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October 2020
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Scottsdale
S SA AN ND DE ER RS SO ON N L L II N NC CO OL LN N
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ARIZONA FOOTHILLS 911 Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Bryan Black
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COMMUNITY EVENTS Writer Joseph J. Airdo
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LOCAL FACES Writer Joseph J. Airdo
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JANELLE LOES Writer Joseph J. Airdo Cover Photographer Natasha Wilson
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OMINOUS LIMBS BEAUTIFUL BRANCHES Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Dave Theroux
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BAKED MEATBALLS Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly
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PUBLISHER Shelly Spence
MANAGING EDITOR Joseph J. Airdo
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meaghan Hanie
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joseph J. Airdo Sue Kern-Fleischer Kyndra Kelly Shannon Severson
PHOTOGRAPHERS Bryan Black Brandon Dunham Kyndra Kelly Loralei Lazurek Carl Schultz
ADVERTISING SALES Cooper Langston 480-544-8721 cooper@imagesaz.com
Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416 Carefree, AZ. 85377 623-341-8221 imagesarizona.com Submission of news for community section should be in to shelly@imagesaz.com by the 5th of the month prior to publication. Images Arizona is published by ImagesAZ Inc. Copyright © 2020 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited.
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We have likely all used the phrase, “Stop the world, I want to get off,” from time to time as life’s inevitable stressors have bore down on us. Over the past several months, it may have seemed as though we got our irrational wish as the world finally did stop momentarily — or at least slow down — as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is no doubt that the past several months have caused tremendous hardship and pain, but they have also allowed and even encouraged us to see ourselves, our families, our friends and our neighbors in a new light — one that we tend to turn a blind-eye to during our normally hectic day-to-day lives. My family and I have had quite a lot of doctors and hospitals in our lives lately. These past several months have been incredibly challenging for me, as they have been for many others. As a result, I have been reminded of just how important my family is to me. Moreover, my children have been my guiding light and my strength, offering much needed help and support to me during this difficult time. I have never been as proud of each of them as I have been over these past several months. Family dinners have become more regular and suddenly have a newfound importance. I consider myself to be exceptionally fortunate to have had a little extra time to spend with my family over these past several months — time that is typically forsaken but that I will now make every effort to retain for it is truly a precious commodity. My heart is with anyone and everyone who has experienced hardship and pain over the past several months. It is my hope that this month’s issue helps that new light on the many amazing people in our community to shine even brighter.
The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited material.
Cheers!
Local First A R I Z O NA 6
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Shelly Spence Publisher, Images Arizona magazine shelly@imagesaz.com 623-341-8221
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ANCIENT + OLD TRUNK SHOW Fri. & Sat.
| Oct. 16-17 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Grace Renee Gallery | Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ | GraceReneeGallery.com i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m Oc tob e r 2 02480-575-8080 0 8
ANCIENT + OLD TRUNK SHOW Fri. & Sat.
| Oct. 16-17 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Grace Renee Gallery | Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 480-575-8080 | GraceReneeGallery.com October 2020 imagesar iz ona .c om 9
Last year, Summy Parker founded Arizona Foothills 911 — an organization that is dedicated to responding to emergency situations in Carefree, Cave Creek, Desert Hills, New River, North Scottsdale and Rio Verde.
Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Bryan Black
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O
On May 17, a wildfire started off Desert Hills Drive in Cave Creek. Known as the East Desert Fire, the wildfire spread rapidly over the course of just a few hours, threatening several homes and eventually burning nearly 1,500 acres. Unfortunately, the incident was only the first in a series of wildfires that ravaged North Valley communities this summer as it was quickly followed by the Ocotillo Fire — also in Cave Creek — which burned an additional 980 acres and destroyed 20 buildings, including eight homes. Less than one month later, the Aguila Fire destroyed six structures and burned nearly 900 acres in Desert Hills. In a year of so much unprecedented misfortune, our wildfire season has only exacerbated the heartache experienced by our communities. However, it has also given our communities an opportunity to rise up and show what truly makes them special. “I think that right now there is so much bad stuff going on in the world,” says Cave Creek resident Sunny Parker. “We have a huge election going on and people are very opinionated about what they feel. But when you are talking to animal lovers and people who have livestock — like those who make up our North Valley communities — it is a whole different story. Nobody cares about anything other than ensuring that their neighbors are being taken care of.” Last year, Parker founded Arizona Foothills 911 — an organization that is dedicated to responding to emergency situations in Carefree, Cave Creek, Desert Hills, New River, North Scottsdale and Rio Verde. She and countless other volunteers helped people not
only evacuate their homes but also have a safe place to keep their pets and livestock during each of the three wildfires that ravaged our communities this summer.
A HUGE UNDERTAKING
“It started with a promise I made,” Parker says. “My son Brian was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and he slipped into a coma minutes after we got to the hospital. They told me that he had zero chance of making it. They said that he would not survive. “I made a promise to the man upstairs that if He spared my son’s life, I would spend the rest of my life doing something good. Brian is now not only alive and well, but everything is perfect. So I am keeping my promise.” Shortly after Brian recovered, Parker traveled to California for a horse show with which her daughter was involved. While there, she witnessed the California wildfires first-hand. Noticing that California’s landscape was not too different from our own, she began to worry about potential wildfire danger in our North Valley communities. “I knew then that it was not a matter of if it was going to happen but a matter of when it was going to happen,” Parker says. “I came back home and realized that there was nothing in the area that covers what could possibly happen. I discussed doing something about it with a few people and while they all said it was a great idea, they thought it was too huge of an undertaking.” Parker proceeded anyway, creating a Facebook page just to see what would happen. She slowly saw
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Photographer John Fritz
Photographer John Fritz
Photographer John Fritz
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the page’s number of followers increase as she began discussing the significance of wildfire awareness and preparation with people in North Valley communities. At Images Arizona’s press time, Arizona Foothills 911’s Facebook page had more than 9,000 followers.
A COMMUNITY IN CRISIS
Arizona Foothills 911’s first real test occurred when the East Desert Fire started. Parker received permission to use Cave Creek’s Frontier Town as a staging area for the incident as volunteers helped evacuate residents, pets and livestock.
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“I just put out a plea on Arizona Foothills 911’s Facebook page and within minutes I had 20 people offering to help with horse trucks and trailers,” Parker says. “We got everybody out that needed to get out and we began to plan a meeting so that we could figure out how to do things better.” However, before that meeting could take place, the Ocotillo Fire started.
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“We did not have the time to do that and it really did not matter,” Parker explains. “What mattered was that we did it. People were counting us to help them figure out not only how to get out themselves but also how to get their animals out and find places for them where they would be safely returned to them. During that particular situation, we got a lot of new volunteers.” In addition to a career in physician credentialing, Parker had been working at Wal-Mart in Cave Creek so that she could put aside money to register Arizona Foothills 911 as an official nonprofit organization to help secure things that will improve its operations. “During [the East Desert Fire], I had been up for 40-something hours and I had to go to work the next day,” Parker says. “I did it and I managed to get through it. But when [the Ocotillo Fire] broke out, I realized that I had to give this everything I had or it was not going to work.” Parker’s supervisor at Wal-Mart graciously granted her a leave of absence, giving her the time to truly help the community through the crisis. She now considers Arizona Foothills 911 to be her full-time job.
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Summy Parker and countless other volunteers helped people not only evacuate their homes but also have a safe place to keep their pets and livestock during each of the three wildfires that ravaged our communities this summer.
“After the overwhelming feeling that I got during the Ocotillo Fire — the hurt and the fear I saw in the people who were counting on me — I knew that I could not possibly give the residents of this area everything I have got If I have commitments to other things,” Parker says. “It became obvious to me that I had to do this 100% of the time.” Less than one month later, Parker received confirmation that she had made the right decision when the Aguila Fire threatened Desert Hills. “I was driving, saw the smoke and within 20 minutes we had [Cave Creek’s] rodeo grounds opened as we started moving people,” Parker says. “A lady called me from California and said she needed my help to get her elderly parents out safely. We had veterinarians who came out to help injured horses. We had hundreds of animals there. We had llamas, pigs, goats and sugar gliders — you name the critter and it was there.”
A NEW SET OF PROBLEMS
As Arizona’s wildfire season has thankfully come to a close for another year, Parker acknowledges that Arizona Foothills 911’s work is never over. She is now shifting her focus to educating North Valley communities about preparedness procedures and safe practices in emergency situations. One of the most important lessons that she hopes to bestow upon people is to avoid doing anything that may interfere with emergency personnel being able to quickly and safely do their jobs. For example, as fascinating as wildfires may appear, Parker is begging people not to pull over to the side of the road to take pictures and videos.
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“You can really be impeding what the fire department is doing,” she explains. “You can watch the news later. Seconds can literally cost lives. Every second that firefighters are out there is one second too long and if we can get them out of there faster by not being in their way then we need to do that.” Parker is also focused on the aftermath of this year’s particularly active wildfire season. As much of the vegetation in North Valley communities is gone, the inevitable flooding as a result of this fall and winter’s thunderstorms has become an enormous concern. “That is going to cause a whole new set of problems, particularly because we do not have any idea which way the water is going to go,” Parker says.
