can make you feel like you are named it after the nearby — and more basking in the Calabrian sun even if you’re pronounceable — city of Reggio. Whatever really just roasting in an oppressive Arizona it’s called, the combination of tart pork and summer day. smokey tomato sauce yields a pie whose simple appearance belies its complex and well-balanced flavor. Hints of spice add to the cloying savory base.
The Affumicata was our next pie up. Literally meaning smoked, its name refers to Scamorza Affumicata, a cheese which is a little like a drier, more pungent mozzarella. This is combined with cherry tomatoes, basil, roasted garlic and some parmesan, DINING OUT
Jeff Kronenfeld is an independent journalist based out of Phoenix, Arizona. His writing has been featured in Java Magazine, the Arts Beacon, PHXSUX, and the Phoenix Jewish News, where he received the Simon Rockower Award for excellence in news reporting from the American Jewish Press Association. Links to his previously published work are available at www.jeffkronenfeld.com.
Take a
TROPICAL STAYCATION ISLAND STYLE EATS TIKI DRINKS TO-GO WEEKEND BRUNCH phoenix 5114 n. 7th st. scottsdale 7213 e. 1st ave. high street 5450 e. high st. #101 hulasmoderntiki.com
Fine Chinese Cuisine Wine Cocktails
Open for Take-Out only! 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.
602.266.4463 Third Street / One Block S. of Osborn
www.chinachilirestaurant.com ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
45
AT THE BOX OFFICE
P
olitical chatter is inundating us, whether we’re watching our favorite show, scrolling Facebook, or talking with our friends. Everyone has an opinion, or at least a good conspiracy theory. To break through the noise, watch these political gems, new and old.
By Tuesday Mahrle
Netflix Get Me Roger Stone Premiered 2017 | TV-14 | 92 minutes | Documentary
With a large tattoo of President Nixon on his back, Roger Stone is the poster child for Washington Corruption. He’s been credited with molding Donald Trump into the powerhouse he is today. This documentary explores Roger Stone’s life and career as a Republican strategist and lobbyist, complete with murderous dictatorships and sex scandals spanning from Nixon to our current president.
Amazon Prime Dave Premiered 1993 | PG-13 | 110 minutes | Comedy
Dave Kovic, played by Kevin Kline, is a spitting image of the current president. When POTUS becomes incapacitated, Dave secretly impersonates the president to avoid an American scandal. Everyman Dave becomes quite popular and scales the approval poles. But like all good fakes, national lies won’t last forever.
Hulu The American President Premiered 1995 | PG-13 | 114 minutes | Drama
After almost four years of our current presidency, it’s soothing to listen to Andrew Shepherd (Michael Douglas) eloquently articulate one of the best presidential movie speeches ever made. This ‘90s classic spins together an administration desperately attempting to pass a crime control bill while a widowed president also tries to find love again.
Election Premiered 1999 | R | 103 minutes | Comedy, Drama
Years before Legally Blonde was even an idea, Reese Witherspoon, playing Tracy Flick, ran for student body president in Election. While it originally performed horribly in theaters, it has become a black-comedy classic. Watch as overachieving Tracy will do anything to make it to the top. If national politics are tough, high school politics are worse! Tuesday Mahrle is a film critic and host of “Whiskey and Popcorn,” a Phoenix-based movie podcast. 46
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
ENTERTAINMENT
PARENTING AND CAREGIVING
How to survive the elementary school years — eight parenting tips for ages six to 10 By Kimberly Blaker
Y
ou survived potty training and the terrible twos; you’ve reclaimed your bed, and your child is now somewhat self-sufficient. Life ought to be smooth sailing from here on, right? Perhaps. That is if you don’t take into account the elementary school-age battles that lie just ahead. But don’t sweat it. The following tips will help you ride out this adventuresome yet trying stage. Tattletales. Does your child tattle every time a sibling or playmate breaks a rule? Kids tattle for many reasons. Sometimes they don’t understand the difference between tattling and telling about something important. Other times, kids are looking to get another into trouble.
48
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
Talk to your child about how lying diminishes yours and others’ ability to trust your child. So explain the difference between tattling and telling. Tattling is when someone breaks a rule (or when there is no rule), and breaking the rule is relatively harmless. On the other hand, telling is when another child does something that could harm oneself or others. Make a rule that you don’t want to hear any tattling, but that telling is okay and even necessary.
Lying. Every child tells a lie at some point or another. Even most adults are guilty of occasional white lies. Still, teaching kids to be honest is vital to developing into trustworthy adults and forming intimate relationships. Talk to your child about how lying diminishes yours and others’ ability to trust your child. Explain how it can impact your child’s relationships. Then, if you catch your kid in a lie, explain how his or her future freedom and privileges are dependent on how well you can trust your child. Also, to build your kid’s trust in you, practice being open and nonjudgmental. This will go a long way toward your child’s openness with you.
Media overload. With the overwhelming variety of media available to kids, it’s hard to know where to draw the line. But the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends kids be limited to no more than two hours of entertainment-based screen time per day. To gain cooperation, invite your child to help you establish media use rules. List the various forms of media used by your child, including tv, video games, computer, and cell phone. Establish a total number of hours per day your kid can use media. Then ask your child to help you break down how much of that time can be spent on specific forms. Also, discuss the measures you’ll take if rules are violated.
option could be to do chores and free time right after school. Then homework will start immediately following dinner. But avoid saving homework until late in the evening. Also, find a distraction-free location in your home that is always for homework. Then require your kids to put their phones on the charger, away from the area when doing homework.
First, try to empower the teased child, and encourage him or her to tell the other to stop.
