Images Arizona January 2020

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Now Available at Total Wine and Safeway (Summit) ASK FOR CAREFREE BOURBON AT THESE FINE RESTAURANTS: American Legion • Buffalo Chip • Bourbon Cellar • Capital Grille • Civana Corrado’s Cucina Italiana • Desert Mountain Clubhouse • Harold’s Corral • High and Rye Hyatt Regency • Indigo Crow • Janey’s Cave Creek • Keeler’s Steakhouse • Lush Burger Mastro’s • Mountain View Irish Pub • Outlaws • Pizzicata • The Horny Toad The Patio Grill • Venues Café • Z’s House of Thai Carefree Tasting Room | 100 Easy St. Suite 2 | Hours: Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m.–Closing Cave Creek Tasting Room | 6201 E. Cave Creek Rd. Suite C | Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, Noon–Closing

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C E L EBR ATING 2 5 Y E ARS IN CA RE F RE E! Anniversary Party on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2–5 pm

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TONY DANZA Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Arizona Musicfest

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COMMUNITY EVENTS Writer Joseph J. Airdo

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BY BEAUTY OBSESSED Writer Shannon Severson Photography Courtesy of Western Spirit: Scottsdale Museum of the West

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COVERED IN A BLANKET OF MAGIC Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Matt Wilczek

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EXCLUSIVELY BACON Writer Amanda Christmann Photography Courtesy of Bob Bacon

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BAKED SALT & VINEGAR SMASHED POTATOES Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

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PUBLISHER Shelly Spence

MANAGING EDITOR Amanda Christmann

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meaghan Hanie

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joseph Airdo Amanda Christmann Sue Kern-Fleischer Kyndra Kelly Shoshana Leon Shannon Severson Fadi Sitto

PHOTOGRAPHERS Bryan Black Kyndra Kelly Loralei Lazurek Carl Schultz

ADVERTISING SALES Cooper Langston 480-544-8721 cooper@imagesaz.com

Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416 Carefree, AZ. 85377 623-341-8221 imagesarizona.com Submission of news for community section should be in to shelly@imagesaz.com by the 5th of the month prior to publication.

I

It’s hard to believe that, as we ring in the new year, we’ve begun a whole new decade. It isn’t lost on me that there is something nearly poetic about entering into 2020 with a vision for so many positive things ahead.

For the better part of two decades, I’ve watched our community grow to become a place we can all be proud of. Something about the sun-filled skies and the untamed desert inspires creators and dreamers to call our little corner of the Valley home, and we’re all the better for it.

As publisher of Images Arizona, it has been a pleasure and a gift to play a role in helping to define who we are and who we want to be, both as individuals and as a community. I am beyond proud of the writers, photographers and designers who have poured their souls into sharing stories that inform us, unite us and inspire us.

It has been a wonderful journey so far, and as we welcome 2020, may we embrace a vision of kindness, gratitude and appreciation—not only for what makes us different, but also for those things that bring us together.

Images Arizona is published by ImagesAZ Inc. Copyright © 2019 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited.

Cheers!

The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited material.

Local First A R I Z O NA

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

M I C H A E L

M c K E E

Celebration of Fine Art Studio #157

I strive to create dynamic landscapes of the southwest featuring distinctive, joyful color.

Come and see me at ‘Celebration of Fine Art’.

Jan 16 - March 29 (Hayden and the 101) We can also schedule a personal visit if you would rather see my work in your home. Together, we’ll try to find a beautiful piece that brings joy to your life.

Your friend in Art - Michael

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Tony Danza: Standards and Stories Photo by M. Wilhoite

Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Arizona Musicfest

O

One of Tony Danza’s favorite pieces from the American Songbook is “Please be Kind,” which has been recorded by a number of musicians over the years, including Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Johnny Mathis.

“There is this great line in the song that goes, ‘This is all so grand; my dreams are on parade,’” Danza says.

“I think about how many times my dreams have been on parade in my life.”

The lyrics, which were written by Danza’s late friend Sammy Cahn, touch the world-renowned entertainer and moved him to create his latest show entitled Standards and Stories.

The show, which combines timeless music with interwoven stories about his life and personal connection to the songs he performs, is coming to the Valley 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24 at Highlands Church in Scottsdale as part of Arizona Musicfest.

“I try to be a throwback,” Danza says. “I do the American Songbook for the most part but I also tap dance, tell stories and bring out my secret weapon—my ukulele. It is hysterical. I wish that my mother was alive so that she could see it.”

Arizona Musicfest Executive and Producing Director Allan Naplan is thrilled to have been able to bring Danza to the festival, which has been providing audiences with affordable and convenient access to a diverse lineup of culturally rich musical acts for the past 29 years.

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Danza, who became a household name after appearing in the television series “Taxi” and “Who’s the Boss,” falls right in line with the caliber of acts that Arizona Musicfest likes to deliver to audiences.

“We have had great success here at Arizona Musicfest by embracing the nostalgia that resonates with our core audience,” Naplan says. “It brings people back to the music of their youth. And Tony Danza is so multi-versed as an entertainer. The fact that such a cultural icon is now celebrating music that is nostalgic to our audience is such a recipe for success.”

MUSIC: THE TOUCHSTONE OF EVERYTHING Danza says that the last five years giving performances like the one he is bringing to the Valley have been the most successful and enjoyable run of anything that he has done since starring in “Who’s the Boss” from 1984 through 1992.

“Music is such a touchstone for everything,” he notes.

“What music has always done—much like what TV has always done—is brought us together. We all watch the same shows and we all listen to the same hit songs.”

However, Danza believes that we are becoming increasingly fragmented by the arts. He uses the insurmountable number of TV streaming services as an example.

“So let's say I have a subscription to Netflix and you have one to Spectrum,” Danza explains. “We never see the same shows. There is some kind of adjoined, collective thing that is just not happening as much anymore and I worry about that and wonder how it affects us.”

KINDERGARTEN

Round Up

Black Mountain Elementary School PERFORMING ARTS PRESCHOOL SPANISH PRE-K-6

Desert Sun Academy FRENCH IMMERSION STEAM SPANISH K-6

That growing concern is one of the motivations behind Arizona Musicfest, which is one of the Valley’s most powerful promoters of the arts. Naplan believes that it is more important than ever to sustain live performances like the ones Arizona Musicfest brings to the Valley.

“In our more technological world these days, we can isolate ourselves and just listen to music alone,” Naplan says. “There is something very interactive about being in a live experience. When you have a compelling artist, there is not only a relationship with that performer on stage but also a relationship with your fellow audience members in the way that you receive and react to the music.”

Desert Willow Elementary School

Thursday, January 23, 2020 • 5:00-6:30pm Visit our five A+ elementary schools – each with its own signature Curriculum.

Cave Creek Unified School District is inspiring excellence in young minds.

SPANISH IMMERSION INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SPANISH PRE-K-6

Horseshoe Trails Elementary School CHINESE IMMERSION HORSEMANSHIP CHINESE PRE-K-6

Lone Mountain Elementary School 480.575.2000 www.CCUSD93.org j anuary 2020

STEM PROGRAM CHINESE PRE-K-6

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MozART

Arizona Musicfest’s largest venue is Highlands Church, where Danza will be performing. Its 1,600 seats frequently sell out—as is the case with some of this year’s acts, including Chris Botti and Michael Bolton.

“The audience’s response, participation and appreciation are as much a part of the experience as the notes coming off the stage,” Naplan adds. “It truly is a wonderful call and response because the performer is energized by the audience, which really makes for a compelling and rewarding evening for both the entertainer and the audience.”

Danza agrees, adding that he is basically doing what the Rat Pack did many years ago.

“I'll be honest with you—this is the most fun I have ever had,” Danza says. “I go up on stage and pretend to be Frank Sinatra. I goof around, try to get some laughs and have a good time. And if I am having a good time, then the audience does too.”

JOHN PIZZARELLI, MOZART AND MORE Danza’s show is just beginning. Arizona Musicfest audiences are benefitting from an exciting lineup of acts as well as some outstanding changes this season.

All 1,600 of Highland Church’s seats have been upgraded while the venue’s lighting and sound systems have also been improved.

In addition to Danza, the venue will host world-renowned guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli, who will return to his roots with a 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27 concert to honor legendary jazz/pop vocalist and pianist Nat King Cole.

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Upcoming Community Events The following events are free and open to the public. Please join us!

STAR PARTIES Jan. 23, 2020 Feb. 20, 2020 Mar. 19, 2020 Apr. 16, 2020

More Info:

JAZZ CONCERT STEAMtastic Apr. 16, 2020 Mar. 5, 2020

paradisevalley.edu/blackmountain 34250 North 60th Street Scottsdale, AZ 85266 602.493.2600

The Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is an EEO/AA institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or national origin in their programs or activities. For Title IX/504 concerns, call the following number to reach the appointed coordinator: (480) 731-8499. For additional information visit: http://www.maricopa.edu/non-discrimination.

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Festival Orchestra and Chorus

“

We have had great success here at Arizona Musicfest by embracing the nostalgia that resonates with our core audience. It brings people back to the music of their youth. And Tony Danza is so multi-versed as an entertainer. The fact that such a cultural icon is now celebrating music that is nostalgic to our audience is such a recipe for success.

“

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“John Pizzarelli is one of the greatest jazz musicians of today,” Naplan says.

“His interpretation and celebration of Nat King Cole's music is something that is very special.”

One of Arizona Musicfest’s other venues, Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, will play host to MozART 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 9.

“This is a string quartet that is a real virtuosic instrumental ensemble but with tremendous comedic chops that turns chamber music on its head at times, celebrating it but also creating a really funny and entertaining afternoon,” Naplan says. “It is a European act that is not often in America. So we are glad that we are able to present them on this American tour.”

Naplan is also enthusiastic about this year’s Festival Orchestra Week, which will take place Feb. 16–23. The five-concert series features musicians from some of the nation’s finest orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, San

Francisco Symphony, Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony, National Symphony and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

“This is really a superlative ensemble that Arizona Musicfest puts together,” Naplan says. “It is highly unique and we are thrilled to offer such excellence to our community.”

This year’s Festival Orchestra Week is particularly special because it features an alum of Arizona Musicfest’s Young Musicians program. After having gone through Arizona Musicfest’s Young Musicians program, Samuel Xu is now a freshman studying piano at the Eastman School of Music in New York.

“Samuel is an amazing prodigy pianist who will be a featured soloist on Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 4.” Naplan says. “It is an enormous sense of pride that someone who we have really invested in is now able to come back at a level that is absolutely worthy of performing with these worldclass musicians.”

SERVING THE COMMUNITY Arizona Musicfest is responsible for much more than just bringing Tony Danza, John Pizzarelli, MozART and other talented musicians to the Valley, though.

“As a nonprofit, we feel that it is our role to serve our community by not only producing our concerts but by engaging people in music on a deeper level,” Naplan says.

The money Arizona Musicfest makes from the concerts it produces benefit a variety of music education programs in the Valley. It presents free classical music and jazz programs to more than 6,000 K-12 students each year, inspiring the community’s youth through the arts.

The organization partners with local educators and administrators to supplement preexisting music education programs and enhance the resources available to them. It also offers unique performance opportunities and financial assistance to aspiring young musicians throughout the community.

