31 minute read
Sci-fi Trilogy of Utopia Taliesin, Arcosanti & Telosa
AA stone and stucco building rises up from the desert landscape, reminiscent of a Mesoamerican pyramid. Frosted glass panels stretch across the sloping roofs, lined and detailed with rust-red metal. An isosceles triangular pool filled with sparkling turquoise water tempts visitors to take a refreshing dip and escape the Arizona heat.
This is Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home, tucked away in the mountains of Scottsdale. Frank Lloyd
Wright was an American architect and designer. He designed more than 1,000 structures over a 70-year timeline.
His belief was to create organic architecture — designs that were in harmony with humanity and the environment.
Wright’s collection of essays “In the Cause of Architecture” detailed six core propositions of organicity. In it, he wrote,
“The notion of organic not as a thing, but as the character of a thing, living and active as an intrinsic quality that emerges in varied forms responsive to the surrounding environment.”
This concept became Wright’s driving principle. Just like any living thing that grows from within and adapts to its environment, Wright’s philosophy demonstrates his affinity for organic architecture that works in tandem with its surrounding environment.
Photo by Jill Richards Wright’s primary family home located in Wisconsin is known as the original Taliesin. When Wright began to suffer from pneumonia in his 70s, his doctor suggested that he find a more temperate place to live during the winter months. Arizona became his new home and Taliesin West was born. After visiting Arizona in the past, he returned in 1937 to stake out a potential spot in Scottsdale in the shadow of the surrounding mountains. He fell in love with the location, and construction on Taliesin West officially began in January of 1938. “It changed constantly,” says Jeff Goodman, Vice President of Communication and Partnerships at Taliesin West. “[Wright] viewed it as his desert laboratory where he could experiment with different materials… before putting them into his architectural projects. He’d come back every fall
BY ANNA DORL
and change some aspect of Taliesin West. It even continued through his death—that’s how Wright wanted it to be.” Taliesin West was the original location of Wright’s School of Architecture, which moved to Arcosanti in June of 2020. Wright’s philosophy on how he believed architects should be educated revolved around the idea of learning by doing. In line with this, the architecture students were required to construct their own living quarters as part of their curriculum.
“The shelters evolved from simple white tents in the desert where students used to stay,” says Goodman. “They’d build during the day and sleep there at night, and then they decided to make their own modifications to them. That program grew to become an opportunity to make your own mistakes in your own structure and learn from them.” Each dwelling was uniquely constructed, designed, and decorated by each student. Today, the original structures built by Wright and his students have been preserved and left alone, but Taliesin still revolves around innovation and experimentation in the name of knowledge. “The whole experience of being at...Taliesin West was about learning to be more than an architect, it was about learning to be a productive citizen of the world,” says Goodman. “[The architecture students] designed, built, prepared meals, served, and performed in theaters, all as part of Wright’s educational philosophy.” Today, Taliesin West looks different than it did in its heyday, but true to Wright’s vision, it continues to be a powerhouse of architectural education.
“Visitors get to experience one of Wright’s most personal creations [here],” Goodman says. “He didn’t [build] it for a client, he made it for himself, his family, and apprentices.” Goodman looks forward to resuming tours of the historic and more current shelters, which paused because of COVID-19 concerns. “We’ll be seeing a new version of the shelter program and other new things too,” he says. Currently, Taliesin West offers a K-12 STEAM program and seasonal camps, allowing kids of all ages to learn through both virtual and in-person options. Visit www.franklloydwright.org for more information about Taliesin West.
Arcosanti
An urban laboratory in the desert of Arizona
BY MAJA PEIRCE
IIn the Arizona desert, approximately 70 miles north of Phoenix, lies an experimental city that could easily be mistaken for the set of a Star Wars movie. Arcosanti is an urban laboratory designed by Italian-
American architect Paolo Soleri.
Soleri was an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin West, Wright’s winter home in Scottsdale. Following his departure from the fellowship, Soleri founded his architectural studio and non-profit foundation Cosanti and opened Arcosanti in 1970, modeling it on Taliesin’s facilities and his long-standing dream of “arcology.” Arcology, a term coined by Soleri, fuses architecture with ecology. Conceptually, it revolves around an ideal city contained within one towering vertical structure. It uses passive solar architectural techniques such as the apse effect, greenhouse architecture, and garment architecture to reduce the energy usage of the city in terms of heating, lighting, and cooling. While most architects today build from the ground up, Soleri built his structures in quite the opposite way. Many of his structures at Cosanti were built below ground level and surrounded by mounds of earth, which acts as natural insulation to better moderate the dwelling's interior temperatures. The Dome House, built in 1949 in Cave Creek, Arizona, was the first example of Soleri’s semi-subterranean structures.