Chore wars. As your child grows, so should his or her responsibilities. During the elementary years, kids can pick up their rooms, set and clear off the table, sort their laundry, fold laundry, put away their clean clothes, bring in the mail, rake leaves, and dust, among other simple tasks.
Name-calling and teasing. Sometimes when kids call each other names, they’re just playing. If they’re going back and forth at each other, and all are laughing and having a good time, it probably isn’t a big deal. As long as it’s play, balanced, and no one’s feelings are getting hurt, you can let it go.
So have your child choose a small number of simple chores. As your kid grows, increase the amount or level of difficulty. To gain cooperation, set a regular schedule for each task, and offer daily or weekly rewards or an allowance.
But if it’s one-sided, mean-spirited, or the child on the receiving end seems angry, upset, scared, or hurt by it, it’s usually best to intervene. First, try to empower the teased child, and encourage him or her to tell the other to stop. If necessary, take a more direct approach, and make clear to the child doing the teasing how hurtful the behavior is and that it isn’t acceptable.
Homework hassles. This is a routine challenge for many parents. So hold a meeting with your child to discuss homework. Explain you’re going to set some rules. Then give your kid a couple of choices to increase cooperation. One option might be 30 minutes of free time or media time after school before beginning homework. Another
The birds and the bees. The question of where babies come from, and puberty discussions can leave even the most openminded parents fumbling. So, prepare in advance for the inevitable discussions to
answer questions in the best way possible without showing discomfort. Your comfort is essential to making your kid feel comfortable and will lead to more openness from your child as he or she matures. To get started, during the early elementary years, read Where Did I Come From? or another age-appropriate book to your child. This takes the guesswork out of what to say and how to say it. In the later elementary years, discuss puberty and sex more completely. Many kids reach puberty by the age of 10. So make sure your pre-teen is fully prepared for the changes that’ll take place. Some kids are already talking about it with their friends by late elementary, and are full of misinformation. So having this discussion is crucial to ensure your child is accurately informed about sex Defiance. As kids grow, they become more independent — and with independence comes defiance. To deal with defiance, lay out the rules ahead of time, so you and your kids know the consequences. When your child is defiant, remember the following. Consistency is crucial to being effective. Also, don’t argue. If your child tries to debate you after you’ve stated the issue and laid down the consequence, calmly say you’ve already made up your mind, and you’re done discussing it. Then leave the room, so you’re not tempted to argue or give in to badgering. Kimberly Blaker is a freelance family writer. She also does blog and content writing for a variety of industries and is an expert in on-page SEO.
ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
49
Ace of Cups by Jay Blakesberg.
BANDS
Denise Kaufman of Ace of Cups says “Put a woman in charge” By Tom Reardon
T
As a founding member of the band Ace of Cups, who achieved notoriety in the late 1960s and early ‘70s playing concerts around the Bay Area (including the infamous Altamont show where the Hells Angels murdered Meredith Hunter, who was 18 at the time) and beyond, Kaufman is, in many ways, a rock and roll lifer, but that is just one side of her story. An accomplished yoga instructor, whose client list included Madonna, Jane Fonda, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Quincy Jones, Kaufman also helped found the Island School on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, where she lives part-time and still surfs. She’s also a mom and grandmother when she is not making music with her musical sisters in Ace of Cups. On October 2, Ace of Cups releases their second studio album, Sing Your Dreams, on High Moon Records (reviewed in this issue) and Kaufman’s stamp is all over the record, 50
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
Denise Kaufman by Lisa Law.
here are certain people that when you listen to them, their world opens up before your eyes and, if you allow yourself to do so, you can almost get lost. Denise Kaufman is such a storyteller and her tale is one of balance, beauty, and an awesome soundtrack.
Tell me about you — what brought you to music? I was playing music at three years old. We had a piano and my mother had been a wonderful singer and pianist. My dad could not carry a tune, but he loved music. He had gone to Harvard and studied English literature, so he was the word guy. He could remember every lyric, but the tune never quite worked. So, between them, I just started when I was a little toddler. I was in the San Francisco Children’s Opera, which was a light opera company. I went to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, so I was sort of in music and theater and dance from when I was little. You started with piano. When you did pick up guitar or did you start with bass?
which features friends like Jackson Browne, Wavy Gravy, and Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna), among others. We caught up with Denise by phone to talk about the band, the album, and a few other surprises, as well. Here’s what she had to say:
I picked up guitar when I was about 13 or 14. I was sort of rebelling against piano as I went to the Conservatory of Music two times a week for classes and I really didn’t like the classical recitals we were required to be part of. I look back and wish I could do that now (laughs). At the time, I was sort of over it. I think sometimes, with kids and music, I think a lot of children will rebel against lessons. ENTERTAINMENT
Their teachers should ask them what they would really like to be playing to tune into the students and help them to get through those rebellious years. I didn’t have that. The pop songs of the day, some of them were pretty cool. What was a song you were really into learning to play? When I think of early songs like that, I think of the Shangri-Las and some of the girl vocal groups. Brenda Lee. There was also The Coasters. I liked a lot of doo wap. As I got older, I definitely rebelled against the sort of songs like Leslie Gore’s “It’s My Party” and that stuff. That teenaged angst songs were too demeaning to me. I just didn’t like them. Ever since those days, I’ve always really listened to lyrics. I always played with gender and lyrics. I would hear a song like “It’s My Party” and I would think, “What if a guy was singing this song.” There is something I don’t like about the gender roles in these types of songs. I was always switching gender. I would try and sing some song that a guy wrote. Later, when I had my own bands, I had one band where we took “The Spider And The Fly” by Rolling Stones and we had our drummer sing it and it was a really different song when sung by a woman. The song is about a guy who goes into a bar while he’s on the road and even though he promised to be faithful, when he goes into the bar, there was this woman. It was sort of a whole different when we switched it around and sang that song. Some of the songs from the early days seemed so wimpy to me and I wondered why woman sang things like “It’s My Party?”