New this year for Arizona Musicfest is the organization’s headquarters in North Scottsdale, where it hosts an expanded Music Alive program—a lifelong learning and creative aging initiative.

“We have this tremendous series of lectures about music,” Naplan says. “Some are specifically related to upcoming concerts and some are of general music content just to engage audiences and the community in music learning.

“It is also a great social activity. So many people are transplants to Arizona but one thing they have in common is their love of music. Through Music Alive, we are bringing people together—whether they are from Chicago, Boston or Vancouver. We are creating this community of enthusiasts and people who want to learn more about and increase their engagement in the art form.”

KEEPING IT IN THE ZEITGEIST With his 68 years behind him, Danza often worries about the music of today and how it is going to affect the younger generations.

“I grew up with nothing but love songs,” Danza says.

“Everything was about love. How to find love, got to be love, love, love, love. And look how we turned out. So, when I look at some of the stuff that is out there today, it

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John Pizzarelli

makes me worry. A lot of the stuff today is about a beef with another artist. I wonder what the heck that is going to do for us.”

Danza admits that there is still some great music out there, though, with Post Malone’s Hollywood’s Bleeding being one of his personal favorite new songs. However, he is far too often disappointed in today’s so-called hits.

“Every year, I go online and look at the list of Grammy nominations,” Danza says. “I listen to some of the nominated songs on YouTube and I just have a hard time buying into it as music. I sometimes think that some of it is not really music at all.”

MUSIC Tony Danza: Standards and Stories a g e s24 a r i z| o7:30 na.co m january 2 02Church 0 p.m. | Highlands | 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale | $34+ | 480-422-8449 | azmusicfest.org 22Friday,i mJan.

Danza is on the Police Athletic League’s board of directors in New York City, helping the organization with its Teen Acting Program, which offers a pathway through the theater arts for 150 teens to develop skills that will help them succeed in high school, college and their careers.

“When you teach a kid how to act, you teach a kid how to act,” Danza says. “You cannot be shocked when kids who are inundated with gunplay violence in music videos by antiheroes with gold chains think that those are good role models. And you cannot be surprised when they act out. After all, I wanted to be Elvis when I was growing up.”

Naplan says that the songs Danza and Arizona Musicfest’s other acts perform are classics for a reason.

“The test of time has worn very well on them,” Naplan explains. “I am not of the generation of my audience but I have great affection for and I honor that music because it is great music. I think and I hope that this type of music will go on.”

Danza intends to do his part to ensure it does.

“I think that when you sing and study these songs like I do, you cannot help but see an era gone by where people talked a different way to people through music than they do now,” Danza says. “And it has a good effect on me.

“It is about love. It is about feeling. And it is about caring about somebody so much that you cannot live without them. That kind of emotion and commitment is a little bit out of style. So I am trying to at least keep it in the zeitgeist.” azmusicfest.org

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H A N D S C O R E D P I G M E N T PA I N T I N G S

R. Nelson Parrish R. Nelson explores the symbolism of the United States’ flag in his series entitled 21 Flags.

There are 11 flags available and now on display at Grace Renee Gallery.

Bold. Captivating. Resolute. Free-Spirited.

Resilient. Vibrant. Whimsical. Fearless.

THE 11 FLAGS

Cesar Dawn Francis Georgia Jasper Mark and Ray Marboro Man Patsy, Loretta and Dolly Rockwell Rosco Shelby Each flag has a compelling story.

Grace Renee Gallery is a refreshingly beautiful way to explore fine contemporary art and jewelry.

COLLECTORS OF R. NELSON PARRISH:

Andrew Firestone The Hermes Family John Legend Robe Lowe Ray Scherr Belinda Stronach

Historic Spanish Village 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 85377

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GraceReneeGallery.com

|

480.575.8080

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COMMUNITY

2020 JANUARY

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Jan. 10

FULL MOON TOUR Experience the full moon through a guided tour at Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center. Proceeds will benefit the care of animals at the sanctuary. Light refreshments will be served. Adults $30; Children $20. 5–7 p.m. RSVP. Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center, 27026 N. 156th St., Scottsdale. 480-471 3621; southwestwildlife.org

Jan. 8

ANCIENT MACAWS LECTURE

Jan. 11

Arizona Archaeology Society’s Desert

SURPRISE FINE ART AND WINE FESTIVAL

Foothills chapter will welcome Dr.

Thunderbird Artists will head

welcome horticulturist Noelle

Patricia A. Gilman for a lecture titled

the Surprise Fine Art and Wine

Johnson, an instructor at Desert

Ancient Macaws in Mimbres, Chaco

Festival, which will feature

Botanical Garden, to share how to

and the Hohokam. The lecture will

Southwest acrylic painter Susan

avoid and fix mistakes in the garden

address how despite their presence in

Zivic. Visitors can stroll through

as well as her tried and true strategies

all three regions, scarlet macaws and

juried artworks and listen to live

for creating an enticing, long-lasting

parrots were used differently in each

music while sipping fine wines and

outdoor space. The program will

of them. Free. 7–9 p.m. The Good

sampling local microbrews. $3. 10

include a plant raffle. A $5 or more

Shepard of the Hills Episcopal

a.m.–5 p.m. Mark Coronado Park,

donation is appreciated. 9:30 a.m.–

Church, 6502 E. Cave Creek Road,

15850 N Bullard Ave., Surprise.

Noon. Town Council Chambers, 33

Cave Creek. azarchsoc.wildapricot.

thunderbirdartists.com

Easy St., Carefree. 480-488-3686.

org/desertfoothills

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Jan. 10–12

i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m january 2 02 0

DESERT GARDENING SIMPLIFIED Carefree Desert Gardens will

Jan. 11

F-STOPS AND SHUTTER SPEEDS RECEPTION Join photographer Scott McKay at a reception of his juried F-Stops and Shutter Speeds exhibit. Although Scott's photos have the illusion as double or multiple exposures, all images are actually taken with only one exposure employing various F-stops and shutter speeds to achieve a painting-like appearance. Free.

4:30–6:30 p.m. Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. scottmckaymp.com

Jan. 11–26

GLENDALE FINE ARTS SHOW AND SALE Glendale Arts Council will present its 57th Annual Fine Arts Show and Sale, a juried event with proceeds producing scholarships supporting all forms of art in the Glendale community. The show will feature paintings, sculptures and mixedmedia from artists throughout Arizona. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Sahuaro Ranch Park, 9802 N. 59th Ave., Glendale. 602-413-1663.

Jan. 12

JOURNEYS IN ROMANTIC MUSIC MusicaNova Orchestra will present its Rhineland Muses concert, which recalls Robert Schumann’s 1849 trip through the Rhineland with his wife. Cellist Peter Eom, a Gilbert native, will return to the orchestra as a soloist for the performance. $33+. 2 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix. 480-478-6000; mim.org

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Jan. 16

GERONIMO EXHIBITION OPENING AND BOOK SIGNING Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West will install an exhibition showcasing 30 works by local artist and author Bob Boze Bell that are featured in his most recent book “The Illustrated Life And Times Of Geronimo.” Free. 6–8 p.m. Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale. 480-686-9539; scottsdalemuseumwest.org

Jan. 13

THE DIARIES OF ADAM AND EVE

Jan. 16

INTRODUCTION TO ESSENTIAL OILS

soups for the winter season.

The class includes a cooking demonstration, tasting experience

Desert Mission Ladies Book Circle

Experience the fragrant world

and recipe packet. $50. Noon–3

will be discussing Mark Twain’s

of essential oils with certified

p.m. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library,

“The Diaries of Adam and Eve”

aromatherapist Ellen Powers. Learn

38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave

as part of its book club, which

the benefits and applications of

Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

meets the second Monday of each

essential oils to support a healthy

month. The group is open to all

lifestyle, reduce stress and balance

women, including those outside

emotions during the workshop.

the church. Ladies hoping to get a

Free. 3:30–4:30 p.m. RSVP. Desert

jump start on next month’s selected

Foothills Library, 38443 N.

book may begin reading Charles

Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-

WINTER CAREFREE FINE ART AND WINE FESTIVAL

Martin’s “When Crickets Cry.”

488-2286; dfla.org

Thunderbird Artists will head the

Free. 11 a.m. Desert Mission United Methodist Church, 7373 E. Dixileta Drive, Scottsdale. 480-595-1814; desertmissionumc.org

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to make delicious, plant-forward

i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m january 2 02 0

Jan. 17–19

Winter Carefree Fine Art and Wine

Jan. 17

Festival, which will feature award-

HEALING WINTER SOUPS

winning painter Brent Flory. The

Dr. Fabio Almeida, medical director

wine connoisseurs, distilleries and

of the Center for Integrative

more. $3. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Downtown

Healing and Wellness at Civana,

Carefree, 101 Easy St., Carefree.

will provide an exploration on how

thunderbirdartists.com

event will bring together more than 150 juried fine artists, musicians,

Jan. 18

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION OF FIORRA CBD Discover effective ways to naturally relieve your pain, enjoy educational guest speakers, enter to win prizes and learn about Fiorra CBD’s farm to shelf process during the new business’s grand opening. Free. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Fiorra CBD, 37555 N. Hum Road, Suite 204, Carefree. 480-702-1301.

Jan. 19

BLACKWOOD BROTHERS CONCERT The famous Blackwood Brothers will perform as part of the Arts at the Rocks concert series. Having offered high-quality traditional quartet harmonies for more than 80 years, the Blackwood Brothers continue their rich legacy of gospel at its best. Free. 4 p.m.

Desert Hill Presbyterian Church, 34605 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Scottsdale. 480-488-3384; deserthills.org

Jan. 20–23

PLEIN AIR PAINTING Paint with Mitch Baird during this Scottsdale Artists’ School course and learn the concept of optically seeing a subject and interpreting those visual elements in order to help execute the subject onto canvas. The fundamental principles of painting—composition, drawing, value, color and edges—will be discussed along with a special emphasis on atmosphere and light. $575. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Saguaro Lake Ranch, 13020 N. Bush Highway, Mesa. 480-990-1422; scottsdaleartschool.org

Jan. 23

GETTING TO KNOW OSCAR Newcomers of Scottsdale will welcome Phoenix Film Festival’s managing director Leigh Ann Dolan to its monthly luncheon.

Dolan will share her insights about the top contenders of this year’s Academy Awards. $32. 11:30 a.m. RSVP by Jan. 18.

McCormick Ranch Golf Club, 7505 E. McCormick Parkway, Scottsdale. newcomersclubofscottsdale.com

Jan. 23

SUE BICKERDYKE'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY For more than two decades, Sue Bickerdyke has artfully woven together beautiful threads of color, style and imagination to turn the interiors of hundreds of area homes into sophisticated but relaxed spaces. Now, help her celebrate 25 years in Carefree with an anniversary party. Free. 2–5 p.m. Sue Bickerdyke Interiors and Home Furnishings, 36889 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Suite B1, Carefree. 480-595-0171; suebickerdyke.com j anuary 2020

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Feb. 1

MAYNARD DIXON: ART AND SPIRIT Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West will screen the feature-length documentary “Maynard Dixon: Art and Spirit,” which profiles the breathtaking art and complex life of artist Maynard Dixon. Narrated by Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton, the movie provides a revealing look at Dixon’s life through his paintings and drawings, family photographs and interviews. Free for members; included with $15 museum admission for guests. 2 p.m. Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale. 480686-9539; scottsdalemuseumwest.org

Jan. 26

THE WISE MEN’S JOURNEY INTO LENT

art, dazzling jewelry, vibrant wooden

N Marshall Way, Scottsdale. 480-686-

bowls, whimsical ceramics, fiber art,

9539; scottsdalemuseumwest.org

photography, paintings and more. Free.

