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7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. #7 | Carefree, AZ 85377 | For appointments 480.575.8080
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S SA AN ND DE ER RS SO ON N LL II N NC CO OL LN N
march 2021
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C A R E F R E E ’ S F I R S T T H U R S D AY A R T N I G H T THURSDAY, MARCH 4 FROM 4 TO 7PM
Sip, Shop and Celebrate with Live Music by NuWrld Jazz Quartet Bring your chairs to enjoy NuWrld jazz socially distanced outside
“Spring Family,” Trevor Swanson, painting on patina metal, 24 x 16 in
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“Quail Lamp” Bryce Pettit, bronze, 31 in tall
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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 Hours: Mon. thru Sat. 9am - 5pm Allied ASIDmarch 2021 imagesar iz ona .c om
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WIND, WATER, EARTH Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Desert Botanical
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Garden
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COMMUNITY EVENTS Writer Joseph J. Airdo
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SECOND NATURE Writer Shannon Severson Photography by Bryan Black
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GREEN LUSH
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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by James Green
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A HOME FOR LIFE Writer Amanda Christmann Photography by Bryan Black
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HEALTHIER TERIYAKI BEEF BOWLS Writer and photographer Kyndra Kelly
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PUBLISHER Shelly Spence
MANAGING EDITOR Joseph J. Airdo
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meaghan Mitchell
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.
I
I absolutely love this time of the year. It is tremendously difficult to determine exactly which season is my favorite as our state is so stunningly beautiful all year-round. Spring is particularly special, though. The weather has finally warmed up enough to enjoy early morning walks but not yet heated up to a point that prevents afternoon picnics or dinners on the patio. And when it comes to our heavenly desert community, the more time spent outside the better. Just take a look at this month’s photo essay featuring some of the most astonishing views of the gorgeous greenery in our own backyard. Photographer James Green perfectly captures why so many of us love living here. The magnificence of our natural landscapes is nothing short of breathtaking. It also fuels the creativity of not only our local artists but also those in other parts of the country. Our native plants supplied floral artists Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz of Waterlily Pond Studio in San Fransisco with an abundance of inspiration for their series of three large-scale living sculptures at Desert Botanical Garden. The story behind that inspiration and their imaginatively resourceful process is featured in this month’s issue. There are also plenty of other examples in this month’s issue of how beauty blossoms across Arizona this time of the year — be it in the aesthetic of our natural environment, the creativity of our artists, the ingenuity of our business owners, the generosity of our nonprofit organizations or the kindness of our neighbors.
Images Arizona is published by ImagesAZ Inc. Copyright © 2020 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.
Local First A R I Z O NA 10
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With this month’s issue of Images Arizona, I invite you to take a step outside and witness how our community comes to life like none other on the planet. Take a deep breath of fresh air and let spring’s splendor fill you with joy, optimism and enthusiasm. Cheers! Shelly Spence Publisher, Images Arizona magazine shelly@imagesaz.com 623-341-8221
march 2021
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1 8 - K A R A T
G O L D
H A N D M A D E
I T A L I A N
F I N E
J E W E L R Y
CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY + ART
Nanis Italian Jewelry traveling trunk will be at Grace Renee Gallery for the month of March. The Nanis collection is classically timeless and stunningly fashionable.
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
NANIS ITALIAN JEWELS Dancing in the Rain 18-karat gold with diamonds
march 2021
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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Desert Botanical Garden
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Desert Botanical Garden visitors last month were able to quite literally walk through a beautiful storm of all things Arizona. They could wander around or even directly underneath a cloud of incredible plant materials — including cholla skeletons, yucca stocks, tree branches tumbleweeds and tropical bromeliad and heliconia. It was a remarkable sight to behold, creatively capturing the chaotic intensity of the haboobs that occasionally engulf our state. However, just as quickly as the violent and oppressive dust storms blow through town, the artistic representation has taken its final bow. Fortunately, the installation was only the first in a series of three large-scale living sculptures set to debut this spring at Desert Botanical Garden that draw inspiration from the natural events that occur in Arizona. The Wind, Water, Earth exhibition features the work of wife-andhusband duo Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz — artists who imaginatively create installations that combine the emotion of flowers with fascinating structures of industrial materials. “We are in a very narrow niche of installation art,” Lisitsa explains. “We use a medium of organic materials — not necessarily only flowers per se but branches and cactus and whatever other natural material is available to us — and combine it with the modern cultural form.”
SITE-SPECIFIC INSPIRATION
Originally trained as an engineer, Lisitsa founded her boutique San Fransisco studio Waterlily Pond in 2001. She began her floral career by studying Japanese Ikebana floral design. She has since become a celebrated floral artist on the international design scene. Meanwhile, Schultz serves as the studio’s technical lead, using his
degree in architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and experience as a practicing furniture designer to deliver a deep sense of structural design to every project the team tackles. Lisitsa and Schultz have been commissioned by modern art museums, cathedrals, public spaces and cultural organizations all around the world to create large-scale floral art, with suspended installations up to 2,000 pounds in weight. “These installations are quite challenging because we work in a very
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large scale,” Lisitsa says. “We also have to come up with the sculptural forms as well as provide the water source if it involves fresh flowers and plants. That makes our job quite a bit more challenging than most.” Schultz adds that the size and weight of their installations also pose challenges in their construction, transportation and reconstruction. “Our pieces need to quite literally fit through the front door so we usually create them almost entirely in our studio in San Francisco then have to take them apart, put them in the truck, bring them [to their destination] and put them back together again,” he explains. “There are a lot of challenging aspects to it.” Despite the challenges, the artists love what they do — especially because it affords them the opportunity to visit various places on the planet, gain site-specific inspiration and source organic materials that are unique to that location. Lisitsa says interpreting a location into a floral sculpture is her favorite part of the process.
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Desert Botanical Garden’s Wind, Water, Earth exhibition features the work of wife-and-husband duo Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz — artists who imaginatively create installations that combine the emotion of flowers with fascinating structures of industrial materials.
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“The combination of the engineering aspect and the selection of beautiful flowers and plants is what makes it interesting for us,” she notes. “We also enjoy working together. We have been working together for more than 15 years now so we feel fortunate that we are able to do this creative work and use both our talents.”
NATURAL EVENTS
Gaining inspiration from Arizona’s natural events and sourcing organic materials from Desert Botanical Garden was a particular pleasure for the floral artists. After all, our deserts are beautifully distinct and diverse. No longer on display, the first installation in the couple’s Desert Botanical Garden exhibition — the 16-foot-high and 8-foot-wide Wind — was a visual triumph. Lisitsa and Schultz were inspired by Arizona’s tumultuous dust storms that pick up various objects in their path and toss them across the desert landscape. “We were really interested in using material found in the desert so we collected creosote branches, palo verde branches, tumbleweeds, dry agaves, cactuses, yucca and other treasures and transformed them,” Lisitsa says. “We literally restored them, painted them gold and incorporated them into our piece.” The second installation in the exhibition is on display through March 22 in Desert Botanical Garden’s Berlin Agave Yucca Forest. Titled Water, the landscape intervention spans 100 feet, mapping the path of seasonal flooding through the site with 8,000 colored wooden dowels and 1,500 red flowering blooms, from petunias and geraniums to tropical flowers, oriented to flow and spill around rocks and plants. Schultz says Water is different from Wind — a freestanding sculpture — in the sense that it is built directly into the landscape. march 2021
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“It is bright yellow and incorporates red flowers. These are two colors that you hardly see at all in the landscape of the garden, which is mostly soil and sagey green colors. It is a very graphic insertion into the landscape. You cannot see the whole thing at the same time so it is a bit of an experience to walk alongside it and see it from many different perspectives with the pathways around it.”
art, with suspended installations up to 2,000 pounds in weight.
cathedrals, public spaces and cultural organizations all around the world to create large-scale floral
Floral artists Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz have been commissioned by modern art museums,
“Our thought was to take inspiration from the fact that the garden itself is a natural wash through Desert Botanical Garden where floodwaters run so to speak,” he explains. “Taking modern colorful materials and building them directly on the landscape and cascading through rocks and around agaves in a sense simulates the flow of water but with a much different texture and color.
