Images Arizona July 2018

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Writer Amanda Christmann

Writer Amanda Christmann

Writer Amanda Christmann

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Writer Amanda Christmann

Writer Amanda Christmann

BLUE-BARB COFFEE CAKE

Photography Courtesy of Arizona

Writer Kyndra Kelly

WISDOM OF A CRONE

COMMUNITY EVENTS

BRILLANT ARIZONA SKIES

DAVID PERALTA

Diamondbacks - Sarah Sachs

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RAVEN’S VIEW

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PUBLISHER Shelly Spence

MANAGING EDITOR Amanda Christmann

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meaghan Mitchell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS W. James Burns, Ph.D. 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

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As summer rages on, I couldn’t help but feel refreshed as I flipped through the pages of this month’s edition of Images Arizona. From beautiful sunsets, to captivating artists, to restaurants plating up something a little different, it’s full of ways to indulge in all that our little corner of the world has to offer.

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

Whether you want to sip wine in a desert oasis at Raven’s View or take a road trip to cooler climes in Sedona or Prescott, there are so many places and ways to explore! I hope you are inspired to try something new, and to appreciate the efforts of those who are behind the scenes.

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

One of the things I appreciate most about our community is that we support each other. I love that we can share the journeys and successes of our neighbors and friends, and I hope you are moved to dig a little deeper into the story the next time you find an original piece of art that you admire, or a culinary creation that you especially enjoy.

ADVERTISING SALES

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.

Whichever way your heart leads you, savor the gifts this summer, and enjoy this month’s edition of Images Arizona!

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

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Cheers!

Shelly Spence Publisher, Images Arizona magazine shelly@imagesaz.com 623-341-8221

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Aspens in Summer

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Writer Amanda Christmann Photography Courtesy of Goldenstein Gallery

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As I approached the front door of Adele Seronde’s Pine Valley home near Sedona, I couldn’t help but feel a bit of excitement and awe. Adele’s reputation preceded our meeting. Years prior at a retreat, she was hailed as an example of an archetypal crone— not the thin, ugly creature of fairytale lore, but the strong, wise older woman whose experiences and wisdom pave the way for those of us still traveling life’s meandering roads.

Taking a deep breath, I lifted the brass knocker and rapped on the fading wooden door. From behind it, I heard a voice call out, “Mother, your guest is here.”

A rustling ensued, and after a few moments, a man with a shock of white hair emerged from behind the door. He greeted me with a smile and led me through a dark hallway that held the comfortable smell of years gone by, into a bright room with soaring ceilings and a wall of windows that framed a stunning view of the surrounding red rocks.

Colorful portraits and floral landscapes covered the walls, and comfortable piles of paints and mélange filled tables and spaces.

A well broken-in gold-colored sofa sat near the center of the room. I sat down and took in my surroundings.

On the floor in front of me, laid out in different directions, were three oil paintings in various stages of completion. This was Adele’s easel; I’d read that she prefers to keep her canvases on the ground, leaning over them with her brush to add a stroke here, a few strokes there, until they emerge into an expression.

Sometimes she adds additional canvases at unconventional angles alongside of a piece to expand the view.

In a short time, I heard the unmistakable sound of a walker rolling over the hallway tile. Adele’s face appeared from around the corner, followed by the rest of her tiny body as she scooted through the doorway. She smiled from behind bright eyes and welcomed me to her home.

As she began talking, I couldn’t help but wish I’d brought a voice recorder. Of all of the interviews I’ve done in my 20-plus

years of writing, hers was the voice I most want to remember.

We talked of history, of art and of books, and the time flew all too quickly.

Born in 1925, Adele’s father served as Secretary of State in the Eisenhower administration, and her mother was an artist (“My mother was an artist and my father was a rebel who turned into a politician,” she told me.); the conversations and experiences that shaped her formative years would lend themselves to the life she would carve for herself through art, poetry and activism.

Adele treated me to a story of her early childhood: “When I was four or five years old, I was drawing the sideburns on a picture of a little boy that I’d been working on,” she said. “I was using watercolors—I was allowed to have them very, very young. I’d been struggling with that for days, and I took my picture outside where my family was watching a Thanksgiving Day parade going by. They said, ‘Look at the parade, Adele!

You’re missing it!’ but I kept working on my painting instead.

“I guess you could say I’ve spent my whole life that way.”

I am the voices of the Crone.

Otherwise: who would know that beneath this ventriculated vortex of disintegrating flesh these tired smiles these lugubrious laments and ludicrous displays of gestures— who would know that I am everywoman’s song? ~ Adele Seronde, Excerpt from “Crone”

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I keep thinking that the role of the artist is to awaken; to make community wherever they can, and to find a voice through their own creativity. It doesn’t have to be in art. It can be in numbers, gardening or whatever they love. We all can create inner shrines of beauty.

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Pastels, pencils and oil paint have always been a language of choice for Adele. A sixth generation artist, she studied under renowned abstract American painter Karl Knaths at the Phillips Museum in Washington D.C., German-born American abstract expressionist Hans Hofmann in New York City and Karl Zerbe at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

the art of organization

Though she continued to paint, like many women of her time, Adele’s 20s and 30s were defined largely by motherhood. She raised five children before, in 1968, at the age of 43, her activism truly began.

While living in Boston, she watched with horror as reports of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. flooded her television set. It prompted her to want to unite the segregated neighborhood in which she lived in, and led to the creation of “Summerthing,” the mayor of Boston’s neighborhood arts festival, which she co-chaired.

“It was a wonderful experience,” she said, raising the corners of her mouth and eyes into a big smile. “We brought in a fleet of old trucks and hearses and milk wagons and painted them bright yellow! We brought in jazz orchestras and artists—it was a wonderful way of unifying the city at a time of great trouble.

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“Our first job was to work with a Black Panther to do murals,” she continued.

“They began painting these big walls on the south side of Boston with us. … We became friends, which was a wonderful thing.”

