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SEDONA VISUAL ARTISTS' COALITION: OPEN STUDIOS TOUR
ARIZONA WILDFLOWERS By Grace Hill
RIDING IN STYLE AT EL CABALLO REY
Cover Photo by Paul Gill
By Beth Duckett
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DAVID T. KESSLER WATER INSPIRED PAINTINGS
BANANA BUNDT CAKE
By Grace Hill
14 COMMUNITY EVENTS By Grace Hill
By Beth Duckett
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By Monica Longenbaker
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PUBLISHER Shelly Spence
EDITOR/CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jenn Korducki Krenn Amanda Larson
ART DIRECTOR/PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANT Jennifer Satterlee
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ana Petrovic
STAFF WRITER Grace Hill
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It’s that wonderful time of year! Our rugged mountain vistas are dotted with a carpet of Mexican poppies and lupines, and the entire desert seems to have come alive with gorgeous color! This month, our writers and photographers have done a beautiful job
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
of helping us remember why we live here by sharing inspiring stories of
Tom Scanlon Beth Duckett Monica Longenbaker Kenneth LaFave Gregory Granillo Shannon Severson Katherine Braden Lara Piu
the people, locations and sights that make our community unique. From
PHOTOGRAPHERS
temperatures rise, it will be a reminder of exactly why we endure the heat to
Bryan Black Loralei Lazurek Brandon Tigrett Michele Celentano Monica Longenbaker
So here’s to all of us! Grab a cold treat and relax, and enjoy all we have
ADVERTISING SALES Loren Sheck
Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416 Carefree, AZ. 85377 623-341-8221 imagesarizona.com
inspiring young people, to amazingly talented artists and musicians, they remind me once again how fortunate we are to live in a place where so many aspects of community life are supported, embraced and encouraged. This month is especially outstanding because we are featuring photographers Paul Gill and Lori A. Johnson. Right now, their work is a gorgeous reflection of what we are seeing all around us, but in another month or so as call this place home.
to offer! Cheers! Shelly Spence Publisher, Images Arizona magazine shelly@imagesaz.com 623-341-8221
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 © 2017 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.
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Local First A R I Z O NA
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SEDONA VISUAL ARTISTS’ COALITION
Open Studios Tour
Writer Grace Hill Artists Barbara Donahue, Cheryl Waale and Terry Israelson
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Iridescent glass work, delicate ceramics, masterful paintings and imaginative hand-crafted jewelry — just a few of the many creations that will compete with the magnificence of the surrounding red rock buttes during the Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition’s (SVAC) 14th annual Open Studios Tour. On April 28–30, this free, self-guided tour returns with more art to uncover in the areas of Sedona, the Village of Oak Creek, Cornville, Cottonwood, Clarkdale and Camp Verde. As guests enjoy a relaxing day perusing artwork of excellent craftsmanship, they will also delight in the opportunity to observe and interact with working artists from over 40 studios.
Barbara Donahue "You've Got Mail," oil on canvas, 14"x11"
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This year, the tour welcomes three returning artists: painter Barbara Donahue; mixed media painter Cheryl Waale; and glass artist Terry Israelson.
Barbara Donahue Barbara Donahue hopes her paintings transport the viewer to the place that inspired each image. Through her skill depicting natural light and her application of color, she effortlessly achieves this. However, it boasts of more than her skill. Emotions that run through Donahue while she creates consequently materialize within her paintings, becoming an essential element in her work. “When I observe something interesting, I feel a connection and a lifting of my spirits with a warmth and joy along with a desire to share the feeling with others,” explains Donahue. “It is important to me to have others enjoy and feel the same things that I feel when creating.”
Barbara Donahue "Taos Winter," oil on canvas, 30"x40"
Connecting through creativity has been important to her since she began drawing and painting as a child. Growing up on a farm in Ohio, nature became her close companion and her main source of inspiration. It would have been easy for Donahue to focus on more pressing tasks, like cooking for the field hands. Yet, she still made sure to create, and through her art she brought joy to those who worked tirelessly around her. Barbara Donahue "Summer Blooms in Taos," oil on canvas, 14"x11"
As a senior in high school, her family moved for her mother’s health. And so, she left her beloved farm for the Arizona desert, but this would bring new inspiration to Donahue. “I loved the Southwest as soon as I saw the beautiful skies and mountains. My first sunset really sold me,” says Donahue. “The scenery seemed to satisfy a need in me to express my feelings in a painting.” As she grew as an artist, she experimented with other mediums. However, painting was her first love and she always returned to it. During the Open Studios Tour, as guests experience Donahue’s paintings, they will sense that love and all the other emotions that flow from it.
Barbara Donahue "Old Payson Barn," oil on canvas, 16"x20" Apri l 2017
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Cheryl Waale From a young age, Cheryl Waale had a desire to create. Whether sketching wildlife outside or painting horse murals on her bedroom wall, she found a need to make any blank surface reflect the energy that painting gave her. As an adult, the opportunity to commit to her passion full-time didn’t often present itself. However, no matter the day job, there was no taming her creative side as it always emerged in some form of her work. Then in 2006, after encouragement from her women’s group, she finally committed to full-time painting.
Cheryl Waale "Material Girl," mixed media on canvas, 30"x24"
“When I started painting again after years away from it, they said, ‘When you talk about it, your energy increases. This is what you should be doing!’ It felt like I was finally given permission,” says Waale. “It also helped to have a very supportive husband. I have to add, there are plenty of times when I get discouraged. But one thing I’ve learned, the only way through those times is to keep at it. You can’t think your way through them. It takes brush mileage.” While her brush has traveled many miles, it shows no sign of slowing down. For Waale, the energy necessary to continue through the challenges of her acrylic and mixed-media work has come from being constantly inspired. “My favorite things to paint have been trees, barnyard animals and certain birds,” says Waale. “And, lately it’s been the female form in abstraction. I love abstract works. They are so personal, and they’re more difficult to do well. This has been my latest challenge. Learning how to sell an idea with less information takes a lot of skill.” Less information, though, doesn’t mean guests of the Open Studios Tour will experience simple paintings. Rather, they will discover complex images made by beautiful layers of color, texture and material, reflecting Waale’s artistic energy. Cheryl Waale "Tapestry," mixed media on canvas, 40"x30"
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Terry Israelson Terry Israelson spent most of his adult life creating wood furniture and cabinetry. With a successful business and the ability to experiment within his craft, Israelson was in a comfortable place as an artist. However, feeling that he had done all he wanted with wood, he was ready to travel a less comfortable road. It was time for a new creative endeavor. After asking the powers that be for direction regarding a new medium, he thankfully only had to wait two days for a response. When Israelson read a Facebook ad that said, “glass artist seeking studio assistant,” he felt it was the natural next step, as many of his woodworking
Terry Israelson “Navua,” mixed media glass, 9"x18"x4"
Terry Israelson “Lune,” glass art, 14"x3"
Terry Israelson "Corn Bowl,” glass art, 9"x2.5"
Experience
Sedona Visual Artists’ Coalition’s Open Studios Tour April 28-30 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free 928-239-9967 sedonaartistscoalition.org See website for a map of studio locations and list of participating artists.
