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f ebruary 2021
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Cave Creek
ARIZONA REAL ESTATE IS HOT URGENT: WE HAVE CASH BUYERS JU
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29229 N 74th Street Scottsdale AZ 85266 3 Bedroom | 2.5 Bath | 3,610 Sqft | Pinnacle Peak Paradise SOLD FOR $962,500
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18910 N 95th Street Scottsdale AZ 85255 5 Bedroom | 3 Bath | 3,361 Sqft | Ironwood Village SOLD FOR $865,000
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7715 E Evening Glow Drive Scottsdale AZ 85266 3 Bedroom | 2.5 Bath | 2,487 Sqft | Winfield SOLD FOR $750,000
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9402 E Sutherland Way Scottsdale AZ 85262 3 Bedroom | 2.2 Bath | 2,930 Sqft | Pinnacle Ridge at Troon North SOLD FOR $737,500
ANDREW BLOOM
26846 N 73rd Street Scottsdale AZ 85266 4 Bedroom + Office | 3 Bath | 2,955 Sqft | Monterra Offered at $950,000
BABS BLOOM
Director of Marketing Director of Client Care Barbara@BVOLuxury.com
AUSTIN BLOOM
Director of Expansion REALTOR® Austin@BVOLuxury.com
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6231 E Mark Way Unit 12 Cave Creek AZ 85331 2 Bedroom | 2.5 Bath | 2,260 Sqft | Rancho Madera Offered at $549,500
CALL US TODAY TO SELL NOW! (480) 400-1984
f ebruary 2021
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The Center For Integrative Healing & Wellness
SERVICES & PROGRAMS
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Call to Schedule an In-Person or Telemedicine Visit
480-881-5621 4
THE CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE HEALING & WELLNESS
i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m fe b r uary 2 02 1
Civana Resort - Spa - Sanctuary | 37220 Mule Train Road, Carefree, AZ 85377 | drfabio.com
SA AN ND DE ER RS SO ON N L L II N NC CO OL LN N S
f ebruary 2021
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VA L E N T I N E ’ S C E L E B R AT I O N F I R S T T H U R S D AY h e A R T N I G H T THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 FROM 4 TO 7PM
Sip-Shop and Sing with Live Music by NuWrld Jazz Quartet Bring your chairs to enjoy NuWrld jazz socially distanced outside
“Wild Horses,” Amy Lay, 48” x 36”
“Hucklebeary,” Bryce Pettit, bronze, 36” “Merrybeary,” Bryce Pettit, bronze, 24”
“Last Night Glow,” Trevor Swanson, Painting on Patina Metal, 49” x 20”
B RY C E P E T T I T W ILDLIFE BRONZE SCULPTOR T R E V OR S WA NSON WILDLIFE ARTIST A M Y
L AY
C O N T E M PORARY
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ARTIST
SUE BICKERDYKE 26 years in Carefree
INTERIOR DESIGN SERVICES, HOME FURNISHINGS & FINE ART GALLERY 36889 N. Tom Darlington Dr. Suite B1, Carefree | 480-595-0171 | suebickerdyke.com f ebruary 2021 imagesar iz ona .c om Hours: Mon. thru Sat. 9am - 5pm Allied ASID
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CAPTURING MOMENTS Writer Amanda Christmann Photography by Jonas Jungblut
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COMMUNITY EVENTS Writer Joseph J. Airdo
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OFRENDA Writer Shannon Severson Photography Courtesy of Alexi Rose Productions
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ANIMAL ATTRACTION Writer Joseph J. Airdo
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Photography by Lisa A. Langell
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KATALIN EHLING Writer Joseph J. Airdo
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STRAWBERRY SPRING SALAD Writer and photographer Kyndra Kelly
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f ebruary 2021
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PUBLISHER Shelly Spence
MANAGING EDITOR Joseph J. Airdo
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meaghan Hanie
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joseph J. Airdo Amanda Christmann Kyndra Kelly Shannon Severson
PHOTOGRAPHERS Bryan Black Brandon Dunham Kyndra Kelly Loralei Lazurek Carl Schultz
ADVERTISING SALES Cooper Langston 480-544-8721 cooper@imagesaz.com
Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416 Carefree, AZ. 85377 623-341-8221 imagesarizona.com Submission of news for community section should be in to shelly@imagesaz.com by the 5th of the month prior to publication. Images Arizona is published by ImagesAZ Inc. Copyright © 2020 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited.
I
It seems as though with each and every issue of Images Arizona that I have published for the past 20-plus years, I find more and more things to love about our incredible community. From the tremendously talented artists and performers to the hugely generous organizations and businesses and everything in between, I have come to value finding new reasons to cherish our unique little corner of the world each month. And it truly is an honor to spread that love to our readers. What is even more inspiring, though, is how the concept of love permeates every nook and cranny of our community. As I look through the pages of this month’s issue, I see innumerable interpretations and variations of how love strengthens, enhances and benefits our lives. This month’s photo essay showcases love — in all of its forms, from romantic to familial — in Arizona’s animal kingdom. Not only does it offer insight into the many ways we can emulate the magnanimous, unconditional love of our desert coinhabitants in our own relationships but it also illustrates the unparalleled passion that photographer Lisa A. Langell has for nature as well as for her craft. In fact, love for one’s craft happens to be an overarching theme throughout this month’s issue. Artist R. Nelson Parrish, artist Katalin Ehling, architect Nick Mancusi and singer Isabella Martin each exhibit an exorbitant amount of appreciation for the talents and skills that they have worked so hard to perfect. They love what they do and that shows through the unrivaled excellence of their individual gifts. Meanwhile, Michael Stone and Carlos Marquez demonstrate love through their friendship. They also do so through their determination to deliver a unique dining venue to the community — a quality that is also displayed by the various restaurant and business owners whose voices and stories are represented in this month’s issue as they express their gratitude for their customers.
The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited material.
Love is quite evidently all around us in everyone we meet, everywhere we go and everything we do. And love begets love so that makes me love our community all the more.
Local First A R I Z O NA 10
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Cheers! Shelly Spence Publisher, Images Arizona magazine shelly@imagesaz.com 623-341-8221
f ebruary 2021
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F R O M
A
D AY
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T H E
L I N K S
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T O
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N I G H T
O U T
CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY + ART
All the FOPE collections share an incredible attention to detail and high quality, while the original designs represent an ever-evolving interpretation of Italian style. The Flex’it collections in particular have become a trademark of this brand, with flexible bracelets entirely made of gold thanks to dozens of tiny gold springs.
Grace Renee Gallery 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 85377 Hours Tue.–Wed. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Thur.–Sat.10 a.m.–7 p.m. By appointment Sun. and Mon. 480.575.8080 12
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GraceReneeGallery.com
Flex’it Bracelet with Diamonds 18 karat gold and diamond f ebruary 2021
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Artist R. Nelson Parrish began his career as a photographer more than 20 years ago — not to observe the world through a lens, as many photographers aim to do, but to record emotions, time and experiences.
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Amanda Christmann | Photography by Jonas Jungblut
W
When a sawyer creates wooden beams for use in homebuilding or other construction projects, they begin with a raw and natural log. Through a process called hewing, the rounded edges are sliced off, turning the log’s beautiful, flawed and unique natural surface into a flat, standardized plane that can be cut into unremarkable pieces of lumber. The discarded edges of this process, which contain the tree’s individuality, are called “flitch.” They’re considered to be scrap, though some would argue this idea from a philosophical perspective. Whether or not contemporary artist R. Nelson Parrish intended to make a profound statement about trees, create a metaphor about discarded beauty or simply evoke discussions, thoughts and feelings, he’s achieved his goal in his new Narrative Artifacts series. By incorporating flitches, cairns, bioresin and striking color, he has created visceral and tangible narratives that reflect very real aspects of our lives. The Alaskan artist’s Narrative Artifacts series may seem, at first glance, to be a divergence from his earlier work, but look a little closer, and the common threads are there. Beyond striking use of color — or strategic lack of color — and expert technique, Parrish has a knack for depicting the intangible and borderless construct of time in everything he does. “A lot of my work deals with the expansion and contraction of time,” Parrish says. “Narrative Artifacts is about making time tangible. The crux of my entire practice has always been the marriage of concept and craft. I like
to take an idea and I like to execute that idea really, really well.” Vivid, time-lapsed stripes of color define his Sunset Strip Motion Studies series. A profoundly allegorical study of the American flag’s meanings throughout our country’s history are represented in his 21 Flags series. Stark black-and-white snapshots of signs show us who we are in his This Great Land series. Through these creations, Parrish gives us glimpses into moments. What is different about this latest series is that it’s an exploration meant to be touched as much as it is meant to be viewed.
