Images Arizona February 2018 by Images Arizona Magazine

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ARIZONA MUSICFEST CREATING A LEGACY ONE NOTE AT A TIME

Writer Amanda Christmann

Writer Lynette Carrington

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

IN FULL BLOOM

Cover photo by Lisa Langell

COMMUNITY EVENTS

RENAISSANCE MAN JEFF ZISCHKE

Writer Amanda Christmann

Writer Lara Piu

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Writer Amanda Christmann

CITRUS CILANTRO CHICKEN Writer Kyndra Kelly

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PUBLISHER Shelly Spence

MANAGING EDITOR Amanda Christmann

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meaghan Mitchell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Lynette Carrington Amanda Christmann Sue Kern-Fleischer Gregory Granillo Kyndra Kelly Kenneth LaFave Lara Piu Shannon Severson

PHOTOGRAPHERS Scott Baxter Bryan Black Kyndra Kelly Loralei Lazurek Brandon Tigrett

As we turn the calendar to February, it feels surreal that our feet are now firmly planted in 2018. The brief chill carried in on Arizona winter winds has nearly ended its annual stay, and trails and golf courses are enticing us outdoors. It’s a beautiful time of year to be an Arizonan! February is one of my favorite months because of Valentine’s Day. Every year, I think not only about how lucky I am to have my husband Nigel and my children in my life, but also how fortunate I am to be surrounded by family, friends and a community that I love.

Tatum Williams 480-280-9490 tatum@imagesaz.com

Images Arizona is now in our nineteenth year. We have spent nearly two decades getting to know the families and people who work hard in this community to make it a great place to live. Some businesses and people have come and gone, while others have become old friends, and many of the talented writers and photographers who have come along through the years have formed a family of sorts who still make me smile and amaze me with their contributions.

Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416 Carefree, AZ. 85377 623-341-8221 imagesarizona.com

I’ve shared laughter and tears, and every emotion in between with people who’ve left enduring imprints on my heart, all because readers like you have embraced and supported our mission to bring the community together through positive stories and beautiful photos of the places and faces that make us who we are. I can think of no better way to spend these years of my life than pursuing and fulfilling this purpose.

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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 © 2018 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited material.

Local First A R I Z O NA

Happy February, and happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours! May your heart be filled with as much joy as mine for the life we are all creating together in this place we all call home. Cheers! Shelly Spence Publisher, Images Arizona magazine shelly@imagesaz.com 623-341-8221

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Writer Amanda Christmann

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Robert Moody

Musicfest, above all, recognizes the art behind the music and makes it approachable and relatable to people of all ages.

If music is a language, Arizona Musicfest is one of Arizonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most eloquent storytellers. In a pragmatic world where art is often considered optional, Arizona Musicfest is, without a doubt, one of the Valleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s greatest assets. This dynamic North Scottsdale-based non-profit organization transcends humanity and brings audiences to tears through the passion and beauty of music. Arizona Musicfest has been bringing great musical artists from every genre to Valley venues for 27 years, and in doing so, it has helped to develop budding talent and love for music in an entire generation of area young people. For Valley residents who may view Musicfest as a grassroots, hometown effort, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to forget just what an honor it is to have this amazing resource in our own back yard. Musicfest, above all, recognizes the art behind the music and makes it approachable and relatable to everyone. The face of Arizona Musicfest is Artistic Director Robert Moody, whose extensive curriculum vitae also includes his work as music director for the Winston-Salem

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The Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra

Doc Severinsenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trumpet Kings

Columbus Jazz Orchestra

Michael Feinstein

Olga Kern with the Festival Orchestra

Lee Ann Womack

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the art of organization

Symphony, Memphis Symphony and Maine’s Portland Symphony Orchestra. Moody has accompanied some of the world’s most recognized artists: Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Renee Fleming, Denyce Graves, Andre Watts, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Midori, Time for Three and Chris Thile, to name a few. The only aspect of his work that rivals the beautiful music he urges forth are his reviews. Whether he is in Seattle or Slovenia, critics and audiences love him—and for good reason. Moody has the ability to interpret some of the world’s most beloved works in subtle and bold ways, compelling audiences to not only listen, but to feel. And then there are the orchestra and chorus. Musicians from America's finest orchestras, including Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Symphony, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and many others perform four symphonic programs each year for sold-out crowds as part of Arizona Musicfest’s Festival Orchestra Week Feb. 20 through 25. The 100-voice Arizona Musicfest Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Sharon A. Hansen, is one of the region’s top choral ensembles. The chorus has collaborated with the Festival Orchestra for a not-to-be-missed choral/orchestral repertoire during Festival Orchestra Week.

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The Hillbenders

Other performances presented during Arizona Musicfestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Winterfest schedule range from jazz to contemporary country and everything in between, with recognizable names like Lee Ann Womack, Michael Feinstein, Doc Severinsen and more. These non-liturgical concerts are performed at relatively intimate venues, mostly churches, which provide an entirely different experience than stadiums or arenas.

Musicfest Music Makers, introducing third and fourth graders to string, wind and brass instruments; Musicfest Jazz, exposing elementary students to jazz repertoire, history and performance practice; and the Arizona Musicfest Orchestra Outreach Program, providing master classes for promising high school music students. Arizona Musicfest also provides instruments for low or no cost for those who are unable to afford them.

Best of all, money raised during these tremendous concerts goes into music education and scholarships for area youth, helping to teach multicultural, classic music in the classroom and provide performance, competition and educational opportunities for young musicians.

Beyond Musicfestâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence in schools, young musicians' competitions and the Arizona Musicfest scholarship program have cultivated an impressive roster of young local talent who are making waves in classical and contemporary music scenes worldwide.

Arizona Musicfest exposes about 6,000 children each year to classical music through programs like Musicfest Minutes, a daily curriculum-based music lesson; Musicfest Strummers, developing love for music creation through no-cost baritone, ukulele and guitar lessons;

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all part of the unrivaled dedication of the Arizona Musicfest board, staff and musicians to share the creativity, passion and beauty of music.

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azmusicfest.org

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COMMUNITY arts // announcements // culture Writer Amanda Christmann

FEB. 1 COYOTE KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP Calling all future 2018-2019 kindergarten coyote pups! Diamond Canyon School is holding kindergarten roundup. 40004 N. Liberty Bell Way, Anthem. 5:30–7 p.m. dvusd.org

FEB. 3 PACC 911 & ANTHEM PET ADOPT-A-THON Sixty pet rescue groups will be on site to help you find your new best friend. Raffle, food vendors, goodie bags and more. Please bring a pet food donation. Anthem Community Park, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Pkwy., Anthem. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. pacc911.org

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FEB. 8 MICHAEL FEINSTEIN One of the most important musical figures of our time, Michael Feinstein, backed by a 17-piece big band, brings his mastery of the Great American Songbook to the Musicfest stage. Don’t miss this unforgettable evening! $34–$82. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Scottsdale. 7:30 p.m. 480422-8449; arizonamusicfest.org

FEB. 10 YOUTH ART EXHIBIT Art by young artists from grades 5-12 will be featured at a youth art exhibit at the Anthem Civic

Music FEB. 2

Building. Artists over 18 have

THE FAB FAUX

also have submitted artwork,

Arizona Musicfest presents

which is for sale as part of the

The Fab Faux. Dispel your

larger show. Attendees will also

previous notions of a Beatles

enjoy Java & Jammin’, with

tribute act! $24–$67. Highlands

refreshments and live music

Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak

by Nicki Park. 9:30–11:30 a.m.