Soleri built Arcosanti to be the future of architecture and community, dreaming of the day it would house over 5,000 residents. 50 years later, it has consistently only been able to retain 50 residents at any given time. The Arcosanti community describes itself as a “deliberate critique of the rampant culture of consumerism [Soleri] saw taking hold in the world.” However, to this day, it still relies on the consumerism and economy of the outside world by selling bronze bells as its main source of income, while also
renting rooms out on AirBnB and hosting raves. While the concept of Arcology denounces the use of cars and describes them as “the death of society,” the Arcosanti community still uses one to make a 70-mile trip for groceries. Within the past year, the School of Architecture, which grew out of the Taliesin Fellowship created by Frank Lloyd Wright, moved to Cosanti and Arcosanti. Its previous campuses were located at Taliesin West in Scottsdale and at Wright’s family home, Taliesin, in Wisconsin. With fluid sandcast domes and forms carved directly out of the desert, garden courtyards, and terraced landscaping, the campuses have the potential to inspire students in individual experimental design and building structure tailored to a specific landscape. “In a way, both these places were built with that area in mind with spaces for studying and doing project work, facilities for arts and crafts, and practicing construction of architecture,” says Chris Lasch, the president of the School of Architecture. “For us, the thing that makes our program most unique is that it immerses nature. All our students live, work, and learn together on campus. That was the tone set at Taliesin West, but Arcosanti and Cosanti are also a great fit in that way.” For students at the School of Architecture, this means growing their craft in a learning environment that encourages them in individual pursuits of design experimentation, such as participating in the Shelter Experience. The Shelter Experience is a thesis program that has existed since 2016, continuing the legacy of the Taliesin Fellowship historical Student Shelter Program originally at Taliesin West. While attending school, some students live in, help build, and maintain student-built shelters scattered across the campus. These structures have been designed in response to the desert landscape and climate by students, and a faculty structural engineer evaluates the plans to ensure the building is structurally sound. Students learn how a design progresses, from schematic design through construction documents and approval permits, all the way to the construction phase in real time. The School of Architecture believes that this type of living arrangement provides students with a spontaneous exchange of ideas between themselves and faculty members. With a graduating class of approximately six architects, the School of Architecture is a tight-knit community. They coordinate formal evening events and invite prestigious architects and firms to network with students. This tradition started with Wright, and the Taliesin Fellowship and has been replicated and further developed in the years since his passing. The structures built under the Shelter Project undoubtedly add value to the students’ curriculum, yet the concept goes against Arcosanti being “an ideal city contained within one towering vertical structure.” After all this time, Paolo Soleri’s dream didn’t exactly happen the way he envisioned it, yet Arcosanti still remains as a reminder of what could be. The School of Architecture hopes to pursue new projects with Arcosanti both architecturally and agriculturally. Looking to the future, perhaps by inspiring experimental design projects by future architects, it can be a stepping stone for what is to come.
Telosa
A New Utopia
BY CAROL KAHN
BBack in the 1960s, an animated television show called “The Jetsons” was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions. The cartoon featured a family living in a utopian future—housing in the sky, a three-day work week, and robotic housekeepers, as well as driving aero cars that looked like flying saucers. The Jetsons were living a space-aged life in Orbit City in 2062, exactly 100 years into the future.
Renderings courtesy Telosa
In 1970, the Cosanti Foundation began building Arcosanti, an experimental town in the high desert of Arizona, 70 miles north of Phoenix. It was an attempt at “arcology,” integrating the design of architecture with respect to ecology. Arcosanti was the testing ground for Paolo Soleri’s progressive urban planning concepts. He believed that in nature, as organisms evolve, they increase in complexity and become more compact. He felt that a city should similarly evolve, functioning as a living system. By incorporating arcology, he determined that many problems of urban civilization — population growth, pollution, energy/natural resource depletion, food scarcity, and quality of life — would be remedied. Soleri argued that cities should be compact, car-free, low impact, and civically minded. Arcosanti was planned to become a city of 5,000. Its population barely reached 150, and by 2008, it had come to a standstill. In Nevada’s central Black Rock Desert, once a year, for one week, a Mad Max-esque city rises out of a salt bed. It becomes a full-fledged, thriving metropolis. More than 70,000 people converge, forging a community of those who are dedicated to celebrating creativity, self-expression, cultural differences, and knowledge sharing while releasing social stigma—all to create this massive, sustainable, eco-friendly, self-aware, and amazing experience. Regardless of its impermanence, everyone who sets up camp has a set of ten principles to follow. Fast-forward to September 1, 2021. Media outlets around the world began reporting that a new city was on the horizon—a city that will house five million people and cost over $400 billion to build. The city is named Telosa, after a word derived from the Greek word “telos,” meaning “higher purpose.”
