ART AND ARTIFACTS

AArtist Sue Krzyston believes that the Southwestern and Native American artifacts featured in her ultra-realistic oil paintings represent the soul of the people who created them. “I strive to capture that feeling on canvas by using the nuance and essence of an object and utilize the effects of light and shadow to depict the beautiful and varied textures of each item that I select for my compositions,” Krzyston explains. “Light is so important in making the artifacts relate to each other. I try to make the inanimate objects come alive in the glowing warmth of the light.”

Krzyston’s journey as an artist began in 1981, shortly after she quit her career selling furniture.

“I decided, as a hobby, to start to oil paint,” Krzyston says. “I took a painting class at an adult center and learned how to mix oil paints. I did that for just a few lessons.”

She then began to develop her own painting techniques by way of reading books, visiting museums and browsing art galleries — honing her talent every step of the way.

“When I first started painting, I was doing landscapes and some portraits,” Krzyston says. “Then my husband and I purchased a new home with many empty walls. My husband said that we needed paintings for those walls. Since I had started collecting Native American pottery and other Southwestern artifacts, he suggested that I try to do a painting of one of those pots.”

With that, the artist had discovered her niche. A single painting of a pot grew into many others featuring the various Southwestern and Native American artifacts that Krzyston had collected over the years.

Artist Sue Krzyston believes that the Southwestern and Native American artifacts featured in her ultra-realistic oil paintings represent the soul of the people who created them.

“I am always inspired by the artisans whose work I collect and feel that my paintings are an art form within an art form,” she says. “I am paying homage to the beautiful craftsmanship of these artifacts by arranging them together and adding light and shadow to make them come alive and relate to one another.”

Krzyston starts by physically placing a few artifacts together in different configurations and compositions.

“I have to be able to see them together so I know where shadows are going to happen,” she explains. “I spend a long time doing that because, for me, the composition is very important. The eye flows through the composition. So I will spend a long time with the various items and keep changing the compositions, angles and lighting and tweaking the arrangements.”

Sometimes, Krzyston adds a few peppers or berries to the scene in order to introduce a pop of color or add a bit of life to the composition.

“And I will keep photographing all the while,” she adds. “That way, I can look back at the photographs on my computer to see which angle best suits the composition and best makes the items relate to one another.”

From there, Krzyston begins painting, using many thin glazes of paint to achieve the rich glow of an object. The artist builds paint in many layers in the highly realistic beads that she paints on the moccasins so that they actually appear to be real beads.

“When people look at my paintings, they generally remark about the light that I capture,” she says. “That helps to give a very three-dimensional appearance to my paintings so that you can almost feel all of the different textures.”

In fact, one might even say that, because of the artist’s uniquely self-taught technique, Krzyston’s paintings look more realistic than a high-resolution photograph or even the physical artifacts themselves. Light and shadow truthfully reveal the individual fibers of a fuzzy blanket, reflect the delicate details of every glistening piece of pottery and bounce off each intricately painted moccasin bead.

“I admire the paintings of Dutch masters like Johannes Vermeer,” Krzyston says. “They have very deep, dark-toned backgrounds. Then, out of the shadows, are these wonderful, lightfilled foregrounds. I try to incorporate that look with my art to give the Southwestern and Native American artifacts that same type of feel.”

Always on the lookout for new artifacts that speak to her artist sensibilities, Krzyston does not dwell on meanings or patterns and instead just appreciates each item for its intrinsic beauty, craftsmanship and workmanship. And she hopes that her paintings reflect that while truly touching those who view them.

“The greatest thrill for me as an artist is to have someone look at something that I painted and be able to relate to what I thought about in my head and felt as I tried to

Sue Krzyston uses many thin glazes of paint to achieve the rich glow of an object. The artist builds paint in many layers in the highly realistic beads that she paints on the moccasins so that they actually appear to be real beads.

Light and shadow truthfully reveal the individual fibers of a fuzzy blanket, reflect the delicate details of every glistening piece of pottery and bounce off each intricately painted moccasin bead.

Always on the lookout for new artifacts that speak to her artist sensibilities, Sue Krzyston does not dwell on meanings or patterns and instead just appreciates each item for its intrinsic beauty, craftsmanship and workmanship.

capture that on canvas,” she says. “It is incredible when someone can understand what I am trying to say and feel what I am trying to convey with what I put on canvas.”

Krzyston will be a featured guest artist at Sue Bickerdyke Interiors — where her awe-inspiring work is on display and available for purchase — during Carefree’s January art night. Owner Sue Bickerdyke says that it is a pleasure to represent Krzyston’s amazing fine art at her home furnishings and art gallery.