Rd., Scottsdale. 7:30 p.m. 480-

3701 W. Anthem Way, Anthem.

422-8449; azmusicfest.org

sonoranartsleague.org Photo courtesy AZ Musicfest f ebruary 2018 imagesar iz ona .c om

FEB. 10 MOVIE NIGHT AT ODYSEA IN THE DESERT OdySea in the Desert’s Movies in the Desert series will feature “The Lego Movie” under the stars with a character meetand-greet, crafts, Lego play station and prizes. Bring your own chairs. Free. 9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale. 5 p.m. 480-951-2100; odyseainthedesert.com

FEB. 10 LATE NIGHT CATECHISM FUNDRAISER FOR AUSTIN CUADERNO Join this hilariously fun fundraiser sponsored by Web for Hope to help Anthem resident Austin Cuaderno purchase a vehicle that can be fitted to allow him to drive and to accommodate his electric wheelchair. Austin can be contacted directly at 623-2430472 or austin.cuaderno@gmail. com for more information. $45– $55. Anthem Golf & Country Club’s Ironwood Ballroom, 2708 W. Anthem Club Dr., Anthem. 7:30 p.m. 623-243-0472; goo.gl/HozYYW

FEB. 10, 11 CORKS AND CACTUS Sample, sip and savor your way through the splendor of the Desert Botanical Garden at Corks & Cactus, where boutique wines and desert beauty blend into a delightful event. Sample from 40 different wines each day, enjoy talented musical entertainment and purchase delicious fare. All wine purchased will directly benefit the garden. $35-$40. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix. 1–4:30 p.m. 480-481-8188; dbg.org

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Music

FEB. 16 LEE ANN WOMACK Country star and Grammy Award winner Lee Ann Womack makes her debut at Arizona Musicfest. From her charttopping global hit, “I Hope You Dance”—which sold over 6 million albums—to her recent album, “The Way I’m Livin’,” and other beloved and awardwinning favorites, Womack has become known for her deeply personal songwriting and remarkable voice. $34–$76. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd., Scottsdale. 7:30 p.m. 480-422-8449; arizonamusicfest.org Photo Courtesy AZ Musicfest

FEB. 21 THE LUCK OF THE IRISH WITH MARSHALL TRIMBLE Arizona’s Official Historian Marshall Trimble gives a humorous overview of the lucky (and not so fortunate) Irishmen who traveled west. This program focuses on a partnership of four Irishmen: John Mackay, James Flood, James Fair and William O’Brien. Free with museum admission. Scottsdale Museum of the West, 3830 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale. 1–2 p.m. 480-6869539; scottsdalemuseumwest.org

FEB. 22–25 ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, JR. Musical Theatre of Anthem presents a highly original theatrical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's popular fairy tale, “The Little Mermaid.” See website for times. $16–$19. 42323 N. Vision Way, Anthem. musicaltheatreofanthem.org

FEB. 23 NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE THROUGH THE AGES Come along for this magical musical journey! Christ the Lord Lutheran Church hosts the Desert Foothills Native American Flute Circle. $20. 9205 E. Cave Creek Rd., Carefree. 4 p.m. 480-488-2081; ctlcarefree.org

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Golf

Anthem Golf & Country Club will participate in the March 2018 ClubCorp Charity Classic. Register now for the charity golf, bocce ball, pickleball, men’s doubles tennis and mixed doubles tennis tournaments. The club will also host a dinner dance and silent auction, a St. Patrick’s Day Fun Run/Walk and more in March. The 2018 ClubCorp Charity Classic will benefit Augie’s Quest, focused on finding treatments and cures for ALS; ClubCorp Employee Partners Care Foundation, a 501(c)3 fund established to help to help employee partners of ClubCorp's family of Clubs in times of crisis; and Foothills Food Bank. Grab your favorite friends and sign up for these fun and philanthropical events! Sponsorships are available. 623-742-6205; clubcorpcharityclassic.com

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MARCH 3 CONCERTOS AND MORE North Valley Symphony Orchestra is proud to present four orchestra soloists in an evening of concerto excerpts. The winner of the 2018 Summerford Violin Concerto Competition will be introduced and will be among the performers. $5. North Canyon

FEB. 24 DEARLY BELOVED: A JOURNEY OF LOVE AND MARRIAGE ProMusica Arizona’s February concert, “Dearly Beloved: A Lifetime of Love,” follows the evolution of a couple from courtship through their lifetime together with all its ups and downs set to music, the language of love. $12–20; Children under 15 free with paid adult ticket. Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, 39808 N. Gavilan Peak Pkwy., Anthem. 7:30 p.m. 623-326-5172; pmaz.org

MARCH 1–4

High School Auditorium, 1700 E. Union Hills Dr., Phoenix. 7 p.m. northvalleysymphony.org

PROMUSICA ARIZONA 100-VOICE SEASON FINALE Tickets are on sale for what will surely be sold-out performances of ProMusica’s three-church choir, 100-voice season finale. ProMusica Arizona’s chorale will be joined by choirs from La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, American Lutheran Church and All Saints Lutheran Church and accompanied by a string orchestra. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. April 13 at American

DECIDED

Lutheran Church, 17200 N. Del

Musical Theatre of Anthem

Webb Blvd., Sun City; 2 p.m.

announces their upcoming

April 14 at All Saints Lutheran

production of Brian M. Kunnari's

Church, 15649 N. 7th St.

world premiere musical,

Phoenix; and 2 p.m. April 15

“Decided.” Show times vary;

at La Casa de Cristo Lutheran

please see website for details.

Church, 6300 E. Bell Rd.,

$16–$19. 42323 N. Vision

Scottsdale. $12–$18; children 15

Way, Anthem. 623-336-6001;

and under free with paid adult

musicaltheatreofanthem.org

ticket. 623-326-5172; pmaz.org

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Writer Shannon Severson // Photography Courtesy of Gavilan Peak School

World trade and economies are increasingly interdependent as technology melts the constraints of borders, distance and culture. Language, however, remains a barrier, and American students aren’t typically bilingual, much less “bi-literate,”able to speak, read and write in another language with total fluency. At Anthem’s Gavilan Peak School, a group of 32 eighth graders will be part of the first promoting class to have completed the full Mandarin immersion program, the first of its kind in Arizona and one that is drawing the attention of parents and universities.

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“We are very proud of this group of students who have been here since kindergarten or first grade,” says Mandarin program mentor Kim Cash, who has been with the Deer Valley School District for 24 years and helped to launch the program when it began in 2008. “Our Mandarin immersion program is unique in the state. Other schools have Mandarin language classes that amount to 45 minutes of weekly instruction, but our partial immersion students are taught multiple subjects entirely in Mandarin for fully 50 percent of each day through third grade, and attend significant time in math, science and language over the remaining years.”

It’s quite a sight to see a classroom full of 7-year-olds speaking, reading and writing in Chinese. They learn about customs and culture from their teachers, most of who are from China on visas that allow stays of up to five years. Securing enough teachers who are native Mandarin speakers remains a challenge, as does creating student schedules that allow all subjects to be covered. Curriculum for math and science, for example, must often be created from scratch. Hope Loveland, district world language coordinator, helps recruit teachers at language conferences and makes sure teachers are properly certified by the State of Arizona. Once teachers arrive, Michelle VanValer, Mandarin community liaison, assists with housing and paperwork and makes the transition to life in America as smooth as possible. When guest teachers return to China, they are helpful in building global relationships. Their Chinese students often become pen pals with their former Gavilan Peak pupils. Navigating through the American educational system and teaching standards is an important part of their preparation, as American standards and classroom practices are different. “They have already worked as teachers in China when they arrive,” says Cash, “but we train them as new teachers because there are a lot of teacher prep programs here that aren’t provided there, including how to approach each child as an individual learner.” While there is a similar program at Desert Sage Elementary in Glendale (with full integration planned by 2021), Gavilan Peak’s singular K-8 program is marketed Valley-wide and has produced a significant bump in open enrollment numbers. The 292 students in the program represent 40 percent of Gavilan Peak’s total enrollment. Sixty-five percent of immersion participants are open-enrolled. Some families come from as far as Paradise Valley, Glendale and Peoria, while others have chosen to move to Anthem in order to attend. “It’s a huge draw for us,” says Principal Chad Segersten. “Kids are given the opportunity to learn in a different way. Every other industrialized nation in the world offers a second language except for the United States. Deer Valley is clearly on the cutting edge. My own son is part of the program and he loves it.” The eighth grade students share that enthusiasm.