Terry Israelson “Tekta,” glass art, 18"x3"
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skills applied to glass working. But he also found an excitement with glass that didn’t exist with wood. “Glass is a very seductive medium for me,” says Israelson. “What excites me the most about glass is using light and color. Glass can be either front-lit or back-lit, and one’s design must account for this. I am currently working on wall pieces and light sconces to encapsulate both considerations. I find the sconces the most fun because they have to work both ways: when they are off during the day, and on at night.” The opportunity to admire these gorgeous sconces and other works by Israelson will occur during the Open Studios Tour. In addition, the event will become a family affair as his daughter will join him as a participating artist. Getting to know Israelson and his daughter exemplify one of the main benefits of attending this event. Israelson says, “The SVAC Open Studios event is a rare and fantastic opportunity to see a plethora of art in Sedona, and more importantly, to meet the artists who create it. For me, hearing their story, seeing their work environments and learning of their artistic inclinations and inspirations always add depth to the work. A day or two in Sedona ain’t half bad either.” And what better motivation than the SVAC Open Studios Tour to make a little trip to Sedona. sedonaartistscoalition.org barbaradonahue.com cherylwaale.com terryisraelson.com
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COMMUNITY arts // announcements // culture Writer Grace Hill
APRIL 12 ARCHAEOLOGICAL FAKES AND FRAUDS Arizona Archaeology Society’s Desert Foothills Chapter welcomes PhD. Matt Peeples, assistant professor and archaeologist in the School of Human Evolution & Social Change at Arizona State
APRIL 1, 2 CASTING CALL FOR MTA’S SEUSSICAL JR.
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University. Peeples will present “Archaeological Fakes and Frauds in Arizona and Beyond,” which looks at the claims
MTA is casting for the beloved
of ancient extraterrestrials,
roles of Dr. Seuss characters,
lost civilizations, giants, and
like Horton the Elephant and Cat
widespread scientific conspiracy,
in the Hat. No-cut auditions for
specifically claims originating in
ages 12-18. Vocal auditions April
Arizona. The public is welcome
1 at 10:30 a.m. Dance call April
at all meetings. Free. 7:30-9
2 at 9 a.m. Rehearsals begin April
p.m. Refreshments begin at 7
6, with performances May 11-14.
p.m., The Good Shepherd of the
Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42323
Hills Episcopal Church, 6502
N. Vision Way, 623-336-6001,
E. Cave Creek Rd., azarchsoc.
musicaltheatreofanthem.org.
wildapricot.org/desertfoothills.
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APRIL 2 NVSO MUSIC DIRECTOR TO GUEST CONDUCT SEDONA ORCHESTRA Kevin Kozacek, music director for North Valley Symphony Orchestra, will guest conduct for the Verde Valley Sinfonietta’s Emerging Artist concert, featuring award-winning 15-year-old violinist, David Kwak. $60. 2:30 p.m. Sedona Performing Arts Center, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Rd., 928-282-3066, vvsinfonietta.org.
APRIL 7-8 PROMUSICA ARIZONA HENRY HICKLEBEE CONCERT ProMusica Arizona presents “The Unpredictable Adventures of Henry Hicklebee,” an exciting and interactive concert allowing the audience to choose plot development and music via cell phones. Held April 7 at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale at 7:30 p.m.; April 8, held at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Anthem at 7:30 p.m. pmaz.org.
APRIL 11 PASSOVER SEDER Join the North Valley Jewish Community Association for a traditional Passover Seder in the Ironwood Dining Room at Anthem Country Club. Includes cocktails, ceremony and service, and a buffet dinner. RSVP by April 4. Adults $45; children 3-10 $19.50; children under 3 free. 5 p.m. 2708 W. Anthem Club Dr. Fran Kesselman, 623-322-0957 or fkesselman@cox.net.
Events
Photo courtesy Arizona Archaeology Society.
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APRIL 14 NEW RIVER/DESERT HILLS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION TOWN HALL April 14 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., the NR/DHCA will hold a representative town hall meeting at the Anthem Civic Building. Speakers include Noel Campbell, AZ State Representative for LD1 and Paul Penzone, Maricopa County Sheriff. 3701 W. Anthem Way. nrdhca.org.
APRIL 11 NEW RIVER/DESERT HILLS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION MEETING The New River/Desert Hills Community Association will hold a community meeting April 11 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Meeting speaker(s) to be announced. Daisy Mountain Fire Department 141, 43814 N. New River Rd. nrdhca.org.
APRIL 13
Experience APRIL 21
It’s that time of year again!
PINNACLE CONCERT SERIES: ORGANIST JONATHAN RYAN
Twelve Mr. BC contestants
Multi-prize-winning organist
will give it all they’ve got in
Jonathan Ryan performs J.S.
attempt to earn Audience
Bach's Clavierubung III to
Choice, Mr. Congeniality or Mr.
celebrate the 500th anniversary
BC awards. The annual pageant
of the Reformation. Co-
will be animal-themed with
sponsored by the Central
proceeds benefiting Halo Animal
Arizona Chapter of the
Foundation. Tickets sold the
American Guild of Organists.
week of the event at Boulder
Premium seating $35; general
Creek during lunch and at the
admission $20; students
door. $10. 7-10 p.m. Boulder
free. 7:30 p.m. Pinnacle
Creek High School, 40404 N.
Presbyterian Church, 25150
Gavilan Peak Pkwy., 623-445-
N. Pima Rd., 480-303-2474,
8600, bcstugo.weebly.com.
pinnacleconcerts.com.
MR. BC 2017
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Photo courtesy Pinnacle Concert Series.
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APRIL 20-30 MTA PRESENTS WILLY WONKA JR. Willy Wonka comes to the Musical Theatre of Anthem stage. Children ages 6 through 13 will delight the audience with their renditions of famous songs. Adults $19; students seniors and children 12 and under $16. Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42323 N. Vision Way, 623-336-6001, musicaltheatreofanthem.org.
APRIL 21 BOULDER CREEK CRUD WAR Boulder Creek Student Government hosts Crud War. Get dirty, listen to live music, enjoy concessions and much more! BC practice fields. $5. 7 p.m. Boulder Creek High School, 40404 N. Gavilan Peak Pkwy., 623445-8600, bcstugo.weebly.com.
APRIL 21-23 MAGIC BIRD FESTIVALS ARTISAN MARKET Artisan Market features 70 artists and exhibitors showcasing photography, pottery, metal art, home dĂŠcor, wearable art, boutique designs and more. Live entertainment, delicious food and adult beverages at nearby restaurants. Free. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Rd., 480-488-2014, carefreeazfestivals.com.