Over the next few years, 1,500 murals were created throughout Boston to celebrate the city’s diversity. Many of them remain today.

The spirit of what she accomplished is still needed, she insists. “Cities need ways of unifying, particularly now,” she said with urgency. “I’m more and more certain that the role of art is to be a bridge between different parts of the community. It’s the one thing we have to hold on to.”

Her next project was to found Gardens for

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Humanity, a program started to create gardens in schools, community and retirement centers, on reservations, and in urban areas.

Like nearly everything else she does from poetry to painting, the gardens she has helped to create are a way of nurturing a sense of community in others.

“Once we lose our connection to nature, we lose our connection with self and with each other,” she said.

Floral Bouquet

“I was listening to Ani Williams—do you know her?”

Adele asked. I told her I had heard of the renowned harpist. “That’s good,” she replied, nodding in approval as she continued.

“Ani Williams said, ‘You must make circles with everyone you know.’ I thought, gosh, what a wonderful idea! Even with all the unrest out there, many people do want to have a better world, and community groups are making that happen. It’s so important to continue to unite people in communities and to plant seeds and nurture them through gardens and through creativity.”

“I keep thinking that the role of the artist is to awaken; to make community wherever they can, and to find a voice through their own creativity. It doesn’t have to be in art. It can be in numbers, gardening or whatever they love. We all can create inner shrines of beauty.”

At 93 years old, Adele has accomplished lifetimes of work.

Her often evocative landscapes and portraits have been exhibited internationally, including at Vigna Nuova Gallery in Florence, Italy. Several can currently be found at Sedona’s acclaimed Goldenstein Gallery.

Her work includes gorgeous small- and large-scale paintings that have caught the eye of collectors from around the world. Her landscapes are meant to not only fill a wall, but to take us to another place. Beyond paint and form, it is her wisdom and experience that makes each wonderful piece special.

She is working on her eighth book, titled “Pegasus: Wings on Fire in Education” to address inequality and shortcomings of America’s educational system. In 2016, her seventh book, a beautiful compilation of poetry titled “All My Loves and Deaths,” earned a bronze medal from the prestigious Reader’s Favorite Book Awards.

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Adele she continues to create, and to use her work to urge us all to move forward—together.

As she perched on her walker’s built-in chair, she pointed out individual paintings hanging on her wall—one of her grandson playing piano, another of her daughter when she was pregnant, and another of an old friend “many years ago.” She talked of her five children, 11 grandchildren, and seven greatgrandchildren and their accomplishments.

Twelve of her progeny are now artists, and each year they get together at her family’s retreat in Maine for a family art show.

She talked of the haiku poems she now tweets with the help of a friend, and how literature is so important today. She gave me the names of some of her favorite books and offered bits of wisdom from each.

And she spoke of her own routine.

“I’ve got only the energy now for family and friends,” she added with a sigh. “I spend most of my mornings in bed writing poetry.

I take a late lunch and go to sleep, and now I paint for two hours in the late afternoon. I try to do what I can, but I can’t do all of the things I want to do.”

Signing a copy of one of her books for me to take on my journey, she offered one last piece of advice.

Looking intently into my face, she said, “Get something you consider completely beautiful and memorize that. See what it will do to you. See what it will do.”

As I walked out into the sunshine, I couldn’t help but to think of the boundless passion and purpose inside of her body, and sensed that she is all-too-aware of her own mortality.

I’ve thought of her words many times since, and even picked up a few books of poetry along the way. In them, and in the world, Adele has inspired me to look for the beauty, and to find creativity in all that surrounds me.

In Adele, I found glimpses of my own future.

After all, the crones pave the way. All we need to do is to listen—and to hear. goldensteinart.com j uly 2018

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COMMUNITY

2018 JULY

Writer Amanda Christmann

July 3

ANTHEM INDEPENDENCE DAY Anthem is the place to be for family fireworks fun!

Bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy live music and dancing while the kids have the time of their lives on water slides, rides and inflatables. Food available, or bring your own picnic. Free admission and parking. Anthem Community Park, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Pkwy., Anthem. 6–10 p.m.; fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. onlineatanthem.com

July 1–20

July 2, 9, 16, 23, 39

Arizona Science Center hosts 20

Robin Miller’s soothing music

SCOTTSDALE 4TH OF JULY AT WESTWORLD

winners of the 43rd annual Nikon

transports us to a tranquil world free

Beat the heat at the indoor

Small World Competition, which

of worry and struggles. Free. Sound

Independence Day festivities at

recognizes excellence in photography

Bites Grill, 101 N. SR 89A, Sedona.

through the microscope. Included

6–9 p.m. soundbitesgrill.com

NIKON SMALL WORLD

with general admission, $13–$18.

10 a.m.–5 p.m. 602-716-2000; azscience.org

PIANO NIGHT WITH ROBIN MILLER

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WestWorld in the 300,000 square-foot, ve

VISIT SEDO

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600 E. Washington Ave., Phoenix.

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fully air-conditioned Tony Nelssen Equestrian Center. Little ones will love pony rides, a petting zoo and the Jurassic 4th Dinosaur Encounter, while you take in the bull riding rodeo, Stunt Master’s BMX Show, Good Karma K9Z Stunt Dog Show and more!

Fireworks outdoors at 9 p.m. $12 and up; family pack tickets available.

WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale. 4–9:30 p.m. scottsdale4th.com

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SEDONA FIRST FRIDAY Art receptions from Sedona Gallery Association give locals and visitors the opportunity to enjoy light refreshments and explore Sedona’s exciting art scene. Free. See website for locations and events. 5–8 p.m. sedonagalleryassociation.com ta

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SEDONA SUMMER CELEBRATION Valley visitors are invited to the relatively cooler climes of Sedona, where Lanning, a Bryant Nagel Gallery, will feature over 40 painters, sculptors, glass workers, and jewelers.