“The realism of the beads on the moccasins and pouches is my favorite of her work,” Bickerdyke says. “You can visually see and feel the various textures from the bright beads and the rough leather to the cool pottery and the warmth of the Navajo rugs. Shadows come to life under different light sources giving you a chance to enjoy a different level of the details. This art invokes all of your senses.”

suebickerdyke.com

Southwestern Winter Wonderland

ARIZONA SNOWBOWL

HHaving lived in Arizona my entire life, some of my fondest memories are of the few times I have been fortunate enough to witness winter snow. There are the vague recollections of my childhood swingset covered in a blanket of white; the year I was celebrating New Year’s Eve at a Phoenix nightclub with friends and looked outside to see flurries at the exact moment the clock stuck Midnight; and the time when just enough snow fell overnight for me to build a small snowman friend for my pet duck — whose name, coincidentally, is Frozen.

I have traveled to the more snowy northern areas of our state many times over the years, first with family to sled down small hills and later with friends to snowboard down much larger ones. I will never forget my first time learning to snowboard at Arizona Snowbowl and how happy I was despite falling down an embarrassingly high number of times. Since then, I have tried to return each year with friends and am proud to say that I have even braved a few black-diamond runs.

Make no mistake, I still fall down — a lot. But playing in the snow is so much fun that I do not mind a few temporary aches and bruises. Nor did I mind when a blizzard knocked out power at Arizona Snowbowl and the majority of Flagstaff, for I was grateful to be experiencing the Southwestern winter wonderland that is Arizona covered in snow.

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

If you are simply looking for some snowy sightseeing opportunities, Kendrick Watchable Wildlife Trail, Peak View Winter Recreation Area and Walker Lake — all in Flagstaff — offer stunning views. If you are looking to have a snowball fight, build a snowman or go sledding, then the Oak Hill and Benham snow play areas in Williams will be the day-trip of your winter dreams.

There is certainly no shortage of snow-covered areas around Arizona at which you can get away from it all, take in absolutely breathtaking views and experience all of the amazing magic that this season has to offer.

ARIZONA SNOWBOWL

It is impossible to talk about winter destinations in Arizona without first mentioning Arizona Snowbowl — one of the oldest continually operating ski areas in the entire country.

Founded in 1938, Arizona Snowbowl is located 14 miles north of Flagstaff on the San Francisco Peaks and on the highest mountain in Arizona — Humphreys Peak at 12,367 feet. It offers 55 trails, 2,300 lift-served vertical feet and more than 3,000 hike-to vertical feet on 777 acres with eight lifts, four terrain parks, three mountain lodges and 260 inches of average annual snowfall.

Although Arizona Snowbowl may be best-known for offering the largest beginner terrain in the Southwest, it is also home to plenty of intermediate and advanced terrain, making it a favorite winter recreation spot for skiers and snowboarders of all ages and experience levels.

Arizona Snowbowl 9300 N. Snowbowl Road, Flagstaff snowbowl.ski

SUNRISE PARK RESORT

The other destination that often comes to mind when one thinks about winter recreation in Arizona is Sunrise Park Resort, which is located in Greer.

Consisting of three mountains — Sunrise Peak, Cyclone Circle and Apache Peak — Sunrise Park Resort’s slopes spread across 1,200 acres, making it the state’s largest ski resort. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, it offers opportunities for two other winter activities that make the four-hour drive from Phoenix well worth it.

SUNRISE PARK RESORT

Sunrise Park Resort offers a dedicated area for cross-country skiers to trek through the forest and across the hills. It is also home to a groomed tubing hill, which is accessed via a surface cable. The wide variety of ways that you can enjoy the snow in the area make it an obvious favorite of families this time of the year.

Sunrise Park Resort 200 Highway 273, Greer sunrise.ski

FLAGSTAFF SNOW PARK

Back up north again, Flagstaff Snow Park offers a similarly familyfriendly experience, featuring groomed tubing runs, a hill designated exclusively for children and even plenty of opportunities for passive snow play — like building a snowman, lying down and making a snow angel or simply sitting back and sipping hot chocolate.

Speaking of hot chocolate, Flagstaff Snow Park offers a variety of food and beverage offerings in an atmosphere that is everything you had ever dreamed that winter could be. You can even roast a marshmallow or two while cozying up with your friends and family around one of its fabulous outdoor fireplaces.