THE PERFECT SLICE OF A MOMENT
Parrish talks about his newest installation at Carefree’s Grace Renee Gallery from behind a screen on FaceTime — another sign of the times, as it were. With untamed curly, brown hair, a casual plaid shirt and wellworn jeans, he looks as approachable as his art. He speaks with candor and intelligence. “Narrative Artifacts is really about finding visceral moments in our lives that we cannot explain or verbalize using traditional verbiage or words, and expressing those moments in color and form,” he says. “Art is often seen as a ‘hands behind your back, only look, can’t touch’ kind of thing. Narrative Artifacts gives the viewer license to touch them. “For example, cairns are stacks of rocks that mark trailheads or paths. Inevitably, they fall and they get rearranged over time. I wanted to take that idea of using the metaphor
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By incorporating flitches, cairns, bio-resin and striking color, contemporary artist R. Nelson Parrish has created visceral and tangible narratives that reflect very real aspects of our lives in his latest series — which is now on exhibit at Carefree’s Grace Renee Gallery.
R. Nelson Parrish says that his Narrative Artifacts series is really about finding visceral moments in our lives that we cannot explain or verbalize using traditional verbiage or words, and expressing those moments in color and form.
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of the trail as life’s journey. Most of our memories have pivotal moments, represented by the cairns, that shape our paths. When we go back and reflect on those moments, it’s often in a non-linear fashion. “Those memories, like cairns, are connected; they belong to each other, but they can be rearranged and viewed in a way that relates and is relevant to our lives right now.” Flitches is a unique element for artwork; but to Parrish, it makes perfect sense. “Almost like a photograph, a flitch represents the perfect slice of a moment,” he says. “It’s the combination of the manmade and the natural and organic versus synthetic. I like that marriage. All of the flitches I use are reclaimed from mills. I see them as these absolutely beautiful moments. Instead of taking a photograph of the moment, I put the experience into the flitches. “Flitches represent a kind of suspension of time. They quite literally hang from the ceiling, suspended in space. They allow the viewer to experience a small slice of that moment, and it opens up a much larger engagement.”
BEYOND SPOKEN WORDS
Like his art, Parrish is better described through actions than in words. He began his career as a photographer more than 20 years ago — not to observe the world through a lens, as many photographers aim to do, but to record emotions, time and experiences. As an avid fan of auto racing, skiing and surfing, he has an obsession with
f ebruary 2021
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As an avid fan of auto racing, skiing and surfing, R. Nelson Parrish has an obsession with speed — not so much for competition, but because of the sensation of adrenaline running through his veins. He’s drawn upon that feeling many times in his work as an artist.
“
Life on this planet isn't very long. If I can make things that continually inspire people after I’m gone, regardless of race, creed, socioeconomic background, or any other category we divide each other into, then I’m doing my job. R. Nelson Parrish
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speed — not so much for competition, but because of the sensation of adrenaline running through his veins. He’s drawn upon that feeling many times in his work. Parrish once served as an intern in the United States Senate. He also once swam 19 miles across the Santa Barbara Channel to experience and understand the color blue. He’s a free but critical thinker, and is one of those fascinating people who can discuss politics and policy as keenly as he can talk about art or music. “If you want to understand something, you have to dive right on in and get to know it,” he says. “A lot of our experiences go beyond spoken words — in fact, there are no words for them. “That’s why I call these ‘artifacts,’” he says of his latest series. “They are the launchpad for what I consider to be art dialogue between art and the viewer. Really what I’m trying to make is those moments.” As such, his art is more of an undeniable calling than a career. “Life on this planet isn't very long,” he says. “If I can make things that continually inspire people after I’m gone, regardless of race, creed, socioeconomic background, or any other category we divide each other into, then I’m doing my job. “At the end of the day, it’s not about me; it’s about the work and how it connects to people. “That’s art.”
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CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY + ART
– AARON HENRY JEWELRY– The hallmarks to Aaron Henry jewelry are design integrity, gemstone quality, fine craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each brilliant piece is hand-crafted bringing classical Old World quality to modern design.
[
February 5–6
Call for private appointment or come by to meet the designer of Aaron Henry Jewelry.
Grace Renee Gallery 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 85377 Hours Tue.–Wed. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Thur.–Sat.10 a.m.–7 p.m. By appointment Sun. and Mon. 480.575.8080 20
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GraceReneeGallery.com
]
Aaron Henry Designs 18-karat gold with diamonds and fine gemstones.
f ebruary 2021
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COMMUNITY
2021 FEBRUARY
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
Jan. 15–March 28
ARIZONA FINE ART EXPO Organizers will transform North Scottsdale into Arizona’s premier venue for collecting fine art during the 10-week Arizona Fine Art Expo. The event will feature 124 patronfriendly artist studios in a 44,000 square-foot space, where guests have a rare chance to meet the artists, see them in action and learn about their journey, inspiration and techniques. $10 season passes; senior, military and youth discounts available. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. 26540 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480837-7163; arizonafineartexpo.com
Dec. 17–March 18
Keep in mind Although Images Arizona magazine has made every effort to publish
SHERRY BLANCHARD STUART SOLO EXHIBITION
Scottsdale artist Sherry Blanchard is
Road, Suite 0586, Scottsdale. 480-
being featured via a solo exhibition.
483-1664; desertstages.org
traditional and representational styles, the artist loves the American West as its history and tradition
other factors associated with the
inspires and informs much of
COVID-19 pandemic. Please use
her work. Free. Mayo Clinic,
22
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comedy “The Odd Couple.” See Stages Theatre, 7014 E. Camelback
that illuminates her work in both
confirm dated details.
production of Neil Simon’s classic
Center for Humanities in Medicine,
at press time, some events may be
the contact information provided to
Desert Stages Theatre will present its
website for times and price. Desert
Known for the richness of color
with social distancing measures and
THE ODD COUPLE
In conjunction with the Mayo Clinic
the most up-to-date information canceled or rescheduled to comply
Jan. 22–Feb. 14
Building 3 — Second Floor Hall, 5777 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. sherryblanchardstuart.com
Jan. 26–Feb. 7 GET HAPPY
The Phoenix Theatre Company will present Angela Ingersoll in a concert of Judy Garland classics. See website for prices. 7 p.m. Central United Methodist Church, 1875 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-254-2151; phoenixtheatre.com
Jan. 29–Feb. 21
WALKIN’ THE LINE
Feb. 2–28
Arizona Broadway Theatre will present a
FRITZ SCHOLDER EXHIBITION
tribute show during which audiences can
The Larsen Gallery will host an exhibition
relive the amazing songs of Johnny Cash.
of Fritz Scholder’s works that will include
The show will feature Scott Moreau, who
original paintings, limited edition graphics,
starred as Cash in the national tour of the
sculptures and books. Having sold more than
Broadway hit “Million Dollar Quartet.”
300 of the artist’s works at a value exceeding
See website for price and times. Arizona
$6 million, the gallery will celebrate Scholder’s
Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane,
legacy as an important 20th-century figure.
