Images Arizona (January 2023)

S ANDERSON LINCOLN S ANDERSON LINCOLN

Introducing David Gross Fine Gemstone Collection She will be over the rainbow happy

From left to right: 3.36 carat cushion red ruby with 10 pear shape diamonds 0.98 carat 15.20 carat oval yellow sapphire with two elongated tappered baguette diamonds 11.29 carat vivid blue sapphire with two cushion brilliant diamonds at 1.03 carat 8.09 carat emerald cut pink sapphire ring with 0.89 carat french cut trapezoid diamonds

7.04 carat fancy light yellow radiant diamond with 10 fancy yellow diamonds at 2.56 carat and 10 white diamonds at 0.47 carat

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

Hours Tue.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. By appointment Sun. and Mon. 480.575.8080

GraceReneeGallery.com

From the Publisher

Publisher

Shelly Spence

Managing Editor

Joseph J. Airdo

Graphic Designer Meaghan Mitchell

Contributing Writers

Joseph J. Airdo

Amanda Christmann

Francine Coles Rebecca L. Rhoades Shannon Severson

Photographers

Francine Coles Loralei Lazurek Carl Schultz

Advertising Sales

Cindi Calcinari 860-966-3271 cindi@imagesaz.com

AAbout 60 years ago, English garage band The Troggs released its hit single “Love is All Around.” At roughly the same time, golfer Walter Hagen wrote in his autobiography, “Don't hurry. Don't worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.” His passage would become the source of the well-known expression, “Stop and smell the roses.”

I believe that both phrases are among those that, when acknowledged, lead to a very happy and rewarding life. As we begin a new year filled with hopes, dreams, intentions and aspirations, I encourage you to recognize the many acts of generosity and kindness that exist in our community and to take time to appreciate all that is wonderful about our little corner of the world; the things that you may typically take for granted.

This month’s issue of Images Arizona celebrates those philosophies while also expanding their meaning to include art — something that truly is all around us and makes life exponentially more enjoyable and interesting. Architecture, automobiles and even the clothes that we wear are all forms of art that we encounter each and every day. When was the last time that you paused — really paused — and reflected upon the ingenuity and creativity that went into them?

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. Images Arizona is published by ImagesAZ Inc. Copyright © 2022 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited material.

It is my hope that these pages inspire you to do just that. After all, even this magazine is an art form; a carefully curated collection of stories and graphics into which our writers, photographers and designers have poured their hearts. Thank you for inviting our art into your lives for yet another year.

Cheers!

Shelly Spence

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

Photography by Loralei Lazurek

by Darcy McSheffrey

While on a campervan road trip through the Southwestern United States, Ottawa, Canada resident Darcy McSheffrey and her boyfriend stopped in Arizona to hike Cathedral Rock Trail.

“I had seen many pictures of the unique rock formation throughout my research that made this hike one I looked forward to the most out of the whole trip, McSheffrey says. “I could not get over how incredible it was to see and hike this trail in person. I think that I stopped every two minutes to take a photo.

“We started our hike at about 5 p.m. with the goal to see the sunset on the rock formations. This hike turned out to be breathtaking, with the sun igniting the spectacular fiery orange and red hues of the rocks.

“The final steps as you summit the rock are magical. Cathedral Rock has one of the most spectacular sunset views I have ever seen. I was in awe at every turn. We took our time just sitting at the top and taking in the scenery; it is nothing short of incredible.”

instagram.com/dmcsheffrey

Photo

Peter Kuttner

CONTEMPORARY ARTIST

In Kuttner’s Cut-Out series, he uses a process that is not unlike that of Matisse late in his career. Works in this series are meant to be contemporary, clean, sophisticated, colorful, uplifting, soothing, and filled with positive

Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 85377 Hours: Tue.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. By appointment Sun. and Mon. 480.575.8080 GraceReneeGallery.com

TTwo men — with faces shielded and bodies clad in thick leather sleeves and chaps — slowly lift a crucible from the blazing fires of an underground furnace.

It’s so quiet that you could hear a pin drop; but the silence is occasionally broken by the slow, heavy breaths of the foundry workers as they carry the red hot container that holds 100 ingots of molten bronze between two giant clamps. They painstakingly pour what looks like lava into each mold. As much as caution must reign, so must speed. What begins at a liquid 2,000 degrees quickly cools and can compromise the finished product — cast-bronze wind bells that are highly sought-after.

A breeze blows through the courtyard, wending between buildings that seem like a scene from a “Star Wars” movie. The chiming of wind bells can be heard — some low and resonant, others high and tinkling, like a fairy is passing through.

Writer Shannon Severson

Photo by Jessica Jameson

This is Cosanti, an architectural treasure on the Arizona Registry of Historic Places in Paradise Valley.

The structures — including a gallery, ceramic studio and bronze foundry — are the work of Italianborn visionary architect and artisan Paolo Soleri, who first came to Arizona to study under Frank Lloyd Wright in 1947 and purchased this five-acre parcel –– the original Doubletree Ranch homestead ––with his wife, Colly, in 1955.

Today, people come from all over the world to view Soleri’s work and purchase Cosanti Originals wind bells, ceramic vessels and jewelry; pieces connected to a priceless history. Fewer than 10 of Soleri’s projects still survive today.

REFORMING DESIGN

The term “Cosanti” is an amalgamation of two Italian words; “cosa,” which means “things,” and “anti,” which means “against.” Soleri’s movement “against things” encompassed a rejection of hyper-consumerism, a pursuit of experimental architecture and the creation of earth-cast ceramics, bronze casting, hands-on learning opportunities for students.

The couple founded the Cosanti Foundation in 1965 to advance their philosophy of “forming communities focused on living more fully with less ... and with a less detrimental impact on the ecology of the Earth.”

The unusual architecture at Cosanti was created by “earthcasting.” Soleri, often with the help of architecture students who

Photo by Jessica Jameson

Photo by David Blakeman

Photo by Jessica Jameson

came from around the world, built the structures in unusual and even counterintuitive fashion: from the roof down and from the outside in.

A thin layer of concrete was cast directly onto a mound of dampened desert soil. Once the concrete was strong enough, the earth was dug out, mostly by hand with picks and shovels, but occasionally using a small-scale bulldozer. The resulting spaces make efficient use of passive solar heating and cooling, keeping the spaces relatively comfortable in all seasons.

Canvas awnings are also used throughout the property. Of course, they offer shade from the Arizona sun. But when sprayed with water, they have an evaporative cooling effect in summer and, during winter, they create a warming greenhouse effect that makes outdoor spaces more comfortable for working.

The studios, tunnels, apses, courtyards, dwelling spaces and even a pool are expressions of “arcology,” another term Soleri coined to encompass architecture and ecology. Many repurposed materials, including concrete sewer pipes, were used in the construction.

The Cosanti Foundation and its contributions to the community are primarily supported by the sale of the wind bells made at the site.

“Cosanti’s involvement and support of the Arizona arts community is extremely important to our mission,” says Mark Johnson, the general manager of Cosanti Originals. “Since 1955, Cosanti has supported The

Cosanti Foundation and other worthy organizations through the sales of our iconic bronze and ceramic wind bells.”

Johnson says that Cosanti contributes to numerous Arizona nonprofit organizations annually from proceeds generated from a special line of “Cause Bell” wind bells. These bells are different from the rest in that there are additional bronze sculptures that top each bell and reflect the cause — an oak leaf for the Nature Conservancy, a whale arching its back for Save the Whales and children held in the palm of an outstretched hand for Our Children Our Future.

The causes are both worldwide and local.

“Our contribution to the Arizona Community Foundation this past year exceeded $20,000,” Johnson says. “Additionally, Cosanti has supported and partnered with numerous public art groups (ie. Scottsdale Arts, Town of Paradise Valley, Phoenix Art Museum, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art) and other organizations (ie. Taliesin West, Music Industry Museum).”

ENDANGERED LEGACY

As one might imagine, maintaining the architectural treasures at this historic site can be a challenge. There is constant — and expensive — maintenance. As the Phoenix metro area grows by leaps and bounds all around it, Johnson says the significance of the experimental architecture at Cosanti is more important today than ever before.

“Hundreds of thousands of visitors and architects from Arizona and

around the world visit the site yearly,” he explains. “The challenge in the coming years will be to maintain the historic structures and property while expanding access to visitors through guided tours and educational programs.”

Johnson, who began his career in the corporate world and has now dedicated himself to nonprofit work, has endeavored to find new revenue streams and engender public support to prevent the historic site from falling into disrepair.

“Cosanti has been blessed by an amazing and loyal customer base,” Johnson says. “However, funding our programs and maintaining our historic property through the sales of our wind bells is not a sustainable business model.

Photo by Jessica Jameson

Photo by Jessica Jameson

Photo by Jessica Jameson

“Traditionally, The Cosanti Foundation has been reluctant to accept in-kind gifts or donations. However, Cosanti accepted its first-in-kind gift from the Carlisle Company to remediate and replace the roof on the original Doubletree Ranch homestead.

“Continued financial support is needed to update our facilities (including ADA restrooms, walkways, parking and structures) allowing more access and introducing the arts to the next generation. It is these types of partnerships that are critical to our continued success.”

Open seven days per week, with the exception of major holidays, visitors to Cosanti can schedule guided tours of the site and observe live bronze pours at the foundry several times per day. cosanti.com

The chiming of wind bells can be heard — some low and resonant, others high and tinkling, like a fairy is passing through.

COMMUNITY

January 2023

Through Jan. 22

HOLD ON TO HOPE

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Scottsdale Arts Learning and Innovation will showcase a new exhibition spotlighting the life of local Holocaust survivor Oskar Knoblauch. The exhibition takes viewers on a visual journey through Knoblauch’s harrowing experiences as he and his family struggled to survive the brutality of the Third Reich in Germany and Nazioccupied Poland. As visitors walk through the gallery, photos, Knoblauch’s personal anecdotes and period objects will illustrate key events, people and places. Free. The Center Space Gallery at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-4998587; scottsdaleartslearning.org

Jan. 4

BOB BOZE BELL

Desert Foothills Library will host a meet-and-greet with “Hellraisers and Trailblazers: The Real Women of the Wild West” author Bob Boze Bell. Free. 3:30 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Jan. 6

THE MODERN GENTLEMEN

Vocal quartet The Modern Gentlemen will perform a concert of doo-wop, Motown, pop and rock music with a sound that blends classic hits of yesterday with a modern dapper style as part of Arizona Musicfest. $51+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org

Jan. 6–22

‘MISERY’

Jan. 6–8

‘THE WIZARD OF OZ’

Detour Company Theatre will lead audiences down the Yellow Brick Road with its production of “The Wizard of Oz” — an adaptation of the classic book and film with a steampunk twist. Free. Friday 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 3 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380, E. Second St., Scottsdale. detourcompanytheatre.org

Fountain Hills Theater will present its production of “Misery,” a play inspired by the bestselling novel by Stephen King. $32; youth, student and senior discounts available. See website for times. Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills. 480-837-9661; fhtaz.org

Jan. 6–22

‘SEUSSICAL,

JR.’

Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre will present its youth production of “Seussical,” a musical caper in which Dr. Seuss' best-loved characters collide and cavort. See website for price and times. Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre at Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road, Suite 0586, Scottsdale. 480-483-1664; desertstages.org

Jan. 7

COMMUNITY RECYCLE EVENT

Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center will host a community recycling event at which members of the public

may drop off gently used clothing, housewares and book donations to the Goldmine Thrift Store and Desert Foothills Library. Small electronics, phones and computers will also be collected, destroyed and safely disposed of. Free. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Public Parking Lot, 6061 E. Hidden Valley Drive, Cave Creek. foothillsfoodbank.com

Jan. 7

DAVID ‘PAPAHUGS’ SHARPE

Grammy Award-nominated children’s musician David “PapaHugs” Sharpe will perform a concert of fun, interactive and upbeat music. Free. 10:30 a.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Jan. 12

THE TEMPTATIONS

Often referred to as American music royalty, The Temptations will perform a concert in celebration of the group’s 60th anniversary. See website for price. 7:30 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380, E. Second St., Scottsdale. scottsdaleperformingarts.org

Jan. 13–15

STAGECOACH VILLAGE FINE ART AND WINE FESTIVAL

Vermillion Promotions will host its Stagecoach Village Fine Art and Wine Festival, featuring more than 100 world-class artists, wineries, trendy food concessions and main-stage entertainment. The unique outdoor gallery will boast a collection of original art that represents a wide variety of cultures and artwork in a range of subject matter and media. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. vermillionpromotions.com

Jan. 13–Feb. 5

‘THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT’

The Theatre Artists Studio will present its production of “The Lifespan of a Fact,” in which a hyper-diligent, fact-checking intern and a well-known literary essayist clash. $25; student, senior, military and group discounts available. See website for times. The Theatre Artists Studio, 4848 E. Cactus Road, Suite 406, Scottsdale. thestudiophx.org

Jan. 13–Feb. 5

‘THE SUNSHINE BOYS’

Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre will present its production of Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys.” See website for price and times. Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre at Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road, Suite 0586, Scottsdale. 480-483-1664; desertstages.org

COMMUNITY

Jan. 14

GUNHILD CARLING

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

January 2023

Jan. 14

GARDEN INSECTS: FRIENDS & FOES

Carefree Desert Gardens will welcome gardening educator Carol Stuttard for a discussion about the vital role that insects play in our local ecology. The program will include a plant raffle. $5+ donation. 9:30 a.m. Carefree Desert Gardens Pavilion, 101 Easy St., Carefree. 480-488-3686.