10 a.m.–4 p.m. Holland Community

Part of Christ the Lord Lutheran

Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale.

Church’s Living Music Performance

480-488-1090; azfcf.org

Series, the Canticum Nova Chamber Choir will celebrate the wonder of the Star, the Wise Men who followed it and

Feb. 1

WYATT EARP: A LIFE ON THE FRONTIER The great-grandnephew of Wyatt Earp will perform his biographical

$25. 4 p.m. Christ the Lord Lutheran

MAYNARD DIXON: ART AND SPIRIT

Church, 9205 E. Cave Creek Road,

Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum

famous relative. The play imagines a

Carefree. 480-488-2081; ctlcarefree.org

of the West will screen the feature-

conversation between an elderly Wyatt

length documentary “Maynard Dixon:

Earp and author Stuart Lake during

Art and Spirit,” which profiles the

the mid-1920s as they discuss Earp’s

breathtaking art and complex life of

adventures during the final days of the

artist Maynard Dixon. Narrated by

American frontier. Free for members;

their contemplative journey into Lent.

Feb. 1

ARIZONA SAGE ART MARKET

drama “Wyatt Earp: A Life on the Frontier,” in which he portrays his

Oscar-winning actress Diane Keaton,

included with $15 museum admission

The Foothills Community Foundation

the movie provides a revealing look

for guests. 1 p.m. Western Spirit:

has assembled 40 fine artists for the

at Dixon’s life through his paintings

Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830

5th Annual Arizona Sage Art Market.

and drawings, family photographs

N Marshall Way, Scottsdale. 480-686-

During the juried show, a wide variety

and interviews. Free for members;

9539; scottsdalemuseumwest.org

of fine art from local artists will be

included with $15 museum admission

available—including beautiful gourd

for guests. 2 p.m. Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830

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Feb. 5

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Feb. 6

WESTERN WEEK GOLD PALETTE ARTWALK In continued celebration of the Scottsdale Gallery Association’s 45th anniversary season, the organization will dedicate a Gold Palette ArtWalk to the theme of Western Week. The event will feature entertainment, music and special offerings at participating galleries throughout Scottsdale Arts District, which is located along Main St. from Scottsdale Road to Goldwater Blvd. and north of Indian School Road on Marshall Way to 5th Avenue. Free. 6:30–9 p.m. scottsdaleartsdistrict.com

Feb. 7

HASHKNIFE PONY EXPRESS ARRIVAL In celebration of the 62nd ride of the Hashknife Pony Express—the oldest officially sanctioned Pony Express in the world—Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West will host an event that features free museum admission, live entertainment, family-friendly games and more. The Hashknife Pony Express will arrive at Noon, delivering more than 20,000 pieces of mail to the U.S. Postal Service. Free. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale. 480-686-9539; scottsdalemuseumwest.org

Feb. 8

PARADA DEL SOL PARADE AND TRAIL’S END FESTIVAL The 67th Annual Scottsdale Parada del Sol Parade will travel along Scottsdale Road from Drinkwater Blvd. to Brown Ave. and Indian School Road, boasting nearly 150 entries including colorful floats, mounted horse-riders, horse-drawn carriages, marching bands, wagons and stagecoaches. Following the parade, the Historic Old Town District will become the setting for a Western-style block party. Free. 10 a.m. scottsdaleparade.com

Feb. 8

DESERT FOOTHILLS LIBRARY’S IMAGINE GALA Experience an evening of glitz and glam during Desert Foothills Library’s 11th annual gala. Attendees will enjoy cocktails and a gourmet dinner by Creations in Cuisine as well as live and silent auctions. English Rose Tea Room owner Jo Gemmill will serve as the evening’s master of ceremonies and entertainment will be provided

by We3—including celebrated pianist Nicole Pesce, vocalist Renee Grant Patrick and violinist Suzanne Lansford. Proceeds benefit Desert Foothills Library. $200. 6 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

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Feb. 8

ARIZONA NATIVE EDIBLE EXPERIENCE Arizona American Indian Tourism Association will pay homage to the Native culture and heritage with an event that features Native art and artists as well as Native chef tasting stations offering traditional and fusion foods and cocktails. $25+. 6–8 p.m.

Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, 3830 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale. 602-299-9576; arizonanativeexperience.com

Feb. 8 and 9

ARIZONA INDIAN FESTIVAL

about breaking free from corporate America. The book provides tools and advice on following your dreams and starting your own business.

Celebrate Arizona Indian culture

Softcover, hardcover and e-book

with a spirited and immersive

versions are available through

festival that features traditional

Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

food, storytelling, dancing, singing

thevelvethandcuffsbook.com

and dwellings. Additional features include native arts and crafts as well as innovations and trends in cultural tourism experiences in Arizona. Free.

Saturday 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale. arizonaindiantourism.org

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COUNTRY ARTIST HANGS HAT ON CAVE CREEK BUSINESS

A group of Carefree veterans has initiated the creation and development of a Veterans Memorial within the Carefree Desert Gardens as a place of remembrance and reflection for the community. The working timeline is to have the project completed by Memorial Day and to dedicate it during the Town of Carefree’s Memorial Day Tribute

International Country Music

on Monday, May 25. 480-488-3686;

Association’s 2019 Vocalist of the

visitcarefree.com

Year Buddy Jewel has selected Cave

BREAKING FREE FROM THE VELVET HANDCUFFS

Creek hat shop owner Eric Watson

Scottsdale resident, businessman

creates an endless variety of hats at

and entrepreneur Bob Wallace has

his shop. Watson’s Hat Shop, 7100 E.

published his first book—“The Velvet

Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. 480-

Handcuffs,” a non-fiction work

595-9777; watsonshatshop.com

i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m january 2 02 0

TOWN OF CAREFREE VETERANS MEMORIAL

as his official hat maker. From dress fedoras and cowboy hats to English dressage and Panamas, Watson

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Check us out Online, then Give us a Call!

480.463.1696 *Pricing Limited Time Offer, Must Mention Ad when Calling

AIR CONDITIONING • ELECTRICAL • PLUMBING • WATER TREATMENT j anuary 2020

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Robert Henri, Indian Girl of New Mexico (a.k.a. Julianita), 1917 oil on canvas; Collection of Gilbert Waldman.

Photo by Loren Anderson Photography.

Writer Shannon Severson

i mCourtesy a g e s a r i zof o nWestern a . c o m Spirit: january 2 02Museum 0 Photography Scottsdale of the West 34

Eanger Irving Couse, Tumbling Water oil on canvas; Collection of Gilbert Waldman. Photo by Loren Anderson Photography. Anderson Photography.

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Throughout human history, people have collected beautiful items that capture the eye and stir the heart. From seashells gathered on the beach to dazzlingly rare gems, we naturally seek beauty with which to surround ourselves.

By Beauty Obsessed: Gilbert Waldman Collects the West is an assembled series of 50 artworks by nearly 40 artists on loan from Phoenix/Scottsdale resident and renowned art collector, Gilbert Waldman and his wife Christy Vezolles, who is also an avid art collector, appraiser and writer. The exhibition is on display at Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West through August 23.

"I have long felt it is important to share my collection with others, whether by welcoming museum groups to my home for private tours, loaning individual paintings to national exhibitions or creating an entire themed exhibition to be displayed at an institution that holds personal meaning to me," Waldman says. "This exhibition was a natural outgrowth of that impetus, as well as my involvement in the Scottsdale Museum of the West and my desire to share some of the highlights of my collection with my community."

Waldman is a founding member of the SMoW Board of Trustees who played an integral part in the museum's inception and its opening five years ago. It was important to Museum Director Mike Fox to both honor Waldman's contribution to the arts and share a glimpse of his outstanding collection with the public.

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Left: Gunnar Mauritz Widforss, The Grand Canyon, oil on canvas; Collection of Gilbert Waldman. Editorial Note: The Grand Canyon National Park celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2019.

Right: Albert Bierstadt, El Capitan – Yosemite Valley, oil on paper mounted on board; Collection of Gilbert Waldman. Photo by Loren Anderson Photography.

"It's the West in all of the different ways that you can encounter it," says Dr. Tricia Loescher, SMoW's assistant director of collections, exhibitions and research, "from the sunset and landscapes as they appear in different seasons to ceremonial aspects and the cultures and people who live and have lived in these areas."

Waldman and Vezolles worked closely with Loescher to comb through his extensive collection and choose what to share with the museum's visitors.

"Working on this exhibit with Tricia Loescher was such a pleasure," Vezolles says. "Our happy challenge was selecting from the number of significant works in the collection. Once we determined the theme of the exhibit and the direction we wished it to take, certain works began to emerge as 'must-haves.'

"We didn't let him have any say in the selection, because he would have chosen every piece he owns. He loves them all so much. In the end, I think By Beauty Obsessed captures the essence of Gil's collection."

The works date from the mid-1800s to post-war 1950s and are arranged according to the regions they depict: Arizona, New Mexico, the Mountain West and the Northern Plains.

"The Grand Canyon" by Gunnar Mauritz Widforss is believed to be the largest oil on canvas the artist ever produced. Rare for both its size and the fact that watercolor was the Swedish artist's primary medium, it was also chosen because it so richly depicts the natural beauty and conservation legacy of the Grand Canyon National Park that just celebrated its centennial year in 2019. The wafting clouds and distant, misty formations are at once formidable and ethereal.

EXPERIENCE

By Beauty Obsessed: Gilbert Waldman Collects the West Through Aug. 23 | See website for hours | Western Spirit: Scottsdale's Museum of the West | 3830 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale i m a g e s active a r i z o n amilitary, . c o m january 2 02children 0 student and discounts available | 480-686-9539 | scottsdalemuseumwest.org 36$15; senior,

"Like many of the artists that came out here at the turn of the previous century, I find that the quality of light in West is distinctive and unique," Waldman explains. "It affects the way you perceive your surroundings–colors are fresher, they're more vibrant and the air virtually shimmers with vitality, yet at the same time, it is tranquil. When an artist captures that, it really appeals to me."

women–including Julianita–and have positioned them prominently in the exhibition for that reason."

Artists came to the American West from around the world, entranced by the singular topography of the region–the canyons of Arizona and Utah, the deserts and snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains of New Mexico, the skyscraping granite facades that rise above the floor of Yosemite Valley. Like the artists he collects, Waldman also came to the West from a distance. His native Albany, New York is certainly different from the desert he now considers home.

"These paintings have a long, deep history," Loescher says. "It's all about connections and community. The people depicted truly lived and breathed and were there at the time. The artists were documenting the many changes in Western society at that time."

His admiration for Hudson River School artists Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran exposed him to the work they produced after traveling to the American West in the 1800s and early 1900s.

Waldman himself visited Santa Fe and Taos, where he soon became entranced by the landscape and the art it inspired.

