Images Arizona (November 2022)

CELEBRATING TEN YEARS

CANAL CONVERGENCE

PHOTOGRAPHY ESSAY

BARRIO VIBRANCE

STE PHE N

WEBST ER

JEWELRY ROYALTY

N O V E M B E R 2022 PROUDLY SERVING THESE COMMUNITIES: Carefree l Cave Creek l Desert Forest Golf Club l Desert Highlands Golf Club Desert Mountain Country Club l Estancia l Happy Valley Ranch l Legend Trail Golf Club Los Gatos l Mirabel l Rancho Manana l Scottsdale National Golf Club Terravita Golf and Country Club l The Boulders l Troon Country Club Whisper Rock Golf Club l Winfield andNovember surrounding imagesar izona.c om 2022 areasC1

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7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. #7 | Carefree, AZ 85377 | Hours Tues. - Sat. 10 am to 5pm By appointment Sun. and Mon. | 480.575.8080

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What's Inside?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CANAL CONVERGENCE

44

BARRIO VIBRANCE

82

STEPHEN WEBSTER

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COMMUNITY

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INNOVATION & SKILL

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RECIPE

112 34

SANDERSON LINCOLN

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From the Publisher Publisher Shelly Spence

Managing Editor Joseph J. Airdo

Graphic Designer

Meaghan Mitchell

Contributing Writers

Joseph J. Airdo Amanda Christmann Francine Coles Rebecca L. Rhoades Shannon Severson

Photographers

Francine Coles Loralei Lazurek Carl Schultz

Advertising Sales

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

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.

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One of the things that continue to amaze and inspire me after more than two decades of publishing this magazine is the many imaginative ways in which artists capture the beauty of the world around us.

There seems to be a never-ending stream of ideas that flow through the minds of these creatives that challenges us to constantly discover new ways of looking at life.

This month’s issue of Images Arizona is a true celebration of that.

And as much as I would like to say that it was by design, I think that it is even more incredible to admit that it happened quite naturally.

An overarching narrative of how art communicates things that words alone cannot, connects us, creates community and allows us to explore others’ perspectives and dive deeper into our own understanding intrinsically unfolded across these pages.

Stories of artists who use raku-fired vessels, watercolors, bronze sculptures, paper, wood, jewelry and light began to establish a theme for this month’s issue and a message about how art is incorporated into every aspect of our lives. It further extends to the music we listen to, the books we read, the meals we cook and the ways in which we decorate our homes for the holidays. Even entire neighborhoods can be an artistic medium, as reflected in this month’s photo essay.

I encourage you to step outside, enjoy our wonderful fall weather and look around at the art that surrounds us all on a daily basis.

Better yet, visit one or more of the many remarkable museums and galleries we are so fortunate to have in our communities; or attend an art festival and engage in conversation with the artists themselves. I hope that this month’s issue amazes and inspires you as much as it has me.

Cheers!

Images Arizona is published by ImagesAZ Inc. Copyright © 2022 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved.

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

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

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

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TREVOR

SWANSON

A Quiet Afternoon, oil and patina on metal. 48” by 30”

BRYCE

PETTIT

Promises to Keep, 68” x 40” x 20” Quail Family, life size

SUE

KRZYSTON

AMY

LAY

BRYCE

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TREVOR

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CONTEMPORARY

PETTIT

SWANSON November

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SOUTHWEST WILDLIFE

REALISM

WILDLIFE BRONZE

LANDSCAPE

AND

ARTIST ARTIST

SCULPTOR

WILDLIFE

ARTIST

Meet our Featured Artists DURING OUR HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

T H U R S D A Y, N O V E M B E R 1 7 F R O M 4 T O 7 P M

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Great Horned Owls, oil. 48” by 30”

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Honoring the Old Traditions, oil. 30” by 15”

H O M E F U R N I S H I N G S & F I N E A R T G A L L E RY

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 ASID imagesar izona.c om November 2022

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Photo by Harshita Kasera Bay Area resident Harshita Kasera recently visited Cathedral Rock in Sedona, where she and her husband, Antriksh Saxena, enjoyed a gorgeous sunrise, breathtaking beauty and epic views of the surrounding landscape.

“Before coming to Sedona, I had read that Sedona is believed to have healing powers in certain locations referred to as energy vortexes,” Kasera says. “Cathedral Rock is one such vortex. I am not sure what it was, but I could feel calmness in the surroundings there and could sit there for hours.

“We also saw some hot air balloons in the sky and everything felt so magical. Cathedral Rock is truly the most beautiful spot in Sedona. The stunning display of sun rays hitting on the red rocks is totally worth getting up early in the morning.” instagram.com/hkasera antrromet.com

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SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS TO IMAGES@IMAGESAZ.COM OR TAG #IMAGESAZ ON INSTAGRAM FOR POSSIBLE PUBLICATION IN AN ISSUE. imagesar izona.c omUPCOMING November 2022

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— ITALIAN FINE JEWELRY —

NOVEMBER 4–5

Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.– 5 p.m. ..

Explore a vast collection of jewelry from Italian designers during this exclusive two-day event. From highly polished gold by Roberto Coin, to chic, comfortable jewelry by FOPE, to exquisite, hand-engraved gold by Nanis, to light, flexible jewelry by Mattia Cielo, each and every piece is extraordinarily elegant, ultimately feminine and uniquely Italian.

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NOVEMBER 11–12

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Meet the father and son team behind this luxury jewelry collection. Extra inventory will be on-hand, including special one-of-akind pieces, each of which is hand-crafted, bringing classical Old World quality to modern design.

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NOVEMBER 18–19

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Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.

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Sloane Street’s jewelry, designed by Frances and Charlotte Gadbois, goes beyond the tangible expression of style by embodying the timeless elegance of every woman. Extra inventory will be on-hand, including special one-of-a-kind pieces.

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— STEPHEN WEBSTER —

DECEMBER 9–10

Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.

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Discover the bold and glamorous collections from Stephen Webster, a London-based contemporary fine jewelers celebrated for his fearless creativity, powerful aesthetic, and traditional British craftsmanship.

Coveted by Hollywood icons and idols alike, from Megan Fox and Madonna, to David Beckham and Elton John.

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Grace Renee Gallery is a refreshingly beautiful way to explore fine contemporary art in the breathtaking shadows of the Sonoran Desert foothills of Carefree, Arizona. Artfully designed jewelry, inspiring sculptures, spectacular wall art, stunning ceramics and more await.

UPCOMING EVENTS — KATHERINE JETTER —

DECEMBER 9–10

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Marvel at the unique enamel hues, vibrant gold treatments and rare colored gems of couture jewelry designer Katherine Jetter. These cuttingedge, wearable art pieces for bold and brilliant women feature sensational, proprietary colors with eye-catching rhodium hues and exceptional, hand-picked gemstones that individually tell Jetter what they need during her design process.

15 imagesar|izona.c om November 2022 Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7, Carefree, AZ | 480.575.8080 GraceReneeGallery.com

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

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Ten years ago, Scottsdale Public Art invited Jeff Zischke to be among the first artists to have their work featured as part of its inaugural Canal Convergence — a temporary outdoor exhibition of innovative, large-scale public art installations by local, national and international artists.

“It was a major undertaking,” says Zischke, noting that he and the Scottsdale Public Art team installed more than 200 illuminated shapes on the surface of the Arizona Canal at the Scottsdale Waterfront for his 2012 artwork, “Nodal Water Garden.” “It was an amazing amount of work and a super big challenge but super fun, too.”

HYBYCOZO's “InSpires” // Photo Courtesy of HYBYCOZO This month, to celebrate and commemorate Canal Convergence’s decennial, the Scottsdale-based artist and designer is upping the ante, unveiling a new work that consists of five internally lit sculptures suspended above the canal.

“There will be five units designed like sun shapes installed in an ascending and descending order, representing sunrise and sunset in our desert environment,” Zischke explains. “There are many new problems to be solved — such as engineering of cable structures and design and programming of the computer-controlled LEDs that will power the sculptures at night.”

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Angela Fraleigh and Josh Miller's “Sound the Deep Water” // Photo Courtesy of Angela Fraleigh

Ten years ago, we embraced the idea of activating this waterfront as a public space to bring the community together. I think this made Scottsdale a better place to live, while making our community stronger.

Gerd Wuestemann

However, Zischke strongly believes that it is well worth the effort.

“It is just a wonderful opportunity,” says Zischke, who was also selected to exhibit at Canal Convergence in 2014 with his “Water Striders.” “I live for challenges. When I started my career, I did suspended fabric pieces in Ann Arbor, Michigan. So this really harkens back to that and I am very appreciative that Scottsdale Public Art has invited back me to create something for this event.”

The free, 10-night event scheduled for Nov. 4–13 will feature 12 large-scale public artworks created by artists from around the world alongside augmented reality artworks and experiences, live music and dance performances, creative workshops, educational activities and food trucks as well as a beer and wine garden.

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AN ARTS-FOCUSED CITY What began in 2012 as a four-day spring gathering that maxed out at 80,000 attendees has, over the past decade, evolved into a fall festival that typically draws about a quarter-million people to the Scottsdale Waterfront area over the course of 10 days.

Scottsdale Arts president and CEO Gerd Wuestemann says Canal Convergence was supported by significant investment of resources by the city of Scottsdale, via its tourism development commission, as well as private and corporate fundraising.

“Ten years ago, we embraced the idea of activating this waterfront as a public space to bring the community together,” Wuestemann says. “I think this made Scottsdale a better place to live, while making our community stronger.”

B!G ART's “The Tunnel” // Photo Courtesy of B!G ART

Scottsdale Public Art’s assistant director for Canal Convergence Jennifer Gill attributes the event’s incredible growth to both the interest of the general public and the growth of the city itself. Since its debut 10 years ago, the event has embodied an ever-evolving conversation about site-specific public art, light art, community engagement and more.

“One of the things that has always been really important to us is being able to offer free admission to Canal Convergence so that the public can interact and talk with the artists,” Gill says. “It is also about showing the best parts of Scottsdale.”

The city established Scottsdale Public Art in 1985, with the goal to enhance the quality of life for its residents and visitors. Since then, more than 100 permanent and temporary public artworks have been commissioned throughout the community.

Jeff Zischke's "SunDrops" // Rendering Courtesy of Jeff Zischke

“We are very much an arts-focused city,” Gill explains. “And what better way to express that than with public art, live music, dance performances, workshops and family activities?”

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THE MIND’S EYE For Canal Convergence's 10th anniversary, each participating artist was directed to present an artwork that celebrates water, art, light, interactivity and sustainability while also drawing from past themes.

Additionally, organizers set out to celebrate all of the elements that have gone into making it the successful and beloved event that is it today.

“One of the key ways we have accomplished this is by not only inviting new artists to create lightbased artworks through our open call, but also reaching out to past Canal Convergence artists to show new artworks for this year’s event,” Gill says.

In addition to Zischke, this year's lineup of returning artists includes Scottsdale’s own Walter Productions — which has been a yearly presenter at Canal Convergence since 2018, most often with choreographed fire shows that draw massive crowds.

This year, Walter Productions’ “ORB” will ignite over the canal, shooting flames 30 feet into the air.

Between performances, viewers will be able to control a series of LED panels on the floating installation.

Meanwhile, Los Angelesbased HYBYCOZO, which last appeared at Canal Convergence in 2017, will return this year with “Trillian + InSpires.” Influenced by natural forms, ancient Islamic tiles, mathematics and geometry, the artworks cast colorful light and intricate shadows on the surrounding environment.

Yelena Filipchuk, a Ukrainian-born member of HYBYCOZO, believes that public art provides us with a necessary insight.

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“Interacting with artists reminds people that their made environment is malleable; that the world is truly made in the mind's eye of every person,” Filipchuk explains. “With that intention, we can all go forth and create a more just, equitable and creative society.”

Philadelphia-based Immerge Interactive, which showed “Fences” in 2020, will return this year with “Reflections” — an interactive lighting installation that hovers over the surface of the Arizona Canal, captures the movement of viewers on the canal banks and creates generative patterns in real time, sampling past Canal Convergence artworks and color palettes from the surrounding geography.

THE INTERACTIVE ELEMENT Although most of the returning artists will debut new artworks, a few will reintroduce pieces that have previously appeared at Canal Convergence, including Mexico City-based artists Hector Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena’s “Los Trompos” — colorful, rotating, top-like artworks made from fabric that is woven in a traditional Mexican style.

Meanwhile, Calgary-based B!G ART will bring back its popular installation “The DOOR(S),” which this year will act as gateways to past Canal Convergence events and to a real-time livestream at Scottsdale Fashion Square, allowing visitors at both locations to virtually interact with one another.

Two other installations from B!G ART will also be on exhibition this year. “The STARQUARIUM” is a one-of-a-kind, intergalactic aquarium, connected to a HYBYCOZO's “Trillian” // Photo Courtesy of HYBYCOZO gateway through space and time, delivering flora, fauna and other mysteries from faraway worlds. Meanwhile, “The TUNNEL” is a one-way trip through a passage of magical light, where viewers become pilots through an interactive device.

Of course, returning artists only make up half of this year’s lineup. Among those making their Canal Convergence debut are Pennsylvania-based artists Angela Fraleigh and Josh Miller, whose “Sound the Deep Waters” will offer participants an opportunity to have secret messages interpreted as bold, brilliant, larger-than-life flower compositions.

Needless to say, the interactive element will be front and center during this year’s event. Another example of this is Netherlands-based artist AlexP’s “MAPP,” which will invite participants to step into the light and become part of the artwork as they appear among colorful images and patterns.

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Visit anchor.fm/imagesaz or scan this QR code with your phone to hear Jeff Zischke’s artistic vision behind the trio of large-scale public artworks that he has created for Canal Convergence over the past decade — including this year’s “SunDrops.”

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GAME TIME EVENT Hector Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena's “Los Trompos” // Photo Courtesy of Scottsdale Arts

Meanwhile, Rhode Island-based inflatable art studio Pneuhaus and Bike Powered Events will exhibit “Canopy” — a grove of six illuminated, tree-like sculptures that continuously transform in shape and color as participants power them through bike-driven generators.

A Celebration of Water in the Desert Gill cannot wait for the public to see the 10-year evolution of the event, its participating artists and the city itself through a lens that only Canal Convergence can provide. She anticipates that Zischke’s new work — aptly named “SunDrops” — will truly highlight the various aspects that are unique to the Scottsdale Waterfront.