Telosa is the brainchild of Marc Lore, a serial entrepreneur and investor whose company Jet.com was acquired by Walmart in 2016 for $3.3 billion. Lore believes that combining the best of different cities around the world—the vibrancy and diversity of New York City and the efficiency, cleanliness and safety of Tokyo, combined with the social services, sustainability, and governance model of Stockholm—he will create the most open, fair, and inclusive city in the world. “Cities, to date, that have been built from scratch are more like real estate projects. They don’t start with people from the center because if they started with people at the center, they would think—what is the mission and what are the values? The mission for Telosa is to create a more equitable and sustainable future. That’s our North Star and that will never change,” Lore said. Lore speaks of equitism, where everyone has the opportunity for unlimited growth. Imagine living in a city with an economic system in which citizens have a stake in the land; as the city does better, the residents do better. “We are taking a stab at what we call equitism. What if you could pay the same taxes that you can today but get the best social services of any country in the world? We are testing this new model for society and at the same time building a city from a clean slate.”
Imagine a city, 30 years from now, where a photovoltaic roof, elevated water storage, and aeroponic farms enable the structure to share and distribute all it produces. Where the city parks host carefully managed reservoirs that store water for the city and provide all residents with open space within minutes of where they live. Where streets prioritize bikes and pedestrians. Slow-moving autonomous cars safely share the street with people and nature. Training centers, cultural institutions and retail stores spill out onto the street, where shaded public spaces encourage residents to come together. Lore says that he wants people to have a sense of pride in the city [of Telosa] because the city lives by a set of values that resonate within them. Joining in his vision is Bjarke Ingels. His company, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), employs a group of architects, designers, and builders who operate within the fields of architecture, urbanism, research and development. Ingels defines architecture as the art and science of making sure our cities and buildings fit with the way we want to live our lives. In 2011, The Wall Street Journal named Ingels Innovator of the Year for architecture, and in 2016 Time named him one of the 100 Most Influential People. Currently, the group is looking for locations within the U.S. to build their metropolis. Reports of exactly where are swirling like dust devils forming in the desert. So far, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Texas are at the top of the list. Lore’s goal is to set the global standard for urban living and to expand human potential by becoming a blueprint for future generations. His goal is to have the first phase of this development ready by 2030—which is less than nine years from now. As the mission to build a different kind of city is in forward motion, one can’t help but wonder if a brand-new city that implements diversity, equity, inclusion, and equitism will change the way humans look at the world and interact better with one another. Or, will Telosa become another Arcosanti? With the experimentation of Burning Man, therein lies hope. If the highest purpose of a great city is to create a new world order where people can flourish together, then perhaps Telosa will become a new utopia for us all. However, living in a swanky cloud house, working three days a week and driving around in an aero car might not be that bad either.
Diverting 20,000 Tons of Waste
Photos courtesy Hotel Valley Ho
Eco-conscious Scottsdale Valley Ho Hotel preserves mid-century modern architecture
BY MARY STANGER
OOriginally built in 1956, Hotel Valley Ho hosted stars like Bing Crosby, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, and Zsa Zsa Gabor. The hotel was almost destroyed before new ownership took over and made the decision to restore the building instead.
“Twenty thousand tons of waste was saved when the hotel was restored in 2005 rather than being torn down,” says Hotel Valley Ho Director of PR and Communications, Kristin Heggli. “The property went up for sale in 2002 and almost went to another buyer who had plans to demolish it, so this was a very real concern.” Today, the hotel is known as “one of the best-preserved mid-century hotels in the country” and boasts a myriad of sustainability features. Designed by renowned local architect Edward L. Varney, who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright and was known for his minimalist style, the original hotel featured 180 rooms—some with kitchenettes—and all with black-andwhite TVs. The hotel was also the first in Scottsdale to have central air conditioning. The original design plans included a tower, but it was not completed until 2008 after the building had been restored. Today the “Tower” is a luxury feature of the hotel offering the “ultimate boutique experience” with rooms overlooking Camelback Mountain and downtown Scottsdale.