"I have a particular affinity for the paintings by the Taos Society Artists, which are the core of my collection," Waldman says. "The Robert Henri portrait of the young Julianita is a favorite–the expression on her face belies her youth. Also, I am especially attracted to landscapes depicting autumn foliage or snow–perhaps because they remind me of my childhood in Albany. I hope the viewers will each find pieces to which they feel a connection."

Henri's "Indian Girl of New Mexico" (a.k.a. Julianita) is demonstrative of the close relationships he and several other artists of his era had with the Taos pueblo. Many of those close ties continue to this day.

Waldman and Vezolles personally trained the museum docents, sharing the stories behind each acquisition. Detailed placards throughout the exhibition have both artist information and quotes from Waldman on what inspires him about each piece.

This personal touch truly makes By Beauty Obsessed an insider experience, even if one doesn't encounter Waldman and Vezolles on the property.

"Curating these shows, you encounter the story of what shaped and informed the collectors and the artists," Loescher says. "Hearing Gil talk about his passion for the work he has collected and being able to share that enthusiasm with the public is a privilege.

"To have that kind of relationship that bridges so many diverse ideas, ways of being, backgrounds and stories … it keeps our world magical in its way.

It's all part of the emotions and the human need to express, whether you're a collector or an artist."

Vezolles has her own favorites, as well.

"I'm drawn to William Penhallow Henderson's 'Two Riders in the Canyon,' depicting the artist and his daughter, for its Modernist aesthetic and vibrant color palette," she says. "I'm especially partial to the images of the strong Native

Waldman's greatest hope is that visitors walk away happy. A visit to this exhibition is to experience, and to be filled by, the many stunning faces, cultures and places of the American West. scottsdalemuseumwest.org j anuary 2020

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of the Herberger Theater Center

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Mark Mettes Sr. has seen downtown Phoenix develop and grow around the Herberger Theater Center in the 30 years that the venue has graced the community.

“When I was first working here in 1992, we would all stop rehearsal as it began to get dark, run outside and move our cars closer,” says the president and CEO of the theater. “But now, downtown is a destination and an exciting urban environment. And we are really excited to be in the middle of that and to be part of the downtown community.”

For the past 30 years, the Herberger Theater Center has strived to support and foster the growth of performing arts in Phoenix as the premier performance venue, arts incubator and advocate. As a nonprofit organization, it has continuously contributed to the cultural and educational development of the Valley.

Today, the venue is home to six resident performing arts companies, an art gallery and more. The venue is busier than it has ever been before in terms of the number of performances it hosts, the number of days it is used and the number of patrons who visit it each year—about 120,000 people, including 30,000 school-aged children.

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A NEW DAY DAWNING The Herberger Theater Center’s story began in 1980, when Phoenix Mayor Margaret Hance asked Richard Mallery—an attorney who belonged to an influential group of business leaders called the Phoenix 40—to chair a committee to research and determine the need for a performing arts venue in downtown Phoenix.

The committee returned with a recommendation to build the venue as there were a number of performing arts organizations that needed a suitable performance space in the Phoenix area.

“This early morning celebration symbolizes the beginning of a new day dawning for the performing arts in Arizona,” Mallery said during the 1987 groundbreaking ceremony of what was then called the Phoenix Performing Arts Center.

During the same ceremony, G. Robert Herberger recalled a lunch meeting he had with Mallery at Phoenix’s Plaza Club during which he first learned of the initiative to build a performing arts venue in downtown Phoenix.

“Before we got through dessert, I said, ‘OK, we'll go for it," Herberger said.

Herberger was a philanthropist who in 1949 moved his family to Phoenix from the Midwest. He switched vocations from the owner of a department store chain to a land developer. Meanwhile, his wife Katherine—or Kax as she is more intimately known—became a major patron of and contributor to the city’s arts organizations.

With the Herbergers’ help, the performing arts venue was raised. Since the couple’s passing, their son Judd Herberger and his wife Billie Jo have continued to support the nonprofit organization.

Mettes notes that the Herberger Theater Center started with a commitment to giving performing arts organizations in the Valley a chance to grow and thrive by connecting them with the audience they so deserve.

In turn, those performing arts organizations—and the Herberger Theater Center—have helped downtown Phoenix grow and thrive as well over the past 30 years.

“There is now so much going on around us,” says Mettes, noting that housing, restaurants, retail and even Arizona State University have all made themselves neighbors of

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the Herberger Theater Center over the years. “As the years have gone by, our focus has adjusted a little bit in order to make sure that we are remaining relevant and connected to the needs of the arts community.”

WHERE AUDIENCE MEETS ART Since its humble beginnings, the Herberger Theater Center has made it a point to grow alongside the downtown community. It has not only increased its number of ticketed performances but also expanded upon its offerings, adding several free events available to the community year-round.

“I think that we are the community’s gathering place for the best in the arts,” Mettes says. “We are where audience meets art and we provide a lot of different opportunities for people throughout the community to enjoy diverse ranges of art—whether it is the visual arts or, of course, the performing arts on our stages.”

Remaining relevant often requires renovations. On Oct. 1, 2010, the Herberger Theater Center reopened after extensive renovations throughout the building but especially to its lobbies and theaters.

“At that point, it had been 20 years since we opened and suddenly we had a much more interesting look and feel,” Mettes says. “We were able to really modernize the look of the lobby and the seating to make it a very comfortable and exciting place to be.

We also updated the exterior to allow outdoor performances and events that are much more engaging and activate our space in downtown Phoenix.”

For many years, the Herberger Theater Center has called itself the home of Arizona Broadway Theatre, Center Dance Ensemble and iTheatre Collaborative. More recently it has j anuary 2020

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Billie Jo and Judd Herberger

added Childsplay Theatre, Arizona Opera and Arizona Theatre Company to its list of resident performing arts companies thereby increasing the number of performances and activities that are hosted in and around the venue.

“I think that was very pivotal because now on most days you can see a kids’ performances in the morning, a performance at lunchtime and, of course, evening and weekend performances as well,” Mettes says. “It is great to see so many audience members coming to the theater for all different types of productions.”

Speaking of productions, the Herberger Theater Center has been having a stellar season. Last fall, Valley Youth Theatre brought “Matilda” to life on stage, Childsplay Theatre delivered “Ella Enchanted: The Musical” to audiences and Center Dance Ensemble performed Frances Smith Cohen’s “Snow Queen” for the final time following the unexpected passing of its founder and artistic director of 31 years.

And it is only halfway through the season. Arizona Theatre Company will present “Cabaret” Jan. 4–26.

Childsplay Theatre will then bring “Elephant and Piggie’s ‘We are in a Play’” to the venue Jan. 26–March 1.

Mettes is especially eager for audiences to see the Herberger Theater Center’s co-production with Arizona Broadway Theatre Company of “La Cage Aux Folles” March 6–22.

“That show is unique in that it has been revived on Broadway three times and each time it won a Tony Award for best revival,” Mettes says. “It is a show that is as relevant today as it was when it first came out so we are excited to bring that to audiences in downtown Phoenix.”

CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY Relevant seems to be the magic word as the Herberger Theater Center constantly considers what it needs to offer as a performing arts venue in order to remain as vital to downtown Phoenix today as it was 30 years ago.

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“We are essentially trying to find more ways to connect with the community,” Mettes explains. “I think that it is so important that we engage people in different ways. People enjoy art and experience art in a lot of different ways so we want to make sure that we are thinking about that and looking at different ways to engage people—whether it is interactive events that are outside or more traditional theater inside.”

Last year saw about 800 events and performances in and around the Herberger Theater Center—a massive increase over previous years. Mettes, therefore, believes that the venue is still meeting its original goal—set more than 30 years ago—to encourage the growth of arts in Phoenix.

“I think that sometimes people from outside of the community do not realize the quality of art and performance that we have here in the Valley,” Mettes says. “Being viewed as a place where quality art can be seen is very important.”

Mettes adds that people and businesses are constantly considering moving to Phoenix from other cities across the country—just as the Herbergers did more than 70 years ago.

“Our long-term goal is to make sure that the entire country thinks of us as an arts community,” Mettes says. “We want to make sure people understand that this is a great place to raise your family, to have your business and to live.”

The Herberger Theater Center 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix 602-254-7399 herbergertheater.org

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Matt Wilczek

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Whether it’s a strike of lightning during a monsoon storm, rare snow on the red rocks or a perfect Arizona sunset, I want my images to make someone feel like they are there watching it happen in real life.

Matt Wilczek

T

The holidays may officially be over but that does not necessarily mean that the magic of the season is completely gone just yet.

Those of us in the North Valley may recall waking up to a winter wonderland one morning last February. The rare event of snowfall on many of our communities—including Anthem, Carefree, Cave Creek, New River and North Scottsdale—took a lot of desert dwellers off-guard.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix estimated that Tonto Hills in Carefree welcomed 12 inches of snow on Feb. 22 while the area north of McDowell Mountain Regional Park welcomed 9 inches. Further north, Flagstaff was hit by almost 36 inches—a single-day record.

Some children and teens decided to take the day off school while their parents played hooky from work for the seemingly once-in-a-lifetime experience to make snow angels and build snowmen in their very own Arizona backyards.

As a result, social media pages were suddenly filled with pictures and videos of cacti and other elements unique to the usually dry desert landscape covered in a blanket of magic.

Photographer Matt Wilczek was one of those people who jumped at the opportunity to capture the wonderment on camera.

As a nature enthusiast and someone who wants to experience all that our state has to offer while also providing his children the same, Wilczek has made it a point to explore Arizona’s various nooks and crannies—especially on precious days like that one we had last year.

It remains to be seen whether or not lightning will strike twice in consecutive years but we can only hope that Mother Nature graces us with another golden opportunity to gaze out the windows of our homes at something that looks like it is straight out of a holiday greeting card.

If not, we can always travel up north to Prescott or Flagstaff to share in all the beauty of winter. In the meantime, we are honored to feature Wilczek’s snowfall photography in this month’s issue of Images Arizona magazine, reminding our readers that the most magical moments are often unexpected.

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Snow in Arizona has a magical feeling to it because it doesn’t last long. So when it happens, you have to enjoy it for as long as you can. I have to move fast to capture these images because in a day or even a few hours it might be gone.

Matt Wilczek

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I had always wanted to go to Sedona and shoot the sunset from a helicopter.

When the snow came down the beginning of last year, I thought that would be a great opportunity to accomplish that. It is very rare to see Sedona covered in that much snow so I booked a flight and went out the next day.

Matt Wilczek

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Capturing little moments in time started when my first daughter was born. Suddenly, every minute was so important.

I realized that time moves so fast and photography is the best way to keep those moments with you forever.

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When snow fell on Scottsdale, we took our kids there to experience it. I had never seen a cactus covered in snow before.

To see that in real life was a cool experience— especially having lived in the desert my whole life. It is very rare to see anything like that.

Matt Wilczek

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Matt Wilczek has always veered toward the techy side of things. In high school, he enjoyed going into media classes and making movies for incoming students and taking photos with his point-and-shoot camera. But, lacking any professional equipment, he stepped aside from the vocation upon graduation.

“I never really looked at it as a career when I was younger,” Wilczek says. “I guess that is why I did not pursue it as much.”

Wilczek took some jobs as a delivery driver but quickly became burned out on always being on the road. So, about 7 years ago, he got his real estate license to help his dad—who has been in the business for more than 20 years.

“I bought a DSLR camera to take photos of my own listings like my dad did,” Wilczek explains.