Swedish musical sensation Gunhild Carling will perform a concert accompanied by the Arizona Musicfest Big Band. $34+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org

Jan. 14 and 15

CELEBRATE ELECTRONIC MUSIC

The Musical Instrument Museum will celebrate the various kinds of music made possible by technology and human creativity. See website for schedule of events. $20; youth discounts available. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. The Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix. 480478-6000; mim.org

Jan. 15

ELEVATE

Ravenscroft will present a program featuring a diverse mix of selections by contemporary composers and masters from the Western European art music canon. $30. 3 p.m. Ravenscroft Hall, 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale. 800785-3318; theravenscroft.com

Jan. 15

SEASONAL OFFERINGS

The Living Music Performance Series will present a concert of piano, organ pipes and handbells. 3 p.m. See website for price. Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, 9205 E. Cave Creek Road, Carefree. 480-488-2081; ctlcarefree.org

Jan. 15

WINTER YOUNG MUSICIANS CONCERT

Arizona Musicfest will present a concert showcasing Arizona’s brightest young classical musicians — each of whom possesses astounding technique and prodigious musicianship. $20. 2 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. azmusicfest.org

Jan. 17–Feb. 12

‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’

Fountain Hills Theater will present its production of “Beauty and the Beast,” a family-friendly musical adapted from the original Disney animated film. $32; youth, student and senior discounts available. See website for times. Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills. 480-837-9661; fhtaz.org

Jan. 18

DEENA GOLDSTEIN

Desert Foothills Library will host a meet-and-greet with “OK, Little Bird” author Deena Goldstein. Free. 3:30 p.m.

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Jan. 19

PETER KUTTNER

Experience and discover the organic processes behind the ethereal paintings of artist Peter Kuttner, whose work is created one thin layer at a time with great care and patience. Kuttner — who yields to the spontaneous and intuitive development of his simple, archetypal pieces — uses familiaryet-abstract details to suspend the viewer in contemplation of the universality of imagery. Free. 4–7 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd., #7, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com

Jan. 19

CAREFREE ART NIGHT

Galleries throughout Carefree will host an event that offers art enthusiasts an opportunity to enjoy live music and refreshments as they stroll through the breathtaking shadows of Black Mountain in search of their next masterpiece. Free. 4–7 p.m. See website for participating galleries. visitcarefree.com

Jan. 19

ORPHEUS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

In celebration of its 50th anniversary season, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra will bring a special program with violinist Renaud Capuçon to Scottsdale, only days after its planned Carnegie Hall debut. See website for price. 7:30 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380, E. Second St., Scottsdale. scottsdaleperformingarts.org

Jan. 20

SHAWN COLVIN, MARC COHN AND SARAH JAROSZ

Three of today’s award-winning singer-songwriters will come together for a special evening of songs and stories as part of Arizona Musicfest. $34+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org

Jan. 20–22

CAREFREE FINE ART AND WINE FESTIVAL

Thunderbird Artists will host its winter event during which attendees can view fine art selected through a comprehensive jury process, sample fine wines and spirits, snack on festival food and listen to live music, all while soaking in the sunshine, reveling in the mountain views and meeting artists and fellow art lovers. This winter’s featured artist is wood sculptor John Hoyt, who creates burl wood carvings in beautiful shapes, sizes and textures. $5. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Downtown Carefree, 101 Easy St., Carefree. thunderbirdartists.com

COMMUNITY

Jan. 21

SAMARA JOY

Ravenscroft will present a concert featuring jazz vocalist Samara Joy. $65. 7:30 p.m. Ravenscroft Hall, 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale. 800-785-3318; theravenscroft.com

Joseph J. Airdo

January 2023

Jan. 22

ARIZONA CONCOURS D’ELEGANCE

Photo by Patrick Ernzen

The Arizona Concours d’Elegance will host its annual event, this year partnering with Scottsdale Arts to bring some of the world’s rarest and most valuable collector cars to the newly renovated Scottsdale Civic Center. About 90 automobiles will be considered for judging and exhibition, with the best among them awarded class prizes and the coveted best of show. $75+. 9 a.m. Scottsdale Civic Center. arizonaconcours.com

Jan. 22

JAZZ FOR THE SOUL

Ravenscroft will present a concert featuring saxophonist Jerry Donato, pianist Nicole Pesce, bassist Jon Murray and drummer Todd Chuba. Free. 6 p.m. Ravenscroft Hall, 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale. 800-785-3318; theravenscroft.com

Jan. 22

‘WINTER

JOURNEY’ AND ‘THE INEXTINGUISHABLE SYMPHONY’

A powerful multimedia presentation will open with the movie “Winter Journey” — one man’s story of love, music and resiliency in an all-Jewish orchestra amid the persecution of 1930s Germany. MusicaNova Orchestra will perform the last piece the Jewish orchestra rehearsed, “The Inextinguishable Symphony,” joined by local choirs for Sibelius’ magnificent Finlandia. $18+. 6 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St. musicanovaaz.org

Jan. 23

JASON ALEXANDER

Tony Award-winning Broadway song-and-dance man Jason Alexander will perform a concert of great music from the theater with comedy and audience interaction as part of Arizona Musicfest. $51+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org

Jan. 25

KATHY GALLOWITZ

Desert Foothills Library will host a meet-and-greet with “Beyond ‘Thank You for Your Service,’ The Veteran Champion Handbook for Civilians” author Kathy Gallowitz. Free. 3:30 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Jan. 26–March 4

‘DRINKING HABITS 2: CAUGHT IN THE ACT’

Don Bluth Front Row Theater will present its production of “Drinking Habits 2: Caught in the Act,” in which nuns mount a play to raise money for an orphanage in peril. $30; youth, student, senior, military and group discounts available. See website for times. Don Bluth Front Row Theater, 8989 E. Via Linda, Suite 118, Scottsdale. 480314-0841; donbluthfrontrowtheatre.com

Writer

Jan. 27

HEDY! THE LIFE & INNOVATIONS OF HEDY LAMARR

Arts at the Rocks will present a true story of Hollywood glamour and scientific genius S.T.E.M. workshop for women of all ages and girls (middle school age and above). $10. 9 a.m. RSVP. Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, 34605 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Scottsdale. deserthills.org

Jan. 27

LIVE FROM LAUREL CANYON

Arizona Musicfest will celebrate the bands and artists who created folk rock as they forged a new genre of music that forever changed the look, sound and attitude of American pop music. $34+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org

Jan. 27–29

orchestras — in a performance of Dvorak’s magnificent Symphony No. 8, Wagner’s majestic “Entry of the Gods into Valhalla” and more as part of Arizona Musicfest. $49+. 7:30 p.m. La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org

Feb. 1

SUSAN POHLMAN

Desert Foothills Library will host a meet-and-greet with “Halfway to Each Other: How a Year in Italy Brought Our Family Home” author Susan Pohlman. Free. 3:30 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480488-2286; dfla.org

Feb. 3

THE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA

‘DISNEY'S

THE ARISTOCATS KIDS’

Desert Foothills Theater will present its production of “Disney's The Aristocats Kids.” See website for price and times. Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. dftheater.org

Jan. 28

‘LUCY LOVES DESI’

L.A. Theatre Works will present its production of “Lucy Loves Desi: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Sitcom,” which tells the story of how the pioneering television sitcom “I Love Lucy” came to be. See website for price. 8 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380, E. Second St., Scottsdale. scottsdaleperformingarts.org

Feb. 1

THE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA

Maestro Robert Moody will lead the Festival Orchestra — comprised of musicians from the nation’s finest

Maestro Robert Moody will lead the Festival Orchestra — comprised of musicians from the nation’s finest orchestras — in a performance of Brahms’ lyrical, optimistic Symphony No. 2 as part of Arizona Musicfest. Pianist Haochen Zhang will also perform Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 during the concert. $25+. 7:30 p.m. La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org

Feb. 3

THE MAKING OF ‘ABBEY ROAD’

Desert Foothills Library will welcome Beatles scholar and storyteller Vinnie Bruno for a program that follows in the footsteps of The Beatles as the band records its final classic work — “Abbey Road.” 2 p.m. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. School House Road, Cave Creek. 480-4882286; dfla.org

COMMUNITY

Feb. 5

THE FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA

Joseph J. Airdo

January 2023

Jan. 26 and 27

STEPHEN WEBSTER: NO REGRETS LOUNGE

Grace Renee Gallery will bring London-based contemporary fine jeweler Stephen Webster’s No Regrets Lounge to Carefree for an extra special twoday event during which attendees can discover and marvel at a sparkling collection of couture and one–of–a–kind fine jewelry pieces in a truly celebratory setting. The immersive experience will also showcase Webster’s much-lauded homeware collection — including his Tequila Lore Set which, inspired by Mexico’s rich history, sees iconic characters from centuries-old folklore realized as intricately crafted bar tools. Free. Thursday 4–7 p.m.; Friday 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Road, Carefree. 480575-8080; gracereneegallery.com

Maestro Robert Moody will lead the Festival Orchestra — comprised of musicians from the nation’s finest orchestras — in a performance of Haydn’s “The Creation” as part of Arizona Musicfest. $52+. 2 p.m. Pinnacle Presbyterian Church, 25150 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org

Feb. 7

THE BLACK MARKET TRUST

The Black Market Trust will perform a concert of cool gypsy jazz music with a Rat Pack style as part of Arizona Musicfest. $39+. 7:30 p.m. La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org

Feb. 7–April 13

TAX ASSISTANCE

Desert Foothills Library will welcome IRS-certified volunteers who will provide free basic income tax return preparation for qualified individuals through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Tuesdays 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Thursdays 10 a.m.–3 p.m. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Feb. 8

KD PRYOR

Desert Foothills Library will host a meet-and-greet with “Trust and Betrayal: Dreamscapes Series” author KD Pryor. Free. 3:30 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Feb. 16

COFFEE ETCHINGS

Desert Foothills Library will welcome Ron Bonnstetter for a program during which he will create vibrant latte art with a technique known as etching. 1:30 p.m. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

VOLUNTEERS STUFF STOCKINGS

Purse Impressions volunteers last month stuffed 550 purses and backpacks for individuals spending the holidays in rehab for alcohol and drug addiction. Throughout the year, the nonprofit organization regularly provides graduates from substance abuse recovery programs with a purse or backpack to celebrate their accomplishment and allow them to move forward with a sense of dignity. purse-impressions.com

Writer

New beginnings. New views. New year. Experience Matters.

We take pride in our legacy of trust, integrity, collaboration, community, commitment, and our pride ~ Nothing Compares. Our local professionals strive to deliver real estate experiences beyond expectations to enhance the lifestyles of our clients. When you, your family, or friends are looking for experienced and reliable real estate advice, give us a call. Carefree Office - 480.488.2400 | Desert Mountain Office - 480.488.2998

IIn the Spanish language, “corrido” is the term for a traditional Mexican ballad whose lyrics tell the tale of a historical event. More than just any song, it is one from the heart and connotes inspiration, memory and purpose.

Scottsdale residents Brian Raab and Tony Boyle are two friends from different worlds — restaurants and law enforcement, respectively — who made it their mission to purchase and revive Tequila Corrido, a tequila brand founded by their late friend Brad Hoover. The label on each bottle still bears his initials as a tribute to his life and his dream.

As a result of the pair’s tenacity and partnership with entrepreneurial investor and Sunstate Equipment founder Mike Watts, Tequila Corrido has gone from the edge of extinction to an Arizonabased brand with skyrocketing demand.

Raab, who serves as president of Tequila Corrido and is also one of the owners of The Mission, Fat Ox and Zinc Bistro, first met Hoover as the brand was just starting off.

“I was laying tile in my restaurant and Brad walked in,” Raab recalls. “He was carrying a flavor wheel and aroma kit created by Ana María [Romera Mena] who is now our master distiller. Brad told me about the tequila brand he was starting and how he had won double

that she was on the panel. He supported me and I supported him by buying his product. I thought so highly of him and fell in love with the tequila.”

gold in the San Francisco Spirits Awards and

Tequila Corrido has gone from the edge of extinction to an Arizona-based brand with skyrocketing demand thanks to Scottsdale residents Tony Boyle (left) and Brian Raab (right).

Raab never anticipated being part of the brand, but a phone call from Hoover’s widow changed that.

“She told me there was an opportunity to buy it out of bankruptcy,” he says. “She said, ‘There’s no one who I would rather see have it than you.’ I thought we would buy it and sell it in the restaurants; and we did that, but we knew we were getting down to the last bottles. That’s when Tony walked in.”

Boyle, a retired police sergeant who now serves as Tequila Corrido’s chief operating officer, had a second career in environmental biotechnology that often took him to Guadalajara.

“I fell in love with Mexico, with tequila, with the culture and art of making these amazing drinks and spirits,” Boyle says. “When I had the opportunity to talk to Brian over quite a few shots, we decided to become partners.”

One of the first people they knew they needed to contact was Romera Mena. When they finally got in touch — using some of Boyle’s detective skills — they traveled to Mexico and reminded her of the brand and Hoover. She heard their pitch and told them she believed in what they were doing and how they were going to do it.

“We felt blessed to get to work with Ana María,” Raab says. “She told us stories about Brad that none of us had heard. The passion behind that relationship evolved into a formula for the tequilas.”

With her revolutionary expertise in the field, it was a huge achievement to secure her as their master distiller.

Writer Shannon Severson

Photography by Nicky Hedayatzadeh

I fell in love with Mexico, with tequila, with the culture and art of making these amazing drinks and spirits. Tony Boyle

“

“We were so small,” Boyle says. “We visited five or six distilleries and made the decision that night in Guadalajara. We said, ‘If we’re going to get involved, we’re going to do it right. We’re going to make our own, proprietary tequila and formula with Ana María. Here we are five years later and we have our first anejo [aged tequila]. We describe it as a cycle of panic and euphoria. We started in 2018 with 72 cases of tequila. This year, we will produce 40,000 cases.”