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Introducing THE MISSION OPENS AT KIERLAND COMMONS
APRIL 29 DESERT FOOTHILLS FAMILY YMCA HEALTHY KIDS DAY Healthy Kids Day includes healthy eating activities, arts and crafts, face painting, a bounce house, food
The Mission Restaurant is now open
vendors and more. The event also
at Kierland Commons. The menu
showcases summer camps and offers
features starters like Almejas Al
a one-day-only membership special.
Vapor Peruvian Clam Stew; entrees
Free. 9 a.m. to noon. Desert Foothills
like Chorizo Porchetta and Green
Family YMCA, 34250 N. 60th St., 602-
Chile Duck Confit; and desserts
212-6293, valleyymca.org.
like Espresso Churros and Pumpkin Bread
Pudding.
The
Mission’s
wine, cocktail and tequila menu includes over 55 premium tequilas and a selection of hand-pressed cocktails. Lunch and dinner served daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; weekend brunch from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Mission Kierland, 7122 E. Greenway Pkwy. #140, 480-2927800, themissionaz.com. Photo courtesy Mint Photography.
APRIL 29 SONORAN STARS 2017 Take an Old West adventure under the stars. Includes cocktail reception, mystery bag raffle and release of a rehabilitated wild owl. Enjoy a catered dinner, entertainment and a live auction. Proceeds benefit the Desert Foothills Land Trust. $250 per person. 5 p.m. The Opera House at Carefree Resort and Conference Center, 37220 N. Mule Train Rd. 480-488-6131, dflt.org.
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Writer Beth Duckett Photography courtesy Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
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Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, now in its twenty-first season, has broken ground time and again with a pioneering repertoire of contemporary-classic performances, emerging choreographers and talented dancers. This self-labeled “jewel of a dance company� performs for two evenings in April at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts before heading east again on a national tour. Both nightly performances offer an eclectic arrangement of commissioned and non-commissioned work, comprised of three ballets by different choreographers.
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Executive director Jean-Philippe Malaty describes the company’s overall mission. “We really believe in the essence of dance and moving people emotionally,” he says. “The physical beauty and the sheer athleticism of the dancers should be enough to move you as an audience member.” The poignant, abstract presentations of the ballet’s 11 classically trained dancers are best witnessed on the stage. Even Malaty, a dancer-turned-administrator who is verbose in his knowledge and enthusiasm for the craft, encourages dance enthusiasts to look beyond written and verbal descriptions and experience the show live, in person. “We believe in the visceral power of dance,” he elaborates. “It’s something you should see for yourself. There’s nothing much to understanding it. You come and are moved because of the beauty of the human spirit.” “Huma Rojo,” or “red smoke,” premiered in February 2016 and is the company’s newest ballet. Choreographed by Barcelona-born Cayetano Soto, the high-energy performance features Latin-inspired and diverse music by greats such as Ray Barretto, Nat “King” Cole, and Abbe Lane. The second ballet-commissioned work, “Silent Ghost,” is an emotionally charged performance with tinges of romanticism and kindness, underscored by the palpable connection between dancers. Malaty describes it as “an abstract work; there is no storytelling. You can really see the emotions of love and loss.” Jorma Elo’s “1st Flash” is an acquired work created more than 10 years ago for a company in Holland. Featuring music by the late Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, viewers seeking a true ballet experience might appreciate this work above all.
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Experience Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale April 13, 7:30 p.m. April 15, 8 p.m. $35 - $69 480-499-8587
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“It will probably satisfy their hunger because it has beautiful classical music,” Malaty explains. Two decades ago, Malaty joined with founder Bebe Schweppe and artistic director Tom Mossbrucker to form the dance company in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. From modest beginnings, the trio forged new ground with an “open, exploratory” style and approach to the medium that involved commissioning new works and hiring promising new choreographers, many of whom have since flourished in their careers. “We wanted to create a different style ballet company, a different model,” Malaty explains. “To this day, 20 years later, it is still our reason for doing things differently.” In 2000, the Aspen-based ballet merged with Santa Fe to offer a year-round season in both cities. In addition, the company now tours nationally and internationally, with a sizable annual budget and endowment to help maintain its distinctive vision. Malaty, originally from France, says the company’s mission is not to promote social justice or take itself too seriously, as some contemporary dance companies are prone to do (and many do well, he acknowledges). “That’s not our mission. That’s not our aesthetic. It’s not our artistic voice,” he says. “We believe in the entertainment value of dance. We don’t apologize by giving an entertaining evening.” With such an eclectic array of offerings, audience members in Scottsdale are sure to be entertained above all. 970-925-7175 aspensantafeballet.com
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Writer Grace Hill Photographers Paul Gill and Lori A. Johnson
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As Arizona’s winter comes to an end, our flowers get to work saying hello to the world, reminding us all to take a moment to appreciate the new life that bursts forth and that will soon follow everywhere else. What a bursting of color occurs this season!
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With the abundance of rain the grounds soaked up during the winter months, Arizona now boasts a glorious display of wildflowers, showcasing colors like pink, purple, yellow and blue, and all the different shades one could imagine. These flowers pour out intense hues — brilliant hues frequently seen above us in our sunset skies, but that can now be experienced at our feet.
Photo by Paul Gill
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Paul Gill Hometown: Phoenix Current: Phoenix
Photo by Paul Gill
Photography experience: “I started shooting, processing and printing 35 mm black-and-white film at Scottsdale High School at age 16. I moved to medium format at Arizona State University, where I obtained a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. After 17 years working and photographing in the graphic design business, I started shooting nature with a large format wood field camera and, finally, with digital cameras a decade ago in 2007. You can see my work in Arizona Highways magazine, National Geographic calendars and in the Smithsonian’s permanent collection of nature photography.” Favorite AZ wildflower location? “Bartlett Lake is my favorite local wildflower location that has a great showing in March. It is one of the only places in Arizona to view albino Mexican Gold Poppies.” Advice on capturing a great flower photograph: “If the carpets of color don’t show up, get close. Macro photography is a more intimate view of the beauty beneath our feet.” What drove you to wildflower photography? “Color! The desert Southwest is mistakenly thought of as a dull, colorless place. Every spring at this time I search the Sonoran Desert for the color explosion of new life and a new beginning.” paulgillphoto.com facebook.com/paulgillphoto wildinarizona.com
Photo by Paul Gill
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However, with their days numbered - our summer sun will soon diminish their vibrancy - these wildflowers won’t stick around to be admired! Now is the time to head outdoors for a vivid reminder that Arizona is more than just a monochromatic desert landscape.