“I learned a couple of things by just watching what he did and then I expanded upon it. I was getting a lot of good feedback from people on my photos so I decided to start up my own real estate photography business.”

That is when the shutterbug officially bit him. Wilczek began seeing photography on Instagram that not only took his breath away but also inspired him to get out and explore Arizona—with his Nikon D7100 in hand.

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“I am surprised by so many of the photos that I see on social media,” Wilczek says. “I have lived in Arizona for the 36 years that I have been alive and I did not even know a lot of these places existed.

Today, Wilczek considers himself to be a real estate photographer by day and a landscape photographer by sunset/night. His favorite time of year for taking pictures is Arizona’s monsoon season because he loves the challenge of capturing all the beauty of the storms. realestatephotographyaz.com

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He’s a cowboy at heart on an adventure full of imagination, ranging from dragons and stormtroopers to Hollywood icons, wildlife and western heroes. He’s been a big draw at Comicon, but he also has a strong following of western art collectors. He draws, paints and sculpts with a fierce passion and he constantly pushes himself to learn more.

Acclaimed artist Monte M. Moore returns to the Arizona Fine Art EXPO for a third year, bringing his vivid imagination and diverse fine art to the popular 10-week show.

Known as Arizona's premier venue for collecting fine art, the Arizona Fine Art EXPO runs daily from Jan. 10 through March 22 under the festive white tents on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Jomax roads in North Scottsdale. The event features 124 patron-friendly artist studios within a 44,000-squarefoot space, where guests have a rare chance to meet the artists, see them in action and learn about their passion, inspiration and techniques.

FROM CATTLE TO COMICON Moore was born in Phoenix, but he spent much of his childhood and teen years living and working on his family’s 30,000-acre ranch in Idaho.

“My family has been in the cattle and ranching business for more than 100 years,” Moore says. “Our working cattle ranch was in a remote area along the Snake River on the border of Oregon. We spent 12 hours a day in the saddle working with the cattle, and we also had a hunting and fishing lodge on the ranch.”

Growing up, Moore loved watching John Wayne movies, and he could have easily followed the same career path as his father—who was a two-time Stockman of the Year. But his mother, a talented artist, had more influence on his career.

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Writer Sue Kern-Fleischer Photography Courtesy of Arizona Fine Art EXPO

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Acclaimed artist Monte M. Moore returns to the Arizona Fine Art EXPO for a third year, bringing his vivid imagination and diverse fine art to the popular 10-week show.

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“My three brothers were better cowboys than I was,” Moore says. “I actually wanted to be a doctor, but when I took my first art class as a young teenager, something clicked.”

He went on to study art in college, graduating from Colorado State University in 1993 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design and illustration. That same year, he attended his first Comicon convention.

“I met a few guys at college who hired me to do the cover of a comic book,” he says. “It was my first big published project using an airbrush. It took me a long time to develop a following at Comicon. None of the editors knew who I was, and I spent more than a decade cultivating those relationships.”

In the past two decades, he has attended more than 400 pop culture conventions in eight different countries, and he has published eight pop culture books. Specializing in comics, gaming, pin-up and entertainment illustration, Moore has worked with Lucasfilm, DC Comics, Marvel Entertainment, Disney and other prestigious film companies working on “Star Wars,” “Dungeons and Dragons,” “Lord of the Rings,” “Harry Potter” and other blockbuster properties.

He has won many accolades for his pop culture art, including being the two-time winner of the World Fantasy Art Show, and having his work seen in dozens of magazines including Time, U.S. World Report, Newsweek and The Robb Report.

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DRAWN BACK TO HIS WESTERN ROOTS While he continues to work on fantastical projects through his Colorado-based company, Maverick Arts, Moore found himself going back to his western roots a few years ago.

“My favorite western artists are [Charles] Russell, [Frederic] Remington and Howard Terpning, whose work was enjoyed by my parents,” says Moore, adding that he especially enjoys creating portraitures. “My new western art creations are dedicated to them both, and I hope their influence shows in my creations that bring together both a love of western history and art.”

Moore credits much of his fine art success to his mentor Frank Covino, whom he studied under for 15 years.

“In the past, I was finishing a painting every two to three days, but Frank taught me to slow down,” Moore explains. “He taught me how to paint like the famous masters who painted Italian Renaissance portraitures…it’s really a forgotten art.”

He also learned important lessons about sharing his knowledge with others.

“I try to keep those traditions alive, and I’ve mentored a few artists from time to time,” Moore says. “One of my focal points is highly detailed drawings.

Social media has helped me, but I don’t embrace digital art. It’s important to

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learn how to draw and paint for real, and I try to teach that to new artists.”

In 2017, Moore was juried into his first major fine art show—Arizona Fine Art EXPO. He brought 16 originals and completed nearly 20 pieces during the show.

“One of the most rewarding experiences was selling original paintings to top collectors as well as people who had never bought original art before,” he says. “It really affirmed my goal of reaching a broad audience.”

Some patrons are attracted to his drawings and paintings of Hollywood icons—such as Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Marilyn Monroe—while others are captivated by the details in his wildlife and western lifestyle pieces. He also welcomes the challenge of taking on commissions.

This year, Moore’s big showcase piece will be his “Kiss of Color” painting of Ava Gardner, which he created at last year’s EXPO show.

“It’s now an officially licensed Ava Gardner collectible, meaning that I can offer licensed fine art prints,” he says.

“It was also selected to be this year’s cover art for Arizona Fine Art EXPO’s program and promotional art.”

EXPLORING NEW TERRITORIES While Moore has worked with everything from oil and acrylics to watercolor and airbrush, he credits his colleagues at Arizona Fine Art EXPO for inspiring him to further hone his techniques and explore working with new media.

“I’m so fortunate to work alongside such highcaliber artists at the Arizona Fine Art EXPO,” Moore says. “Being around them inspired me to take more watercolor and wildlife art workshops. And because of them, I delved into working with clay—something I had not thought of doing before.”

His first bronze was a ram, which he sculpted during last year’s EXPO show.

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EXPERIENCE Arizona Fine Art EXPO Jan. 10–March 22 | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | 26540 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale | Season passes $10; seniors and military $8; children under 12 free i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m january 2 02 0 58arizonafineartexpo.com

“I’m proud of how it turned out,” he says. “It’s now an officially licensed piece at Colorado State University.

The buffalo will be available during this year’s show.”

Moore adds that his other work will include drawings and paintings of western cinematic icons, wildlife and a diverse selection of pop-culture inspired creations.

Making Scottsdale his home for 10 weeks was an easy decision— especially since he is energized by the collaborative atmosphere at Arizona Fine Art EXPO. “During my first year at EXPO, I developed strong friendships with many of the artists, and their creative insight has helped me grow professionally,” Moore says. “My decision to return each year is not tied to sales, but rather to the unique camaraderie among the artists. I’m very grateful to be part of the EXPO art family.” arizonafineartexpo.com

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography Courtesy of M3F

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Furnace Tune-Up Includes:

L

Last year, Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona Executive Director Eric Wolverton encountered a disconcerting obstacle.

Wolverton’s nonprofit organization had committed to build two homes in Flagstaff for families that needed a little help getting back up on their feet, but it did not yet have all of the funds secured in its bank account to accomplish the task.

Having been the recipient of a $10,000 donation from nonprofit music festival M3F in 2018, Wolverton hoped a gift from the 2019 festival might help cover some of the costs associated with the construction of at least one of the two homes.

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During his initial discussions with M3F officials, Wolverton mentioned that one roof costs about $25,000. He had cautiously hoped that the festival’s 2019 charitable contribution to Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona might come close to that.

“After last year’s event, they said, 'Since you are building two homes, you really need two roofs, so here is a check for $50,000,’” Wolverton says. “That was enormous for us to be able to easily continue our process without delaying our schedule. We were able to provide direct savings to the selected homeowners from Habitat for Humanity through M3F’s gift.”

Set for March 6–8, M3F will take over Hance Park in Phoenix with a unique blend of live art, food, crafts and music concerts. Organizers try to present an eclectic mix of music each year to excite attendees, with this year’s festival featuring Bon Iver and Rufus Du Sol as well as a number of other musicians.

“There will be something from each genre,” says Heather Rogers, festival manager. “It is a little bit of everything that just meshes together for the weekend. I, personally, am looking forward to seeing Sofi Tucker. But a lot of the music is new to me. So I am hoping to find one or two new bands that I am just not aware of.”

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Heather Rogers adds that this year’s festival will up the ante with even more spectacular special effects and light shows than ever before—all with the hope of also drawing a record number of attendees so that the nonprofit event can help a record number of people.

M3F was built on the idea of giving back. One of the ways in which it does that is through charitable contributions. The festival donates 100% of its proceeds each year to local, family-based, nonprofit organizations.

“Other festivals give a portion or a percentage of their proceeds to and are active with charities but we take it 100% down the line and give back,” Heather Rogers says. “This speaks to the culture of Wespac Construction, the producer and founder behind M3F. We, as a company, are very into charity, giving back, volunteering, team building and just promoting all of that through our events.”

Since its humble beginnings in 2004, M3F has come a long way in not only the size of the festival itself but also the size of its charitable contributions. Initially known as the McDowell Mountain Music Festival, the event originally only contributed its proceeds to a couple of charities each year.

“Once in a while, we have taken a small portion and donated it to some smaller charities to help them out,” Heather Rogers says. “Just giving $1,000 to a charity that is still housed in someone's basement can really change the direction that it is taking.”

Over time, M3F was able to pick up an additional charity to provide financial support to each year. To date, organizers have donated more than $2 million to deserving nonprofit organizations. Last year alone, M3F raised $509,000 for local charities.

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RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL

“It was our best year yet and by far our biggest donation,” Heather Rogers says. “We accredit that to better bands and better on-site experience.”

This year, M3F will simultaneously benefit a record number of four local charities. In addition to Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona, proceeds from this year’s festival will also be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Teach for America and Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

The funds that Phoenix Children’s Hospital receives from M3F are used to enhance its music therapy program, which makes use of music interventions to address the physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs of patients.

“As a direct result of M3F’s support, we were able to increase [a] part-time [board-certified] music therapist to full-time in October 2018 while also adding a second full-time music therapist in January,” says Jenni Rogers, who manages the hospital’s child life and music therapy programs.

Last year’s donation from M3F will allow Phoenix Children’s Hospitals’ two music therapists to provide about 2,650 one-on-one visits per year to children and teens for three years.

“Without M3F, we would not be able to provide this integral therapeutic intervention that not only normalizes the hospital experience but facilitates healthy coping,” Jenni Rogers says.

Heather Rogers hopes than M3F’s financial support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society will help the nonprofit organization continue its

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research so that maybe fewer people will have to be touched by cancer in the future. She also hopes that M3F will have a lasting impact on Teach for America, the other organization that will receive funds from this year’s festival.

“Teach for America sends teachers into areas that are a little more underprivileged,” Heather Rogers says.

“They give these kids an opportunity to have someone who is dedicated to them and shows them that there are opportunities out there, allowing them to grow.”

In addition to its charitable contributions, M3F also gives back by promoting community and culture.

Organizers aim to bring people together as a community, allowing friends and family to experience the event with one another. They also aspire to introduce attendees’ to new music thereby building upon their repertoire and enhancing their appreciation of different genres.