PROCESS AND PATIENCE

The success of Tequila Corrido is a testament to the careful development of ingredients and a unique, proprietary barreling process that Hoover pioneered in Maker’s Mark and Jack Daniels whiskey barrels. Without a celebrity name and in an extremely competitive market, authenticity must be the loudest voice. Boyle and Raab say the tequila is aged to taste, not time.

“We wanted to be true to the original idea, but it had been a decade since the original bottling,” Boyle says. “The terroir had changed, the agave –– everything was different. We couldn’t replicate it, but we could be true to the spirit and culture of tequila of Mexico and Ana María helped us achieve that.”

Fewer than 2% of tequilas are certified as additive-free, but that was something Boyle and Raab were adamant about. Everything, from the taste of the finished product to labels, corks the Mexican-made recycled bottles and distinctive leather cording around the top of each bottle that holds

a distinctive Argentinean motherof-pearl guitar pick was carefully scrutinized to perfection.

The taste profiles and processes can be described in a way similar to how a sommelier would talk about wine.

Tequila Corrido Blanco is described as “agave-forward,” made from single-estate grown Los Altos agave in the volcanic soil of Jalisco, which is a higher altitude area of Mexico. The tequila rests for 30 days in open stainless steel tanks before it is bottled. The flavor is described as having an initial taste of fruit and tea that is sweet and floral with a hint of pepper. It’s a sipping tequila best enjoyed at room temperature, but can also be used in cocktails.

The aged tequilas — reposado and añejo — are made with a barreling process that involves what Raab calls “a symphony of whiskey barrels;” Hungarian oak, Missouri oak and Minnesota oak.

The reposado, which the two say is especially appealing to Scotch aficionados, spends its time aging in three separate whiskey barrels for six months, then a percentage of each is bottled for six more months of aging. Of course, that time can vary since the tequila is truly ready when Romero Mena’s expert tastebuds say it is.

There is no blending in of other aged tequilas, as is common in the industry. The result is a pale gold spirit with the taste of vanilla, fruits and spices, a silky mouthfeel and the lingering flavors of sweet caramel and agave.

The 18-month aged añejo follows a similar process, but the finish is a nod to Hoover’s niece, who is a sommelier. The tequila’s final eight months is

spent in merlot barrels from Santo Tomas — one of the oldest wineries in Mexico.

“The añejo has this burnt, brown sugar, almost crème brûlée flavor,” Raab says. “It’s not sweet by any stretch of the imagination. It has a nice viscosity with kind of a truffle quality. The wine barrel softens things differently than just using whiskey barrels. It’s a really unique and complex way of aging.”

THE FUTURE, FOR A SONG

As Boyle, Raab and Watts look to the future of Tequila Corrido, they’re riding a wave of success after being the official tequila at the Life is Beautiful Music and Art Festival in Las Vegas. It was a huge boost for Tequila Corrido and for tequila in general. Tequila actually outsold vodka at the festival for the first time ever.

“The festival producers loved the synergy between Corrido, the name, and the art and expression of the festival,” Boyle says. “We beat out some very large household names. It was so cool to see 400 bartenders at all the different bars wearing Tequila Corridobranded t-shirts. It was a thrill to see the brand everywhere.”

Now the phone is ringing off the hook. Boyle says it’s rewarding and humbling to renew Hoover’s legacy and, at the same time, see where their hard work is taking them. The brand is sold on shelves in six states and can be shipped to 38 states from their website.

Raab says that the momentum is exciting.

“It’s been awesome to stay true to our roots and what our beliefs are for tequila,” he explains. “Not being

a celebrity brand is tough, but it’s been awesome to see the support we’ve gotten from all of our friends and people who love the taste and our brand.”

Even as Tequila Corrido expands nationally, there’s an awareness and pride in being an Arizona company. Their families are rooted in the community; and with Watts being a legendary Arizona success story, he has served as a role model and mentor for Boyle and Raab.

Boyle says that the way Watts conducts and handles business and the culture that he fosters and expects has certainly rubbed off on them.

“There’s a tremendous philanthropic component to what we do with a lot of different local charities,” Boyle adds. “We donate for dinners and tastings and we support other groups like the Hundred Club and a recent auction we did for March of Dimes.”

As Tequila Corrido spreads its wings as an ultra-premium brand, Hoover’s dream has taken flight and soared even higher with the attention to detail of the ownership team today and the support of a community that enthusiastically supports local businesses.

“People who knew Brad and knew the brand prior are elated to see it come back,” Raab says. “He was a larger-than-life character who we all fell in love with. Now we are taking that inspiration and legacy and trying to move it down the road. The future is what is so exciting for us.”

corrido.squarespace.com

CChances are, you heard legendary recording artist Johnny Mathis’ voice an awful lot last month. The 87-yearold music icon’s renditions of “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” “Sleigh Ride,” “When a Child is Born” and “Winter Wonderland” are arguably the definitive versions of those tunes.

However, with a career that spans from 1956 through the present day, Mathis’ music extends far beyond the holiday season with 79 original albums under his belt — and counting. In fact, the chart-topping sensation continues to release music today, after a staggering 67 years in the industry.

Mathis is without a doubt one of the best examples of a superstar. And this February, Arizona Musicfest is bringing him to the Valley.

Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Arizona Musicfest

JOHNNY MATHIS

FEB. 21

Photo by Elliot Lee Hazel

“Johnny Mathis is now the fastestselling concert in Arizona Musicfest’s history,” says Allan Naplan, the nonprofit organization’s executive and producing director. “We sold well over 1,000 tickets on the first day that they went on sale to the public.

“And that makes perfect sense. He was the third-best-selling artist of the 20th century with 350 million recordings sold worldwide. His appeal is so far-ranging. It is just so special to have an artist of this caliber. We love celebrating legends at Arizona Musicfest. We also love celebrating nostalgia. And you get both of those things with Johnny Mathis.”

THE VOICE OF ROMANCE

The fourth of seven children, Mathis was born in 1935 in Gilmer, Texas. As a small boy, he and his family moved into a basement apartment on Post Street in San Francisco. At age 8, his father, Clem, purchased an old upright piano for $25. When it did not fit through the family’s front door, Mathis stayed up all night, watching his father dismantle the piano, move the pieces into their small living room and reassemble it.

Clem then taught his son the song “My Blue Heaven,” which became the first of many.

“My dad was my best pal,” Mathis says. “He sang all of the time around the house. They were all of the standard songs that were popular at the time in the 30s, 40s and 50s. My mom and dad are the reasons that I sing.”

Mathis began singing in the church choir, school functions, community events and amateur shows in the San Francisco area. He was also a successful track and field athlete. In the same week that he was offered a chance to

“

Singing is so personal. And it brings us closer together. So it is very meaningful to me. I get a lot of wonderful feelings and happiness from it. Johnny Mathis

compete in the U.S. Olympic Trials, he received an invitation from Columbia Records to record his first album in New York. One year later, he appeared on “The Ed Sullivan Show” and was officially launched into stardom.

Over the course of his extensive career, Mathis has recorded supremely popular hits like “Chances Are,” “It’s Not for Me to Say” and “Misty,” had three songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, received five Grammy nominations and achieved 50 hits on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart. He ranks as the all-time No. 6 album artist in the history of Billboard’s pop album charts and, in 2003, was given the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

He is also referred to as the voice of romance.

“I don't know where all that stuff comes from,” Mathis says, humbly. “All I do is sing the songs that my dad taught me when I was a kid. Singing is so personal. And it brings us closer together. So it is very meaningful to me. I get a lot of wonderful feelings and happiness from it. Fortunately, my vocal range has stood me in good stead all of these years and I have been able to continue to do what I love.”

Naplan makes up for Mathis’ modesty, acknowledging the power and appeal of the icon’s music.

“There is just something about his voice,” Naplan says. “It is just so comforting and soothing that you feel like snuggling up with your loved one. Mathis’ voice has a unique mellow timbre and sweetness that, when combined with lyrics about love, is a recipe for the greatest love songs of all time.”

Mathis admits that his music brings back memories to audiences of the period in which they were recorded and the significant life experiences that may have occurred during that time — a first date, a proposal or a wedding. That is one of the reasons he makes it a point to always include those iconic songs in his repertoire.

Naplan adds that while Mathis has had many original hits, he is also famous for recording his own signature versions of others’ songs.

“Years ago, it was not uncommon for a song to be recorded by five or six different legendary artists,” Naplan explains. “Each one would record their own signature version of it. It is an interesting element of that era of music-making that we just do not see anymore. A Taylor Swift song is a Taylor Swift song. Johnny Mathis could take the No. 1 song on the Billboard chart of that day, do his own rendition of it and make it a hit all over again.”

Mathis is also known for singing in other languages of the world — a trend that the music artist started when he first began touring.

“When I had a hit record, the record company wanted me to travel,” Mathis explains. “They wanted me to go to Germany, France, Italy, etc. And they would ask me to sing some of the songs in the language of the place I was going to. Well, that was easy for me because I had gone to school with people who spoke a lot of different languages — German, French, Italian, you name it. So I took lessons in those languages, never realizing that later on in life it would send me in good stead.”

Therefore, audiences can expect to hear a little bit of it all when he performs Tuesday, Feb. 21 at Highlands Church in Scottsdale. An avid tennis player until the late 1960s, when a good friend turned him on to his now life-long love of golf, Mathis is especially looking forward to his Arizona concert as it may afford him the perfect opportunity to hit the green.

“Arizona is one of my favorite places in the world,” says Mathis, who at one time even hosted his own golf tournament, The Johnny Mathis Seniors PGA Classic. “I have always been an outdoors kind of guy. And Arizona is golf heaven.”

GUNHILD CARLING JAN. 14

THE BREAKING OF RECORDS

It should come as no surprise that Mathis’ concert is sold out. However, Naplan says that there are plenty of other exciting concerts from which audiences can choose during Arizona Musicfest’s winter season — which kicks off Jan. 6 with a performance from The Modern Gentlemen, four vocalists who were handpicked by the legendary Frankie Valli to join The Four Seasons.

Naplan is especially eager for Gunhild Carling’s Jan. 14 performance, which he describes as “a great vaudeville act but in our contemporary times.”

“Not only is she a great talent, but she is also a hugely entertaining artist,” he explains. “I believe that this will be one of the most entertaining concerts people will have ever attended — not just through Arizona Musicfest, but in their entire music-attending lives. Gunhild is a true phenomenon. She plays 11 instruments and will at one point even play three trumpets at the same time. That is often the finale of her concert. She is a tap dancer, a singer and a real character.”

February will bring the first of two weeks this season devoted to Arizona Musicfest’s Festival Orchestra.

“We have, as always, an all-star ensemble coming to perform as well as some really special guest artists,” Naplan says.

February also sees the arrival of a concert pairing 16-time Grammy award-winning musician, composer and producer David Foster with acclaimed singer, television and Broadway star Katharine McPhee.

“Before we had announced Johnny Mathis, David Foster and Katharine McPhee had already become our fastestselling concert,” Naplan says of the Feb. 18 performance. “We thought that was remarkable. Then Johnny Mathis came along and blew that record out of the water.

“Those two shows are certainly leading the pack this season. In fact, we have added a second performance of the Kat and Dave show [to meet demand] and that, too, has sold exceedingly well. That is true of quite a few of this season’s concerts. It is the first time that we have added second performances due to such strong ticket sales.

“This has been a historically strong season. We are about 1,000 tickets ahead of where we were at the same time last year. If that holds up, we will once again break records at Arizona Musicfest — which has been our annual trend.”

Experience

Johnny Mathis

Tuesday, Feb. 21 | 7:30 p.m. | Highlands Church | 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale | $87+ | azmusicfest.org

Naplan adds that a number of this season’s concerts have already sold out while several others are headed in that direction. Therefore, he strongly encourages audiences to reserve their tickets sooner rather than later.

Other artists on Arizona Musicfest’s winter roster include award-winning singer-songwriters Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn and Sarah Jarosz on Jan. 20; star of stage and screen Jason Alexander on Jan. 23; and Black Market Trust on Feb. 7.

THE POWER OF MUSIC

Of course, the more tickets that Arizona Musicfest sells, the more good the nonprofit organization can do in our community. Sales benefit a variety of music education programs, which are provided at no charge to area schools. Funds are also used for valuable performance and scholarship opportunities for youth as well as dynamic music enrichment programs for adults.

“We have more than 160 Music Alive events this year,” Naplan says. “That is our lifelong learning and creative aging series. We call them informances because they are part performances and part lectures/discussion groups where music lovers can come together to share their love of music and dissect what music of all genres can be.

“And it is so gratifying. We are so proud of what we are doing in the community. There are so many ways to experience the music that you love through Arizona Musicfest. It really has become a wonderful community of music lovers.”

Mathis shares Naplan’s beliefs about the transformational power of music as well as his values around utilizing the arts to bolster individual lives and the community in general.

“Nothing gives me more gratification than singing in a situation where a lot of the money is going to help young, aspiring children and others in different aspects of society,” the music icon says. “I have, on many occasions, sung for people who do good things for the general public. I come from a large family, so I know what it is like to not have the money to do something. I get a big kick out of being able to, in some way, meet the needs of the general public through my music.”

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PPhotographer Andrew Pielage believes that architects are artists — no different than painters, photographers and sculptors.

“I think that it is that same wiring of the brain that has got this creative juice or energy to it,” he says.

The greatest example of the artistry in architecture lies within the works of Frank Lloyd Wright, who is responsible for several sites in Arizona that tourists travel from all around the world to see and explore.