Guests can enjoy an opening reception from 5 to 8 p.m. July 6. Free. 431 SR 179, A1-2, at Hozho, Sedona. 5–8 p.m. 928282-6865; lanninggallery.com ta

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NATIVE AMERICAN AND SOUTHWEST ARTISTS SHOW Sedona is the place to be for a gallery-wide salute to the Native American and Southwest artists who have made the Turquoise Turtle a destination fine art gallery in Northern Arizona for the last 47 years. Wine and appetizers available at the opening reception July 6, 5-8 p.m. Free. Turquoise Tortoise, 431 SR 179, A3, at Hozho, Sedona. 928-282-2262; turquoisetortoisegallery.com

July 9

MTA AUDITIONS: FOOTLOOSE Musical Theatre of Anthem announces auditions for Footloose, a musical stage production for actors ages 10 to adult (no-cut for ages 10-19). Please bring a musical theatre song, 16-32 bars or one minute in length and CD or iPod accompaniment. $375; sibling discounts and scholarships available. 42323 N. Vision Way, Anthem. Registration 8:30 to 9 a.m.; auditions begin at 9 a.m. 623-336-6001; musicaltheatreofanthem.org

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July 18

PLEIN AIR PAINT OUT Summer mornings have never been more wonderful than at a plein air paint out in Sedona! See artists at work as they create their own interpretations of the same scene. Meet artists and enjoy the view! Free. L’Auberge, 301 Little Ln., Sedona. 8–11:30 a.m. Trolley available from Sedona Arts Center 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. goldensteinart.com ta k

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July 14

SPANISH HARLEM ORCHESTRA

Aug. 21

GET IN THE GAME FOR FIRST AND TEN

This two-time Grammy-winning

PROMUSICA ARIZONA AUDITIONS

salsa and Latin jazz band is coming

It’s time to start warming up!

of the First Down Fund’s success

to the Musical Instrument Museum

ProMusica Arizona (PMAZ) will be

in providing assistance to worthy

with New York–style, hard-core

holding auditions for its chorale and

philanthropic projects supporting

salsa. $28.50–$48.50.

orchestra at Crosswinds Presbyterian

kids and their families. Join Larry at

4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 7 p.m.

Church Aug. 21. All voices and

Fitz’s Supper Club 2018 for cocktails,

and 9 p.m. 480-478-6000; mim.org

instrument auditions are welcome.

post-game favorites prepared by

Appointment required. See website

Chef Marc Lupino and silent and

for details. 20125 N. 15th Ave.,

live auctions. $850 per person and

Phoenix. 7 p.m. 623-326-5172;

up. Sponsorships available. Visit

pmaz.org

website for details. 602-524-8557;

Cheers to social change! Larry Fitzgerald’s First Down Fund is celebrating First and Ten—10 years

larryfitzgerald.com

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HIDDEN IN THE HILLS ANNOUNCES COVER ARTIST AL DIMEOLA OPUS TOUR 2018 Reserve tickets now for an evening with Al DiMeola, with special guest Jordan Rudess, at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Sunday, Sept.

30, at 7:30 p.m. The show, presented

by Danny Zelisko, features DiMeola,

This year, after carefully weighing more than 120 submissions, the Sonoran Arts League announces that the 22nd Annual Hidden in the Hills directory cover artist is Michael McKee. McKee has made a name for himself creating landscapes and abstract expressionism. Hidden in the Hills will be held in November.

Watch for announcements about featured artists and highlights in Images Arizona magazine! hiddeninthehills.org

whose career has spanned four decades and earned him critical accolades, three gold albums and more than $6 million in record sales worldwide. $35 and up.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. 2nd St., Scottsdale. 480499-8587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org

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Writer Amanda Christmann Photographer Loralei Lazurek

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In the early 19th century, Horace Mann launched the public school movement, advocating for, and eventually winning, educational opportunities for all Americans as universal right. Like many of his successors, Mann believed that education should be approached holistically, and include not only reading, writing and arithmetic, but also fine arts.

Nearly two centuries later, some public schools are stuck with difficult choices about which programs to keep, and which to pare down or eliminate, and “extras” like music and fine arts sometimes end up on the chopping block.

At Diamond Canyon School, investment in fine arts and the dedication of fine arts teachers is paying off.

For the last 18 years, music teacher Caroline Kaupa has entered her students’ work into an international art and music drawing contest sponsored by Music K-8, a magazine

issued by Plank Road Publishing that provides educational resources and activities for elementary music education.

“This contest takes place once a year and generally has between 15,000 and 20,000 entries from USA, Austria, Canada and Australia,” Kaupa says. “It gives young artists the opportunity to combine the visual arts with the musical arts to create amazing creative works.”

Many students have been honored with recognition throughout those years, but this year, eighth grader Gracie Milliken accomplished something extraordinary.

Gracie has entered the contest since she was in third grade. Every year, her work has earned her mentions.

This year, however, Gracie did something no Arizona student has ever accomplished: Her drawing earned First Runner Up.

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For Gracie, and countless other students, music and visual arts are so much more than just a class; they’re relatable in ways that go beyond basic logic.

“I like how art gives people the opportunity to convey their thoughts and feelings without words,” she says, adding that her grandmother, her uncle and her mom are also artistic.

Each year, the combination of music and art— which Kaupa affectionately calls “mart”—seems to inspire students to express themselves in impressively creative ways. In looking through the contest winners, it’s clear that many of the students are passionate about both. It’s also clear that they often have teachers who encourage them to explore that creativity.

“Teachers like Dawn Kirchner, Ms. Kaupa and Mrs. Moran have kept encouraging me throughout the years,” Gracie says. “Each and every one of them have motivated and inspired me to keep doing what I love.”

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“What Gracie has accomplished is very rare. Having entered students in this contest for so long, I have observed what it takes to get published in the actual magazine, let alone First Runner Up. … Gracie has been published in the actual magazine twice now, and she has been published on the company’s web page every year since third grade.”

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In fact, Gracie loves art so much that she plans to turn it into a career.