“I think that Jeff’s piece will inhabit that space in a really compelling way, honing in on nature, the desert and the sun — all of which are things that are present in Scottsdale,” she says.

“The Arizona Canal is such a beautiful environment,” explains Zischke, who this summer opened his own gallery and cafe in Old Town Scottsdale. “I hope that people walk around the whole canal and see my work from different perspectives — from one of the bridges, from the side, etc. I hope that it creates a sense of awe.”

The artist adds that Canal Convergence brings the entire community together to celebrate the system of lateral waterways that have historically been and continue to be an essential asset to our state.

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“Canal Convergence is a celebration of water in the desert — which is so important for everything,” he says.

“It is life in the Valley of the Sun. And ‘SunDrops’ is a celebration of the sun that we have 300 days a year.” canalconvergence.com

Zischke agrees, adding that his hope is that Canal Convergence attendees take time to view “SunDrops” from several angles.

Experience

Canal Convergence Nov. 4–13 | Fridays and Saturdays | 6–10 p.m. | Sundays | 6–9 p.m.

Scottsdale Waterfront | 7135 E. Camelback Road, | Scottsdale Free | canalconvergence.com

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A LEGACY OF TRUST

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Heritage is more than our age, accomplishments and accolades - it is our enduring commitment to provide exceptional service to our clients and communities. Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty has gathered experienced sales associates dedicated to the ideals of integrity and professionalism. Every person involved in the company utilizes innovative skills, programs and technologies to create the finest real estate services company to be found.

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Carefree Office - 480.488.2400 | Desert Mountain Office - 480.488.2998

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“I am very proud of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty for reaching our diamond milestone as we continue to represent buyers and sellers at all price points locally and internationally. We always give our clients the white-glove services they deserve and have come to expect. Our real estate advisors across Arizona are our core business, they work relentlessly to provide the best service possible while upholding the standards that make Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty Arizona’s real estate leader.“ - Jim Lyon, Chairman

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COMMUNITY November

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Through Nov. 5

‘MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT’ Arizona Broadway Theatre presents its production of “Monty Python’s Spamalot,” which retells the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table and features a bevy of beautiful showgirls, cows, killer rabbits and French people. See website for price and times. Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-776-8400; azbroadway.org

Through Nov. 6 ‘PROOF’

Desert Stages Theatre presents its production of “Proof,” the story of an enigmatic young woman, her manipulative sister, their brilliant father and an unexpected suitor. See website for price and times. Desert Stages Theatre at Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road, Suite 0586, Scottsdale. 480-483-1664; desertstages.org

Through Dec. 31

MODERN LATINA: CULTURA, FAMILIA Y ARTE Scottsdale Public Art will showcase artworks that celebrate the resilience and creativity of Arizona Latina artists. The featured artworks reveal the Latina life experience, showing how the personal is also universal, while also asserting that the power and voice of women is long-lasting and farreaching throughout time. Free. Civic Center Public Gallery at Scottsdale Civic Center Library, 3839 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale. scottsdalepublicart.org

Nov. 1

JODY SHARP

Through Jan. 22

HOLD ON TO HOPE

Scottsdale Arts Learning and Innovation will showcase a new exhibition spotlighting the life of local Holocaust survivor Oskar Knoblauch. The exhibition takes viewers on a visual journey through Knoblauch’s harrowing experiences as he and his family struggled to survive the brutality of the Third Reich in Germany and Nazi-occupied Poland. As visitors walk through the gallery, photos, Knoblauch’s personal anecdotes and period objects will illustrate key events, people and places. Free. The Center Space Gallery at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-499-8587; scottsdaleartslearning.org

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Desert Foothills Library will host a meet-and-greet with “Angels on the Rider’s Shoulders” author Jody Sharp. Free.

4–5 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Nov. 3

ETTIE ZILBER Desert Foothills Library will host a meet-and-greet with “A Holocaust Memoir of Love and Resilience” author Ettie Zilber. Free. 4–5 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Nov. 3

FREEDOM ISN’T FREE Youth for Troops will host an open-house style event that will include a donation drive, special holiday projects, box decorating and appreciation card writing. Youth for Troops will also be collecting Halloween candy to ship to deployed troops. Free. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Nov. 4 and 5

ITALIAN FINE JEWELRY Explore a vast collection of jewelry from Italian designers during this exclusive two-day event. From highly polished gold by Roberto Coin, to chic, comfortable jewelry by FOPE, to exquisite, hand-engraved gold by Nanis, to light, flexible jewelry by Mattia Cielo, each and every piece is extraordinarily elegant, ultimately feminine and uniquely Italian. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Hum Road, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com

Nov. 4–6

CAREFREE FINE ART AND WINE FESTIVAL Thunderbird Artists will host its fall event during which attendees can view fine art selected through a comprehensive jury process, sample fine wines and spirits, snack on festival food and listen to live music, all while soaking in the sunshine, reveling in the mountain views and meeting artists and fellow art lovers. This fall’s featured artist is oil painter Danial James, whose diverse work includes animals, beverages and stylized history. $4. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Downtown Carefree, 101 Easy St., Carefree. thunderbirdartists.com

Nov. 4–13

CANAL CONVERGENCE: WATER + ART + LIGHT Scottsdale Arts will host its 10th-anniversary showcase of large-scale public artworks. Free. Scottsdale Waterfront, 7135 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale. canalconvergence.com

Nov. 5

DESERT AWARENESS PARK TOURS Foothills Community Foundation’s Desert Awareness Committee will host leisurely strolls through its native desert park, featuring a guided tour of the plants of the Sonoran Desert upland. Free. See website for times. RSVP. Desert Awareness Park, N. Vermeersch Road, Cave Creek. hollandcenter.org

Nov. 5

HEROES UNDER THE STARS Rancho Milagro will host a charitable, county fair-style evening featuring a chili cookoff and live music by Trio Rio. Flagstaff Rancho Milagro director and trauma survivor Antoinette Maestas will share her story of how equine-assisted therapy saved her life and her subsequent calling to become an equine specialist. $50. 4:30–7:30 p.m. Rancho Milagro, 32905 N. 140th St., Scottsdale. 480-529-2633; ranchomilagroaz.org

Nov. 6

AN EVENING WITH ESTEBAN The Hermosa Inn will host a concert featuring guitarist Esteban and his violinist daughter, Teresa Joy. The evening will include a sumptuous four-course dinner. $225. See website for time. The Hermosa Inn, 5532 N. Palo Cristi Road, Paradise Valley. hermosainn.com imagesar izona.c om

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COMMUNITY November

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Nov. 6

TRIO ZIMBALIST: MUSIC’S CULTURAL AMBASSADORS The Living Music Performance Series will present a Curtis on Tour concert featuring Trio Zimbalist, who will perform two masterpieces from the world’s richest piano trio repertoire. See website for ticket information. 3 p.m.

Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, 9205 E. Cave Creek Road, Carefree. 480 488 2081; carefree.org

Nov. 7

BRASS TRANSIT Arizona Musicfest brings Brass Transit to the stage for a concert that recreates the unforgettable sound of the band Chicago, transporting audiences back to the freewheeling days of the 70s and 80s. $34+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org

Nov. 7

LITERATE FOODIES Literate Foodies will discuss Sean Sherman’s “The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen” — a rich education and a delectable introduction to modern indigenous cuisine. $10.

See website for time. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Nov. 8

AMERICAN HURRAH PATRIOTIC SHOW Jan Sandwich and her pianist will present a tribute to George M. Cohan that takes audiences on a musical trip across our great country, honoring each branch of the armed services along the way. Free. 11:30 a.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Nov. 6

ERIN HANSON Contemporary impressionist Erin Hanson will host an artist meet-and-greet reception at her recently opened art gallery, which showcases her original oil paintings and 3D textured replicas, as well as her canvas prints, coffee table books and calendars. Free. See website for time. The Erin Hanson Gallery, 7117 E. Main St., Scottsdale. erinhanson.com

Nov. 9 and 10

CYNTHIA ANN JEWELS Explore an exciting collection of jewelry that combines classic European styling with modern metals, textures and breathtaking precious and semi-precious stones.

Transforming ancient relics into wearable art, each of Cynthia Ann’s pieces is lovingly and uniquely designed to enhance its original history and beauty. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Hum Road, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com

Nov. 10–13 ‘PLAY ON!’

Desert Foothills Theater will present its production of “Play On!” See website for price and times. Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. dftheater.org

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Nov. 10–12

STICKS GOLF AND CIGAR LOUNGE GRAND REOPENING Sticks Golf and Cigar Lounge will celebrate its new full liquor license with a grand reopening event featuring live music and local food on two scenic patios. Cigar and spirit vendors will also be on-site, providing samples of WhistlePig Rye Whisky, Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky and Carefree Bourbon. Special cigar deals will also be offered. See website for hours. Sticks Golf and Cigar Lounge, 37555 E. Hum Road, Carefree. 480-575-0993; sticksgolf-cigarlounge.com

Nov. 11

VETERANS DAY CEREMONY The town of Carefree will host a Veterans Day ceremony in honor of our nation's military heroes. Special guests include former Top Gun instructor and retired Navy fighter pilot Capt. Larry Ernst, a veteran of more than 100 combat missions. Free. 3–5 p.m. Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion at Carefree Desert Gardens, 101 Easy St., Carefree. carefree.org

Nov. 11 and 12

AARON HENRY JEWELRY Meet the father and son team behind this luxury jewelry collection. Each brilliant piece is hand-crafted bringing classical Old World quality to modern design. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Hum Road, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com

Nov. 12

BUCKLE UP AND RIDE THE RED WAVE Palo Verde Republican Women will host a lively event, featuring guest speaker Charlie Kirk, to benefit the ASU Center for American Institutions and the new Turning Point Academy. The event will include a barbecue dinner, music, dancing and a live auction. $100. 5–9 p.m. MacDonald’s Ranch, 26540 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. pvrwbuckleup.com

Nov. 12 and 13

PHOENIX PIZZA FESTIVAL PHX Fest will host its seventh annual Phoenix Pizza Festival, featuring live music, a kids zone, lawn games, dessert trucks and 15–20 pizza makers — creating a cheesy paradise for the whole family in the heart of downtown Phoenix. $16 entry (online purchase only).

Saturday 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third St., Phoenix. phoenix.pizza

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COMMUNITY November

Nov. 13

AMERICAN SALUTE Salt River Brass will perform its sophomore concert of the season — an armed forces tribute honoring those who serve our country. $19+; student and senior discounts available. 3 p.m.

Mesa Arts Center, One E. Main St., Mesa. saltriverbrass.org

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Sunday, Nov. 13 SALUTE OUR VETS

Carolyn Eynon Singers will perform a concert of patriotic music designed to honor our country’s veterans. Donation; free for veterans. 3 p.m. Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, 9205 E. Cave Creek Road, Carefree. carolyneynonsingers.com

Nov. 13

THE STEVE ADELSON STICK-TET ALL STARS Musical Instrument Museum will welcome Chapman stick player Steve Adelson and friends for a concert of jazz music. $49.50+. 7 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 480-478-6000; mim.org

Nov. 15

HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WEST Holland Community Center will welcome Jim Sherbert for a lecture about the history of the American West. $10 donation. 4 p.m. Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. hollandcenter.org

Nov. 15

JAN KRULICK-BELIN

Nov. 12 and 13

ARIZONA TACO FESTIVAL Arizona Taco Festival will return for its 13th year, featuring more than 50 local taco vendors and restaurants. $15. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Bell Bank Park, One Legacy Drive, Mesa. aztacofestival.com

Desert Foothills Library will host a meet-and-greet with “Love, Bill: Finding My Father Through Letters from World War II” author Jan Krulick-Belin. Free. 4–5 p.m.

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

Nov. 17

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

Nov. 17

MICHAEL FRICKSTAD Desert Foothills Library will host a meet-and-greet with “Finding PHIL: Four Traits for Conquering Chaos” author Michael Frickstad. Free. 4–5 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

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Nov. 17–20

‘LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST’ Southwest Shakespeare Company will present its production of “Love’s Labour’s Lost.” $35+; youth, student and teacher discounts available. See website for times. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, 12345 N. Taliesin Drive, Scottsdale. shakespeare.org

Nov. 17–Dec. 30

‘IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE’ Don Bluth Front Row Theater will present its production of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” a stage version of the classic 1946 film. $30; youth, student, senior, military and group discounts available. See website for times. Don Bluth Front Row Theater, 8989 E. Via Linda, Suite 118, Scottsdale. 480-3140841; donbluthfrontrowtheatre.com

Nov. 18 and 19

SLOANE STREET JEWELS Experience the extravagance of Sloane Street’s jewelry, designed by Frances and Charlotte Gadbois, which goes beyond the tangible expression of style by embodying the timeless elegance of every woman. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Grace Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Hum Road, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com

Nov. 18–20

STAGECOACH VILLAGE ART ON THE PLAZA Vermillion Promotions will host an outdoor gallery boasting a collection of original art that represents a wide variety of cultures and artwork in a range of subject matter and media.

Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. vermillionpromotions.com

Nov. 18–20 + Nov. 25–27 HIDDEN IN THE HILLS ARTIST STUDIO TOUR

Sonoran Arts League will host its 26th annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour, featuring 174 artists at 47 studios throughout the scenic Desert

Foothills communities of Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. See website for locations.

480-575-6624; hiddeninthehills.org

Nov. 18–Dec. 11

‘THE CHILDREN’ The Theatre Artists Studio will present its production of “The Children,” which tells the story of two married and retired nuclear scientists who have chosen to live their lives in isolation until an old friend arrives with a frightening request. $25; student, senior, military and group discounts available.

See website for times. The Theatre Artists Studio, 4848 E. Cactus Road, Suite 406, Scottsdale. thestudiophx.org

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‘A CHRISTMAS STORY’ Desert Stages Theatre will present its production of “A Christmas Story,” a stage musical version of the classic 1983 film. See website for price and times. Desert Stages Theatre at Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road, Suite 0586, Scottsdale. 480483-1664; desertstages.org

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Nov. 19

DESERT DISCOVERY DAY Desert Foothills Land Trust will host its 10th annual Desert Discovery Day, during which attendees can discover the Sonoran Desert; learn about its dwellers, past and present; and interact with native wildlife. Free. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Jewel of the Creek Preserve. 480488-6131; dflt.org

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DBE: ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISER TEA The National Society Daughters of the British Empire will host its annual fundraising event, featuring finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, petit fours and, of course, tea. $25. 1–3 p.m. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

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COMMUNITY November

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Nov. 19–Dec. 31

THE IMMERSIVE NUTCRACKER Lighthouse Immersive and Impact Museums will debut an experiential retelling of a young girl’s magical Christmas Eve journey, featuring more than 500,000 cubic feet of projections composed of over 1 million frames of video, curating a grand immersive display that relays the tale of “The Nutcracker” from opening to finale. $29.99+. See website for times.