The $80-million restoration of the hotel began in 2004 and was completed 49 years to the date of the original hotel opening: December 20, 2005. The conference space and 120 rooms that had been added in the 1970s under Ramada ownership were not restored, as they were not considered historically significant and were not part of the original Valley Ho. A restaurant (ZuZu), pool (OH Pool), and spa (VH Spa) were all added during this reconstruction as well.
ECO-CONSCIOUS FEATURES In addition to the trendy, mid-century architecture and design, the hotel is eco-friendly. An estimated 200 gallons of waste per room, per month, is produced by hotels, but Hotel Valley Ho strives to remain environmentally focused. “We are always evaluating new opportunities to reduce energy, water, and waste,” says Heggli. The hotel conserves water by making use of low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets. In addition, guests can choose to have linens reused rather than washed every day. Once the linens are too worn to continue using, the hotel donates them to local domestic violence and animal shelters for their use.
ECO-FRIENDLY INSIDE AND OUT Hotel Valley Ho is truly eco-friendly inside and out, using no herbicides or pesticides in their landscaping as well as green-certified cleaning products inside. The kitchen staff recycles cooking oil, compost waste, and makes use of the chef’s herb garden in addition to sourcing many ingredients from local food purveyors, reducing “food miles,” and saving energy. Additionally, dual-pane glass throughout and energy-efficient lighting add to their conservation efforts. Collectively, the hotel recycles up to four tons of materials every month!
CLEAN THE WORLD Partnering with the Clean the World recycling program not only helps further the hotel’s conservation and recycling efforts but also provides for those in need. Through this program, soap, shampoo, and other items are collected from hotel rooms, cleaned, and then donated to domestic homeless shelters and to over 50 developing countries. Last year, Hotel Valley Ho alone donated over 1,100 pounds of soap. Locally owned and independently operated, the hotel is Green Certified and has been the recipient of the Environmental Excellence Awards Program, Valley Forward Association Merit Award, and the Good Earthkeeping Award. For more information, visit www.hotelvalleyho.com.
ASU Art Museum Uses Art to Inspire Climate Action
BY ADRIANA BACHMANN
Postcommodity installation at the ASU Art Museum's Ceramics Research Center.
AArt is powerful. So powerful that it has the potential to influence our politics, society, and culture. All significant movements for positive change are often accompanied by outpourings of artistic expression that help convey powerful messages and inspire action.
Photo courtesy ASU Art Museum
The Arizona State University Art Museum has a robust art and sustainability initiative, which regularly features artists in their exhibitions that consistently engage with the ongoing and complex challenges of sustainability. Is it any wonder that many believe them to be a catalyst for dialogue and change? For over 20 years, the ASU Art Museum has presented a series of projects that have focused on the broad issues of sustainability. These projects have encouraged artists and the public alike to rethink the pressing issues of climate change, climate justice, biodiversity, and more. Exhibitions range from artists reflecting and commenting on these issues to providing concrete solutions, working individually or in large groups. At any given moment, artists may work inside the museum or directly engage with organizations, communities, or the natural environment.
Heather Sealy Lineberry, Curator Emeritus at the ASU Art Museum, said the project “Defining Sustainability” from 2009 was a true testament to the museum’s art and sustainability initiative. She explained that it opened at a time where the term “sustainability” was starting to slip into the public’s vernacular, shifting away from its strict use in policy. This shift invited artists and designers to explore the larger concept of sustainability through a range of formats and materials.