“When I grow up, I plan on starting a career that involves art, like being an animator or a tattooist,” she says. As she enters high school next fall at Boulder Creek, she’s likely to have plenty of opportunities to explore even more choices.

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Beyond contests and accolades, there is something more for Kaupa in accomplishments like Gracie’s.

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“I have been teaching general music, strings and conducting two very active choral programs for 18 years now,” she explains.

“The importance of art education is in the very nature of creativity, and how it puts us in tune with our soul and allows us to express inner sound, space, aural and visual realms that could otherwise go unnoticed.

“The arts are a form of education that thus involves discovery, just as writing poetry and learning to use language creatively becomes a vehicle for self-expressing. The arts provide a foundation for young people that is proven to improve the quality of one’s very life.

“Having been a musician for as long as I can remember, and having a deep passion for music, the many vocal and violin teachers I have had throughout my life have provided me the knowledge base which has allowed me to continue in the fine arts to this day, and that kind of education holds power that extends far beyond the classroom walls.”

It’s that spirit of gratitude and appreciation that inspires fine arts teachers like Kaupa— and so many more educators—to help their students to learn, grow and achieve success in their endeavors, and in their lives.

Images Arizona congratulates Gracie Milliken on her accomplishment. We also thank the teachers who continue to encourage and guide students to become passionate and capable in whatever endeavors they choose. musick8.com dvusd.org/diamondcanyon

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Writer Amanda Christmann

Please note: all events are subject to change or cancellation due to extreme fire danger. Check websites for updates.

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The heat is on, and so is the fun at Independence Day festivals around the Valley. Indoors and out, there’s no better place to share salutes and smiles than Phoenix!

Here are just a few of the celebrations to choose from this year:

June 29–July 4

SCOTTSDALE PRINCESS STAR-SPANGLED SPECTACULAR Kick off your celebration with a staycation at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, with special rate packages starting at $176 per night for local residents. Cool the whole family with pool parties, dive-in movies, live bands, family foam parties and more.

Fireworks will be held every night from June 29 through July 4, but that’s just the beginning!

July 2 through 4, military parachutists from the All Veterans Parachute Team will soar through the sky and land at the resort at 8 p.m. each night.

On July 4, be wowed from the cool waters of the Princess Pool and Lagoons by a vintage air show featuring retired veterans flying 28 military aircraft from WWII, Korea and Vietnam over the resort, and a military parachutist soaring through the skies and landing with an American flag. Live music, great food and more will be available for guests to enjoy.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess 7575 E. Princess Dr., Scottsdale scottsdaleprincess.com

July 3

ANTHEM INDEPENDENCE DAY If family fun is more your style, Anthem is the place to be! Anthem Community Park can always be counted on for wholesome entertainment, and Independence Day is no exception!

Tap your toes to the music as fun bands take the stage. Bring blankets and lawn chairs to relax while the kids have the time of their lives on water slides, rides and inflatables. There will be plenty of food available for purchase, or bring your own picnic. Admission and parking are free.

Anthem Community Park 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Pkwy., Anthem 6–10 p.m.; fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. onlineatanthem.com

July 4

FABULOUS PHOENIX FOURTH If “urban” is more your thing, the Fabulous Phoenix 4th downtown features one of the largest fireworks displays in the Southwest. Two stages of local entertainers, food and beverages, arts and crafts, interactive exhibits, a classic car display, rides and inflatables and a water spray zone for the kids are all part of the fun. No alcohol is allowed at the family-friendly event. Best yet, it’s free!

Steele Indian School Park 300 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix 6–10 p.m.

602-262-6011

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No matter what you do, Images Arizona wishes you a fun-filled and safe holiday!

From our family to yours, happy Independence Day!

July 4

67TH ANNUAL TEMPE TOWN LAKE FESTIVAL Active military members get in free to this big event, and it’s one of the most well-known in the Valley. For desert-lovers, there’s something special about seeing fireworks launched from Mill Avenue Bridge reflecting over the waters of Tempe Town Lake.

There’s something for everyone here. Kids will have fun with inflatables, a climbing wall and more, and as always, there will be plenty of food, drinks and live music. Purchase tickets online, at any Fry’s, or at specified Tempe town offices. See website for details. VIP tickets and day-of-event tickets are also available. $7–$60.

Tempe Beach Park 80 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe 5–10 p.m. tempe4th.com

July 4

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chair. Beer and wine will be available for adults to purchase, beginning at 7 p.m., and free carousel rides, a bounce house and a giant slide will be set up for kids to enjoy from 7–8:30 p.m. Zoo access will be limited, but the show will be a bang!

Phoenix Zoo 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix 7 p.m. phoenixzoo.org

July 4

SCOTTSDALE 4TH OF JULY AT WESTWORLD Beat the heat at the indoor Independence Day festivities at WestWorld in the 300,000 square-foot, fully air-conditioned Tony Nelssen Equestrian Center. Little ones will love pony rides, a petting zoo and the Jurassic 4th Dinosaur Encounter, while the adults take in a bull riding rodeo, Stunt Master’s BMX Show, Good Karma K9Z Stunt Dog Show and more!

Fireworks will begin outside after dark.

4TH OF ZOO-LY

It’s one of the most unique celebrations in the Valley. $12 and up; family pack tickets available.

It’s going to be a wild night at the Phoenix Zoo’s annual 4th of Zoo-ly! It’ll be all-American fun with a classic summer BBQ (veggie burgers available) and a special viewing of the Tempe Town Lake Fireworks Spectacular seen from the zoo’s very own VIP seating area. No need to bring your own

WestWorld of Scottsdale 16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale ​4–9:30 p.m. scottsdale4th.com

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Writer Amanda Christmann // Photography by Saija Lehtonen

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I

If we ever were to forget exactly why we chose to live in the desert Southwest, all we need to do is look up.

Every morning and evening, no matter if it’s in the dead of summer or the glory of Arizona winter, we’re treated to the kind of postcard skies that steal our breath and make us forget the world around us, if just for a moment.