Photo by Paul Gill
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Lori A. Johnson Hometown: Omaha, NE Current: Phoenix
Photo by Paul Gill
Photography experience: “My first job out of high school was in a photo lab/camera store in Omaha, Nebraska. I bought my first Canon SLR at that time and never looked back. When I decided to move out of state for college, I chose Arizona State University after admiring the stunning landscape photos in Arizona Highways magazine.” Favorite AZ wildflower location? “While spring desert wildflower displays can be spectacular, they rely on seasonal conditions to be just right. However, the mountain meadows around Flagstaff are much more dependable and have a longer window of opportunity for photographers to catch late summer wildflowers at their peak.” Advice on capturing a great flower photograph: “Do your research and be prepared to drive many miles on short notice. Don’t be intimidated by photographers with expensive gear! Most smartphones are capable of taking impressive landscape photos, as well as close-ups. Tell a story by mixing wide shots with close-ups.” What drove you to wildflower photography? “The ephemeral beauty of wildflowers can dramatically change a landscape for a brief window of time. Capturing one peak bloom can make up for several lean years!”
Photo by Paul Gill
lajphotos.com instagram.com/lajphotos twitter.com/lajphotos
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Of course, the various types of wildflowers, like the Mexican gold poppy, desert marigold or Coulter's lupine, thrive depending on the location and the amount of rainfall that came down in individual areas. Luckily, many trails within and surrounding the metropolitan area provide enjoyable hikes right into the midst of the wildflowers. To find a specific type of flower, visit Desert Botanical Garden’s website. In partnership with Arizona’s parks and gardens, Desert Botanical Garden makes the search simple by providing an online guide showing where wildflowers currently bloom.
Photo by Lori A. Johnson
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For those who do take that trip outdoors, this month’s photo essay photographers, Lori A. Johnson and Paul Gill, reveal the exquisite beauty that awaits. If these images don’t inspire you to grab your camera, sunscreen, walking shoes, water and hiking partner (safety first!) to spend the day admiring our breathtaking landscape, then you must be one of the unlucky ones suffering from seasonal allergies. In that case, we feel for you, and encourage you to stay allergy-free and enjoy the wildflowers through these stunning photographs. For the rest of you, hurry up! The heat is coming! It’s time to see the flowers! Share your wildflower photographs with our Images Arizona Facebook or Instagram pages using the hashtags #iamAZproud and #imagesAZ. Photo by Lori A. Johnson
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Photo by Lori A. Johnson
Photo by Lori A. Johnson
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Enjoy
Sand Sculpture Exhibit Now through Summer 2017 Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion, Carefree Desert Gardens 101 Easy Street, Carefree Free Admission 480-488-3686 carefree.org
Writer Grace Hill Photographer Herbert Hitchon
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Throughout the year, the Town of Carefree diligently plans events that provide the public with unforgettable experiences. These oneof-a-kind events, tucked away in the beautiful Sonoran Desert Foothills, leave guests filled with delight and the desire to return for the next fun-filled affair. This spring and summer, the town is proud to feature Carefree’s favorite sculptor, Ray Villafane. For those unfamiliar with Villafane, last fall, the world-renowned pumpkin carver and sand sculptor transformed Carefree Desert Gardens into an autumn wonderland with quirky and imaginative pumpkin carvings. These pumpkins, which were unlike any other, earned him the title “The Michelangelo of Pumpkin Carving,” dubbed by Martha Stewart. “We receive countless calls asking when Ray will be coming back for the season,” says Gina Kaegi, the director of marketing for the Town of Carefree. “He is a draw to the town and garners media attention like no other.” In addition to his pumpkins, Villafane had people flocking to Carefree back in May 2016 to see his sand sculpting masterpiece. With the added sculpting skills of Sue Beatrice, their creation came to life and featured the beloved “Chessie Trunkston,” a life-size elephant playing chess with an adorable field mouse, “Hershel Higginbottom.” This wow-filled event allowed the public to watch them turn 24 tons of silt into a magnificent display of sand-sculpting excellence. In March, Villafane and fellow sand sculptor, Nikolay Torkhov from Russia, worked together to build yet another incredible work of art at Carefree Gardens. The event also featured a special appearance by professional stone balancer, Tim Anderson. Together, they completed a 30-ton masterpiece that’s both playful and artistically fantastic. Their work will be on display throughout the summer in the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion at Carefree Desert Gardens. It’s free to see, and will no doubt delight, amaze and inspire those who see it to take sandcastle-building to new heights! “Carefree’s mission is to create indelible memories for residents and new guests through unique experiences among a beautiful backdrop like the Carefree Desert Gardens,” says Kaegi. With so much talent and such exciting events, it’s a mission they continually achieve. villafanestudios.com carefree.org Apri l 2017
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Writer Beth Duckett
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David Kessler was a young graduate student at the San Francisco Art Institute when he was first introduced to the idea of photorealism. In the art movement, which gained popularity in the 1960s and ’70s, artists re-create photographs in a hyper realistic way, capturing even the smallest details of a photo on canvas. Kessler, one of a dozen students accepted into the graduate program there, was drawn to the style almost immediately. “In photorealism, basically whatever was on the slide went onto the canvas,” he says. “Once an artist picked the subject of the painting, he or she didn’t make any aesthetic choices for what would go on top of the canvas.” Forty years later, Kessler continues the tradition as the basis for his famous waterscape paintings. Now an Arizona resident, the artist relies exclusively on photographic slides that he takes at iconic places throughout the state, from Sedona to Greer in northeastern Arizona, where he has a second home. Shooting during the golden hour of photography, Kessler captures images of flowing eddies, swirling puddles and other slower-moving water bodies around the state. “I don’t pride myself on being an excellent photographer,” Kessler says, laughing. “I just shoot hundreds and hundreds of slides. I go through the slides until I see an image that strikes me.” “Maybe it just rained and there is a puddle off to the side,” Kessler describes. “I take a lot of my images from very small bodies of water.” It helps that the light in Arizona has a certain quality that you don’t see a lot in other places. “The clarity of the light here is just unbelievable,” he adds. Since his days as a graduate student (he earned his master of fine arts degree in 1975),
"Reeds in Cadence," 72"x48"x2"
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Kessler has refined the style of his work, which is featured in museums and galleries across the country. His paintings are a blend of abstract imagery and reality, captured inimitably over a surface of polished and abraded aluminum. After the slides are taken, Kessler visits an industrial metal supply shop in Phoenix and selects a very thin piece of aluminum, ensuring there are no scratches. “The only scratches I want on the metal are the ones I add,” he says. Kessler projects the slide images onto the piece of aluminum, using different tools, from a tiny jeweler’s brush to a drill, to create marks with different pressures. At that point, Kessler airbrushes paint onto the aluminum, either transparently or opaquely.
"Silvered Catsclaw," 48"x84"x2"
“I can do images where 70 percent of the image produced is by paint,” Kessler says, “Or I can do images where 70 percent is produced by refracted light.” The result? A unique, visual experience that reflects the ethereal quality of the surface of water, transcending the everyday “paint-on-canvas” look. “His work has a freshness and beauty that is quite grand,” longtime Kessler collector Dennis Frings remarks. “His paintings have a luminosity with the light coming at you from different perspectives both from the paint itself and the aluminum below. You are looking at a two-dimensional object, but it appears three-dimensional. It’s magic.” Kessler, born in Park Ridge, New Jersey, moved at age 2 to Arizona, where he later attended Arizona State University before pursuing his graduate degree. Kessler and his family moved back to the Grand Canyon state in the 1980s.