The exhibition will culminate April 3–25 with Earth, an installation in Desert Bontanical Garden’s Dorrance Hall that is inspired by the sandstone strata of Arizona canyons. The immersive, roomheight, three-dimensional structure will be composed of 25 wood layers of strata cut away to reveal an open archway that visitors can enter. Ten thousand fresh flowers — including roses, orchids and succulents — will line the layers in a palette of desert colors. Floral artists Natasha Lisitsa and Daniel Schultz love what they do — especially because it affords
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them the opportunity to visit various places on the planet, gain site-specific inspiration and source
organic materials that are unique to that location.
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“Earth is going to be a real tour de force of fresh flowers,” Schultz says. “We are going to reinterpret the desert landscapes of buttes and canyons with this large sculptural form that, 12 feet tall and 16 feet wide, will be sort of like an archway in the sandstone somewhere in the canyonlands.”
CREATIVE EXECUTION
Schultz says he was excited to work with Desert Botanical Garden and have its team help him and his wife source so many unique materials for each of the three installations that comprise the exhibition. “There are not many floral artists out there who have access to this type of material and put a piece together of this scale so we feel really lucky about that,” he adds. Lisitsa agrees, noting she hopes Wind, Water, Earth encourages people to view the organic materials they may see on a daily basis either in their garden or outside their home in a new way. She also appreciates the new challenge the exhibition offered.
“
We were really interested in using material found in the desert so we collected creosote branches, palo verde branches, tumbleweeds, dry agaves, cactuses, yucca and other treasures and transformed them. Natasha Lisitsa
“This is the first time that we have done an outdoor exhibition that lasts for a whole month,” she explains. “We have done a lot of things at indoor locations so this took the challenge to a whole other level. We had to make sure that these pieces could endure the elements for a long time and would not fly away with the wind.” She says creating three intricate installations in the same geographical location that are each uniquely interesting and utilize a different approach was also a new challenge for the duo. Ultimately, she feels good about the various aspects that each installation is going to show Desert Botanical Garden’s visitors. And Schultz notes those aspects are innumerable. “These installations are kind of crazy and require a lot of creativity to execute,” he says. “It is not like we just do one thing. Some artists hone in on one technique or material and do it over and over to great success. But we are always open to new ideas and new materials and different ways of putting things together.” dbg.org
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Carefree Office: 34305 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85266 480.488.2400 Desert Mountain Office: 37700 N. Desert Mountain Pkwy, Scottsdale, AZ 85262 480.488.2998 march 2021
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COMMUNITY
2021 MARCH
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
Through March 18
SHERRY BLANCHARD STUART SOLO EXHIBITION In conjunction with the Mayo Clinic Center for Humanities in Medicine, Scottsdale artist Sherry Blanchard is being featured via a solo exhibition. Known for the richness of color that illuminates her work in both traditional and representational styles, the artist loves the American West as its history and tradition inspires and informs much of her work. Free. Mayo Clinic, Building 3 — Second Floor Hall, 5777 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. sherryblanchardstuart.com
Through March 7
Keep in mind
JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM
transport audiences back to the days when Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers danced across the silver screen to classic Gershwin hits. The toe-tapping
Chandler Center for the Arts will
production will feature favorite tunes
digitally offer the acclaimed Chicago
such as “I’ve Got Rhythm,” “A Foggy
Children's Theatre production “Jabari
Day,” “Let’s Call The Whole Thing
Dreams of Freedom” to local schools
Off” and “S’Wonderful,” coupled
and home school children as part of its
with musical mashups and more.
Connecting Kids Theatre Kids Program.
See website for price and times.
the most up-to-date information
Using history, rap, freedom songs and
Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W.
at press time, some events may be
humor, the play explores what it means
Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-776-8400;
to have courage in a world where Black
azbroadway.org
Although Images Arizona magazine has made every effort to publish
canceled or rescheduled to comply with social distancing measures and
children are not safe. $10+. 480-7822680; chandlercenter.org
other factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Please use the contact information provided to confirm dated details.
24
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Through March 21
CRAZY FOR GERSHWIN
Through March 28
ARIZONA FINE ART EXPO Organizers will transform North
Arizona Broadway Theatre fan-
Scottsdale into Arizona’s premier
favorite Kurtis Overby will perform
venue for collecting fine art during
a musical spectacular that will
the 10-week Arizona Fine Art Expo.
The event will feature 124 patron-friendly artist studios in a 44,000 square-foot space,
March 1
where guests have a rare chance to meet the
CHRIS CHAT
artists, see them in action and learn about
Famed composer Ola Gjeilo will join the
their journey, inspiration and techniques.
Phoenix Choral’s artistic director Chris
$10 season passes; senior, military and youth
Gabbitas for a discussion of his works,
discounts available. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. 26540
including “The Spheres.” Composer Cecilia
N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-837-
McDowall will also join the conversation
7163; arizonafineartexpo.com
from London to discuss her atmospheric and highly admired compositions, including
Through 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. $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
Through Aug. 22
DIVISION OF LABOR: WOMEN SHIFTING A TRANSNATIONAL GAZE Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art has invited local artists M. Jenea Sanchez and Gabriela Muñoz to guest co-curate an exhibition that begins with a selection of nearly 20 works chosen through the unifying context of labor and the gaze. Additionally, the two artists are collaborating with Ammi Robles and the DouglaPrieta Trabaja collective to create new works following a historical continuum through a collaborative process foundational to their artistic practice. $10; youth, student and senior discounts available. Wednesday–Sunday 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Scottsdale Museum of
“Three Latin Motets.” Free. 6 p.m. phoenixchorale.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 2
REALISTIC WATERCOLORS WORKSHOP The Holland Center will welcome artist Larry Charles who will use travel as his theme as he teaches five techniques for capturing landscapes in fleeting sunlight, quicksketch plein air pictures, lifelike characters, watercolor postcards and landscape perspectives. $200. 9 a.m.–Noon. RSVP. The Holland Center, 34250 N 60th St, Scottsdale. 480-488-1090; hollandcenter.org
Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-874-4666; smoca.org
march 2021
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March 6
ROOM FOR TWO Physical comediennes The Ladies bring their newest pop-up drive-in show to a downtown Tempe parking garage. With the help of the parking garage attendant, The Ladies will create a zany, interactive and completely mesmerizing comedic experience for audiences enjoying the show from the comfort of their own cars. $49.99. 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. wearetheladies.net
March 4
CAREFREE ART WALK
look at some of the oddest art and
ancient and modern cultures, with
most expensive art in the world. $5.
a concert of ethereal choral pieces
10 a.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
inspired by the beauty of the night
Stroll, shop, dine and enjoy an evening celebrating the arts in downtown Carefree while helping to support local businesses and local creativity — which makes our Arizona culture a better place to live, work and visit. Begin at any
March 5 and 6
OH SOLO WAINWRIGHT: AN EVENING WITH RUFUS
feature highlights from the Phoenix Chorale’s Cosmos performances last year with the exquisite works of composers Johannes Brahms, Ola Gjeilo, Felix Mendelssohn, Morten
Vocalist, songwriter and composer
Lauridsen and more. Free. 7 p.m.
gallery, then continue on to other
Rufus Wainwright will perform
phoenixchorale.org
participating galleries. Enjoy a diverse
a concert of songs from his self-
display of artistic styles and mediums,
titled debut album “Poses” and his
meet the artists, enjoy refreshments
second album “Want One.” $55+.
and engage in conversation about art
8 p.m. Friday; 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
and architecture. Free. 4–8 p.m. See
Saturday. Scottsdale Center for the
MOSAIC STEPPING STONES
website for participating galleries.
Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second
The Holland Center will welcome
visitcarefree.com
St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587;
local artist, art educator and museum
scottsdaleperformingarts.org
educator Tamsin Wolff for a webinar
March 5
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sky. The virtual broadcast will
about mosaics in museums, public
March 6
ART, COFFEE AND CONVERSATION
COSMOS CONCERT
The Holland Center will welcome
The Phoenix Chorale will take
Nicolette Bonnstetter for a virtual
audiences on a journey through
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March 6
spaces and street art locally and around the world. $20. 10 a.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.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. 480-499-8587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org
March 8
SUMMERIZE YOUR HOME WEBINAR The Holland Center will present a webinar about how to properly prepare water leaks, air conditioners and watering systems for the upcoming summer season. $10. 2 p.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
March 8–26
CAMP DREAMTREE SPRING BREAK EXPERIENCE
OUTDOOR LIVING AT ITS FINEST
HIGH END, LOW-VOLTAGE, OUTDOOR LIGHTING
Scottsdale Arts Learning and Innovation and Scottsdale Public Art will present a virtual art camp for kids filled with adventurous activities. Participants will travel to a parallel universe with their DreamScout Kit full of art supplies, various online components, augmented reality interaction and a live jamboree with Fireweather Studio — the founding artists of the original “Camp Dreamtree” art installation and experience. $15. scottsdaleartslearning.org LIGHTING, IRRIGATION, LANDSCAPE
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March 9
CPR TRAINING Utilizing the American Safety and Health Institute curriculum and certified instructors, Daisy Mountain Fire and Medical will present a CPR class that will require students to demonstrate proficiency on mannequins while on the floor and complete a short written test. Satisfactory completion of the course entitles participants to a certificate valid for two years from date of completion. $25. 6–10 p.m. RSVP. Daisy Mountain Fire Station 143, 35050 S. Old Black Canyon Highway, Black Canyon City. 623-465-7400 ext. 202; paul.schickel@dmfd.org
March 9
MONEY QUESTIONS FOR WOMEN The Holland Center will welcome financial advisor Lisa Upper for a virtual presentation of a process that women can use to identify financial goals and set a strategy. Subjects that will be discussed include systematic investing, employer-sponsored retirement plans and IRAs. $10. Noon. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
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March 7
ARIAS WITH VIOLIN AND ORGAN Soprano Ingela Onstad and baritone Michael Hix will sing a selection of arias from cantatas and masses during a virtual concert. The vocalists will be joined by Arizona Bach Festival’s longtime concertmaster and violinist extraordinaire Stephen Redfield and organist Maxine Thévenot — the organist at the Cathedral of St. John in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the concert is filmed. The concert will begin with a brief and informative talk by Dr. Craig Westendorf and culminate with a discussion with the artists. $60. 3 p.m. arizonabachfestival.org
March 13
GOLDEN REEF STAMP MILL DEMONSTRATION
Chandler's Vision Gallery will host
Arizona’s only fully operational
a class during which artist and
The Space Healing Center and Local
ten-stamp ore crushing mill will run
scientist Courtney Currier will teach
Jonny’s will present a sound healing
several outdoor demonstrations at
youth aged 6–16 to make scientific
concert during which attendees
Cave Creek Museum. Watch history
observations from nature using
will take part in various meditative
come alive as the ten 1,000-pound
watercolors in an inspiration journal.
practices that ensure a relaxing
stamps slam down in synchronized
Currier will also lead students in
and rejuvenating afternoon. The
precision and hear the pounding
gathering observations for Phoenix
healing experience aims to induce a
echo against the desert foothills —
EcoFlora — a project researching
meditative state with crystal bowls,
just as it did more than 140 years
urban biodiversity. The workshop,
gongs and other instruments. $25.
ago. Also on exhibit outdoors on
which will be offered virtually
4–6 p.m. Local Jonny’s, 6033 E. Cave
the museum campus are various
on Zoom, is designed to inspire
Creek Road, Cave Creek. 602-492-
pieces of equipment from the early
children's creativity and give students
6643; thespaceaz.com
mining days of Arizona and many
the opportunity to develop important
agricultural tools used at local
avenues for self-expression. Free. 10
farms and ranches. See website for
a.m. and 1 p.m. RSVP. visiongallery.
times. Cave Creek Museum, 6140 E.
org/vision-kids
2764; cavecreekmuseum.org
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VISION KIDS: PAINTING NATURE
March 14
CRYSTAL BOWL HEALING CONCERT FOR A CAUSE
Skyline Drive, Cave Creek. 480-488-
28
March 13
March 14
LUNCH AND LEARN: RISOTTO WITH MIXED MUSHROOMS Marcellino Ristorante will host a cooking class during which chef Marcellino Verzino will teach participants to cook a creamy risotto with a sauté of mixed mushrooms. After the class, guests will enjoy a delectable lunch of the chef’s dish, a fresh organic salad and Marcellino’s delicious biscotti. $50. 1 p.m. RSVP. Marcellino Ristorante, 7114 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale. 480990-9500; marcellinoristorante.com
March 15
ADERO CANYON HIKE Desert Awareness Committee will host a hike with amazing views
Right coverage. Right price. Right here in town.
of Four Peaks Wilderness, the Superstition Mountains and Verde River Basin. 8 a.m. Free. Adero Canyon Trailhead, 14800 N. Eagle Ridge Drive, Fountain Hills. hollandcenter.org
March 16
ARIZONA: BEFORE STATEHOOD The Holland Center will welcome Jim Sherbert for a lecture on a myriad of interesting information about our state. The talk
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will include a brief history of how it was settled and why people settled here, before it actually became a state in 1912. $10. 5 p.m. The Holland Center, 34250 N 60th St, Scottsdale. 480-4881090; hollandcenter.org
March 19–27
FEFU AND HER FRIENDS B3 Theater will livestream its production of “Fefu and Her Friends,” a play about a group of eight female do-gooders who are meeting to plan a fundraising event for education. At once the model of innocent wholeness between female friends and the blackest night a woman has had to endure the viewing order of the four scenes in the middle act will be determined by chance thereby creating a unique show each night. $10+. See website for times. b3theater.com
March 20
GIL SHAHAM CONCERT Violinist Gil Shaham will perform a concert of classical duets
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with Japanese pianist Akira Eguchi. In-person and livestream ticketing options available. $39+. 8 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-4998587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org
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March 27
THE EVERLY BROTHERS EXPERIENCE Celebrate the pivotal music and legendary history of The Everly Brothers with a concert that, part of Arizona Musicfest’s outdoor concert series, pays tribute to the band’s iconic sound and reminds us of the important role that Don and Phil Everly played in pioneering the rock ‘n’ roll movement. $30+. 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Musicfest Performance Pavilion at Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. 480-422-8449; azmusicfest.org
March 20
shared humanity and strength of
aid class that will require students
purpose. In-person and livestream
to demonstrate proficiency of skills
ticketing options available. $27+.
and complete a short written test.
2 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the
Satisfactory completion of the course
Chandler's Vision Gallery will host a
Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second
entitles participants to a certificate
class during which Delia Ibañez will
St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587;
valid for two years from date of
teach youth aged 6–16 to use playful
scottsdaleperformingarts.org
completion. $25. 6–10 p.m. RSVP.
VISION KIDS: SEND AND RECEIVE
movement, writing and mixedmedia collage to explore ideas of community connection and exchange.
Daisy Mountain Fire Station 143,
March 22
virtually on Zoom, is designed to
ARIZONA WATER WEBINAR
inspire children's creativity and give
The Holland Center will present a
students the opportunity to develop
webinar about Arizona’s water. $10.
important avenues for self-expression.