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INSPIRATION “My original inspiration was to capture the beauty of the world around me with my camera and share it. As I grew as a photographer, I wanted to capture those special and beautiful moments that so often get overlooked in our busy lives these days.

“I find my peace and solitude out in nature, whether it be Mother Nature's beautiful scenery or wildlife that we share this world with. I am always exploring to see what I can find.”

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i m a g eLehtonen sarizona.com Saija

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In their golden hours, Arizona skies are heart-stopping and stunning, and there is likely not a one of us who hasn’t found ourselves struck by the beauty of their brilliant oranges framed by purple mountains.

I find my peace and solitude out in nature, whether it be Mother Nature's beautiful scenery or wildlife that we share this world with. I am always exploring to see what I can find.

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Photographer Saija Lehtonen, a Chandler resident originally from Helsinki, Finland, is one of the best we’ve found at capturing these stories through photography. We hope you enjoy her work as much as we do!

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<< WHY ARE ARIZONA SUNRISES AND SUNSETS SO BRILLIANT? The science-y explanation for our amazing sky shows is all about the wavelengths of light. Violets, blues and greens have short wavelengths and are on one end of the spectrum of light; oranges, yellows and reds are on the other end with long wavelengths.

Saija Lehtonen About the Photographer

In order for light to be seen, it has to pass through atmospheric molecules. Short wavelengths of light—those purples, blues and greens—have a harder time passing through the molecules.

They tend to scatter before we see them. Longer wavelengths of light—the oranges and reds—make it through, turning otherwise ordinary skies into fire-filled heavens of wonder.

“The shutterbug first bit me when I was 12 years old, when I saw my first Ansel Adams book. I started with a very inexpensive Kodak film camera. My family is full of artists from professional musicians to dancers, so it was inevitable that I would also find my niche in the arts.

At times of day when the sun is low in the sky, light has significantly more particles to pass through than it does, say, at noon. Here in Arizona, pollution and humidity don’t dull the colors like they do in other parts of the country, so what we see is especially bright.

“I actually started out drawing and painting before getting into photography, having my first drawing published at age 6 in a book in Finland.

What does influence the color of our sunrises and sunsets is dust in the air from the desert landscape: the dust filters out some of the shorter-wavelength yellow light, leaving us with more oranges and reds.

"My family has always been my biggest supporter when it came to my art endeavors.

The last several years, my boyfriend has helped me to pursue my photography full time and follow my dream. For that I am so grateful.”

Below those gorgeous skies, light tends to reflect from our desert mountains, turning them shades of purple and pink. That means we get an even more spectacular show each day.

saija-lehtonen.pixels.com

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SHARING THE VIEW “One of most memorable moments photographing in Arizona was on a beautiful summer evening while waiting for the sun to set. On this particular evening I had set up my camera when I heard rustling from a bush behind me. When I looked back, a lone coyote emerged. I started talking to him and complementing him on how handsome he was. He sat there for at least 10 minutes and watched the sunset with me.

“As his pack started to call him, he looked at me as to say ‘goodbye’ and disappeared into the night.

“Those are the kind of moments that stay with you.”

“If you have a love for photography, then pursue it. Get out at least once a day and take some shots.

You will develop your own creative eye and begin to see things differently. To me creating your own style is the most important thing. The technical aspects of photography will fall into place with time and practice.”

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*Register Now for 2018-2019!

July 2 - July 19 (Closed July 4 & 5) *for any DVUSD K-6/K-8 school Boulder Creek High School 40404 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem, AZ Mon. - Thurs. 6:30 AM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3:30 PM Park Meadows Elementary 20012 N. 35th Ave. Phoenix AZ Mon. - Thurs. 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM Extended night registration on July 12 until 7 PM at Park Meadows Elementary School Register for grades 9-12 at each DVUSD high school throughout the summer

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Writer Lynette Carrington // Photography Courtesy of April Howland

ARTIST APRIL HOWLAND FINDS CALLING AND COMPASSION THROUGH HER ART

A

April Howland has always had a fascination with animals.

From a young age, she has been enamored with both domestic and wild creatures. All creatures great and small, she paints them all. Howlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s portfolio includes everything from busy insects and household pets to lions, tigers and bears, oh my! In a style that ranges from photorealistic to whimsically nostalgic, the CEO and founder of

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Howland Studios gives each of her painting subjects a story that is uniquely their own.

She also supports local nonprofits, including the Phoenix Zoo and SniffAZ, through the creation of her rich and vibrant paintings, which are then auctioned off to raise funds. Most recently she has been traveling to assist the

MOTOR ON

non-profit Africa Foundation while photographing wildlife along the way.

Even her initial interest in animals is a bit of a wild tale.

When she was a young girl of 6, Howland went on a camping trip with her family. A visceral roar came ripping through the campsite one night.

“I was sure the next thing that came through that tent would eat me,” says Howland.

Her father was quick to think and was able to usher the family to safety. In the morning, the family discovered mountain lion tracks right next to the tent where they had been earlier. The danger was real and had been right there.

“I remember being frightened at what could have happened, but also exhilarated that a wild animal was that close to me,” adds the artist. The scary but thrilling event set forth a lifelong interest for Howland and has inspired her to become the renowned animal artist and passionate j uly 2018

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KING

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animal lover and activist that she is today.

Howland had been to South Africa with the Africa Foundation on a trip in 2011, and her return with the organization just a few months ago was cause for a celebration in the village of Matimu Crèche located in the community of Welverdiend in Mpumalanga.

“We sat at the table of honor with the tribal authority of the community,” says Howland.

“The whole community came in and it was a four hour celebration with dancing, singing and speeches.” It also marked the unveiling of a new classroom and bathroom for the area’s children, as Africa Foundation made that possible.

INJURY SCREENING

In her 2011 trip to Vuyelani primary school in Lillydale Village, Howland found that a school kitchen was in desperate need of a remodel.

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I HAVE A FUTURE

“I decided to help them in the best way I knew how, with my art,” explains Howland.