"Shimmered Patterns," 60"x84"x2"
It was shortly afterward that he created a body of work using “metalized paint and fine-art glitter to create these abstractions.” Kessler considered incorporating steel, a durable and malleable metal, onto his canvases, though the experiment didn’t go as planned. “I got some steel and brought it back to my studio,” Kessler recalls. “The first thing I found out is that steel is very heavy. It’s not that soft of a metal. I thought I could articulate these marks on the metal.” By chance, Kessler was working on some lithographs at the time, and had a piece of aluminum on hand. Unlike steel, "Silvered Overspill," 72"x96"x1"
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aluminum “is a super, super soft metal,” he says. “You can actually take a Scott towel, put it on a piece of aluminum, and it will create a mark to refract light. “Instead of putting little pieces of aluminum on my canvas, I thought, ‘Aluminum is going to take the place of my canvas now.’” Using only small wired brushes, Kessler began to articulate various imageries onto the aluminum, creating a work through refracted light and “a slightly holographic depth-of-feel,” he says. For a short time, the artist dabbled in abstract desert scenery, generating images that reflected all desert or half desert, half water. Later, he turned to water as the primary source for his work, calling it “a universal image”—and one that collectors around the world can recognize and appreciate. Many of Kessler’s works are on display locally in an exhibit titled Translucence, featured at Desert Botanical Garden’s Ottosen Gallery through May 7. Elaine McGinn, director of planning and exhibits, says part of the garden’s mission is to “ensure it is a compelling attraction, that brings life to the many wonders of the desert. “Visitors come to the garden expecting to be immersed in nature’s beauty, and David T. Kessler’s artwork captures a similar sentiment,” McGinn says. “Not only do his vividly real pieces demonstrate ingenious technique, but they also express simple yet stunning moments in nature— something guests experience when visiting the garden.” Frings, who has collected Kessler’s work for more than 40 years, knew the artist as a photorealistic painter in the 1970s, when Kessler showed his paintings at a gallery in Alexandria, Virginia. Kessler’s work “was extraordinary then, just as it is now,” Frings says. “His paintings always transcended the photorealist tradition and they have only grown more magical over the years,” the collector adds. “He just keeps getting better and better, and he started off at such a high level that that is no mean feat.” 480-481-8188 dbg.org
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Event
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
SMOCA Slow Art
7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale April 21 Tour begins: 6:30 p.m. 480-874-4666 smoca.org
Writer Kenneth LaFave
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It takes an artist days, weeks, months, or perhaps even years to create a work of art.
moment in order to increase our health, happiness and productivity,” Cochran observes.
What is the average time a museum-goer spends in front of that work?
All that busyness leads to the 20-second syndrome, something SMoCA is contending with an innovation called “Slow Art.” Initiated as a one-night event in January, Slow Art featured three docents taking 20 patrons on a tour of the museum’s exhibitions, with lengthy stops at every individual piece of art. The event was a success, so Cochran has scheduled a follow-up on April 21 at 6:30 p.m. For every seven patrons who sign up for Slow Art, Cochran will assign a docent, so the docent-to-viewer ratio will remain intimate. Participation is limited but you can
“Twenty seconds,” says Sara Cochran, director and chief curator for the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA). “Ours is a topsy-turvy old world. We lead increasingly busy lives and pride ourselves on multitasking even when doctors and scientists tell us to slow down and live in the
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SUNDAY MUSIC
FREE ADMISSION
CONCERTS APRIL 2, 9, 23, 30
Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion Carefree Desert Gardens VisitCarefree.com | 480.488.3686
sign up to climb onboard the slow journey through SMoCA’s amazing exhibitions at smoca.org/events.
INJURY SCREENING
“Slow Art is all about relearning how to take the time to look closely at, understand more deeply and fall back in love with art,” Cochran says. “As the artist Robert Irwin once said of his exquisite work that encourages concentration and focus, he wanted to give the viewer the opportunity to ‘perceive themselves perceiving.’ The individual viewer is front and center,
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looking and thinking at their own pace, a luxury of experience and time.” Art is not a one-way communication from the work to the viewer, Cochran believes, but an interaction. And that takes time. The assistance of a knowledgeable docent helps, too. Cochran acknowledges that the traditional idea considers museums as places for quiet contemplation. That’s how things were, she says, until a certain Egyptian pharaoh made his way west. “In the 1970s we had the King Tut exhibition which was the dawn of the blockbuster. The idea was you stood in a queue along the wall watching as you moved in a line,” says Cochran. “This was true of all the blockbusters that followed.” Did we, like laboratory rats, re-learn our museum behavior and adjust for speed? “Maybe we trained ourselves not to take the time,” she admits. To look at art works lickety-split is a “disenfranchisement,” Cochran says. To view them slowly is to re-engage the senses and the mind. Dialogue between docents and patrons about the works viewed is a part of Slow Art. “You have to meet the artist halfway,” she says. “When you have, if you don’t like the artwork, then that’s okay. That’s taste and we all have taste. The problem comes when you don’t know what the artist is doing.” Slowing down and looking is the path to understanding. “The more you give to the artwork,” says Cochran, “the more it will give back.” smoca.org
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41413 N. Club Pointe Dr. Offered at $699,900
R E / M A X P r o f e s s i o n a l s | L i n d a R e h w a l t | 6 0 2 - 4 0 2 - 1 1 3 6 | l i n d a r e h w a l t @ a z r e a l t y. c o m
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This luxurious 4 bedroom 4.5 bath home, located in the exclusive Anthem Golf and Country Club is a must-see. Built in 2005, the single-level home spans over 3,711 square feet. With 12-foot ceilings, crown molding and stone flooring throughout, prospective buyers will immediately want to call this place home. Additionally, an en suite bath connected to each bedroom and a formal dining/great room showcasing gorgeous mountain views make this home even more desirable. Great indoor entertaining space can also be found. The impeccable kitchen boasts Merillat cherry cabinets, slab granite countertops, Wolf appliances, a wine chiller and more. This, along with the kitchen opening into the family room, creates a functional and spacious area for any gathering. The exterior space offers just as much by providing a place for quiet mornings watching the sunrise or relaxing evenings in the salt water Pebble Tec pool and heated spa. The AZ outdoor lifestyle is completed with a Lynx infrared stainless barbeque and a gas fireplace beneath a beautifully-crafted Ramada. The gated community provides residents with two championship golf courses, state-of-the-art fitness centers, clubhouses and much more. Anthem itself offers a 60-acre community park with covered picnic areas, adventure playground, lighted pathway system and a 4-acre catchand-release fishing lake.