Peoria. 623-776-8400; azbroadway.org
Free. Larsen Gallery, 3705 N. Bishop Lane, Scottsdale. 480-941-0900; larsengallery.com
Feb. 1
GEOLOGY ROCKS WEBINAR
Feb. 4
CAREFREE ART WALK
The Holland Center will welcome guest
Stroll, shop, dine and enjoy an evening
speaker Chad Kwiatkowski for a webinar
celebrating the arts in downtown Carefree
about the geology of the Cave Creek area.
while helping to support local businesses
$10. 6:30 p.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
and local creativity — which makes our Arizona culture a better place to live,
Feb. 2
ANTHROBITES: THE ARTS
work and visit. Begin at any gallery, then continue on to other participating galleries. Enjoy a diverse display of artistic styles and mediums, meet the artists, enjoy
The Holland Center will welcome
refreshments and engage in conversation
anthropologist Jan Downey for a virtual
about art and architecture. Free. 4–8 p.m.
discussion on the subject of art. Participants
See website for participating galleries.
will learn how art is conceived by people in
visitcarefree.com
different societies, what its function is and why we sometimes disagree about its definition. $20. 10 a.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
Feb. 5
Feb. 2
The Holland Center will welcome Nicolette
ASU CHAMBER WINDS
DESTROYED AND DAMAGED ART Bonnstetter for a virtual discussion about
Jason Thompson will conduct an uplifting
who would destroy art and why they
evening of music and song with Arizona
would do it as part of her Art, Coffee and
State University’s Chamber Winds. $10. 7:30
Conversation class. $5. 10 a.m. RSVP.
p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing
hollandcenter.org
Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480499-8587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org
f ebruary 2021
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Feb. 14
VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER Chef Marcellino Verzino will create a special menu for Valentine’s Day that will feature a diverse selection of favorite dishes from which guests may choose. Delectable entrees will include Santa Lucia, filet mignon and Zuppa di Pesce Royale. Guests can pair their meal with imported Italian wines and beers or enjoy a special cocktail from the chef’s personalized mixology list. The memorable evening will also feature music by Monte Procopio. Additionally, the chef will be preparing his special panna cotta dessert throughout the weekend. Marcellino Ristorante will also offer beautiful “Baskets of Amore” to-go for those who prefer a romantic evening at home. Marcellino Ristorante, 7114 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. 480-9909500; marcellinoristorante.com
Feb. 5
DORRANCE DANCE
Jewelry's lines are design integrity,
Free. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. RSVP.
gemstone quality, fine craftsmanship
visiongallery.org/vision-kids
and attention to detail. Free. Grace
Founded by Michelle Dorrance,
Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Hum
Dorrance Dance will perform a
Road, Suite 7, Carefree. 480-575-
program featuring the exhilarating
8080; gracereneegallery.com
“Myelination,” the Bessie Awardwinning “Three to One” and the whimsical “Jungle Blues.” $25+.
BROADWAY PERSPECTIVES: A CONCERT CELEBRATING DIVERSITY
St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587;
VISION KIDS: IMAGINATIVE PORTRAITS
scottsdaleperformingarts.org
Chandler's Vision Gallery will host a
Broadway cabaret in a unique
class during which Clayton Swenson
recognition of Black History
will encourage youth aged 6–16 to
Month. The show will feature some
practice their drawing skills with a
of Broadway’s top Black artists
series of fun portrait prompts. Students
performing their signature works
will learn life drawing techniques
as well as roles that Black artists
Grace Renee Gallery will welcome
as they engage their imagination to
have not traditionally played. $28+.
the designer of Aaron Henry Jewelry
illustrate how they would like to be
8 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the
during an event that showcases
seen. The workshop, which will be
Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second
the brand's brilliant pieces — each
offered virtually on Zoom, is designed
St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587;
of which is hand-crafted, bringing
to inspire children's creativity and give
scottsdaleperformingarts.org
classical Old World quality to modern
students the opportunity to develop
design. The hallmarks of Aaron Henry
important avenues for self-expression.
8 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second
Feb. 5 and 6
AARON HENRY JEWELRY
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Feb. 6
Feb. 6
i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m fe b r uary 2 02 1
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will present a brand-new
Feb. 6–Aug. 22
DIEDRICK BRACKENS: ARK OF BULRUSHES Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art debuts an exhibition with new works by artist Diedrick Brackens that incorporate textiles with ideas of agency to advance change. In this series of works, Brackens forms visual allegories of emancipation by intertwining symbology from the Underground Railroad and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, offering a meditation on liberation, the climate crisis and the power of craft. The colorful and textural landscapes are filled with constellations, rivers, coded patterns, boats and Black figures that, together, create narratives of hope in times of oppression and turbulence. $10; youth, student and senior discounts available. Wednesday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-874-4666; smoca.org
Feb. 9
ANTHROBITES: SHAMANS AND HEALERS The Holland Center will welcome anthropologist Jan Downey for a virtual discussion about the important role shamans and healers have held within small-scale societies for most of human history. $20. 10 a.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
Feb. 11
FERMENTED FOODS WEBINAR The Holland Center will welcome guest speaker Garden Goddess Suzette Smith for a virtual presentation about how fermented foods can boost your immune system. $25. 10 a.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
Feb. 12
TRAVEL TALK: FREQUENT FLYER MILES The Holland Center will welcome guest speaker David Decker for a presentation about how to get, use and maximize the value of frequent flyer miles. Both in-person and virtual attendance options are available. $10. 10:30 a.m. RSVP. The Holland Center, 34250 N 60th St, Scottsdale. 480-488-1090; hollandcenter.org
Feb. 13
GOLDEN REEF STAMP MILL DEMONSTRATION Arizona’s only fully operational ten-stamp ore crushing mill will run several outdoor demonstrations at Cave Creek Museum. Watch history come alive as the ten 1,000-pound stamps slam down in synchronized precision and hear the pounding echo against the desert foothills — just as it did more than 140 years ago. Also on exhibit outdoors on the museum campus are various pieces of equipment from the early mining days of Arizona and many agricultural tools used at local farms and ranches. See website for times. Cave Creek Museum, 6140 E. Skyline Drive, Cave Creek. 480-488-2764; cavecreekmuseum.org f ebruary 2021
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Feb. 20–Sept. 5 VOICE-OVER: ZINEB SEDIRA
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art presents an exhibition of the personal and political work of artist Zineb Sedira, who creates work with expansive themes around memory, migration and the archive. Posing important questions on the relation between history and aesthetics, trauma and form, the artist has established herself as a significant voice in a global contemporary art world conversation. $10; youth, student and senior discounts available. Wednesday– Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-874-4666; smoca.org
Photo Courtesy of Thierry Bal
Feb. 13
DESERT FOOTHILLS LIBRARY’S VIRTUAL CELEBRATION Desert Foothills Library will host a
power of the human spirit. $36+.
Feb. 16
Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second
ANTHROBITES: SEX AND GENDER
St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587;
The Holland Center will welcome
scottsdaleperformingarts.org
anthropologist Jan Downey for
7:30 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the
creative re-imagining of its annual
a virtual discussion about the
gala, which is part of a month-long
difference between sex and gender.
celebration of the library’s past, present
Feb. 15
$20. 10 a.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
artisanal charcuterie sampler, a bottle
LUNCH AND LEARN: GNOCCHI SORRENTINA
of champagne, a floral centerpiece, a
Marcellino Ristorante will host a
commemorative library memento, a
cooking class during which chef
special “I Love My Library Month”
Marcellino Verzino will teach
MERZ TRIO CONCERT
video and access to a silent auction
participants to cook a blissful dish
Praised for their fresh and surprising
and raffle. $125+. dfla.org
that features light purple potato,
interpretations, Merz Trio will
pasta and parmigiana orbs in a
perform a concert of interpretations
creamy gorgonzola sauce. After the
of traditional classical music and
class, guests will enjoy a delectable
21st-century compositions with violist
lunch of the chef’s dish, a fresh
Jordan Bak. $19+. 7:30 p.m. Scottsdale
and future. Participants will receive an
Feb. 14
RENÉ MARIE QUINTET CONCERT
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experience and an affirmation of the
Feb. 16
organic salad and Marcellino’s
Center for the Performing Arts, 7380
Jazz vocalist René Marie will
delicious biscotti. $50. 1 p.m. RSVP.
E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-
perform a concert of music that
Marcellino Ristorante, 7114 E.