“Upon returning to Arizona, I immediately began the planning of the painting titled, ‘I Have a Future’ of an orphaned boy on a caretaker’s back. I had met them in South Africa.”

That painting was sold at one of Howland’s fine art shows and it raised $2,000. Those funds then went to remodel the village kitchen and she was able to see the fruits of her fundraising labor on her most recent trip.

Her return trip to South Africa in March 2018 also found Howland attracted to another project in a village with a kitchen that desperately needed a remodel. She is now in the planning stages of what artwork she will paint and ultimately auction to raise funds for this new endeavor.

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GOLDENSTEIN GALLERY

Adele Seronde

David DeVary

Patricia Griffin

Lynette Jennings

Upton Ethelbah (Greyshoes)

Sherab Khandro

Voted Best Gallery in Sedona 10 Years Running

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KRUGER

“I must have a thing for building kitchens!” says Howland. “The community is so poor and the kitchen feeds children in the whole area. Often, this kitchen will be providing the one and only daily meal these children get.”

Approximately $15,000 is needed to properly remodel the rustic style kitchen that might be considered crude by American standards.

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“The last time I went to South Africa, I helped to raise money for that first kitchen with other donors,” Howland explains. “This time, my goal is much loftier and I want to do it on my own. I want to be able to raise the entire $15,000 for the kitchen.” She has seen first-hand the difference that having a good working kitchen makes in the community and she is fully committed to making a strong push to raise the full funds herself.

Howland says, “Something I learned about the South African government is that they won’t come in and build these schools and projects.

The Africa Foundation comes in and builds schools and kitchens and once they have a full project completed, the government will then come in and bring water and electricity.”

While she was on her trip to South Africa this year, Howland was able to go out on excursions with trackers.

She snapped photos of lions, cheetahs, leopards, elephants, wildebeests, hyenas, rhinos, giraffes, mongooses and hippos. These photos will serve as inspiration and models for future paintings for Howland, and she is anxious to get started creating new paintings based her experiences.

Since she has made two trips to South Africa, she believes in the connection between helping the people in the villages and the ultimate longevity of animals in the area.

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VINTAGE DROPTOP

“The more we help young and struggling communities, the better ambassadors these precious African animals will have. These will be people that are more educated and dedicated to their environment and conservation,” Howland says.

Locally, Howland also supports Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in North

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Scottsdale, a wild animal non-profit that she loves. “I do some pro bono graphic design for them and I just taught an art class out there a few months ago,” she explains.

One of the center’s wolves, Manitu, recently became a muse and subject of a painting of Howland’s. The painting was then donated to the non-profit organization to auction off

during its annual fundraiser, Dinner with Wolves, held April 15.

In another fun twist on her artistic creativity, Howland also offers a variety of her paintings as fun throw pillows. Howland makes it ok to have a tiger, a horse or a sea turtle sitting on your couch or side chair. It’s just another way to enjoy Howland’s creativity.

At the end of the day, Howland continues to love capturing wildlife and nature in her paintings because they simply speak to her.

“Inside of me lives that little 6-year-old who hears that roar,” Howland says.

“I am forever curious about animals and how they live. It is amazing how simple and yet so very complicated their lives are, and by studying them and creating beautiful paintings for my collectors, I am honored to help document and tell their stories so that others might enjoy them just as much as I do.”

Currently, Howland is represented at both Santa Fe Exports and Beals & Co. in Santa Fe, NM and locally represents her own works via her website at howlandstudios.com.

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F

For a franchise that only began in 1998, Arizona baseball fans have a long history of idolizing their stars. The Diamondbacks did plenty to earn adoration, bringing home the pennant in 2001, and players like Randy Johnson and Brandon Webb gave Chase Stadium fans plenty to revere, but today thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new player whose career trajectory seems to be following the same arc as another much-loved player: Luis Gonzalez.

Like Gonzo, David Peralta is at home in the outfield, but home plate at bat is where he really packs a punch.

And, like Gonzo, who was born in Cuba, fans canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get enough of the Latino powerhouse with a big grin and even bigger personality.

Writer Amanda Christmann Photography i mCourtesy a g e s a r i zof o nArizona a . c o m Diamondbacks jul y 2 018 - Sarah Sachs

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For his part, Peralta, who signed with the Diamondbacks for the 2014 season, has plenty of love to give back.

them to watch the games. They came opening week this year, and it was great to have them here.”

“For me, the Diamondbacks are really special because they are the team that gave me the opportunity to show who I am,” he says as he sits casually just outside of the team clubhouse a few hours before a matchup against the Dodgers.

Diamondback fans likely can’t imagine Peralta anywhere but the outfield, but that hasn’t always been the case.

That opportunity nearly didn’t arrive, but don’t tell that to the 6’1” Venezuela native whose skill and determination are only surpassed by his belief in himself.

For Peralta, it couldn’t have been any other way. After all, baseball is all he has ever known.

“I kind of grew up on the baseball field,” he says, leaning back comfortably in his chair. “I started playing baseball when I was two or three years old. I don’t remember, but my dad told me that he always used to keep me busy with baseball. Their support has been what’s helped me to be where I am now.”

Even 3,200 miles away, Peralta’s family continues to be his biggest fans.

“They come up once a year to see me play. In Venezuela though, they’re three hours ahead so it’s difficult for

“In Venezuela, I loved to play outfield—left field,” he says. Scouts, however, had a different idea for the lefty.

“They said, ‘For you to play in the big league, you’re going to have to be a pitcher.’” And so he took the mound for the St. Louis Cardinals as a 17-year-old southpaw with a fastball clocked in the low 90s. His future looked bright.

Then came the injuries. Two shoulder surgeries in four years sidelined the young player. When he returned from his second rehab for spring training, he was dealt the devastating blow that the Cardinals had lost interest.

At 21 years old, he was faced with a choice: work to become one of the most impressive comeback stories in the major leagues, or give up on the dream. Lucky for fans, he chose the former.