I read something that you wrote where you said that you never thought, growing up, about being in an all-woman group.
How did these records come about?
When I met Mary Ellen, she said to me, “We’re starting an all-woman band,” and I thought, “Wow.” Well, my first thought was that they probably weren’t going to be very good. I had just never seen women rocking out as players.
Our record label, High Moon Records, said, “You need to record an album because you never got the chance.” Mary Ellen (Simpson), our guitarist, Diane (Vitalich, who drums), and I had just been meeting every six or eight weeks for four or five days, and George (Wallace) who owns High Moon Records was helping us finance that because he loves our music and wanted to give us a chance to play together again. As soon as we started playing together, we started writing again and we started sending each other little iPhone voice memo recordings of what we wrote. We wrote the song, “Mama’s Love” that way. Pretty soon we had a bunch of songs. When we started doing that, we didn’t think we would be recording. We just thought maybe we would get to play more together and maybe play live, but it turned into more. He (Wallace) asked us to find a producer and we looked for a woman producer, but we just didn’t find anyone. Diane reached out to Dan Shea, who she had played in some casual bands with and he came out and he said everything we wanted to hear. He brought some of our old music that he had listened to and showed us how he would approach them. We said, “Yes” and we feel really fortunate to find Dan. He’s really been like a sixth member of our band. We had a 50-year hiatus, basically. We got together occasionally, but we hadn’t played as a band together for a long time. We didn’t have the advantage of having years of live time with these songs. Ace Of Cups performing live in Mill Valley CA, November 9, 2018. Photo by Jamie Soja.
I feel like everything in your songs is just right in its place. It’s hard to describe, but I feel like everything and everyone’s playing is right where it needs to be. No one is stepping on anyone else’s toes if that makes sense.
Some of these songs, we’re doing pretty much the way we did them in the ‘60s and some of them are very different for many reasons. Some we re-wrote and some we added a new part or changed the bridge, so there’s that, but I think what you are talking about, I have to give credit to our producer Dan Shea and also to our engineer, Ari Rios, who owns Laughing Tiger Studios in San Rafael, California.
ENTERTAINMENT
I never thought of it before because I had only ever played with guys. I didn’t know any women who were drummers (before Ace of Cups). I’d never met one or seen one live. Later, after Ace of Cups had started playing, we learned of others.
Right. Your quote stood out to me because I just watched the new Go-Go’s documentary (which is great) and they said the same thing early on in the movie. It seems so strange to think that it didn’t occur to you. You have to remember that when we were growing up, women could not have their own credit card unless their husband signed for it. Women couldn’t run in a marathon or be on a jury. Rock music felt like it was a man’s world. Diane, from the time she was in grammar school and saw a marching band and fell in love with the bass drum, all she wanted to do was play drums and her teacher in grammar school told her that girls don’t get to play drums, you can play tambourine. In high school, she went to the orchestra teacher and said she really wanted to play drums and they said “No, girls can’t play drums.” So, she never got to start until she was out of high school. You’ve had some very famous yoga clients. I’m guessing they would want to hear your stories about all the cool shows you played with Ace of Cups and the musicians you knew. I didn’t talk to everyone about that. Madonna liked the fact that I had been in music, one of the first all-woman bands, but in those days, Ace of Cups didn’t have any music, so it was just a story. There wasn’t anything anyone could hear. I couldn’t give them a cd. It was some interesting history, but that’s what is so satisfying about getting to record our music. It’s not just this thing that happened a long time ago and you just have to take my word for it that we had something to say. For an extended version of this interview, visit echomag.com/ace-of-cups-2020. Tom Reardon loves to write about people who are doing something to contribute to our community in a positive way. He also loves his family and family of friends, his pets, music, skateboarding, movies, good (and bad) TV, and working with children to build a better world. Tom’s favorite movie is Jaws, his favorite food is lasagna, and he loves to play music with his friends. He’s a busy guy, but never too busy to listen to what you have to say so tell him a story. ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
51
RECORDINGS
J
ust two offerings this month for review, but wow, what great offerings they are! For more information on our second review, please check out the interview with Ace of Cups founding member, Denise Kaufman in this issue of Echo. Looking forward to getting back to some singles next month as we get ready for a wild ride in late October and November. Take care everyone and remember to think for yourselves, please.
By Tom Reardon
This ep is perfect for a short drive or a quick kitchen clean up as it clocks in at under 15 minutes and you probably won’t mind at all if it plays twice in a row as you’ll pick up on some new nifty thing that Vanderslice has added to the many layers of sound. Highly recommend picking this up (as well as everything else John Vanderslice has ever done).