Lighthouse ArtSpace Phoenix, 4301 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. immersive-nutcracker.com

Nov. 20

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

Nov. 21

KURT ELLING Arizona Musicfest will bring jazz vocalist Kurt Elling to the stage, accompanied by the Arizona Musicfest Big Band. $51+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. azmusicfest.org

Nov. 17

MICHELLE FINN Desert Foothills Library will welcome History Channel’s “Alone” contestant Michelle Finn — educator, author, presenter and wilderness survival aficionado. Free. 3:30– 4:30 p.m. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

Nov. 28–Jan. 1 CITYSKATE

CitySkate, downtown Phoenix’s most popular and real outdoor ice-skating rink, will return to CityScape Phoenix for the holiday season. $20; youth, student, senior and military discounts available. See website for times. Patriot’s Park at CityScape, 11 W. Washington St., Phoenix. cityskatephx.com

Nov. 26

JAKE SHIMABUKURO: CHRISTMAS IN HAWAI’I Ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro will perform a concert of holiday music. See website for price. 8 p.m. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380, E. Second St., Scottsdale. scottsdaleperformingart.org

Nov. 28 and 29

IRISH CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA Musical Instrument Museum will welcome Sligo fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada and friends for a family-friendly performance featuring lively instrumental tunes played on fiddle, flute, uilleann pipes, harp and bouzouki, as well as thrilling Irish dancing. $35.50+. 7 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 480-478-6000; mim.org

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Dec. 2

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY: WILD AND SWINGIN’ HOLIDAY PARTY Leading swing revival band Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will bring its unique and spirited holiday concert to the Valley as part of Arizona Musicfest. $51+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale.

Dec. 3 and 4

Dec. 6

MARK O’CONNOR: AN APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS Virtuosic fiddle player, guitarist and composer Mark O’Connor will take the stage, joined by his wife, Maggie, and son, Forrest, for a holiday concert as part of Arizona Musicfest. $34+.

7:30 p.m. La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale.

Dec. 8

ZONA MUSIC FESTIVAL

MINDI ABAIR’S I CAN’T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS

Psyko Steve Presents will debut its inaugural two-day boutique music festival featuring a diverse range of national and local alternative, indie, pop and rock artists. $164+.

See website for schedule. Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver St., Phoenix. zonamusicfest.com

Musical Instrument Museum will welcome two-time Grammy nominee Mindi Abair for a holiday concert featuring an incredible group of multitalented smooth jazz musicians. $33.50+. 7 and 9 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 480-478-6000; mim.org

Dec. 4

Dec. 9

SCOTTSDALE PHILHARMONIC Scottsdale Philharmonic will perform a concert of classical music by composers Frédéric Chopin, Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. $15 donation. 4 p.m.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380, E. Second St., Scottsdale. scottsdalephilharmonic.com

Dec. 4

THE SCHUMANN LEGACY Musical Instrument Museum will welcome MusicaNova Orchestra for a concert of Robert Schumann’s most treasured masterpieces. $33.50+. 2 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 480478-6000; mim.org

Dec. 4–11

HOLIDAYS WITH ORPHEUS: CELEBRATE THE SEASON Orpheus Male Chorus will perform a concert of traditional and contemporary holiday songs. $25; youth, student and senior discounts available. See website for times and locations. orpheus.org

BIG BAND HOLIDAYS Musical Instrument Museum will welcome National Endowment for the Arts jazz master and five-time Grammy-winning vocalist Dianne Reeves, emerging singer Samara Joy and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for a concert featuring soulful renditions of holiday classics, playful improvisation and entertaining storytelling. $69.50+.

6:30 and 9 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix.

480-478-6000; mim.org

Dec. 9 and 10

KATHERINE JETTER Marvel at the unique enamel hues, vibrant gold treatments and rare colored gems of couture jewelry designer Katherine Jetter. These cutting-edge, wearable art pieces for bold and brilliant women feature sensational, proprietary colors with eye-catching rhodium hues and exceptional, hand-picked gemstones that individually tell Jetter what they need during her design process. Free.

10 a.m.–5 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Hum Road, Carefree.

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COMMUNITY November

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Dec. 9–11

WESTERN HOLIDAYS Stagecoach Village and title sponsors Sanderson Ford and Sanderson Lincoln will host a family-friendly holiday celebration featuring special guests Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus. The event will include holiday carolers, festival food, children’s activities, a tractor parade, live music, storytelling and a beer and wine garden as well as a Yuletide artesian market featuring a variety of pieces by local artists, hand-crafted holiday wares and other gifts. Cowbells Western Interiors will host a crazy Christmas hat contest Saturday afternoon, followed by a holiday balloon glow that evening. $10; free admission with toy or nonperishable food donation to Operation Santa Claus. Friday 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Stagecoach Village, 7100 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek.

480-282-4370; stagecoachvillagecc.com

Dec. 9–24

‘THE NUTCRACKER’ Ballet Arizona will present its performance of “The Nutcracker,” during which the Phoenix Symphony will play Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s iconic score that perfectly encapsulates the feeling of Christmas while Clara battles mischievous mice and charms the Sugar Plum Fairy. See website for price and times. Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix. 602-381-1096; balletaz.org

FARM OFFERS FREE EQUINE THERAPY TO VETERANS

Dec. 9 and 10

STEPHEN WEBSTER

Discover the bold and glamorous collections from Stephen Webster, a London-based contemporary fine jeweler celebrated for his fearless creativity, powerful aesthetic, and traditional British craftsmanship.

Coveted by Hollywood icons and idols alike, from Megan Fox and Madonna, to David Beckham and Elton John. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, 7212 E. Ho Hum Road, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com

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Aspiring to end the mental health stigma and get our nation’s heroes the support they deserve, Hunkapi Programs, Chapman Automotive Group and Optimyze this fall hosted 50 Arizona veterans, who each received free equine therapy, guided Wim Hof method breathing, cold exposure and more resources to help them deal with anxiety, depression, PTSD and other diagnoses. hunkapai.org

RESOURCE CENTER SEEKS ADOPT-A-FAMILY DONORS Foothills Food Bank and Resource Center is seeking donors for its 20th annual holiday gift program, which last year served more than 1,185 people throughout the community. The nonprofit organization is accepting donations of $50 Walmart and Visa gift cards as well as board games, books and throws to brighten the holidays for children, families and seniors. After registering by Nov. 30, participants will be asked to drop off donations at Holland Community Center. Holiday events will then be hosted in early December for all adopted families. foothillsfoodbank.com

STEP INTO THE CAREFREE ART GALLERIES Collect your next masterpiece in Carefree!

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MONIZE FINE ART STUDIO AND GALLERY 42 Easy Street 602-647-8421

WILD HOLLY GALLERY 22 Easy Street, Suite 235 480-595-8757

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42 Easy Street 310-433-4465

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Beach House // Photo by Jeff Andersen, Jr.

O

Over the years, Arizona has gained a reputation for being a hub for the hottest music concerts with Arizona Musicfest, M3F and Pickin’ in the Pines sending sweet sounds echoing throughout the Sonoran Desert. This fall, local melomaniacs will have yet another euphonious event to add to their schedule as ZONA Music Festival presses its musical footprint into the state’s astonishing terrain.

The new two-day boutique music festival — set for Dec. 3 and 4 at Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix — will feature a diverse range of national and local alternative, indie, pop and rock artists in addition to highlighting several nearby businesses and vendors.

Having been promoting concerts in the Phoenix area since 2000, Psyko Steve Presents founder Stephen Chilton makes it a point to always place an emphasis on developing local talent and incorporating Arizona-based artists into his company’s events. That remains his goal as producer of ZONA Music Festival.

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“

My goal is that it becomes a big vehicle for artist discovery — an event at which people expect to see the best up-and-coming bands and then be able to say, ‘I saw them there first!’

That has always been the part about festivals that has intrigued me most.

Stephen Chilton

“A lot of these acts are artists who we have worked with for years,” Chilton says. “The goal here is to really make sure that Arizona is front and center in this festival and that it really is Phoenix's festival. We put a lot of emphasis on local artists up and down the lineup. We are going to have Arizona artists on every stage.”

Among the many local acts that will take the stage as part of this year’s ZONA Music Festival are Black Carl, Breakup Shoes, Diva Bleach, Glixen, Miniature Tigers, Pariah Pete, Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra and Playboy Manbaby as well as singer-songwriters and multiinstrumentalists Sydney Sprague and Upsahl.

“In fact, the first acts we reached out to when planning the event were some of the local artists that we knew

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Japanese Breakfast // Photo by Tonje Thilesen

Portugal, The Man // Photo by Maclay Heriot

we wanted to be part of this festival,” Chilton adds.

Further emphasizing the local-first approach, $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to ZONA Music Festival’s charitable partners, including Hance Park Conservancy — a nonprofit organization that aims to activate and promote the creative use of Margaret T. Hance Park in support of a vibrant arts and cultural experience.

Of course, the music festival will also feature a number of artists from throughout North America. Canadian indie pop duo Tegan and Sara — one of the event’s headlining acts — is beyond thrilled to be among the inaugural event’s lineup, noting that Phoenix is one of its favorite cities across the entire U.S. The members of California-based punk trio Destroy Boys agree, adding that many “killer bands” will be taking the stage during the two-day music festival. Other headliners include Beach House, Portugal. The Man, Bleachers and Japanese Breakfast — an alternative pop band that, led by Korean-American musician Michelle Zauner, is fresh off

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an appearance as the musical guest on the season finale of long-running sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live.”

Citing Japanese Breakfast’s explosive success story, Chilton says that many of the perhaps lesser-known artists at this year’s ZONA Music Festival are poised to become big headliners within the next few years. Bartees Strange and TV Girl are among those acts the producer believes are set for sudden stardom.

“A lot of these acts are developing artists,” explains Chilton, describing the lineup as an eclectic group of indie rock acts that are diverse enough to be interesting and coherent enough to make sense. “And we are definitely doing everything to set ZONA Music Festival up as a recurring annual event.

“My goal is that it becomes a big vehicle for artist discovery — an event at which people expect to see the best up-and-coming bands and then be able to say, ‘I saw them there first!’ That has always been the part about festivals that has intrigued me most. Hopefully, it will develop a life of its own and, in ten years, will be where all of the best new bands are playing.” zonamusicfest.com

Experience

ZONA Music Festival Dec. 3 and 4 See website for schedule Margaret T. Hance Park 67 W. Culver St., Phoenix $165+ | zonamusicfest.com

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T

Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Loralei Lazurek

The Carefree and Cave Creek area is home to some of the most remarkable restaurants in all of Arizona. Regardless which corner you find yourself on, a mouthwatering meal is merely a stone’s throw away.

However, the most fantastic feast — one with tastes that transport you to other countries around the world or even back in time — is not served in a restaurant at all. These delicious dishes can only be found at Desert Foothills Library, each prepared and presented with a side of knowledge by members of a local book club.

“There is an immense amount of really excellent food writing out there,” says Dana Rakinic, who founded Literate Foodies more than six years ago.

“We like to choose books that cover a variety of topics — some technique, some international, some regional, some history. They really have a lot to do with culture, ingredients and influences.”

Having spent 38 years as an attorney in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, extensive research has always been a big part of Rakinic’s life.

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Co-facilitated by Dana Rakinic (right) and Jan Kruse (left), Literate Foodies meets the first Monday of each month at Desert Foothills Library to discuss topics at the intersection of food and literature.

“

We have all learned things [from Literate Foodies] that we have put to use in our own kitchens. These are things that we all now incorporate into our cooking in a lot of different ways.

That is especially true of spicing.

Dana Rakinic

“I was used to reading a lot,” explains Rakinic, noting that she and her husband owned a house in Arizona for many years and, upon her retirement, decided to make it their primary residence. “I had wanted, for a really long time, to put together a supper club or a bookoriented dinner group, but I never had time to organize one while I was working full time and before my kids went off to college.”

While looking for ways to fill her time that simultaneously satisfied her intellectual curiosity, Rakinic approached Desert Foothills Library with her idea of starting a club in which community members could come together to discuss topics at the intersection of food and literature.

“Suddenly, it was all systems go,” Rakinic says. “We had more than 30 attendees at our first program in March 2016, during which we discussed all things Julia Child.”

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Serving madeleines and macarons, Rakinic could never have foreseen what Literate Foodies would quickly become.

At the next meeting, attendees discussed author Jose Garces’ “The Latin Road Home: Savoring the Foods of Ecuador, Spain, Cuba, Mexico and Peru.” She and guest chef Carmella Diamond prepared a tapas menu of olives, croquetas, meatballs with almond sauce and tortilla española.

During its first year, Literate Foodies discussed Joanne Harris’ “Chocolat” while tasting an array of artisanal chocolates; Roy Blount, Jr.’s “Save Room for Pie: Food Songs and Chewy Ruminations” while sampling a selection of pies; and Nancy Pickard’s “The 27 Ingredient Chili Con Carne Murders” while devouring — you guessed it — bowls of chili made with 27 ingredients.

Coming to the realization that Literate Foodies had naturally evolved into a much more extensive endeavor than she first envisioned, Rakinic convinced Jan Kruse to join her as co-facilitator. Trained as a speech therapist, Kruse taught individuals with disabilities nonverbal ways to communicate before spending 20 years as a technical writer.

With more than 150 people on their mailing list, Dana Rakinic (right) and Jan Kruse (left) have discovered that the community is filled with people who have, like them, spent their lives satiating their intellectual curiosity and are eager to continue doing so.

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“We had a good group of skills between the two of us,” says Rakinic, noting an inordinate amount of planning and organization goes into each month’s program, which is sometimes supplemented with group outings.

“We went to see [Israeli-born British chef, restaurateur and food writer] Yotam Ottolenghi at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts; we went up to Winslow and received a tour of La Posada by one of the descendants of the original Harvey Girls; we went to Mekong Market and ate Thai food and went shopping. We have also gone to a number of different restaurants.”