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JADEN HO Favorite Aspect: “I love expanding my vocabulary and it’s nice to learn another language.” Benefits of Participation: “I’m grateful that I can speak to my grandparents in Chinese and I can speak to other people in Chinese whenever I get the chance.” Future Plans: “I’d like to travel to China so I can expand my vocabulary and learn more about the culture.” Favorite Memory: “Our first grade Mandarin teacher, Mrs. Kathy Lu (Cabizo), had vocabulary cards she would use to teach us new words. I looked forward to learning something new every day.”

ABBY MAXWELL-TODD Favorite Aspect: “I like that we are going to have so many more opportunities when we are older. All the doors will be open to us and we won’t be confined to working only with English-speaking companies.” Challenges: “One of the hardest things is learning to write all the characters. It’s not like the alphabet. When speaking Mandarin, you have to know the right tones to use because it can change the meaning of the word.” Benefits of Participation: “I was able to speak with a group of Chinesespeaking students who were visiting Disneyland. We spoke in both Mandarin and English and it was cool to make new friends from around the globe. Learning Mandarin has helped me in other subjects as well. A second language opens up your a whole other part of your brain.” Future Plans: “I plan to participate in Boulder Creek High School’s Mandarin immersion program and continue through AP and honors classes all four years. After college, I’d like to work as a translator for whichever company I end up working for.

VAN WESTIN Favorite Aspect: “I began the program in kindergarten and loved it from the start. Going into class knowing you’re going to learn something new every single day makes learning more exciting.” Benefits of Participation: “It’s been such a blessing to learn another language. It’s a benefit to anyone’s intellectual experience over their lifetime. I’ve developed close relationships with the group as we’ve gone through together. We started texting each other in Chinese around fourth grade and it made our parents a bit nervous. We have some fun with the fact that we can communicate in another language.” Future Plans: “This summer, a group of us are going to travel to China. I can’t wait to visit all the sites, and we will visit a school. I’m excited to see how they learn English. In the future, I plan to continue studying Mandarin

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throughout high school at Boulder Creek and then go on to earn a PhD in biological sciences. Science education in the Chinese-speaking world is particularly advanced and, with the language gap bridged, I will be able to work with scientists in Asia.”

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ALIX CRAFT Favorite Aspect: “We have had such great experiences through the Mandarin program. Last year, some students visited from China and toured our school. We shared a lot and exchanged gifts. It was nice to get gifts all the way from China and to make new friends.” Benefits of Participation: “Having another part of your brain working results in good grades in other subjects, too. I saw the future possibilities that speaking Mandarin can bring when I visited my brother at Embry-Riddle University. The faculty there was very interested in having Mandarinspeaking students attend school there, particularly in cyber security and intelligence.”

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Your Anthem Neighbors and North Valley Realtors®

Future Plans: “I definitely want to go through all four years of Mandarin in High School and then go to college for a career where I can use Mandarin in trade or government.”

The future will indeed be bright for program participants. Students will have the opportunity to receive a Seal of Biliteracy on their diplomas. Those who fulfill certain requirements and score well on standardized language tests earn high school credits now and, by continuing their Mandarin education at Boulder Creek High School, can graduate with up to 20 college credits, nearly equivalent to earning a minor degree in Mandarin at Arizona State University.

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ASU’s Confucius Institute has named the Gavilan Peak program a Confucius Classroom, and has taken particular interest in the Gavilan Peak program, assisting in speech presentations and cultural experiences and providing teachers, funding and professional development for the program. In the future, Gavilan Peak program administrators hope to gain ASU’s assistance in coordinating school trips to Chengdu, China, Phoenix’s sister city. dvusd.org/gavilanpeak

D.L. Jones & Associates Real Estate 3668 W. Anthem Way, Suite B-158 Anthem, AZ 85086 Jill: 480-203-9066 jtetsell@gmail.com Dick: 480-227-6578 dick@tetsellaz.com tetsellteam.com f ebruary 2018

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Writer Amanda Christmann // Photos Courtesy of Web for Hope

One of the most compelling things about the Anthem community is that, when times get tough, Anthem comes together. February 10, our community will have another opportunity to lend a hand. An off-Broadway showing of “Late Nite Catechism” will be held in the ballroom at Anthem Golf and Country Club’s Ironwood Clubhouse to benefit Austin Cuaderno, a 24-year-old ASU senior pursuing his degree in health sciences. In addition to being a fun opportunity to meet and greet friends and neighbors, it’s a fundraiser to help Austin, who is living with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). It will raise money for a vehicle that can be fitted to accommodate his electric wheelchair and allow him the independence of having his own transportation. With this vehicle, Austin can accept an internship, attend classes, participate in extracurricular college opportunities and sustain a job. “SMA is a neuromuscular condition which has severely limited my mobility and leaves me to rely on a motorized wheelchair to get around,” Austin said. “While life with SMA has its challenges, I have never met an obstacle I cannot overcome with the help and support of those around me. “Acquiring a vehicle is an important step toward independence and the ability to enter the work force. Transportation will greatly improve my quality of life.” Arizona Department of Economic Security’s Vocational Rehabilitation agency has been providing Austin with hands-on training and driving courses, and will fund the driving modifications and conversion. However, Austin must provide the vehicle. “The vehicle recommended for my specific situation is the T Honda Odyssey EX-L, with a cost around $38,000,” Austin explained. That’s where friends and neighbors come in.

Web for Hope, a local 501c(3) non-profit organization started by former Anthem Community Council board member Holly Matson, is sponsoring the Late Night Catechism fundraiser, along with corporate partners at the Boates Law Firm, DL Jones & Associates, Matson Solutions, Rayne of the North Valley and Threshold Communications. Late Nite Catechism is an uproariously funny play that takes anyone who has endured parochial school back to their youth. Of course, it’s plenty of fun, too, for anyone who didn’t go to Catholic school but who just likes a good laugh! Show tickets are $45 to $55, but donations from $25 to $250 can also be made online at goo.gl/HozYWW. If you would like more information, Austin can be contacted directly at 623-243-0472 or austin.cuaderno@gmail.com. To donate, please make check out to “Web for Hope,” and add “Austin” in the memo field. Checks can be sent to: Web for Hope, 39506 N. Daisy Mountain Dr., Suite 122-285, Anthem, AZ 85086. Join the celebration and help a neighbor! After all, it’s what Anthem does best! webforhope.org

Lend a Hand Late Night Catechism Fundraiser for Austin

February 10 7:30 p.m. Anthem Golf & Country Club’s Ironwood Ballroom 2708 W. Anthem Club Dr., Anthem $25–$250 donation 623-243-0472 f ebruary 2018 imagesar iz ona .c om https://goo.gl/HozYYW

Not long ago, my wife and I sat in a doctor's office and listened to him tell us that I have cancer. It is prostate cancer. Hearing those three words—“You have cancer”—came as a complete surprise. I am a healthy and active 57-year-old man. I am a husband, father, grandfather, and a small business owner (PostNet) in the Anthem community. I am also a long-distance runner. They call me “Lan the running man.” Over the course of my life, I have run about 75,000 miles. I am still going and, as I like to say, all systems are go. But now things have changed. My doctor’s words echo in my mind: You have cancer. At first I was shocked to hear those three words. I did not know anything about prostate cancer. I knew that it was common among men and slowgrowing, and that if a man is going to have cancer, then prostate cancer is the one to have. But that was like saying that, if you are going to be in a car crash, then a fender-bender is the car crash you want. Problem: It is still a car crash. And it is still cancer. More than a runner or a husband or a father or a business owner or anything else, I am a man of deep faith. For more than four decades, when out in the wilderness running, I have looked up to the heavens and talked to God. This is where my strength comes from. It is where my hope comes from. It is who I am. Lately I have been talking to God a lot. Asking questions. Going over my worries and fears. Wondering how I am supposed to handle this latest challenge, this latest hill to climb. What is really bizarre about this whole situation is that my father, who is 79 years old, is going through the exact same thing. He has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. My mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