Located in the historic Fort Tuthill County Park at roughly 7,000 feet above sea level, the area sees an average of 100 feet of snow each season. Leave your sled at home because admission includes unlimited commercial snow tube use.

Flagstaff Snow Park 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop, Flagstaff flagstaffsnowpark.com

Photo by Mark Laverman

There is certainly no shortage of snow-covered areas around Arizona at which you can get away from it all, take in absolutely breathtaking views and experience all of the amazing magic that this season has to offer.

ARIZONA NORDIC VILLAGE

If you are a hiker at heart, then Arizona Nordic Village will most definitely be more up your alley. Billed as Northern Arizona's premier destination for outdoor recreation, rustic lodging and outdoor events, the area may very well be the best place in the state for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

Located 15 miles northwest of Flagstaff in Coconino National Forest, Arizona Nordic Village offers a new challenge for Arizonans who have already mastered Camelback Mountain. Strap on a pair of snowshoes and hike through the area’s many snowy trails that promise a view of Arizona unlike any you have ever seen before.

Arizona Nordic Village also offers traditional crosscountry skiing — an activity that is similar to that of walking or running, but with skis on — as well as skateskiing — a more athletic style that may come more naturally to those who love to ice-skate. Lessons for both activities are available for inexperienced visitors. Arizona Nordic Village 16848 U.S. 180, Flagstaff arizonanordicvillage.com

HANNAGAN MEADOW RECREATION AREA

Hannagan Meadow Recreation Area may be one of Arizona’s best-kept secrets, offering a winter escape away from the usual crowds of people who pack many of the other locations on this list — especially on weekends.

Although all skiers will find a few groomed trails suitable to their experience level, those who are more experienced will greatly benefit by hiking the area’s back-country trails, which lead into upper elevations of Blue Range Primitive Area and provide some of the best remote skiing in the Southwest. You can even snow camp there. The solitude that Hannagan Meadow Recreation Area offers is unparalleled.

More than 9,000 feet above sea level, Hannagan Meadow Recreation Area is also home to the historic Hannagan Meadow Lodge, where you can enjoy a guided snowmobile or snowcat tour, snowshoeing, crosscountry skiing, ice fishing, sledding and tubing before retiring to a lodge room or authentic log cabin and cast all of your cares away.

Hannagan Meadow Lodge 23150 U.S. 191, Alpine hannaganmeadow.com

SKI VALLEY

Did you know that you do not necessarily need to travel up north in order to experience a winter wonderland? A few weeks each year, Ski Valley in Mount Lemmon near Tucson opens to become the southernmost ski destination in the continental United States.

Located more than 9,000 feet above sea level, Ski Valley boasts 21 runs across 200 skiable acres, affording visitors a snowy and scenic experience that is very much different than the rest of Arizona’s winter destinations.

As with all locations on this list, be sure to call ahead to check conditions and verify accessibility. Too much or too little snow can spoil your fun. Most importantly, please drive carefully and remember that driving in snow and on icy roads is drastically different from driving in more conventionally Arizona weather conditions.

Ski Valley 10300 Ski Run Road, Mt. Lemmon skithelemmon.com

Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography Courtesy of Scottsdale Philharmonic

TTen years ago, Joy Patridge and Carl R. Reiter decided to jointly branch out from the small community orchestra with which they had been performing and create something significant for the city of Scottsdale and its surrounding communities — a professional symphony orchestra that would be committed to providing free concerts to anyone and everyone who wanted to attend.

Partridge, a certified public accountant, handled the administrative and business side of things while Reiter, a professional musician and teacher, took care of the creative side — especially the music.

“So, in 2012, we formed the nonprofit and founded Scottsdale Philharmonic,” Partridge says. “We performed our first concert in October of 2012 at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and played for an audience of more than 550 people. It was thrilling.”

The incredible interest from the community astounded Partridge, Scottsdale Philharmonic’s board president and CEO, as she had been repeatedly told that people were “just not into classical music.” As if the attendance for the group’s first concert did not already prove naysayers wrong, its second concert blew their hypothesis right out of the water — and then some.

“We had to turn away 300 people,” says Partridge, noting Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts seats 853 audience members. “I felt so bad out there turning people away but it was a packed house. That is when Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts told us that they could not handle that kind of activity. We were told that we had almost created a fire hazard.”

Remaining steadfast in its commitment to provide concerts free of charge, Scottsdale Philharmonic turned to churches that could safely accommodate its audience, which usually consisted of 1,200–1,800 people.