“Defining Sustainability” was a series of exhibitions that focused on the complexity of sustaining life on Earth, and highlighted issues of sustainability specific to the desert and other environments. A few features from the series included a project called “Native Confluence: Sustaining Cultures” created by a group of contemporary indigenous artists that spoke to an indigenous and holistic worldview of practicing sustainability, as well as a project called “Political Ply” created by design students who got the chance to create shade structures using recycled political posters. Overall,
“Defining Sustainability” did a spectacular job of touching on a breadth of subjects within sustainability, including environmental, social, and cultural aspects. Although there are many more exhibitions that have focused on sustainability at the ASU Art Museum, a couple of honorable mentions selected by Lineberry include the projects “Feast on the Street” from 2013 and “Trout Fishing in America and other Stories” from 2015. “Feast on the Street” was a massive urban harvest festival that brought people together around a half-mile-long community dinner table in downtown Phoenix to celebrate people, food, and art in the desert. The ASU Art Museum collaborated actively with organizations throughout Phoenix and Roosevelt Row, along with artists Clare Patey and Matthew Moore, to reclaim the city street. The festival’s agenda included discussions about growing food responsibly in the desert, composting food scraps, using solar energy, utilizing community gardens, and more. Ultimately, this interactive exhibit helped people understand the whole cycle of a meal – from growth to production, consumption, and disposal. “Trout Fishing in America and other Stories,” by international artists Bryndis Snæbjörnsdóttir and Mark Wilson, took on issues specific to animal conservation and the decrease of biodiversity. They researched programs underway to reintroduce the California Condor and the Humpback Chub into the Grand Canyon, documenting their journey along the way. Their exhibition included photographs, videos, and sculptures that explored human and animal interaction. This inspired further discussions at the museum on how we interact with animals in our environment.
New Earthworks Artists:
David Brooks www.davidbrooksstudio.com Carolina Caycedo www.carolinacaycedo.com Desert Artlab/ April Bojorquez & Matt Garcia www.desertartlab.com Hope Ginsburg www.hopeginsburg.com Scott Hocking www.scotthocking.com Mary Mattingly www.marymattingly.com Sam Van Aken www.samvanaken.com Steven Yazzie www.yazziestudio.com There is a multitude of ways an artist can communicate information or express a powerful message through their artwork. “Artists have the ability to engage with both data and effect,” says Lineberry. “A lot of the artists that are working today on the issues of sustainability are expert researchers and have done the work... but can [also] bring to the equation the emotional impact. Whether with object or performance, they can really bring about change in perspective and even change in behavior by including that emotional component.” The next exhibition at the ASU Art Museum that will focus on sustainability will be “New Earthworks,” opening on April 16, 2022. According to Lineberry, this exhibition will present works by eight contemporary artists who explore our interconnectedness with the Earth. Their objects, mixed media installations, and performances will take on issues of decreasing biodiversity and environmental justice, reassert indigenous knowledge, and envision new systems to address climate change. While you are waiting for the “New Earthworks” exhibition to open next year, you can visit the ASU Art Museum to see their current exhibition “Undoing Time: Art and Histories of Incarceration,” which explores America’s historic incarceration system and its foundational roots. If you pay close attention, you may see some links between our current carceral system and its negative sustainability impacts throughout the exhibit. Isn’t it interesting how it is all related?
ASU Art Museum's nympheum during the Defining Sustainability exhibition. Photo courtesy ASU Art Museum
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Each objet d’art tells a story
BY CAROL KAHN
KKieran Kinsella spends the majority of his time in his shop carving, sculpting, and crafting wooden logs into unique and somewhat primitive looking pieces of furniture.
His designs vary in style, drawing inspiration from Shaker-style furniture and Mid-century modern designs to clear across the continent, creating African-looking vessels—the ones that might be reserved for the chief of a village to sit on. Growing up in New York’s Hudson Valley, Kinsella says that he spent a lot of time in nature and perhaps that has always been his inspiration. “In the Northeast, where I live, there are a lot of forests and trees—it’s pretty abundant.” Kinsella spoke candidly about the selection of wood that he chooses to use for his sculptured furniture. There is no middleman in the purchasing process and he hand-selects each piece that he uses. He went on to explain that he wants to be transparent in how he sources his materials. “I want to be clear in how I source my materials. At least 30 to 40% of the wood I source is salvaged from fallen trees. I use local materials and work with local foresters, loggers, and tree service people,” he says. Yet, he does repurpose salvaged wood and considers it his homage to nature. “That’s my favorite to use, because it’s rescue wood. The most pleasing discovery for me is finding wood that was just in a firewood pile or what the tree service was going to put in their log dump.” As a sculptor, artist, and furniture maker, Kinsella’s wood pieces are created from select Northeast hardwoods, hand-carved and kiln-dried. Additionally, he creates ceramics vessels that are handmade using slip cast porcelain and handbuilt stoneware, working with other local artisans to complete those pieces. His works of art are architectural, some with arched legs, while others are more rough, wild, and abstract. He allows the chunk of wood to determine his design. There is something special about putting legs on a log that has become his signature statement. “There is a range of inspirations that I draw from… Each piece is oneof-a-kind and hand-shaped. There will always be some variances. The wood will crack differently in the kiln when it dries and take on a different shape, so there are some variances in each piece created.”