Kruse adds that Literate Foodies also occasionally has the privilege of interviewing authors of the books they discuss. However, the group often finds that experts exist among its own members.

“One of our members had spent quite a bit of time in the Peace Corps in India,” Kruse says. “She talked about what that was like as well as brought several dishes and talked about them. We also had a home coffee roaster who taught us about cupping as well as someone who is an excellent baker who demonstrated how to make an easy pie dough.”

With more than 150 people on their mailing list, Rakinic and Kruse have discovered that the community is filled with people who have, like them, spent their lives satiating their intellectual curiosity and are eager

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to continue doing so. However, that also means that the co-facilitators have had to limit the number of attendees.

RSVPs are required.

Meeting the first Monday of every month, Literate Foodies has become quite the hot commodity. After all, as Rakinic says, each program is served with the most incredible $10 lunch you will find in a 50-mile radius.

“We set up each program like a meal,” she adds. “There are some appetizers or starters and a main dish with a salad or vegetable dish as well as some kind of sweet — all of which are prepared by our volunteer cooks, some of whom have spent time in the food service industry, restaurants, cooking schools or food science careers.”

The program begins with an interactive discussion that is often supplemented with presentations by members who have expressed a particular interest or insight in some aspect of the topic. Members will even sometimes bring in related artifacts that they have collected from around the world.

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The members who volunteered their cooking skills then discuss their dishes as well as what went into the preparation of each of them. After that, everyone enjoys all of the delicious food as well as one another’s company — which Kruse says is what sets Literate Foodies apart from other book clubs.

“We have 30 people together who are all continuing to talk about the book as they enjoy and talk about the food,” she explains. “That social aspect at the end really clinches a lot of concepts. That is also how a lot of friendships have developed.”

Rakinic agrees.

“There is a real aspect of community to our meetings,” she adds. “We then follow up each meeting with photos, recipes and other information that we send out to everyone. We always have way more information than we can possibly get to.”

Of course, if satiating intellectual curiosity is the appetizer and cultivating long-lasting friendships is dessert, then expanding palates is most definitely the main course.

“We have all learned things [from Literate Foodies] that we have put to use in our own kitchens,” Rakinic says.

“These are things that we all now incorporate into our cooking in a lot of different ways.

“The independently funded Desert Foothills Library has been a supporter and generous host throughout our existence — and we are grateful for their continued willingness to have our group meet in the conference room/kitchen.” dfla.org

Visit anchor.fm/imagesaz or scan this QR code with your phone to hear a sneak preview of Literate Foodies’ November program, centered around the Native American cuisine featured in “The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen,” as well as Dana Rakinic’s and Jan Kruse’s thoughts about Thanksgiving. imagesar izona.c om

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A home can take on many different forms. For some, it is a house. For others, it is an apartment. And for many, it is not a place at all but rather a person or a group of people.

Whatever the case may be, two of the most important things that characterize a home are memories and traditions.

We have officially arrived at that time of the year when we make many of those memories and return to some of those traditions. Whether we are spending the holidays in someone else’s home, inviting others into ours or going back to the one we grew up in, the concept of home will be a prominent part of our celebrations.

In reading about the history of the Barrio Viejo neighborhood in Tucson, language teacher and photographer Joseph Cyr came across a description written back in the 1930s by American history scholar James Harvey Robinson, who was visiting the Arizona city for the first time.

“But this cannot be the United States of America — Tucson, Arizona!” exclaimed Robinson in the description. “This is northern Africa — Tunis, Algiers or even Greece, where I have seen, as here, houses built flush with the sidewalks with pink, blue, green and yellow walls, flowers climbing out of hidden patios and, overall, an unbelievable blue sky.

And the sweet-acrid smell in the air? Burning mesquite.

Lovely! And the people? Charming. But all this is the Old World — not America.”

Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Joseph Cyr

That quote — and seeing the incredibly vibrant homes for himself — inspired Cyr to photograph the Barrio Viejo, Barrio Santa Rosa and El Presidio neighborhoods that miraculously still exist today, in a world where tradition and culture are too often eclipsed by streamlined conformity and modern convenience.

This month, in honor of Thanksgiving and the role that homes play in the holiday, Images Arizona is showcasing some of Cyr’s work that highlights these historic neighborhoods that appear to have been preserved from another time or place.

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Much of Tucson, like most western U.S. cities, is devoted to strip malls and parking lots. But the historic core still has blocks and blocks of 19th-century Sonoran-style row houses. Joseph Cyr

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The Barrio Viejo — along with the Barrio Santa Rosa as well as the El Presidio district just north of downtown [Tucson] — is perfect for a bike ride or a walk before or after a meal or a drink.

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These neighborhoods are truly transporting.

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About the Photographer

Joseph Cyr’s teenage years were punctuated by trips abroad to visit family.

“Seeing those different landscapes and streetscapes, and experiencing how radically different ‘normal’ can be elsewhere made me want to document and share those sights and moments,” Cyr says. “Time and circumstance had always limited me to a point-and-shoot camera, but then on a trip to Asia in 2011, not too long after I got my first smartphone, I began to realize its potential for photography. In spite of its limitations, it allowed such spontaneity, while also training me to look at light and composition more carefully.”

Since then, Cyr's mobile photography has placed in competitions, been published in multiple magazines and been exhibited in several countries.

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In the 1960s, acres and acres of the Barrio Viejo was razed — but, fortunately, not all of it.

Today it is a combination of gentrification and everyday life, all with the patina of time: attorney’s offices, student rentals and family homes all sharing this yard-less streetscape in a bilingual neighborhood. Joseph Cyr

“Most of my photography is landscape-related,” Cyr adds. “I love to focus on the changing light and weather in the Sonoran Desert.

I always have my iPhone on a wrist strap when I go for runs and hikes before and after work. When I travel, whatever stands out as communicating the ‘sense-of-place’ — which includes architecture, people and street art — is what I photograph.”

Born in Seoul, Cyr briefly lived in southern Arizona as a child and held onto fond memories over the years as he lived and worked in France, Georgia, Seattle, and Nicaragua. After visiting friends in Tucson, he and his wife fell in love with the desert and, in 2007, decided to make the city their new home.

Working as a high school language teacher, Cyr finds that time away from the classroom — out in nature or exploring the streets of a foreign city — is a necessary restorative.

“I am a better teacher because I am able to reset and refocus,” the explains. “Photography reminds me to keep looking, to keep learning how to see; it teaches me to know when to stop and be still, and when to keep moving. It does us all good to remember how small we are, and also to realize how even the ephemeral can be monumental.” instagram.com/allophile_ fineartamerica.com/profiles/joseph-cyr

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Myron Whitaker Hidden in the Hills Cover Art

Growing up in Kannapolis, North Carolina, Myron Whitaker never imagined pursuing a career as an artist. In fact, he spent more than 16 years manufacturing 18-wheelers.

Myron Whitaker is best known for his large-scale, raku-fired vessels — such as the one that graces the cover of this year’s Hidden in the Hills artist directory.

Myron Whitaker photos by Carl Schultz

One day, Whitaker ran into his high school art teacher, who encouraged him to take a ceramics class that she was teaching at a local community college. The class fueled his passion to learn more and, within a few years, he left his job to work full-time as a ceramic artist.

“When I first started doing ceramics, it was pure fun,” Whitaker says. “And then I fell in love with it. I’m really living my dream. When I sit down on the wheel to throw clay, I know that’s where I’m supposed to be.”

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Today, some 14 years later, Whitaker splits his time between Arizona and North Carolina, often traveling throughout the country to participate in prestigious shows and check on his work in various art galleries.

He is best known for his large-scale, raku-fired vessels — such as the one that graces the cover of this year’s Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour directory.

“Raku is one of the most exciting and rewarding parts of the ceramic process,” Whitaker says. “The anticipation of instantaneously seeing red hot clay pieces evolve into the final glazed and black smoke artwork is the most gratifying part of the journey.”

HIDDEN IN THE HILLS ARTIST FEATURE

Writer Susan Kern-Fleischer

The signature event of the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League, this year’s 26th annual Hidden in the Hills event features 174 artists at 47 studios throughout the scenic Desert Foothills communities of Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale.

Showcasing both nationally recognized and emerging artists, the popular art tour attracts thousands of patrons who appreciate fine art and seek a variety of mediums, styles and price ranges. With the event taking place the weekends before and after Thanksgiving, the tour also attracts holiday shoppers who want to find an original, unique gift.

For art collectors and enthusiasts who return year after year, the artist directory has become quite a collectible. For participating artists hoping to gain more exposure, being selected as a featured cover artist is often an honor that adds more prestige to their professional achievements.

Exhibiting and selling his work at mixed media artist Carlos Page’s Studio No. 32 in Cave Creek, Whitaker says that he is honored to have one of his vessels chosen for the cover of this year’s directory. Titled “Large Ferric with Agate,” the contemporary piece features rich textures and earthy colors.

“Ferric actually refers to the firing process,” the artist explains. “It’s an acid that I pour over the vessel before firing it. In this case, I used more than 40 pounds of clay to create the vessel, and I decided to use ferric instead of a glaze in order to bring out the earthy colors and give it a primitive look.”

The inspiration for the piece — a striking Brazilian agate — sits atop the vessel’s handle. A leather band with tuskshaped ceramic adornments is also a focal point, separating the contrasting textures from top to bottom.

“Before I sit down to throw a piece, I decide which stone or fossil will be a focal point,” Whitaker says. “Some people think I create the vessel first, but I need the stone or fossil to guide me as I determine the shape, size, texture and color palette for each piece.” imagesar izona.c om

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HIDDEN IN THE HILLS ARTIST FEATURE

Star Struck by Jeanne Bonine

Inspired by light, movement and rhythm, watercolor and oil artist Jeanne Bonine’s beautiful floral painting “Star Struck” is one of three diverse artworks that will be featured on the back of this year’s Hidden in the Hills artist directory.

Jeanne Bonine photos by Andy Wollman, Century Editions

ROMANTIC REALIST PAINTS THE BEAUTY OF NATURE Inspired by light, movement and rhythm, watercolor and oil artist Jeanne Bonine’s beautiful floral painting “Star Struck” is one of three diverse artworks that will be featured on the back of this year’s artist directory.

With more than 50 years of experience, Bonine conveys a sense of strength and beauty in her award-winning paintings of nature. Host of Studio No. 21, Bonine is internationally known for her rich and lush floral paintings.

Her larger-than-life oversized oils and watercolors draw tour guests into the essence of her subjects from exotic birds and garden wonders to the majesty of a single rose.

Besides the hidden charm of her property and the artistic touch of her holiday vision, guests will experience more than 60 of her originals and limited edition giclees hung throughout her home and studio. She will also feature her yearly heirloom hand-painted ornaments, new greeting card sets, mini oils on easels, and her coffee table book, “Inspirations of Timeless Beauty.”

Bonine began her career selling her paintings in her hometown of St. Paul, Minnesota. Her continual persistence and hard work led her to one-person showings in galleries, exhibition trade shows in New York and Atlanta, as well as three museum showings in Arizona, where she found her true home.

While her early work was ethereal and soft, her paintings have evolved to become bigger and bolder, showing both strength and softness. She also began to write prose to accompany each painting.

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“My role as an artist has not wavered in this changing world; it has only strengthened,” she says. “Now, more than ever, we have a need for beauty, for peace and for enlightenment.” i mages a r i zo n a .c o m November 20 22

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My role as an artist has not wavered in this changing world; it has only strengthened. Now, more than ever, we have a need for beauty, for peace and for enlightenment.

Jeanne Bonine

SHARING STORIES OF THE AMERICAN WEST The second of the three artworks featured on the back cover of this year’s artist directory, “Chief of the Blackfeet,” is a stunning bronze sculpture by Randy Galloway. The piece is modeled after an old black-and-white photo of Chief Weasel Tail, a noted warrior and historian who was renowned for his detailed knowledge of the early Blackfoot life and mythology.

Galloway’s Studio No. 33 is in an earthy territorial-style home in the peaceful, magnificent foothills of the high Sonoran Desert in Cave Creek. An award-winning artist and a longtime participant of the Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour, Galloway is best known for bringing the beauty of the American West to life through his artwork.

Born in Carlsbad, New Mexico and raised in Albuquerque, Galloway attended Arizona State University, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design with a minor in painting. After enjoying a long and successful career in illustration, graphic design, art direction and computer graphics, he decided to return to his first artistic love of painting and drawing. imagesar izona.c om

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HIDDEN IN THE HILLS ARTIST FEATURE

A Song For Zola by Randy Galloway

An award-winning artist and a longtime participant of the Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour, Randy Galloway is best known for bringing the beauty of the American West to life through his artwork.

Randy Galloway photos Courtesy of Randy Galloway

Galloway’s professional art career has included oil, acrylic, watercolor and chalk pastel paintings, as well as various drawing mediums, computer graphics and now sculpture.

Western culture, he says, is part of his soul.

“Being one-eighth Cherokee and growing up in New Mexico surrounded by art created by Pueblo Indians, I have a deep-rooted respect for the Native American culture, and I am fascinated with their ancestral beliefs and the exquisite craftsmanship and symbolic stylization in their arts and crafts,” he explains. “Some of my other favorite subjects include ranch life, mountain men, wild west settlers, portraiture, landscapes and wildlife.”

Galloway likes to tell stories in his artwork of a “notso-wild-west.” His romantic realist styles are masterfully rendered, insightful, intriguing, clever and rich in detail and color.

A history buff who is fascinated with stories relating to the mix of cultures over 200 years, Galloway says the West provides a never-ending resource of imagery.

“Sometimes I'll read about the West, watch an old Western movie or take a special photo during a reenactment that will spark an idea and then I'll work to create that scene with the hope of capturing the light, drama, atmosphere, reality and emotion of that special moment,” he says.

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Martin Halvorson

Elaine G. Coffee Studio 6050 E. Tandem Rd. Cave Creek 480-620-4318 martinhalvorsonart.com

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KEEPING A DYING ART ALIVE

A regular visitor to Japan during her career as an international flight attendant, Karen O’Hanlon became fascinated with Japanese paper art.

Karen O’Hanlon: Photos Courtesy of Karen O’Hanlon

HIDDEN IN THE HILLS ARTIST FEATURE

Karen O'Hanlon Red Autumn

Karen O’Hanlon, the last of the three artists whose work is featured on the back cover of this year’s artist directory, is best known for designing Japanese Chiyogami and Washi (paper) kimonos created in the same detailed fashion as full-sized traditional robes.