Writer Lanny Nelson Photography Courtesy Lanny Nelson

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Three of us. Cancer. All in the same month. Bam, bam, bam! Like three gunshots. What are the chances of that? So now I am on a journey. I have a huge mountain to climb—cancer—and it is unfamiliar to me. I do not know this path. My parents are on this journey with me. What lies ahead? I don't know. What will the long-term affects be? I am told that prostate cancer and breast cancer are curable, that we can expect to live for another five or 10 years or even longer. Well, how long is 10 years? 3,650 days. Not that long, is it? Makes me wonder what am I going to do over the next 3,650 days, or 5,000 days, or whatever number of days. I am suddenly reminded that the clock is indeed ticking for all of us. Time feels short. I stand in my store and look out the big windows where I can see Daisy Mountain, and I think, “What lies ahead?” In the past, I’ve always had an answer for that question. Now, I don’t know. What I do know is that life is meant to be shared. Good times, bad times, joy, sorrow, fear: these are not supposed to be solitary experiences. We must reach out to those around us. We must help each other and learn from each other. I have decided to chronicle what happens to me on this journey. My goal is to write about the answers that I find,

and to be honest about the fears and the anxiety that I encounter, but mostly I want to write about the hope that I find. I am suddenly very much aware of how much we all need hope, every single day. We are all going through something. Only God knows our individual stories, but like I always say, if God can put the sun in the sky and keep doing it day after day, year after year, then I know he will help me navigate my way through this rocky landscape I suddenly find myself in. And so I press on, a little scared, a little unnerved, but determined to make it. As we runners like to say, I will run from tree to tree, one step at a time. milesbeneathmyfeet.com

Lanny Nelson is an Anthem resident and small business owner of PostNet whose diagnosis of prostate cancer he describes as “a marathon I was not anticipating.” Though his diagnosis is not uncommon, his candor and willingness to share his experience is inspiring. Images Arizona will be following Lanny’s journey in the coming months because, like Lanny, we too believe that we all need hope.

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Ask any tourist what brought them to Arizona, and you’ll likely hear something about the more obvious attractions: the Grand Canyon, the weather, and spring training et al. Anyone living in the desert knows, though, that it’s the unassuming things that make Arizona special. It’s the fragile blooms of wildflowers that bring a patchwork of magical color each spring. It’s the silent explosion of oranges, purples and reds that fill the sky as the sun rises and sets at the beginning and end of every day. And it’s the most unlikely of attractions: the solemn, splendid birds that forego the comfort of leafy perches to live among the prickles and spines of the desert.

Writer Amanda Christmann

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Cactus Wren - Lisa Langell

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Ladder-backed Woodpecker - Jeff Wendorff

Brewer's Sparrow - Jeff Wendorff Black-chinned Sparrow - Jeff Wendorff The brash and boisterous cactus wren is Arizonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s official state birdâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a fact that should be of no surprise coming from a state that also boasts an official state tie and an official state gun. The tiny warbler always seems to have an opinion and is not afraid to let it be known.

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Jeff Wendorff Hometown: I was raised in very rural New Canton, Illinois and am now living in my 11th state, Portland, Oregon.

How you got started in photography: I’ve always had a camera, but I didn’t get serious until my first safari in South Africa in 2003. David Middleton has been my friend and mentor almost that long. What inspires you: My photography inspiration comes from a slightly different angle. I have long admired and collected art by the Canadian painter, Robert Bateman. When I was finding my way as a photographer, I kept working to see wildlife in a way that Mr. Bateman might paint. I still keyword my best environmental portraits as “Bateman.” Most memorable experience photographing Arizona birds: Oh boy! Well the one that I tell the most is getting hit in the head by the wing of a Ferruginous hawk as it ‘worked’ the crowd at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Your most important piece of advice to budding photographers: Practice, practice and then practice some more. Stay true to your vision and never believe critiques from your relatives, unless your last name is Adams. jeffwendorff.com

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Gambel’s Quail - Lisa Langell Gambel’s quail are also common neighbors. Easily identifiable by their comma-shaped topknot of feathers, drivers here know to stop their cars to allow them to trot their tiny babies across roads in the spring.

Curved-Bill Thrasher - Tim Boyer Other birds, such as the “desert default bird,” the curved-bill thrasher, and the quirky, speedy roadrunner, who dashes across the hot desert floor at the same rate as most tourists who try to cross poolside pavement in the summer months, are just as much of a treat to spot.

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Lisa Langell Hometown: Marine City, Michigan Current Residence: Scottsdale, Arizona How you got started in photography: My passion started in photography first with bird watching. My incredible great aunt, Josephine James, taught me about birds at age 8. When I was 14, I received a Canon A-1 (35mm film camera). With it in hand, we traveled to Point Pelee, Ontario, Canada for the world-renowned spring bird migration. We saw over 100 species in one day! The tiny, colorful warblers were my favorite. I drooled at not only the birds, but at the many nature photographers with their long lenses. I distinctly remember thinking, "I want to do that someday!" That started my story and my journey. What inspires you: Nature inspires me! It’s ever-changing, moody, resilient—yet fragile, and stunningly beautiful. I love the challenge of photographing it in a way that doesn’t just capture an image of what I see, but truly captures the emotion of the moment that transpired while I was there. Most memorable experience photographing Arizona birds: I was at the Gilbert Riparian Preserve one early Friday morning photographing American Avocets— gorgeous, leggy, colorful birds. Suddenly, about 60 feet from me, I heard a massive crash into the water—and sprinting across the pond was a coyote! It was hunting a covey of ducks and was successful by using the element of surprise! I luckily locked focus in time for some spectacular images. Your most important piece of advice to budding photographers: Photography is a journey. Take your time, enjoy each step, and find joy in not just the photographs, but the experiences you have while seeking them. langellphotography.com

f ebruary 2018

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Green-Tailed Towhee - Tim Boyer

No matter what kind of feathered friend we spy among the desert landscape, they are always a nice reminder of the vibrant desert life that surrounds us, and that is so intimately interwoven with and interdependent on our own existence.

Acorn Woodpecker - Tim Boyer

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Tim Boyer Hometown: I grew up in Kent Washington and now live a few miles North of Kent in Renton, Washington.

How you got started in photography: I learned photography in high school as one of the photographers for the newspaper and annual. I’m mostly a self-taught photographer; I started photographing birds in 2000, and would photograph on the weekends. Monday mornings, I would drop off my slide film at a professional developing lab, then pick it up on my lunch break. I’d edit my slides in their lobby, tossing the bad images in their trashcan. By reviewing my images just after I’d taken them, I had three or four days to research what I needed to learn so that, by the next weekend, I could improve. In 2005, I switched to digital cameras, and that just made everything easier. What inspires you: In 2006, there were a dozen snowy owls on Damon Point at Ocean Shores, Washington. I went out to photograph them, like a lot of other photographers, and we all left the parking lot around 7 a.m. when the sun was starting to come up. … I was walking into the sun, and the owls were backlit. … I had to figure out how to scoot around them without spooking them so I could get a decent shot. With several other photographers working each owl, this was problematic. I got a few shots, but nothing great, and it was a disappointing day. The next weekend I left the parking lot at 4 a.m. and walked close to the end of Damon Point. I sat down and waited for the sun to come up. As the sun came up and I spotted the closest owl, I slowly walked toward it. With the owl in front of me and the sun behind me, I was in the right position, and it was just me and the owl. By not giving up after the first weekend, thinking about how I could get myself into the right position for the best photograph and waiting for good light—all of these things came together, and I was able to get a great shot. … Being patient with each bird, moving slowly, having the sun at my back, practicing good fieldcraft and having the perseverance to keep going back and keep thinking about how to get the best shot finally paid off. Most memorable experience photographing Arizona birds: I was sitting in a photography blind near Green Valley waiting to photograph a greentailed towhee. I knew it was there, but for three days it wouldn’t come out of the bushes. On the last day I was there, it came out to get some water. This happened near the end of the day, so I got the towhee in beautiful soft evening light. It’s one of my favorite images from Arizona. Your most important piece of advice to budding photographers: Have patience, sit down and let the birds come to you. Don’t press them by walking toward them. Two things will happen: the birds will get closer to you and you’ll get a better shot, and you’ll get a more natural shot as the birds won’t be stressed out. If you see images of birds that are hunched over or compressed, they’re getting ready to jump up and fly away. These are stressed birds and the photographer was too close. timboyerphotography.com f ebruary 2018