8587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org
is an exploration of the bright
Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. 480-990-
and dark corners of the human
9500; marcellinoristorante.com
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Feb. 17
HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE WEBINAR Hospice of the Valley will sponsor an online talk through the Holland Center to inform participants how hospice supports patients and families in their homes, when hospice is appropriate and how Medicare and insurance companies cover the cost. $10. 11 a.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
Feb. 18
THE IMPACT OF MUSIC ON YOUR BRAIN The Holland Center will welcome guest speaker Dr. Ron Bonnstetter for a virtual presentation about how listening to music can decrease anxiety, speed healing, increase optimism and decrease pain. $10. 10 a.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
Feb. 19 and 20
BUYING AND APPRAISAL EVENT With a reputation for offering expert advice to people looking to buy, sell, trade or consign coin collections and precious metals since 1980, American Federal Rare Coin and Bullion will partner with renowned appraisers from the worlds of jewelry, watches and antiques to host a two-day-only buying and appraisal event. Free,
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fair and honest valuations will be available as will no-pressure, onthe-spot cash offers to buy. Free. American Federal Rare Coin and Bullion, 500 Easy St., Carefree. 800-221-7694; americanfederal.com
Feb. 20
THE NIGHT THE GRANDFATHERS DANCED Artist Katalin Ehling will participate in Desert Foothills Library’s month-long Love Your Library celebration with a virtual reading from “The Night the Grandfathers Danced,” a book in which her artwork was used. During the virtual program, Ehling will encourage children to create their own art inspired by the story and share with them what it is like to be an artist. Free. 11 a.m. dfla.org
Feb. 20–28
STAR STARS: THE FRANCHISE AWAKENS Starlight Community Theater will present its production of “Star Stars: The Franchise Awakens,” a loving, loopy parody of fandom
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and a certain space adventure. See website for price and times. Starlight Community Theater, 1611 W. Whispering Wind Drive, Suite 9, Phoenix. starlightcommunitytheater.com
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Feb. 20
VISION KIDS: NOT-SO-EMPTY BOWLS Inspired by the Empty Bowls Project, Chandler's Vision Gallery will host a class during which Sylvia Fugmann-Brongo will teach youth aged 6–16 to create imaginative bowls out of air-dry clay representing the things in their lives that nourish them. Families are encouraged to bring a canned food donation for a local food bank when they pick up supplies for the workshop which, offered virtually on Zoom, is designed to inspire children's creativity and give students the opportunity to develop important avenues for self-expression. Free. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. RSVP. visiongallery.org/vision-kids
Feb. 23
ANTHROBITES: RACE AND ETHNICITY
Feb. 25–28
13 AUDITIONS
Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-776-8400; azbroadway.org
Desert Foothills Theater will audition
The Holland Center will welcome
potential cast members aged 12–15 for
anthropologist Jan Downey for a
its upcoming production of “13.” RSVP.
virtual discussion about how our
See website for times. The Holland
understanding of race and ethnicity
Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale.
JEREMY JORDAN CONCERT
informs our relationships with others.
480-488-1981; dftheater.org
Scottsdale Center for the Performing
$20. 10 a.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
Feb. 23
Feb. 27
Arts will welcome film, television,
Feb. 26–March 21
cabaret and Broadway star
CRAZY FOR GERSHWIN
Jeremy Jordan as part of its Seth
Arizona Broadway Theatre fan-
Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second
Pianist Jeffrey Siegel will explore
favorite Kurtis Overby will perform a
St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587;
Chopin’s sparkling Waltz in E-flat,
musical spectacular that will transport
scottsdaleperformingarts.org
gorgeous Nocturne in F-sharp,
audiences back to the days when
diabolical Scherzo No. 2 and
Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
masterful B-flat minor Sonata, which
danced across the silver screen to
boasts the most famous funeral
classic Gershwin hits. The toe-tapping
march ever composed. $25+. 7:30
production will feature favorite tunes
VISION KIDS: POP-UP ACCORDION BOOKS
p.m. Scottsdale Center for the
such as “I’ve Got Rhythm,” “A Foggy
Chandler's Vision Gallery will host a
Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second
Day,” “Let’s Call The Whole Thing
class during which Jennaway Peterson
St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587;
Off” and “S’Wonderful,” coupled with
will teach youth aged 6–16 some fun
scottsdaleperformingarts.org
musical mashups and more. See website
bookmaking skills with a zig-zagging
CHOPIN: TORMENT AND TRIUMPH
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for price and times. Arizona Broadway
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Rudetsky concert series. $45+. 8 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the
Feb. 27
accordion design. When the book is created, students will add the content of their choosing and a surprise pop-up element. The workshop, which will be offered virtually on Zoom, is designed to inspire children's creativity and give students the opportunity to develop important avenues for self-expression. Free. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. RSVP. visiongallery.org/vision-kids
Feb. 28
BURKINA DREAMS IN THE DESERT AZ63 — the trio of Sonja Branch, Arouna and Zaza Diarra — will play a mix of string instruments, percussion and voice during a concert that is part of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts MusicaNovacurated classical lounge series. The trio's music encompasses a wide variety of styles — including ancient Bambara songs, music from the African diaspora and original compositions and improvisations inspired by each member’s musical background. In-person and livestream ticketing options are available. $24+. 2 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. musicanovaaz.org
March 1
WILDLIFE WISDOM The Holland Center will welcome Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center’s education director Robyn Moul for a Desert Awareness Committee presentation that features live animals. Free. 6:30 p.m. The Holland Center, 34250 N 60th St, Scottsdale. 480-488-1090; hollandcenter.org
March 2
ANTHROBITES: CULTURAL APPROPRIATION The Holland Center will welcome anthropologist Jan Downey for a virtual discussion about cultural appropriation and how it differs from cultural appreciation. $20. 10 a.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
March 5 and 6
OH SOLO WAINWRIGHT: AN EVENING WITH RUFUS Vocalist, songwriter and composer Rufus Wainwright will perform a concert of songs from his self-titled debut album “Poses” and his second album “Want One.” $55+. 8 p.m. Friday; 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org
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KIWANIS HOSTS ‘MISTY EVENT’ The Kiwanis Club of Carefree recently hosted a “Misty Event” at the Sanderson Ford Pavilion in Carefree. Chaired by the organization’s president Kimberly Marie Jack, the program featured a patriotic song and story by Ted Dimon followed by a presentation to Desert Foothills Library of a $50,000 donation to support its teen room. Donnie Veal then provided novel insight into his career as an aspiring professional baseball player and a major league baseball scout. kiwaniscarefree.org
March 7 MOMIX
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will welcome MOMIX, a company of dancer-illusionists under the direction of Moses Pendleton. Known internationally for presenting work of exceptional inventiveness and physical beauty for more than 40 years, MOMIX has been celebrated for its ability to conjure up a world of surrealistic images, using props, light, shadow, humor and the human body. $29+. 7:30 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-4998587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org
KIWANIS RECAPS CHRISTMAS EVENT Carefree’s regular December meeting,
SEDONA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL POSTPONED
Eric’s House grief specialist Greg
Sedona International Film Festival
Eckerman shared a presentation of
organizers have postponed the 27th
the possible depression of parents,
annual event, originally scheduled
relatives and friends who have lost
for Feb. 20–28, to June 12–20 due
children to suicide, and the need
to the surging COVID-19 pandemic.
to recognize and support these
New offerings will include outdoor
people during the holiday season.
screenings of films and events
The presentation was followed
at venues throughout Sedona.
by a gift-wrapping session during
Modifications at screening venues will
which more than a dozen volunteers
ensure appropriate social distancing
prepared more than 100 presents
and masks will be required for films
that, in addition to hundreds of
scheduled at Mary D. Fisher Theater,
presents wrapped earlier in the
Sedona Performing Arts Center
week, were given to recipients
and the two largest auditoriums
of the nonprofit organization’s
at Harkins Sedona 6. A virtual
Adopt a Family program. The
component for online screening of
Upscale Singers provided festive
films will also be part of this year’s
entertainment throughout the event.
event. sedonafilmfestival.com
During the Kiwanis Club of
kiwaniscarefree.org
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Writer Shannon Severson Photography Courtesy of Alexi Rose Productions
C
Carlos Marquez and Michael Stone know that when we gather around the table, we share more than just a meal. We also share memories. The pair built their new Cave Creek restaurant Ofrenda with that concept in mind, serving Pan-Latin cuisine in an environment that evokes artisanship, exquisite attention to detail and the connective roots we all share. As “ofrenda” translates to “offering” in English, the restaurant’s decor features a colorful Day of the Deadstyle altar, paying homage to family and heritage. The space itself is alive with vibrant hues and artwork — an atmosphere that welcomes with open arms. Owners Marquez and Stone may not share a last name, but they say their friendship is akin to being family. At the end of 2019, as Marquez was reimagining a new future for his restaurant, previously known as Indigo Crow, he and Stone began to lay the groundwork for a new joint venture. “Our friendship comes first,” Stone says. “We are completely different human beings, but we’re like a family. Ofrenda is an offshoot of that friendship. The concept and brand is derived from the connection we have with each other and with our friends and family. With Carlos’ engineering vision and knowledge of food and restaurant operations and my experience in restaurant development, we knew we had the bones of something that could be terrific.”