Each piece is unique because they have the appearance of fabric, but they are actually paper. The high-quality papers are made by master craft artisans in Japan using traditional as well as modern tools and techniques.

As a regular visitor to Japan during her career as an international flight attendant, O’Hanlon became fascinated with Japanese paper art.

“I was fortunate to meet and study traditional Japanese paper arts under a master sensei, Yuriko Kodama,” she says. “At the time, she was 79 years old, and she taught her specialization of creating three dimensional dolls, known as washi ningo. When I was having challenges, she suggested I concentrate on the kimono. Perfection was the goal, and if the slightest error was made on the kimono, she would take that particular section apart.”

It took O’Hanlon, who will showcase and sell her new work at Beth Zink’s Studio No. 29 in Cave Creek, five years to master the art of the paper kimono. The exquisite and unique kimonos are constructed using Kozo (mulberry paper) featuring popular designs from the Edo period (1600–1868).

“I use two types of kozo,” she says. “One is chiyogami, which is decorated with brightly colored, woodblock-printed patterns. The other is yuzen, which includes patterns based on traditional silkscreen designs derived from the silks of the Japanese kimono.”

Several years ago, O’Hanlon expanded her use of Japanese paper by creating ginger jars — such as “Red Autumn,” her work that is featured on the back of this year’s Hidden in the Hills artist directory. O’Hanlon uses 40–50 folded strips of Japanese paper taped and glued into place over a pattern creating a spiraling design resembling the iris of an eye or camera lens. hiddeninthehills.org

Experience 56

26th Annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour

Nov. 25–27 i mages aNov. r i zo n18–20 a .c o m and November 20 22

| 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | See website for locations | Free | 480-575-6624 | hiddeninthehills.org

C A R L O S PAG E

www.carlospage.com info@carlospage.com 973-941-7174

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J O N L I N TO N

www.jonlintonphotography.com jondlinton@gmail.com 480-329-3660

ELIZABETH BUTLER

www.elizabethbutlerfineart.com

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elizabethbutlerfinear t@gmail.com 480-440-2806

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MICHAEL MCKEE

www.michaelmckeegallery.com m i c h a e l @ m i c h a e l m c k e e g a l l e r y. c o m 630-779-3793

MYRON

W H I TA K E R

H I T H 2 0 2 2 F E AT U R E D A RT I S T miwhitak@aol.com 704-425-8116

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Writer Susan Kern-Fleischer // Photography Courtesy of Brian Lensink

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Ahwatukee resident Brian Lensink is one of those people who throws himself into his work.

Making his debut at this year’s Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour, woodturner Brian Lensink’s passion for creating original decorative, functional and artistic utilitarian pieces has earned him many accolades. Moreover, his work is represented by art galleries in several states.

After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a minor in special education, he pursued a 35-year career helping people with developmental disabilities. During that time, he earned a master’s degree in educational administration and served as state director of developmental disability services in Arizona, Colorado and Connecticut, where groundbreaking work was done to transform how services were provided to people with disabilities and their families.

Today, Lensink is an award-winning woodturner who turned his avocation into a thriving profession. Since retiring more than a decade ago, he has shifted his energy to mastering his woodturning skills.

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Beautiful wood is a magical medium.

Brian Lensink

Making his debut at this year’s Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour — taking place during the last two weekends of November throughout the scenic Desert Foothills communities of Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale — Lensink’s passion for creating original decorative, functional and artistic utilitarian pieces has earned him many accolades. Moreover, his work is represented by art galleries in several states.

MOVED BY MOBILES Lensink grew up in a creative household in Minneapolis, where his mother and grandmother taught him how to sew, knit and make baskets.

“I have been working with my hands and with tools for as long as I can remember,” Lensink says. “As a child, I would make things all the time and had my own toolbox.

Later, in college, I majored in industrial arts education, where I focused my studies on the areas of graphic arts, woodworking, metalworking and photography.”

Though his minor in special education won out when he was faced with making a living, he continued to create art in his spare time.

In 1978, he visited the Calder’s Universe Exhibition at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was living at the time.

“It was a life-changing experience for me,” Lensink says.

“I was absolutely captivated by the work of Alexander Calder and his ingenious designs, whimsical imagination and creative use of materials.”

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HIDDEN IN THE HILLS ARTIST FEATURE Arizona Sunset Calder is renowned for his innovative, three-dimensional kinetic sculptures — or mobiles — as well as for his contemporary static stabiles.

“That captivation has never subsided whether the medium is metal or, as now, wood,” Lensink adds.

The Calder exhibition inspired Lensink to devote his creative energy and skill to making mobiles, stabiles and other sculptures in motion. For the next 40 years, while still working in his primary career, he created more than 300 unique mobiles in his free time. He began to exhibit his mobile sculptures at art galleries, which piqued his interest in someday pursuing art as a career.

SCULPTURAL STIMULATION One day, Lensink decided to see if he could make mobiles using wood elements. The more he worked with wood, the more fascinated he became with it.

When he retired in 2012, he began working on a wood lathe at a local wood shop, where he started to learn how to shape and hollow out wood pieces. Over the next two years, he created his own 2,200-square-foot studio packed with tools. He joined the Arizona Woodturners Association — for which he currently serves as president

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HIDDEN IN THE HILLS ARTIST FEATURE Canary Cage

— and began learning more from the many talented woodturners in the club.

A few years later, he studied with one of his mentors, Malcolm Tibbetts — a world-renowned wood artist from South Lake Tahoe who is a master of the intricate art of segmented woodturning.

“Woodturning is an art form with few limitations,” Lensink says. “By combining components and techniques, you can create just about any shape or size. By arranging different wood species, you can create many types of surface designs. Add carving, texturing and painting and the possibilities are endless.”

Lensink uses a variety of woods — some from metro Phoenix’s urban forest, including mesquite, ash, African sumac, sissoo and ironwood. On occasion, he will use exotic woods, such as ebony, spalted tamarind, bloodwood and wenge. While he creates many functional pieces — such as pepper and salt mills, salad bowls and platters — he prefers working on artistic and sculptural pieces.

“That’s what keeps me stimulated,” he explains. “I really enjoy making sculptural designs that no one has ever done before.”

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Nancy Pendleton 6233 E. Almeda Ct., Cave Creek 602-999-8031 NancyPendleton.com

Beth Zink Art

#29

33444 N. 55th St., Cave Creek 480-980-3848 bethzinkart.com

#22 Judy Bruce

Kathi Turner

#17

31616 N. 70th Street, Scottsdale 775-304-6756 HighDesertCreations.com

#4

Pat’s Glass Studio 26420 N. 82nd St., Scottsdale 480-620-9359 PatsGlassStudio.com

Phil Webster

#20

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7162 E. Stevens Rd., Cave Creek 413-441-2359 philwebsterdesign.com imagesar izona.c om

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HIDDEN IN THE HILLS ARTIST STUDIO TOUR AND SALE

7162 E. Stevens Rd., Cave Creek 480-437-9995 JudyBruceArt.com

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HIDDEN IN THE HILLS ARTIST FEATURE Japanese Basket 2

Japanese Basket 1

Because precision is so important, Lenskink begins by sketching out his design using a computer software program made especially for woodturners. Sometimes, when he’s making a bowl, he’ll take a half log, put it on the lathe and just start shaping it.

Much of his work is created through segmented woodturning, a woodturning technique where multiple pieces of wood are cut and glued together into rings. The rings are then stacked and glued, creating a rough shape ready for turning. The piece is then attached to a faceplate, put on the lathe and its shape is refined using a variety of turning tools. While the process requires patience and attention to detail, the artist loves the challenge each piece presents.

“Great craftsmanship is seen in the form of the shape and in the details,” Lensink says. “When gluing tiny pieces of wood together, it’s important to make sure the joints are perfect with no gaps or cracks.”

He also needs to have command of the lathe and know exactly how and when to use each of the various woodworking tools.

“A piece might be spinning at 1,000 revolutions per minute, and my mind is always engaged, contemplating the possibilities of my next move,” he says.

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HIDDEN IN THE HILLS ARTIST FEATURE Earthtones 1 While the work can be labor intensive, Lensink says that it is also very therapeutic.

“I can be turning a piece for three or four hours and get lost in it,” he explains. “There are few art forms that give you this type of freedom.”

EMBRACING THE UNEXPECTED From a design perspective, Lensink often likes to use spalted wood, which is wood that has been affected by bacteria.

“The nutrients are extracted from the wood, leaving little black lines,” he says.

The artist also enjoys using woods that crack, such as olive wood. When presented with cracked wood, he’ll crush turquoise and other minerals so it’s granular and then fill the cracks to enhance a piece.

Sometimes while he is turning a bowl, he’ll find a surprise in the wood — such as a nail or piece of barbed wire.

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HIDDEN IN THE HILLS ARTIST FEATURE Earthtones 2 “That can create a design opportunity,” says Lensink, noting that surprises challenge him to figure out a creative solution to maintain his original design plan.

After shaping a piece on the lathe, he either applies paint, stain or an oil finish. Many of his lighter-colored pieces are intricately painted with India ink using a technique called basket illusion.

“I use maple wood, which doesn’t have a strong grain pattern and is a very light color, making it a good canvas for painting,” Lensink explains. “The India ink comes in pens with different sized tips on them, so I’ll spend a lot of time painting the little squares that I cut into the wood using a beading tool and wood-burning pen. One piece might have more than 10,000 tiny squares that I paint individually.”

During the Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour, Lensink will showcase and sell a variety of his decorative vessels and bowls, functional pieces and artistic utilitarian sculptures at Carol Fleming’s Terra Nova Studio No. 46 in Cave Creek. Fleming — a talented, deaf ceramic artist — will also be participating in the event for the first time this year.

“Beautiful wood is a magical medium,” Lensink says. “People love to touch the surfaces to feel the shape, texture or smoothness of the wood. I create with this art form because it is fun, and I’m looking forward to sharing my passion with guests during the tour.” hiddeninthehills.org

Experience 70

26th Annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour

Nov. 25–27 i mages aNov. r i zo n18–20 a .c o m and November 20 22

| 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | See website for locations | Free | 480-575-6624 | hiddeninthehills.org

Lucy Dickens Fine Art Studio #14 34820 N Whileaway Rd - 602-653-7002

Don’t miss this awardwinning studio!

Start your tour here!

Jason Napier www.napierbronze.com imagesar izona.c om

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31611 N. 69th St. Scottsdale, AZ 85266 72

November 20 22 www.glassweavers.com

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ph:989-225-0777

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Lone Mountain Rd.

Scottsdale Rd.

Mark Lewanski Glass Studio

69th St.

Hidden in the Hills Studio #15

featuring guest artists :

Adriana Socol

Jason Piper

Jewelry www.ateliersocol.com

encaustic painting encausticartscapes.com

Aileen Frick

Julie Simcox

collage, painting www.amfrick.com

acrylic painting www.juliesimcox.com imagesar izona.c om

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Beauty Before Bronze Exhibited and sold locally at Sue Bickerdyke Interiors Home Furnishings and Art Gallery in Carefree, wildlife bronze sculptor Bryce Pettit’s work has amassed a passionate following, with collectors eager to be among the first to discover the artist’s latest creations.

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Bryce Pettit

Pulitzer and Nobel prize-winning author Saul Bellow once said that a writer is a reader who has been moved to emulation. Bronze sculptor Bryce Pettit strongly identifies with that sentiment, very much feeling the same way about art and wildlife.

“I feel like the beauty of the natural world moves me so much that I have to find a way to express that,” he explains.

Having grown up surrounded by nature, Pettit’s deep love for the world around him and his desire to create art have always been closely linked. When he entered college, he studied biology and the natural sciences followed by graduate studies in ecology. Eventually, his passion for art became undeniable and he focused full-time on an art career.

“One day, I realized that I could make sculptures of animals instead of just writing papers about them,” Pettit says. “It suddenly dawned on me that this was something that I could do for a career. I loved it so much that I thought I may as well give it a shot.”

After initially sculpting for a variety of architectural and hardware companies, Pettit followed his innate curiosity to learn the science and industrial mechanics of bronze casting and metallurgy. He began traveling the country, exhibiting

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My sculptures are a window into my soul. I pour into the clay my hopes and dreams, my love, my pain, my insights, my understanding. Through my work, I can tell you my story.

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Bryce Pettit

his sculptures anywhere there was a willing audience.

Nearly 25 years later, he has had his work featured in a variety of galleries and exhibitions and has even been selected for several large public works — including for the Tulsa International Airport, the Maritime Museum in Ludington, Michigan, the Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens in Kawai, Hawaii as well several libraries and schools.

Exhibited and sold locally at Sue Bickerdyke Interiors Home Furnishings and Art Gallery in Carefree, Pettit’s work has amassed a passionate following, with collectors eager to be among the first to discover the artist’s latest creations. Sculptures of everything from bees and tarantulas to rabbits and raccoons to bears and even the mythical jackalope tell stories that extend far beyond what meets the eye.

PROMISES TO KEEP

hooves and claws give me endless elements with which to create. Through its great variety, I feel like I can use the animal form to convey any message.”

For example, a rabbit may be used to convey a quiet or fun story while a bear or an eagle may be used to convey a strong or powerful one.

“I use wildlife as a medium to tell all kinds of stories,” Pettit continues.

“Oftentimes, it is a subject in which I am interested or a personal story that I want to tell. My sculptures are a window into my soul. I pour into the clay my hopes and dreams, my love, my pain, my insights, my understanding. Through my work, I can tell you my story.”

Just one of the many stories Pettit has told exists within his sculpture of a sandhill crane — an avian species that migrates across North America each winter.

“I find the inspiration for my work in the natural world, but my sculptures are not just models of animal subjects,” Pettit says. “Each piece has an underlying story and is imbued with feeling and emotion.

“They then fly back to their summer breeding grounds,” Pettit says. “I love to think about that herculean effort and how they mate for life, keeping their promises to the next generation. That is why I called that sculpture ‘Promises to Keep,’ a nod to Robert Frost’s poem ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.’

“My work is meant to teach and inspire — both about the animals and about ourselves. The amazing diversity of fur and feathers, limbs, bodies, beaks,

“Animal migration is such an interesting subject to me. It forces us to think about the earth as a whole. Animals do not

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In order to continue to gather inspiration for new bronze sculptures, Bryce Pettit spends as much time out in nature as possible.