Ace of Cups – Sing Your Dreams
John Vanderslice – eeeeeeep! As I tore into John Vanderslice’s new ep, eeeeeeep!, I couldn’t help but feel as if I had been submerged into an outtake from Radiohead during “xxxx” which kicks off the ep, but that feeling quickly subsided as “lure mice condemn erase” began. For those who are new to Vanderslice’s world, the guy is a master at writing beautiful, succinct, indiepop songs and he’s also a master at making things sound great in the studio, so his records are always a treat to the ears and the soul. eeeeeeep! is no exception to this rule as Vanderslice recently said farewell to his longtime work home in San Francisco, Tiny Telephone Studios, and has now made his first all-digital work (yep, no analog tape was used on this record) as he makes his musical move to Los Angeles complete. Track three, “team stammer/savior machine,” continues a bit of the Radiohead-ish feel, but again, this is the good Radiohead and not the gobbledygook that those guys can sometimes get immersed in for 20 minutes or so. Vanderslice’s use of economy in his songwriting is something to behold as his songs never overstay their welcome or get too lost in the possibility of layer after layer of studio dubs. 52
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
On their second studio record, bay area legends Ace of Cups brings their well-crafted songs to the forefront on Sing Your Dreams. Fans of garage-y, psychedelic, blues-infused rock and roll will dig this record. The opening track, “Dressed In Black” is reminiscent of Bonnie Raitt’s work in the 90s, gritty and bluesy and full of killer guitar work from Mary Ellen Simpson. “Jai Ma” is beautifully bouncy number that features some nimble bass work from Bakithi Kumalo (who also worked on Paul Simon’s Graceland) that makes it easy to dance along, even if you are sitting in your chair as you review it. To be honest, if you are not completely sold on this record after these two songs, then you most likely will be after track three, which is a cover of Keb Mo’s “Put A Woman in Charge.” Ace of Cups rev up this barnburner with a solid lead vocal from newcomer, keyboardist Dallis Craft, and never take their collective foot off the gas pedal. The momentum never dies on Sing Your Dreams even if some of the songs take a softer approach that seems more like their septuagenarian age range might imply. There are great appearances by Wavy Gravy (lead vocals) on “Basic Human Needs” and Jackson Browne on the beautiful album closer, “Slowest River/Made for Love.” Serious record collectors will be stoked, as well, with the inclusion of Denise Kaufman’s “Boy, What’ll You Do Then” which was
originally released before Ace of Cups got together and the original 45rpm single is extremely hard to find. Currently, there is one listed on discogs.com for $6,000. The song is a wonderful example of the mid-60s Bay Area garage rock sound and the ladies in Ace of Cups do it plenty of justice here. “Waller Street Blues” is another standout track with intricate vocal harmonies weaving through this memory of Haight Street that evolves into a plea for reinjecting some of the true spirit of the ‘60s into this current tourist destination. While I am tempted to get a copy of this record for both of my parents who are contemporaries of Ace of Cups, I think any fan of good music will dig it, regardless of age. Tom Reardon loves to write about people who are doing something to contribute to our community in a positive way. He also loves his family and family of friends, his pets, music, skateboarding, movies, good (and bad) TV, and working with children to build a better world. Tom’s favorite movie is Jaws, his favorite food is lasagna, and he loves to play music with his friends. He’s a busy guy, but never too busy to listen to what you have to say so tell him a story.
Enhanze Your Glands for Your Manz Enlarge Your Junk for Your Hunk Bolster Your Soildier for Your Holster
Conventional
FHA
VA Purchases Refis
Renovations
Expert service, fast closings, and loan programs as diverse as our community! Daniel Thompson
Nello A. Rossi MD
Mortgage Loan Officer AZ LO-1002211 / NMLS 149113 DThompson@ArbolesHomeMortgage.com 602-424-4031
201 E Monterey Way Phoenix, AZ 85012 www.WilloMediSpa.com
Arboles Home Mortgage, LLC Broker 0947045 / NMLS 1705737
602.296.4477
HIDDEN IN THE HILLS
24th ANNUAL ARTIST STUDIO TOUR
Nov 20, 20 & 21 Nov 27, 28 & 29 fri, sat, sun from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm cave creek • carefree • north scottsdale
Jacki Cohen
Jane Boggs
ECHO-teaser.indd 1
SOCIAL IS
D
Engage in the passion and the artistic process at Hidden In The Hills self-guided Artist Studio tour! Purchase original works of fine art directly from nationally recognized and emerging artists — 140 artists at 35 studios!
Judy Paxton Bruce
HiddenInTheHills.org
TA N CIN
G
Cynthia Down
ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020 9/9/20 6:45 AM53
BETWEEN THE COVERS
By Terri Schlichenmeyer by Will Kostakis, 18-year-old Jason is on a crowded beach when he spots London, who’s an influencer on a site called WeGlo. It doesn’t take long for Jason to see that London’s posts are staged just for the clicks, which is disappointing. And yet, there’s a genuine man behind the facade. Eliza was absolutely not looking forward to a girls-only road trip, but she almost kinda had to go — though there would be camping involved, and they were picking up someone’s cousin, a girl Eliza thought she’d insulted once. Awkward, huh? In “A Road of One’s Own” by Kate Hart, this was going to be awful. Or maybe not so much. Got an extra half-hour today? In this time of quarantine and shelter-inplace, yeah, you probably do. So why not spend that time reading something you can wrap up quick, like the stories inside Out Now? Out Now: Queer We Go Again! by various authors, edited by Saundra Mitchell c.2020, Inkyard Press $18.99 / higher in Canada 416 pages
A
nd just like that — boom! — the awkwardness began.
Okay, so maybe you exaggerate some, but adolescence is kind of like that: you’re just some average kid until you’re not, until you get zits and hair and feelings that you don’t know what to do with, amplified by the fact that you’re gay or pan or queer. And boom! no more average kid. So why not read some not-so-average stories about kids like you in Out Now, a short story collection edited by Saundra Mitchell. Labels are no fun, probably because they’re never a hundred percent exact. Should you call yourself gay or “half a gay”? Maybe “bi” works better, or is it okay to shuffle through the labels until you find the one that fits best? Or, as in the first story, “Kick. Push. Coast” by Candace Montgomery, are you just you?