The choice was made following a heart-to-heart talk with his dad. “My dad told me to give it a try as an outfielder because that’s what I understood to do,” he says. It wasn’t so simple.

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I’m always making sure to give it my 100 percent because I believe things happen for a reason. I play every day like it’s the last day of life.

David Peralta As a pitcher, he was relatively burly at 225 pounds. To be an outfielder, he would have to transform his body into a faster, leaner version. He worked out twice a day—baseball in the morning and strength and fitness training at night— and tightened up his diet. It paid off; he emerged at a lithe 215 pounds of muscle.

start learning English or I’m going to lose her.’ This is how I learned English,” he says with a laugh. “She helped me a lot.”

Eventually, that girl would walk with him through thick and thin and eventually become his wife. David and Jordan Peralta married in 2015, and on his birthday last year, became parents to baby Sophia.

“I worked out. I worked hard every day,” he said.

He was also playing another angle. In 2008, while in rehab following his second surgery in Jupiter, Florida, Peralta and his friend went into a local bar. There, he took a liking to a cute, bubbly blond college softball player. The only problem was that he did not speak English.

“My friend was kind of my translator,” he says. “We were all hanging out and I started thinking, ‘I like this girl. I have to

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Peralta's comeback would prove to be tough for the young couple. He was working hard to prove himself, but no one seemed to be taking notice—yet.

It was the independent North American Baseball League, formed in 2011, that kept his dream alive. The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings signed him, but the catch was that he had to drive from his home in Stuart, Florida to Harlingen, Texas to play.

With Jordan beginning a new teaching career and his own ambitions stalled, times were tough. He’d have to be creative to find gas money.

Enter McDonald’s.

Along the way, Peralta met a friend who was manager at the nearby golden arches. He asked him for a job, and his friend was happy to help. Peralta put on a completely different uniform and spent nights making French fries and working the drive-thru window.

Like the rest of his efforts, Peralta’s work paid off. By the time the 2011 season began, he’d saved enough to make the trip. The pay was bad and the days were long, but it was that hint of a chance that kept him going.

“I just kept telling myself I’ve got to give it everything I’ve got—100 percent,” he says. “I’m always making

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sure to give it my 100 percent because I believe things happen for a reason. I play every day like it’s the last day of life.”

Peralta’s face still fills with emotion when he talks about the break that eventually came.

Peralta slept on an air mattress to make his paltry independent league salary stretch far enough to keep his phone turned on.

In May 2014, Peralta was playing for the D-backs’ Double-A affiliate in Mobile, Alabama. The team was staying in a motel on the road, and well after midnight, Peralta heard a knock at his door. Sleepily, he answered.

“It was just a hard time,” he says with his trademark smile.

“Hard times, they make you grow up as a man and as a person. They make you be better.”

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South of the Outlets next to Swanky’s Fashion Boutique

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I think my teammates are jealous about the hair.

David Peralta

David Peralta Outfielder, Arizona Diamondbacks (2014–current) American: White Chocolate Chip Pancakes Venezuelan: Arepas Valencia, Venezuela

Scottsdale August 14, 1987

Wife, Jordan Daughter, Sophia (b. 8/14/17) Four

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DJ “FT” (DJ Freight Train) for his music selections on the road.

On the other side of the door was team manager Andy Green with a grin as wide as the Grand Canyon.

“The Diamondbacks bought your contract!” he said. Overcome with emotion, Peralta fell onto the floor in fetal position and wept.

The rest, as they say, is history. At 30 years old, Peralta has hit a solid career batting average of .292. His OPS is .875 this year, and he recently struck his 50th home run despite being sidelined by a wrist injury suffered by a stray pitch in late April.

Moreover, though, he’s breathing new life into the Arizona bleachers. Fans love him for his playful sense of humor and his tenacity; it doesn’t hurt that he’s one of the best hitters in the league.

"It takes hard work and dedication, and if you do the right things, everything can come together," says the Freight Train, a name given to him by Diamondbacks broadcaster Steve Berthiaume.

“Everything has changed a lot,” he adds. “I can’t believe I’m here, but this is what I’ve been working for.”

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40229 N. Candlewyck Ln., Anthem Offered at $699,752

RE/MAX Pro fe s s i o n al s | L i n da Re h w a l t | 6 0 2 -4 0 2 -1 1 3 6 | l in d a r e h w a l t @ a z r e a l t y. c o m

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Expansive Golf and Mountain Views Come see this beauty of a home backs up to the Anthem Country Club golf course and features expansive golf and mountain views! Enjoy the lifestyle this in-demand gated community has to offer, including golf, swimming, tennis, hiking and cycling, while living your dream in this luxurious 4,500+ square-foot home.

This popular executive Rochester model features 6 bedrooms and 5.5 baths. Outdoor life is at its finest with a beautiful, heated Pebble Tec pool and spa with wok pot water features, a fire pit and your own private putting green. Entertain one or a dozen guests with your own private ramada and outdoor BBQ! There’s plenty of room for family and friends to stay in the cozy private casita.

Walk through the iron entry gate through the front door and you’ll find soaring 12-foot ceilings, a split master plan, the gourmet kitchen GE Monogram appliances, two dishwashers, a warming drawer and a wine fridge.

Touches like the family room fireplace, stone floors, granite master bath and more give this home plenty of comfort and style. You’ll also find the main house den and a three-car garage.

This is a private retreat you’ll want to make your own!

Please call Linda for your private showing.

Linda Rehwalt RE/MAX Professionals 602-402-1136 lindarehwalt@azrealty.com

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Writer Amanda Christmann Photographer Bryan Black

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Way out east on Cave Creek Road, long past the manicured homes of the town it’s named for, is the wild of open desert that has lured artists and dreamers for half a century or so. Though it is still within city limits, the surrounding silent hush of Tonto National Forest’s three million acres of open space lends itself to a tranquil energy different from the buzz of the nearby towns.