ANSWERING THE CALL
Of course, wildfires and other natural disasters are only one segment of the emergencies to which Arizona Foothills 911 answers the call. “When the COVID-19 pandemic started, I received a phone call from a woman whose son had some disabilities,” Parker says. “A cat that was his support animal was left behind in Washington. I flew all the way to Washington and picked up this kid's cat. It was amazing to me because the airport was like a ghost town and I was the only person on the plane. It was so weird.” Since founding the organization, Parker has picked up and delivered prescriptions for people who were unable to do so themselves and even facilitated assistance for people whose horse trailers have broken down on the side of the road. “We are here for any emergency situation that is not the type of
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Sunny Parker is now shifting her focus to educating North Valley communities about preparedness procedures and safe practices in emergency situations.
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Sunny Parker is also focused on the aftermath of this year’s particularly active wildfire season. As much of the vegetation in North Valley communities is gone, the inevitable flooding as a result of this fall and winter’s thunderstorms has become an enormous concern.
emergency that would require a real 911 call,” she explains. “I am hoping at some point to be able to have all of the materials and things that we need to ensure that Arizona Foothills 911 becomes a really strong place where people can come to us and know that no matter what they need we can help them.” Parker reiterates that she fully intends to honor the promise she made to the man upstairs and do this for the rest of her life. She admits that it is a lot of work but she has never felt more rewarded by a job. “To be able to do something like this, to change somebody's life — even in the case of the young man who just needed his cat back — is what makes it all worth it,” Parker says. “We are doing something to change people's lives for the better. I believe that we as people have got to do the best that we can for each other and try really hard to stay as positive as we can at all times so that we can be better people. “We all have it in us to be better. You can look around all you want and you are going to see everything negative under the sun. But one person can make a difference. You alone have the ability to change someone's life for the better — or for the worse, so choose wisely.”
Parker adds that her son's situation completely changed her as a person and she is eternally grateful for that. However, she acknowledges that she alone does not make up Arizona Foothills 911. “The credit goes to every single person who volunteers, every single person who is on the phone, every single person who goes out to grab a trailer and pick up a horse,” she explains. “It is this community that makes Arizona Foothills 911 so strong. I could never have done any of this without the support of this incredible community that we live in.” Parker adds that North Valley neighbors stepped up to the plate in a way that she never even dreamed they would have. She considers the amazing outpouring of support to be the true definition of a community — something that is somewhat unique to the North Valley. “I think that there is something very special to be said about the type of communities we live in,” Parker explains. “We are just different. I think that we are still considered part of the Old West, so we have that lifestyle of people helping people just because it is the right thing to do.” facebook.com/groups/AZFH911
COMMUNITY Arizona Foothills 911 To request assistance, call 480-204-4443. To volunteer, e-mail arizonafoothills911@gmail.com.
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CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY + ART
Experience chic South Sea pearls by Alessandra Donà — ultimately feminine and uniquely Italian.
[
October 22 - 31
Call for private appointment or come by to see this beautiful collection.
]
Grace Renee Gallery 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 85377 Open Mon.–Wed. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Open Late Thur.–Sat.until 7 p.m. 480.575.8080
GraceReneeGallery.com 18
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Alessandra DonĂ Timeless Collection: South Sea pearls and 18-karat gold with diamonds October 2020
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COMMUNITY
2020 OCTOBER
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
Sept. 19–Dec. 31
OUTSIDE THE FRAME EXHIBITION Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art presents mother and daughter artists Barbara Stauffacher Solomon and Nellie King Solomon in their first joint exhibition. Both artists were trained as architects but were never licensed, which might explain the way they establish rules, grids or frameworks only to challenge their very existence. At the heart of the pair’s artistic practice lies the confident ability to think and explore beyond the norm — or outside the frame. $10; discounts available for youth, students and seniors. See website for hours. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-874-4666; smoca.org
Keep in mind Although Images Arizona magazine has made every effort to publish
Sept. 1–Oct. 16
Sept. 19–Dec. 5
Organizers have shifted this year’s
Chandler's Vision Gallery is hosting
Foothills Empty Bowls Project
a series of art classes taught by
fundraiser to a virtual format,
professional artists for youth. Made
benefitting Foothills Food Bank
possible through the support of
FOOTHILLS EMPTY BOWLS PROJECT
VISION KIDS CLASSES
and Resource Center’s efforts to
the Chandler Cultural Foundation,
the most up-to-date information
provide emergency food, financial
Vision Kids classes are streamed
at press time, some events may be
assistance and other life necessities
online via Zoom each Saturday
canceled or rescheduled to comply
and resources to individuals and
and provide children with the
families in the Desert Foothills
opportunity to create art that
with social distancing measures and
area. Individuals can bid on art and
represents their own creativity.
other factors associated with the
purchase bowls donated by members
Participants develop important
COVID-19 pandemic. Please use
and friends of the Sonoran Arts
avenues for self-expression and
the contact information provided
League. Each bowl comes with a
an understanding of the creative
gift certificate for a spaghetti meal
process as they learn techniques in a
at Harold’s Cave Creek Corral.
variety of media — including pencil,
foothillsfoodbank.org
watercolor, ceramics, photography
to confirm dated details.
and more. Free. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. visiongallery.org/vision-kids
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Right coverage. Right price. Right here in town.
Oct. 1
CAREFREE ART WALK Stroll, shop, dine and enjoy an evening celebrating the arts in downtown Carefree while helping to support local businesses and local creativity — which makes our Arizona culture a better place to live, work and visit. Begin at any gallery, then continue on to other participating galleries. Enjoy a diverse display of artistic styles and mediums, meet the artists, enjoy refreshments and engage in conversation about art and architecture. Free. 4–8 p.m. See website for participating galleries. visitcarefree.com
Oct. 1–11
FALL CAREFREE RESTAURANT WEEK Carefree Restaurant Association will organize an opportunity for the community to sample new and exciting menu offerings and, in doing so, continue to support local restaurants. Throughout Fall Carefree Restaurant Week, participating restaurants will showcase their menus at discounted prices. Some restaurants will offer a two-course lunch while others will offer a three-course dinner for dine-in or take-out. See website for prices and locations. carefreerestaurants.com
Oct. 3
REACHING FOR THE LIGHT CONCERT Sonoran Desert Chorale will offer the first of its four regular concerts
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in this year's virtual season. The online concert will combine new virtual repertoire and recorded material from previous live concerts, all packaged in a beautiful video created especially for the occasion. It will include songs of hope and encouragement as we collectively reach for better times. Free. 7:30 p.m. sonorandesertchorale.org
Jeremy Mueller Ins Agcy Inc Jeremy R Mueller, Agent 23341 N Pima Rd Suite D139 Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Bus: 480-515-5223
Oct. 3–17
FLAMENCO INTIMO
18511 N Scottsdale Rd Ste 203 Scottsdale, AZ 85255 Bus: 602-388-8382 WWW.JEREMYMUELLER.COM
Julia Chacón Flamenco Theatre will bring together national and international flamenco dancers and musicians to present unforgettable shows select Saturdays in October. Each performance features beautiful costumes, undulating arms, fiery footwork, intricate Spanish guitar and soul-stirring vocals. $26+. 8 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org
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Oct. 8
ART + CHOCOLATE ARTWALK The Scottsdale Gallery Association will host an Art + Chocolate ArtWalk throughout the Scottsdale Arts District — which resides along Main Street from Scottsdale Road to Goldwater Boulevard and north of Indian School Road on Marshall Way to Fifth Avenue. Guests can peruse galleries and view local and national art while being serenaded by a steel drum band. Participating galleries will feature chocolate tasting courtesy of local chocolatier Cerreta Candy Company. Free. 6:30–9 p.m. See website for participating galleries. scottsdalegalleries.com
Oct. 3–Jan. 17
URBAN MAPPING EXHIBITION
Oct. 10
Oct. 12–18
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary
GOLDEN REEF STAMP MILL DEMONSTRATION
TOUR DE SCOTTSDALE
Art will present a powerful
Arizona’s only fully operational
annual event, allowing hundreds of
exhibition that examines the concept
ten-stamp ore crushing mill will
road warriors to keep the cycling
of public space from the perspectives
run several outdoor demonstrations
spirit alive and stay active and
of 10 Iranian artists. The exhibition
ahead of Cave Creek Museum’s
healthy while still supporting the
will shine a light into the depths
planned Nov. 1 reopening. Watch
McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.
of the Iranian experience normally
history come alive as the ten
Riders will have several registration
hidden from the outside world
1,000-pound stamps slam down in
options to complete ride miles on
by focusing on public and private
synchronized precision and hear the
their own. Participants can ride the
spaces. Comprised of 40 photographs
pounding echo against the Desert
official Tour de Scottsdale courses,
and four video installations, the
Foothills — just as it did more
log miles around their city or even
works explore urban spaces as a
than 140 years ago. Also on exhibit
in their home or fitness center on a
nexus of social communication
outdoors on the museum campus are
trainer. In addition to the traditional
and political transformation. $10;
various pieces of equipment from
30- and 70-mile rides, the virtual
discounts available for youth,
the early mining days of Arizona and
event will introduce a new 15-mile
students and seniors. See website
many agricultural tools used at local
course and a 5-mile fit family ride.
for hours. Scottsdale Museum of
farms and ranches. See website for
Those who register and complete
Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second
times. Cave Creek Museum, 6140 E.