6:30 p.m. hollandcenter.org
The workshop, which will be offered
Free. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. RSVP. visiongallery.org/vision-kids
March 21
MUSICANOVA ORCHESTRA CONCERT
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35050 S. Old Black Canyon Highway, Black Canyon City. 623-465-7400 ext. 202; paul.schickel@dmfd.org
March 26–April 18 BEEHIVE
Arizona Broadway Theatre will
March 23
FIRST AID TRAINING
travel back in time to the 1960s — when girl groups and doo-wop met female empowerment in a groovy musical that tells the story of this
Utilizing the American Safety and
impactful decade through the lens of
Health Institute curriculum and
six women. The soundtrack includes
MusicaNova Orchestra will perform
certified instructors, Daisy Mountain
songs by groundbreaking female
an uplifting concert of renewal,
Fire and Medical will present a first
artists including Aretha Franklin,
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OBRZUT Tina Turner and Janis Joplin and timeless hits including “My
KIM SEYESNEM OBRZUT
Boyfriend’s Back,” “Son of a Preacher Man” and “You Don’t Own Me.” See website for price and times. Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-776-8400; azbroadway.org
FINE NATIVE AMERICAN SCULPTURE IN BRONZE
March 28
STABAT MATER: REFLECTIONS ON HOLY WEEK MusicaNova Orchestra’s music director Warren Cohen will
“First Corn”
19’’ H x 9.5’’ W x 7’’ D
creatively mix selections from two settings of the 13th-century Christian hymn to Mary: Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s celebrated 1736 version and J.S. Bach’s modifications from a dozen years later. Free; donations accepted. 2 p.m. Scottsdale Presbyterian Church, 3421 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. musicanovaaz.org
April 3
BROADWAY PERSPECTIVES CONCERT Four Broadway artists of color will celebrate their identity through their art by recreating their most memorable musical performances and honoring the icons that came before them. $28+. 8 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org
April 5
A TASTE OF THE DESERT SEMINAR Desert Awareness Committee will present a seminar that will teach attendees how to collect and prepare their own foods in the desert. Free. 6:30 p.m. The Holland Center, 34250 N 60th St, Scottsdale. 480-488-1090; hollandcenter.org
April 6
SCHUBERT: THE SOULFUL AND THE SUBLIME Pianist Jeffrey Siegel will explore Schubert through a concert of beautiful melodies, life and death struggle, serenity and irresistible charm. $25+. 7:30 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587; scottsdaleperformingarts.org
LITCHFIELD PARK ART & WINE FESTIVAL March 6 & 7, 2021 Litchfield Park, AZ
CAREFREE FINE ART FESTIVAL March 12, 13 & 14, 2021 Cave Creek, AZ
CAVE CREEK ART FESTIVAL
March 19, 20 & 21, 2021 Cave Creek, AZ
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April 10
ARIZONA SAGE ART MARKET The Holland Center will host its 6th annual event during which attendees will be able to purchase works of art from a variety of mediums — including painting, jewelry, glass art and more. Thirty juried artists will participate in the event, which shares proceeds with the Holland Center — a nonprofit organization committed to enhancing arts, education and community in the area. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. 480-488-1090; azfcf.org
April 6
WRITE A MEMOIR TO REMEMBER The Holland Center will welcome guest Patricia L. Brooks for a virtual presentation that will help participants capture the essence of their untold story and produce a memoir. $20. 10 a.m. RSVP. hollandcenter.org
April 9
CONRAD TAO CONCERT
Ballet Theatre of Phoenix is offering sit or stand ballet classes to senior citizens across the community via Zoom. Created in partnership with
as well as program management while working on special events and projects. anthemareachamber.org
Phoenix Art Museum has extended its
movement. Free. Noon Fridays.
PhxArt Field Trip for Kids program,
seniorcenter@jfcsaz.org
which reduces admission to $5 for all visitors younger than 18, offering
The Anthem Area Chamber of
Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second
Commerce this winter welcomed
St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587;
Ryann Bader to its staff as member
scottsdaleperformingarts.org
and visitor services director. Bader
i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m m ar c h 2 02 1
assist visitors to the chamber office
balance and strength through
8 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the
music. In-person and livestream
chamber business members and
older adults to develop flexibility,
the classes are specially designed for
ticketing options available. $29+.
will present a concert of classical
will provide direct support to
MUSEUM EXTENDS DISCOUNT PROGRAM
Jewish Family and Children's Service,
CHAMBER WELCOMES MEMBER AND VISITOR SERVICES DIRECTOR
Pianist and composer Conrad Tao
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BALLET THEATER OFFERS CLASSES FOR SENIORS
an affordable way for working families who have been economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to visit the museum. Made possible by a gift from Judy and Bill Goldberg, the program will run through June 30. Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-257-1880; phxart.org
WEALTH MANAGEMENT. CUSTOMIZED. MUSICAL THEATRE OF ANTHEM HOSTS ACTING CLASSES Musical Theatre of Anthem is hosting weekly acting classes for youth aged 7–14. $10 per class or $75 for 10
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classes. 5:45–6:45 p.m. Tuesdays. Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Anthem. 623-336-6001; musicaltheatreofanthem.org
PHOENIX CHORALE NAMES INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Phoenix Chorale’s board of directors has appointed Mary Deissler to serve as the performing arts organization’s interim executive director. Deissler will lead the Phoenix Chorale throughout the interim period as the board conducts its search for a new
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executive director to take the helm and work with artistic director Christopher Gabbitas. phoenixchorale.org
REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL SURPASSES MILESTONE Andrew Bloom — CEO, senior partner and co-founder of BVO Luxury Group at Keller Williams Arizona Realty — has surpassed a historic milestone of $1 billion in closed Multiple Listing Service residential real estate deals. An industry veteran of 26 years, Bloom has become the fourth real estate professional in Arizona history to surpass this distinguished mark. His $1 billion in sales volume comprises 1,815 total homes sold, 1,635 homes sold in Scottsdale, 760 luxury homes sold and 194 homes sold over $1 million. bvoluxury.com
march 2021
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Artist Amy Lay's paintings are on display at Sue Bickerdyke Interiors, Art Gallery and Home Furnishings in Carefree.
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Writer Shannon Severson Photography by Bryan Black
A
N E W A R T W O R K F R O M A M Y L AY
NOW AVAILABLE AT SUE BICKERDYKE INTERIORS
A jackrabbit perks up its long ears at some unseen sound; a family of quail perches amidst the brilliant fruits of a prickly pear cactus; a trio of wild horses looks up from grazing amidst tall grass. These depictions of wildlife are the work of artist Amy Lay, whose paintings are on display at Sue Bickerdyke Interiors, Art Gallery and Home Furnishings in Carefree. “I was first introduced to Amy’s work in Jackson Hole,” says Sue Bickerdyke, who owns the professional interior design studio and home furnishing boutique that specializes in fabrics, color and comfort. “I was immediately drawn to her work and contacted Bryce Pettit, another artist who displays at my gallery. Amy and I had an immediate connection and people really love her paintings. Her work reflects the natural surroundings we are so fortunate to have in this area.” Lay’s style defies narrow definition. It is contemporary and colorful with an impressionistic feel, each one brimming with movement and vitality. She begins by sketching with graphite and often charcoal on white canvas, applies a wash of thinned oil paint and then thickens those layers here and there. It gives her paintings a uniquely translucent quality. “I get a lot of questions about my process because it’s uncommon,” Lay says. “I really think the white canvas is important; it’s like the use of light I learned in watercolor. In traditional oils, it’s a big, heavy layering process. You begin by removing light and then add it back. I like to use the white of the canvas and give it a thin wash; it gives a brighter look.” This process and her free-flowing style harness the viewer’s attention. Lay’s
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 Hours: Mon. thru Sat. 9am - march 5pm Allied ASID 2021 imagesar iz ona .c om
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Artist Amy Lay's earliest childhood memories include lots of drawing and painting and she always preferred animals as her subjects.
Artist Amy Lay has been encouraged by the response to her paintings. Throughout her life, painting has been a constant.
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depictions of wildlife feel immediate, like a moment captured, but on the brink of action. She prefers not to work with reference material like photographs, instead drawing from her own memories, which are plentiful.
SURROUNDED BY WILDLIFE
Lay has spent her life on her family’s historic homestead in remote Northeast Oregon, amidst the wideopen spaces replete with mountains, lakes, rivers and plains — and, of course, animals. “I had a unique situation growing up,” she recalls. “I was surrounded by wildlife. Living far from town gave me a focus and intimacy with nature that inspired my creativity. As a child, I learned to occupy my time with animals and it gave me the background to paint wildlife. “It also instilled in me a sense of the importance of conservation and the need to highlight nature in my work. Since animals don’t really have a recognizable voice, I think it’s critical to give them one in my paintings; to make them the star, even if it’s a gesture or a look in their eye.” She observes that the propensity for drawing animals is really an age-old practice; it comes naturally to humans. In ancient caves and primitive homes, there are always drawings of animals. Lay says that animals are symbolic of everything. They normalize us and connect us — to our surroundings and to each other. Her earliest childhood memories include lots of drawing and painting and she always preferred animals as her subjects. “I would draw on any blank corner of paper I could find,” she recalls. “My parents tell me that I told them I would be an artist when I was 5 years old and I remember declaring that to my march 2021
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“
Since animals don’t really have a recognizable voice, I think it’s critical to give them one in my paintings; to make them the star, even if it’s a gesture or a look in their eye. Amy Lay
teachers all throughout elementary and high school. It was always my great love and the skill I felt most comfortable with.” Lay credits her family and teachers for encouraging her to develop her talents. Right out of high school, she pursued an art degree at Eastern Oregon University. She says some of the most impactful lessons she learned were the ability to take critiques and what she learned about watercolor painting from a specific professor. “I still use the same format and simple color palette that he showed me years ago,” she says. “I think my colors are part of my signature style.”