MUSIC

“M3F develops that culture of coming together for future generations,” Heather Rogers explains. “As the kids we are impacting through the festival and through the donations that we make grow up, they will have a sense of pride over where they come from.”

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Wolverton adds that M3F is also the perfect vehicle to introduce younger generations to philanthropy— particularly the kind that results in a good time and does not directly hurt a young adult's budget.

“It is very important right now for nonprofits to educate those younger generations about the importance of the role that they are going to play really soon in terms of contributing to nonprofit organizations that make their communities better into the future,” Wolverton explains.

“Nonprofit organizations are really concerned right now because the majority of our gifts come from baby boomers and retirees. Within the next 20 years, that population is going to be very declined. That it is a real concern of ours so it is great to have a partner in M3F, who wants to do that messaging.”

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Heather Rogers agrees, noting that she particularly enjoys passing on stories of how M3F has impacted local charities to her 8-year-old son.

Weekly Checks While You’re Away “It is important to teach everyone to give back and to be thankful for what they have,” she says. “There is always someone out there that could use just a little bit of help, education or attention. I find it very empowering to know that we have been able to give back like this, impact people's lives and maybe just make life a step better for them.”

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R e f e r e n c e s

A v a i l a b l e

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Writer Amanda Christmann Photography Courtesy of Bob Bacon

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S

Sprinkled throughout the Valley are nearly iconic landmarks that inspire nothing shy of reverence, not only for their beauty and elegance, but for the sanctity they elicit.

The Boulders Resort and Golf Club, The Princess Hotel and Conference Center, and Cochise/Geronimo Golf Clubhouse at Desert Mountain are just a few of the notable destinations that summon the beauty of the surrounding desert. From the earth-borne materials used in their creation to the thoughtful use of light, sound and modernist-inspired architecture, they celebrate all that is unique about Sonoran living.

As intriguing as these high-end planned developments, world-class resorts, exclusive golf communities and premier custom homes are, the mind behind them is equally fascinating.

Bob Bacon has been leaving a legacy of luxurious form and function through award-winning architectural design since 1968. Hailed “Master Designer of the Southwest” by Phoenix Home & Garden in 2001, he has amassed a portfolio of nearly 200 custom homes in the most breathtaking and exclusive of Valley communities, and his work can be found throughout the United States and in Canada and Japan.

However, it’s Bacon’s latest design that is turning heads, not only for its breathtaking allure, but also for its aesthetic. For the first time, Bacon’s is the sole ideology behind this home, with a design unadulterated by the ideas of investors and marketing teams.

The Bacon House is an architectural apogee—the first and only of its kind, and truly a rare and special jewel among the designer’s box of precious gems.

Bacon has carefully designed every crevice and corner of this home, and done it with his own flair and vision. In what he terms an “homage to early modernism,” he has crafted details like a spectacular negative edge reflecting pool that appears to vanish into the western horizon, and living spaces that seamlessly and stunningly integrate the indoors with the outdoors.

Bacon’s signature touches are everywhere, and they are brilliant.

“I agreed to lend my name to this home because I was completely freed from the usual third-party influences,” Bacon said. “That freedom allowed me the time to resolve and refine the design to a greater level of detail than I had ever been afforded on any home design, whether a custom build-to-suit or spec.

“I was freed from normal cost constraints and thus I could demonstrate the foundational principles of my work, express the personal values that guide my decision-making and follow my own instincts regarding the home’s style, character and appearance.”

Bacon’s name has become synonymous with homes and other realms designed with quality over quantity, practicality over fashion, and durability over expedience.

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As functional as they are, Bacon’s designs also emit nearly magical qualities. Light seems to dance throughout the interiors and exteriors of Bacon’s work, and each room is its own comfortable, private realm.

Texture plays an equal to color, and there is unmatched depth and richness in how every subtle layer plays off of the others.

The Bacon House, to be constructed in the venerable Desert Mountain community in North Scottsdale, is the epitome of these characteristic qualities.

DESIGN AT ITS FINEST In many ways, the luxury of the Bacon House is an ode to design, and a throwback to a time when function was just as important as distinction and individuality.

“I wanted to achieve the timeless warmth and comfortable human scale of residential architecture that existed before these qualities were progressively stripped from the vocabulary of modernism,” Bacon explained.

From a practical standpoint, the Bacon House is an engineer’s delight.

“I’ve applied my understandings of heat transfer to the psychology and physiology of human comfort in many of my designs, but none to the extent I’ve been able to incorporate these principles here,” Bacon explained.

“For example, the extensive use of stone and concrete in this home is significant to its high structural quality and durability, but it’s the well-distributed exposure of these materials to the interior spaces that plays a subtle, but equally important, role in maintaining and stabilizing the home’s comfort year-round.

“If these materials were clad with drywall or separated from the space with insulation, the capacity of their thermal mass to effectively stabilize the room’s mean radiant temperature would be deminished.

“The goal for optimal comfort is to naturally maintain the surface temperatures of each room’s enclosure and contents as uniformly as possible within the human comfort range. … When this is achieved, very little hot or cold air needs to be added.”

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Architecture is art, and if anyone understands how to wield a metaphorical brush, it’s Bacon.

Yet there is more to design than efficiency, economy, and convenience. Bacon’s perspective on the human element of residential design is on display throughout the Bacon House.

“I’ve learned that some people are ardent ‘nesters’ while others are inveterate ‘exhibitors’—for lack of a better word. Increasingly, modernism has tended to favor the tastes of exhibitors for whom the display of objects and composition often takes precedence over their convenience and sometimes even their comfort. “’Great to look at, but I wouldn’t want to live in it,’ is a refrain I frequently hear from nesters commenting on the modern homes that regularly appear in magazines. This sentiment is often followed by, ‘I like modern but can we do something warmer and more livable?’”

“Perhaps because my wife and I are both eclectic, living at times as exhibitors and at others as nesters, I’ve come to realize that many individuals, and most couples, are some mixture of both.

“Going with my gut, or refined intuition, in this design, I wanted to appeal to both personality types with a well-organized and well-composed, but more casual and forgiving environment.

“I consider this a decidedly modern but humanist approach to the design of living environments.”

A VERY SPECIAL BUYER The Bacon House is expected to attract a special and discerning buyer—one who appreciates the purpose and meaningfulness of purity within architecture.

Architecture, after all, is art, and if anyone understands how to wield a metaphorical brush, it’s Bacon.

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“Of course, this home boasts all the physical comforts and conveniences today’s luxury lifestyles have come to expect, but I feel its practical livability is what sets it apart,” Bacon said.

“Its private, public and semi-public functions have been thoughtfully arranged on two levels with convenient adjacencies and appropriate separations. Suitable for a young couple, a growing family or mature professionals who enjoy entertaining and recreation, the home lives as large or as small as may be required by its owners.

“No having to walk through or around empty rooms; no need to walk past guest or children’s bedrooms and living areas; no need to turn down the music or TV from a loud party downstairs while quite conversations are occurring above.”

Bacon has worked with Kurt Wolslagel to prepare technical documentation and engineering coordination, and Stephen Sanmarco to create digital renderings that define a highly nuanced level of realistic detail.

Bacon appears just as enthusiastic about meeting the home’s buyers as he is to bring life to his extraordinary 3D renderings.

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but I’ll begin meeting with them upon purchase to learn of their particular color preferences, their tastes in art, and many other important subtleties that reflect their individual tastes and values.

“These personal items will be curated and collected during the construction process involving the buyers only to the extent they wish to participate.”

MAKING MEMORIES H WESTERN STYLE

OLD WEST SPIRIT NEW WEST TALENT

Though unusual, selling a home by rendering is the most logical way for Bacon to represent his work. Rather than waiting for input, he is able to showcase his own ideas, allowing a buyer to envision his ideas before they are adulterated by outside influence. In essence, the buyer can see the entirety of the vision.

“First, I wanted to create and deliver a completely immersive environment and experience.

“Second, I wanted to fully demonstrate the modern vision of the home and curate a collection of contents representing the best of 20th-century modernism.

“Finally, I wanted to deliver the time-saving and stressfree convenience to our buyer of moving into a home that can be fully enjoyed from the first moment of possession—no searching for the corkscrew, or making special trips to stock the home with tools, equipment and supplies.”

To prove the home’s readiness to deliver the convenience and comfort expected of a luxury lifestyle, Bacon will provide a thorough walk-thru of home to show the new owners where everything is and how everything works.

He will also cater a memorable first-class, multi-course dinner for the new owners and eight of their guests.

The warm welcome is just another unexpected yet delightful Bacon touch.

“The Bacon House at Desert Mountain is truly unique in its minimal level of external compromise, and thus conveys my principles and values with a very rare degree of fidelity and design integrity,” the designer said.

“More broadly, I believe these intangible qualities better assure the buyer an enduring monetary value but, just as importantly, enriches their appreciation of their home as a meaningful and purposeful work of architectural art.” rjbacondesign.com thebaconhouse.com

6130 East Cave Creek Road • Cave Creek, AZ

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Writer Shoshana Leon Photography by Sydney Nicole Photography

B

Brian Vogel has been working in restaurants since he was 18 years old. He was planning to take a break from the restaurant industry to travel when an amazing opportunity helped him fulfill a lifelong dream.

“I had just left my job and was excited to have time off to travel with my wife when I saw an available space in the La Mirada shopping center in North Scottsdale,” Vogel recalls. “I knew the space would be perfect for a restaurant, and we opened three and a half months later."

Vogel and his wife Adele Donovan purchased the rights to the space from the owners of Lamp Pizzeria, now their neighbors at La Mirada.

“I always wanted to open my own restaurant and this was the first place I looked at,” Vogel says. “The owners of Lamp made the process easy. They have been really helpful and we’ve built a great relationship with them and many of the other businesses at La Mirada.”

Raven Gastropub opened in July 2018. Vogel means bird in German which is where the restaurant’s name comes from.

“I’ve always liked that ravens are dark and mysterious,” Vogel explains. “This dark elegance influences the restaurant’s food, drinks and décor.”

Vogel has learned the business in a variety of roles in restaurants in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Chicago, including working as a cook, server, bartender and manager. To complement his extensive restaurant experience, Vogel has a lifelong passion for cooking inspired by his mother.

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the art of organization Vogel met Donovan when they were both working at Rock Bottom Brewery in Chicago, and they married in 2003.

The couple moved to Scottsdale in 2014, leaving the frigid Midwest winters behind to be close to family.

Vogel worked at the IPIC Theaters at Scottsdale Quarter as senior general manager before opening Raven Gastropub.

More than a year after opening the restaurant, Vogel and Donovan are living in Cave Creek and running Raven Gastropub together. He cooks and runs the kitchen, and she manages operations and social media. Owning a restaurant is a new experience for Vogel who has always worked in a corporate environment.

“We learned a lot the first year, getting to know the clientele, creating the menu and developing recipes with our staff,” he notes.

“I’m enjoying the opportunity to be creative and collaborative.”

Vogel and Donovan have developed a culture of family at Raven Gastropub.

“Our business is about people,” Vogel says. “Guests and staff like the family atmosphere. We talk to our guests and listen to their suggestions.

That is very important to me.”

The quality of the food is also very important to Vogel and he uses the freshest ingredients and local suppliers whenever possible including Capistrano’s Bakery, The City Creamery and Roastery of Cave Creek.