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The building blocks of that “something terrific” aren’t just found in the steel beams that hold up the roof of this airy eatery. Marquez sanded and polished every single raw-edged rosewood table by hand. Rounded stone plates and bowls both hold the heat of the dishes and serve as a neutral canvas for the bright colors and flavors of each culinary delight. Overhead, the lighting blooms in bright yellow and orange, the work of a skilled glassblower in Mexico. The bar is lined in barrel staves taken from tequila barrels. The restaurant’s distinctive Marigold logo is repeated in art and custom-made medallions on the walls. The medallions were created from cattle hide by Stone’s friend — world-renowned luxury designer Kyle Bunting. “Kyle also did the medallion art piece on our second floor,” Stone says. “He’s a dear friend of mine and very gracious with his art and craft. What Carlos has done with his handcrafted tables and meticulous nature with which he went about it … our customers notice and see the difference. Everything in the restaurant has been picked for a reason.” Marquez, who is also Ofrenda’s executive chef, cannot recall a time when he wasn’t working in a kitchen. His mother is a native of Chihuahua, Mexico and emigrated to El Paso, Texas at 6 years old when her chemist father was hired at an American company. He has always enjoyed visiting most of his family across the border and recalls a time when the family could walk across to get all the best ingredients for making Mexican food at home. “I’ve been in the kitchen since I could walk,” says Marquez. “Food is such a huge part of my heritage. The kitchen is always the heart of the home. The most important talks about life happen around the kitchen
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“
When you walk through the doors of Ofrenda, you’re walking into our home. Everything on the menu is filled with heart and inspiration. Carlos Marquez
table. I grew up with that and I love the warmth and love of family and friends. And the tequila wasn’t bad, either.” Speaking of tequila, most of Ofrenda’s 600-plus bottles of tequila are housed in the stunning Agave Library, in a rounded turret on the second floor. The restaurant hosts special tastings and pairing menu events that educate and delight their customers and has a newsletter with information about agave and recipe tips. There is also a little trove of cigars in a specially built, walk-in humidor on the first floor. With so many areas of the restaurant that can easily be utilized for private events, both indoors and outdoors, Ofrenda lives up to its mission of gathering people to enjoy a meal, a sip and a special occasion — and do it with aplomb.
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When Marquez attended culinary school and in his first job as a corporate executive chef, he learned the intricacies of the restaurant business that aren’t taught in the classroom. He and Stone have traveled and researched to bring the finest in decor and ingredients. “It’s fun being able to research and mix cultures,” Stone says. “I’m German-Irish and I have a love for Mexico. Mexican culture is part of who we are in the Southwest. Our commonality is much deeper than anything.” That cultural mix keeps diners coming back for more of the specialties from the wood-fired oven and grill and deliciously crafted cocktails from the bar — like the signature Marigold made with gin, strawberry, guava, Aperol, lime and Xtabentun, an anise liqueur from Mexico’s Yucatán region. “When you walk through the doors of Ofrenda, you’re walking into our home,” Marquez says. “Everything on the menu is filled with heart and inspiration. Our whole-tail lobster tacos are something you don’t see anywhere. We have a lot of unexpected things that have been very popular. Our fideo gnocchi is made
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from native mesquite flour, and we serve nopales (cactus) as well as trout, pasta, salmon and an incredibly juicy tomahawk steak.” Chef de cuisine Daniel Masferrer worked hard to create an inventive menu of elevated classics and new selections unique to Ofrenda. His grandmother’s traditional Salvadoran style tamales share the stage with a living mole made with apples for a lighter flavor perfect for accompanying fish. “When Carlos and Michael teamed up, I knew cool changes were coming,” Masferrer says. “I was excited to join the Ofrenda team and to have the chance to put my heart and soul into developing the recipes. It’s nice to use as many local ingredients as possible. I’m into foraging and I harvest prickly pears, cacti and mesquite pods. We will eventually source all the nopales on the menu ourselves. It makes the menu more personal.” And personal is exactly the goal of Ofrenda. The kitchen team happily accommodates a range of diets and dietary restrictions with many items being naturally gluten-free. The sauces are generally served on the side and the emphasis is on flavor, not overwhelming spice. It’s a gathering of flavors and people that will please most any palate. “Ofrenda is something that stays true to what we want in a restaurant experience,” Stone says. “When we say, ‘It’s a privilege to serve you,’ we mean it. We truly feel that what we bring to the table, day after day, is something special.” Ofrenda 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek 480-488-2187 theofrenda.com
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Writer Joseph J. Airdo | Photography by Lisa A. Langell
L
Love is in the air. Couples all around the world this month will enjoy expensive, candle-lit dinners and exchange candy, flowers, jewelry and teddy bears to show their affection for one another. Pet names will be used, expressions of adoration will be spoken and romance will rain down. Valentine’s Day offers all of us the perfect excuse to make our significant others aware of just how much they light up our lives. Yet many view it as an inconvenient obligation instead. Even more resort to very unloving behavior the other 364 days of the year. Both are qualities that are unique to humans as you will never find examples of such in the animal world. Lisa A. Langell knows this better than most people as she has been observing and photographing animals for nearly her entire life. From that wealth of experience, she firmly believes that animals experience a range of love and other emotions.
“Love has many definitions but one of the simplest is ‘feeling deep affection for someone,’” Langell says. “I find it impossible to watch animal behavior without noticing an apparent deep, strong affection and connection with their young, their mates and many times even their relatives and members of their social circles.” The photographer also believes that we can learn a lot from animals — especially with respect to relationships. Whether it is a sandhill crane dancing to express frustration, a black vulture’s lifelong loyalty to its mate or a cliff chipmunk’s adoption of co-denning behavior, animals can teach us some pretty powerful lessons when it comes to love. Images Arizona hopes that this month’s photo essay featuring the various types of love — from romantic to familial — as expressed by those more emotionally evolved than we humans will relay those lessons thereby making us all better equipped at showing appreciation to those who light up our lives not just on Valentine’s Day but all year round.
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LOVE BIRDS
Lisa A. Langell has long held a special affinity for all animals but birds have been a particular fascination for her since she was just 8 years old. “At first, I loved them for their color and species diversity,” Langell says. “It was a challenge to improve my ability to identify the various species by sight and — as I learned more — by song. “Today, I still love birds for those reasons, but also because science indicates that they have evolved from theropods — a type of carnivorous dinosaur — more than 150 million years ago. It is fascinating to me to watch these little, beautiful ‘dinosaurs’ flit and fly about.” However, the thing that draws Langell to birds the most is their unique courting behaviors. The moment she sees a bird engaging in such rituals, she feels compelled to stop whatever it is that she may be doing and observe them. “What birds go through to attract a mate is absolutely fascinating,” Langell explains. “They sport phenomenal colors, give visually spectacular aerial displays that would compete with the best of the Blue Angels, dance like Baryshnikov, sing like Pavarotti, elaborately decorate their surroundings and seduce and charm the female — all while fighting off contenders for the hope of earning her love and affection.” Moreover, many birds migrate thousands of miles to do so. “If it is true that partners get from a relationship as much as what they put into it, imagine how much we could gain from that kind of determination, dedication and love,” Langell says.
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While humans tend to lash out, shout, fight, argue or become silent when frustrated, sandhill cranes simply dance. Imagine how much better — and funny — it could be if every time we got upset with our spouse or partner, we just danced around the living room instead. Lisa A. Langell
DELIGHTFUL SURPRISES
Lisa A. Langell believes that one of the best assets a photographer like herself can have when capturing animals on camera is a firm understanding of their behavior because it helps one anticipate the types of movement an animal will engage in thereby facilitating “the perfect shot.” She says that watching an animal's behavior often offers delightful surprises — none more so than when said behavior mimics that of humans. “I have photographed cliff chipmunks engaging in nosing — a type of social greeting that looks a lot like they give one another a kiss,” Langell explains. “I have also observed male cardinals giving food to their mate and a wild mare gently encouraging its foal to tread into the water with her. “Many times, I have witnessed shorebirds sheltering their young under their wings. I was utterly awestruck a few years ago when I came upon a pair of red foxes engaged in a ceremonious grieving ritual because their young were killed by a predator just moments before.” Langell adds that evidence animals experience a range of love and other emotions is especially obvious when they have lost a loved one.
Cliff chipmunks can teach those of us in loving relationships that being stuck in your ways is not always the best way to behave. Historically, cliff chipmunks den alone. But new research in Arizona has discovered some of these creatures have adopted co-denning behavior — even outside of breeding season. This could assist them socially and in survival. We could all benefit from taking a page from the evolving rules of cliff chipmunks. Lisa A. Langell
“For example, elephants notoriously mourn the loss of their children and family members, exhibiting complex physical signs of sadness and engaging in grieving rituals that can last for years,” she explains.