“When you step into a Frank Lloyd Wright site, it is not just something that you see,” Pielage explains. “It is something that you feel. And sometimes that feeling is hard to define. Frank Lloyd Wright curates your experience through his architecture. “He had a concept called compress and release, where you walk into a space that is very low and compact. You feel kind of claustrophobic in that space. Wright pushes you through that space into a big living room with big windows. That is just one example of how he curates your experience.”

Recalling a quote that states, “A good photograph you see; a great photograph you feel,” Pielage aspires to capture on camera the experience that Wright has curated through his architecture. He has spent the past decade doing so all around the world, but will always hold the strongest affection for Wright’s architecture in Arizona — such as Taliesin West.

“Taliesin West is such an incredible space,” Pielage says. “It is an Arizona gem. I have been going up there consistently since 2011 and have taken the tour at least 20 times but I always seem to find something new.

“It is especially interesting to see it throughout the day. His shadow play up there is unparalleled in the 115 Frank Lloyd Wright sites that I have photographed. Every minute is different with the way that light bounces through the architecture and even in the public spaces and pathways. And it is important to remember that Taliesin West was his home, so he was experimenting all the time in that space.”

This month, Images Arizona is honored to showcase just some of the sights and feelings that Pielage has captured through Wright’s works here in our beautiful state. Representing a collaboration of two remarkably creative artists, these photographs provide unprecedented insight into not only architecture as an art form but also the stunning singularity of Arizona’s natural desert environment.

Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Andrew Pielage

The Wright Stuff

After visiting Taliesin West in 2011, photographer Andrew Pielage fell in love with Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture. Inspired, he set out to visit, explore and photograph Wright’s other masterpieces that we are fortunate to have here in Arizona — including Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium, the Price House, the David and Gladys Wright House, First Christian Church and the Arizona Biltmore Resort.

During an interview on KJZZ, radio host Lauren Gilger asked Pielage, “How many Frank Lloyd Wright sites do you want to photograph?” The photographer admits that there is only one answer to that question: “All of them!”

“I honestly do not even know if I knew how many Frank Lloyd Wright sites were out there,” says Pielage, noting that he later learned that the architect designed more than 1,000 structures, out of which 532 were built and, of those, about 430 are still standing around the world. “I have now photographed 115 Frank Lloyd Wright sites. So I am about a fourth of the way there. I have only got about 315 more to go.”

Sacred Spaces

This past fall, Taliesin West debuted an exhibition of 32 large-scale photographs of 13 examples of architecture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that all share a sacred aura through their masterful use of light and connection to the surrounding landscape.

“This photo exhibit explores what sacred meant to Frank Lloyd Wright as well as what it means to me,” says photographer Andrew Pielage. “When we think of sacred spaces, we typically think of churches, synagogues and temples. And while those spaces are certainly sacred, Frank Lloyd Wright also regarded the landscape or nature as sacred as well.

“This exhibit showcases my photography of not only some of the churches, synagogues and temples that Frank Lloyd Wright designed, but also some of the better examples of him blending architecture into the landscape — such as Taliesin, Taliesin West, Falling Water, Guggenheim Museum and Marin County Civic Center.”

Offered through Jan. 29, the exhibition explores not only how spaces affect us emotionally, but also the role that architectural elements play in creating those feelings, inspiring questions around light, design, shape and the influence of the landscape.

Prints are available for purchase with a portion of proceeds going toward educational programs at the Frank Lloyd Wright sites that are hosting the traveling exhibition.

franklloydwright.org

About the Photographer

Born to an adventurous mother and a geologist father, Andrew Pielage’s childhood was spent exploring the dusty backroads of the American Southwest. This constant desert travel rooted his artistic soul in landscape photography.

Pielage fondly remembers when his mother bought him his first single-use, disposable camera, with which he captured the gorgeous landscapes of the areas he visited with his parents.

“I think that it was ingrained in me from the beginning as my parents took us out to all of these beautiful places,” he says. “When I turned 16 and got my own vehicle, my exploration continued as I visited national parks and backpacked on my own. I think that I have been to the bottom of the Grand Canyon at least 20 times.”

In 2011, Pielage paid his first visit to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West.

“As I drove up the windy road to Taliesin West, I was reminded of the desert travel with my parents,” he adds. “I was immediately struck by the desert beauty and, after connecting with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, was permitted to photograph a sunset there. Luckily, Mother Nature was really good to me and provided a beautiful sunset.”

Foundation representatives loved the photos that Pielage shot so much that they invited him to teach youth photography workshops at Taliesin West. Those offerings have since expanded to include workshops for adults not only at Taliesin West but also at Falling Water and Wright’s other iconic sites across the country.

“I have a passion for photography, but I also have a passion for other people,” Pielage says. “I am grateful that the foundation has given me the opportunity to combine both of those passions through the workshops.”

With more than 20 years of experience — including international ad campaigns and publications, television features, exhibitions, workshops and more — Pielage continues to do what he loves: capture the soul of his subjects and inspire imagination through photography and education.

Sacred Spaces

Through Jan. 29

Taliesin West 12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale

Free with paid tour admission 480-860-2700 franklloydwright.org

Visit anchor.fm/imagesaz or scan this QR code with your phone to listen to “In the Wright Light,” featuring photographer Andrew Pielage’s remarks about what role light plays in the artistry of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture and more.

Photo by Jeff Chabot

Writer Rebecca L. Rhoades Photography by Loralei Lazurek

PPrivate air travel is soaring. The recent pandemic, airline staffing issues, long waits at security checkpoints and the constant threat of cancelled or changed itineraries have fueled increased interest in charters. Corporate-owned flights also are seeing record high numbers as busy executives rediscover the value of private aviation.

Just look at Scottsdale Airport, where demand for hangar space is soaring and the line for departures gets longer every day.

Curt Pavlicek, founder and co-owner with his wife, Terry, of Pinnacle Aviation, should know. For the past 35 years, Pavlicek’s company has been providing high-powered clientele with a one-stop shop for all of their aviation needs, including charter services, sales and acquisitions, management, maintenance, and aviation insurance, since 1988.

He’s seen the market for personal aircraft grow, he’s watched the airport and its surroundings become more and more developed with aviation-related businesses, and he’s sold hundreds of jets to everyone from celebrities to executives to corporations around the country.

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Today, Pinnacle Aviation employs about 90 people, including pilots, maintenance technicians and office staff, many of whom have been with the company for years — some for more than two-and-a-half decades. And, over the years, the business has expanded to include locations in Colorado, Hawaii and, recently, California.

We recently sat down with Curt and Terry to find out how they got started, what the private aviation business is like, and what makes Pinnacle Aviation a company that has thrived in the complex and challenging aviation industry for the past 35 years.

The biggest advantage is that people can go out and do in one day what it would take three days to do on the airlines. They can leave at 6:30 in the morning, visit four different operations across the U.S., and be back for dinner that same night.

Curt Pavlicek

Curt, how did you get started in the aviation industry?

Curt: I grew up on a farm in North Dakota. I knew that I didn’t want to be a farmer, so when I graduated from high school in 1973, I decided to get my pilot license. Shortly afterward, I got my commercial license and my instrument and twin-engine ratings.

Then a friend asked if I could fly him to a cattle auction in Nebraska. I did, and he asked, ‘If I buy an airplane, would you be able to fly my family from North Dakota to Scottsdale?’ The only caveat? I would have to live in Arizona for the winter. I thought, ‘Wow, what a great deal!’ I was young and single, and who wouldn’t want to live in Scottsdale in the wintertime, right?

After buying his airplane, the owner told me that he wasn’t going to use it much and that I should open a charter company. In 1980, I started Arizona Air at the Scottsdale Airport. After three years, the owner decided that he was going to sell his airplane.

Now I didn’t want to go back to North Dakota because I had fallen in love with Scottsdale. Through my charter company, I had met some real estate developers who asked me to do some flying for them. So I became their corporate pilot and did that for about five years.

I hold a commercial license, and I’m rated to fly eight different types of jets, from Boeing 737s to Learjets and everything in between.

How did you go from being a pilot to selling aircraft?

Curt: In 1987, there was a real estate crunch, and the developer needed to sell his aircraft. He said he’d pay me a commission if I could sell it for him. Through that process, I met people who would say, ‘Hey, we don’t want this aircraft, but could you find us another one?’ I started looking into it, and I was able to develop a sales network. That’s how I got started in the business of buying and selling aircraft in 1988.

Where did the name Pinnacle Aviation come from?

Curt: A lot of people ask that question. The development firm that I worked for was called Pinnacle Peak Land Co. When the owner gave me the opportunity — he sort of pushed me out of the nest — to sell his aircraft, I needed to find a name for my business, and Pinnacle came to mind. Also, ‘Pinnacle’ means the height of success, so I thought it was the perfect name.

Terry, how did you meet Curt?

Terry: It was a blind date. When I first met Curt, I didn’t know anything about private aviation. But I learned quickly. On our third date, he asked me to join him on a flight to Boston. I’d never been on a private jet. I ended up having to be the flight attendant.

My background is in graphic design, and now I handle all the graphics, collateral and marketing for the company. The twists and turns that life takes are interesting, but we’ve been very fortunate. That first date was the best thing that happened to me.

How did Pinnacle Aviation get into management, maintenance, and insurance?

Curt: All our businesses were developed following requests from our clients. For example, in 1996, I sold a Learjet to a company, and one day their CPA asked me if I could manage the aircraft and the hiring of pilots. So I started a management company. We also needed to do maintenance, so we hired a maintenance technician. That department started with one aircraft and now it’s maintaining 26 aircraft.

For 35 years, Scottsdale-based Pinnacle Aviation — founded and co-owned by Curt Pavlicek and his wife, Terry — has been a leader in private jet charters, sales and so much more.

Then someone said, ‘You have a whole fleet of aircraft, why don’t you handle the insurance for them, too?’ So that’s how we got into the insurance business. We’ve basically put all five avenues of business together in one package. We’re really providing everything from A to Z for our clients.

Who is the typical client of Pinnacle Aviation?

Curt: We have a wide range of charter clients, from corporate executives to people who want to go skiing in Aspen. One day we can be flying with a celebrity, and the next day we’re transporting prisoners for the U.S. Marshals Service or a heart that needs to go from Tucson to Salt Lake City for a transplant operation. You never know who’s going to need to go from point A to point B, and that’s what makes this business fun.

How many aircraft does Pinnacle Aviation own?

Curt: We don’t own any aircraft. All the aircraft are owned by our clients. We have the FAA charter license, and we lease the aircraft from the owners to provide charters.

and why?

Curt: Seventy-five percent of our clients do that because it helps offset their costs. If an owner flies 150 hours a year, that’s not enough utilization for a corporate jet. The industry standard for jet ownership is ~400 hours of flight-time a year. Also, the owner has a number of fixed costs. For example, the owner has to pay full-time pilots whether the jet flies 150 or 400 hours a year. So if the owner can charter the jet for 250 hours a year, it will reduce the fixed costs and get some return on the investment through charter revenue. It’s simply good business sense.

How many of your clients charter out their aircraft

Curt: The biggest advantage is that people can go out and do in one day what it would take three days to do on the airlines. They can leave at 6:30 in the morning, visit four different operations across the U.S., and be back for dinner that same night. We’ve had companies come back to us and say, ‘This is the most amazing business tool we have. We’re able to get so much work done in one day, and we can have our executives back in the office the next day instead of waiting in line at the terminal and getting delayed or having to switch airplanes.’

Curt: In 2020, things slowed down because everyone stayed home. But 2021 was the best year in the history of our company, and 2022 may be even better. The past two years have been exceptional for corporate aviation.

Terry: I think that people who sat on the cusp of whether or not they would fly decided to charter. They wanted to have the safety of flying without worrying about getting COVID.

What advantages are there to charter flights versus commercial flights?

How did the pandemic affect your business?

Aviation’s safety rating.

Curt: There are different rating companies, such as IS-BAO, Wyvern and ARG/US. We pay them to come in and audit us. They’ll spend days with us scrutinizing our records and procedures and making sure we meet all their safety standards. IS-BAO is the international standard for safety. It has three stages. We have Stage 3: the highest you can get and the best in the world.

Also, our director of safety, Don Wade, has been flying for more than 50 years, and he’s very well known in the industry as a national advocate of safety. Don and I want to do the best we can from a safety and operational standpoint. We’re a no-excuse company.

Why should people choose Pinnacle Aviation for all their aircraft needs?

Terry: Not every jet is the same, and neither is every jet owner. We pride ourselves on providing uncompromised personal aircraft solutions for private aircraft owners. We offer a wide variety of customized services, so when you engage with Pinnacle Aviation, you’re dealing with the people who manage the planes, who maintain the planes, and hire the pilots. We have a responsibility — and we don’t take it lightly — to control all of the things to meet their needs, to make sure they’re safe, and to ensure we exceed their expectations.

pinnacleaviation.com 480-998-8989

We heard that you pride yourself on Pinnacle

I“I believe that we live in a time when people are more conscious of their surroundings, and they have more time and interest to spend on their environment,” says Mark Tate.

An architect for more than 40 years, Tate has seen plenty of changes in the custom home industry, from the misguided trend of faux Tuscan design that dominated the Valley in the 1990s and early 2000s to the market downturn of the late aughts. But even he admits to being surprised by the recent surge in new builds, second homes and modern renovations.

“The pandemic made a lot people think about what they were doing both short and long term,” he says. “Architecture took off in ways that we never really imagined. We had more work under construction last year than at any other time.”