Please call Linda for your private showing. Linda Rehwalt RE/MAX Professionals 39504 N. Daisy Mountain Dr., Ste. 106, Anthem 602-402-1136 lindarehwalt@azrealty.com
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Writer Beth Duckett Photographer Loralei Lazurek
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Thirty years ago, Cave Creek horse trainer Manuel Trigo was a software engineer living in Switzerland and working 16 hour days, with little time left for much else. Young and motivated, Trigo decided to move 6,000 miles away to sunny Costa Rica and teach scuba diving, one of his life’s passions. But like many ambitious people trying to escape a hectic life, his free time was shortlived. A skilled virtuoso with many interests, Trigo soon found himself immersed in a new recreational activity: horses. By riding and studying them religiously (at one point reading the same equestrian book a dozen times), Trigo trained and later taught himself the basics of classical riding or “dressage,” a French term meaning training. The sophisticated equestrian art form dates back hundreds of years to kings and aristocrats, celebrating the horse’s natural athleticism and movements. Based on riding in harmony with the horse, the classical school trains horses to perform specific actions, such as school jumps, with grace, balance and dignity. Riders and horses work together and perform in unison, much like an intricate dance. Trigo began training horses for friends and hosted seminars, attracting horse enthusiasts from across the country. Applying educational techniques drawn from his years as a scuba diving instructor, Trigo trained more than 600 equine students in a span of only three years. “I was working like crazy,” he says. “In a few years, I was working as
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much as I did in Switzerland. I was going from place to place, riding horses, giving lessons. At one point, I decided I wanted to do something cool.” Soon after, Trigo and his wife launched a restaurant offering a gourmet dining experience overlooking an equestrian arena, where Trigo would ride horses as a form of entertainment. “Very quickly, I caught myself trying to show off,” he says with a laugh. The business later morphed into a dinner show named El Caballo Rey, or “the king horse,” an homage to the Pura Raza Española. This breed of horse is described as the “Horse of Kings,” as they were, quite literally, bred for kings. Known for their nobility, intelligence and beauty, the Pure Spanish horse breed is a natural fit for the regal world of classical dressage, Trigo’s mastery. His dinner shows attracted Costa Rica’s heavy tourist population, including visitors from Colorado, who invited Trigo to host horse-training clinics in the Rocky Mountain state. He moved to Colorado and based on a suggestion from a friend, visited Arizona, preferring the state’s sunny skies to Denver’s harsher winters. In 2016, Trigo opened El Caballo Rey Equestrian Art Academy in Cave Creek. He has revived the relatively rare and age-old art form of classical dressage at a secluded site surrounded by open desert south of the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area, in a town known for its equestrianfriendly lifestyle. “It’s a passion, it’s a lost art, so you want to share that with people,” he says of classical dressage. “It’s something that is so very hard, but you get some payback and satisfaction at all kinds of levels.” Trigo, 52, practices the French idea of lightness, an equestrian philosophy rooted in natural movements and harmony. “Tempo and rhythm, as well as balance, play crucial roles, as only a horse whose legs are fully balanced on the ground can achieve lightness,” he says. At the academy, Trigo trains alongside a group of instructors individually specialized in Pilates, music and historical fencing. Together, they offer private and group lessons to equine enthusiasts who want to improve their Apri l 2017
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techniques, bond with horses, prepare for exhibitions or just have fun. The combination of disciplines pushes El Caballo Rey’s training to new levels. Students practice Pilates on and off the horse to improve balance and body communication skills. Fencing, Trigo says, “teaches you to move the gravity center on your legs,” similar to riding a surfboard, while music from a drum instructor encourages rhythm and flow for horse and rider. This type of training “is just not easy to find anywhere in the world,” says Marsha Ferrick, a student who sold her belongings last year to relocate to Cave Creek and train more heavily under Trigo. “It’s about the art of mastery. Whether it’s the art of mastering riding or the art of mastering other areas within your life, whether it’s your profession or your relationships, it’s about being dedicated to something you’re passionate about and continuing to work on that and improve on a regular basis.” The academy’s internships cater to many people, from teenagers wanting to learn more about breeds and barn duties to college students who dedicate several days a week to groom, train with and ride horses for free. Students can also undergo eight-hour intensive training sessions over five days. Wendy Dinnerstein, a senior student at El Caballo Rey, has trained under Trigo for more than five years, spending her winters here in Arizona.
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“I love the equestrian life; studying with Manuel and learning about lightness and self-care, which is taking my horsemanship to another level,” Dinnerstein says. “I feel grateful for the opportunity to do that. I bring all my life experience in natural horsemanship. It just seems to make the flow complete.” On a broader level, Trigo’s students benefit in ways beyond learning the techniques of classical riding, which include airs above the ground, when a horse’s hooves leave the ground in highly trained movements. “If you are good with horses, you will probably be very good with people,” Dinnerstein notes. “It teaches you how to relate in a caring, loving and understanding way. When you have a relationship, and you can put that balance and lightness on top of that, it does become a dancing art form." For Trigo, a multilingual prodigy who has the potential to excel at many disciplines, horses present a neverending challenge. He continues to train and teach across the United States, as well as internationally. “Nothing can challenge you better than horses,” Trigo says. “When you train a horse to a higher level, you think you’re going to do the next one the same way. It’s not like that. They have their own personality. Every horse is a challenge.” To learn more about future open training days at El Caballo Rey, contact Wendy Dinnerstein at one4horses@gmail.com. For information or to visit El Caballo Rey - Equestrian Art Academy, contact the school. 720-320-7252 elcaballorey.com
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Writer Tom Scanlon
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“C’mon, dude! You’re doing too many things at once, moving too fast, working too hard! Relax, my friend! Let’s just chill out, hit the movies, play some Xbox, hang out and wait for graduation to happen …” You might think Christopher Balzer’s friends at Boulder Creek High a few years ago would have shared this advice. Not so, for two reasons. First, most of his friends were also highly motivated. And second: “They know me,” Balzer said with a laugh. “Even in high school when I was always going 100 mph, no one was telling me to slow it down.” In Anthem, Balzer earned A’s in all his classes, with weighted credit for Advanced Placement courses adding up to an astounding 4.79 grade point average. Yet the scholastic pace at the top end of BC High is such that Balzer shared top-of-the-class honors with two other great students, Daniel Suto and Emily Jensen. Far from the stereotypical awkward egghead, Balzer was also a top-class athlete, a key player on Boulder Creek’s 2014 state championship volleyball team. Down in Tempe, Balzer continues to metaphorically rush the net of academics, spiking one test and project after another. At Arizona State University, Balzer is taking a challenging major of chemical engineering, yet has an above-the-net GPA of 4.20. But that’s not the big news. He graduates this spring — a full year early, thanks to the intense workload of AP courses at Boulder Creek. His fast pace and success continued in college, where he is one of only three ASU students to receive the Goldwater Scholarship. Even that isn’t the big news. A few months ago, Balzer was accepted into the prestigious University of Cambridge, where he plans to continue his studies of carbon capture, which has the potential to mitigate man’s impact on the environment. That’s terrific, but wait! There’s more. Balzer recently became the first student from ASU to receive the Churchill Scholarship. The Winston Churchill Foundation awards 14 scholarships per year, with award of around $50,000 to cover tuition, books, travel and other costs. After graduating from the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering next month, Balzer will begin pursuing his master’s degree in advanced chemical engineering in the fall.