any of the distances will receive a
St., Scottsdale. 480-874-4666;
Skyline Drive, Cave Creek. 480-488-
commemorative, distance-unique
smoca.org
2764; cavecreekmuseum.org
medal as well as a virtual goodie bag
The Tour de Scottsdale will switch gears to a virtual format for its 17th
and other perks. tourdescottsdale.net
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Oct. 14
PHOENIX ART MUSEUM REOPENING Phoenix Art Museum will reopen to the general public, implementing new health and safety precautions designed to help keep patrons as safe as possible during their visit. A number of new, vibrant installations and exhibitions will be available upon reopening, including Stories of Abstraction: Contemporary Latin American Art in the Global Context and Teresita Fernández: Elemental. Additionally, the museum has extended exhibitions that patrons may not have had the chance to experience prior to its closure, including Ansel Adams: Performing the Print and India: Fashion’s Muse. A soft reopening for members is scheduled for Oct. 1. See website for prices and hours. Phoenix Art Museum,1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-257-1880; phxart.org
Oct. 16 and 17
ANCIENT + OLD TRUNK SHOW Grace Renee Gallery will host an Ancient + Old Trunk Show, featuring Cynthia Ann Jewels. From tiny shops found along narrow brick roadways of Italian villages to eclectic European street fairs, Cynthia Ann discovers crosses, medals and jewelry from days of old. She “re-loves” them, using modern metals and breathtaking stones to showcase their beauty and allow each piece’s personality, history and energy to shine. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Hum Road, Suite 7, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com
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Oct. 28
SUSTAINABLE NATION Imagination Productions debuts its new hour-long documentary that follows three individuals who are doing their part to bring sustainable water solutions to an increasingly thirsty planet. $7. 6:30 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org
Oct. 16–18
OUTDOOR GLASS PUMPKIN PATCH The Holland Center will host an
Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills. 480837-9661; fhtaz.org
Oct. 19–23
Oct. 24
LARSEN ART AUCTION A supporter of Free Arts of Arizona since its inception, Larsen Gallery will host an art auction through which it
1,000 whimsical, vibrantly colored
STARRY KNIGHTS FUNDRAISER
glass pumpkins in a multitude of
Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship
to benefit its Professional Artist Series.
colors and sizes blown by glass artist
will pivot its annual Starry Knights
Highlights include work from Jim
Greg Tomb. The event will serve as
event to a virtual format, raising funds
Dine, Andy Warhol, Sam Francis,
a fundraiser, with 20% of proceeds
to support its efforts to offer free
Logan Hagege, Allan Houser and Ed
benefiting The Holland Theatre. Free.
lessons in horsemanship to children
Mell. Free. 10 a.m. Larsen Gallery,
See website for hours. The Holland
and adults with physical disabilities.
3705 N. Bishop Lane, Scottsdale. 480-
Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale.
The nonprofit organization is selling
941-0900; larsenartauction.com
480-488-1090; hollandcenter.org
Camelot Prize Packs — exclusive
outdoor exhibition of more than
gift boxes that contain early access
Oct. 16–Nov. 1
to an online silent auction, a door
will donate funds to the organization
Oct. 25
keynote video that explores the
ON WINGS OF HOPE CONCERT
Fountain Hills Theater will present
magic of Camelot through the hearts
MusicaNova Orchestra will open
its production of “Death Trap” —
of its riders and supporters. $100+.
its season with an uplifting concert
a cunningly clever and comically
Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship,
of renewal, shared humanity and
twisted murder mystery by Ira Levin.
23623 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite D-3,
strength of purpose. $27+. 2–4 p.m.
See website for prices and times.
Box 259, Scottsdale. 480.515.1542;
Scottsdale Center for the Performing
Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N.
camelotaz.org
Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale.
DEATHTRAP
prize ticket and inclusion in the
480-750-9466; musicanova.com
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Oct. 30
BROADWAY FRIGHT NIGHT
imported olive oils, woodworking and cutting boards, beaded wrapped silverware, watercolor paintings, metal yard art, Native American crafts and more. The event will also feature sweets and
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will host a celebration
treats, a mini book nook and coffee from the Joyful Grounds Café.
of songs from Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals with
Free. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Our Lady of Joy Catholic Parish, 36811 N.
supernatural, horror and sci-fi themes. Created and hosted by New
Pima Road, Carefree. oloj.org
York City casting director Stephen DeAngelis, the show will feature five of Broadway’s finest vocalists paying homage to the theater world’s most original, intriguing and terrifying characters. $25. 8 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org
Oct. 31
HARRY POTTER HALLOWEEN English Rose Tea Room will host a Harry Potter-themed Halloween party. The event will feature special guests and prizes for best costumes. RSVP. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. English Rose Tea Room, 201 Easy St., Suite 103, Carefree. 480-488-4812; carefreetea.com
Nov. 6–10
SCOTTSDALE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
ART & FOODIE STAMPEDE SET FOR SPRING Sonoran Arts League has scheduled a celebration of the businesses related to art and food in Carefree and Cave Creek for next spring. Art studios, galleries, specialty shops and restaurants may participate by having at least one artist demonstrating during the event. Set for the last full weekend in April in the primary commercial zones of Carefree and Cave Creek, the event aims to attract Arizona residents back to the towns after the usual street fair and snowbird season has ended. Express interest in participating and submit related fees by Jan. 30, 2021. 480-239-2463.
BALLET STUDIO OPENS NEW SPACE Ballet Theatre of Phoenix has opened a new 7,800-square-foot studio in Phoenix. The studio’s instructors follow the American Ballet Theatre's national curriculum with an emphasis on classical ballet.
The Scottsdale International Film Festival will pivot to a virtual
Classes are held throughout the year for students of all levels in
format for its 20th annual event, giving moviegoers the opportunity
multiple styles of dance. Ballet Theatre of Phoenix, 6201 N. Seventh
to travel the world and enjoy cinema from the comfort and safety of
St., Phoenix. 602-957-3364; ballettheatreofphoenix.org
their own homes. Using innovative technologies, the virtual festival a selection of comedies, dramas, documentaries, thrillers and more,
CAREFREE KIWANIS HONORS HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
audiences are certain to find their niche watching one, several or all
The Kiwanis Club of Carefree Benefit Foundation honored 25 area
of the films in the festival schedule. scottsdalefilmfestival.com
high school seniors with scholarship and merit awards totaling
will allow participants to easily build a customized schedule. With
$219,500. Jackob Eaton received the Rockford 4-Year Award while
Nov. 7
STELLA ARTOIS POLO CLASSIC
others were honored in areas such as arts and humanities, athletics, foreign language, key club, math and science. kiwaniscarefree.org
event with a new focus on social distancing and a key focus to
PICKIN’ IN THE PINES POSTPONED TO 2021
help schools, nonprofit organizations and charities hit hard by the
Organizers have postponed the 15th Annual Pickin’ in the Pines
COVID-19 pandemic. The event will begin with Arizona Polo Club
Bluegrass and Acoustic Music Festival, rescheduling the event for
taking on the Brooklands Polo Team. EPR Polo will then introduce
Sept. 17–19, 2021. All 2020 tickets will be honored in 2021 while
The Celebrity Cruises Match Up, supporting Arizona Equine Rescue
most — if not all — of the 2020 lineup will be in attendance. Pepsi
and Southwest Wildlife. In the final match, Morehouse College Polo
Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill County Park, 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop,
Club will take on the Women’s All-Stars in a “Battle of the Sexes.”
Flagstaff. 480-656-9940; pickininthepines.org
The Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships will produce a polo
$20+. 10:45 a.m.–6 p.m. WestWorld of Scottsdale’s Polo Field, 16601 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale. 480-423-1414; thepoloparty.com
Nov. 13 and 14
OUR LADY OF JOY CHRISTMAS BAZAAR Our Lady’s Guild will host its 13th annual Christmas Bazaar. The shopping extravaganza will showcase jewelry, photography, a pet boutique, fused glass, purses, quilts, rock art sculptures, gourd
MARICOPA COUNTY LIBRARY DEBUTS PODCAST The shelves of Maricopa County Library District come to life via a new weekly podcast in which librarians discuss books, music and apps. “ShelfLogic” is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher as well as on Maricopa County Library District’s website. mcldaz.org
art, holiday ornaments and wreaths, children and doll apparel, October 2020
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Oct. 22–31
CHIC SOUTH SEA PEARLS Experience chic South Sea pearls by Alessandra Donà during an exclusive jewelry event at Grace Renee Gallery. Ultimately feminine and uniquely Italian, each of the jewelry designer’s pieces expresses the here and now of the centuries-old story that nurtured her. Call for a private appointment or come by to see this beautiful collection. Free. Monday–Wednesday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Thursday–Saturday 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Hum Road, Suite 7, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com
DESERVING LOCAL WOMEN RECEIVE AWARDS Soroptimist International of Saguaro Foothills distributed $11,000 in awards money to 11 deserving women and girls this spring. Jennifer Harris received the Live Your Dream award, which — established in 1972 — is available to women who are financially head of household with dependents, demonstrate need and are motivated to achieve their education and career goals. Seven runner ups each received
Music: Masterpieces from Central
share the nonprofit performing arts
Africa exhibit has also been extended
organization’s sound with audiences
into 2021. Musical Instrument Museum
in the comfort of their own homes on
has thoroughly reviewed its daily
the electronic device of their choice.
operations and has implemented new
The first Saturday of each month, the
measures designed to support the
Slim Concert Series revisits previously
health and safety of the community.