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Lisa Langell

Thankfully, there are talented, perceptive photographers willing to rise with the early birds and brave the elements to capture the magnificence of these often-spectacular creatures. With the click of a button and the release of a shutter, these photographers are capturing some of Arizonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most beautiful assets, one enduring photograph at a time. We are grateful that they have chosen to share them with Images Arizona, and we hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

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f ebruary 2018

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Oh, the View! This exquisite 3,700+ square-foot home is located on one of the most scenic lots in the sought-after Anthem Country Club gated community. This private retreat is located adjacent to the beautiful golf course designed by Greg Nash. The daytime views are spectacular, but there is nothing more soothing to the soul than taking in the sunset from the solar-heated, negative-edge heated pool, surrounded by mountain vistas and city lights. This home offers a luxurious lifestyle and more. Like pages of a magazine, each room is an alluring combination of custom features and functional elegance. The cozy yet expansive master bedroom features one of three indoor fireplaces, two walk-in closets, a sitting room, and an en suite bathroom with double sinks and a jetted tub. The home includes three bedrooms and three and a half baths, as well as two additional guest or office spaces. Other features include 20'' tile with listelles, slab granite, stainless appliances, custom family room entertainment center ad office, 7-inch crown molding, 5-inch baseboards, custom closets, Kohler fixtures, designer lighting and finishes, plantation shutters, security, surround sound and stereo, tinted windows and custom drapes. The outdoor space includes a gas barbecue, a fireplace, pavers, fountains and a third-car garage. For more information on this remarkable sanctuary, contact Linda today!

Please call Linda for your private showing. Linda Rehwalt RE/MAX Professionals 602-402-1136 lindarehwalt@azrealty.com

f ebruary 2018

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There’s nowhere quite like Cave Creek! Whether you’re here for a day or a decade, there’s always something to enjoy! Cave Creek restaurants boast some the best food and drinks this side of the Mississippi, and there are plenty of colorful characters to get to know. Tour the town and stop on in! You’re in for a treat—cowboy style!

TAKE A TASTE OF ARIZONA

Cartwright’s Modern Cuisine features its monthly Chef Collaboration Series, this time with awardwinning chef Judd Cummings, owner of Fire and Foraged, Stock and Cellar. February will feature “An Homage to Arizona,” a five-course dinner with ingredients unique to Arizona. When: February 28, 6:30 p.m. Where: Cartwright’s Modern Cuisine 6710 E. Cave Creek Rd., Cave Creek. Cost: See website for cost details and to make reservations. 480-488-8031; cartwrightsmoderncuisine.com

FOLLOW A MYSTERY

Find out how the venerable old Knoedler Art Gallery in New York City was brought down by a fake Rothko painted by an unknown Chinese artist in his garage in Queens. Mary F. Cook from the International Foundation for Art Research will weave this riveting tale. When: Saturday, February 24, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Where: Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Rd., Cave Creek. Cost: $6. RSVP 480-488-2286; dfla.org

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Contact Tatum Williams at 480-280-9490 or tatum@imagesaz.com to talk about joining our Images Arizona Cave Creek destination pages.

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Writer Amanda Christmann Photography Courtesy of Boulder Creek High School

It’s the stuff dreams are made of. From the first time they lace up cleats or pull jerseys over their heads, many young athletes hope to one day be among the best. For eight Boulder Creek athletes, those ambitions are being realized as they’ve committed to play at colleges and universities across the country.

Sydny has been playing on the varsity softball team for three years and is a talented player who can play a multitude of positions. She is one of the Jaguar’s best hitters, both for average and power. She has verbally committed to leave the desert and play at the University of North Dakota.

Among the accomplished seniors are:

Jaguars Coach Jeremy Lord praised Sydny’s hard worker and leadership, as well as her strong academic achievements.

MCKENNA ROSS—GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

CASEY COWAN—SOFTBALL

In the 2017-2018 school year, McKenna made the All-Region First Team and was named an honorable mention player. She is currently co-captain of the volleyball team and plans to play sand volleyball in the spring.

This year, Casey will be a two-year letter winner. She has verbally committed to play at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix.

McKenna will be going to Mckendree University in Lebanon, IL to play volleyball. In addition to her athletic scholarship, McKenna has earned an academic scholarship. Mckendree will be a family affair. Her brother Patrick plays volleyball for the university.

SYDNY TAYLOR—SOFTBALL

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Casey is Boulder Creek’s top returning pitcher, as well as a strong outfielder known for her work ethic and leadership, striving for perfection at everything she does. Casey has also decided to serve her country by joining the Army Reserves.

SAMMY ORIZA—SOFTBALL Sammy is a three-year letter winner and has verbally committed to play at George Fox University in Newberg, OR.

As one of Boulder Creek’s best outfielders, Coach Lord called her a “great dugout leader who is always in a great mood and gives 110 percent.”

SYDNEY PALMA—GIRLS BASKETBALL Sydney is a two-year captain of the varsity basketball team. In the 2016-2017 season, Sydney led the team in points, assists, rebounds and steals. Statistically, Sydney was ranked in the top five in points per game, assists, rebounds and steals in the region in double doubles. Sydney is currently less than 50 points away from a 1,000-point career. Off the court, Sydney holds an above-3.0 grade point average. Sydney will attend Cal-Baptist University in Riverside CA on a basketball scholarship.

ANDEE KACZOCHA—GIRLS SOCCER Andee is a two-year captain and a four-year varsity player. Her academics have also been stellar: she has a 4.5 grade point average. Andee is a great asset to her high school and club team alike, and Coach Vikki Corso describes her as a “great leader and teammate on and off the field, and very involved in her community.” She will be attending Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, FL.

LACEY ZERWAS—GIRLS VOLLEYBALL Lacey made the AAU All-American Team and has earned positions on the All-State Second Team for two years in a row; First Team All-Region; and All-Section First Team. Lacey was MaxPrep’s Player of the Week for Arizona, and Athlete of the Month at Boulder Creek High School. Lacey will be attending West Virginia University, a college in the Big 12 Conference.

JACOB LEWIS—CROSS COUNTRY Rounding out the soon-to-be college athletes is Jacob Lewis. Jacob holds the school record of 15.20 in the 5K. He was winner of the Twilight Championship Race and is the section champion. He took seventh place at the cross country state championship. He broke the school record in the mile event last year, and Jaguars Coach Tom Clarke is hoping to see him break more records this spring. In the fall, he will be attending Grand Canyon University and earned both athletic and academic scholarships. Images Arizona congratulates these Boulder Creek players and their coaches and wishes them all the best for a bright future.

Event Schedule MARCH 16 - 18 Thunderbird Artists Carefree Fine Art & Wine Festival APRIL - MAY Musicians & Artisans in the Gardens CAREFREE DESERT GARDENS Stroll four acres and see rare and fascinating desert plant specimens. Open 365 days a year! FREE ADMISSION.

Shop. Dine. Live Carefree!