Having grown up surrounded by nature, wildlife bronze sculptor Bryce Pettit’s deep love for the world around him and his desire to create art have always been closely linked.

just live at whatever address on whatever street; they live all across the world. I love the ideas of connectivity and all spaces being important — which is something that I think we are lacking a lot in our understanding of the natural world.”

Therefore, there are always at least three ways in which viewers can appreciate Pettit’s work.

“For me, a successful sculpture must always have all three aspects,” he explains. “Some people just want something beautiful to add to their home. And I am totally fine with that. They do not need to know the story. They may not even care about the story. There is then a second, deeper level of appreciation, [encompassing an] understanding of the thought that has gone into the artistic composition or subject matter.

“The third, even deeper level of appreciation is the story. For example, I see my sculpture of the sandhill crane as very much a metaphor for the efforts to which I would go for my own kids. People can appreciate and access that appreciation of my work at whatever level they want to.”

Pettit would never dare try to force the stories of his sculptures upon people. However, he believes that it is important that each and every piece is created with those deeper meanings.

“The power that any piece of art has to connect with another is derived from its authenticity,” he explains. “If you do not create it with all of that deeper meaning, it somehow does not feel right to the viewer. I think that people can

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sense whether or not something was made with feeling and authenticity.

People respond somehow and sense when something was made with care and love.”

THE FLOWER OF ONE PERFECT IDEA In order to continue to gather inspiration for new sculptures — and, therefore, new stories — Pettit spends as much time out in nature as possible.

“I live in the mountains in Colorado and have animals all over — just outside my back door,” he says. “I love that. I try to stay in touch with my child-like curiosity and interest in things. I think, as an artist, part of my job is to let myself be led and tell those stories out to the world.”

Pettit’s education in biology, ecology and the natural sciences has played a big role in his ability to accurately capture and convey those stories.

“Understanding the anatomy of animals — how they are put together and how they move — is very important for me to be able to stylize or manipulate a form or present it in such a way that it creates the feeling that I want,” explains the artist, whose home office is decorated with not only his finished and in-progress sculptures but also skulls from a variety of different species.

Although Pettit has sculpted a few human figures, the vast majority of his work has revolved around wildlife — including his piece, “The Flower of One Perfect Idea,” which, drawing its title from a Mary Oliver poem, depicts goldfinches on a branch, signifying the beauty of small and simple things.

“With human figures, we bring a whole bunch of baggage to it,” says imagesar izona.c om

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Believing that every aspect of one’s life should be beautiful, wildlife bronze sculptor Bryce Pettit recently introduced a line of jewelry that gives people an exciting new way to incorporate art into their lives.

Pettit, noting that subjective qualifiers like beauty or lack thereof tend to interfere with the sculptural message. “With animals, it is one step removed. We can see a sculpture of a fox and identify with the beauty or softness of that without personalizing it too much.”

Pettit first sculpts each piece in oil-based clay.

Through a process known as lost-wax casting, the clay sculpture is then transformed into a ceramic shell. Molten bronze is then poured into the ceramic shell, creating the nearly completed piece, to which a variety of patina finishes that catch the light and complement the sculpture are applied.

“A lot of sculptors like to choose a single finish, but I prefer to let the piece, message or mood that I am trying to create dictate it,” the artist says. “If there is an exciting or fun theme, then I will use brighter colors. If there is something that is meant to convey something quieter, then that will have darker or softer colors. I really let that underlying message dictate the whole thing.”

CLOUD NINE Believing that every aspect of one’s life should be beautiful, Pettit recently introduced a line of jewelry that gives people an exciting new way to incorporate art into their lives. It started with belt buckles and quickly expanded into bracelets, necklaces and other wearable items.

“For me, jewelry is just small sculpture,” says Pettit, noting that pieces are often miniaturized versions of his sculptures — which range from indoor wall and tabletop items to those better suited for one’s yard.

One of the items that are exclusive to Sue Bickerdyke Interiors Home Furnishings and Art Gallery and have become something to which people look forward with bated breath each year is a holiday collectible that is unveiled at the its November art night “Every year, it is a surprise,” Pettit says. “I am not going to ruin the surprise of what it is this year but, each year, we create a new collectible that is kind of like a Christmas ornament. Last year’s holiday collectible was a peaceful little bobcat that I named Cloud Nine, which was a nod to my cat Clouser.

“Two years ago, it was a quail. And the year before that, it was a roadrunner. We always try to do some sort of theme that relates to the Sonoran Desert. I do not know if anyone would ever let us stop making those. There are a number of collectors who would be very upset.”

Sue Bickerdyke, the home furnishings and art gallery’s namesake and owner, loves working with Pettit and making the artist’s bronze sculptures available to her valued clients.

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Visit anchor.fm/ imagesaz or scan this QR code with your phone to hear Bryce Pettit describe the lostwax casting process through which his oilbased clay sculptures become beautiful bronze pieces of art.

“Bryce is as nice as he is talented,” she says. “His work is full of expression and life. For example, his full-sized sandhill crane stands elegantly in a ballerina pose. Its wings are positioned with grace, one up over its head and the other down [at its side]. Its feathers are fabulously catching the breeze, exaggerating the stunning detail. I do not believe that there is anyone who sculpts bronze feathers better than Bryce.”

Pettit says that the feeling is very much mutual.

“Sue is so wonderful to work with,” he says. “She creates beauty. It is never just stuff to her. It is never just decorating a home. It is creating a mood and reflecting the person within it. I really relate to that. It is one of the reasons I really connect with her.”

Pettit adds that art is enmeshed in every single aspect of his life.

“Whether I am making dinner and trying to present it beautifully or taking a morning walk and seeing a bird fly across the path of the trail in front of me, everything in my life is intertwined with art,” he says. “All of that feeds into my sculptures.

Everyone talks about a work-life balance, but I cannot do that. I try to incorporate beauty into whatever I am doing all of the time.” suebickerdyke.com

Experience

Bryce Pettit Thursday, Nov. 17 | 4–7 p.m.

Sue Bickerdyke Interiors Home Furnishings and Art Gallery 36889 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Suite B1, Carefree Free | 480-595-0171 suebickerdyke.com

Beautiful Original Art for Everyone Stop in TODAY and see our talented Artists original art works!

Acrylic, Oil on Canvas, Metal, Bronze & Stone Sculptures, Photography, Digital Composite Imagery, Glass Art, Wood-turning, Jewelry, Ceramic & Resin Art Works Tuesday–Saturday 10-5 p.m.

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100 Easy Street, Suite 1, Carefree AZ 85377 480.313.8447 | gallerymichele.art imagesar izona.c om

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ANCIENT + OLD TRUNK SHOW Wed. & Thur. | Nov. 9-10 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 480-575-8080 | GraceReneeGallery.com 80

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ANCIENT + OLD TRUNK SHOW Wed. & Thur. | Nov. 9-10 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 480-575-8080 | GraceReneeGallery.com imagesar izona.c om

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Writer Shannon Severson Photography Courtesy of Stephen Webster

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The British monarchy has garnered many headlines this fall and, along with all the pomp and circumstance, the image of the royal family is intrinsically tied to its famous Crown Jewels.

In use since approximately 1660, the regalia is symbolic of more than 800 years of monarchy. So it’s no secret that jewels and the craftsmanship required to present them in most spectacular fashion are a highly treasured part of British culture and tradition.

Stephen Webster may not be in line for the throne at Windsor Castle, but he is absolutely jewelry royalty. His designs marry traditional craftsmanship, innovation, fair trade and a decidedly rebellious rock ’n’ roll spirit, earning him scores of devotees — from musicians and actors to collectors who may not be in front of cameras but are nonetheless dedicated to his unique pieces.

Most recently, he’s been in the headlines for making a glittering set of diamond and emerald rings that cling together with magnets for the engagement of rapper Machine Gun Kelly and actress Megan Fox.

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Stephen Webster’s designs marry traditional craftsmanship, innovation, fair trade and a decidedly rebellious rock ’n’ roll spirit.

I’m always looking for the story behind something that I can tell as jewelry — a song, a poem, the ocean, a country. As long as I feel there’s a reason, I can translate that and tell a story in jewelry.

Stephen Webster

“As you put them on, the two rings cleaved together with magnets embedded in the gold, creating a heart,” Webster says. “It was my most talked about ring.”

Arizonans will have the chance to make his work their own this month when Webster’s pieces are displayed at Grace Renee Gallery in Carefree. He’s looking forward to having his pieces in the gallery, which presents a mix of paintings, sculptures and remarkable jewelry.

“I like galleries operated by their owners,” Webster says. “Like my business, you never leave and you stand by everything you produce. Owner-operators are passionate about what they present.”

Along with operating his own extremely successful jewelry brand, Webster also serves as chairman of Garrard & Co. — a jeweler that occupies a place in history as the first appointed crown jeweler circa 1843.

In 2012, he was honored for his contribution to the United Kingdom by King Charles III, who awarded him a Member of the Order of the British Empire medal in recognition of his outstanding achievement and positive

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impact on his industry and the wider community. Webster is known for pioneering Fairtrade gold and establishing mentorship programs for aspiring young jewelry designers through his Rock Vault program.

“I met the king when he was Prince Charles,” Webster reveals.

“He gave me my medal for my training and the skills I pass on to younger people in my industry.

I look forward to meeting him as king someday.”

ACORN TO OAK Webster’s 46-year history in the jewelry industry is truly an acorn-to-oak story and is fully detailed in his autobiography “Goldstruck: A Life Shaped by Jewellery,” where he details his journey from a small jeweler’s bench in England to global travels and worldwide fame. His love for rock ’n’ roll and fashion were early inspirations and he was heavily influenced by the iconic David Bowie.

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“He impacted me and so many people I know,” Webster says. “He was a revolution in himself. I’ve managed to twist an aesthetic into jewelry and it’s probably a reason I was able to develop this jewelry that is part of rock ’n’ roll royalty. It felt a bit like glam rock — it definitely got noticed and suited that crowd. I’m very lucky that, even now, I deal with a fair amount of people in that world –– even the younger ones.”

Webster has taken the best of traditional British craftsmanship and — with the creation of new cuts and the use of nontraditional stones — fashioned an entirely new genre in jewelry.

“I bought rough material [at the Tucson gem show] and fashioned it how I wanted,” he says. “In the 90s, I experimented with what I could do with a gem that hasn’t been done before. I created my iconic Crystal Haze, which is an extreme doublet — a heavily faceted piece of clear quartz over a layer of opaque material like turquoise or obsidian. All that I’d buy in Tucson I’d cut and make into Crystal Haze.

“As far as England was concerned at the time, it wasn’t considered the sort of thing you’d put in fine jewelry but I’d set it in 18k gold. I experimented with what I could do with a gem that hadn’t been done before. It took a while for people to accept it.”

Webster says that time was also on his side. His rise in success coincided with the shift of jewelry not just being purchased for women by men. Women were buying their own jewelry to express their own personal style. People were becoming more adventurous and self-expressive.

There’s also a lore to Stephen Webster jewelry. In every piece, he is sharing an entrancing tale.

“I’m always looking for the story behind something that I can tell as jewelry — a song, a poem, the ocean, a country,” he says. “As long as I feel there’s a reason, I can translate that and tell a story in jewelry. I’ve never done anything else. I’ve got to be creative and I have an amazing team around me.”

These stories told in precious metals, shimmering gems and bold, eye-catching lines are a reflection of how Webster creates in his own voice; it’s different from all the rest but based in the skills he’s mastered and the risks he’s been willing to take.

“If everyone is doing flowers, I’m making a rose with thorns,” Webster says. “There is a ring that Liz Taylor bought from a Santa Barbara shop I worked at in 1984. I phoned my mum back in England and she honestly didn’t believe me. It helped my confidence, which I probably needed at the time. That kind of motif — its roots are there for me; it’s still something we can return to as a motif.”

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AN AMERICAN ACCENT As much as he is an Englishman by birth, his time in America and the early embrace of his designs by Americans played a key role in his journey to renown.

“My style and success were very much driven by my American clients,” Webster says. “So much of the roots of independent jewelry originated in America; Native Americans are adorned with jewelry, that idea of the flamboyant Western cowboy with big belt buckles, silver, boots — all that is part of this independent spirit.”

His stand-out, avant-garde designs attract both men and women.

“I think the thing that completed the circle to date is that we launched a focused, gender-neutral collection,” he says.

“20 years ago, it was quite hard to know where you put a jewelry collection for men in a store — it used to be only watches and wedding bands. Now, we put out a collection not for him or her, but for everybody. Find what you like and wear it.”

Webster’s independent streak delivered his biggest break in the industry in the late 90s when Madonna purchased one of his rings, wore it on her index finger and propelled his career into the stratosphere. He later made the rings for her marriage to Guy Ritchie.

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“Madonna being Madonna, she didn’t give a shit about what was considered fine jewelry,” Webster recalls. “It became ‘the’ ring and people began to wear it on the index finger. That really kicked off my career. Everyone wanted it because she was wearing it.”

Scores of celebrities have adorned themselves in his creations ever since — among them Elton John, Taylor Swift, Christina Aguilera, Machine Gun Kelly, Megan Fox, Ozzie Osbourne and Jennifer Lopez.

Today, Webster continues to push the envelope of design while bringing to the fore traditional methods used to make painstaking handmade chains, intricately carved knives and striking multifaceted gems.

He has always worked with his brother, David, and his daughters have recently joined the business — an unexpected yet delightful development as they bring their creative DNA to his projects. His daughter, Amy, is a filmmaker who is documenting her father’s work on his jewelry and homeware line and the relationships that he has built over many years with talented craftspersons across the UK. His younger daughter, Nika, is working and studying to be a jeweler.

Looking forward or back, it’s the relationships Webster has cultivated — paired with his talent and vision — that have cemented his place in the world of jewelry. “[Jewelry] has taken me all over the world –– down mines in Peru, Africa and India and to the most glamorous places on the planet,” Webster says. “It’s a thing you could never imagine when you sit down at a jeweler’s bench, which is a small space. You never imagine where a jewelry life can take you.” gracereneegallery.com

Experience

Stephen Webster Dec. 9 and 10 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Grace Renee Gallery | 7212 E. Ho Road, Carefree | 480-575-8080 gracereneegallery.com imagesar|izona.c om November 2022

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By Rebecca L. Rhoades Photography by Loralei Lazurek

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We all remember a time when, as young students, we visited a local museum, science center or historical site as part of a school outing. For most kids, a field trip simply is a fun day away from the classroom.