performed pieces presented in new
Large events, programs, concerts and
combinations accompanied by photos
guided tours remain cancelled but
and graphics. The third Saturday of
virtual programs are being offered. $20;
each month, the Singer Sketches Series
discounts available for children and
shares stories about the chorale’s
teens. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Musical Instrument
singers’ lives. sonorandesertchorale.org
Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 480-478-6000, mim.org
received $500 as well as $100 to their
MIM REOPENS WITH NEW OFFERINGS
charity as recipients of the nonprofit
Musical Instrument Museum has
organization’s Young Women’s Service
reopened its doors to guests, who
HONORHEALTH OPENS SONORAN CROSSING
awards. sisaguarofoothills.org
will discover many new offerings on
HonorHealth has opened its sixth
display at the museum — such as a
medical center — a three-story,
14-foot pipe organ as well as a 1922
210,000-square-foot, 70-bed hospital
Steinway piano and stage outfit owned
that features not only a healing
by legendary songstress Roberta Flack.
environment with mountainous
The museum’s Congo Masks and
views but also an outdoor healing
$1,000 while three young girls each
CHORALE OFFERS VIRTUAL EVENTS Sonoran Desert Chorale is reaching out to the Valley and beyond with a
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series of virtual programs designed to
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garden that allows visitors to gather their thoughts peacefully with all of nature’s comforts. The medical center offers 24-hour emergency care, comprehensive obstetrical and gynecological care and a broad number of surgical services. Sonoran Crossing Medical Center, 33400 N. 32nd Ave., Phoenix. honorhealth.com/ sonorancrossing
INCENTIVE AWARDS HONORS ART STUDENTS The Sonoran Arts League honored 109 gifted art students through its annual Incentive Awards. Each award box — which was delivered to each recipient’s home — contained a personalized folder with inspiring messages from their art teacher, a letter from the Sonoran Arts League’s youth art committee member Judy Bruce, a note from educational community services director Gina Durbin, a certificate of excellence and a ribbon from the Jeff Cross Memorial, a note from Cave Creek Unified School District superintendent Debbi Burdick, a list of all award winners and a list of free Sonoran Arts League art classes sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Carefree. sonoranartsleague.org
LIBRARY ADDS DIGITAL TITLES TO COLLECTION More than 40,000 new e-book and e-audiobook titles are now available to all Desert Foothills Library patrons thanks to the nonprofit organization’s partnership with The Little Libraries That Could and the Southwest Valley Library Consortium. Desert Foothills Library cardholders may access the collection through the library’s website, the Overdrive app or the Libby app. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480488-6131; dflt.org
October 2020
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HEIDI’S VILLAGE OPENS IN PHOENIX A once-in-a-lifetime project is now a reality with this summer’s opening of Heidi’s Village — an animal shelter and veterinary clinic that is the first of its kind in Arizona. The animal welfare organization partners with existing animal shelters and rescue organizations to provide temporary boarding for dogs and cats when their space and resources are limited. Medical intervention, grooming, behavioral modification and wellness services are offered on-site. Its mission is to foster a community where animals are treated with respect, dignity and compassion to decrease the number of animals abandoned and euthanized. Heidi’s Village, 600 N. 40th St., Phoenix. 602-241-4640; heidisvillage.org
LOCAL ARTIST COMMISSIONED FOR MURAL Artist Jody Barrilleaux has been commissioned to create an expansive mural for the Vela on Camelback apartments. Barrilleaux, who has worked for many high-profile clients including basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal and celebrity chef Guy Fieri, will create a nearly 24-foot-long acrylic on canvas mural mounted to metal panels titled “Wind” in his signature style of slowly flowing brush strokes in an impasto application, thick textures and earthy colors. Vela on Camelback Apartments, 4949 N. 7th St., Phoenix. barrilleauxfineart.com
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Art with a goal of bringing the
honors in the public spaces category
community together — an installation
during the 8th Annual CODAawards:
of text art created to cultivate a sense
Collaboration of Design + Art. On
of togetherness. As part of a new series
display at the Mustang Library and
of work titled “Untitled Gestures,”
Transit Center, “Birdie Umwelt” is an
Tempe-based artist Kristin Bauer
avian-themed installation of 20 small,
installed a text work on the main entry
bronze sculptures of finches reading
of and along an interior curved wall in
pages from published books. They are
the museum. The exterior text reads,
located around the library and both
“And a Shared Longing Connects Us,”
nearby bus stops. Mustang Library
and the interior text reads, “Across
and Transit Center, 10101 N. 90th St.,
an Ever Shifting Terrain.” The newly
Scottsdale. scottsdalepublicart.org/
commissioned works will be on view
work/birdie-umwelt
indefinitely. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-874-4666; smoca.org
PUBLIC ARTWORK RECEIVES MERIT HONORS
SCOTTSDALE WATERFRONT FEATURES ARTISTDESIGNED BINS Scottsdale Public Art and Scottsdale Solid Waste Services earlier this year
SMOCA ARTWORK UNITES COMMUNITY
“Birdie Umwelt,” a public artwork
installed a series of eight brightly
by Mary Lucking that is part of
colored, artist-designed recycle/trash
New artwork is on view outside of
Scottsdale Public Art’s permanent
bins at the Scottsdale Waterfront
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary
collection, recently received merit
between Goldwater Boulevard
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and Scottsdale Road. The bins, titled “Traceries,” were designed by Chandler artist Mary Neubauer as a means to address the city’s need for a utilitarian recycle/waste bin while also adding public art features to the canal waterfront. Design themes include butterflies, desert flowers, whirling impellers and hummingbirds. scottsdalepublicart.org/permanent-art
SONORAN ARTS LEAGUE FACILITIES REOPEN Each of Sonoran Arts League’s three facilities have reopened, following mandated closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The league’s Center for the Arts and Workshop Space — both located at Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Suite 144, Cave Creek — are open 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Friday. Meanwhile, its el Pedregal gallery space located at 34505 N. Scottsdale Road is open 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday. sonoranartsleague.org
FOOTHILLS CARING CORPS SPREADS JOY Foothills Caring Corps volunteers gathered twice a week this summer to decorate the nonprofit organization’s vans as well as their own vehicles. Dubbed the Spread Joy Convoy, they then visited as many as 25 neighbors during each outing and presented them with small gift bags filled with treats, puzzles, masks and cards. The nonprofit organization, which serves older adults as well as individuals with disabling conditions, recently welcomed Troon North resident Robin Cochran as its new executive director. foothillscaringcorps.com
NEW IN FLUX ARTWORKS ON DISPLAY Scottsdale Public Art has installed five new artworks in the southern
FREE ALL-DAY
Kindergarten
end of the city as part of the IN FLUX temporary art program,
Black Mountain Elementary School PERFORMING ARTS PRESCHOOL SPANISH PRE-K-6
which is designed to bring together art, economic development and property management organizations throughout the greater
Desert Sun Academy
Phoenix area while providing opportunities for Arizona artists to
FRENCH IMMERSION STEAM SPANISH PRE-K-6
create site-specific temporary public art installations in a variety of locations. The new artworks — which will be on display for about one year — include “#bluewing” by Cherie Buck-Hutchison and Curtis Hutchison, “Meditation on Fragmented Space” by Daniel
Desert Willow Elementary School
Mariotti and three separate pieces installed together by John David Yanke: “Secondary Effusion,” “Stored Echoes” and “To Atone.” scottsdalepublicart.org
VIRTUAL EXHIBIT FEATURES STUDENT ARTWORK Year-end artwork by 36 students from five local high schools
Our five A+ elementary schools – each with its own signature curriculum – offer FREE All-Day Kindergarten and Preschool at each location. Cave Creek Unified School District is inspiring excellence in young minds. VISIT US TODAY TO LEARN MORE!
can be seen via “Visions ‘20” — a virtual exhibit of Scottsdale
SPANISH IMMERSION INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SPANISH PRE-K-6
Horseshoe Trails Elementary School CHINESE IMMERSION HORSEMANSHIP CHINESE PRE-K-6
Arts Learning and Innovation’s Visions program. Through the appreciation and creation of art, the program aims to cultivate
Lone Mountain Elementary School
the development of teen social and mental wellbeing while also enhancing social connections, opening dialogue and promoting tolerance and confidence. scottsdaleartslearning.org
480.575.2000 www.CCUSD93.org October 2020
STEM PROGRAM CHINESE PRE-K-6
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IMAGES ARIZONA 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. #7 | Carefree | 623-341-8221 | imagesarizona.com It has been my absolute pleasure and honor to publish Images Arizona each month for the past 21 years. I have been extremely fortunate to meet so many amazing people through my work on this magazine, which remains committed to covering the many incredible individuals and outstanding organizations that make our community so very special. I am also passionately dedicated to support my fellow local business owners, each of whom create unique experiences that represent the extraordinary culture of Arizona. These local business owners not only strengthen our community but also define it. From the local restaurant owner to the local real estate agent, these are the people who shape the way we live, work and play. Throughout the pages of this month’s issue, we introduce you to many of these exceptional individuals who not only make Images Arizona possible but also define our community. I encourage you to share in my hometown pride and support these local business owners — all of whom are strong, resilient and creative individuals. I am immeasurably proud to live in such a remarkable community that is nourished and reinforced with local business owners who are genuinely invested in enhancing the way of life for all of our neighbors.