101 Easy Street, Carefree, AZ 85377 VisitCarefree.com f ebruary 2018

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Writer Lara Piu Photography i mScott a g e s aBaxter r i z o n a . c o m fe b r uary 2 018

While many artists gain endless ideas from one central concept, Scottsdale-based sculptor Jeff Zischke, whose work appears throughout the Valley and around the world, is simply inspired. Jeff’s Scottsdale home both displays and stirs his work. His sculptures in a variety of sizes and styles greet my arrival. Inside, a series of cozy outdoor veranda and garden spaces fill the one-acre lot that Jeff and his wife call home. “I love outdoor spaces. Each one has its own specific attitude, theme and environment,” Jeff comments. “Some are more refined and some are more ongoing, and they always include design, artwork and planters.” The areas they create accommodate alfresco dining, company and conversation, as well as contemplative time in the midst of Sonoran beauty. They’re among Jeff’s many creative outlets, and as he designs and grooms them, they give back in the form of visionary juices. One veranda doubles as a display for Jeff’s robust collection of antique lights. Rusty little lamps, some with stained glass, others dating back to World War I, hang from an angled iron shade structure. In another area, the kind of seed pods that sparked the idea for his Sonoran Sea Pods sculptures, on display at George “Doc” Cavalliere Park, carpet the ground. Displays of Jeff’s 25 or so years of work dot the backyard. There are classics, like a cabana prototype that he designed for the W Hotel, and there are newbies, like his latest innovation: simply

elegant outdoor benches that double as planters. They look like concrete, but are actually crafted from steel. This is also where Jeff built his studio and workshop, which looks onto the pool. Inside, Jeff’s studio is chock full of sculpture models. Some are prototypes of projects that came to fruition, while others did not. They are miniatures of work recognizable from throughout the Valley, like “Impulsion,” a larger-than-life sprinting horse made for the entry feature of WestWorld’s Equidome Arena. “I love quests,” Jeff says about the process of winning projects like that at WestWorld. “I like a design challenge, but I also like to create from pure inspiration.” On the day we meet, Jeff receives notice that he won another public art project: a 50-foot-tall desert bloom sculpture made of aluminum tubing and fiberglass, commissioned by the City of Peoria. The permanent piece, which will greet drivers as they head to Lake Pleasant Regional Park, will be illuminated by computer-controlled, colored lightemitting diodes. Pending approvals, Jeff estimates it will be on display by the middle of 2018. “It’s exciting!” he adds. “That’s going to be a super fun project to do.” Jeff was also recently awarded a Chandler Museum project in which he will design a modern 75-foot by 65-foot shade structure with a ceiling that emulates waves. The project is slated to be completed by summer 2018.

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“I’m always entering stuff,” he notes. “You have to constantly be entering public art competitions. That’s what I do, and that’s what I love. I know people who have been doing variations on the same theme for 30 years. I could never do that. I love the challenge of the next thing.” In the corner, there’s a pile of car parts. Jeff explains that he’s transforming them into sculptures for a commissioned project—something he’s never done before. “What a challenge!” he says. “That’s what it should be, I can’t stand doing the same thing. The competitions are always different and I get to work in different materials.” Which explains why marble, steel, plastic, cloth and every material in between lay around the studio. Chances are good that you’ve seen one of Jeff’s finished products. In downtown’s über cool Found.re hotel, there’s Jeff’s 8-foot lime green T. Rex sculpture, and if you’ve placed head to pillow in one of its penthouse suites, you may have played with the interactive magnet squares Jeff designed. Some are patterns, others are a mish-mash of celebrity faces, and all are fun. His other design project locations include Axis/Radius, Sanctuary nightclub and Zen 32 restaurant and bar. The sculptor and designer studied ceramics and painting at Eastern Michigan University and showed at art fairs in his early career years. “That helped hone in my style and skills,” he explains. His inspiration draws from organic shapes and modern technology. “I’ve always been into the computer stuff, thank goodness,” Jeff says, adding that it’s not only enriched his work, but also made it possible for him to create three-dimensional models. “People can see, ‘Oh, this is what it could look like,’ and that’s really, really important.” Jeff combines bamboo, plastics, steel, computer-controlled lights and a wide range of other materials to create interactive installations that respond to the natural and urban environment, which is especially apropos in the

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Valley. He uses his work to invite people to form a personal and dynamic relationship with the art and the place. “Each project becomes tied to its environment through the use of local materials and working processes, strengthening community connections,” Jeff remarks. His work has been installed in France, Serbia, India and Japan, as well as throughout the Valley and other cities. Milan’s Salone del Mobile, The Guggenheim Museum in New York City, and The Designers Block in London are among the exhibitions where his work is showcased. Jeff is brimming with inventive imagination. Among his other impressive projects, he created Groovebots, a cast of colorful decorative animal characters in a variety of sizes and materials. It all starts with Jeff’s daily morning hike. “That’s where the ideas come,” Jeff shares. “I do almost the same trail every day, five days a week. I see something new every day. I get ideas walking there, and that’s how things start with me.” His latest passion is Zortado, a unique coffee shop that will serve Spanish- and Portuguese-style coffee with Jeff’s personal twist. The space will also display his work. “It’s exciting to work on a conceptual store space that is also a gallery,” he explains as he hands me a sample of the coffee he plans to serve—an antique pastis glass filled with the best coffee I’ve had outside of Italy. Laid on top is a candied ginger; it sweetens the coffee in a unique and terrific way. As I take a sip, I experience Zortado's alignment with Jeff’s art—it has depth, yet it’s fun, one-of-a-kind and is always on the cutting edge. jeffzischke.com

f ebruary 2018

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Writer Amanda Christmann // Photography by Bryan Black

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The sands of time have a way of honing the past, shaping and polishing it so that generations to come can judge it more clearly. At times, the decades or centuries reveal horrors we hope to never repeat. But sometimes what is revealed is nothing less than greatness. The life of Edward S. Curtis is one such epic. Curtis was a photographer who set out on perhaps the most incredible photographic odyssey in history, yet his genius was not recognized until long after he died. Curtis’s legacy, 40,000 photographs, videos and audio recordings of longgone indigenous languages, cultures and traditions, can only be found in private collections and a few select museums. Cave Creek Museum has the distinguished honor of being among the few institutions where Curtis’s work can be seen. An exhibit titled “The Photography of Edward S. Curtis” will be on display through March 31. It took Curtis 30 years and cost him everything—his money, his reputation and his marriage—to complete. His opus magnum was a 20-volume set of 400 photographs called “The North American Indian,” now referred to by the US Library of Congress as “the most significant record of Native culture ever produced.” Only 227 sets were printed, and it wasn’t until one was dusted off in the basement of a Boston bookseller in the 1970s that the world began to take notice. Curtis’s work is nothing short of incredible, but his life-long quest to advocate for Native Americans, including his personal struggles, achievements and the criticism he received, is a story in itself.

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Curtis was born in Whitewater, Wisconsin in 1868. His father had been a Union soldier and chaplain during the Civil War, and would later become a preacher, instilling his son with both a sense of ethical responsibility and love for the outdoors.

What was depicted in that picture was the largest single-day execution in American history. Thirty-eight Dakota Sioux Indians were hanged in Mankato, Minn. following the Sioux Uprising. It occurred 25 miles from the Minnesota town where the Curtis family would move in 1880.

When Edward was born, the US was in the throes of an ugly period of history. More than 200 battles were fought between US troops and tribes from the Dakota Territory to Mexico from 1866 to 1875. The government had mandated that practicing Native religions and other traditions were felonies, although they often saw honoring treaties and social contracts as optional.

LIFE THROUGH THE LENS

Though Curtis likely heard about what was happening to Native Americans in those dark times, he would later recall that it was an engraving that planted the seeds of what would grow to be his life purpose.

It turns out that it was not.

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Curtis’s father had brought back a camera lens from the Civil War, and at the age of 12, Edward used a photography manual to build his first camera. That event would mark a crossroad in his life, as would the day he bought his first camera at the age of 18—a purchase his mother said was a waste of his money.

That camera was the gateway to Curtis’s journey. He moved to Seattle at 18, followed by his soon-to-be wife Clara, to form a partnership in a photography and engraving business.

Local women found Curtis especially appealing. Through his lens, the handsome Curtis was able to portray their mundane lives as sophisticated and interesting. By some accounts, Clara enjoyed the money Curtis brought in more than she enjoyed photography. Still, they had four children together and forged a life in the Pacific Northwest that would have likely remained comfortable had it not been for two chance encounters. The first was with Princess Angeline, the daughter of the great Chief Sealth, for whom Seattle was named. It was illegal for Native Americans to live within city limits, but Angeline had been given an exemption. Well into her 90s when she met Curtis, she lived in poverty on the edge of town, digging clams for a living.