SPACES FOR LIVING

As the owner of Tate Studio Architects in Cave Creek, Tate is one of the top designers of luxury residences in the Southwest. He’s known for creating homes that not only are timeless in their

extension of their owners — unique, personalized abodes

style and harmonize with their environs but that are an

meant for living, and living well.

Architect Mark Tate balances form and function, beauty and practicality, to create elegantly timeless homes.

“

Writer Rebecca L. Rhoades

Mark Tate's Portrait by Two D Photography and Architecture images by Thompson Photographic

Mark Tate

Clean, modernist lines; minimalist natural materials; and open, airy rooms that blend seamlessly with outdoor spaces are hallmarks of his work. Stacked stone, steel and concrete are softened by warm wood accents and walls of windows that overlook the desert landscape and distant mountain vistas. Expansive hardscapes, manicured gardens and azure pools add the perfect finishing touches. Tate refers to the overall affect as “living in the view.”

“We want to really live in the environment,” the architect explains. “Everyone here wants to be outside as often as they can. It’s a great place to open a house and extend it out into a patio. We don’t want awkward spaces with tiny little seating areas. It’s about engaging the outdoor space with the inside.”

With homeowners spending more time in their houses during the past couple years — doing everything from working to homeschooling to entertaining — many reached out to Tate to design, or redesign, their living spaces. Some reside full-time in cold climates and want a second home in sunny Arizona. Others are looking for places to escape the Valley’s scorching summers. And then there are those who live across the nation but have fallen in love with Tate’s architectural philosophy.

“An interesting thing happened to us during the pandemic,” Tate says. “We now have projects all over the country, in North Carolina, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Texas. I think it’s an indication of how well our style and our approach are received.”

The architect credits much of this growth to the internet.

“The internet is the great equalizer,” he says. “Folks who are interested in design or who want to work with an architect can go online and find design services in a way that they couldn’t really do 20 years ago. The digital environment has been a game changer for us.”

Tate estimates that his firm receives two or three calls each week from out-of-state homeowners. And no matter

My art is about preserving these shapes and textures forever.

where the client lives, he makes sure that each one receives personal, attentive service. His team of 10 is involved in every project to some extent, ensuring that there’s always someone available to answer questions or address concerns.

“What we hear the most is that we listen to folks,” Tate says. “Finding the right design solution for any given individual is about understanding their needs and understanding what their environment is — and then finding out what story they want to tell. Every house that we do is different. Our style really is about listening to our clients.”

He talks about a current project in Colorado, a 3,500acre ranch that sits on rolling grasslands set against the towering mountains, and about a home in North Carolina on 35 acres of 100-foot-tall majestic oak trees.

“It’s a very different dynamic from the desert,” Tate notes.

He shares about another house that’s special to him and his staff. More than two years in the making, the contemporary abode in North Scottsdale’s exclusive Boulders community features midcentury-influenced aesthetics, copious open spaces that welcome in the area’s distinctive desert terrain, and gardens by renowned local landscape designer Donna Winters.

And finally, he mentions a recent renovation for new owners of a home he designed years ago.

“I love to see folks build on what we’ve done,” Tate comments, noting that one of the elements added was a stunning light fixture in the main stairwell by glass artisan Dale Chihuly. “We create a blank canvas that will facilitate someone’s lifestyle, and then they can come in and personalize it with art that they like.”

COMING FULL CIRCLE

For Tate, art is more than a simple decorative element. After more than four decades, the architect last year returned to Arizona State University and completed his degree in sculpture. In 1981, when Tate was a senior at ASU, he had three kids; he and his wife, Lisa, now have nine.

“I ended up leaving school in the early '80s and had to make a living for real,” Tate recalls. “But when the pandemic hit, I decided that I was going to go back and finish.

“It’s kind of like I’ve come full circle. I started out in art and had to make a living, got into architecture, and turned my architecture into art. Now that that’s going well, it was time to get back to where I started. So I’m very excited. I’m looking forward to spending more time on my artwork.”

Tate’s early forays into the art world included jewelry making, woodworking and marble cutting. His current interests are bronze and iron casting.

“There’s something very primordial about casting metal,” he says. “You’re standing over a furnace of molten metal, and it’s very mesmerizing, very hypnotizing. It’s also very focused because you’re dealing with a dangerous material.”

Captivated by the saguaro cactus, Tate recently has been casting the boots, or scar material, of the iconic desert plant. When a saguaro is damaged, for example when a bird creates a nest cavity inside the cactus, the flesh of plant forms a hard callus, known as a boot.

“When the saguaro dies, the shell, just like a skeleton, remains,” Tate explains. “My art is about preserving these shapes and textures forever.”

Tate hopes to have a show of his works in spring at his gallery that’s adjacent to his architecture studio. Opened in early 2020, just days before the COVID shutdown, the gallery has been on hold due to the increased demands on his practice. But Tate looks forward to reopening it and showcasing not only his own art but also that of folks, like him, who have returned to the creative passions of their youth.

Tate also currently is building his own personal house, which will include a foundry. He and Lisa purchased 15 acres of land just five minutes outside of Cave Creek, and the architect designed a modern metal dwelling that he calls the “barndominium.”

“It’s sort of Arizona ranch house meets Nordic architecture,” he notes. “Very clean lines, lots of shaded canopies and patios — a very simple structure. It will be different from anything else that exists in Cave Creek, or anywhere else for that matter.”

As he looks forward to the next chapter of his life and career, Tate remains appreciative of every opportunity, whether it’s architecture or art.

“If I were to add up, in terms of how many hours a person works in a lifetime, the amount of time I’ve spent practicing architecture, I should have retired when I was 47,” he says. “But if you love what you do, it’s never work. And I love doing this. I feel very fortunate.”

tate-studio.com

WWhen COVID took hold in March 2020, many small businesses faced multiple challenges, including state-mandated shutdowns, implementation of new safety protocols and supply chain disruptions. Some even ended up closing their doors for good.

At Watson’s Hat Shop in Cave Creek, however, the phones began ringing — and they never stopped.

“We had customers from all over the country calling us, asking us how we were doing and saying they wanted to buy a hat,” says Emily Watson, co-owner of the old-fashioned hattery. “We had so many people reach out who just wanted to support us.”

Watson’s Hat Shop owners Eric and Emily Watson this year celebrate a decade of artisanal millinery.

“

Writer Rebecca L. Rhoades Photography by Loralei Lazurek

Watson’s Hat Shop is the eponymous brainchild of Eric Watson, who as a young child in Ohio, became obsessed with headwear after spying the iconic fedora that Harrison Ford’s character wore in the Indiana Jones movies.

That encouragement and assistance helped propel Watson’s through the pandemic. In fact, 2021 saw the highest number of sales in the company’s history. Not bad for a company that in 2022 celebrated 10 years of producing handmade, custom-fit, high-quality cowboy hats, fedoras, bowlers, Panama hats and more for men and women.

Watson’s is the eponymous brainchild of Eric Watson, who as a young child in Ohio, became obsessed with headwear after spying the iconic fedora that Harrison Ford’s character wore in the Indiana Jones movies. While most teens were outside playing sports, Eric spent his free time going to antique stores in search of hats and old hat-making machinery.

After earning college degrees in aviation studies and international studies, Eric went on to flight school, where he met his wife, Emily. Following the recession of the late 2000s, the couple moved to Arizona, where Emily got a job as a flight instructor and cargo pilot at Phoenix Deer Valley Airport.

In 2012, the couple opened their first hat business in a 500-square-foot storefront in the Las Tiendas shopping center. As business flourished, the Watsons were able to move to a larger space. In 2014, they purchased their current location — a spacious corner store in Cave Creek’s Stagecoach Village, and in 2017, Emily left the skies and joined her husband full-time in the store.

REVIVING CRAFTSMANSHIP

Walking into Watson’s Hat Shop is like taking a step back in time. Antique cast-iron machines clank and hiss as unformed felted blanks are pressed and steamed into shape. Hundreds of wood hat blocks — each with a different height, circumference, taper, dent and tip — line shelves behind the workstation.

When people come in here and see the shop and the vintage machinery, suddenly it’s not all about the hat. It’s also about what we do. Emily Watson

A table in a small seating nook displays a cylindrical Victorian-era device made up of dozens of metal “pins.” This peculiar yet essential contraption, which looks like a steampunk prop from a sci-fi film, takes an exact impression of a client’s head.

“When people come in here and see the shop and the vintage machinery, suddenly it’s not all about the hat,” Emily says. “It’s also about what we do.”

All of Watson’s hats are made from beaver felt, which is durable and breathable. Prices start at $599 for a 50/50 blend of beaver fur and European hare and go up to $1,999 for an 80/20 mix of beaver and mink. The most commonly used felt is 100 percent beaver fur, which runs $999 for a custom hat.

“Beaver is the best fur,” Eric explains. “It’s stronger, lighter weight, denser and more waterproof than other materials. It also can be cleaned, re-blocked and made to look new over and over again. We have a signature felt, as well, which is made from pure belly beaver fur. It has this natural sheen and velvet feel to it. When it’s finished, it just glows and glistens.”

While traditional cowboy hats and classic fedoras for men will always be mainstays at Watson’s, in recent years, the couple has expanded the business’s selection of women’s headwear. Like the men’s line, the Lady Watson Collection includes Western hats, fedoras, trilbies, bowlers and Panama hats. The styles are the same as they are for men, but

Alex Cabrera began his career at Watson's Hat Shop as an apprentice. Today, he is a master hat maker.

they are often crafted from pastel and jewel-tone felts and feature feminine hat bands, floral accents and even jewels. The collection also includes fashionable wide-brimmed sun hats, soft floppy hats and chic bolero hats.

Looking for something a bit more personalized? For the past three years, Emily has been adding her own special touch to the Lady Watson pieces: embroidered designs that are hand-stitched onto the felt hat bodies.

“People think the artwork is embroidered by a machine, but no, I sit there with the hat, and it’s in and out, one stitch at a time,” she describes.

Eric is quick to sing her praises.

“She has a God-gifted artistic ability,” he says. “She draws and paints beautifully, and one day she was like, ‘I guess I can paint with thread.’ She took the Lady Watson Collection to a whole new level — it’s chic and trendy.”

Inspired by nature, most of Emily’s images are of plants and animals. Threads layered in multiple colors form realistic-looking birds, flowers, cacti and desert landscapes. Just about any image a customer can dream up, Emily can create.

“I’ve had requests for a tiger’s face, deer heads, hummingbirds, treble clefs,” she says. “I even did a garden scene where every flower was a different color, and the lacey ribbon I put around the hat looked like a picket fence.”

Depending on the size and complexity, this delicate decoration can take up to six months to complete and can add anywhere from $250 to $1,000 to the price of the hat.

PERFECTING AN ART FORM

Since its early years, Watson’s has been a favorite of folks who take brims, crowns and creases seriously, from rough-andtumble cowpokes to collectors of quality chapeaus.

“We get Christmas cards from customers who love their hats,” Eric says. “Some people will call us and tell us personally when they receive their hat; they’ll even take photos of themselves with it on and send those to us. What’s really neat is when someone will drive or fly here just to get fitted for a custom hat.”

As business continues to grow, so does the list of national recognition and accolades. In the mid-2010s, Hollywood came knocking. Watson’s was named the official hat maker for the Netflix Western miniseries “Godless.” Today, customers can purchase their own version of hats worn by lead characters Roy Goode, Alice Fletcher and Mary Agnes.

For the past three years, Emily Watson has been adding her own special touch to Watson’s Hat Shop’s Lady Watson pieces: embroidered designs that are hand-stitched onto the felt hat bodies.

The shop also designed headwear for Syfy’s “12 Monkeys” and was featured on INSP’s “Handcrafted America.” And Eric and Emily tease a new historically based TV show currently in production that will showcase their creations.

In January 2022, Eric was awarded the Excellence in Historic Preservation Medal by the Daughters of the American Revolution. The honor recognizes his efforts to preserve traditional hat-making techniques with antique equipment, “ensuring that a piece of American history lives on in each hat that he creates.”

“Any craftsman or artist will always have some sort of pride in what they produce,” Eric remarks. “But at the same time, you’re always trying to be humble.”

To keep up with customer demand, the couple plan to open a second facility in their hometown of Tiffin, Ohio, about an hour south of Toledo. Using the same techniques and antique equipment, the hats will be formed in Ohio and shipped to Cave Creek for the finishing touches, speeding up the production process. Currently, it takes eight to nine weeks to make a basic custom hat.

“One thing I learned during the pandemic is that people now are a little more reluctant to wait on something,” Eric explains. “They want instant gratification. For a year, we couldn’t keep the shelves stocked with hats. This new location will speed things up.”

The couple hope to have the Ohio facility up and running this summer.

Whether you’re a ranch hand looking for a hat that can withstand the harsh element and everyday wear and tear of the job or you’re in the market for a classic heirloom-quality piece that will be handed down through generations, a Watson’s hat combines the craftsmanship of the past with a quality that will last long into the future.

“It’s our name in that hat, and that means something,” Emily says. “We put our heart and soul into each one. I want you to look good, and I want you to be confident while wearing one of our hats.”

watsonshatshop.com

IIn the early 1950s, Ed Winkler was playing outside the front of his house as a little kid and suddenly found his attention drawn to the black 1940s-era MG TC that was cruising down the street.

“It was absolutely beautiful,” Winkler recalls. “I fell in love with it and thought to myself, ‘I have got to have one of those.’ Well, one of them is in my garage right now.”

That brief encounter jump-started Winkler’s obsession with automobiles.

Chuck Stanford shares that obsession, noting that he can still remember standing knee-high to a 1957 Buick Roadmaster and being in a state of complete awe.