What do you do if your heart is broken because you tried to stand up for yourself? In “Lumber Me Mine” by CB Lee, Jasmine finally took a stand and broke up with her LTR. Everybody loved Janet; she was funny and confident and organized, but those traits kept Jasmine on the sidelines. Now Janet was lying to all their mutual friends. What was the best way to move on from that? There’s a reason that social media sites have “follow” buttons: because it’s fun to catch up with the videos and thoughts of people you enjoy, even if you don’t actually know them. You sometimes have to wonder, though: how much of their lives are real, and how much is faked? In “Follower” 54
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
It’s almost like the seventeen authors presented in this book peeked inside your backpack. They know what queer teens like to read, and you’ll find that stuff here: romance-y tales with PG-ratings. Vampire stories, and magic curses. Tales of mystical beings, not-quite-sure kids, some who are bullied, and teens who confidently know exactly who they are. Dip in and try a tale. Nobody says you have to read them all; that’s the beauty of a short story collection like “Out Now.” If you’ve got the time and want something different, boom! here’s your book.
D
id you see that?
Sure you did. You couldn’t miss it, actually, because you can spot hatred, discrimination, and bad trouble a mile away. You know when something’s wrong and you saw it; saw it coming, in fact, and you weren’t alone. In “Begin Again” by Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., you’ll know that a warning was sounded decades ago. Every day, it seems like you catch the news and you cringe. “It is exhausting,” says Glaude, “to find oneself ... navigating a world rife with deadly assumptions about you and those who look like you ... for no other reason” than the color of your skin or your sexuality. Author James Baldwin keenly felt both and in the midst of his career, he demanded, through his writing, that America come to terms with “this so-called democracy.” Baldwin was tired of a “set of practices” Glaude calls “the lie,” or “more properly several sets of lies” meant to keep racism alive in as many American systems as possible. Baldwin saw “the lie” and it enraged him: once, early in the civil rights movement, he made a group of Black college students promise that they would never take to heart
Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own by Eddie S. Glaude Jr. c.2020, Crown $27.00 / $36.00 Canada 239 pages “the lies” they heard about themselves. It’s been said that he saw “the lie” and wanted to give “warning” to White readers of the battle to come, but in truth, Glaude says, Baldwin wasn’t sure “whether white America was worthy of warning at all.” These are the things Baldwin spoke out against, says Glaude, and that we still grapple with — especially in the political climate in which we live. He believes “the divisions in the country feel old and worn,” although we do have the tools to alter current racial and political climates. Baldwin, for instance “insisted that we reach for a better self...” “With that in mind,” says Glaude, “we have to gather ourselves to fight and to begin again.” In his introduction, author Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. says that he was in Heidelberg when he started this book, which gave him a unique perspective of the “current state of our politics.” He says that he didn’t write it as biography or literary criticism or history, although it ended up being “some combination of all three.” This, plus a good measure of personal memoir thrown in, adds a different twist and makes Begin Again quite deep. But not too deep: there’s enough room here for readers to be moved by the parallels that Glaude draws between then and now, and how Baldwin perceived American society before his death. Glaude also presents Baldwin’s constant fury and sadness over “the after times” (post-civil rights movement) with an urgency that can still galvanize, though Baldwin has been gone for more than three decades. ENTERTAINMENT
So, what would Baldwin have thought about our current administration? Glaude doesn’t hypothesize here, so we’re left mostly to draw our own conclusions, to imagine, think, and to use Baldwin’s words as a sort of guide out.
People threw things at him. He didn’t know what a street-performer even does, and he was robbed on his first day. On his way home, a woman on the bus called him names he couldn’t repeat. If he didn’t need the money, he wouldn’t’ve gone back.
And for that, Begin Again is a book you’ll want to see.
At first, Will didn’t want to talk about his Mum’s death. He didn’t want to talk at all, so he didn’t; most kids understood, but his favorite teacher said that sometimes, a good listener could help. It didn’t even have to be anybody Will knew, the teacher said. It could be a stuffed animal. Or maybe, Will thought, some anonymous, weird guy in a panda costume. Now, granted: Bear Necessity starts slow and stays that way for a considerably long time. It’s almost too slow, but you may barely notice. That’s because author James Gould-Bourn lets you spend those warm-up pages with a gently funny cast of characters that are as cozy-comforting as a warm cuppa. The plot is familiar, bordering on predictable, but two notable side characters — one, a pole-dancer with a heart of ice; the other, a mountainous but soft-sided Slav — soon set the story right and move it right along. It just takes a bit of patience to get there, and a willingness to ignore the occasional “Huh?” and be charmed.
Bear Necessity by James Gould-Bourn c.2020, Scribner $26.00 / $35.00 Canada 320 pages
O
ne step forward and spin.
Shuffle backward, left step, left step, spin again and back. Dancing isn’t hard if you’ve got the right moves in the right sequence. It’s not calculus, you just need to shimmy at the proper times. Dancing can actually be fun unless, as in the new book Bear Necessity by James Gould-Bourn, you’re about to get a bad kind of “beat.” Things probably would have been different, had Danny paid the rent on time. As it was, it had been months since he’d given his landlord any money and Danny didn’t care; Reg was mad, of course, but so what? It didn’t matter. Not much did, since the night Danny’s wife, Liz, died in a car accident and his son, Will, who was also in the car, was traumatized. Rent? Whatever. Danny only worried about Will, who hadn’t spoken a word since that terrible night. But did Reg care about that? Nooo, and so when he came around with a hammer-wielding henchman to collect back-rent, Danny was terrified, but he’d lost his job by then and couldn’t find another one. With a usury rent extension granted, busted-kneecap threats in mind, and a growing 11-year-old to feed, he did the only thing he could think of: he bought a smelly third-hand panda costume and headed to the park to earn money. And it was horrible. ENTERTAINMENT
You might think you know how it wraps up (you won’t) but in the end, this book becomes a cute bunch of nots: not brain-busting, not overly-profane, not gratuitously violent, not to be missed (despite a few minor growls) and likely not found on any best-seller list. Look for it, anyhow, and give Bear Necessity a spin.