For others, it’s a way to see and experience elements of history and culture they might not otherwise have a chance to on their own.

For Jeremy Mikolajczak, a tour of the Detroit Institute of Arts Museum as a child started him on a path that eventually would take him through some of the greatest art institutions across the country.

“That transformative moment was seeing Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry Murals,” Mikolajczak recalls. “You know that chill you get when you see something of that magnitude for the first time?

That piece really did it for me. It’s fascinating. And I wanted to be a part of that world.”

That experience fostered a love of art that influenced his life and his career. This past April, Mikolajczak was named Phoenix Art Museum’s new Sybil Harrington Director and CEO, bringing with him 20 years of experience.

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“[Art] is one of the few areas where it doesn’t matter if you’re 8 or 80; you can still have a valid conversation about a piece of art, and both perspectives are equally as important.

Jeremy Mikolajczak

A LIFE IN ART Born and raised in central Michigan, Mikolajczak studied painting and printmaking at West Virginia University.

While Western art, such as Willard Franklin Midgette's Processing Sheep (oil on linen), played an important role in the museum's foundation, the collection's focus continues to expand. "Phoenix Art Museum is the largest institution in the Southwest," Mikolajczak says. "We don't want to lose that history, but we have to expand because the Southwest itself is evolving rapidly. It's a new day and a new culture."

“I started out as a visual artist and took some art history courses, and I found this really interesting balance between wanting to know the history of where we’ve come from and understand what goes on in an artist’s mind as they start to create,” he explains.

After graduation, he returned to the Great Lakes State, where he got a job as the curator of a community arts center.

“I got to think about the other side of the art world,” he says. “You’re working with artists and negotiating people’s perception of art. What would excite the community? What would challenge them?”

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Two years later, Mikolajczak returned to school, studying for a year in Italy, before receiving his master’s degree from the University of Florida. As an alumni fellow, he was able to work with leaders in the art history and visual arts department, experiences that continued to shape his career and his approach to art.

“I learned that I did not want to be a visual artist full-time,” he explains. “I was more interested in contemporary theory, museum work and gallery work. I have a little bit of a different brain. I have a right-left brain, so I can be incredibly creative, but I also can be incredibly pragmatic. The museum world really fit that niche. I can still flex my creative side, but I also understand the business applications that need to happen.”

Mikolajczak’s professional path has crisscrossed the country. It’s taken him from Chicago, where he ran a commercial gallery space that specialized in Danish ceramics and furnishings, to Missouri, where he taught at the University of Central Missouri and served as curator of the school’s art gallery, to Florida, where he was the executive director of the Museum of Art and Design at Miami Dade College.

“I didn’t have the traditional trajectory,” he notes. “Typically, the museum story is you get your degree in art history, you go into a curatorial role, then you move up to a deputy director position, and finally, you get a museum directorship. That’s changing in today’s world. A lot of [directors] started out as visual artists and moved into these particular roles.”

In 2016, after almost a decade of working in university settings, Mikolajczak joined the Tucson Museum of Art as director and CEO. During his six-year tenure, he spearheaded the development of the museum’s 7,000-square-foot Kasser Family Wing of Latin American Art.

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“Moving to Tucson was a great opportunity,” he says. “I had been in academia for a long time. Even though academic centers are public, there are still some barriers and some closed systems. I really wanted to work with an institution that would allow me to have a greater impact within the community. I wanted to continue the conversation that began for me in the Detroit Institute of Art. “In addition, I fell in love with Arizona. I fell in love with the region.

I love the multinational nature of this land that we’re on.”

ART FOR ALL Sitting on a sofa in his office at Phoenix Art Museum, Mikolajczak comes across more as your friendly neighborhood dad than the stereotypical museum director often portrayed in movies and on TV. There’s nothing stuffy or formal about Mikolajczak. He’s dressed stylishly but casually, in an Oxford shirt, jeans and chunky black-andsilver Alexander McQueen high-tops.

His blue eyes sparkle, and he laughs wholeheartedly when the subject of approachability is brought up. It’s a term he hears frequently.

“When you think about where society is going, it’s about being approachable, and I believe the museum world also is changing in that direction,” he says.

“Through some of those older models, we’ve lost a lot of connectivity with our communities. We have to break that cycle.

“Art is a way we can communicate and connect. It’s one of the few areas where it doesn’t matter if you’re 8 or 80; you can still have a valid

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conversation about a piece of art, and both perspectives are equally as important. Art transposes time. It’s not linear.

“I spend a lot of time walking through the galleries and just watching people — what they look at, how they interface with art. Sometimes I’ll listen to their conversations. What you see and experience is really about your personal interpretation.”

Like many art museums around the world, Phoenix Art Museum continues to work hard to overcome the misconception that fine art is pretentious, boring and unrelatable.

“When we’re talking about contemporary dialogues and where museums are going, it has to be done with a thought process around who is in the community, who’s interfacing with the museum,” Mikolajczak explains.

“What is our purpose? What is the impact we want to have?

"Every time I walk through the museum, I see something completely new, even if the work has been on view for multiple years," Mikolajczak says. In the background is Cornelia Parker's burnt wood, wire and string installation Mass (Colder Darker Matter).

“The Phoenix Art Museum has an incredible collection. We have some incredible works of European art that are of the highest caliber and canon, but we also have one of the few galleries in the world that’s dedicated to Sikh art.

Somebody from the Sikh community can come in and see themselves in this institution. That’s what’s important, that diversity, equity and inclusion. Phoenix is a mix of cultures, so we have to think about our museum in the same way.

“I want people to know that this is a place for them. It’s a place where you can escape, travel, experience, communicate and connect. I want everyone to come in and have a great experience — to have the same experience that I was afforded as a child.” phxart.org

Experience

"Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of This Town"

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Nov.6–March | Steele Gallery i mages a r i zo n a .c12, o m 2023 November 20 22

at Phoenix Art Museum | 1625 N. Central Ave, Phoenix | 602-257-1880 | phxart.org

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Tokyo Pop On Sunday, Nov. 6, Phoenix Art Museum will premiere "Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of This Town" — an exhibition of large-scale graffiti-inspired paintings, drawings and installations by one of today’s most popular Japanese artists.

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Influenced by manga — a genre of Japanese art that includes comics and graphic novels — and anime — Japanese cartoons — Mr.’s vivid and often chaotic works explore themes of tragedy, desire, trauma and fantasy and showcase kawaii — or “cute” — characters with wide eyes, colorful hair and round, childlike faces.

“Mr. was one of Takashi Murakami’s proteges,” says Jeremy Mikolajczak, Phoenix Art Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “He is closely associated with Superflat, a post-modern art movement founded by Murakami. What’s great about this is it’s his first major show in the U.S. in six years. It’s also an area we’ve never truly explored — anime, manga, the different nuances that happen within Japanese contemporary art.”

Artworks spanning the 1990s to 2022 include nearly 50 paintings, drawings, sculptures and video works.

The exhibition will also feature the world debut of a new 30-foot-long canvas as well as a recent museum acquisition. imagesar izona.c om

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Patriotic Performances Phoenix Symphony // Photo Courtesy of Phoenix Symphony

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo

The soundtrack of our lives is filled with many genres of music, but few songs evoke stronger memories and emotions than patriotic tunes.

You probably cannot remember where or when you first heard songs such as “Stars and Stripes Forever” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” It could have been that Veterans Day parade you attended with your parents when you were not even old enough to walk or during that Fourth of July fireworks display under which you received your first kiss.

Whatever the case, these patriotic tunes seem to have always been there, a consistent and ever-present piece of your life.

Moreover, when you hear them played, you are viscerally transported back in time to those significant moments and events. You can distinctly recall the smell of the popcorn, the feel of the grass and — most importantly — the American pride that poured into your heart as well as the perennial gratitude for the men and women who have fought or continue to fight for our freedoms.

For those who have had first-hand experience defending our country, those memories and emotions are even stronger, symbolizing brotherhood, sacrifice and, sadly, sometimes loss. But, much like these brave men and women, these songs stand for something worth honoring and celebrating.

This month, as we pay tribute to our nation’s veterans, bands, choirs and orchestras across the Valley will perform concerts consisting of some of the songs that help us express the pride and gratitude that words alone could never completely convey.

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Julie Desbordes // Photo Courtesy of Salt River Brass

Army Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Gebo

AMERICAN SALUTE On Sunday, Nov. 13, Salt River Brass will perform its sophomore concert of the season — an armed forces tribute honoring those who serve our country.

“We are calling it American Salute,” says Julie Desbordes, the ensemble’s new music director. “All of the repertoire is going to be very patriotic. It is going to be a celebration.”

The first half of the concert will feature two very special guests — euphonium player Gunnery Sgt. Hiram Diaz

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from the United States Marine Band and trumpet player Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Gebo from the United States Army Band, both of whom will perform solos as well as a duet with the brass band.

The second half of the concert will feature Northern Arizona University’s Wind Symphony, led by Stephen Meyer, who is also president of Salt River Brass’s board of directors. Meyer says that many of the symphony’s instrumentalists are from the Phoenix area, therefore the concert will provide their family and friends an opportunity to hear them perform.

Salt River Brass // Photo Courtesy of Salt River Brass

“Our portion of the concert will feature a version of ‘Shenandoah’ by Omar Thomas, who is a renowned jazz artist and composer, and has recently composed a number of stellar works for wind ensemble,” Meyer says. “We will also be performing a solo with Hiram Diaz on a piece that was written for him by Tom Davoren, who is an English composer.

“We will also close the concert with ‘Pines of Rome,’ which is a staple in the orchestra repertoire. Its last movement, called ‘Pines of the Appian Way,’ is one of the most exciting brass pieces to play. There are antiphonal parts with which we will surround the hall to finish the concert. So it will be a wonderful collaboration between student and professional musicians.”

Salt River Brass participates in the Vet Tix program, which provides free tickets to all branches of currently-serving military and veterans, making it easy for those very special individuals to attend the concert at Mesa Arts Center.

Noting that she grew up playing in bands, Desbordes says that she vividly remembers collaborating with army members in her hometown on holidays that celebrate and honor those who serve.

“I understand to my core the importance of carrying that through,” she explains. “That has always been very important to me. When I hear these songs, I feel honored to be able to value history and humanity in that way. And I love the fact that brass instruments have the possibility to sing and to really touch other people. And, here, you have an entire ensemble full of that sound. So it really feels like a brass choir.”

Marine Gunnery Sgt. Hiram Diaz

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I want to help preserve our country’s respect and appreciation for the sacrifices that not just my family but others’ families have gone through to make this country what it is today.

Carolyn Eynon

Meyer agrees, adding that there is often a certain memory recall involved with patriotic pieces like those that will be played during Salt River Brass’s American Salute — such as “Armed Forces Salute” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.”

“Certainly, if you were in the service, they take you back to a time, a reason or an honor of serving our country,” he says. “However, even if you were not, we have all heard these tunes throughout our entire lives. It might be when you were a kid at a parade or a memorial event on TV, but there is a connotation to these pieces and a recall with which we hope to inspire an emotional connection that I think is so important to honor.”

SALUTE OUR VETS For the past four years, the Carolyn Eynon Singers have devoted their November concert to performing patriotic music designed to honor our country’s veterans. The choir will continue that tradition Sunday, Nov. 13 with a concert aptly titled Salute Our Vets at Christ the Lord Lutheran Church in Carefree.

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“I am a respecting veteran’s wife,” says artistic director Carolyn Eynon. “So I have always appreciated what my personal life has been blessed with by the service of my husband, who was a sergeant in the United States Army, and I want to honor all of the veterans who have guaranteed our freedom. I want to help preserve our country’s respect and appreciation for the sacrifices that not just my family but others’ families have gone through to make this country what it is today.”

The concert will open with the National Anthem, featuring an honor and color guard, before delving into a number of well-known patriotic tunes — such as “When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and the official songs of the United States Armed Forces. The Carolyn Eynon Singers will then perform a selection of African American spirituals that carry themes of unity and freedom.

Carolyn Eynon Singers // Photo by Joanne Casulli

“We will also be performing a song from the musical ‘The Civil War’ called ‘Tell My Father’ that will bring tears

to your eyes,” Eynon says. “It will be sung exclusively by my male singers from the perspective of a young boy who is saying goodbye to his dad as he goes off to fight in the Civil War, but its lyrics could apply to any war.

“We will then close with two songs — the first being ‘Thank You, Soldiers,’ during which my choir will be joined by five children and grandchildren of my singers. It is a multigenerational song with a beautiful text and melody. The other is ‘Let There Be Peace on Earth,’ that very famous folk song from the 50s.”

Eynon adds that there will be visual reinforcement of the music in the form of projected images of soldiers and their families during the concert, which veterans are invited to attend free of charge. All others will be encouraged to make a donation.

“My singers have always been extremely moved during these performances,” the artistic director says. “When you see a veteran stand up from a wheelchair and put his or her hand over their heart

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Retired Air Force Col. Leon Ray

or a spouse assist a paraplegic, it is a very emotional moment.”

Retired Air Force Col. Leon Ray, a Scottsdale resident, will be the concert’s master of ceremonies while, members of a local Cub Scouts troop will serve as its ushers.

“I really want our community’s young people to grow up with an awareness of the sacrifices of their grandparents’ generation — and even that of their own parents who may have fought in Afghanistan or Iraq,” Eynon explains.

“My mission is and always has been to inspire and educate. It does not matter if we are singing to a five-yearold or to a 95-year-old. Music bridges the gap.

“I truly believe my choir’s motto: singing together connects people. And that has only been enhanced since COVID. After we got done Zooming, wearing masks and having to stand six feet apart, it is like we were reborn in many ways — musically, physically, psychologically and spiritually.

Music joins humanity. It brings humanity together.”

DANCERS, DREAMERS AND PRESIDENTS In 2010, Daniel Bernard Romain — a professor in the composition department at Arizona State University — wrote a piece of music inspired by a very brief dance that then-presidential candidate Barack Obama did with talk show host Ellen DeGeneres three years earlier. “‘Dancers, Dreamers and Presidents’ is what they call an orchestral tone poem,” says Christopher Powell, vice president of orchestral operations and artistic administration for The Phoenix Symphony. “It is this really interesting synthesis between commercial music and classical music, which has really become Daniel Bernard Romain’s signature sound.”

Extremely fond of the quintessentially American piece, The Phoenix Symphony programmed it to open a series of concerts, scheduled for Nov. 18–20 at Symphony Hall in Phoenix, designed to project a kaleidoscope of imagery and hope with our nation at the center.