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He plans to continue studying the fascinating field of carbon capture — ways to contain carbon dioxide before the potentially hazardous gas reaches the atmosphere. He explained he has been involved in kinetic modeling to determine how fast certain nanoporous materials pick up CO2 as compared to other gases. At Cambridge, he plans to continue working on a supercomputer: “Computational software gives us pictures; we can track gas molecules over time, [which is] something we can’t do experimentally.” Balzer is fueled by an urgency to continue his carbon capture work, as “atmospheric CO2 concentrations are at historic levels, and we have the continue to develop technologies to reduce human impact.” Who knows what young scientists like Christopher Balzer will come up with next to help clean the air? “I didn’t go into college with expectations to do carbon capture,” Balzer said. “But I’ve always been looking to get into environmental sustainability research. This (carbon capture) kind of fell into my lap, and I’ve been running with it ever since.” In case you haven’t guessed, this is one highly self-motivated young man. As his father, John Balzer, noted, “Everything he's done, he's
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done on his own. Nobody pushed him into any accomplishments he's made. He's been very focused on his education.” John Balzer and his wife Lori Ryan, both engineers, moved to then-new Anthem in 1999, with sons Christopher and Kevin. Christian’s grandparents, Andrea and Edward Hine, also were part of Christopher’s growing-up-in-Anthem experience. “The best things about growing up in Anthem,” Christopher said, “were the many community activities, especially for kids. I met most of my friends through playing sports in Anthem. When I got older, I found Anthem to be convenient as all of the schools are close together.” Though he noted he could list many more, he said his two most influential teachers were Shawn Towner (AP literature and composition) and Julie Baldwin (AP calculus). The future carbon-capture scientist found advanced placement classes to be an economical way to capture college credits. Taking a heavy AP load trimmed a full year of college. “Just between fees and tuition for a year, that adds up to $15,000,” he reckoned. But don’t forget supplementary savings: “Financial benefits often snowball because when you take a lot of AP classes, you'll tend to also know about and receive more scholarships.”
Balzer, who could be the AP poster boy, offered a few tips for high school students pondering classes that can translate to college credits. “I know some students worry about the time commitment of AP classes, especially when they are involved in sports, a job, etc.,” he said. “My first recommendation is for students to take control of choosing their classes. Sometimes students blindly follow their counselors, friends, or parents on what classes to take. They should look into all of their options, talk to teachers/counselors to understand their options, and look into how classes could apply to college programs they are interested in. “My other recommendation is to not be afraid of taking AP classes just because of the time commitment. Some people end up not signing up for any AP because they think they can't do it. If a student is interested in an AP course, they should take it. It saves a lot of money in the long run, and I found that AP classes are much more constructive and personal compared to taking college courses.”
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Balzer’s analytical mind is trained to look not just at direct actions, but indirect, big-picture threads. He sees taking challenging classes in high school as building brain muscles for the heavy lifting at the college level. “Sometimes it doesn't seem worth it,” he reflected, “but taking all of those classes and tests set me up for success in college. College didn't seem like a big jump from high school because of that.” Even so, the lab work he tackled at ASU had its ups and downs. “I was definitely drained at some points. I put a lot of work into some projects, and sometimes when you put a lot work into a project and doesn’t pan out, it’s hard to pick yourself back up.” The advice he received from professors, peers and mentors: “Always move forward. There’re so many different ideas, even when one doesn’t work out, it opens up a new idea.” Winston Churchill, the great leader looming over the scholarship that will fuel Christian Balzer’s post-Arizona education, put it in slightly different words: “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”
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Writer Grace Hill Photographer Azy Scotten Photography
Experience
The Unpredictable Adventures of Henry Hicklebee April 7 at 7:30 p.m. Pinnacle Presbyterian Church 25150 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale Premium Seating $35; general admission $20; students free. April 8 at 7:30 p.m. Cross of Christ Lutheran Church 39808 N. Gavilan Peak Pkwy., Anthem Premium seating $22; general admission $18; students 16-22 $12; children 15 and under free.
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In 2001, Connie Campbell Henry and her husband decided to settle down in Anthem. At that time, the community was still in its early stages. With much room for growth, Henry knew what was lacking. With a background in chorale music, it became her mission to create a community choir. “I immediately started asking at every community meeting or social gathering if there was anyone interested in singing in a community choir. I started taking down names,” says Henry. “Lacking the conducting expertise necessary to lead a choir, I was also on the lookout for a conductor. At a Wednesday Club meeting in September 2003, Linda Schwartz, a local piano teacher, told me about Kevin Kozacek, who had just moved into the Anthem Country Club. She heard that he was an experienced chorale conductor interested in starting a community choir. Bells went off!” She immediately called Kozacek. Five days later, Henry’s mission was achieved. The inaugural rehearsal meeting commenced. With only 17 members at the beginning, rehearsals held in a private home, and personal funds used to pay for music and supplies, the future growth of the choir was uncertain. However, Henry and the rest of the members continued to work diligently to share their beloved chorale music with the rest of the community. But first they needed a name. From May 2004 and on, they called themselves ProMusica Arizona. As the group’s popularity increased, so did the group’s members. But it wasn’t just singers who wanted to perform. Instrumentalists came to them searching for a place in their group, and soon they were no longer solely a chorale group. They had become ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra. For the next 13 years, ProMusica Arizona grew in unimaginable ways and impacted the Valley’s musical landscape. From performances with celebrated violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn and jazz great Dennis Rowland, and at venues like the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Herberger Theater West and the Orpheum Theatre, they emerged as one of the top chorale and orchestras in the country.
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Now with 100 members, ProMusica Arizona continuously wows audiences with their skillful, entertaining and reasonably priced shows held throughout the Valley. “Our repertoire is varied and eclectic ranging from classical to Broadway, jazz, pops and easy listening,” says Lissi Weiss, founding member and past board chair. “Each concert is thematic, follows a narrative line, and offers a multisensory experience of sights and sounds that offers audiences an opportunity to experience a wide range of human emotions — laughter, sadness, love, joy, frustration, anger, triumph, awe and wonder — as we explore our world through music.” One of those multisensory experiences will occur once again April 7 and 8. Executive director Yvonne Dolby says, “ProMusica Arizona will reprise The Unpredictable Adventures of Henry Hicklebee for our final local concert of the season. We are honored to be part of the Pinnacle Concert Series for this show. The audience, through text voting, will once again direct how the story unfolds and consequently what music is performed. The concert will be enhanced with a slide presentation of the various locations where Henry Hicklebee travels.”