E
ither, or.
The choice is yours: do you pick one thing, or take the other? Stay where you are, or reach for better? This or that, any way, you always have to decide: do you take either, or, as in A Most Beautiful Thing by Arshay Cooper, do you take the oar?
Growing on Chicago’s West Side, Arshay Cooper was used to seeing blood on the sidewalk. Gunshots were like lullabies and he hated it. His father was long gone, his mother was then too addicted to care for her children, and he “had a funeral” for her in his heart. Later, once his mother was clean and he started attending high school at Manley Career Academy, he became firm in his belief that his future was not on the streets. He knew gangbanging wasn’t for him, so he mostly stayed home and watched Family Matters, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and A Different World on TV, absorbing their lessons and wishing his life was more like that of the characters. And then he saw a boat. It wasn’t just any boat, though: it was long and sleek, and Cooper quickly learned that it was used in a sport he’d never heard of. The white female coach said team members would
A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America’s First All-Black High School Rowing Team by Arshay Cooper c.2020, Flatiron Books $27.99 / $37.99 Canada 229 pages be taught all they needed to know; the white man who’d put the program together said that there’d never been an all-Black high school rowing team, and he promised that anybody who stuck with the program would succeed in life. Though Cooper’s schoolmates talked smack about it, and in part because of a girl, Cooper and his best friend signed up for “crew.” And everything clicked into place. Rowing required discipline. It was exhausting, emotionally and physically. There were sacrifices. But when on the water, rowing, he says, “I don’t hear gunshots or ambulance sirens. I don’t see gang signs and I don’t be afraid ... I feel powerful.” Here’s all you need to know: A Most Beautiful Thing lives up to its name. It doesn’t start out that way, though: in laying the ground for his tale, author Arshay Cooper writes about the realities of growing up in a Chicago neighborhood that he hints could have been any-inner-city-where, anyinner-city-time. This gives the story its muscle and allows readers to better picture the scenes and the struggles he and his young teammates withstood. You’ll be happy to know that there isn’t a shred of boasting or false pride in that. Once you’re that far into the book, then, you may notice that Cooper masterly makes you feel a part of the team. At that point, just go ahead, take their losses to heart. Be proud of the changes they’ve made. Think about the grace on race that Cooper offers. Grin like a fool at the triumphs and laugh at their nonconformity.
Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm, lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 13,000 books. She’s been reading since age 3 and, to this day, she never goes anywhere without a book. ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
55
TALKING BODIES
watch to stream music or YouTube, answer calls or texts, get notifications, meditate, and more. The Active 2 also offers either a golf or Under Armour edition with special features. The golf edition includes satellite maps of 40,000+ courses and real-time data and coaching for your game. The Under Armour edition focuses on running with form coaching. Battery: up to three to four days Cost: $229.99*
Wearable fitness tech in every price range By Kimberly Blaker
F
itness and health are vital components to a balanced lifestyle. Ask most people, especially after the new year, and they likely have some sort of health or fitnessrelated goal. Wearable technology makes it easier than ever to keep on top of your goals. It encourages healthy habits by tracking and analyzing various stats and their impact on your health. Many options are available on the market for wearable technology. Most come in a watch-based design, but there are alternatives as well. Many of these tech companies even offer a variety of options, making it easy to find the best wearable fitness for your particular wants, needs, and budget. Most trackers have the same basic features but with various advanced features. So before you buy, consider what you want from your wearable technology as well as what types of devices you already have that are compatible. The following are among some of the top options to consider. Fitbit Charge 4 is a balance between a smartwatch and a more basic tracker. It does not have the larger face of a smartwatch and only has basic apps included. But it can track many things like your 24/7 heart rate and sleep to give you a more in-depth health profile on the app. It comes with a built-in GPS, so you do not need your phone to record outdoor workouts. It also includes Spotify Control if you have a Spotify premium membership, and offers the option to pay from your watch. Battery: up to seven days per charge Cost: $149.95* Fitbit Versa 2 has the same features as the Charge 4 but is a smartwatch with a larger touch screen face and hundreds of available apps you can download. If you have an Amazon Alexa, you can use the Versa 2 to 56
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
connect directly to it. Battery: six+ days per charge Cost: $149.95* Fitbit Inspire is the most basic, cost-effective model the company offers. It is a smaller size with fewer features but still has a digital clock face with stats, reminders, and pace and distance in real-time. You can also receive notifications from your smartphone. To track heart rate and related stats like sleep or cardio fitness scores, you will need the Inspire HR. The regular Inspire includes steps taken, distance, calories burned, hourly activity, and stationary time. Battery: up to five days per charge Cost: $49.95* Garmin vivofit 4 is Garmin’s basic fitness watch. It tracks steps, distance, calories burned, and has Move IQ to track and classify activity on Garmin Connect, the included app it syncs to. You can also use it for alarms, reminders, the weather, and as a timer. Battery: one+ year Cost: $49.99* Garmin vivosmart 4 is the next step up from the vivofit, adding the ability to track heart rate and blood oxygen saturation to gather even more data. It has advanced sleep tracking, stress-monitoring, and Body Battery energy monitoring to keep you aware of activity or rest needs. This wearable has some smartwatch features like vibrating notifications, activity trackers, and the ability to connect to your smartphone’s GPS to record outdoor activity. Battery: up to seven days per charge Cost: $99.99* Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 is another smartwatch with a large, round face. It tracks activity and workouts, heart rate, sleep, and stress levels. You can also use apps on the
Samsung Galaxy Fit is the more basic wearable tracker from Samsung. It has a smaller touch screen that can show notifications from your phone, basic information, and workout data. This device tracks heart rate, sleep, activity, calories, caffeine and water intake, and workouts. Battery: up to 1 week Cost: $69.99* Withings Move Watch is an activity tracker with a traditional analog face and no touch screen. It has a third dial on its face to track activity. Information is then synced to the free Health Mate app for tracking and analysis. It has an internal GPS and automatically tracks activity, or you can start a manual workout by pressing the side button. It also tracks sleep, sleep stages, and has alarms and Smart Wakeup included. Battery: up to 18 months Cost: starting at $69.95* Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4 is a smaller watch device with a basic touchscreen to view data, calls, texts, and notifications. It tracks heart rate, sleep, activity, and workout data. It also syncs data with the Mi Fit app to record and analyze information gathered. Battery: up to 20 days Cost: on Amazon for $29.99* Apple Watch Series 5 is more of a smartwatch with fitness features and capabilities. It is compatible with thousands of apps, including many fitness-related ones. It tracks heart rate, activity, sleep, and fitness activities. The Apple Watch has motivating factors like three colored activity rings you work to close based on personal goals. Other unique healthrelated features include an ECG app to check your heart’s rhythm and noise warnings to protect your hearing. For those with diabetes, it can check glucose levels from your monitor. It also has fall detection that can automatically notify emergency services or emergency contacts. It has a shorter battery life than other wearable technology, so it can’t be used for 24/7 monitoring. Battery: up to 18 hours per charge Cost: starting at $399* To see an extended version of this article with more wearable fitness options, visit echomag. com/talking-bodies-oct-2020. Kimberly Blaker is a freelance family writer. She also does blog and content writing for a variety of industries and is an expert in on page SEO. HEALTH & FITNESS
WE SOLVE PROBLEMS
The small business is our BIGGEST client. Call today and start saving money and time.