“It starts with nearly a whole minute of drums and percussion, so it feels more like the beginning of a

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rock concert than it does a symphony orchestra,” adds Powell, noting that the catalyst for the composition was Roumain seeing a presidential candidate — who looked like him — demonstrate accessibility, humanness and contemporaneity more so than any that came before him.

“Then we go into arguably one of the most profoundly patriotic pieces written in the 20th century — Aaron Copeland's ‘Lincoln Portrait,’ which will be narrated with quotes from Abraham Lincoln's letters and, predominantly, his Gettysburg Address.”

Geoffrey Owens — a noted actor from “The Cosby Show,” “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “The Haves and Have Nots” — will serve as the piece’s narrator.

“He has really got one of those perfect baritone voices,” Powell says. “Plus, his father was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives in New York, so there is this really interesting synergy of real life and music coming together.”

Phoenix Symphony // Photo Courtesy of Phoenix Symphony

Noting that The Phoenix Symphony participates in the Vet Tix program, Powell adds that the concerts’ final two selections will be a pair of pieces by composer Leonard Bernstein — the first of which is “Slava! A Political Overture.”

“Bernstein wrote that piece in 1977 for the inaugural concerts of Mstislav Rostropovich's first season with the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.,” Powell says.

“Its main themes are based on ‘The Grand Old Party’ and ‘Rehearse!’ from Bernstein’s not-so-successful musical ‘1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.’ Right in the middle of the piece, when you least expect them, all of these election and campaign speecahes appear from pre-recorded tape. It is just so raucous and fun.”

Phoenix Symphony // Photo Courtesy of Phoenix Symphony

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Bernstein’s other piece that will close out The Phoenix Symphony’s concerts will be “Symphonic Dances” from “West Side Story,” which is arguably the composer’s most successful musical and one that, for many, is distinctly American.

“There are so many social undertones in ‘West Side Story’ that are still relevant today,” Powell says. “So it fits really well within the whole package of these concerts.

“I find it very interesting that some of the pieces that make us feel most American in that musical are sung by its Puerto Rican characters. For example, ‘America’ — a song that has become such a big part of American culture — is sung by the Sharks’ girlfriends, who are all Puerto Rican. It just shows that the diversity of this country has filtered into every aspect of American life.”

Music American Salute Sunday, Nov. 13 | 3 p.m.

Mesa Arts Center | One E. Main St., Mesa $19+; student and senior discounts available saltriverbrass.org

Salute Our Vets Sunday, Nov. 13 | 3 p.m.

Christ the Lord Lutheran Church 9205 E. Cave Creek Road, Carefree Donation; free for veterans carolyneynonsingers.com

Dancers, Dreamers and Presidents Nov. 18–20 | Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m. | Sunday | 2 p.m.

Symphony Hall 75 N, Second St., Phoenix $34+ | phoenixsymphony.org

Visit anchor.fm/imagesaz or scan this QR code with your phone to hear Salt River Brass’s new music director Julie Desbordes and board of directors president Stephen Meyer discuss what makes the ensemble — and especially this season — so special. imagesar izona.c om

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Knowledgable Neighbors Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Holland Community Center

In his free time, instead of reaching for the remote control, Sherbet read history books and conducted personal research, ceaselessly satiating his hunger for knowledge.

Seven years ago, he moved to Arizona to be closer to his grandchildren.

Those grandchildren have since moved away but Sherbert and his wife loved Arizona so much that they decided to stay put. Mostly retired, he sought ways to share all of the knowledge that he had accumulated with others.

“I am of the belief that people who have the good fortune of having had an awful lot of world experience should try to share it with more people than just their family and friends,” Sherbert says.

“I have traveled all over the world.

I have been in government pieces, run corporations and done a lot of different things. As a result, I have developed a lot of knowledge. And rather than just sitting at home, I would like to do something with it.”

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Jim Sherbert presents a monthly lecture series at Holland Community Center featuring a broad spectrum of Americana topics — from sports, banking and politics to Native American culture, the supreme court and wars.

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Throughout high school and college, Jim Sherbert had always been extremely fascinated by history and political science. That fascination has remained with him through the years, traveling with him from place to place as he embarked on a 35-year career running troubled companies all over the world.

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I am of the belief that people who have the good fortune of having had an awful lot of world experience should try to share it with more people than just their family and friends. Jim Sherbert

Five years ago, Sherbert voluntarily utilized his professional background to make Holland Community Center the holistic and outreaching amenity that it is today. Last year, he launched a monthly lecture series at the center featuring a broad spectrum of Americana topics — from sports, banking and politics to Native American culture, the supreme court and wars.

“I typically try to find something about a subject that is a little unusual or different,” Sherbert says.

“So, instead of talking about George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, I talk about the Founding Fathers who you have probably never heard of like Gouverneur Morris; and other people like Kit Carson and William Tecumseh Sherman — the guy who led the march to the sea during the Civil War. But did you know that he was also a banker in San Francisco who wrote part of the California State Constitution and was the chancellor of Louisiana State University before the Civil War?” Sherbert adds that those types of personalities present people with a better understanding of history — a subject that he did pretty well in while growing up.

“You need to be able to understand how one thing led to

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North Valley Young Marines

the next rather than just look at something as it exists today and assume that it has always been that way,” Sherbert explains.

“I also talk about the state of Arizona — including its canal systems, mining and agriculture. My lectures are largely meant to be mind-opening if not educational.”

Holland Community Center’s executive director Jennifer Rosvall says that Sherbert’s lectures — which typically take place on the third Tuesday of every month — perfectly align with the center’s mission to provide lifelong learning opportunities.

Of course, in addition to education, Holland Community Center is also dedicated to driving community enrichment through arts and service programs for all generations while promoting the cherishment of our desert environment. Rosvall encourages community members to frequently check the center’s website for exciting new projects, programs and lecture series.

“We are collaborating with other organizations in the community to broaden our reach,” says Rosvall, citing a five-part lecture series hosted by the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association, a monthly presentation by the Desert Foothills Land Trust and the Sonoran Arts League’s winter market as notable examples.

Desert Foothills Leadership Academy

Visit anchor.fm/imagesaz or scan this QR code with your phone to hear a sneak preview of Jim Sherbert’s November lecture about the history of the American West.

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Sherbert adds to that list the Desert Mountain Leadership Academy — a 10-month course that educates, energizes and engages emerging leaders with the goal of enriching community life while responsibly mapping our future and sustaining our natural resources for generations to come.

Meanwhile, Rosvall says that Sherbert’s Americana lectures have proven to be a big hit, drawing inquisitive minds of all ages and from all over the Valley.

“He is a dynamic speaker and very engaging,” she explains. “His knowledge of history and littleknown facts are unbelievable and make his presentations very popular.

“Jim is just one example of the wealth of knowledge that we have within our community. There are other people up here who are also passionate about sharing their experiences — and we would love to hear from them.

“Here is a personal invitation to those of you who are shaking your heads, ‘Yes, I’m one of those folks with a wealth of interesting material to share with others.’ And an invitation to the community to encourage potential presenters to pick up the phone and call Holland Community Center to discuss their idea.” hollandcenter.org

Experience

History of the American West Tuesday, Nov. 15 | 4 p.m.

Holland Community Center 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale $10 donation | hollandcenter.org

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Arizona has long been known for its magnificent mountain views and warm weather that make social and recreational activities such as golfing, hiking and outdoor shopping enjoyable experiences year round. Those enviable traits have created a demand from homebuyers — especially those seeking a lavish lifestyle — that is quite possibly the strongest in all of the U.S. “We are finding more and more clients looking for upscale properties in private communities,” says Laura Lester, sales associate for Silverleaf Realty.

Tucked into the canyons of the McDowell Mountains and surrounded by the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Silverleaf is one such private community that provides its residents with an oasis of opulent offerings — from an 18-hole championship golf course that winds along 7,322 yards of inspiring terrain to an array of health, wellness and recreational amenities.

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography and Renderings Courtesy of ICON at Silverleaf

“

We offer a unique and highly desirable lifestyle in a pristine desert environment.

I have been a part of this community since the beginning and am excited to be a part of this final offering.

Deborah Beardsley

After a successful sell-out of the residences within its first phase, sales are now underway at the second phase of ICON at Silverleaf — the newest development within North Scottsdale’s renowned DC Ranch community.

Silverleaf Realty associate broker Deborah Beardsley notes that ICON is Silverleaf’s last new development.

“We offer a unique and highly desirable lifestyle in a pristine desert environment,” Beardsley says. “I have been a part of this community since the beginning and am excited to be a part of this final offering.”

Nina Joki — director of marketing for Legacy Real Estate Partners — adds that the second phase of ICON at Silverleaf is underscored with higher quality materials and options as well as new buildings that provide premium view corridors.

“From the owners, architect and builder to the designers and sales team, the players are all different from the initial phase of this project,” Joki says.

Expertly blending upscale residential services with a tranquil setting that boasts artfully designed structures harmonizing with the environment, ICON at Silverleaf will include eight four-story buildings upon its completion.

Covered parking garages — pre-wired for electric car chargers — are located on the first floors, while the fourth-floor 6,288-square-foot penthouse plan offers grandiose views of the surrounding 4,600 acres of open space that are unlike anywhere else in Arizona.

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Each ICON at Silverleaf home includes a selection of carefully curated designer finishes. Buyers receive design consultation with an award-winning, published designer, who guides them through the process of selecting finishes and navigating available upgrades.

Top floor owners also have the option to finish their rooftops with their own private pool and outdoor living space. Elevators are semiprivate with a designated vestibule in each plan, ensuring ultimate exclusivity and convenience.

Of course, the lavish home experience is only a part of the private community’s prodigious appeal, as ICON at Silverleaf also incorporates a bevy of health, wellness and recreational amenities into its spacious setting.

In addition to its own spectacular resort-style pool and spa, ICON is within walking distance of The Village Health Spa as well as The Silverleaf Club — a golf and social membership club boasting exquisitely appointed interior spaces, wondrous outdoor courtyards, fine and casual dining areas and endlessly inviting environs for residents to gather in friendship with their neighbors.

The development also sits adjacent to the Canyon Village commercial center as well as a variety of entertainment, dining, shopping and cultural destinations.

Fresh, lively and flowing with modern layouts and expansive open spaces as well as plans designed to showcase incredible views by day and by night, ICON at Silverleaf is the type of North Scottsdale development that ensures this mountainous region we so proudly call home firmly maintains its identity as one of the most coveted places to live in the entire country. iconatsilverleaf.com

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SIENA COLLECTION

Located in Historic Spanish Village 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. #7 | Carefree, AZ | 480-575-8080

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DINING GUIDE Local Jonny's

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Ugly Christmas sweaters have traditionally gotten a bad rap; but bars and restaurants throughout Cave Creek are hoping to change that, encouraging patrons to don their most loveably hideous holiday apparel, come together and celebrate the season with some delicious food and beverages.

On Saturday, Dec. 3, Local Jonny’s Tavern and Café will participate in Cave Creek Winter — a community-wide crawl-style event featuring exclusive specials, a visit from Santa Claus and possibly even some holiday snow.

The event provides the perfect opportunity to indulge in any of the incredible comfort foods that make up the eatery and pub’s menu year-round.

Starting with a selection of specialty burgers — each prepared with house-made ingredients and served with potato wedges — and extending to entrees such as the Southwest Chicken Pasta — layered with roasted and sliced chicken, spicy chipotle cream sauce, green onions, cherry tomatoes and penne pasta — Local Jonny’s menu is bursting with flavor.

Served Wednesday through Saturday nights, Local Jonny’s dinner menu also features tasty appetizers like carnitas tacos, calamari and nachos. Also on tap is a hand-picked and irresistible selection of adventurous craft beers, coffee, cocktails, kombucha, hot tea and wine. No matter what you are in the mood for, the family-owned eatery and pub has got you covered.

Welcoming hungry patrons since 2014, Local Jonny’s Tavern and Café’s staff strives to make each and every person who walks in feel as though they are coming over to a friend's house to enjoy a meal and share an experience.

Local Jonny’s Tavern and Café 6033 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek 480-488-7473 localjonnys.com

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RECIPE

The Ultimate Turkey Serves: 10–12

Ingredients: 1 (1.38-ounce) envelope onion soup mix 2 cups apricot jam 1 cup French salad dressing 1 tablespoon honey mustard 1 tablespoon paprika 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon celery salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 (16–18-pound) turkey 1 (19-by-23-inch) oven bag 1 tablespoon flour

Directions: Keep only the bottom rack in the oven and preheat to 350 degrees.

Writer and Photographer Francine Coles thefancypantskitchen.com

When the centerpiece of a holiday dinner is turkey, it has got to be amazing. Not only is this recipe tasty, but it is also the easiest, quickest turkey that I have ever made. I roasted an 18-pound turkey in 90 minutes!

The beauty of this is that it leaves the oven open for other dishes you may be considering — like sheet pan pumpkin macaroni and cheese and butternut squash and brussels sprout stuffing. It is essential to time your meal and have enough space for everything, so freeing up the oven makes a huge difference!

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In a medium bowl, combine onion soup mix, jam, French dressing, honey mustard, paprika, garlic powder, celery salt and black pepper.

Mix well then set aside.

Make sure that the turkey cavity is empty. Rinse and pat dry.

Sprinkle the bottom of the oven bag with flour and shake around to prevent the bag from bursting during cooking. Place the oven bag in a large roasting pan with sides at least two inches high. Slide the turkey into the bag and pour the onion soup mixture over the bird, making sure to cover the entire turkey with the sauce.

Seal the bag with the twist tie provided in the package. Cut six 1/2-inch-long slits in the top of the bag to allow the steam to escape. Place the turkey in the oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reaches 180 degrees and the thickest part of the breast reaches 170 degrees.

(Note: Do not turn or baste the turkey while roasting. Do not be surprised if the turkey takes less than two hours to cook, as the bag dramatically speeds up the cooking time. Let the instant-read thermometer be your guide — not the amount of time in the oven.)

Slit the bag open and lift out the roasted turkey, placing it onto a large cutting board. Allow the bird to rest for 20 minutes before carving.

For the gravy, strain the sauce that remains in the roasting pan into a large saucepan. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then skim off any fat that has come to the surface. Over high heat, simmer until reduced to your desired consistency. Taste and season with salt and pepper, as required.

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