“Most of us are car guys from birth,” Stanford says. “I studied engineering to get into the automotive business and ended up in finance, working with cars and airplanes. I have always had a love for classic cars — for their design, for their engineering and for their beauty and romance.”

That design, engineering, beauty and romance will be on grand display Sunday, Jan. 22 when the Arizona Concours d’Elegance returns as the highlight of Arizona Car Week, bringing some of the world’s rarest and most valuable collector cars to Scottsdale Civic Center.

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Photo by Patrick Ernzen

The concours will invite about 90 select automobiles to be exhibited and judged, with the best among them awarded class prizes and the coveted best of show.

“We believe Scottsdale is the perfect home for this event and a great compliment to the internationally recognized auctions happening the same week in Scottsdale,” says Winkler, who serves as co-director of the Arizona Concours d’Elegance alongside Stanford.

AUTOMOTIVE ASPIRATIONS

Ten years ago, Winkler received a call from a friend and fellow classic car enthusiast who suggested that a group get together to plan a concours d’elegance — a French term meaning “competition of excellence.” The idea quickly materialized into plans and, in 2014, the first of what would become an annual event.

For four consecutive years, the Arizona Concours d’Elegance was held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and attracted a passionate group of participants and attendees — albeit from a relatively niche segment of the community. However, resort expansions over the years led to a decrease in available space for the showcase.

If you are a person who is designing an automobile — especially a classic automobile or a collector's automobile — then your design and your dream of what that automobile will become is an art form for you. Jamie Prins

In their search for a new venue, Winkler and Stanford met with representatives from Scottsdale Arts, the nonprofit organization tasked with managing and programming facilities on behalf of the city of Scottsdale. Recognizing the artistic value of the Arizona Concours d’Elegance, Scottsdale Arts invited the pair to hold their next event at the newly renovated Scottsdale Civic Center, bordered by Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.

“This partnership has really opened up our event to the entire community,” Winkler says. “We have the perfect meeting of two organizations and are now able to get the word out about our event to the entire Valley of the Sun. People who have never heard of it before will come, see and understand the kinetic artistic component of automobiles — especially older automobiles.”

Scottsdale Arts’ director of events Jamie Prins agrees, noting that art takes many forms.

“How we experience and appreciate art is a very individualized thing,” Prins explains. “If you are a person who is designing an automobile — especially a classic automobile or a collector's automobile — then your design and your dream of what that automobile will become is an art form for you. The concours folks are curating a very specific group of cars and Scottsdale Arts is curating how those cars are going to be showcased in this newly renovated space.”

Stanford adds that Scottsdale Civic Center truly is the perfect place for the event.

“They have got a wonderful renovation going on that will create stages and large plots of grass,” he says. “It will be a very

1931 Chrysler Imperial CG LeBaron // Photo by Larry Edsall

1961 Chevrolet Corvette Gran Turismo - First in Class American Powered Sports Cars // Photo by Michael Tobian

luxurious, extravagant setting to put these beautiful cars on and give people a chance to see these them laid out in a very artistic fashion.”

THE ART OF AERODYNAMICS

Arizona is known by car enthusiasts around the world as the place to be each January, with auctions like Barrett-Jackson attracting a lot of attention and large crowds. However, while those events are certainly exciting, the Arizona Concours d’Elegance is perhaps where the most passionate autophiles can be found.

“At auctions, cars trade hands among collectors,” Stanford explains. “The Arizona Concours d’Elegance is a curated and judged show of classic automobiles. It is a celebration of the engineering, design and creativity that has gone into building these cars. It is an opportunity for people to show the love that they have for a car by putting it out in the field and be willing to have a bunch of judges with white gloves go over it and pick out everything that they find wrong.”

Judges consider the authenticity, correctness, condition, rarity and beauty of each car and award extra points for style. Winkler adds that another primary distinction between the two types of events is that owners always accompany their cars at a concours.

“You can walk up and talk to these people,” Winkler says. “They love to talk about their cars. We even have some people who come in period dress. They will wear the kinds of clothes that were worn when these cars were driven. They want people to understand the environment that

Photo by Ken Bryant

Photo by Patrick Ernzen

those cars were in and try to judge them from a spectator standpoint.”

Speaking of earlier eras, Stanford says that this year’s theme is “The Art of Aerodynamics.”

“We are tracing the development of the automotive industry from the early 1900s, when aerodynamics did not exist, through the 20s, 30s and 40s, when it started to become a big part of a car’s design,” Stanford explains.

“In the 50s, as cars got faster and racing had more influence on the design of passenger cars, aerodynamics became very important. It drove cars to be much more beautiful, too. We are going to have some extraordinary cars this year in terms of aerodynamic design and engineering.”

Among this year’s entries is an SS 90 — the prototype for a British sports car built in 1935 by SS Cars, a company that would eventually change its name to Jaguar.

“It is a spectacular car that has been perfectly restored to glorious condition,” Stanford says. “We have also got a 1956 MercedesBenz 300 SL Gullwing that is one of only 29 ever built. A lot of people have seen Gullwings but this one is special because it has an alloy body, meaning it is made of aluminum instead of steel.”

Another notable entry is a 1913 car that is documented as the world's oldest-running Bugatti.

“This is a car that a fellow right here in Scottsdale has restored to drive,”

COMFORTABLE ART Designed by Sue Bickerdyke

SUE BICKERDYKE 26 years in Carefree

Stanford says. “He has actually driven it 10,000 miles over the last couple of years in races all over the world to demonstrate its outstanding durability and performance.”

Perhaps the greatest examples of the event’s theme lie within the beautiful European coachwork of vehicles from the 30s and 40s.

“They are just extraordinary to look at,” explains Stanford, likening their designs and finishes to those of fine jewelry.

The Arizona Concours d’Elegance will also showcase a collection of racecars and sports cars from the 50s, 60s and 70s.

“There will even be a few current 2020 hypercars — the most extraordinary cars on the market today that every teenage boy has on a poster hanging on his wall,” Stanford says.

CAR CULTURE

When asked why Arizona is such a hub for car collectors, Winkler says that — like most things — it is all about our state’s wonderful weather.

“It is dry here, which is easy on metal,” he explains. “It is kind of hard on fabrics, but people who live here all seem to take really great care of their cars. Transportation is important to them. They need it to get around the Valley. We just have an infatuation for automobiles, both new and old, here in Arizona. I really believe that we have some of the best cars in the entire country.”

Stanford agrees, noting that Arizona has a truly tremendous car culture.

“I grew up in Buffalo, New York,” he adds. “I could never own the cars that I have today if I still lived in Buffalo because there is such a short season to enjoy them. But there are some outstanding collections here in Arizona. And there are also some terrific people who really look for any opportunity to share their passion with the general public.

Photo by Ken Bryant

Photo by Mike Tobian

“It is wonderful to be able to put on a show like this and invite collectors not only from Arizona but from across the country to bring their cars and exhibit them in such a beautiful environment as Scottsdale Civic Center. We are very blessed to have some very generous collectors here who support the event, support the culture and support the opportunity to get out and contribute to the community.”

arizonaconcours.com

Photo by Ken Bryant

The Power of Remembrance

N“Never again.” It is a phrase — and an imperative — most closely associated with the atrocities of the Holocaust that persecuted and murdered more than 6 million Jews between 1933 and 1945.

The victims represented two-thirds of Europe’s and one-third of the world’s Jewish population, respectively. It is important for the generations that have proceeded these atrocities to learn about and understand the history of the Jewish people and the stories of other persecuted populations in order to create a world free from hatred and bigotry.

Founded in 1981 in a downtown Phoenix building that served as the Valley’s first synagogue, the Arizona Jewish Historical Society strives to keep the stories, lessons and history of the Holocaust alive for generations. It is also a resource for Jewish culture — serving people of all faiths in the community with monthly events, book clubs, movie screenings and activities in-person and online.

The organization is in the midst of an $18 million “Building a Legacy of Hope” capital campaign that will renovate and expand the existing facility to include a new 17,000-square-foot building with room for a state-of-the-art Holocaust education center, exhibition galleries, classrooms and event space and more.

Phoenix is the largest U.S. city without a Holocaust museum or education center. With the support of the community, that can change.

The Arizona Jewish Historical Society’s executive director, Lawrence Bell, says that there are three fundamental functions that define the organization’s mission.

Writer Shannon Severson

Photography Courtesy of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society

Lawrence Bell

“We exist to preserve the history of the local Jewish community, educate the public about the Jewish historical experience — not just in Arizona, but everywhere — and promote awareness of diversity in general,” he explains. “We strongly believe that a diverse society is a strong society and that America is not one thing; it’s a collection. It’s like a mosaic of many tiles; each of the tiles is significant.”

HISTORY COMES TO LIFE

A key to understanding is to learn about the experiences of survivors in a tangible way. To facilitate this, the Arizona Jewish Historical Society has added a powerful interactive exhibit to its museum, the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center. Through Aug. 2, “Stories of Survival: An Immersive Journey Through the Holocaust” curates the survival stories of individuals who eventually made their homes in Arizona.

“We have always educated people about the Holocaust, but lately we’re much more specific about that topic,” Bell says. “We’re finding that there’s a great need for it. As part of that, we run a free monthly speaker series online where we interview a local survivor every month. In our second series, ‘Surviving Humanity,’ we talk to people who have experienced other acts of injustice. We say, ‘Never Again,’ but it has actually happened again and still continues in various places.”

We strongly believe that a diverse society is a strong society and that America is not one thing; it’s a collection. It’s like a mosaic of many tiles; each of the tiles is significant.

Room by room, visitors view historical artifacts like a set of striped prison clothing with a metal star of David and numbered identification plate attached, money used in the Warsaw ghetto and a Nazi medical officer’s uniform. There are photos and detailed stories about the timeline of the Holocaust, along with stories and portraits of featured Arizonan survivors — then and now. The exhibit is enhanced by original artwork from Robert Sutz.

There are four survivors who are specifically featured. Included is Esther Basch — who had direct interactions with Josef Mengele, also known as the Angel of Death — during her time at Auschwitz and endured a five-day death march to the Salswedel sub-camp and ammunition factory two weeks before she was liberated by American soldiers on April 14, 1945.

Incredibly, Basch was reunited with a member of the 85th Infantry that liberated her camp when Max Lieber traveled from New Mexico for an emotional reunion. As they embraced each other, the two were surrounded by Basch’s family who would have never been born without the bravery of those U.S. troops.

Oskar Knoblauch, the late Samuel Hilton — a survivor of the Warsaw ghetto and Majdanek camp — and the late Dr. Alex White — who was saved by being on Oskar Schindler’s famed list — are also central figures in the stories told.

Knoblauch plays a special role in the exhibit. He is depicted as a life-size hologram, that allows guests to ask more than 1,000 different questions in real time about his experiences in the Krakow Ghetto and his time in the Majdanek concentration camp in Poland, where his father was murdered.

He introduces himself and talks of life with his family of five before they fled to Poland and of how he was separated from his mother when they arrived at

the camp. Knoblauch recorded his biography over the course of many days in order to complete the project with the USC Shoah Foundation. It’s very much like sitting down for an inperson conversation with a survivor — something that fewer and fewer people will have the opportunity to do.

“We’re living in a moment where the survivor generation is passing away,” Bell says. “This is the very last group of young people who will ever meet a survivor. If you’re in school today and you’ve met a Holocaust survivor, you should consider yourself very fortunate because the ones that come after you will not have that.

“At the same time as survivors are disappearing, awareness of the Holocaust itself is fading. A recent study indicated that as many as 22% of millennials have never heard of the Holocaust. We want to make people aware of the past so that we might build a more peaceful understanding for our future.”

The Arizona Jewish Historical Society makes many stories, interviews and teaching materials available on its website. Knoblauch’s memoir, “A Boy’s Story, A Man’s Memory: Surviving the Holocaust 1933-1945” is included in “The Hope Chest,” a complete curriculum for Holocaust education.

WALKING WITH A SURVIVOR

The other interactive element of the exhibit is a 20-minute, immersive virtual reality experience called “The Last Goodbye.” Participants don a VR headset and meet survivor Pinchas Gutter as he travels to the Majdanek concentration camp in Poland — the last place he saw his parents and twin sister who were murdered at the hands of the Nazis.

The viewer feels as if they are walking right alongside Gutter as he recounts the heart-wrenching story of the atrocities he and his fellow prisoners faced.

He speaks of the last time he saw his twin sister, Sabine, as she ran in fear to embrace their mother, her blonde braid trailing down her back. Sadly, time and trauma have completely erased Gutter’s memory of his twin’s face. The memory of the blonde braid is all that remains.

Gutter explains that he has been compelled to return to Majdanek multiple times because it is the final resting place of his family. To hear his emotions, the echoing sounds of the rooms and to see the remains of the camp through Gutter’s eyes is an experience that truly cannot be forgotten.

Mary Ellen Page, a docent at the museum, has a degree in World War II studies from Arizona State University and counts her involvement as a privilege.

“It’s the most enriching thing I’ve ever done in my entire life,” Page says. “This is so important for adults to see, but it’s even more important for kids to see. You may not be able to teach third-graders [about the Holocaust itself], but you can teach them about bullying and making people feel excluded or centering on excluding a certain type of person.

“We’ve had a very difficult couple of years in America with anti-semitic attacks on the rise, so I think it’s important to have a connection on this level. You’re looking somebody in the eye and you’re hearing them speak, saying, ‘This is my story.’ It’s not just in a book. It’s real.

“If all kids do is come in and ‘talk’ to Oskar, they’re going to get a meaningful experience.’”

azjhs.org

JJim Gath has saddled up into several careers over the course of his life. In his 20s, he was a decorative water display fountain tycoon. In his 30s, he co-founded and helped to make USA Today the large, successful newspaper that it is today.