3404 West Cheryl Drive • Suite A170 • Phoenix, Az 85051 Office (602) 264-9331 • Fax (602) 279-1766 • Cell (602) 541-3477 Email Robert@azmoneyguy.com • Website www.azmoneyguy.com facebook.com/azmoneyguy • twitter.com/azmoneyguy
Make it happen this fall, safely! You focus on learning. We’ll take care of the rest. • Safe learning environments • Multiple formats including Live Online! • New ways to save on tuition
Maricopa.edu/register Chandler-Gilbert | Estrella Mountain | GateWay | Glendale | Mesa | Paradise Valley | Phoenix | Rio Salado | Scottsdale | South Mountain The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or national origin in their programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information visit: www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.
ECHO_template20-21.indd 3
ECHOMAG.COM
|
8/25/20 OCTOBER 20204:06 PM 57
NOT THAT YOU ASKED
study, opinion column, or even a cleverlyproduced YouTube video supporting your bias. Who needs facts and science when you can always find someone as crazy as you to offer as support for your nonsense? • If you’ve taken a stand on something that you are secretly afraid you might be wrong about, simply accuse another person of virtue signaling and you are off the hook. • Call someone a Nazi, libtard, snowflake or sheeple. Lather, rinse, repeat.
How social media perverts the principles of both social and media By Buddy Early
I
’ve noticed one of the more popular things to do on social media is grumble about how others are using their social media. It works like this: someone complains that others are using their Facebook page only for gloom and doom, or only to attract sympathy from others, or only to post photos of their meals, or only for participating in dumb viral challenges or quizzes or such; then, in response, someone else complains about people complaining about how others use their Facebook page. And the cycle continues. Something most enjoyable is when you can decipher who these passive-aggressive complaints are actually aimed at, but I’m getting off track. You’re not human if you haven’t at least once thought of abandoning every one of your social media accounts because you’ve had enough of the bullshit. I cringe at a lot of the things I see posted by my friends. So much of it is, well, stupid. Furthermore, I could never share the type of deeply personal information that others do. I have very specific thoughts about what and how much I like to share, and it’s mostly superficial. However, if any of you cared to read about my social media strategy, you’d already be following me on my active Facebook page, my Instagram account with exactly zero photos, or my Twitter account
58
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
for which I’ve forgotten the password. So, again, I’m getting off track. The truth is, social media gets a bad rap. Sure, you could say “a lot of what is wrong with this world is due to social media” and your arguments no doubt would be strong. In fact, I’ve thought of a number of examples of how social media has been detrimental to or contributed to the dumbing down of our healthy society. For starters, there is no need for debating others anymore. Put a period on any disagreements using the following methods: • To save time, describe something or someone as problemactic or toxic. End of argument; move on. • Shut down a quarrel by referring to someone’s privilege. No further explanation needed. • Attempt to discredit an entire movement by bringing up something completely irrelevant. I call this the “Look At What Awful Thing This Black Person Did” tactic. • Call someone a Nazi, libtard, snowflake or sheeple. Nor is there any reason to ever change your mind about something or, worse, apologize, lest you appear weak. Just double down using the following approach: • Because the internet is endless, if you have enough time you can always find an obscure
Now that I’ve angered the right, the left, and the middle, I can admit that I am guilty of some of these schemes. I chose to participate; I wasn’t forced. And that’s how I believe social media has gotten a bad rap. (I bet you thought I wouldn’t get back to that premise, huh?) This war that we are in with social media platforms is mostly a war of our own making. While Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Dorsey and someone called Adam Mosseri — who is the “Head of Instagram” according to their web site but, c’mon, we all know it’s Zuckerberg — should be consistently hounded until they begin to act like responsible citizens (individual and corporate), they haven’t exactly forced the rest of us to act like lunatics. These social media sites have only recently begun to flag and remove false information and conspiracy theories and are finally making an effort to eliminate hate speech. (Although that latter one still has some kinks to be worked out.) They didn’t do it out of a conscience, however; they did it because we demanded it. We need to be smarter about social media. And we can be smarter. We have been. We need to control it, rather than allow it to control us. If we are to claim that we are indeed being “social” on these sites, perhaps acting like we would in any social setting would be a good start. Additionally, “media” at its core means communication, and communication includes (but is not limited to) truthfulness and listening. This is not an unreasonable appeal. Like I said before, there are many uses for social media, and none of us should be judged for how we use these platforms. Just a little decorum, perhaps? Now I’m going to wrap this up, as I recently read a local story about a murder suspect and I’m going to search for his Facebook to see if we have any mutual friends. Buddy Early grew up in Tempe and has been involved in various communities across the Valley since. He is a former managing editor of both Echo Magazine and Compete Magazine. COMMUNITY
HAIR STUDIOS 58
MARCH 2018
|
EchoMag.com
LOCAL BUSNESSES
Tax Mess? Call Price.