ENCHANTING SCENERY
It’s remarkable that Lay began using oils fairly recently. Before 2013, she used watercolors exclusively. She was motivated to start using oils and mixed medium for the flexibility and permanency, along with eliminating the need to put all her paintings under glass. “I think the long time I spent with watercolor gave me confidence,” she says. “It also allowed my work a looseness and freedom that translated easily to oils. I hear all the time that watercolors are difficult and I guess my answer to that is to just let them go; let them do what they want. This spontaneous nature is what gives a painting life. It’s what I try to let happen in my work.” Lay still lives on her family’s land in Oregon with her husband, Thomas — an Arizona native — and their three children. Since she began showing at Sue Bickerdyke Interiors, Art Gallery and Home Furnishings, she has enjoyed the chance to visit our state and be inspired to paint the wildlife here. “We hike a lot,” Lay says. “It’s one of my favorite things to hike in the desert. I fell in love with it; the fragrance and the scenery … it’s enchanting.”
EXPERIENCE
Bickerdyke says many of her patrons have homes in both the Carefree area and in the mountains. Lay has created paintings that reflect the wildlife and scenery of both these areas so the gallery’s clientele can have art that fits the surroundings of their homes.
The Art of Amy Lay i m a g e s a Interiors, r i z o n a . c o mArt m ar c h 2 02 1 Home Furnishings | 36889 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Carefree | 480-595-0171 | suebickerdyke.com Sue Bickerdyke Gallery and 38
“Our clients are mobile and have homes in many different places,” Bickerdyke explains. “Amy has adapted her work for our areas. People really love it. We design our homes to fit how we live and so much of that involves the outdoors — the big skies and the wildlife around us. Amy’s paintings capture that beauty and lifestyle.”
BRINGING PEOPLE JOY
Lay has been encouraged by the response to her paintings. Throughout her life, painting has been a constant. When she began having children, she left a career with the forest service to raise her daughters and son when they were young, earning her teaching certificate in history so that her schedule would coordinate with theirs. After a long day of teaching and mothering, she would get the kids to bed and then went into her studio to paint late into the night. “I thought to myself, ‘I am not giving up on this,” Lay recalls. “After 10 years, I decided I was going to paint professionally and the galleries I applied to took me on; I immediately started selling.” It was 2010, the start of her full-time art career. She took her children to showings every weekend, putting in the work to make connections and establish herself with galleries across the West and even as far away as Vermont. Hearing people’s reactions is a rewarding feeling for doing what she knows she was born to do. “I hear people say, ‘This is so different, it’s happy,” Lay explains. “That’s a huge boost. I want to make people happy. I will always paint, no matter what, but it’s really nice to bring people joy with it. I’ve never painted just for myself. I paint for others. That is the joy and that’s how I communicate.” suebickerdyke.com march 2021
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It was late March or early April and, as we were driving along, we were stunned by the lushness of the desert. We were shocked. We did not know that there was so much greenery in the Sonoran Desert. We were so excited as we drove along and saw all of the cacti, palo verde and everything else. James Green
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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by James Green
T
Try to accurately describe our astonishing Arizona terrain to someone who has never visited much less spent four full seasons in our great state and you will likely be met with some obstacles. Of course, we are well aware of its colorful charisma, but outsiders often believe our geography is limited to a banal brown. However, the hues and tones represented in the Sonoran Desert are far more vast — especially in the spring, when our landscape lights up like no other place on the planet. The most comely of all its colors is arguably green, which is present in everything from our stunning saguaro cactuses to our pulchritudinous palo verde trees. A strong symbol of tranquility, luck and health, green is the quintessential color of nature and the natural world. Arizona’s spring scenery is most certainly alive with depictions of nature that elicit emotions of envy and jealousy (feelings that are also associated with the
color green) in those who reside in other regions that may not experience our emerald environment. Describing our desert landscape as “lush,” James Green has enjoyed capturing Arizona’s attractive vistas on camera since he arrived in Anthem nearly seven years ago. Upon first glance, the gorgeous green that glosses across the photographer’s expansive artwork is by far the most identifiable and resonant. But a closer examination reveals just how rich our state’s topography is with every color God created. By showcasing Green’s awe-inspiring work — much of which was captured right here in the North Valley and all of which illustrates the lush greenery that exists in our state — it is our hope that Images Arizona’s March photo essay evokes in you all of the advantageous associations of the color green. May this spring bring you total tranquility, lots of luck and harmonious health.
march 2021
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DESTINY IN THE DESERT Prior to moving to Arizona nearly seven years ago, landscape photographer James Green and his wife Jean lived in Colorado and had a second home in Las Vegas where their granddaughters resided. When the girls moved to Arizona with their families, the couple was quick to follow them. “We got to Wickenburg and started heading toward northern Phoenix on Arizona State Route 74,” says Green, noting that he had visited the Valley before for work but his travels were contained to the urban areas. “It was late March or early April and, as we were driving along, we were stunned by the lushness of the desert. “We were shocked. We did not know that there was so much greenery in the Sonoran Desert. We were so excited as we drove along and saw all of the cacti, palo verde and everything else. We were so happy. The Mojave Desert around Las Vegas is bare. We thought that we were just moving from one bare desert area to another. But this desert is lush.” Having dabbled in photography throughout his entire life, Green’s hobby took on a new significance and strength once he arrived in Arizona. It encouraged him to explore the art form further than ever before. Over the past several years, Green has photographed Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park and the Pacific Northwest — and he has plans to visit and capture the beauty of many more geographic regions in the future. But Arizona will always be his favorite place to photograph. “The variety of cacti here in the Sonoran Desert is pretty amazing,” Green says. “The saguaros alone are so dramatic, so iconic. I love Arizona. It is one of the most unique places in the world.” imagesarizona.com 42jpgreen11@gmail.com
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My friends tell me that I have a unique eye and that I see things differently than most people. That may or may not be true but I just really love everything about photography and the outdoors. I try to keep my photos as close to ‘the way that God made it’ as I possibly can. James Green
march 2021
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The variety of cacti here in the Sonoran Desert is pretty amazing. The saguaros alone are so dramatic, so iconic. I love Arizona. It is one of the most unique places in the world. James Green
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ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER James Green has always loved everything about the outdoors. Having been born and lived in Ohio for his first 26 years of life, he savored the opportunity to move to Colorado where he spent a great deal hiking the many amazing mountain ranges. It was only natural that he would eventually pick up a camera to capture their magnificence. After all, he had discovered photography earlier in life when he was serving as part of the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam. “I am sad to say that, like a lot of people’s baseball card collections, somehow all of those shots that I took in Vietnam are gone now,” he says. For several years, Green enjoyed exploring Colorado’s spectacular scenery through his camera lens. Then he and his wife Jean moved to Arizona where, awestruck, he became much more serious about the art form. Green has never had any formal training and instead studies the work of other landscape photographers. He is committed to learning their techniques while maintaining his own personal vision. “My friends tell me that I have a unique eye and that I see things differently than most people,” Green explains. “That may or may not be true but I just really love everything about photography and the outdoors. I try to keep my photos as close to ‘the way that God made it’ as I possibly can.” The 75-year-old Anthem resident’s work can be viewed and purchased at Sedona Artist Market, 2081 W. State Route 89A, No. 11, Sedona.
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Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Carl Shultz
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As Robin Cochran grew up, her World War II veteran father and public servant mother encouraged her to help others through participation in church and community volunteer activities and service projects. A particular passion of hers was assisting underserved seniors and at-risk teens in her native Mississippi community. “My parents taught me that living with purpose means to live with duty to care for oneself and others and to live life with a heart of love,” Cochran says. “I believe in this quote [from Mahatma Gandhi] and saw this exemplified by my parents throughout my childhood: ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’” Therefore it should come as no surprise that the Troon North resident last fall joined Foothills Caring Corps — a nonprofit organization that serves older individuals and adults with disabling conditions — as its new executive director.
The addition of Robin Cochran as executive director and four new members to Foothills Caring Corps’ board of directors will further help in shaping and carrying out the nonprofit organization’s mission in the years ahead as neighbors’ needs grow and change. i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m m ar c h 2 02 1
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“I am truly grateful to have this opportunity to serve alongside Foothills Caring Corps’ amazing staff and its kind and energetic volunteers,” Cochran says. “I pledge my commitment to serve with integrity, creativity and vision to
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For the past 20 years, Foothills Caring Corps has provided vital services otherwise unavailable in the Foothills geographic area. Our organization is a vital way for volunteers to engage, support and be a part of this caring community. Robin Cochran
enthusiastically carry out [the organization’s] strategic plan and meet the growing and changing needs of our neighbors.” That plan — motivated by the goal to help older adults and individuals with disabling conditions to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible — involves a force of volunteers and staff who provide in-home services, transportation services, community services and support as well as access to activities that promote physical, mental and emotional health.