In his 40s, Gath produced a postseason college football bowl game, a huge turn-of-the-century celebratory event in downtown Phoenix and outdoor concerts as well as devised marketing and promotional campaigns for many of the mega-hotel/resorts along the Las Vegas Strip.

“It was a busy and heady time,” Gath says. “And I was miserable. In my early 50s, I was so miserable that I drank myself out of my marriage, my home and my career. I ended up in rehab. While there, I realized that, through all that I had done, I still — as Bono sang — had not found what I was looking for.”

Tierra Madre Horse and Human Sanctuary is Alexis Roeckner Ferri and Jim Gath's corner of the world.

Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Loralei Lazurek

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Alexis Roeckner Ferri

However, he would soon find it... in horses.

“Down several different trails I rode, spending stints as a wrangler at a kids’ day camp, a caretaker of a barn full of lesson horses, a trail guide and a riding instructor,” Gath explains. “I got three of my own horses, having found that they were losing their homes. I gave riding lessons on them, both in LA and in Cave Creek — where I also served as the de facto manager of a boarding facility.”

Gath searched for and found a horse property and, with the assistance of a few generous family members, he opened his own boarding facility in

Cave Creek. Rancho Tierra Madre would soon be home to 11 boarded horses as well as 13 of his own — including 10 of which had come Gath’s way after losing their homes, sustaining racetrack injuries or facing other challenges outside of their own control.

Every now and then, when I share my story, somebody will tell me how rewarding it must be that I get to save horses. I always tell them the same thing: Every single day, horses are the ones who save me.

Having arrived at Tierra Madre Horse and Human Sanctuary in 2009 as a 17-year-old high school student tasked with having to complete 100 hours of community service, Alexis Roeckner Ferri now serves as the nonprofit ranch's chief executive officer.

“One day, I was lamenting to a friend of mine — a horse rescuer — that I was upside-down, having more of my own horses than paying customers’ horses,” Gath says. “She said five words that changed everything: ‘Jim, you’re all they’ve got.’”

Having hit him like a God shot, Gath’s friends’ words evoked images of his 13 horses, who had been jettisoned from their lives and left with nowhere to go until they came to live with him. He suddenly realized his true calling in life.

“As St. Francis of Assisi wrote, ‘It is in the giving that we receive,’” Gath says. “At that moment, with me standing next to the arena fence on a sunny day, with a gentle breeze on my face and my phone in my hand, Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary was born.”

LIVING IN THE MOMENT

In June of 2009 — about four years after Gath founded Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary — Alexis Roeckner Ferri arrived at the nonprofit ranch as a 17-year-old high school student tasked with having to complete 100 hours of community service.

“It was the summer before I started my senior year,” Ferri says. “All of us were instructed to find a nonprofit where we could volunteer, write in a journal about our experiences and eventually present to the school about our project.”

Ferri admits that she did not feel particularly thrilled about having to complete a community service project.

Alexis Roeckner Ferri has held every role imaginable at Tierra Madre Horse and Human Sanctuary — from volunteer coordinator and administrative assistant to ranch manager and executive director.

“Honestly, at 17, it was hard for me to feel anything at all,” she adds. “At that point in my life, I had endured five long years of emotional and psychological abuse at home, four major family moves in four years, three new schools, two undiagnosed mental illnesses — anxiety and depression — and one single thought that consumed me to the point of almost no return: that maybe I was better off not being alive.”

However, horses changed all of that for her — just as they had for Gath years earlier.

“I walked through the gates of Tierra Madre on my first day to volunteer and the horses I met there blew my soul wide open,” Ferri says. “Here were horses who had been abused like me; who had faced challenges in their lives. Some of them had been thrown aside because they got old. Some of them had gotten their hearts broken. Some of them had survived unimaginable trauma.

“And, yet, here they were loving — loving — their lives. Each and every one of them had their own personality and their own story. They lived in the moment. With horses, there is no past and no future; only the present. And at Tierra Madre, they lived the happiest lives imaginable.”

Ferri thought that, if the horses could go through hell and still find joy in everyday life, then it was entirely possible for her to do so as well.

Ferri found her experience at Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary to be so inspiring and transformative that she blew well past the initial 100 community service hours with which she was tasked and, over the past 13-and-a-half years, has held every role imaginable at the nonprofit ranch — from volunteer coordinator and administrative assistant to ranch manager and executive director. Until recently, she was on its board of directors and, as of June 2022, she now holds the title of chief executive officer.

“Over the years, I have seen us blossom from a small ranch with a handful of supporters and a couple of good volunteers to a full-scale operation with professional programs, a board of directors with incredible expertise, hundreds of donors and supporters, community partnerships and a solid team of more than 50 volunteers,” Ferri says. “I have seen the ranch become a safe place for humans as well as the horses — hence why we changed our name to Tierra Madre Horse and Human Sanctuary four years ago.”

CHANGING THE WORLD

Ten years ago, when Ferri was in college and struggling to decide what to do with her life, she recognized within herself a desire to change the world. It is a feeling that she believes she shares with many people.

“We want to fix all that is bad and bring forth the good; to help; to spread happiness, purpose and joy,” Ferri says. “There are so many problems that need solutions. Even within the equine industry, there are problems of a massive scale. Horse slaughter takes place with regularity across the border. Horses are shipped there daily from the U.S. Abuse, neglect and cruelty to horses occur everywhere.”

Feeling overwhelmed, Ferri asked Gath, “If I can’t fix everything, then what is the point of doing anything?” Gath’s response changed her entire outlook.

“He said that we can’t save the whole world; it’s too large and too vast for any one person to fix everything,” she says. “But we can each do something with our individual corner of it. That is how we make a difference. That is how we change the world.”

Tierra Madre Horse and Human Sanctuary is Gath and Ferri’s corner of the world.

“The future is bright here,” Ferri says. “We will continue our work saving horses and giving them the best lives they could have ever imagined. We will continue to be a safe place for the groups of people who frequent our ranch — young adults with autism, children with special needs, individuals in recovery and so many more.

“Just this summer, we launched a powerful team-building program

that is bringing us revenue and equipping groups of people with the tools they need to succeed. And there is more to come — more work in the equine welfare advocacy community; more opportunities for humans to experience the healing power of horses; more partnerships; more donors; more volunteers; more ideas to bring to fruition; more experiences to be had; and more lives to be saved.”

Ferri notes that saving one horse may not change the world, but it will change the world for that one horse. The same is true for humans.

“I am living proof [of that],” the chief executive officer says. “Far from the lost 17-year-old I once was, I see my corner of the world now and know what I want to do with my life. It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of Tierra Madre.”

“Every now and then, when I share my story, somebody will tell me how rewarding it must be that I get to save horses. I always tell them the same thing: Every single day, horses are the ones who save me.”

GIVING & RECEIVING

Eighteen years after his revelation and the conception of Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary, Gath thinks back to the scores of horses who found their forever home in his nonprofit ranch; horses that had been abandoned, neglected, injured, abused or otherwise abandoned.

“We have made them happy again,” Gath says. “We have made them healthy again. We have made them all feel and know the love that they may or may not have received in their precious lives. We have celebrated their successes. And we have helped them through their tough times; through sickness and health; through long days and even longer nights. We have laughed with them a lot. And we have cried far too often.

“And they, in turn, have given back in ways that they probably do not even know.”

Gath adds that many people of all ages, shapes, sizes and backgrounds have come through Tierra Madre Horse and Human Sanctuary’s front gates only to realize that they are being helped by its four-legged family members.

“As our horses came through the gates with their challenges, so, too, have people have come through them with theirs,” Gath explains. “To watch those people with those horses — helping each other to heal, to share secrets, to smile, to laugh and to dance — is just about the most satisfying thing this ol’ boy could ever experience.

“So, yeah, I found it. I found what I was looking for. Through all of those decades and all of those things that I have done in life, I finally found it. And St. Francis was right.”

tierramadrehorseandhumansanctuary.org

Pioneer of the Preserve

OOn March 14, 1873, John Gregory Bourke departed from Camp McDowell and led an expedition through what is now known as McDowell Mountain Regional Park and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. While camping at Cave Creek, he charted his travels in his personal journal — a map that would become the very first recording of some of our community’s most notable geographic features, including Cone, Brown’s and Black mountains.

A true renaissance man, Bourke’s contributions to our state and our country began years earlier when, at just 16 years old, he enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War. Still a teenager, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for gallantry at the battle of Stones River, Tennessee. Having impressed his superior officers, he was recommended for admittance to the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating in 1869.

By September 1871, Bourke was named aide-de-camp to Gen. George Crook, for whom Arizona’s Crook Trail is named. He accompanied Crook through the early Arizona Apache campaigns; the Sioux and Cheyenne campaigns on the northern plains; and the closing Apache campaign in Arizona and Mexico, which involved the pursuit of the Apache leader Geronimo.

While Crook is well known among popular historians, makers of Western movies and the interested public, his indispensable lesser-known aide, Bourke, maintains a following among serious Western historians, anthropologists and ethnographers.

In November 1872, Bourke began keeping personal daily journals, such as those that delineated the features of what would eventually come to be known as Brown’s Ranch. These writings — of which there are 124 manuscript volumes

Writers Richard Bourke, Leonard Marcisz and Donald Hadder, Sr.

held at West Point — are considered invaluable original sources and research documents by Western historians.

Granted time off from military duties, Bourke lived among and studied Native American cultures. A language scholar, he learned to speak Apache in order to further his studies. An authority regarding anthropological studies of southwestern cultures, he was elected to the Association for the Advancement of Science and Anthropological Society of Washington in the mid-1880s.

A prolific author, Bourke’s books include “On the Border with Crook,” “An Apache Campaign in the Sierra Madre,” Apache Medicine Men” and “The Snake Dance of the Moquis (Hopis) of Arizona.”

In 1885, Bourke began a campaign for equitable treatment of Native Americans, publicly denouncing

While Gen. George Crook is well known among popular historians, makers of Western movies and the interested public, his indispensable lesser-known aide, John Gregory Bourke, maintains a following among serious Western historians, anthropologists and ethnographers.

the U.S. government’s Indian programs. He advocated keeping the Chiricahua Apache in Arizona rather than removing them to exile in Florida.

He was also an opponent of sending Native American children to off-reservation Indian schools, stating, “Much of our trouble with these tribes could have been averted had we shown what would appear to them as a spirit of justice and fair dealing.”

In June 1896, at age 49, Bourke passed away from an aneurysm of the aorta. Interred at Arlington National Cemetery, his spirit lives on in the Western landscape, customs and culture for which many of us choose to call this area our home.

Ballet Arizona presents

GISELLE

February 9 – 12, 2023

The Madison Center for the Arts

A beloved and romantic ballet that draws audiences in with themes of enduring love, tragedy and romance.

Ballet Arizona dancers Luis Corrales and Jillian Barrell. Photo by Tim Fuller.

NNo matter where she travels, Jean Marie Clarke always turns heads.

Tall, slim and elegant, with long wavy hair streaked with gray, she exudes the poise and worldly confidence of a former runway model. But it’s her outfits that elicit admiration.

“From Heathrow to Milan, people are always telling me that they love my dresses,” the Phoenix-based fashion designer says. “My sister and I were coming back from Israel, and we got off the plane at JFK [International Airport in New

Phoenix-based fashion designer Jean Marie Clarke’s multicultural clothing blends Indian artistry and timeless Italian style with sustainability and goodwill.

Writer Rebecca L. Rhoades Photography by Pax Philomena

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Jean Marie Clarke is the founder and creative mind behind Pax Philomena, a seven-year-old line of kaftans, tunics, men’s shirts, pajamas, loungewear and more.

York City], and this young guy who took our suitcases was like, ‘You two look amazing. I love your dresses.’ And he was like 20 years old!

“On another trip to England, the flight attendant said, ‘Ma’am, we’ve been waiting for you to get up because we wanted to see what you are wearing.’ I call it the Pax phenomenon. My clothes are unique, colorful and inspiring. And people want to know about them.”

Clarke is the founder and creative mind behind Pax Philomena, a seven-year-old line of kaftans, tunics, men’s shirts, pajamas, loungewear and more. The effortlessly chic pieces are made from the finest cotton and Italian silk and feature bold florals, paisleys, animal prints and graphic patterns in an array of rich jewel tones, deep primary hues and luscious earthen shades. The cottons are block-printed by hand in India, while the silks are from the same mill that supplies some of the world’s top luxury brands.

More than just fashion, they are works of art that are meant as much for everyday wear as they are for being the center of attention at a high-society soiree. And they’re a labor of love for Clarke, who wanted to create clothing that would last, that would make people smile, that could be worn by everyone — and that would give back.

Born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, to Anglo-Indian parents, Clarke moved to Arizona with her family in 1969 to escape the communist movement that was growing in the West Bengal city. They settled not far from the historic

From Heathrow to Milan, people are always telling me that they love my dresses ... I call it the Pax phenomenon. My clothes are unique, colorful and inspiring. And people want to know about them. Jean Marie Clarke

adobe house in north central Phoenix that now serves as an atelier for Clarke’s business.

After studying art history at Princeton University, Clarke received a fellowship at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, where she met textile entrepreneur Antonio Ratti, founder of one of the world’s most influential textile mills, whose clients include leading fashion houses, such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Hermes, Versace, and Dolce and Gabbana. Clarke began working for Ratti’s home furnishings division, selling high-end textiles to such top brands as Ralph Lauren, Holly Hunt and Clarence House. It was here that she became familiar with the multitude of luxurious patterns available in the company’s archives.