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JEREMY MUELLER STATE FARM 23341 N. Pima Road | Suite D139 | Scottsdale | 480-515-5223 | jeremymueller.com 18511 N. Scottsdale Rd | Suite 203 | Scottsdale | 602-388-8382 | northscottsdaleinsurance.com A third-generation State Farm agent, Jeremy Mueller did not fall in love with the insurance industry until his senior year of college. Born and raised in Arizona, Mueller attended Brophy College Preparatory before graduating from Arizona State University. For five years during high school and college, Mueller worked in the hospitality industry at a local hotel. His love for customer service and taking care of the customer comes from the foundation gained during those years. At Jeremy Mueller State Farm, customers are a priority. With a reputation of being a premier home and auto insurance State Farm agency, Jeremy Mueller State Farm’s team always provides prompt, personal and professional service to customers. Jeremy Mueller State Farm’s team strives to offer its customers the best possible combination of service and value. Mueller (from left, office manager Stephanie Wesson, account manager April Eller and executive assistant Leah Vukovic) enjoys his summers in Coronado, California. A third-generation State Farm agent, he has two children – Parker (13) and Hayden (9).
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CATHY HOTCHKISS FINE PROPERTY GROUP 8955 E. Pinnacle Peak Road | Suite 104 | Scottsdale | 480-236-3336 | cathyhotchkiss.com North Scottsdale Walt Danley Real Estate agent Cathy Hotchkiss began her real estate career in 2007 after having been a licensed interior designer for 27 years. Cathy’s career move to real estate was a natural evolution, with her design background being instrumental in assisting her real estate clients. Selling real estate is more than just a job for Cathy. She loves real estate and truly understands that buying or selling a home is one of the most important decisions someone can make. Therefore, Cathy prioritizes her clients’ wishes and needs while establishing long-term relationships built on care and trust. Cathy provides outstanding service, support, knowledge of the current market and strong negotiating skills to help each client make sound, timely and secure decisions for their family. She is a member of several committees, boards and women’s groups in North Scottsdale. Always eager to share her insight and advice, Cathy is also a mentor to new real estate agents Originally from Denver, Cathy has lived in the Scottsdale area for 28 years. She currently resides in DC Ranch with her husband, Jim, and their Maltese dog, Haylie.
October 2020
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REVITAL-AZ MEDICAL SPA AND LASER CENTER 7401 Easy Street | Suite D | Carefree | 480-877-0541 | revitalaz.com At Revital-AZ Medical Spa and Laser Center, patients receive the highest quality of care to help them look and feel their very best, delivered by a team of experienced healthcare professionals. Dr. Mark Biliack and registered nurse Rosie Andaverde offer a wide range of services, using the latest advances in technology and cutting-edge procedures — including body contouring, hair restoration and skin resurfacing. All therapies are offered with a natural, holistic and compassionate approach that promotes complete wellness. Men and women who come to the spa enjoy a modern, luxurious healthcare facility staffed by friendly, highly trained experts who strive for perfection. Revital-AZ Medical Spa and Laser Center is the perfect place for those seeking a safe, relaxing and comfortable environment with anti-aging treatments that boost the way they look and feel.
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Left to Right: Matt Keeler, Maren Keeler, Judy Keeler, Paul Keeler
KEELER’S NEIGHBORHOOD STEAKHOUSE 7212 E. Ho Hum Road | Carefree | 602-374-4784 | keelerssteakhouse.com Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse is the answer to the demand for a high-value for the dollar, topquality steakhouse experience in North Scottsdale. Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse features only the finest Certified Angus Beef steaks, freshest available seafood, chicken and American specialties that redefine comfort food — all served with professional-yet-unpretentious service. In addition to fine-dining, Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse features an inviting and upscale neighborhood social house atmosphere that encourages conversation and laughs among old friends and new. The restaurant boasts a centrally located island bar, large adjacent patio, beautiful courtyard and roof-top deck designed for star-gazing and lounging after a good wholesome meal — made by our family for yours.
October 2020
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RENCO ROOFING 2210 W. Shangri La Road | Suite A1 | Phoenix | 602-867-9386 | rencoroofing.com Renco Roofing has been a leading Phoenix roofing company for more than 15 years. The familyowned roofing contractors are dedicated to providing outstanding service on every job. Foam roofing, tile roofing and roof repairs are just some of the services they offer their customers. Renco Roofing’s team understands that its customers are the cornerstone of its success. By conducting business with honesty, integrity and respect, Renco Roofing earns its customers’ trust — and by being responsive, considerate and committed to quality, it keeps them coming back.
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LIBERTY STATION AMERICAN TAVERN AND SMOKEHOUSE Liberty Station American Tavern and Smokehouse - Terravita 34522 N. Scottsdale Road | Suite 180 | Scottsdale | 480-595-9930 | libertystationtavern.com Liberty Station American Tavern and Smokehouse - DC Ranch 20825 N. Pima Road | Scottsdale | 480-278-7044 | libertystationtavern.com Open daily for lunch and dinner, Liberty Station American Tavern and Smokehouse serves American comfort food with regional touches. Boasting two locations in Arizona, the restaurant’s bar offers vintage cocktails created in a very classic style, local craft beers and a wide array of wine options. Executive chef Anthony Apolinar (pictured at center with and director of operations Matt Keeler, left, and owner Paul Keeler, right) heads up the kitchen, creating a menu using many locally sourced ingredients. Liberty Station American Tavern and Smokehouse smokes many of its high-quality meats from Certified Angus Beef on a custom-made smoker, prominently displayed off of the restaurants’ patios.
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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Musically Fed
O
Over the past four years, Phoenix-based nonprofit organization Musically Fed has provided more than 20,000 meals to the homeless, hungry and food insecure — meals that had previously been enjoyed by U2, Kenny Chesney, The Zac Brown Band and Fleetwood Mac. Each of those music acts — and many more — partner with Musically Fed to ensure that unused backstage meals are put to good use rather than going to waste. The nonprofit organization’s mission is to mobilize the entertainment industry in the nation’s fight against hunger. After all, in the United States alone, almost 40% of the food supply is wasted each year. Musically Fed works with artists, promoters, management and venues to donate unused backstage meals to community organizations not only here in Arizona but also those across the country. The nonprofit organization identifies opportunities, procures resources and coordinates all aspects of food handling, transportation and distribution, making it easy for promoters and performers to benefit those who might otherwise be malnourished or go hungry. This year’s COVID-19 pandemic has made Musically Fed’s mission more significant than ever, as people not only in our community but also across the country — and beyond — have struggled with side effects such as loss of income and inability to find food.
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Musically Fed’s growth has been nothing short of miraculous, and I am so proud of our colleagues in the music business and our teams of volunteers for making a difference. We hope it now inspires the rest of the entertainment industry — including the fans — to get involved. Maria Brunner
However, every cloud has a silver lining. And although this particular cloud may seem darker and more ominous than any that we have ever experienced before, Musically Fed has been using its resources and program to find the silver lining in this situation, relocating and repurposing food from the myriad of canceled events that would otherwise go to waste and ensuring that those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic continue to have a source of sustenance.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Scottsdale resident Maria Brunner founded Musically Fed in 2016 in honor of her husband who was a proud Vietnam veteran. When he passed away, she suddenly realized that she — like many people in our country — did not know a whole lot about the veteran community. “I just thought that they were taken care of and that they did not have a worry in the world,” Brunner says. “But that was not true. In reaching out to other Vietnam vets in Phoenix, I learned that many of them were in need. Those who live on the street do not eat on a regular basis, and what they do eat is not necessarily healthy. Many local organizations were — and still are — struggling to help.” Brunner, who has worked in the entertainment industry for the past 30 years, began thinking about ways that she could make a difference in the lives of the many men and women who have fought for our country. She was especially interested in developing a viable program that would repurpose unused backstage catering from concerts and festivals. “You hope that you order well enough so that there is very little food to toss at the end of the night,” Brunner explains. “But the reality is that you have to be fluid based on crew needs, local crew needs and artist needs. And most good caterers will say that they never want to run out. So there
is often food that has been untouched, is very safe and could be repurposed if one thought long enough about how to do it.” Brunner reached out to Talking Stick Arena’s general manager Ralph Marchetta, Arizona Catering’s owner Mitch Katz and Jake Berry — a production manager who happened to have U2 rolling into town for rehearsals and a show — and shared with them her idea. With their help, Musically Fed was able to repurpose the unused backstage catering from U2’s rehearsals and concert and provide more than 300 meals to outreach programs in the community. Two weeks later, Brunner repeated the program for Kenny Chesney. “Kenny is a big veteran supporter,” she says. “We ended up getting them to let us try a dry run through his first night of rehearsal.” Chesney and his team liked the program and the positive feedback they received in response to it so much that they made Musically Fed their tour partner. Through their generosity, Brunner learned how to implement her mission in cities across the country. “When entertainment is up and thriving, we are normally working with three to five artists on their national tours doing in each city exactly what we do here,” adds Brunner, noting that The Zac Brown Band and Fleetwood Mac also invited Musically Fed along on their national tours to feed the homeless, hungry and food insecure throughout America. Last year alone, with the help of Terry Burke — president of Southwest music for Live Nation — and other partners, Brunner was able to serve more than 6,000 meals to Arizona charities. Notable recipients include Mana House,
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From left: Maria Brunner, executive director of Musically Fed; Bill Berry, executive director of Resurrection Street Ministry; Ty Bittner, director of operations for Levy Restaurants at Talking Stick Resort Arena; Dan Walton, Resurrection Street Ministry; Ray Ferazani, general manager of Purchasing for Levy Restaurants at Talking Stick Resort Arena and Chase Field
Ryan House, Phoenix Rescue Mission, Catholic Charities, Resurrection Street Ministry and Hospice of the Valley.