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“

Vogel wants to ensure that the restaurant’s menu has options to fit a variety of tastes and preferences.

Our business is about people.

Guests and staff like the family atmosphere. We talk to our guests and listen to their

“

suggestions. That is very important to me.

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“We want to have something for everyone and make sure everything is as fresh as possible,” he says. “We roast our meats in-house, which allows us to control the quality.”

Burgers and sandwiches are the most popular items on Raven Gastropub’s menu. One of the top sellers is the Raven Burger, charbroiled Certified Angus Beef topped with a house-made bourbon glaze, crumbled blue cheese, fried pickles, candied bacon and crispy fried onions.

Guests also rave about the Reuben.

Vegetarian menu items include a house-made veggie burger, a roasted vegetable pita with kale, squash, cremini mushrooms and hummus, and a variety of fresh salads including quinoa and kale salad, and spinach and pear salad.

Raven Gastropub’s most popular entrée is beer-battered fish and chips served with blue cheese bacon apple slaw. The most popular appetizer is the blackened fish tacos with roasted corn salsa.

Signature cocktails include the refreshing Black Raven, featuring cherry vodka and

lemonade with activated charcoal which gives the drink a mysterious look and is known to have detoxifying benefits. The Nevermore combines blueberry vodka, elderflower liquor and muddled mint garnished with blueberry boba pearls.

Raven Gastropub’s slushed brandy recipe comes from Vogel’s mother.

The restaurant also offers a selection of beer, wine and champagne.

Vogel is excited about the future of Raven Gastropub and looks forward to getting more involved in the community.

“As we continue to grow, we want to participate in local events and build partnerships,” he says. “We are thrilled to be a part of this community.”

Raven Gastropub is open daily from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Happy hour is Monday through Saturday from 2 until 7 p.m. and all day Sunday with discounted pricing on alcoholic beverages and appetizers.

Raven Gastropub 8900 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale 480-219-9334 ravengp.com

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1962 Ferrari GTO

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Writer Shannon Severson Photography by Bill Pack

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America has a special love affair with the automobile, but Arizona takes it a step further—becoming a hub for car enthusiasts and collectors with a plethora of auctions each year.

Phoenix Art Museum’s Legends of Speed is a landmark exhibition that brings the thrill of racing and its icons to life. Whether you’re an autophile, appreciate great design or just love a good story, you’ll find something that appeals in this impressive show, which runs through March 15.

This isn’t the museum’s first foray into displaying the artistic side of the automotive industry. Its 2007 exhibition, Curves of Steel, was extremely successful and focused on the impact of Art Deco style on car design in the 1930s and 1940s. This time, curators have gone full throttle into the world of racing.

“Displaying a collection of racecars is something we’ve never done before,” says Gilbert Vicario, Phoenix Art Museum’s deputy director for curatorial affairs and the Selig family chief curator. “We’ve taken it a step further to draw in the relationship of car and driver.

“Many of the cars we have on exhibit won very famous races in their time. They’re not similar to the cars that won, they’re the actual cars that won. They are really historic artifacts.”

Vicario points out that design and art have always been tightly wound and, as the automobile is a fairly new machine, it really is a defining feature of the 20th century that can be regarded for beauty in both sculptural form and technical aspects.

Each of the 20 vehicles on display is a piece of modern art. Placards alongside give information about the designers, and many tell the story of the drivers who pushed the limits of physics and human endurance to make these the first to cross many famous finish lines.

Ferraris, Fords, Deusenbergs, Porsches, Mercedes, Maseratis—the list goes on. Even standing still, these cars look fast.

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Advances in racing design are detailed from the 1910s through the 1970s.

The oldest car on display is a 1911 Franklin, driven in the 1910 Desert Classic, an off-road race from Los Angeles to Phoenix before there were modern interstate highways. One can only imagine the dust, rocks and rough terrain that driver Ralph Hamlin must have endured for 500 miles when he finally rolled into town to place second.

Every vehicle had to be drained of all its fluids and carefully transported from personal collections and automotive museums across the country, including from Melani and Rob Walton and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum—which loaned the car that racing legend A.J. Foyt drove to his first victory at “The Brickyard.”

Also on display is the sleek, blue 1967 Gurney Eagle F1—the first and only American-built race car to win a Formula One race in the modern era. Designer Dan Gurney gave this speeding bullet a beaked tip nose cone that evokes the American Eagle.

Gurney was constantly modifying his designs to make them faster and lighter, including exotic metal alloys like titanium and magnesium, which are highly flammable, but are part of the winning combination that made a name for America on the global racing stage.

Eagle Front Overall

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1952 Mercedes 300 SL

IMAGINE

Saturday, February 8, 2020 • 6:00 pm

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With the recent popularity of the film “Ford v Ferarri,” audiences will recognize the style of the 1968 Ford GT40—a refined version of the car that Carroll Shelby built in the movie.

This version, developed by John Wyer, won the grueling 24-hour Le Mans twice––by a length of five laps when driven by Pedro Rodriquez (the first Mexican national to win at Le Mans) and Lucien Bianchi in 1968 and again in 1969, driven by Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver.

Just steps away is a famous 1929 Bentley, known as “Old Number One,” that accomplished the same feat many years earlier.

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It looks impossibly huge to labor through 24 hours of rough roads in the French countryside, but Tim Birkin and Woolf “Babe” Bamato—a South African diamond heir—drove the twin SU carburetor vehicle to a win in 1929. The next year, Barnato partnered with “Bentley Boy” Glen Kidston to win it again.

However, the tales of talent aren’t isolated just to “the boys.”

“There are women who participated in racing, as well and I was thrilled to have a bit of gender balance,” Vicario says. “One of the contributors to the catalog is an actual living legend: Indy 500 Driver and author Lyn St. James, who used to live here in Phoenix.”

The exhibit prominently features the story of a particularly colorful female racer, Hellé Nice, also known as the “Bugatti Queen.” Her 1927 Bugatti Type 35B chassis 4863, which she drove in the 24-hour race at Le Mans in 1930, has rarely been displayed to the public. It had a top speed of 125 mph.

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1961 Birdcage Maserati

EXPERIENCE Legends of Speed Through March 15 | See website for hours | Phoenix Art Museum | 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix | i m a gdiscounts e s a r i z o n a .for c o mseniors, january 2 02 0children and museum members | 602–257–1880 | phxart.org students, 82$25 with

1934 Alfa Romeo P3

“She was quite something,” Vicario says. “She was a dancer and a model who posed for the artists of the day. In 1926, she was dancing in cabarets. Racecar driving was just one of her activities. Her life was quite fascinating.”

St. James wrote about the Parisian actress and model in one of the essays she contributed to the gorgeous, fully illustrated exhibition catalog, noting that Nice “makes Danica Patrick look like Snow White.”

“This Bugatti and Nice really represent an entire decade when there were females involved in racing,” St. James says. “When you have a great history, you have a great future. And this really was the beginning of that history.”

Every race and every racer tell an engaging human story—a story that is always changing. St. James points out that the cars are always being tweaked and altered, even during races.

As beautifully preserved and displayed at Legends of Speed, that evolution of design, the thrill of revving engines and tight curves and the desire to go farther faster has captured the imagination of generations and elevated the most skilled and daring to legendary status. phxart.org

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Elysian Desert Distilleries i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m january 2 02 0

TheHornyToad.com 6738 E.

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It starts off soft on your palette. Then the flavors of caramel and vanilla hit your tongue. You feel the warmth as it goes down, but with no harsh bite or burn.

“When it comes to Carefree Bourbon, the No. 1 word we hear is smooth,” says Michael McQuiggan of Elysian Desert Distilleries, a woman-owned and family-operated business headquartered in Carefree at 100 Easy Street.

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In addition to its distillery, where lines of bourbon and vodka are created, Elysian Desert Distilleries also operates a pair of tasting rooms. One is located next door to the distillery itself while a second recently opened in Cave Creek at 6201 E. Cave Creek Road, featuring a wrap-around granite bar, full menu of craft cocktails are available and an outside, dog-friendly patio with views of Black Mountain.

In 2016, Michael McQuiggan was enjoying lunch with his wife Renea at Eddie Merlot’s restaurant in Scottsdale when the bar manager introduced them to Garrison Brothers Texas Bourbon Whiskey. He shared with them that its product uses grain from the Garrison family’s farm.

The story intrigued Renea McQuiggan, who has a farm in northeast Kansas that has been family-owned and operated since the early 1900s. The farm produces a variety of grains, including soybeans and, most importantly, corn. She suggested to her husband that they create their own line of spirits utilizing the corn from her family farm.

In January 2017, the couple attended a week-long distiller’s course at Moonshine University in Louisville, Kentucky, where they learned about all aspects of opening and operating a distillery—right down to how to mash the corn and distill the product.

Michael McQuiggan notes that the course was incredibly intense—especially the part about obtaining a distiller permit from the federal government. As it turned out, navigating all of the rules and regulations was quite a long and complicated process.

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During their time at Moonshine University, the couple made a number of contacts in the distilling industry j anuary 2020

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with whom they partnered to help bring their vision to life. Since getting approval as a licensed distillery could take a great deal of time, they decided to contract with an established distiller in Indiana so that their bourbon could be aging while other legalities were being addressed.

The couple tested three different recipes—known in the industry as mash bills—to begin the aging process.

Product was distilled offsite in Indiana and placed in new charred oak barrels, where it sat for more than two years before being brought to Arizona.

“We invited a small group of people to come in to test the different mash bills,” Renea McQuiggan says. “Carefree Bourbon—with a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malt—is the one that received the highest marks.”

Renea McQuiggan took a seat as Elysian Desert Distilleries’ president, and her daughter Abigail Merritt— who came up with the business’s name, inspired by the Greek word for heavenly or paradise—took a seat as the business’s vice president.

TASTE

Renea’s husband Michael and Abigail’s husband Stuart became responsible for day-to-day operations, along with the blending, bottling and labeling of the product.

Elysian Desert Distilleries Fridays and Saturdays | 2 p.m.–Closing | Carefree Tasting Room | 101 Easy St., Carefree i m a g e s a r i z o n a|. cNoon–Closing o m january |2Cave 02 0 Creek Tasting Room | 6201 E. Cave Creek Rd., Suite C, Cave Creek | elysiandesertdistilleries.com 86Tuesdays–Sundays

CHAKRA VODKA VARIETIES - Ascension: Unflavored, Premium Vodka - Root: Red Apple and Ginger Root - Sacral: Peach and Hibiscus - Solar: Plexus Pineapple and Rosemary - Heart: Green Tea, Mint and Matcha - Throat: Honey and Lemon Balm - Third Eye: Grapefruit and Lavender - Crown: Coconut, Lychee and Jasmine

In addition to Carefree Bourbon, Elysian Desert Distilleries also produced and trademarked Chakra Vodka, a corn-based and naturally gluten-free vodka with no sugars added. Abigail Merritt created the line, inspired by the various focal points in the subtle body used in a variety of ancient meditation practices.

Ascension, the company’s unflavored premium vodka, is currently available for purchase at Elysian Desert Distilleries’ tasting rooms. Seven uniquely flavored varieties are currently available for tasting, and will be available for purchase sometime during the first quarter of 2020.