Inspired by her mother, Philomena, who as a plus-size woman often had difficulty finding stylish clothing that fit well and was comfortable, Clarke began creating flowy one-size-fits-all kaftans, which are now her signature pieces.

“Mom had so much trouble finding clothing, especially pieces that were soft and in natural fibers, as she was allergic to everything,” she recalls. “With the kaftan, I tried to be all-inclusive. The silhouette is very flattering. I love the fact that I can wear it and that my mom could wear it.”

Initially, Clarke offered kaftans and tunics in a soft cotton that’s handwoven and printed in India. The line now also includes pajamas, dresses, lounge pants, men’s shirts and boxers.

These aren’t the boxy, shapeless kaftans or muumuus of the past. Featuring an adjustable drawstring waist, the easygoing shape enhances the figure without being either too clingy or too bulky. The style is available in three lengths to accommodate all heights, sizes and comfort levels: short, or hip-length; midi, or knee-length; and maxi, or floor-length.

In 2015, Clarke incorporated her fashion business. She named it Pax Philomena. “Pax” means peace in Latin; Philomena is in honor of her mother.

Initially, Clarke offered kaftans and tunics in a soft cotton that’s handwoven and printed in India. The line now also includes pajamas, dresses, lounge pants, men’s shirts and boxers.

Most of the designs are block-printed using centuriesold methods. Natural dyes are stamped onto the fabric with hand-carved wood blocks. Each color requires a separate block, and some patterns, such as the yellow floral Alex, showcase upwards of nine dye shades. Other designs, including the hot pink Fanfare and indigo Isadora, are created by an ancient method called dabu printing. Similar to batik, which uses wax to repel color, this technique applies a mud-resist to white fabric, which is then dyed, leaving behind a white motif.

“All of the block printing is done in Jaipur, India,” Clarke explains. “These are artisans that we support. They’ve been doing this for generations, and I want to keep this art alive.”

Many of the patterns are traditional Indian designs that have been given a modern spin with contemporary colors. Delicate metallic embroidery and hand-beaded tassels complete the look.

For something a little more luxurious, Pax Philomena kaftans and tunics also are available in a high-end silk from the Ratti mill in Como, Italy.

“We’re bringing you the same quality that you’d find at Valentino,” Clarke notes. “In fact, I was at Valentino in the Hamptons a few months ago, and they had a giraffe-print kaftan that’s printed at my mill. It was

exactly the same quality as Pax’s, but it was $2,500. Mine are $815. I’m trying to bring quality to the marketplace.”

Unlike cheap mass-market silks, the Italian silk crepe is comfortable even during Arizona’s hottest days. Absorbent and breathable, it keeps wearers cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cold.

“The Italians are about quality,” Clarke says. “This will last you a lifetime.”

Tall, slim and elegant, with long wavy hair streaked with gray, she exudes the poise and worldly confidence of a former runway model. But it’s her outfits that elicit admiration.

The patterns for the silk line come from the mill’s archives, and Clarke has the fabrics dyed to her color specifications.

“I pick what I want, and it’s exclusive to us,” she explains. “Nobody else will have these prints.”

The Black Botanica, for example, showcases a bold, oversized tropical print that was taken from home furnishing textiles; while the Zirafa Girafa offers a playful take on an animal print in vivid midcentury-inspired hues of

magenta, olive green, orange and teal. One of Clarke’s most popular silk patterns is the Primavera cactus print, a watercolor-esque explosion that embodies the beauty of the Sonoran Desert.

Saguaros take center stage on the cotton Prickly Pax line of kaftans, lounge pants, men’s shirts, boxers, scarves and bandanas. The whimsical green print is available on pink or yellow backgrounds or, in a salute to the Phoenix Suns, in purple on orange.

Recently, Clarke expanded her offerings to include boiled wool kimono-style wrap coats, belted coats and ponchos, in solids and patterns, as well as mala necklaces made from silver and semi-precious stones.

“One of my goals is to be able to reach more people with my clothes,” Clarke explains. “When you sell a dress for $2,500, you have a very limited clientele. A lot of this is about educating people, teaching them about the natural environment and printing by hand. And it’s also about spreading the word of Mother Teresa.”

Whether it’s the sale of colorful kaftans or comfy lounge pants, an $800 silk dress or a $25 bandana, a portion of each is donated to Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Phoenix.

“My aunt was a Loretto nun with Mother Teresa, so I grew up hearing about Mother Teresa,” Clarke says. “The church in Calcutta where I was baptized is the church where Mother Teresa was laid in state. I have this connection to her.”

Everyone

Jean Marie Clarke aspires to create clothing that will last, that will make people smile, that can be worn by everyone — and that will give back.

The floral pattern of the Teresa cotton pajamas was inspired by the Victorian tile found in the Missionaries of Charity motherhouse in Kolkata, and one of the nun’s most famous sayings — “Peace begins with a smile” — is displayed on the tags of all Pax Philomena products. Each month, Clarke donates to the Phoenix mission, which offers assistance to the city’s homeless.

“Giving back is important to me,” Clarke adds. “Our donations help ensure that their air conditioning bill will be paid in the summer or that they continue to help people on the streets. We’re doing our part to spread peace without feeling gimmicky.

“Mother Teresa said, ‘Peace begins with a smile.’ So we can make our own little impact just by smiling at someone. And if I’m spreading beautiful vibes and clothing, I’m spreading smiles. Pattern and color are what make people smile, and my goal is to spread happiness. I mean, just look at all this color. You have to smile, right? You just have to.”

paxphilomena.com

Inspired by her mother, Philomena, Jean Marie Clarke began creating flowy one-size-fits-all kaftans, which are now her signature pieces.

Designing Serendipity

AAbout 25 years ago, while artist Jane Word was casually walking through Canadian luxury department store Holt Renfrew, a woman stopped her to ask where she has gotten the gorgeous handbag she was holding.

When Word replied that she had made it herself, the woman introduced herself as the head buyer for Holt Renfrew and asked if she would be interested in making purses to accompany the store’s designer lines.

Word had never considered going public with her art but accepted the serendipitous opportunity and ended up having the time of her life.

“Each season, I would look at the upcoming designs and swatches then design and make handbags to go with Stella McCartney and other designers’ lines of clothing,” Word says.

Around the same time, Word was invited to participate in the Toronto Symphony home tour, which led her to an opportunity to work with Helen Barber — the grande dame of interior design in Toronto.

“I absolutely loved working with her,” says Word says. “She owned Barber Lyons Interior Design and her clientele list included Hollywood types and others of taste and means. She was in her mid-70s and was battling colon cancer, but

Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Jane Word

was always a force with which to be reckoned. I absolutely loved the woman.”

After 13 years in Toronto — and a brief segment in an HGTV show during which the reserved artist discovered that she was prone to stage fright — Word moved to Chicago, where serendipity struck her for a second time as a chance encounter at 900 Michigan Avenue led her to an opportunity to make handbags for a high-end boutique.

Later moving to Folly Beach, South Carolina, Word found herself challenged to fit in among a world of seersucker suits, bowties and embroidered corduroy with little palm trees.

However, unwilling to wait for serendipity to strike for a third time, she made her own luck, approaching the owners of a new gallery in nearby Bluffton on the day after its grand opening and convincing them to carry her oyster dinnerware sets, jewelry and purses with fish, octopuses and other sea creatures on them.

“In May 2019, my husband and I came to Arizona to visit friends in Paradise Valley,” Word says. “I fell in love with the weather, the vast variety of flowers, the mountains and the cactuses. I have a degree in zoology and was also fascinated by all of the critters here — the javelinas, the tarantulas, the quail with their quirky feathers, the roadrunners and the lizards.”

Immediately inspired, Word convinced her husband to move to Arizona and she began creating art that reflected the remarkable beauty of the desert and everything that inhabits it. Her creations — which include eye-catching pillows adorned with hand-sculpted local flora and fauna — are now exhibited and sold locally at Sue Bickerdyke Interiors Home Furnishings and Art Gallery in Carefree.

“I have no formal training in art,” Word admits. “I sculpt based on my anatomy and physiology classes from college and my love of animals. I sculpt each animal out of leather or fur; using only old, repurposed coats. Their eyes are hand-painted glass, which helps to give them their personality.”

Word’s latest offerings include pillows created from warm brown leather, to which the artist adds layers of dye and paints to achieve the appearance of aged copper patina, complementary to Trevor Swanson’s collection of oil-on-metal paintings that are also exhibited and sold at the professional interior design studio and home furnishing boutique. Owner Sue Bickerdyke says that she is exceptionally pleased to carry Words work.

“Her leather sculpted pillows are over-the-top fabulous,” Bickerdyke adds. “Each one is as unique and creative as the next. But her roadrunner riding a javelina is a whimsical surprise!”

suebickerdyke.com

STAGECOACH

Village

PProudly celebrating its 14th year serving a variety of sweet and savory breakfast items, The Village Coffee and Creperie at Stagecoach Village attributes much of its success to its customers who continue to make the establishment a key part of their morning routines.

Of course, it is easy to see, smell and taste why the community craves owner Marina Matatov’s offerings. A selection of rich, freshly brewed coffees — including Americanos, espressos, lattes, cappuccinos and chai macchiatos — leads The Village Coffee and Creperie’s menu, ensuring that each and every day begins on the right note. Alternative beverage options include teas, smoothies, juices and the most decadent hot chocolate that you have ever had the pleasure of experiencing.

Meanwhile, the establishment’s crepe menu is bursting with flavor. The options are seemingly endless; Choosing one very well may be the most challenging part of your day!

Those desiring something savory may opt for The Italian

— featuring prosciutto, mozzarella cheese, tomato, spinach and balsamic pesto sauce — or perhaps Smoked Salmon — layered with lox salmon, capers, tomatoes, red onion and dill cream fraîche sauce. Those with sweet tooths may instead choose Lemon Curd — featuring The Village Coffee and Creperie’s house-made lemon curd, fresh berries, raspberry preserves and whipped cream — or Strawberry Lemon Meringue — boasting melted mini marshmallows, fresh strawberries and a tart lemon glaze.

The Village Coffee and Creperie at Stagecoach Village also offers a selection of fresh pastries — including biscotti, lemon bars and rugalach. Gluten-free items are available, as well, ensuring that everyone who walks through Matatov’s door leaves feeling happy, satisfied and ready to take on the day.

Matatov is especially grateful to her dedicated and hard-working staff members, all of whom she considers family, as well as her parents Sam and Olga — who own Sam's Barber Shop, next door to her establishment.

Village Coffee Shop

DINING GUIDE

English Rose Tea Room

SSince opening its doors more than two decades ago, the English Rose Tea Room has become a beloved staple of the Carefree community as it transports visitors across the pond through the magic of scones with clotted cream, tea with milk and a variety of hearty lunches.

Showcasing an interior to rival the Ritz Hotel — complete with floral decor, crystal chandeliers and bone china — the elegant establishment is the perfect spot to enjoy a formal afternoon tea or simply a light lunch with a friend. Owner Jo Gemmill has spent a great deal of time, energy, creativity and heart on fostering an environment that is as welcoming as it is authentic.

A recent redesign of the English Rose Tea Room has created a brighter, much more spacious and decidedly more chic atmosphere. Its patio has also seen an outstanding overhaul, ensuring that, no matter the season, visitors always have the opportunity to enjoy tea al fresco. During these chilly winter months, heaters keep guests toasty warm as they sip from a selection of traditional and specially blended black teas, fruit teas,

herbal teas, green and oolong teas, decaffeinated teas and even comforting hot chocolate.

Having hosted everything from bridal and baby showers, birthdays and anniversaries to remembrance teas, royal weddings and “Downton Abbey” extravaganzas, Gemmill says that it has been a privilege to be a part of the Carefree community for the past 20 years.

“I am continually overwhelmed by the people who support the tea room,” Gemmill adds, “including those who donate china teacups once owned by their grandmothers, who cherished having afternoon tea with us; those who send us thank you cards; those who call just to say how much they loved their teatime experience; and especially those who had come for afternoon tea as young girls when we first opened and now bring their own children to continue the tradition.”

English Rose Tea Room

201 Easy St., Suite 103, Carefree 480-488-4812 carefreetea.com

Roasted Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons

Serves: 10–12

Ingredients:

For the Roasted Tomato Soup:

2 (28-ounce) cans diced tomatoes

4 tablespoons olive oil, divided Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 small yellow onion, diced

2 medium carrots, peeled and diced

2 medium celery stalks, diced

1 large garlic clove, minced

2 tablespoons flour 3 cups chicken broth

1 dried bay leaf

2 teaspoons sugar 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

For the Grilled Cheese Croutons: 4 slices white bread

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 2 slices cheddar cheese

Directions:

For the soup, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with non-stick cooking spray. Strain tomatoes, reserving their juices, in a medium bowl. Spread strained tomatoes on the prepared baking sheet, drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 15 minutes.

While the tomatoes are roasting, in a large soup pot, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-low heat. Add onion, carrots, celery and garlic, cooking until softened, about 8 minutes. Add flour and stir to coat.

Over high heat, add then roasted tomatoes, reserved tomato juices, chicken broth, bay leaf, sugar and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and continue to simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove from heat, discard bay leaf and puree the soup (using a handheld or countertop blender) until smooth. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter and chopped basil.

For the croutons, spread butter on both sides of bread slices. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and place two slices in the pan. Top each with one slice of cheese and place the remaining bread slices on the cheese. Cook for 2 minutes, until the underside is golden brown. Flip and cook for 1–2 minutes more. Remove from pan and allow to cool for a few minutes before cutting into 1-inch squares. Sprinkle a small handful on each bowl of soup, serve and enjoy!

Writer and Photographer Francine Coles thefancypantskitchen.com