A CARING COMMUNITY
Most recently the chief development officer of Christian Care, Arizona’s largest nonprofit provider of senior living with six communities throughout the state, Cochran’s resolve to assist in improving others’ lives and advocate for the underserved led her to obtain a law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law. Throughout her legal career, Cochran assisted individuals and families in estate planning, elder law and probate matters, as well as real estate, tax, corporate and consumer finance issues. She gained a
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Robin Cochran will lead Foothills Caring Corps’ mission to help older adults and individuals with disabling conditions to remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible.
wealth of experience problem-solving with clients — especially older adults and those in need of financial, estate and healthcare planning. Cochran also organized, planned and chaired a number of fundraising events, nonprofit campaigns and legacy planning programs. Her service record as a volunteer includes positions within the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center’s Planned Giving Professional Advisory Council, HandsOn Greater Phoenix, U.S. Vets Packages from Home Programs for military families, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Consumer Self-Help Center and the Scottsdale Police Department Community Auxiliary Organization. As a result of those experiences, Cochran recognizes the significance of and knows how to implement effective strategies to help people while also building awareness of important issues — positioning her as a valuable addition to Foothills Caring Corps and its copious programs that are critical to the lives of so many in our community. “For the past 20 years, Foothills Caring Corps has provided vital services otherwise unavailable in the Foothills geographic area,” says Cochran, noting that it is all about neighbors helping neighbors. “Our organization is a vital way for volunteers to engage, support and be a part of this caring community.”
NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
Foothills Caring Corps recently also welcomed four new members to its board of directors. Susie Dymoke — a Carefree resident, avid community advocate and longtime Foothills Caring Corps volunteer — is originally from the north of England. When she first moved to Arizona, she did not know
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many people so she started volunteering for the Carefree Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce, aspiring to make a few new friends while putting the wealth of knowledge from her careers in hightech, cooking schools and the dental field to good use. Dymoke has also volunteered for the Desert Foothills Land Trust and Hospice of the Valley, but it was working with Foothills Caring Corps that held an extra special place in her heart. “Having an elderly mom in a tiny village in England trying to stay independent, it was a way of feeling a connection to and helping similar folk,” she says. “We all know or aspire to be a senior. We all chose our homes here for a reason, and helping people to stay independent in the homes they love is an exceptional yet simple mission.” Ron Fink — who is originally from Hamburg, New York — has similar motivations for being a part of Foothills Caring Corps. “Growing up, my parents shopped and delivered groceries to both sets of my grandparents,” he says. “The trip to each house was a one-hour roundtrip, which my parents, my sister and I did every week. Years later, when my aunt was widowed, my parents took her shopping and to lunch. I saw how much joy these visits brought to my older relatives.” Fink has been volunteering for Foothills Caring Corps for more than three years as one of its van drivers and a helping handyman. He has helped with the nonprofit organization’s loan closet, participated in many of its fundraisers and gatherings and even contributed to its quarterly newsletters.
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Robin Cochran, far left, is positioned as a valuable addition to Foothills Caring Corps and its copious programs that are critical to the lives of so many in our community.
Born and raised in a small town in New Jersey, Richard Tompeck has also always been an active volunteer in community causes. His resume includes service to education, planning and hospital boards. A couple of years ago, he was paired with a gentleman requiring respite care through Foothills Caring Corps. “His wife needed time to go out so I sat with him, walked and talked with him and became very interested in this cause,” Tompeck explains. “My experience with the gentlemen with dementia was very moving. Long after he no longer qualified for Foothills Caring Corps services, I was still visiting him and his wife and helping them. They had hospital and treatment issues, nursing home issues and his care was exhausting. I used to visit him daily until his passing. “Volunteering to those in need makes you want to do more.” Cynthia Driskell, owner and physical therapist at Carefree Physical Therapy, rounds out the quartet of new board members. She says that advocacy for healthcare and community issues has been an ongoing priority throughout her professional life. “Looking out for family and neighbors is what you do when you come from a small rural community,” says Driskell, who is originally from Missouri. “Service with Foothills Caring Corps is a good fit with my professional experience in geriatric healthcare. I have tremendous respect for the quality programs and caring spirit that have grown with Foothills Caring Corp.”
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Cochran says the addition of Dymoke, Fink, Tompeck and Driskell to Foothills Caring Corps’ board of directors will further help in shaping and carrying out the nonprofit organization’s mission in the years ahead as neighbors’ needs grow and change. “I am thrilled and deeply grateful to welcome these [four] talented individuals,” Cochran adds. “Their diverse backgrounds and skills will provide extraordinary expertise that will further our collective works
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of service to the Foothills Caring Corps neighbors and community.” Tompeck says that anyone who learns about Foothills Caring Corps is immediately drawn to the nonprofit organization. “Most people want to help someone other than themselves but often are unaware of the need or how to help,” he says. “With Foothills Caring Corps, the needs are clearly defined and the options to help unlimited.” Fink adds that Foothills Caring Corps’ work is now more important than ever as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. He recognized this while he and his wife, Irene, were taking part in one of the nonprofit organization’s recent Spread Joy Convoy outings, during which volunteers visit homes to provide neighbors with goodie bags filled with treats, puzzles and more. “The neighbors were happy to see our volunteers,” Fink says. “You could see the smiles in their eyes because we all had on face masks and social-distanced. The neighbors are missing the social interaction they had in the past. The caravans gave them a small amount of socialization that they so needed and wanted.” Meanwhile, Dymoke hopes to see Foothills Caring Corps grow and expand. She would even like to see the nonprofit organization’s concept be embraced worldwide. “Foothills Caring Corps is an absolute gem of an organization with a simple mission that makes an enormous difference in people’s lives,” she explains. “The staff and volunteers have hearts of gold, as do every single one of our donors and community partners. I am so proud to be a part of it.” Driskell adds that she, too, is proud to join the many talented and dedicated board members, staff and volunteers who have built Foothills Caring Corps into one of the most valuable organizations in the community. “As an incoming board member, my goal is to ensure future financial stability of the organization to meet the needs of our growing senior community,” she says. “I would like area seniors to hear from Foothills Caring Corps this message loud and clear: You are not alone.” foothillscaringcorps.com march 2021
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Writer Joseph J. Airdo
i mCourtesy a g e s a r i zof o nThe a . c oHolland m m ar c h 2 02 1 Photography Center 52
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When Jennifer Rosvall took the position as executive director of The Holland Center, she immediately fell in love with the community that it serves. She had always been familiar with and fond of the area but she never knew the extent of its inherent charms until she became directly involved with and invested in its culture, its people and its success. “I fell in love with its people and how tight-knit it was but there was always a little bit of a gap,” says Rosvall, noting the disparity between the community’s senior/ retirement population and school-age youth. “I think that is important to bridge that gap.” Rosvall recalls that The Holland Center was formerly thought of as a senior center. However, over the past year, it has flourished into a multigenerational center with arts and education opportunities for individuals of all ages, assuring that it is able to affect change by building a community of character and kindness. Rosvall believes that bridging the gap between the area’s youth and seniors — and everyone in between — is a key component of achieving that. “Our kids have so much to learn from our seniors,” she says. “The seniors in our community are a wealth of knowledge and some of the most interesting and giving people I have ever met. The reason for [The Holland Center] is to bring everyone together — to give this community an opportunity to really meld.”