• Filing of delinquent business and personal tax returns. • Levy and Garnishment Removal. • Penalty and Interest Reduction. • Installment Agreement Negotiation. • Offer in Compromise preparation and submission.
sers, sers,
smpcpa7@gmail.com | www.smpricecpa.com
Locally, gay owned, organic, plant based cafe!
4810 N 7th St, 602-237-6724 www.whyldass.com
YOUR AD HERE!
LOCAL BUSNESSES
Nello A Rossi MD 2 0 1 E a s t M o n t e r e y Wa y Phoenix AZ 85012 w w w. W i l l o M e d i S p a . c o m (602) 296-4477
• • • • • • • • • • • •
BOTOX ® COSMETIC JUVÉDERM ® XC JUVÉDERM VOLUMA ® XC JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA ® XC JUVÉDERM VOLLURE ® XC SKINMEDICA ® KYBELLA ® LATISSE ® RADIESSE ® (+) SERMORELIN TESTOSTERONE THERAPY FACIAL LIPOATROPHY
Complimentary Consultation 60
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
For details, call 602-266-0550.
YOU TO BE
$25
OFF ANY REPAIR
Not valid with other offers or promotions, one coupon per person.
602-789-3000 info@azperfectcomfort.com www.azperfectcomfort.com
VETERAN OWNED & OPERATED ROC#300933 • BONDED & INSURED
A legacy of caring Hospice care is all about quality of life and making the most of every moment. For the most compassionate care, choose Hospice of the Valley. Proudly serving the LGBT community.
Free and confidential with quick results! We offer testing for HIV, Hepatitis C and Syphilis.
Your not-for-profit hospice since 1977
(602) 530-6900 hov.org ECHOMAG.COM
|
OCTOBER 2020
61
ADVERTISER DIRECTORY Please support our advertisers who help keep Echo free
ACCOUNTANTS/ TAX PREPARATION Robert F. Hockensmith, CPA, PC Steve Price, CPA
FitPro, LLC Willo Medi Spa 57 60
APARTMENTS The Curve
9
AUTO SERVICES Community Tire Pros & Auto Repair 63
BARS & CLUBS Bunkhouse
53
DENTISTS Open Wide Dental
4
HIV/AIDS OUTREACH & TREATMENT CAN Community Health Ripple PHX Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS Terros - Turning the Tide
Maricopa Community College
57
ENTERTAINMENT & EVENTS DJ Doran Show Gaycation Magazine Podcast Hidden in the Hills
20 59 53
FINANCIAL SERVICES JW Advisors Inc.
60
HEALTH & WELLNESS American Regenerative Medicine
10-11 31 2 61
HOME SERVICES AZ Perfect Comfort Rainbow Bug Valdez Refrigeration
61 60 60
HOSPICE 61
INSURANCE
Arizona Gay Realtors Alliance 3 Bradley Brauer, Brokers HUB Realty 3 Bobbi Ryals, HomeSmart 3 David Oesterle, RE/MAX Excalibur 3 Fred Delgato, Keller Williams 3 Matthew Hoedt, Realty One Group 3 Nicholas Yale, Brokers HUB Realty 3 Shawn Hertzog, West USA 3 The Lauren Rosin Team 64 Tricia Amato, Home Smart 3
RELIGIOUS GROUPS
MORTGAGES
RETIREMENT PLANNING
CVS specialty Pharmacy
TRAVEL Gaycation Magazine Key West Puerta Vallarta
23
Join the conversation #EchoMagAZ
62
OCTOBER 2020
|
ECHOMAG.COM
twitter.com/ echomagaz
45 45 60
Calvin Goetz, Strategy Financial Group 3
To find out more about advertising in Echo, call 602-266-0550
facebook.com/ echomagazine
60
RESTAURANTS
Benefits Arizona 60 Edward Vasquez, Allstate Insurance 3
Daniel Thompson, Arboles Home Mortgage 53 Jeremy Schachter, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp. 3
61
REALTORS
China Chili Hula’s Modern Tiki Whyld Ass Restaurant
PHARMACIES 5
Fairmont Pharmacy
Community Church of Hope
Hospice of the Valley
EDUCATION
60 53, 60
instagram/ echomagazineaz
31 15 21
WE LIVE IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES. We keep you safe at every point and on the road.
Howard Fleischmann From flexible financing, to saving you money. Quality every time.
REBATE SPECIALS:
communitytirepros.com
ALL MONTH LONG!
OR GET $25 OFF ANY SERVICE ON YOUR FIRST VISIT!
phoenix • glendale • tempe • metro center • sky harbor
New Tires - Auto Repair: contactless service | sterilizing equipment | free pick up and delivery
Looking for your dream home? #SayYesWithJess
Jessica Rosin Realtor ®
480.486.6782
@ROSINJESS /JESSICA.ROSIN.50 ROSINTEAM.COM
Open your camera app!