A GLIMMER OF LIGHT IN THE DARK
Musically Fed’s mission became even more significant this year when health precautions and social distancing efforts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic made members of the community who are already at risk even more vulnerable. The nonprofit organization’s publicist Andrea Kramer says that having to stay home, not having an income and not having a source of food has taken a real toll on families who were already hurting before the COVID-19 pandemic. “While most of us are fortunate enough to see the craziness at Costco and stock up our pantries, most of these families do not have that luxury,” Kramer says. However, the many concert, festival and sporting event cancelations — although devastating both in the moment and in long-term impact — suddenly resulted in an abundance of unused food. Musically Fed was in a unique position to salvage that food and find a glimmer of light during a very dark time in our history. Earlier this year, the nonprofit organization forged a partnership with Staples Center’s lead chef Manny Slomovits of Levy Restaurants, repurposing food from Grammy Award celebrations into 1,600 meals for those in need. In the wake of event cancelations at Staples Center as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Slomovits and Musically Fed combined their efforts again to assist vulnerable community members who may otherwise have been overlooked. “We discovered that there was an awful lot of food that was going to go to waste because of canceled events,” Kramer says. “We got in contact with Los Angeles Mission and The Midnight Mission and split 7,000 pounds of food between the two organizations, who see between 500 and 1,000 people each day.”
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Brunner adds that, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people who have sought the services of those organizations — and others — dramatically increased. The Staples Center’s donation alone was repurposed as 20,000 meals. Several other entertainment venues and organizations, including the Phoenix Suns, have made similar contributions to Musically Fed over the past several months. These generous contributions enabled the nonprofit to make this incredibly challenging time of ravaged supermarket shelves and school closures just a little bit easier on people — including families with children who rely on schools for daily sustenance. More recently, the organization pivoted its mission to feed local concert and live event workers — a segment of the population whose livelihood has been hit especially hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March, Musically Fed has facilitated the collection and distribution of more than 25,000 meals and hundreds of groceries for these individuals who were the first to lose their jobs and will quite likely be the last to return to them.
A PRODUCT OF OUR COMMUNITY
Brunner is grateful for and proud of the positive impact that Musically Fed has had on not only our local community but also the country, but she knows that there is much more that can be done. “I am wondering how many of these restaurants that stayed open for takeout toss food at the end of every night,” Brunner says. “If you have worked 18 hours in your shop, I do not know that you necessarily want to load [unused food] into your car and deliver it somewhere.” She encourages community members to not only support their local restaurants but take their commitment even further by asking them about unused food, educating them about repurposing efforts and even offer to deliver it to those in need. “[Musically Fed’s] growth has been nothing short of miraculous, and I am so proud of our colleagues in the music business and our teams of volunteers for making a difference,” Brunner says. “We hope it now inspires the rest of the entertainment industry — including the fans — to get involved.” She adds that when she founded the nonprofit organization more than four years ago, she intended for it to be a way for the entertainment community to make a difference in the lives of others. “My hope is through this very rough, trying, challenging and lifeshaking time, humanity overall will find that in itself, learn that we are all a product of our community and help one another,” Brunner says. musicallyfed.org
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Writer Joseph J. Airdo
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Award-winning singer-songwriter Janelle Loes is preparing to release her sophomore album early next year.
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Janelle Loes believes that social media has created a community in which we all share only the most perfectly curated images from our lives — highlights that do not tell the full story. Comparisons to these apex moments are not only inevitable but also detrimental to the self-esteem of anyone who sees them since they are impossible to live up to, pushing us apart in the process. “That is why I like songwriting,” says Loes, noting that she loves raw, introspective storytelling. “The cool thing about songwriting is that you can write about some of the more difficult things and be more honest about them. In my music, I try to be honest, genuine and relatable. I think that people really appreciate being able to see the realness and connect to that.” The award-winning singer-songwriter who lives in the Desert Ridge area is preparing to release her sophomore album early next year. Her introspective narratives speak to the heart through a distinctive style that fuses elements of jazz, pop and contemporary music. Poetic, bold and convincing, each of Loes’ songs seeks definition from life as she reflects back upon her own experiences while aspiring to help others gain clarity and comfort of theirs through commonality. Among Loes’ many achievements are a win at the 2016 Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Competition and placement within the top ten of the 2017 Rocky Mountain Songwriting Competition. Moreover, her music has been featured in a number of films and TV shows — including the Polish soap opera “Julia,” the Spanish film “Una Pistola en Cada Mano” and the Austrian documentary “Somewhere Else Tomorrow.”
A MUSICAL JOURNEY
Loes has been interested in music throughout her entire life. Growing up, she admired her four older sisters, all of whom were involved in music
and played the piano. She, too, took up the piano at 4 years old but switched to the violin and flute upon entering elementary school. As with anything in life, Loes’ musical journey was a process of exploration. And when she entered sixth grade, she finally found her niche in the guitar. It was at that early age that she also started songwriting and playing open mic nights. When she transitioned to high school, she also transitioned to more formal shows and competitions. “I started working on my first album [“Here and Now”] when I was about 15 years old,” says Loes, noting that she won the Chicks with Picks Songwriting Competition in 2010. “Through that, I won the opportunity to record demos for a couple of my songs and I ended up meeting a producer. I released the album in 2011 during my senior year of high school.” Loes acknowledges that starting a music career while still attending junior and senior classes at Horizon High School was a lot of work, but she is incredibly grateful for every moment of the experience. “It was really exciting,” she says. “All of my spare time was spent writing and working on music but it was really cool to be able to put out an album that quickly and connect with people in the community.”
FINDING THE LIGHT
After graduation, Loes entered Arizona State University’s digital culture program through which she studied both music and computer programming. All the while, she continued performing and writing music, yet another chapter in her musical journey that will culminate with the release of her sophomore album “Stranger.” “I think that there is a difference in maturity between what I wrote when I was younger and
Photo by Kaelyn Loes
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Performing music has helped Janelle Loes to become more extroverted and to construct stronger connections with other people.
Janelle Loes’ first single from her sophomore album hit digital music retailers and streaming services in March.
Photo by Raina Virginia Media
Photo byNatasha Wilson
what I am writing now,” Loes says. “I maybe had a more optimistic view of the world back then. As I grew up, I went through and experienced more things. So a lot of the songs on this album are about more difficult topics.” Loes adds that tackling difficult topics and being a downer are not the same thing, though. “As a writer, I always try to find the light, the positive or the lesson,” she explains. “I always try to have my music have some sort of positivity so that my listeners can feel comforted in whatever they are going through.” Loes had been looking forward to releasing “Stranger” this fall but restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic — including an extended studio closure — led to her having to postpone the full album’s launch with final tracks until early next year. However, true to form, the singer-songwriter has even managed to find the light in this most unprecedented situation. “This year has been a much more unpredictable time to release music than anticipated,” she explains. “[But] because of the extended launch, I will be releasing more singles in the months leading up to the album release — which will be a great opportunity to share more backstory on the tracks and spotlight more individual songs.”
CATALYSTS FOR EMOTIONS
Loes’ first single from her sophomore album hit digital music retailers and streaming services in March. Titled “Criminal,” the song addresses what it feels like to be viewed through a lens of criticism, always having to work extra hard to disprove another person’s harsh judgments, stereotypes and assumptions. “It talks about being in a relationship and having that frustration of always feeling like you have to prove yourself and contrasts that with the metaphor of actually being a criminal who is on trial,” Loes explains.
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It is sad to not be able to connect with people in the community face-to-face, but it is cool to be able to connect with people all over the world at the same time and respond to all of their comments. Janelle Loes
“Criminal” reaches beyond just romantic relationships with a storyline that can be interpreted to reflect relationships between friends, family members and even professionals. A second single was released in May. Titled “The One You Call Your Love,” the song — which Loes described as a retro Beach Boys-influenced duet with Minneapolisbased singer-songwriter Kevin Steinman — is a narrative about two people who are too embarrassed to be open with their emotions. “I think that some people are just more reserved and no one wants to be the person who cares the most,” Loes says. “So the song is a subtly flirtatious duet about two people in a relationship who are not sure how the other person feels because they are not being open with their feelings themselves.”
A fifth single — “Leverage,” a sweetly sinister tango written from the perspective of a blackmailer — is due out in November.
RESILIENCE AND OTHER LESSONS
Loes had intended to promote her singles through a series of intimate concerts at various venues across Arizona but social distancing measures put a temporary pause on those plans. However, that did not stop Loes from continuing to connect with the community. In fact, the singer-songwriter’s weekly live performances via Instagram allowed her to expand that connection to fans all around the world — proving that social media, when used correctly, can pull us together instead of push us apart.
Loes adds that, like the majority of her music, the song has a positive spin. She also says it is filled with ragtime piano and big background vocals.
“It is sad to not be able to connect with people in the community face-to-face, but it is cool to be able to connect with people all over the world at the same time and respond to all of their comments,” she says.
“It has a completely different feel from ‘Criminal,” she says. “It is fun to have that contrast between the two songs.”
Loes says that songwriting has helped her to not only be more resilient but also to learn from her experiences.
Loes released a third single — “Rough Sketch,” a rock-tinged song that centers around standing up for your self-worth and choosing to be unshaken by ill-intentioned criticism from others — in September, showing even more range in her music.
“Anytime I am writing, I put a lot of thought back into whatever occurred or whatever inspired the song,” she explains. “That process has helped me learn a lot about myself.”