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I find it impossible to watch animal behavior without noticing an apparent deep, strong affection and connection with their young, their mates and many times even their relatives and members of their social circles. Lisa A. Langell
NO STRINGS ATTACHED The lessons about love that animals can teach us are not exclusive to just romantic relationships. Photographer Lisa A. Langell believes that our interpretations of familial love are also often outdone by our four-legged or feathered friends out in nature.
“We see protection and caring of offspring to be a consistent theme among most animals,” Langell says. “For example, killdeer and ducks commonly feign broken wings to lure predators away from the nest. American avocets, normally docile, will become extremely aggressive on breeding and nesting grounds, dive-bombing and loudly protesting intruders — all for the sake of protecting young.” Langell adds that animals lovingly raise their young with one goal in mind — to be independent, healthy and skilled so that
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they can survive well as adults in a challenging world. “There are simply no additional ‘strings’ or expectations in return,” Langell says. “Their children are free to do this in whatever manner they choose. With humans, the concept of giving without expectations — or ‘strings’ — in return can really strengthen the bonds and love within families. Doing so removes the tallykeeping’ that many of us incorporate into our relationships.” Langell notes that tally-keeping and “strings” have manipulative origins and that relationships are rarely ever strengthened through manipulative means. “This is a powerful lesson for us all,” she says.
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Lisa Langell meets every challenge she confronts. And she has intentionally confronted a number of different challenges across a wide array of areas. Over the years, Langell has worked as a master floral designer, a licensed psychologist, an instructor at a university, an international consultant in K–12 education, the chief business development officer of an education technology company, a researcher, a writer and an artist. However, through all of those challenges, photography has remained a strong calling. Camera in-hand, bird-watching ignited Langell’s lifelong love of nature when she was just a child. In 2010, she turned her passion for photography into a business. Five years later, she left the corporate and consulting world behind and transitioned to photography full-time, applying the vast knowledge that she had gained from each of her experiences to her art. Today, Langell is a full-time, award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in several prestigious publications, galleries and more. An ambassador for Tamron and FotoPro, she also currently sits on the board of directors for the North American Nature Photography Association. Passionate about instruction as well, Langell thrives on creating innovative learning experiences that enrich, invigorate and expand photographers’ minds emotionally, creatively and intellectually. She places a high value on honesty, integrity, care and concern for everything she delivers to her clients and to the photographic community.
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“Great photography shouldn't just document what you saw or even how you experienced it,” Langell says. “It should capture how you want your audience to experience that moment.”
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KEELER’S NEIGHBORHOOD STEAKHOUSE Writer Jo Gemmill, Carefree Restaurant Association Portrait Photography by Carl Schultz
O
Of all the businesses affected by the pandemic this past year, restaurants have been left with the greatest challenges in adapting to the ever-changing world in which we now find ourselves. At the beginning of 2020, Carefree restaurants were full-swing into another great first quarter. Things looked optimistic for a busy high-season as owners continued with their plans for a successful year. Parties were booked, reservations were made and the phones kept ringing. Everything changed on March 17, 2020. That day, members of Carefree Restaurant Association took the initiative to close their in-house dining as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of Arizona. Within days, an executive order from Arizona’s governor formally locked down all in-house dining across the state and customers were advised to stay home.
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“
Carefree’s restaurant owners all agree on one thing — it is the continued loyalty and support from customers that has lifted up spirits and kept restaurants going throughout the pandemic. The businesses have risen to the challenge but it is the community that has given them the confidence and commitment to continue through adversity.
With the mandatory closures, restaurant owners were left with the unprecedented challenge of figuring out how to operate a dining establishment in the midst of a pandemic. At first glance, it appeared to be an insurmountable task. However, our restaurant community has resilient, imaginative and innovative professionals who over the past year have proven that they were up to the challenge. From offering groceries and essential items (including that elusive toilet paper); making crockpot dinners to-go and hosting tailgate parties in Raven’s View Wine Bar’s parking lot; enjoying drive-in breakfasts complete with roller-skating servers at Black Mountain Café; and partnering with delivery services to bring food directly to customers, everyone found a creative way to survive. And Carefree’s family-owned restaurants have survived — a remarkable feat given that, according to the National Restaurant Association, more than 110,000 restaurants (or about 17% of the country’s total restaurants) have closed either permanently or long-term during the pandemic.
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ENGLISH ROSE TEA ROOM
ALBERTO RISTORANTE
KEELER’S NEIGHBORHOOD STEAKHOUSE
PIZZICATA
RAVEN’S VIEW WINE BAR
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GIORDANO’S TRATTORIA ROMANA
Our restaurants now offer new services they probably would never have considered before. Curbside service became the new norm for many, as customers ordered and paid for meals ahead of time then pulled up to a designated parking space and waited in the safety of their own car while food was delivered to them. The town of Carefree was particularly helpful in spreading the word about curbside service throughout the community, printing custom signage for each restaurant to reserve designated parking spots for guests. “We were seeing the effects of the Canadian border closure and really missing our Canadian customers,” says Alberto Liani, owner of Alberto Ristorante. “But, at the same time, our take-out business was up 60% as our locals found new ways to support us.” One restaurateur even courageously debuted a brand-new dining establishment as Pomodoro — the sister restaurant to Pizzicata in Spanish Village — opened its doors in Cave Creek during the pandemic. Nonetheless, 2020 was an emotional rollercoaster. Restaurant owners had to become medical technicians (taking temperatures), face mask enforcers and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention experts alongside ever-changing dayto-day responsibilities — which included being the busser, the server, the bartender, the barista, the line cook and the dishwasher. Everyone needed to be flexible in order to keep their doors open. Reductions in manpower, services and allowed capacity in dining rooms had a direct impact on staff, too. Paul Keeler of Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse recalls the kindness and generosity of guests during the worst months of last year.
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BLACK MOUNTAIN COFFEE
VENUES CAFÉ
CONFLUENCE
“One customer left a $400 gratuity for staff on a check for $25,” he says. “Another ‘paid it forward’ and, on two separate occasions during our happy hour, bought drinks for all seated at our ‘socially distanced’ bar. This then continued throughout the evening with random acts of kindness as guests bought drinks for others.” There were brighter days amongst the gloom. Adele Giordano of Giordano’s Trattoria Romana recalls a moment in the fall during which a young couple who had come to the restaurant for their first date came back for dinner during the pandemic. “At one point in the evening, the man got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend,” Giordano says. “The entire restaurant was clapping and cheering as the couple danced to our music. It was very emotional.” Carefree’s restaurant owners all agree on one thing — it is the continued loyalty and support from customers that has lifted up spirits and kept restaurants going throughout the pandemic. The businesses have risen to the challenge but it is the community that has given them the confidence and commitment to continue through adversity. At the English Rose Tea Room, phone calls came daily during the lockdown from customers who were just wanting to check in and make sure everyone was doing OK and promising to return as soon as dinein service was allowed. Catherine Marr, owner of Venues Café, says some customers now come by three times a week just to dine on her newly extended outdoor patio where they feel “comfortable and safe.”
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Despite the challenges, a number of restaurateurs even participated in the Carefree Restaurant Week last fall, during which special menus were prepared for two-course lunches and three- or four-course dinners. These options were made available for both curbside pick-up and in-house dining. Unlike the early days of April when it was rare to know someone with COVID-19, many people now unfortunately know first-hand the impact of the virus on their friends, family members or work colleagues. So it is with hope and optimism that we look forward to 2021. A new year brings another new restaurant to Carefree. Athens on Easy Street — a Greek-inspired restaurant owned and operated by Augie Athenson and his family — offers the community a menu that includes typical Greek fare such as spanakopita, moussaka, souvlaki and of course gyros. With Valentine’s Day approaching, Carefree Restaurant Week slated for the spring and a new Art and Foodie Stampede event in April, there is no better time to discover the culinary delights of your own neighborhood. On behalf of everyone at Carefree Restaurant Association, thank you for your continued patronage. We look forward to serving you in the future. carefreerestaurants.com
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Writer Shannon Severson
i mby a g eBryan s a r i zBlack o n a . cand o m Loralei fe b rLazurek uary 2 02 1 Photography 50
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There’s something special about the reliable touchstones in life. Familiar traditions, places we return to again and again that, of course, change a bit with time, but still retain the charm and essence of what first made them memorable. On a corner in the picturesque town of Carefree, where Ho and Hum roads meet, sits the iconic Historic Spanish Village — one of the first buildings constructed in the community back in 1969. The white stucco arches leading to an enchanting courtyard have welcomed generations of locals and visitors, many of whom return year after year, sharing a childhood memory with grandchildren now in tow. It’s more than a collection of upscale art galleries, shops and restaurants; it’s an experience. “It’s such a unique place,” says Bruce Raskin, who owns the property with his wife, Kim. “The property has an amazing history; Carefree’s founder, Tom Darlington and his crew used to hang out where Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse is now. “In these times, it is ideal because there is so much outdoor space. People walk their dogs, wander by to look at the shops or dine outside. The location, the tenants and the patrons are really special. The sense of community and history here reflect a sense of place.” The village has seen hard times and good. The Raskins’ renovation efforts have brought the property to 100% occupancy, up from just 22% four years ago. These days, this destination is experiencing a revitalization that stays true to its roots as a center of arts and culture and it is poised to play a central role in the future of Carefree. The Raskins’ trips to Southern Spain inspired them to create an experience of tastes, sights and sounds that enhance the reasons people already have for visiting this beautiful little corner of the desert. They worked closely with the town of Carefree and its vision for drawing more visitors and making the area’s shopping, retail and cultural experiences more cohesive, while maintaining a variety of 100% independent small businesses.