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Curtis was enthralled. He offered to pay Angeline one dollar per portrait, a fee Angeline accepted enthusiastically. The details and expressions of her face that Curtis captured with his lens were unlike anything seen at the time. They earned him grand prize in an exhibition sponsored by the American Photographic Society. Princess Angeline died soon after in the city’s skid row. That same year, he made a second life-changing chance encounter. While climbing Mt. Rainier, he stumbled upon a climbing party in distress. That party included George Bird Grinnell, editor of Forest and Stream magazine and founder of the Audubon Society; and Clinton Hart Merriam, head of the US Biological Survey and founder of the National Geographic Society. Grateful for his assistance and impressed by his acumen, they invited Curtis along for the Harriman Expedition to Alaska as their official photographer. It was a wild card of fate that gave Curtis the opportunity to learn the basics of anthropological research—despite the fact that he hadn’t finished his sixth grade education. Grinnell then invited Curtis to Montana to witness the last Sun Dance performed by the Plains Indians, and to Arizona to witness a Hopi Snake Dance. The seeds planted in Curtis’s mind began to germinate and bloom into an impassioned desire for activism, and a pressing need to document the disappearing culture and faces of Native Americans while there was still time.

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A WORTHY ENDEAVOR The US Census indicated that there were only 235,000 Native Americans left in North America when Curtis began. Cultures were being forced into extinction by the US government and by Christian missionaries. His only problem was funding. Curtis’s dreams were bigger than his pocketbook. He approached the Smithsonian Institution for funding only to be turned down, then made a fruitless trek through New York in search of a publisher. Undaunted, Curtis bought a motion picture camera and used his own funds to set out for the Navajo Nation. He used his savvy to convince the tribe to allow him to photograph their sacred Yeibechei Dance. (They performed it backward, as they still do for secular audiences.) The next years were a flurry of shows and opportunities. Curtis caught the eye of Theodore Roosevelt and added photographs of Geronimo and Chief Joseph to his portfolio. He was doing it on his own dime, and he was running out of money until railroad magnate JP Morgan came to his aid. He agreed to plunk down a total of $75,000 to fund the project—a massive sum in 1906. Curtis traveled by burro, boat and horseback from one remote tribe to the next, earning trust and gaining access

Experience The Photography of Edward S. Curtis 1–4:30 p.m. daily; Fridays 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays Cave Creek Museum 6140 E. Skyline Dr., Cave Creek $3–$5; children under 12 admitted free 480-488-2764 cavecreekmuseum.org

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to ceremonies and cultures never before opened to white people. He ennobled Native Americans with his work, portraying them as proud people—something that took white society at least another century to appreciate. Half anthropologist, half activist, Curtis was driven by his desire to depict unadulterated Native cultures. It was his greatest achievement and his greatest downfall. White laws and influences had infiltrated many tribes. He was known to bring along his own “Native” clothing and props, and even to use techniques akin to Photoshop to alter negatives so images would fit his version of “true” Native experiences. His subjects didn’t seem to mind having things like clocks or umbrellas removed from photos, or wearing clothing that was not theirs; but today, critics take exception. By removing evidence of neocolonialism, they say, Curtis ignored the struggles and injustices Natives endured. Curtis pushed on, but despite the generous backing from Morgan, he still couldn’t pay his mounting bills. His wife Clara was no longer interested in standing alone while Curtis traversed the country for months at a time. In a bitter divorce, she took him to court for all he was worth—and got it.

Curtis was broke and broken. He found himself completely defeated in California, where he shot film of fake Indians for Hollywood. His daughter Florence provided encouragement. Together, they filmed and photographed the last of his California Indian volume, then traveled to the arctic to complete the last series. His was a feat that remains one of the greatest works of anthropological documentation. Yet none of it belonged to Curtis.

A WORTHY ENDING Curtis was so indebted to the estate of JP Morgan (the mogul had died years prior) that he was forced to sign away the project’s copyright. The Morgan estate sold his work in its entirety for $1,000 to a Boston publisher. And there it sat. When Curtis died in 1952, he received a meager 77word obituary that spoke briefly of his authority on North American Indians. The last line simply read: “Mr. Curtis was also widely known as a photographer.” Like many of the people, dances, languages, ceremonies and religions Curtis preserved in pictures, frames and audio, “The North American Indian” disappeared into obscurity—until a complete set of all 20 volumes was rediscovered in a bookseller’s basement. That single set sold for $2.88 million at auction in 2013. Other few surviving sets have been equally coveted. The Photography of Edward S. Curtis exhibit is a tremendous accomplishment for the Cave Creek Museum. It marks the first time it has been displayed in the Phoenix area. “This is an exceptional collection with unique pieces that you won’t see anywhere else,” said the museum's executive director, Karrie Porter Brace. “We are displaying ‘The North American Indian’ in its entirety, signed by Teddy Roosevelt and Edward Curtis.” It’s a fitting acknowledgement for man whose extraordinary life was unrecognized for far too long. cavecreekmuseum.org

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Writer Lynette Carrington Photography by Veronika Countryman

Bringing the natural beauty of the desert to discriminating clients through her art, Dyana Hesson gathers inspiration from a variety of sources. Each painting is a work of love and, like the desert, the unique elegance of each piece reveals itself during the weeks and months during which it is created. For botanical artist Dyana Hesson, the process of creating her exquisite paintings is as much about how the subject makes her feel emotionally as it is the physical beauty of blooms or cactus. Her works include a variety of succulents, cacti, lilies, tulips and other visual superstars of the desert and garden world, and her subjects exude a compelling visual personality as interpreted by Hesson. Her oil paintings can convey unity, solitude, happiness, love and friendship through the expert orchestration of subject arrangement, angles and interpreted lighting. While the subjects of her paintings are something that most Arizonans see in their everyday life, seen through the artistic interpretation of Hesson, plants, cacti and flowers take on a new meaning. Utilizing layers of oil, Hesson is able to create a unique version of light within the painting itself that creates a heavenly aura for the botanicals and blossoms. A distinctive play of light and shadow gives an ethereal quality to her paintings. As a child, Hesson would go out on her family property and work on landscaping, eventually taking up photography to capture the magic moments that she experienced with nature. She attended ASU and earned her degree in art, graduating magna cum laude. Now into her 27th year as a professional artist, her work is not about cranking out a certain number of paintings; it’s about personal connection and emotion—feeling each painting and even interpreting a painting to align with a client’s home or lifestyle.

“I’m so blessed because I would say the art market as a whole has not been that gracious to most of my artist friends,” says Dyana Hesson. “I really feel like it’s not enough to have talent. You also have to have passion, work ethic and a mind for business.” She often finds her inspiration in the very muse that brings forth colorful and unique blossoms: the desert. Hesson is an avid hiker, especially in the foothills around her northeast Mesa home, and she will often visit other gardens and other states to take photos or observe blossoms and succulents as potential subjects. Her paintings hang in homes all over the world, including many here in Arizona. f ebruary 2018

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Carefree architect Mark Tate is among her fans. “He had a client who bought one of his homes in Estancia… a beautiful modern home,” explains Hesson. “When he bought the home, he wanted art. He asked Mark and their design team about supporting a local artist. Their designer asked the new homeowner, ‘What about Dyana Hesson?’” Seven of her large pieces that had been residing at Bonner David Galleries in Old Town Scottsdale were hung in the new home so the owner could fly in and see how the paintings clicked in the house. The homeowner purchased every piece. Hesson met Tate through a friend when the architect had been building a home in Scottsdale. Tate was seeking a massive botanical mural for the home and went online to see the artist’s work. “We’re both equally passionate about our fields,” says Hesson. “We get each other. He has an artist’s mind. He fell in love with my work and contacted me and asked if I could do this mural.” The mural was ultimately cost prohibitive because of the amount of time Hesson would have to spend on site, and the client made another choice. However, Tate’s admiration of Hesson’s work remained strong and the friendship between the two has grown. “We are admirers of each other’s work,” she explains. In fact, she hopes that one day when she and her husband decide to move, Tate will be the architect of their new home. In December 2015, Hesson’s book “Radiance: The Paintings of Dyana Hesson” hit the market. During the first half of 2016, “Return to the Desert: Celebrating the First 25 years of Paintings by Dyana Hesson” at Desert Botanical Gardens put a couple dozen of her paintings in the spotlight in what was perhaps the most apropos place in the Valley for that kind of exhibition. Then, in March 2017, design professionals nominated and awarded Hesson with the prestigious Master of the Southwest award from Phoenix Home and Garden. The combination of these three landmark events has put Hesson in high demand. Even so, she does not compromise quality for the time that it takes to create additional inventory. Each painting is a labor of an artist’s love for her craft and can’t be rushed. Each year for the past 15 years, Hesson has held a spring show at Bonner David Galleries to