Later this month, Loes will release her sophomore album’s title track “Stranger,” which discusses how people have many sides and how we often only see a small piece of the puzzle. “The song touches on how at times when we see someone in a new light it can uncover disappointing truths,” the singersongwriter says. “This can be the catalyst for a strange mixture of emotions as you try to learn from the past and face new revelations while still grieving the memory of the person you once saw.”
She adds that performing her music has helped her to become more extroverted and to construct stronger connections with other people. “I also think that both writing and performing have helped me to become a better listener,” Loes says. “As an artist, I am always thinking about other people’s experiences and how people will relate to my songs.” janelleloes.com
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Next to a dead tree, you often see new growth sprouting. The cycle continues whether we are here or not. Dave Theroux Writer Joseph J. Airdo
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An image of a leafless tree often conveys an incredibly eerie mood. Frequently associated with Halloween, the sight of a dark trunk of wood with bare branches twisting into the sky closely resembles a large, ominous creature with fingers or tentacles reaching up in preparation to capture you. There are very few inanimate objects that are as intimidating., Even in the absence of dark clouds and shadows, leafless trees send shivers down the spines of most onlookers. Of course, movies like “The Wizard of Oz,” “A Monster Calls” and even “Guardians of the Galaxy” have not helped their image. Leafless trees also suggest something far less spooky but still linked to this time of the year. After the hottest Phoenix summer to date ever on record, a chill can finally be felt in the air as autumn descends upon us. Green leaves change color and eventually fall off their branches completely, leaving behind an inevitable symbol of the season. This year, however, leafless trees take on an entirely new meaning. Whether it is truly dead or simply awaiting new growth in the spring, leafless trees encourage us to see the world around us in an entirely new light.
Photographer Dave Theroux acknowledges the menacing and gloomy connections leafless trees possess, but he is also able to see past all of that to bear witness to their inherent beauty. His artistic angles reveal the enchantment of these trees as he also captures their unique textures and fascinating shapes. He also often spots new growth sprouting nearby or a glimmer of green hiding on the top of seemingly dead trees, illustrating that life always finds a way. These are undoubtedly very strange times. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way that many of us live. Social distancing and face coverings appear to be the new normal — at least for the time being — and 2020 gives off quite a grim appearance. But that is all a matter of perspective. Just look at the many persevering businesspeople and benevolent ways that our neighbors have helped one another as featured throughout this issue of Images Arizona. Dire as it may seem, there is beauty in this situation — just as there is beauty in leafless trees. We hope that Theroux’s breathtaking work featured in this month’s photo essay inspires you to see both.
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Leafless trees convey a certain mood. I took most of these photos in October and November of different years. It is often cold and there may be a little bit of snow on the ground. They convey that fall gloom, if you will. Dave Theroux
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I am fascinated with all of the foliage out here — the leafless trees as well as the trees that look like they have been dead for years but are still green on top. I am fascinated by the textures and the shapes that they end up in. It is just really interesting. Dave Theroux
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Sedona resident Dave Theroux is never without his camera. “Anytime my wife and I go hiking or travel, I always have my camera with me,” says Theroux, noting that he often explores Arizona’s beautiful desert land. “I need to take pictures while I am out there. For me, it is just part of the hike.” Theroux first became enamored with photography when he was just 12 years old. He particularly enjoyed black and white photography and spending time in the dark room back when he was still shooting on film. As a teenager, he contributed to his high school yearbook and even entered his work into a few contests. He enjoyed the artform so much that he took several courses on the subject upon entering college. After graduation, Theroux pursued a career as a software architect — something that he says has had a slight benefit on his photography. “It helps with understanding the software that is involved in processing images after they have been taken,” he says. As Theroux was encountered with life’s other obligations, his interest in photography began to ebb and flow. “I would pick it up and take a lot of pictures and then put it away and forget about it for a while,” he explains. “Then I would eventually come back to it again.” Two years ago, Theroux and his wife moved from New Hampshire to Sedona — a move that has had a profoundly positive impact on his photography. “It is very different living here than living on the East Coast,” says Theroux, noting that the weather and climate lend themselves to plenty of exploratory hikes. “Moving to Sedona has rekindled my interest in photography. It is hard not to take pictures here. There is just so much to see and so much to photograph.” Although the 56-year-old has dabbled in some astrophotography, his interest lies — as it always has — primarily in nature and landscape photography more than anything else. “I enjoy going out into the desert outside of Sedona toward Lake Powell, Page, and Petrified Forest [National Park],” Theroux says. “The Grand Canyon is, of course, spectacular as well, although difficult to photograph just because there is so much of it. Since my wife and I have been out here, we have been slowly exploring as much as we can.” davidtheroux.smugmug.com
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Gedion Nyanhongo is one of 140 artists participating in Arizona’s largest and longest-running artist studio tour, Hidden in the Hills, during the last two weekends of November.
Writer Sue Kern-Fleischer Photography Courtesy of Gedion Nyanhongo
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Stone outlives everyone, and I love that. There is a living force in every single stone, wherever it lives. There’s a special reason for that stone to be in that area.
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Gedion Nyanhongo
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In Zimbabwe, there’s a Shona tribe proverb, “Kumhanya hakuzi kusvika,” which loosely translates to, “Running is not getting there.” The wise proverb teaches an important lesson about taking time to set a clear direction, something acclaimed stone sculptor Gedion Nyanhongo does daily. For this masterful Shona artist, it is an honor to work with indigenous stone mined in Zimbabwe, and it is imperative that he give each stone ample time to reveal its purpose. Because Nyanhongo’s sculptures focus on all of the things that collectively make up the bigger picture — life, love and the sensations that define us all — he never rushes the process.
Nyanhongo is one of 140 artists participating in Arizona’s largest and longest-running artist studio tour, Hidden in the Hills, during the last two weekends of November. Coordinated by the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League, this year’s 24th annual, free, self-guided tour takes place at 35 socially-distanced, private studios throughout the scenic Desert Foothills communities of Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale. All of the artists are eagerly anticipating the studio tour, particularly at a time when many arts and entertainment events have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A guest artist at Toni Perrin’s Studio 7 in Carefree, Nyanhongo will unveil new, breathtaking sculptures outside in Perrin’s spacious courtyard.
LEARNING FROM THE BEST
Nyanhongo grew up near a quarry in Nyanga, Zimbabwe, Africa. He was the sixth child and first boy in a large, loving and artistic family. From a young age, he was influenced by his father, Claud Nyanhongo — a prominent artist among the first generation sculptors who were pioneers of the unique Zimbabwean Shona sculpture movement that began in the late 1950s. “My father was my greatest mentor,” Nyanhongo says. “I was always in his studio, watching him closely and asking a lot of questions. Whenever I would question why he was carving or chiseling a certain way, he would tell me that the stone was speaking to him.” Nyanhongo also learned important life lessons from his father, who passed away at age 86 in May 2019. “My father was a multi-talented man who left so much for humanity,” says Nyanhongo, noting that his father taught his nation’s members self-reliance through art and agriculture. “He worked many jobs and had a good heart. He believed in passing the torch so that our village would be better than it was.” After high school, Nyanhongo approached his father and told him that he wanted to be an artist. His father instructed him to learn skills that he could fall back on to make a living, so Nyanhongo enrolled in college to study auto mechanics.
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Thinking About the Future - Facing Right Gedion Nyanhongo
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RESIDENTIAL “After college, I approached my father again to tell him I was serious about working as a professional artist,” Nyanhongo says. “He told me to pick one medium and become the best in the world.” Although Nyanhongo had some experience working with metal and wood, he ultimately chose stone as his medium. “Stone outlives everyone, and I love that,” Nyanhongo explains. “There is a living force in every single stone, wherever it lives. There’s a special reason for that stone to be in that area. Stones also have a special significance to Zimbabweans.”
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Nyanhongo’s father arranged an apprenticeship for his son with internationally-acclaimed sculptor Joseph Ndandarika. “That was a turning point in my career as I learned different styles and techniques from another master sculptor and mentor,” Nyanhongo says. “After that, I developed my own style — which is influenced by both my father and Joseph, but is distinctly mine.”
A SPECIAL RESPECT FOR EACH STONE
Nyanhongo draws inspiration from nature and humanity. Using opal stone, springstone and Zimbabwe (Nyanga) stone, he handcarves one-of-a-kind sculptures that take on the form of whimsical animals, people, spirits and plants as well as some abstract objects. “I love the challenge of working with stone,” he says. “I take my time to connect with it and make sure I understand what it wants to be. These stones are thousands of years old, waiting to unleash their feelings. Even before I put my chisel on one, I want to be sure of its purpose. I flip it over, turn it around, turn it sideways and upside down, looking at hidden angles and clues for what it wants to say to the world.”
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Sculptor Gedion Nyanhongo draws inspiration from nature and humanity.
Love Blossoming - Front Gedion Nyanhongo
Dignity by Gedion Nyanhongo
Once a stone reveals its purpose, Nyanhongo gives it his full concentration, working only by hand with simple tools — never machines. “When I start working with a stone, I dive in and sometimes I lose track of time,” he says. “It’s as if the stone is swallowing me up and taking me on a special journey with it.” Nyanhongo’s career took off with a debut exhibition in 1989 at the Mabwe Gallery in Harare, Zimbabwe. He has since shown his works in solo and group exhibitions around the world — including England, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, South Africa and the United States. His sculptures are also on permanent display at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the Phoenix Zoo.