One mile past the popular turnoff to Bartlett Lake, across from the secluded and scenic Desert Mountain Outlaw Course is the quiet community of Tonto Hills, and at its entrance is an unexpected and delightful oasis.

The outside of Raven’s View Wine Bar may be unassuming. In fact, it may even be confused for a simple, contemporary house, but step inside and it’s immediately clear that something different is happening out here on the frontier.

With breezes 10 to 15 degrees cooler than Phoenix air flowing through the open glass garage door window and voguish and eclectic artwork and décor, it’s an instant respite from more than just the heat.

Dozens of white wines and reds, including some reserves, are on the menu, along with a selection of local craft beers and the traditional American stand-bys.

Weekend brunch offers choices like breakfast paninis, Tonto tacos, the most savory bowl of oats you’ve ever seen (hello pesto, bacon, egg and feta!), and my own personal favorite, build-yourown avocado toast with toppings like chorizo, roasted peppers, red onion and jalapenos. Add a handcrafted fruity mimosa or homemade sangria, and there’s no better way to start the day!

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Daily small plates like truffle popcorn, Bavarian pretzels with blonde beer cheese and whole grain mustard, charcuterie plates, and freshly made jalapeño corn, artichoke spinach and white bean hummus dips compliment the beer and wine selection.

Fresh salads and a small but to-die-for choice of paninis, and the house specialty, homemade meatballs served with crostini round out the menu in the most delicious way.

For owner Kym Westhoff, it’s a dream come true.

“My mom was a single mom who worked as a waitress. I can remember being five years old and sitting in the booth picking beans with her at the Chinese restaurant where she worked,” she says with a down-to-earth smile. “I grew up in the restaurant business and had a catering and events business of my own for seven years, so owning this place is kind of a wonderful culmination of everything I’ve done up to this point.”

Though Raven’s View now has her savvy welcoming fingerprint, the wine bar was originally her idea. Former owners Tom Linda Rawles finished building it two years before selling it to Westhoff.

and not and ago

Hers wasn’t the first offer they’d gotten. Other potential buyers had ideas that didn’t bode well with their vision. When Kym came along with experience and similar goals, they entrusted her to carry on its spirit.

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She’s done so with gusto.

March 16, she took possession at 9 a.m. She and her husband Steve, a builder, spent the day painting and redecorating, then opened in time for dinner that evening. It was a whirlwind day, but Kym wouldn’t have it any other way.

Since then, she’s expanded the menu and the hours, opening Raven’s View doors seven days a week.

She contacted local artists she admires to feature their work on the walls on a rotating schedule, and employed some of the best servers and staff she knew to provide the kind of experience she herself would want to enjoy.

“Tom and Linda built a great foundation, and we’re going to continue to expand on that,” she explains.

Based on Raven’s View’s ratings and reviews, she’s doing a wonderful job.

Westhoff pegs just as much of her success on her personal work ethic as she does on the food she serves and the wine she pours.

“One thing I really like about the Cave Creek and Carefree area is that it isn’t just people supporting businesses; it’s other businesses supporting businesses,” she says. “They tend to really support entrepreneurs and people who are out there working hard.”

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Give It a Sip Ravenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s View Wine Bar

42016 Old Mine Rd., Cave Creek 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekends 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays 480-378-3755 ravensviewwinebaraz.com

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There’s still plenty to do. First on the order is to expand the patio so that, as summer’s heat dies down, more people can take in the phenomenal sunsets and desert breezes.

Sitting at the bar on a quiet Monday mid-afternoon, she takes a moment to appreciate how far she’s come.

“The views are just awesome,” she says, almost to herself as she looks outside the large open window above the bar. The gorgeous green of the golf course looks as if it is part of her own private front yard, and the desert hums along with the calm music flowing through her speakers.

“There’s really no better office view than this.” ravensviewwinebaraz.com

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Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

This coffee cake has been a family favorite for years. I decided to add rhubarb to it to kick it up a few notches, and nobody was disappointed! Make it your own and use any fruit for this recipe.

Note: If you want to serve coffee cake out of the pan, line the bottom of the baking dish with parchment. This recipe can be easily doubled for two 9-inch pans.

Blue-barb Coffee Cake Makes: 8â&#x20AC;&#x201C;10 servings Ingredients: 1/4 cup butter (softened) 1/2 package cream cheese (4 ounces) 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup frozen or fresh blueberries 1 cup diced rhubarb Crumb topping: 1/2 stick butter (4 tablespoons), slightly softened 3/4 cup flour 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup brown sugar pinch of salt Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch round cake pan. Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add sugar.

Scrape down bowl, then add the egg.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry to wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Using a spatula, gently fold in the fruit and spread into pan.

For the crumb topping, mix flour, sugar and salt. Cut butter into pieces, and using hands, work butter into dry ingredients until larger clumps form. Crumble over batter and bake for 1 hour. Cool on a wire rack. kyndraclaire.com

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Nanette McClelland-Miller, Agent 39504 N Daisy Mtn Dr Ste 114 Anthem, AZ 85086

623-742-6866 nanettemiller.com

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Chile Lime Salmon Tacos These simple and fresh tacos are a great for those hot summer nights when you need something quick and easy. This is a great way to use up leftover salmon! I love the Chile Lime seasoning from Trader Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, but you can substitute another seasoning if you'd like.

Makes: 4â&#x20AC;&#x201C;5 tacos Ingredients: 2 small filets salmon Trader Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chile Lime Seasoning corn or flour tortillas finely shredded cabbage avocado thinly sliced radish red bell pepper rings minced purple onion jalapeno rings pickled onion queso fresco mango salsa cilantro sour cream or Mexican crema (add lime juice and salt for more flavor!)

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sprinkle salmon liberally with seasoning and place on foil skin side down. Bake for 10 minutes until fish flakes easily.

Warm tortillas in oven or on a skillet over the stove, and begin to build your tacos using any or all of the remaining ingredients. kyndraclaire.com

Writer iand Kelly m a gPhotographer e s a r i z o n a . cKyndra o m jul y 2 018

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