Each piece of wood tells a story, revealing a dateline and certain characteristics—it’s the spoken language of trees. “I can look at the top of a cut log or tree trunk and look at the rings to determine how the tree grew—It tells a story about the material, in a way, and how it is connected to the environment. Each individual tree has its own different traits and character and diverse woods react differently,” he says. “I’ve been doing this long enough where I Photos courtesy Kieran Kinsella can see flaws in the wood, and I am able to utilize those parts while accentuating others. I think that these pieces have a real connection with nature and the local environment.”
Each crafted piece of art takes anywhere from 25 to 30 hours to complete. Some have taken much longer—over 100 hours. He has to be in the moment, without distractions, paying attention to the process as he works. Yet Kinsella says he enjoys the solitude of creating his objet d’art. “I work by myself and enjoy the rhythm and peacefulness of the day, making and creating these pieces,” he says. “Seventy-five percent of the work is dusty, hard, and not glamorous, but I enjoy that because it is my own doing and I make it work. There’s the smaller percent, the creative part, and that’s what keeps me going. No matter how busy I am, I can always make time for creating or seeing potential in a lot of new shapes in different pieces of wood. Just the excitement of finding new shapes and learning—you can never learn enough—and that’s the most fun part now. It’s a long, slow journey to get better.” Visit www.kierankinsella.com to learn more about Kieran Kinsella and his sculptural vessels.
GREENShe’s GREENHe’s
BY JENNIFER & JOHN BURKHART
October is a favorite month in our house. We love Fall, especially Halloween! And the cooler weather, color-changing trees, fun décor, and candy. But can you stay true to healthy eating and organic principles around the biggest candy-focused holiday? Definitely. Take a read, and have a happy Fall!
Chocolove
Pumpkin Spice Milk Chocolate Bites
He Said: He who controls the pumpkin spice controls the world! Seriously, people go crazy for this stuff this time of year. These chocolates were smooth, and had a strong nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon flavor. One and done for me, just like everything else pumpkin spice flavored. I'll have one now and another one next October.
She Said: Ah yes, the obligatory “pumpkin spice” flavors are here! But do they need to be in chocolate? I love chocolate, and I love pumpkin spice, but apparently I don't love them mixed together. The chocolate was perfect and delicious, and I would buy it plain. I just didn't enjoy the filling. Torie & Howard
Assorted Chewie Fruities snack packs, USDA organic
He Said: Wow! I really couldn't find a downside to these. They were sweet and tart fruit chews that had new and interesting flavor combinations. They were organic, with no artificial flavors, dyes or GMOs. I truly had a hard time stopping the “reviewing” of this treat. Starburst, eat your heart out.
She Said: Yum! I'd definitely hand these out at Halloween. Similar to Starbursts, in that you're going to need a really good toothbrush, but these were softer and... “healthier?” Can I claim that about candy? I mean, they have vitamin C, so... Bobo's
Pumpkin Spice Oat Bar
He Said: This had oats and spice and everything nice. It was like a double-wide chewy granola bar with sweet cinnamon and clove taste. I found this bar to be a bit boring in the flavor department, but that's because pumpkin spice isn't really my jam. I have no doubt I would like a different flavor of Bobo's bars.
She Said: It would feel a bit like a brick in my backpack, but I'd still pack a Bobo's bar on a hike. It satisfied my hunger and sweet cravings with the tasty pumpkin and spices. They're a little spendy, but a healthy, gluten-free, and quick snack on the go.
Rebbl
Spicy Chai Ashwagandha Elixir, USDA organic
He Said: So, full disclosure, I'm a bit of a chai snob. My grandparents took frequent trips to India and brought back a simple ginger chai recipe that will forever be my favorite. That being said, I thought this Rebbl chai was sweet and drinkable, but over-spiced. I will give them kudos at hiding almost half your daily ashwagandha dosage. That's no small feat considering ashwagandha tastes like straight dirt.
She Said: My dairy-intolerant self is giddy to have found an abundance of grab-and-go non-dairy coffee and tea drinks. I am new to “wellness elixirs” like this one, and I see the allure. Plenty of coconut flavor and spices made this a nice treat. And if the ashwagandha helps to reduce inflammation and stress, then I'll have another!