THEATER, NATURE AND EDUCATION
Jim Sherbert, who serves as the chairman of the board for The Holland Center, says that the organization was formerly known as The Foothills Community Foundation before its name was changed to more accurately reflect its mission and programs. “What we are trying to do with each of these programs is be able to define some point in the community that needs a specific area of support and is driven by a nonprofit,” Sherbert explains. “Typically, the programs are independent and run themselves from a mission perspective. The Holland Center manages the rest.” The Holland Center provides tax organizational and legal structure, manages all accounting and financial work and even facilitates marketing, volunteer recruitment and fundraising efforts. march 2021
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“People may not know that Foothills Caring Corps, Foothills Food Bank and Arizona MusicFest were all part of The Foothills Community Foundation at one time,” Sherbert notes. “They just grew up big enough to manage on their own.” The Holland Center currently oversees five programs. Among those programs is Desert Foothills Theater, whose mission is to invite theater participation from all members of our community. Aiming to help change lives through the performing arts, Desert Foothills Theater provides training for young artists, teaching them discipline, selfconfidence and collaboration as well as dance, acting and voice skills. Meanwhile, Desert Awareness Committee — another one of The Holland Center’s programs — aspires to educate residents and visitors to understand, conserve and preserve the Sonoran Desert’s plants, animals, water and wildlife. The program provides not only workshops and seminars but organized hikes as well. Then there is The Holland Center’s Partners in Education program, which seeks to ensure that all students in the community have access to educational enrichment programs and to support innovations in teaching and learning. Comprised of parents, retired educators, business owners and other residents who believe that quality education is essential to the social and economic fabric of the community, the program raises funds to support local students and teachers.
LIFELONG LEARNING
Sherbert says that The Holland Center has received an enormous amount of demand for continuing education offerings. Instead of stepping on the toes of other organizations like community colleges that may offer full-semester courses, its community center program has opted for a different and — for many people — a much more manageable approach of individual sessions on specific subjects. Those subjects range from Americana and anthropology to financial tips and healthcare navigation. Then there are the classes that are just for fun, such as those offered by The Holland Center’s artist-inresidence Gregory Tomb. The partnership between Tomb and The Holland Center began just over a year ago when the artist was looking for a place where he could set up his mobile glass studio while he was in town for the winter. He later introduced the idea of having a fall fundraiser to benefit Desert Foothills Community Theater and the partnership moved to a mutually beneficial creative endeavor. “They are helping me by providing space while I am in town so I can work and provide classes and, in return, I can sell some of my work to support their theater program,” Tomb explains.
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The reason for [The Holland Center] is to bring everyone together — to give this community an opportunity to really meld. Jennifer Rosvall
The artist appreciates the opportunity that The Holland Center provides him to not only create his gorgeous glass art but also pass on the knowledge and skill of glassblowing to others. “There is something that happens to the human mind when you physically create something with your hands,” says Tomb, noting that he comes from a family of educators. “It helps with how you communicate, how you solve problems and how you are community-minded.” Tomb adds that he has always been interested in and drawn to the magical allure of the glassblowing process. Sharing that process with others has brought him even more joy than the ethereal beauty of the finished products themselves. “Most folks in this day and age are kind of separated from the processes of creation,” he explains. “They are used to searching for things on Amazon or going to a storefront and picking something out of a box. They do not really have any idea where it came from or how it was made. We
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all have enough ‘stuff.’ What is just another piece without any kind of emotional attachment or story that goes along with it?” Making art yourself with your own two hands facilitates that emotional attachment and provides you with that story — not to mention a few fun photographs to share with jealous friends on social media. Tomb will continue to offer classes at The Holland Center through the end of March before then traveling east to a town in the Adirondack Mountains where he serves as artist-inresidence through the summer. However, his positive experience at The Holland Center has ensured that he will return to the Valley to at the very least host another fundraiser in the fall.
DESERT FOOTHILLS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
Sherbert not only serves as the chairman of the board for The Holland Center as a whole but also of its newest program — Desert Foothills Leadership Academy.
The Holland Center’s artist-in-residence Gregory Tomb teaches a young girl the magical allure of the glassblowing process.
“One of the issues that I think is important in this desert foothills area is the lack of a really strong sense of community,” Sherbert says. “We do not have community boundaries like they have in Peoria and other cities across our state. We cover four different municipalities — from a big city like Scottsdale to smaller towns like Cave Creek and Carefree — and each one of them has very different needs and agendas.” That is where Desert Foothills Leadership Academy comes into play. “What we are trying to do with Desert Foothills Leadership Academy is build community awareness of the issues that are faced in these communities from a broad range of not only education and arts but also government and resources,” Sherbert explains. “How does government work? How are resources like water and power defined, identified and supplied to the community? How do all of these things work? How are they planned for? How does city planning in Scottsdale differ from Cave Creek? How do these cities [and towns] corporate and manage this?” Participants of the program — which is an exclusive partnership between The Holland Center and The Carefree-Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce — meet for one full day each month for nine months for a variety of expert presentations, on-site tours, panel discussions and hands-on training. Subject areas include health care, tourism, technology, sustainability, innovation, education, land usage/growth, social services, arts, local issues, transportation, public safety and more.
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The most significant part of the program, though, is that its participants are not government officials but instead ordinary members of the desert foothills community. “The idea is to build awareness so that these people can go on to be more active in the community,” says Sherbert, noting that participants include everyone from doctors to lawyers to real estate agents. Participants have also been broken up into three separate individual groups that have each been assigned a different nonprofit organization — The Holland Center, Foothills Caring Corps and Foothills Food Bank. At the end of the nine-month program, each group will prepare a presentation reporting how they have addressed the organization’s specific needs. “The feedback that we have been getting so far has been extremely positive and people’s engagement has been outstanding,” says Sherbert, noting that the first-year program is still in its infancy. “I have been very impressed with the level of involvement of our participants. I believe that if we continue on with this path, this is going to be a very successful program.”
CREATIVE KIDS
Rosvall is proud of all of The Holland Center’s programs and remains committed to the success of each one. She has especially enjoyed how the nonprofit organization as a whole has developed over the past year, bringing her dream of a united community one step closer to becoming a reality. “Watching it grow and seeing families come in and become a part of it has been very exciting,” the executive director says. “It is neat to see it evolve as certain people come in and completely change the trajectory of the whole thing. Sometimes I just have to take a step back and watch it happen.” In the future, she hopes to further The Holland Center’s offerings for the area’s youth by getting a creative kids program off the ground that incorporates all of the arts — from theater to photography to poetry. “That is a big dream of mine and I would do anything to pull that together,” Rosvall says. The Holland Center 34250 N. 60th St., Building B, Scottsdale 480-488-1090 hollandcenter.org
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Writer Amanda Christmann | Photography by Bryan Black
Nick Mancusi is among the latest of a growing line of architects, including Mies van der Rohe, Luis Barragan, Paolo Solieri, Frank Lloyd Wright and Michael P. Johnson, who is questioning i m aand g e s acoming r i z o n aup .co m different m ar c hand 2 02 1 the status quo with exciting answers.
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A little less than midway up the western face of Black Mountain is something a little unusual, not just because of the contrast that its bright white and brilliant yellow cantilevered form creates with the surrounding slate and shale. The most remarkable aspect of this unique residence is not the building, but the residents themselves. Nick and Ada Rose Mancusi may march to a different beat, but it’s a wonderful rhythm they follow. Both masters’ degreed-graduates of Taliesin, the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture, they’ve set out to live in a way that is kinder and more compassionate to the desert environment that they love. They’ve also remained true to their laurels and refused to compromise form and function for the sake of style or trends. They’ve done it with a sense of fun and wittiness that not only makes them approachable; it makes people want to listen to and emulate what they’re doing. Casa Mancusi, completed in late 2019, is their American Institute of Architecture Arizona merit award-winning home. It was designed and built primarily by Nick, but with significant help and input from Nick’s father, Ada Rose, various friends, and another colorful Cave Creek resident, Nick’s architectural mentor, Michael P. Johnson. Straightforward with clean lines and breathtaking views, the two-bedroom, two-bath dwelling serves as both an architectural and graphic design office and a home, emphasizing all that is important without paltriness.
the glass in a way that really blurs the line between the inside and the outside. The views of the mountains and the town constantly give us the sense of being in Cave Creek. The house doesn’t let you forget that.” Every space and feature was created with intention, from the way cabinetry was hung to tiny details in the flooring. Even the size of rooms and segments of the house were designed to maximize the budget by minimizing the number of lumber cuts and construction waste.