Chakra Vodka will soon also be available in restaurants and retail stores. Carefree Bourbon is already available at Total Wine stores and Safeway, and is featured at several North Valley bars and restaurants, including Mastro’s Steakhouse and The Capital Grille.

Although Elysian Desert Distilleries is not yet utilizing the grains from Renea McQuiggan’s farm, that is the ultimate goal.

“She wants to build something for the future generations of her family,” Michael McQuiggan explains. “They have slim margins on corn right now, and this gives it an added value. Renea can use her own corn to produce something that turns out to be quite good without having to go to market with the corn.”

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Renea McQuiggan acknowledges that opening Elysian Desert Distilleries would not have been possible without the help and support of her friends, family and loved ones to whom she will be forever grateful.

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“We are very proud of what we have accomplished and feel we have a quality product to offer,” she says. elysiandesertdistilleries.com j anuary 2020

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of the Musical Instrument Museum

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You may at first feel a little uneasy upon walking into the Musical Instrument Museum’s new special exhibition Congo Masks and Music: Masterpieces from Central Africa. But do not worry—that feeling is normal.

“Masks have a threatening character,” says Marc Felix, one of the museum’s board members. “Their job is to frighten you. But I hope that when people look closer at them, they will understand their humanity and their intricacy.”

Running through Sept. 13, the special exhibition—the first of its kind to fully contextualize masks alongside musical instruments in their authentic performance settings—offers a glimpse into the dramatic and lively masquerade traditions of Central Africa.

“We included masks in the exhibit because the majority of musical instruments in Congo are used in a masking context,” Felix explains.

Congo Masks and Music: Masterpieces of Central Africa features an exclusive collection of more than 150 stunning and rare masks, instruments and costumes from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Archival photography and video footage featuring masks and traditional music performed in ceremonies accentuate the experience.

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A BIG MISSION Felix has been collecting Central African masks in the field since 1959 and, to this day, continues to search for missing examples. He believes that Congo Masks and Music: Masterpieces from Central Africa will allow people to experience extremely rare masquerade traditions—many of which have disappeared today aside from in a few remote areas.

The international expert on African art co-curated the special exhibition with Manuel Jordán, deputy director and chief curator of the Musical Instrument Museum. The pair separately spent several years in Central African villages, learning local languages and meeting with mask makers, mask wearers and elders with esoteric knowledge.

“I was doing research and I took a lot of time,” Jordán says. “After a certain amount of time, I was embraced as a member of the family. During my second year of being there, I was allowed to go into some of their initiations and ceremonies and was able to participate to some extent.”

Jordán adds that in doing so, he made it a point to remove his own sense of identity as a Westerner and ended up feeling as though he was an essential part of the community. He calls his time in Central African villages an incredibly touching experience and says that the people he met were gorgeous in heart, mind and soul.

“Before I left, the headman of the village told me, ‘You have been here for more than two years. You have lived with us, you have eaten with us and you have shared with us,’” Jordán explains. “‘Now you are going back to the West and you have a big mission

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to tell everybody about who we are, how we do things and how we are good people. We want the rest of the world to know that they are welcome here.’”

Jordán believes Congo Masks and Music: Masterpieces from Central Africa accomplishes that mission.

He notes that the Musical Instrument Museum prides itself in celebrating every country and culture in the world and that special exhibitions like this give curators an opportunity to delve just a little bit deeper.

“I hope that people step into the concepts of music, celebration and community that are articulated through masquerades, feel something about them and open their horizons a little bit more,” Jordán says.

“I want to be impactful and for people to walk around with a sense of awe and understanding that African cultures are as deep and as rich as any other.”

Masquerades like those at the center of the special exhibition take place for a variety of reasons—to educate, to entertain, to demonstrate power and to connect humans with the spirit world. Through music and dance, masks express different people’s worldviews, histories, religious beliefs and morals.

“Like every other exhibit we have here, part of it is just recognizing your own culture, who you are and how you fit within your community,” Jordán says. “But it is also understanding that, while we may have some differences, we are all human beings dealing with similar conditions and situations. We just have different ways to articulate our realities.”

BEHIND THE MASKS Although Jodan believes that all of the artifacts featured in the Musical Instrument Museum’s special exhibition are significant in not only quality but also symbolic and cultural value to how the people of Central Africa conceptualize the world around them, he has a few favorites.

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“Upon entry into the gallery, there is this really impressive, colorful, large [Mamboma] mask,” he says. “It is really dramatic. It has bold facial features, a big nose, a big mouth and big eyes. It helps introduce all of the concepts of spirit in Central Africa.”

The late 19th century mask, which is on loan from Ethnic Art and Culture Limited in Hong Kong, represents a mighty male spirit who enforces laws maintained by the Ndunga—an association for social control which worked on behalf of chiefs.

The Mamboma mask is accompanied by a power horn rattle from Felix’s collection, which links the mask with divination and healing. Made of an antelope horn and ritual materials, the instrument features an iron bell that is found within its attached strips of cloth.

Jordán is also particularly drawn to a pair of Kifwebe masks from Felix’s collection. The male and female masks represent spirits that are partly human with reference to a number of animal forms.

“They are beautifully stylized masks,” Jordán says. “They feature an integration of concepts of animals

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and insects all condensed and reinterpreted visually into something that is just absolutely gorgeous. Their aesthetic is completely developed as an art form.

They are so profound and so well devised.”

An early 20th century trapezoidal slit drum from the Musical Instrument Museum’s own collection accompanies the Kifwebe masks, which belong to an association that acts as a counterbalance to the power of chiefs. The female version displays a kinder demeanor than its male counterpart, symbolizing female prowess, beauty and fertility.

At the very back wall of the special exhibition are five fully dressed characters, which Jordán is especially proud to be able to display as part of Congo Masks and Music: Masterpieces of Central Africa. Of the five, Jordán’s favorite is Pwo—the primordial female ancestor.

“It is made and conceived to honor ancestry and the role of mothers within the community,” says Jordán, noting that the late 19th century mask is used in boys’ coming-of-age ceremonies. “Oftentimes the carver was so inspired by the beauty of a woman whom they admired that they would hide in the bush for a while and carve until they created something that they considered absolutely beautiful.

“When that comes into the village's masquerade, it becomes something worthy of admiration and praise. It is something that people point their children to and say, ‘You want to be as beautiful as and have the demeanor of this wonderful ancestor that contributes to the community.’”

EXPERIENCE Congo Masks and Music: Masterpieces from Central Africa Through Sept. 13 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Musical Instrument Museum | 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix | $10 for Special Exhibition Only i m a gPurchased e s a r i z o n a . cwith o m january 2 02 0 Museum Admission | 480-478-6000 | mim.org 92$7 When

PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER Like many of the other artifacts featured in the special exhibition, the Pwo mask is from Felix’s collection. During his time in Central African villages, Felix learned a lot about the people who live there. But, ultimately, his greatest revelations were about himself.

“When I went to Congo, I was 17 years old,” Felix says. “I was aggressive, I was haughty and I was looking down on people. But the longer I was there, the more I understood that we are all the same. We have the same dreams, we have the same hopes, we have the same worries and we have the same things to cry about. I discovered myself through them.”

Jordán’s experience was similar.

Although he went to Central Africa with an appreciation for the culture, he left with a greater understanding of not only the people who live there but also of himself.

“There is an enhanced sense of family and community there with how people share in their successes and failures,” Jordán says. “These are things that the community grasps overall. Rarely do you see somebody feeling lonely there.

It is all managed through the bigger sense of family.

“Masquerades and music are often at the forefront of celebrations that are supposed to bring forth important transitions within the community.

Being part of that for more than two years was something that was fascinating from beginning to end. I felt like I was part of a bigger self.” mim.org

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Writer Amanda Christmann

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Cave Creek may have earned a reputation for its ode to the past, but tucked inside a rustic façade is a hidden gem of a restaurant where the freshness of the past meets very rightnow innovative flavor combinations.

Local Jonny’s, located in an inauspicious low-slung building next to Flat Tire Bike Shop, is the kind of place where shorts and flip flops are just as appropriate as a power suit.

True to the spirit of Cave Creek, Local Jonny’s fantastic food, excellent espresso and a carefully cultivated menu of craft beers and wines has a way of bringing all types of people together.

Now, open for dinner from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, there’s even more opportunity to give them a try! Trivia Night each Thursday and live music on Fridays make it a date night destination, or just a fun place to spend an evening!

Local Jonny’s offers fun takes on several traditional breakfast items, made to order and served fresh all day.

You’ll find flavors like their Southwest Sunrise Sandwich, with two fried eggs, ham, avocado, tomato, cheddar and chipotle aioli on sourdough toast, served with fruit and potatoes; and Jonny’s famous blueberry granola pancakes made from scratch daily and served with fresh whipped cream and optional pure Vermont maple syrup or a blueberry compote.

The lunch menu doesn’t disappoint either. From hot and cold sandwiches packed with great tastes (Sriracha Turkey, anyone?) to spicy sea bass fish tacos and salads so good you’ll forget they’re salads, Local Jonny’s has a menu as original as you’d expect from a place as untamed as the Creek.

They’ve also got a mouthwatering list of certified Angus beef burgers, including their Cowboy Burger, hearty enough to fill a wrangler after a week-long drive, and a kids’ menu sure to please the most finicky of eaters. Vegetarian, vegan and glutenfree diners are welcome, too!

There’s always something cooking at Local Jonny’s! localjonnys.com

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Healthy Yummy ’Nanner Bread This healthy take on banana bread is not only delicious, it’s gluten-free and safe for FODMAP diets.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup melted coconut oil, or other neutral-flavored baking oil 3/4 cup pure maple syrup 3 eggs 2–3 medium ripe bananas, mashed 3 ounces milk (or nut milk) 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla 1-1/2 cups oat flour 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Directions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a loaf pan and set aside.

In a medium bowl whisk together oil and maple syrup. Add eggs and whisk to combine. Add mashed bananas, milk and vanilla and mix until well combined.

In a large bowl, add oat flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.

Add the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and stir gently, just until combined. Fold in 3/4 cup of nuts, saving the remaining 1/4 cup for the topping.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and top with remaining nuts.

Bake 55–60 minutes or until done. Allow the bread to cool before slicing.

Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

kyndraclaire.com

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Baked Salt & Vinegar Smashed Potatoes This new take on an old favorite is a quick and easy alternative to plain old potatoes. Use any herbs you want!

Serves: 4–6

Ingredients: 2 pounds small assorted potatoes 1 cup + 2 teaspoons malt vinegar 1 tablespoon sea salt 4 tablespoons butter 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons finely minced rosemary or chives

Directions: Add potatoes to large saucepan, then add 1 cup vinegar, sea salt, and water to cover potatoes. Bring to a boil and simmer until potatoes are just tender (15-20 min depending on the size of your potatoes).

Preheat oven to 450 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment. Drain potatoes and let them cool slightly on a wire rack.

Melt butter and add pepper, rosemary or chives, and 2 teaspoons malt vinegar. Using the heel of your hand, flatten each potato to approximately 1/2-inch thick and arrange in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Brush potatoes generously with the butter mixture. You will have some left to brush on after baking. Sprinkle with salt and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until browned and crispy.

Remove from oven, brush with remaining butter and arrange on serving platter.

Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

kyndraclaire.com

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