GREENScenes
October Events Throughout Arizona
CENTRAL ARIZONA October 2-3
ASES National Solar Tour
The American Solar Energy Society (ASES)’s National Solar Tour is the largest national event that focuses on grassroots solar, renewable energy, and sustainable living. This a virtual and in-person experience with both online and live tours of solar-powered homes and businesses. Come together to celebrate the impact of alternative energy with other eco-conscious consumers. Visit www.nationalsolartour.org and www.nationalsolartour.org/organizer/ev-helber/ for more information.
October 1-17
The Arizona Virtual Plant Festival
After planning an in-person event that was sidetracked by COVID-19 last year, the organizers behind this event have transitioned it into an online format. The Arizona Virtual Plant Festival contains recorded events and exhibits for attendees to enjoy until the end of fall 2021. Plans for an eventual large-scale event at the University of Arizona are in the works. For more information, visit www.allevents.in/online/the-arizona-virtualplant-festival/200021323555627.
October 8, 9, 10
Arcosanti Convergence Festival
This three-day festival in Mayer centers around the celebration of art, music, and all things countercultural. Happening over Indigenous People’s Day weekend, this event promises to be an unforgettable experience for the self and the collective. For tickets and more information, visit www.allevents.in/mayer/ arcosanti-convergence-festival/10000159918722203.
October 15
Empty Bowls
Empty Bowls is Waste Not AZ’s signature event, reminding our community of the many people who regularly experience hunger. Arizona Clay Association has been busy handcrafting gorgeous bowls for customers to purchase. The two companies will be returning to the beautiful Arizona Center for this event on Friday, October 15. Tables will be filled with hundreds of handmade clay bowls for shoppers to choose from. Your $20 purchase enables Waste Not to provide 100 meals to people in need and also includes lunch from Salad and Go. Need an amazing gift or can't choose just one bowl? Additional bowls are just $10. Join us for lunch & shop with us for gifts that give back. For tickets and more information, visit www.wastenotaz.org/emptybowls.
SOUTHERN ARIZONA October 14-17
BOND Multi
Multifamily architects and manufacturers come together at this three-day conference in Tucson. Attendees gather to exchange the latest information in residential developments and projects. Attendees will include spokespeople from 75 of the top 100 architect firms in North America, who oversee design and production practices. For tickets and more information, visit www.10times.com/bond-multi-tucson.
October 20
In Conversation: Rick Joy and Jeremy Mikolajczak at the Tucson Museum of Art.
Rick Joy, founding principal of Rick Joy Architects in Tucson, includes raw material in his design work. His upcoming discussion with Jeremy Mikolajczak, the CEO of Tucson Museum of Art, will serve as part of the museum’s Leadership Circle lecture series. For tickets and more information, visit www.tucsonmuseumofart. org/event/in-conversation-rick-joy-and-jeremy-mikolajczak/.
October 20-22
EH&S Management Forum
This weekend conference is the largest yearly gathering that focuses on the intersection between EHS (Environment, Health, and Safety) and sustainability. Industry professionals can come together and exchange best practices for seeing success in their company’s environmental footprint. For tickets and more information, visit www.10times.com/ehs-s-managementforum-tucson.
NORTHERN ARIZONA October 17
D.I.G. Online: The Wonders of Arizona Wildflowers
The Desert Institute of Gardening (D.I.G.), the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, and the Maricopa County Master Gardener Program are teaming up. Join their online Zoom class to educate Arizonans all about the wildflowers native to the state and on where to spot them in the wild. Led by master gardener Chris Wais, it’s sure to be an educational and fun experience. For tickets and information, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/dig-onlinethe-wonders-of-arizona-wildflowers-tickets-163267335997.
October 30
Snowy Shrubs of Autumn
Watters Garden Center hosts workshops frequently throughout the year. This one will teach you how to keep your yard looking stunning year round through planting shrubs in your yard or garden. Learn about sustainable design practices through planting combinations and tips from experts so you can enjoy gazing at your garden 365 days a year. This event is free. For more information, visit www.wattersgardencenter.com/classes/.
BUSINESS October 6
Southern Arizona Tech + Business Expo
Join the Arizona Technology Council (AZTC) and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) for the largest business and technology-centric event in Tucson. For nine years in a row, attendees have connected with industry professionals and how technology can benefit many different industries. For tickets and more information, visit https://techlaunch.arizona.edu/ events/1035-2021-southern-arizona-tech-business-expo.