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Carefree’s economic development director Steve Prokopek says Historic Spanish Village fits exceptionally well into the town holistically. “We are positioning ourselves in the marketplace of experience-based shopping and they have shown there’s a demand for more retail in the area — especially quality restaurants,” Prokopek adds. “We are very happy with what Raskin and Associates has accomplished and the level of retail they’ve brought to the community.”
GRACE RENEE GALLERY The courtyard at Historic Spanish Village has expanded its stone sculpture garden to include 24 new, extraordinary works by some of Zimbabwe’s most gifted artists. The sculptures are part of the Zuva Gallery Collection, which is owned and curated by longtime gallerist Thomas Obert. “There are 24 different sculptures of all sizes by 12 different artists,” Obert says. “These are the best of the best Zimbabwean stone sculptors from the Shona people of the country. These artists are continuing a centuriesold tradition. Some of the earliest examples found at the Great Zimbabwe Ruins date back over 700 years.” All pieces are available for purchase through Grace Renee Gallery. owner Shelly Spence, a longtime tenant, has expanded the square-footage of her gallery that features fine contemporary art as well as exquisite luxury jewelry. “I love having Grace Renee Gallery at Historic Spanish Village,” Spence says. “Even before you walk in to see the art, you already feel like you’re somewhere special. With the addition of the sculptures Tom has brought in, it is a magnificent place to roam through and enjoy. It really has to be seen and experienced in person.” gracereneegallery.com
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DESERT TREASURES Among the many places at Historic Spanish Village in which visitors may discover just the right gift or service, the shop that has been around the longest is Desert Treasures, established in 1973. Owner Barbara Vander Leest recalls many family vacations to the Carefree and Cave Creek area dating back to 1962. Her parents fell in love with the area, eventually settled here full-time and opened the shop that features a unique trove of rocks, fossils, jewelry and gifts. Just as the shop is a family tradition for Vander Leest, her clients include generations of folks who came as kids and now return — accompanied by their own children and grandchildren — to share this experience that has become a must-see on many a trip to Carefree. Young or old, everyone’s eyes light up when they see the sparkle of crystals and marvel at the many types of minerals and fossil specimens on display. “I love [Historic] Spanish Village,” Vander Leest says. “I’ve never considered moving even when I was the only open business here. I’ve always felt a real attachment to this place and I’m proud to have a business here. All the shop owners have become friends. We stop in to chat and browse and celebrate birthdays together after work.” deserttreasuresaz.com
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KEELER’S NEIGHBORHOOD STEAKHOUSE Another spot that is both celebrated as well as known for hosting celebrations is Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse, which has played a huge role in bringing Historic Spanish Village back to life. This upscale family-owned spot offers a top-quality steakhouse experience and is a meeting place for locals as well as a destination for visitors. Guests can dine indoors and enjoy drinks from the island bar or opt to enjoy their meals on the patio, in the courtyard or entertain under the stars on the rooftop deck. “We feel like we’ve been able to add energy to the overall project,” says owner Paul Keeler. “It’s been rewarding to see people genuinely excited about visiting the village. Especially in this challenging environment, people like the option of being outdoors and we have plenty of spaces to offer them, along with indoor dining. We love being part of this community.” keelerssteakhouse.com
BLACK MOUNTAIN COFFEE SHOP If it’s a bit too early in the day for a steak, Don and Lisa Little’s Black Mountain Coffee Shop welcomes locals and travelers from around the world for just a cuppa or a meal at breakfast and lunch. They recently opened up a larger outdoor space and say that while they might be a bit hidden from view, it’s worth seeking out this friendly java joint that has been a Historic Spanish Village fixture for decades. “I love being part of the Carefree community,” Lisa says. “Since we bought the place in 2017, we have expanded our capacity and our menu. We have always been known for our cinnamon rolls and now our new chefs — Josh Sweat and Willie Castillo — are making many baked goods, sweet treats and homemade dishes from scratch. We are proud to offer something a bit different from other places in town.” The Littles added an espresso machine, serve specially-roasted coffees and teas from Espresso Italia in Tempe and expanded their menu to include lunch items, gluten-free and vegetarian dishes. The sunny patio is the perfect spot to people watch and while away a Carefree day. blackmountaincoffeeshop.com
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Wandering around is like a treasure hunt. There are so many amazing things to see and interesting people to meet.” Bruce Raskin
L SKINCARE Of course, if you’re going to join a friend for breakfast, connect with a colleague for happy hour, meet up with family for a steak dinner or simply do some shopping or visit a few galleries, you’ll want to look your best. Fortunately, Lindsay Jackson-Pennino of L Skincare has you covered. Jackson-Pennino and her husband, Chris, have expanded L Skincare, which is heading into its seventh year at Historic Spanish Village. They completed their own renovation and design work to accommodate a full-service med-spa. Expert estheticians, hairstylists, a nail technician, permanent makeup technician and a massage therapist stand at the ready to help guests look and feel their best. “We love our location at Historic Spanish Village and feel like we have been part of its growth,” JacksonPennino says. “We are lucky to have plenty of parking and are centrally located to the adjacent neighborhoods of Desert Mountain, Terravita, Rancho Mañana and Legend Trail. We’re looking forward to expanding even more in the future.” l-skincare.com
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A LEGACY THAT WILL LAST Grace Renee Gallery, Desert Treasures, Keeler’s Neighborhood Steakhouse, Black Mountain Coffee Shop and L Skincare are just the tip of the iconic iceberg when it comes to Historic Spanish Village. In total, 24 thriving individual businesses share the revitalized, sun-drenched shopping and entertainment hub. When the Raskins look at the partnerships they’ve built with the town of Carefree and their many tenants, they feel a sense of connection and pride — in the history of what was and how they have worked together to put a new face on what will be in the future. After 35 years in commercial real estate, the Raskin family is now trying to focus on projects where there’s something really special, where they feel their investment can truly make a difference in a community. “That’s what Historic Spanish Village is, a truly special place,” Bruce explains. “Wandering around is like a treasure hunt. There are so many amazing things to see and interesting people to meet. It has been rewarding to have so many business owners come to us and want to be a part of this. “These small businesses care greatly about the community and they’ve embraced being part of its success. One of the best parts has been talking to people who fell in love with the property decades ago, were sad to see it run down and now are delighted to see it restored.” historicspanishvillage.com
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Lucy Dickens Fine Art LucyDickensFineArt.com - 602-653-7002
Missed seeing my African Safari collection at the Phoenix Zoo before quarantine? These special paintings have returned to my Carefree gallery. Check out these award winning paintings along with new Southwest pieces during my February open studio. Just in time for Valentine’s Day! Also by appointment 34820 N. Whileaway Rd., Carefree, AZ www.LucyDickensFineArt.com
OPEN STUDIO FEBRUARY 5-6, 10-3 PM
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Katalin Ehling (1963)
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
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Katalin Ehling equates art with memories. It can be argued that the Carefree resident is an expert in both subjects. After all, she has been making contributions to the art world through a variety of mediums for almost 60 years. “When I travel, I take a ton of photographs,” Ehling says. “I look through my photo album and think, ‘Where in the world was that?’ But when I go through my sketchbook and look at what I sketched, I can just close my eyes and feel the temperature in the air and hear the voices around me. Art puts me right back in that moment whereas a photograph does not.” Ehling, who will turn 80 this March, looks back over her collection of work and sees the world in an extraordinarily unique way. Each piece is a time capsule that is brimming with culture, history and emotion. She knows where she was when she created it, how she felt, what was occurring in her personal life and what was transpiring in the world around her. There are, of course, gaps in time as represented by the pieces that Ehling has sold over the years. She says that is why it is so incredibly difficult for an artist to let go of their work. “I still have many of my pieces just because nobody bought them,” she explains. “In a way, I was happy about that because they were my favorites. I wonder if, as an artist, you put a spiritual hold on some pieces so that nobody else will take them away from you.”