benefit Show Hope, a nonprofit that assists adoptive parents with the financial side of their adoption endeavors. It is a cause close to Hesson’s heart as she herself was adopted into a loving home as a baby. Because of the current demand for her paintings, she is skipping her 2017 show to work on replenishing her inventory. “I’m happily painting, creating and focusing on complex compositions that I want to paint,” says Hesson. “Bonner David still has pieces, but every time I send them a new piece, it sells. Before, I might wait months and sometimes years for those big pieces to sell.” Hesson’s public art can be viewed in various places in the Valley, including Barrows Neurological Center and at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, with her original art featured at patient check-in and limited edition prints hanging in patients’ rooms. Additionally, her artwork is in the permanent collection at Phoenix Sky Harbor Museum and is featured in ongoing rotation at Rusconi's American Kitchen in North Phoenix. “In our society, especially right now, we are so saturated with eye candy. We have Pinterest and Instagram, and we have these highly polished, filtered, orchestrated and staged photos of everything,” Hesson says. “We have access to and are inundated with really beautiful imagery all day long. My challenge as an artist is working in a medium that is old, messy, stinky, and rudimentary. These paintings don’t come out of printers. They are labored over day after day, sometimes for months.” Hesson always wants to inspire her viewers to see the world in a new and compelling way. “My challenge is to get your attention with something that is created from my hands that was inspired maybe by a beautiful or staged picture, but that will capture your attention and also make you think about the natural world and how beautiful the natural world is.” dyanahesson.com

Get Captivated Dyana Hesson Artwork

Ongoing Displays Bonner David Galleries 7040 E. Main St., Scottsdale; Coco Milano 2837 N. Power Rd., Suite 104, Mesa f ebruary 2018

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Writer Amanda Christmann Photography by Bryan Black

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Hiking or biking the serene desert trails of Brown’s Ranch, it’s easy to get lost in the rugged natural beauty of saguaro-studded landscapes, bursts of spring wildflowers and precariously balanced boulders. If you’re fortunate enough to spend time in this little corner of the Valley on a weekday, you can often traverse the entire three-mile out-and-back trail without seeing another person. Yet the human history of Brown’s Ranch is indelibly intertwined in its story. Like so much of Valley land now covered in concrete and shopping centers, cattle and cowboys once roamed this land. The only difference is that, at Brown’s Ranch and the rest of the 30,500 acres of land in the safe keeping of Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve, history and the environment are being consciously and carefully safeguarded for future generations. At Brown’s Ranch, Edwin Orpheus “E.O.” Brown and his wife, Mary Jane Coldwell Brown raised six children and thousands of heads of cattle in the dusty, rocky foothills in the early 1900s. During roundups, cowboys (some more scrupulous than others) came from all around to help. Hiking the present-day trail toward the old ranch house location, one can almost smell the biscuits, beans and jerky gravy that "Chicken Henry," the ranch’s renowned cook, fed them all each evening, and the peach cobbler he prepared for dessert.

Cowboys rounded up and branded the large herd and led them south on Scottsdale Road—then, a narrow dirt pathway—toward the stockyards. It’s not difficult to imagine the thick cloud of dust as the herd, moaning its lows and bellows, paraded through the otherwise-solitary desert. E.O. Brown’s son, E.E., or "Brownie” as he was known, was tall, sturdy and wore an intimidating Colt .45 that likely settled many an argument. It’s still rumored that John Wayne, who grew up far from ranch life in Southern California, copied many of Brownie’s traits to become the iconic on-screen American cowboy. It was Brownie who built the two-room ranch to share with his wife Goldie, parts of which still remain today. Like most ranchers, Brownie, who was deputized by the Maricopa County Sheriff, was a jack-of-all-trades. One of his most challenging jobs was protecting the pipelines, wells and windmills running across hundreds of acres of his land. Brownie and his men instilled their own Arizona justice on anyone messing with the water through “lead poisoning” via bullet. No questions were asked; as far as the law was concerned, justice had been served. Brownie died in 1966, but his legacy (and that of so many early Arizonans) remains, thanks to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

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An exhibit open through May at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead tells much of the story of Brown’s Ranch and other now-historical faces and places. Arizona Historical Society has played a major role in preserving the state’s history and telling its unique tales at the beautifully designed trailhead entrance. History in the Desert is the product of a year-long partnership between the Arizona Heritage Center and the 26-year-old McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, and includes photographs and relics from Arizona Historical Society collections showing ranching, mining, farming and other elements of our history. McDowell Sonoran Conservancy Pathfinder volunteers are present to help with interpretive exhibits and guidance Monday through Friday, 7 to 9 a.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 7 to 11 a.m. The History in the Desert exhibit at the Brown’s Ranch Trailhead is an extension of a shared commitment to preservation, providing visitors of all ages an opportunity to learn about the important work being done by the Arizona Heritage Center, the Arizona Historical Society, and McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. It is part of a continuing effort to ensure that the echoes of our unique history can be heard for generations to come. mcdowellsonoran.org

Experience History in the Desert

Through May 2018 M-F, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sat., Sun. 7 to 11 a.m. Brown’s Ranch Trailhead 30301 Alma School Rd, Scottsdale Free 480-312-3111 mcdowellsonoran.org f ebruary 2018

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Citrus Cilantro Chicken This one-pan chicken dish is refreshing and full of flavor. I love how the sauce bakes with the chicken and becomes a sticky glaze. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a yummy, quick dish for any night of the week!

Ingredients: 6 chicken thighs or breasts Sauce 4 limes, juiced 2 small lemons, juiced 1 orange, juiced 1/4 c. avocado oil (or olive oil) 1 tbsp. brown sugar 3 cloves minced garlic 1 tsp. red chile flakes 3â&#x20AC;&#x201C;4 dashes hot sauce (like Chulula) 1/4 c. chopped cilantro *optional 1 tsp. cumin Directions: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium-sized bowl, combine all sauce ingredients. Whisk well until all ingredients are combined. In a nonstick skillet, brown both sides of the chicken. Pour sauce over chicken and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Bake in oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until chicken is done. Spoon sauce over chicken and serve. Chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Note: This is great served over rice, a salad, or just on its own! kyndraclaire.com

Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

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JOIN US MARCH 8, 2018 FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

tastic

PVCC at Black Mountain 5-8 PM Hands-on Activities 7-10 PM Star Party 5:30-6 PM Presentation of Awards for the STEAMtastic Challenge

R.S.V.P. @

A celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, & Music

paradisevalley.edu/black-mountain/ steamtastic-attendees

PVCC at Black Mountain | 34250 N 60th Street | Scottsdale, AZ 85266 | 602.493.2600 | paradisevalley.edu/black-mountain

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Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

These bite sized potato stackers are great as an appetizer or even a side dish! They’re cheesy, crispy and all around Fire-grilled chili lime delicious. shrimp are cradled in a bed of tangy red cabbage slaw and wrapped in a warm tortilla for a light, yet super satisfying dinner. Make extra, because these mouthwatering shrimp tacos go quickly.

Gruyere Stacked Potatoes Ingredients: 4 russet potatoes (look for skinnier-shaped potatoes) 1/2 c. cream 2 tbsp. butter 1/2 tsp. thyme or rosemary 1/4 tsp. minced garlic salt pepper 1 c. grated Gruyère (or any other melting cheese) Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Peel potatoes and slice to about 1/10-inch. I use a mandolin to make this part easy.

In a muffin pan, put three slices of potatoes in each compartment. Add grated cheese and about 1/2 teaspoon of the cream mixture. Add three more potato slices. Top with cheese and the rest of the cream mixture. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil, add more cheese and bake for 10 more minutes until cheese is melted and edges begin to brown. Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan and serving. Chef’s Note: If you can’t find skinny potatoes, just pare potatoes down with a knife after peeling. Rosemary stems can be used as toothpicks to hold stackers together. kyndraclaire.com

In a small saucepan, combine cream, butter, thyme, garlic, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and remove from heat.

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