EXPERIENCE
24th Annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour
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Nov. 20–22 and Nov. 27–29 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Private studios throughout Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale Maps and artist directories available online and at Sonoran Arts League’s Center for the Arts, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Suite 144, Cave Creek a g e s a r i z o n| a480-575-6624 . c o m Oc tob e r| hiddeninthehills.org 2 02 0 Freei m Admission
MAKING A NEW LIFE IN ARIZONA
By January 2007, Nyanhongo had a family of his own. They started a new life in Arizona with much to celebrate. “We had the best welcome ever,” the artist says. “It was my most successful year in sales and exposure, with exhibitions at Sky Harbor Airport, the Phoenix Zoo [and] the Desert Botanical Gardens, and shows at Zuva Gallery in el Pedregal.” One year later, everything changed with the global economic shock of the Great Recession. Art sales declined dramatically and Nyanhongo took various jobs just to survive. However, he kept his entrepreneurial spirit alive and came up with innovative ways to market his art. “At one point, I was working as a discount cab driver,” Nyanhongo explains. “I made pamphlets that showcased my work. When I dropped tourists off at hotels, I’d give them a pamphlet and invite them to tour my studio.” As the economy strengthened, demand for Nyanhongo’s work increased to the point where he was even able to open a gallery in Sedona for a short time.
CELEBRATING LOVE
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, Nyanhongo has been taking precautions with visitors to his Phoenix studio. He hopes that guests of the Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour will find his soulful sculptures to be a soothing relief. “My sculptures celebrate love — especially family love and the spiritual power it provides to promote peace in my art,” says Nyanhongo, noting that he will be demonstrating during the artist studio tour. “I’ve had ample time to focus on dynamite, beautiful pieces ranging in size from very small and tabletop sculpture to large, monumental pieces. I’m excited to unveil these new pieces and share my Shona culture and art with guests to our studio.” gediongalleries.com October 2020
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The Arizona Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters earlier this year awarded poet Judith G. Wolf its top honor — the Medallion of Merit.
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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Chris Loomis
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GETTING READY TO SHARE
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Judith G. Wolf knows that art is one of the most effective tools for healing on our planet. That is why for the past 30 years, she has not only been using poetry and music to make moving statements about the shared human experience but also finding ways to utilize art to improve the lives of some of our society’s most vulnerable members.
By Judith G. Wolf
It's a private thing throwing away the clothes giving them away to the needy the infirm the ne'er-do-wells the folks hanging around the street corners with signs asking for help. Should I give them a shirt or a sock or maybe even two. Will it help the loneliness to know that someone else is wearing a pair of shorts he should be wearing even now.
“I've always been interested in emotional development and healing and find when we connect as humans, particularly through the arts, amazing healing occurs,” Wolf says. “We have such universal emotions and experiences, and whether you are a new father, a widow, or a young child trying to fit in, somehow we've all been there.” The Arizona Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters earlier this year awarded Wolf its top honor — the Medallion of Merit. The award recognizes the poet for her lifetime commitment to the arts, which includes developing young visual and performing artists and showcasing their work to inspire confidence, promote expression and achieve recognition from the community. “I couldn't quite believe it,” Wolf says of the moment she found out she had been selected for the award. “It is a statement of credibility. It is not easy for poets to get out there. This helps me to have many more people know about my work. And it is also nice to be acknowledged.” The Greater Arizona Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters is a volunteer-led, nonprofit organization of arts patrons, advocates and professionals
who assist promising artists though competitions, financial assistance, master classes and career opportunities. More than 350 deserving artists in Arizona have, together, received more than $250,000 from the chapter since its founding in 1966. Other 2020 honorees include arts advocacy organization The Herberger Theatre Center, arts advocacy individual Mollie Trivers and arts educator Dale Dreyfoos.
THE HEALING POWER OF ART
Wolf has had an interest in the arts throughout her entire life. She initially tried her hand at painting but eventually determined that her work could never compete with that of her mother and sister — both of whom are artists — and decided to tread a different path. She earned a doctorate in educational psychology and pursued work in education research, which is where she spent the majority of her career. However, she maintained an interest in the arts — particularly in music — and eventually found herself in the position of executive director for the Greater Buffalo Opera Company in New York. More than 20 years ago, Wolf moved to Phoenix and maintained her involvement in the arts through work with choral, symphonic and opera organizations. She also sought to use art to make a dramatic difference in the lives of children. In addition to serving on several organizations’ boards of trustees —
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Judith G. Wolf is president and CEO of Young Arts Arizona, a nonprofit organization that she cofounded in 1998 that seeks to improve children's lives through the visual arts.
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FOREVER GONE By Judith G. Wolf
Borne by gentle breezes coasting on a down draft coating the wings of doves carried away by the tide. Are you in a storm cloud in a raindrop or in another womb waiting to be born?
To date, Judith G. Wolf has four published poetry collections: “Tidbits — A Pleasing and Not So Pleasing Morsel of Life,” “Otherwise: Poems About Life,” “Weeping Shadows” and “I Hate Being in Love Alone.”
including HonorHealth Foundation, The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and Arizona Opera — Wolf is president and CEO of Young Arts Arizona, a nonprofit organization that she co-founded in 1998 that seeks to improve children's lives through the visual arts. Young Arts Arizona serves children in medical facilities who have severe and life-limiting illnesses, conditions and injuries, as well as with children who are disadvantaged, homeless, abused, orphaned, detained, mentally and learning disabled. The organization teaches art, thereby encouraging children to creatively express feelings around their challenging situations. “While they are making the art, it is freeing their creative spirit,” Wolf explains. “For example, when the children in hospitals are making art, they are not thinking about the fact that they may be in pain or that they may have an IV drip. It allows them to come outside of themselves a little bit and have some enjoyment.” Young Arts Arizona exhibits the artwork that the children create in 41 galleries in theaters, hospitals, courtrooms and other public buildings across Arizona.
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THE RETREAT By Judith G. Wolf
I LOOK for you. Incessantly watching for the light to let me know you are near, watching over me. BUT you are not in this world as you float above the inner voice that chatters incessantly letting you know I scream for you while you ignore the world for a month of reprieve as we rot among the sodden leaves of everyday.
“Knowing that their art is going to be exhibited helps the children feel good about themselves,” Wolf says. “It helps to validate themselves as meaningful people in the community. And that is our goal — to help make kids feel good about themselves.”
FROM MELANCHOLY TO EUPHORIA
Along her journey helping to heal others, Wolf also found her own niche in the arts — one that uses words instead of a paintbrush. To date, she has four published poetry collections: “Tidbits — A Pleasing and Not So Pleasing Morsel of Life,” “Otherwise: Poems About Life,” “Weeping Shadows” and “I Hate Being in Love Alone.”
Wolf has also seen her poetry set to music on multiple occasions. Last year, composer Kenneth Fuch used Wolf’s “Otherwise: Poems About Life” as part of his “Spiritualist” album — a collaboration that went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium. “Bringing the musical component to my work is the most gratifying,” Wolf says. “Either through a song cycle or an operatic aria, when a feeling or idea is underscored with a musical melody that has tremendous ability to evoke what I'm trying to express. From melancholy to the heights of euphoria, this is the most powerful connection an artist can make.”
“Each one is about different stages and feelings in life,” Wolf says. “These are things that just pop into my head. Some artists just start with a blank canvas and begin painting. That is how my poetry is. It just comes into my head and I start writing.”
The poet has a lot to be proud of and can now add the Arizona Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters’ Medallion of Merit to her growing list of accomplishments. However, she remains humble. She also remains committed to using art to make the world a better, more understanding and ultimately happier place.
Her latest poetry collection — “I Hate Being in Love Alone” — speaks to the range of emotions experienced after a partner has passed and the strength required to carry on. With glimpses into the daily existence of grief, Wolf paints imagery of deeply intimate moments as a spouse seeks to move forward alone.
“The role of art is to transform our experiences and to transport us to new places,” Wolf says. “It is for enjoyment and relaxation. And it is to help counteract all of the bad stuff that is going on in the world. Art makes people happy.
The collection also touches the core of life, love lost and the future which follows. As with all of her work, Wolf hopes that each reader is able to find a connection to the poems in some way, shape or form and gain some cathartic insight from the perceptions, truthfulness, humor and heart contained within them.
“It has certainly helped my sense of humor a lot. That is for sure. I am pretty self-aware. You have to be in order to open your soul and put it on paper.” judithgwolf.com
October 2020
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Baked Meatballs Try this great alternative to pan-fried meatballs. They are healthier and result in much less mess, cutting cleanup time! Use seasoned bread crumbs or experiment with your favorite herbs and spices to amp up the flavor and make them your own! Makes: 30–35 meatballs
Ingredients: 1 pound grass-fed ground beef 1 cup regular or gluten-free breadcrumbs 1/2 cup parmesan cheese (finely grated) 1/2 cup milk 2 eggs (beaten) 2 tablespoons dried parsley 1 clove garlic (minced) 1 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with heavy-duty foil and spray well with cooking spray or coat with olive oil. In a medium bowl, crumble ground beef. Add bread crumbs and parmesan cheese, tossing to mix. In a measuring cup combine milk, eggs, parsley, garlic and salt and pepper. Add to meat mixture and mix just to combine. Using a medium ice cream or cookie scoop, scoop mixture onto prepared pan. Place meatballs fairly close together, as this will fill up a baking sheet. Bake for 25–30 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool slightly. Enjoy!
Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly
kyndraclaire.com
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