THE STRANGEST ARTWORK Ehling was born in Hungary in 1941.
“[The country’s] language and culture were a large part of my upbringing, including during my five years living in Bavaria after the war,” she says. “Over the decades, my travels have taken me to many parts of the world — Indonesia, Japan, China and most countries in Europe. Provence proved to be the most inspirational, but Hungary remains closest to my heart.” Ehling immigrated to the United States in 1950. Her introduction to the art world occurred in 1962, at which time she spent a year in Paris studying and working on art design. In 1968, she arrived in Phoenix. “I started going to Phoenix College for art classes,” Ehling recalls. “A couple of years later, I traveled to San Francisco and ran into a gallery that carried the strangest artwork.” That artwork was batik — an Indonesian technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to whole cloth. Each piece is made either by drawing dots and lines of the resist with a spouted tool or by printing it with a copper stamp. Intrigued, Ehling purchased a kit to try out the technique for herself. She was instantly hooked. “I did not do anything except batik for many years,” the artist explains. “And I was very fortunate because I got
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Katalin Ehling (1982)
Katalin Ehling (1986)
Katalin Ehling (2004)
Katalin Ehling (2001)
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Katalin Ehling (1995)
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When I travel, I take a ton of photographs. I look
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sketchbook and look at what I sketched, I can just close my eyes and feel the temperature in the air and hear the voices around me. Art puts me right back in that moment whereas a photograph does not. Katalin Ehling
to be very successful at it. Galleries galore wanted and carried my work.” Ehling focused on Southwest-themed Native American pieces. That changed in the mid-80s , when she paid a return visit to the country of her birth. “That really got me to look at different subject matter — especially all of the colorful Hungarian costuming and patterns,” Ehling says. “So when I got back to Arizona, I started doing those themes. Those turned out to be quite successful as well and I enjoyed doing them.” In 1995, author Linda Theresa Raczek asked Ehling to illustrate her children’s book “The Night the Grandfathers Danced.” “Later that year, it received the Best Juvenile Book Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center,” Ehling
says. “For the first time, batik was used as a medium to illustrate a children's book. I was honored to have been asked to do it.”
VERY PERSONAL PIECES
In the late 1990s, Ehling attended a batik convention in Ghent, Belgium, where she met like-minded artists from all around the world. “It was really life-changing,” she says. “It encouraged me to transition from the crafty look that batik often has to a more sophisticated fine art look.” Around this time, Ehling also started regularly traveling to different countries for two or three weeks at a time. She and a few other artists would rent a place, make it their headquarters and spend their days exploring different villages and other areas for inspiration. “Fortunately, villages are not that far apart,” she says. “And each one is so
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Katalin Ehling (2019)
Katalin Ehling (2017)
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Katalin Ehling (2001)
unique. We would spend the morning painting, drawing or sketching. Then we would have lunch and move on to another one.” Ehling ended up with an endless supply of sketches that she later evolved into batik and watercolor works. However, some of the raw sketches themselves hold one of her most cherished memories. “One thing I did — especially from Paris, Provence and Tuscany — is sketch on postcards,” the artist explains “I then wrote a note on the other side of each postcard and sent it home to my husband in Carefree. People always want to buy those but those are something that I will never sell. They are very personal pieces.” As the turn of the century approached, Ehling became very involved with the Sonoran Arts League and Hidden in the Hills. She notes that it was a lot of work but she cherished every moment of the experience. In 2011, she wrote and published “Waxing Life,” a memoir about her then 50 years as an artist.
OUTDOOR LIVING AT ITS FINEST
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WITH DIFFERENT EYES
Over the past decade, Ehling has taken a bit of a step back and slowed down a little. However, as she nears her 80th birthday, the artist continues to make memories with her art every chance that she gets — something that has now taken on not only a whole new meaning but also an entirely new method. “I have been concentrating on autobiographical collages,” Ehling says. “I have a ton of old photographs
LIGHTING, IRRIGATION, LANDSCAPE
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For almost 60 years, Carefree resident Katalin Ehling has been making contributions to the art world through a variety of mediums. Photo Courtesy of Krisie Ramsey.
and other things from when I lived in Germany after the war. I also have a ton of stamps and letters from my grandparents. I use them in my art. I burn the edges and collage them. That has been really fun to do the last two years and I am going to continue doing it. It is fun to just do abstract work and not get so hung up on the subject matter.” Each of Ehling’s autobiographical collages tells a story, which she has written on the back of each piece. However, unlike many of her previous works, she is not at all interested in selling them. “I am doing it for myself,” she explains. “I enjoy the process. I go into zen mode. It is meditative. I may eventually like to have an exhibition strictly with my autobiographical work, but I do not have enough of them right now to be able to do something like that.” Ehling was preparing for an exhibition of her work last year at Desert Foothills Library just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Instead of being seen by countless members of the community, her pieces were locked up inside of the library for months on end — quarantined like the rest of us. Ehling spent much of the past year reading — particularly art history books and artist biographies. She also followed her late father's advice about not losing her languages and practiced reading in Hungarian, German and French. “I also spent time going through my art storage in our garage — older pieces I never liked or ever really finished to satisfaction,” Ehling says. “Lo and behold, with different eyes, I found some of the pieces to
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be quite good, needing only a little tweaking. Other pieces were really unacceptable, so we just burned them in our outdoor fireplace.” Ehling also discovered a collection of empty canvases on which she began envisioning new paintings and collages. Suffice it to say, there was never a dull moment for the artist.
CREATIVITY OF THE MOMENT
Desert Foothills Library’s building remains closed to the public therefore Ehling — who is eager to share the wealth of stories that she has surrounding her life as an artist — will have to wait a while longer for the previously planned exhibition of her artwork. In the meantime, she is scheduled to participate in Desert Foothills Library’s month-long Love Your Library celebration with a virtual reading from “The Night the Grandfathers Danced” 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 20. During the program, which will be available on the library’s website, Ehling will encourage children to create their own art inspired by the story and share with them what it is like to be an artist. Ehling also donated a collection of her original serigraph prints that will be for sale through Desert Foothills Library’s website, with all proceeds directly benefiting the library. Ehling says that her past 60 years as an artist have taught her that a true artist’s goal is never to make masterpieces or to sell their work — although they may do so along the way. “I think that when you are a real artist, you just want to create,” she says. “You just do whatever comes out of you. It is creativity of the moment. You can sketch your life away and feel very satisfied if that is all you want to do.” katalinehling.com
EXPERIENCE
The Night the Grandfathers Danced Saturday, Feb. 20 | 11 a.m. | Free | dfla.org
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Strawberry Spring Salad This colorful salad is just perfect for Valentine’s Day — or to begin welcoming springtime. Plus, it can be easily customized to your taste. The strawberry vinaigrette can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until ready to serve. You may not need all of the strawberry vinaigrette so remember to refrigerate any leftovers for a convenient dressing the next day. Serves: 5–6
Ingredients: For the Strawberry Vinaigrette: 1/2 cup strawberries (sliced) 4 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons rice or white wine vinegar Dash of coconut aminos 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard Salt and pepper For the Salad: 1 tub arugula and baby spinach or other mixed greens 1 pint strawberries (sliced) 1/2 cup candied pecans or other candied nuts 1/3 cup crumbled goat cheese or feta Black sesame seeds Mixed sprouts
Directions: Blend strawberry vinaigrette ingredients together in a food processor or blender. Set aside. Place mixed arugula and baby spinach in a large salad bowl. Add sliced strawberries, pecans and goat cheese to the bowl. Lightly dress the salad with the strawberry vinaigrette and toss. Sprinkle with black sesame seeds and mixed sprouts before serving. Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly
kyndraclaire.com
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