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But after that concert, ProMusica Arizona will head to New York City on April 24. As one in a group of exclusive invitees, they will have the privilege of performing during the Masterwork Series with other professional singers and a nationally recognized conductor. While their presence in this special event alone deserves congratulations, another fact makes this trip a cause for celebration. The concert occurs at one of the most prestigious venues in the country: Carnegie Hall. It will be a one-of-a-kind experience most performers only dream about. “Anytime you are able to perform at arguably the world’s most notable concert hall, it is a huge honor,” says Dr. Adam Stich, artistic director. “This is the same stage that has hosted Leonard Bernstein, the Berlin Philharmonic, Wynton Marsalis, Yo-yo Ma and countless others. It's an honor. We will be in residence for four days in New York, working with other musicians and the composer, rehearsing, sharing and exploring the music together.” The venue may have grown, but ProMusica Arizona has been creating beautiful music this way since the early days when it all began in a living room. With harmony like theirs, they will continue to grow, to innovate and to bring joy to listeners for many years to come. pmaz.org
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Scott Foundation Writer Grace Hill Photography courtesy the Scott Foundation
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All parents worry about their children. Some worries, put in perspective, seem trivial. Like, do they brush their teeth enough? Other worries fall on the more serious side. Will they marry the right person? Serious or not, worries can keep a parent up at night. However, one worry – or rather fear – a parent purposely locks away. Refusing to acknowledge the possibility of it. But, acknowledged or not, it’s there. Colleen Walski will always remember the day she had to confront that fear. It was April 7, 2007, the day her son, Scott, tragically passed away at the age of 27. “I felt like I had literally been emptied from the inside out,” recalls Walski. “He was my only child. When that happened, I felt like my life in this world literally stopped. I didn’t trust anything that I thought I knew; everything suddenly changed.” With good intentions, many tried to comfort her and offer suggestions on how to heal. However, grief follows no single path. Walski needed to step away from those around her and find her own truth, her own answers. And where she found those answers surprised even her. “I started volunteering at an elementary school in Power
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Ranch, and it wasn’t what I expected,” says Walski. “Kids ended up being what helped me. They didn’t judge me. They didn’t try to fix me. They just accepted me.” What helped Walski personally also helped identify a social gap and the mission for her organization. After Scott’s passing, people gave donations in his name. Because of those generous gifts and Scott’s devotion to children, Walski formed the Scott Foundation, which became an official entity on April 12 – the day of Scott’s funeral service. As she continued to volunteer at the school, in the spirit of selfless service, she was asked by the principal to create a service learning program to fill a need for children. It was
through that experience that she began to clearly see the gap of emotional well-being that was missing. With society not always viewing the expression of feelings as something positive, students were continuously forced to avoid their feelings. Walski, who realized after the passing of her son the importance of honoring one’s feelings, wanted to create opportunities where these children could speak of how they felt in a positive and productive way. As her service learning program continued, it grew in unexpected numbers. During the first year, the program included 25 students. By the end of the third year, 3,000 students were on the waiting list to enter the program. Even with such success, funding was hard to come by because emotions and values create the core of the program – something the community didn’t necessarily see the value and want to support. With so many students on the waiting list and not enough volunteer help, Walski realized the need to focus on the children who most understood and who were impacted by the need for social change. Those kids came from a similar place of being emptied from the inside out.
Walski explains, “Over the years, I found myself drawn and more committed to the kids who were struggling because of horrific issues and tragedies that had occurred in their lives. They stood out to me more than any other. That’s how Scott Foundation’s mission evolved to partner more closely with the Arizona Department of Child Safety and Group Homes. We focus specifically on kids in the foster care system. Our wish all along was to disrupt the social norm to spark the Apri l 2017
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Each year of the program focuses on a specific element of that purpose. In the first year, the children discover emotional healing and inner wealth through service, listening to their feelings and creating a plan for their life. The next year, their dream year, provides each child with 12 different careers (one career per month) to explore through work/ learn opportunities. During the third year, these kids will participate in a service project of their choice. In a prideful move the final year, they will renovate a property they will call home once they leave the foster care system.
potential greatness of foster kids and their community, and to empower them.” And for the last four years, the Scott Foundation has provided empowering experiences and activities to help those kids set a new course for their lives. But 2017 brings a new chapter to the Scott Foundation. With April marking the 10th anniversary of Scott’s passing, something significant needed to happen. “We said this year we are going to invest in the future of these kids to safely transition them out of the system. We are fine tuning our process and focusing specifically on the kids’ needs over the next four years.” They hope to address gaps in the system by partnering with group homes, including Divine Sisters, Achieve Youth Services, Beia’s Place, Destiny House, Legacy Youth Home, A Blessed Nest and the New Foundation. Thanks to one remarkable part of their program, 36 foster children, aged 14 to 17, will have the opportunity to participate in the foundation’s Young Adult Masterclass. “Our purpose for this program is all about disrupting the social norm to spark the potential greatness of foster kids,” says Walski. “They will learn to explore what kind of person they want to be — what’s the future roadmap look like to become that person, and how they would make the world better than they found it.”
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Such an important and extensive program cannot happen without support from the community. The Scott Foundation’s 10-for-10 Challenge encourages community members to give a donation and become a champion for one of these 36 children. These kids feel like they have been abandoned. While certain things in life cannot be changed – as Walski and many others know so well – some things can. And that’s making sure these kids no longer feel alone. scott-foundation.org taxcredits4AZfosterkids.com
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Banana Bundt Cake Ingredients: ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened 2 cups granulated sugar 3 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1½ cup ripe bananas, mashed (about 4 bananas) 2 teaspoons lemon juice ¾ cup buttermilk cream cheese frosting (see recipe below) Directions: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease and flour bundt pan. Using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time on medium speed until well incorporated.
Pour batter into the prepared bundt pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow cake to cool slightly before inverting onto a cooling rack. Once completely cooled, transfer cake to a serving platter and top with the cream cheese frosting. Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients: 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 2 ounces unsalted butter, softened ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted pinch of salt 2-3 tablespoons whole milk Directions: Using a stand mixer or electric hand mixer, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract until well combined.
Add the vanilla extract, lemon juice, and mashed bananas.
Turn mixer to low speed and gradually add powdered sugar and a pinch of salt.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and ground cinnamon.
Add whole milk, one tablespoon at a time, until frosting reaches desired consistency.
Writer and photographer Monica Longenbaker
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Turn the mixer to low speed and alternate, adding dry ingredients with buttermilk until just combined.
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A few ripe bananas are the key to creating this beloved Banana Bundt Cake. Once ripened, the banana’s starches convert to sugar, deepening their sweetness and flavor. Draped with a decadent cream cheese frosting, this family classic never seems to go out of style.
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