“My greatest pride was when we had 2,400 people show up to our [concert featuring] Beethoven's Ninth Symphony,” says Partridge, noting the performance included 100 choral singers, four soloists and a full orchestra. “It was a packed house. We just knew that this was our calling.”

My greatest pride was when we had 2,400 people show up to our [concert featuring] Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. It was a packed house. We just knew that this was our calling. Joy Partridge

Despite a few bumps in the road — namely the COVID-19 pandemic — Scottsdale Philharmonic has become one of the city’s greatest sources of pride over the past decade.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary season, the nonprofit organization has now officially partnered with Scottsdale Arts, ensuring its sustainability and success for years to come. Part of that partnership sees the symphony orchestra’s concerts return to Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts — with one caveat.

“We are now requiring a $15 donation — which is the absolute bare minimum we could charge — because everyone needs to have an assigned seat,” says Patridge, noting that the new ticketing model prevents the group from running into overflow issues again while further ensuring its longevity.

However, Scottsdale Philharmonic has still not given up on its initial mission to provide free concerts to all members of the community. After all, its vision is “to enhance the cultural environment of the city of Scottsdale with an orchestra of professional musicians where everyone can attend classical symphony concerts.”

A complimentary livestream of each concert is available on the group’s website and Facebook page the evening of each performance. So although in-person attendance is limited, virtual attendance is potentially infinite as the symphony

Scottsdale Philharmonic resident conductor John Massaro Scottsdale Philharmonic guest conductor Dmitry Polyakov

playing the violin since she was 13 years old. CEO and co-founder Joy Patridge has been Scottsdale Philharmonic board president,

members after a concert. Bullen, center, visits with young audience Scottsdale Philharmonic cellist Charlie Tankless

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orchestra’s concerts can now be experienced by audiences around the world — far beyond just Scottsdale and its surrounding communities.

That is a dream come true for Patridge, who has been playing the violin since she was 13 years old. Likewise, Partridge’s Scottsdale Philharmonic co-founder Reiter — the group’s music director and trustee — enjoyed his first professional engagement as a violinist and violist at the age of 11.

“All of the musicians play for us for free because they love the performance of these great masterpieces,” Partridge says. “And they are all magnificent.”

Partridge adds that Scottsdale Philharmonic is often looking for new musicians and says that those who believe that they are at a professional performance level can contact Reiter to inquire about joining the symphony orchestra via the group’s website. She also encourages community members who are interested in becoming benefactors or active members of the nonprofit organization’s working board to reach out to her.

“We have done fairly well over the past 10 years because a lot of people have believed in us,” Patridge says. “And we have always been very active, very consistent and very professional.”

Scottsdale Philharmonic’s relationship with Scottsdale Arts will only cement that activity, consistency and professionalism.

“It is a very expensive proposition to put together something like this,” says Partridge, noting that she has witnessed many other performing arts organizations struggle. “But we think that we have found the formula.

“I just feel that Scottsdale deserves a symphony. Scottsdale is a sophisticated city and I think that it should always have a symphony. I believe that we are a fantastic art form for this city.”

scottsdalephilharmonic.com Facebook: @scottsdalephilharmonic

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RECIPE Spicy Pomegranate Ginger Paloma

Writer and Photographer Francine Coles thefancypantskitchen.com

Start the new year right with this perfect cocktail. By combining grapefruit, pomegranate and lime juices with a spicy ginger simple syrup and tequila, you get this decadent absolutely delicious drink. Let’s toast to a terrific 2022!

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

Spicy Ginger Syrup: 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper 8 leaves mint

Spicy Sweet Sugar: 1 tablespoon coarse sugar 1 tablespoon granulated sugar Cayenne, to taste Lime wedge, to run around rim of cup

Paloma: 1/2 cup pomegranate juice 1/2 cup grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed Juice from a lime 4 tablespoon spicy ginger syrup 4 ounces tequila Ginger beer, for topping

Directions:

To make the spicy ginger syrup, mix 1/2 cup water with the honey, ginger and cayenne in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to simmer for 1–2 minutes then remove from heat. Add the mint, cover and let sit for 10 minutes. Strain out ginger and mint. Store in a glass jar in the fridge for up to two weeks.

To make the spicy sweet sugar, mix the coarse sugar, granulated sugar and a pinch of cayenne on a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the rim of two glasses and dip into the sugar mix.

To make the paloma, combine the pomegranate juice, grapefruit juice, lime juice, spicy ginger syrup and tequila in a small pitcher. Fill the two sugar-rimmed glasses with ice. Pour paloma over ice, top with ginger beer and enjoy.