BUILDING UPON A DIFFERENT MODEL
More than a house, Casa Mancusi is part of an ongoing conversation to change the way architecture is approached — and it is a very personal one. “I hate tract housing,” Nick says. “I think every architect hates tract housing. What I dislike the most is the idea of trends — this notion that, because some famous architect did something, that I need to try that same gimmick or trick, too — or because my neighbor did something, I need to do it. “Trends are not what make homes and communities better. They’re really just about the flash and the show.” Casa Mancusi is the exact opposite. “For me, because it was a home for myself and Ada Rose, it gave me an opportunity to experiment on my own,” Nick adds. “I have always been fascinated with how architecture can be conceived in a way that’s competitive from a cost standpoint. I wanted to create a modest home on a modest and reasonable budget.
The color scheme is based primarily in white but is far from stark. A sunny yellow panel on the exterior and a bold fuchsia patio wall reflect the couple’s often whimsical personalities. Both vivid colors were inspired during a vacation to Mexico, and Nick and Ada Rose argued over which to use until they found a way to incorporate both.
“Being a young person, and this being my first home, I didn’t have millions of dollars to spend. I really had to be methodical about how to use the resources I had so I could afford the materials and make something beautiful, but I also wanted to show an example of how to build in the desert.
“My favorite parts of the house are the little things,” Nick says. “The view is awesome. I like how we used
“I had to ask myself, ‘How do you disturb the desert as little as possible?’ The answer was what it always should
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Casa Mancusi, completed in late 2019, is Nick and Ada Rose Mancusi’s American Institute of Architecture Arizona merit award-winning home. It was designed and built primarily by Nick, but with significant help and input from Nick’s father, Ada Rose, various friends, and another colorful Cave Creek resident, Nick’s architectural mentor, Michael P. Johnson.
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be in architecture — to let the site tell you what the building needs to be.” Nick is among the latest of a growing line of architects, including Mies van der Rohe, Luis Barragan, Paolo Solieri, Frank Lloyd Wright and Michael P. Johnson, who is questioning the status quo and coming up with different and exciting answers. “My goal is to create spaces that respond to how people live their lives,” Nick says. His is a theory that veers sharply from decades of trends that force people’s lives to fit into dysfunctional design trends. “Most buildings that are built today are medieval buildings,” he adds. “The people who originally came over [to the New World] were farmers, not architects or home builders. They built what they knew how to build, not necessarily what was the most functional or what made the most sense. “We continue to build the same way today because it’s what we know. It’s a very narrow view.” The idea of permanence seems to have been lost in many of the homes built today, replaced by temporary fads, Nick explains. “We need to start to think about a building as designing with pertinence,” he adds. “One reason I like old buildings is that, when they were built, people weren’t talking about trends and what was ‘fashionable.’ It was all about making it functional. I resonate with that. Old buildings are honest and true. Anyone can put lipstick on a pig, but at the end of a day, a good building doesn’t need anything to look good.”
To the architectural amateur, his approach would be described as “style.” Not so, argues Nick. “There is absolutely no such thing as style in architecture,” he says. “It’s just a gimmick. I hate that.
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“It’s not like the flashy minimalism you see in magazines. Real architecture is when things are done in a way that is really smart, sensitive and balanced, and it’s spending time on the quality of the space. Once you break away from convention, you allow the system you’re working in to narrate what is needed, and what the structure will look like.” Nick has followed his own philosophy in executing every detail — including in the foundation — of Casa Mancusi. The home’s patio and living room rest upon the grade of the mountain, while the rest of the house seems to float above the desert. “I had to figure out how to work with the natural grades of the mountain,” Nick says. “It was a challenge to balance the cut and fill with the practicality of what we needed. I think we did a pretty good job of that. The only real cutting we had to do was to create the driveway and septic system. “First, I had to figure out how to put everything on one level and how to save money. The answer was to build a structure that cantilevers out. To do that, a beam became necessary. When you come upon the house from the southeast, you just see a white box hanging off of what looks like a really thin post, like a stiletto heel. “All of a sudden, you have all of these elements that satisfy needs, and the exterior of the building begins to look
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Casa Mancusi encompasses Nick and Ada Rose Mancusi’s approach to architecture. Form and function are one and the same. Its foundation in common sense is a refreshing departure from the fussiness and impracticality found the last two decades or so in Valley construction.
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the way it does as you achieve those aesthetic elements. The building looks the way it does because I didn’t build it around a particular style.”
AN ORCHESTRATOR OF ELEMENTS
The brilliance of Casa Mancusi is in its simplicity. Save for maple shelving and a few other touches, concrete, steel and glass are the primary building materials. Floors are covered in rectangular gray tile, and the bright white interior and exterior accentuate clean, straight lines. Living spaces are uncluttered and void of knickknacks but offer plenty of storage and comfort. Small touches like built-in cubbies on Ada Rose’s side of the bed where she can keep her favorite things, and bookshelves for Nick so that he can indulge in his favorite pastime take the building beyond the status of a house and turn it into a home. The kitchen is separated from other living spaces upon Ada Rose’s request. She enjoys the separation it allows to get creative with pies and biscuits. There are no doors to be found inside the house. Each module flows logically and cleanly into the next. Still, there are plenty of privacy and spaces to relax thanks to walk-around walls and other creative solutions. “It’s really dialed around having space for two people to live,” explains Nick, who, along with his dad, who is a contractor, and a few friends, did the majority of the construction. Casa Mancusi encompasses the couple’s approach to architecture. Form and function are one and the same. Its foundation in common sense is a
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Architect Nick Mancusi aspires to create spaces that respond to how people live their lives. His is a theory that veers sharply from decades of trends that force people’s lives to fit into dysfunctional design trends.
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We continue to build the same way today because it's what we know. It's a very narrow view. Nick Mancusi
refreshing departure from the fussiness and impracticality found the last two decades or so in Valley construction. “I read a quote recently that said something like, ‘An artist is constantly simplifying, and an amateur is constantly trying to make things more complex,’” Nick says. “The process of designing this home really drove that home for me. “Architecture is this really unique balance between art, the majesty of spatial planning and how people live and think and breathe, and then you add proportion and scale. At the other end of it is that a home must have quality and function. “If you weigh one element against the other and don’t balance all the elements, it ends up terribly. If you balance those elements, then you hit a sweet spot.” mancusidesign.com
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Healthier Teriyaki Beef Bowls My mom used to make teriyaki beef bowls for us growing up. They were always one of my favorite dinners. This recipe is great because it has no refined sugar, is completely gluten-free, and has less sodium. Serves: 2
Ingredients: 2 filet mignon (or other beef of your choice) 1 cup broccoli (or other vegetables of your choice) 1 cup coconut aminos 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 1 tablespoon dark balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1-1/2 tablespoons cornstarch 1/4 cup water Cooked rice
Directions: Place beef in freezer for 10–20 minutes, making it easier to slice. In a small saucepan, combine the coconut aminos, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, ginger and garlic powder. Whisk until well-combined and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Combine cornstarch and water in a small measuring cup. When the sauce mixture just begins to boil, reduce to a simmer and whisk in the cornstarch and water mixture. Let lightly boil until thickened, stirring constantly. Thinly slice beef into small strips. Heat olive oil in a skillet over mediumhigh heat. Add beef strips and cook until browned. Add vegetables and cook for 4 more minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the sauce to the meat and vegetables and allow to caramelize until desired doneness is achieved. Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly
kyndraclaire.com
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Serve over rice, pouring more of the sauce on the top.
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$2,795,000 Mirabel Club ~ Freshly updated, 4 bedroom, 5.5 baths, 50ft RV garage, 7,000 sf, OUTSTANDING VALUE. Patrick Rice 970-846-5461
We are here to help you with all you real estate needs. Cynthia Rahrig 480-650-1401 Sandy Comacchio 480-440-6706
10 acre Gated, Carefree Estate - Ultra Private Retreat in the Mountains $ 2.85M Debbie Omundson, see Video here: www.CarefreeProperty.com
$1,250,000 Fantastic location in Desert Mountain! Beautiful natural light, sunsets, city lights & mountain views. Kathy Reed 480-262-1284
Bring your Toys to Cave Creek - ‘Penthouse’ 360 Views - Gated, Modern $ 3.95M Debbie Omundson, see Video here: www.CarefreeProperty.com
VANESSA NEUMANN-ANDREWS Certified Platinum Luxury Realtor Since 1999
Car Collectors/Horses/Golf Properties Buyers/Sellers I have a home for you!!
$2,750,000 Desert Mountain Bob Bacon home lodge-style home featuring phenomenal Great Room concept. Kathy Reed 480-262-1284
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Call/Text: 602-999-6569 TheCarefreeRealtor.com