ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | MAY 22, 2022
25
Arts & Entertainment Scottsdale.org l
@ScottsdaleProgress
/ScottsdaleProgress
Camp Taliesin angles kids on ‘Wright’ path BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer
A
bbie Wilson had just landed a dream job in December 2020 with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, where she would get to work at the famous architect’s winter home, Taliesin West. As excited as she was about her job, she was confronted with the tall task of creating one of the most exciting young engineering and architecture camps in the Valley under the veil of the pandemic. Wilson’s most daunting task was devising an online version of Camp Taliesin West for kids that captured the same fun and creativity that the camp conventionally offers. She was able to find a way to utilize google classroom to provide instructions on how to create crafts, partake in activi-
Abbie Wilson, education manager and Jenna Green, senior museum educator, work for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)
ties and ask all the questions they wanted. While the in-person camp proceeded with patrons masked up indoors, the online camp became a sensation as kids from countries like Puerto Rico and Ecuador signed up for the closest visit possible to Wright’s winter quarters that a screen could offer. The online camp was such a hit that this year’s camp will be offered in-person with no restrictions as well as virtually again. “In light of everything that has happened over the last couple of years, my big belief is that kids need to do hands-on things,” Wilson, who currently operates as the education manager for the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation said. Because of this, each summer camp will kick off with an expansive tour of the campus’ historic areas where kids are wowed
see CAMP page 27
Phoenix Fan Fusion a ‘Disneyland for geeks’ PROGRESS NEWS STAFF
P
hoenix Fan Fusion convention director Matt Solberg likens his upcoming event to a legendary tourist destination. “It’s really like Disneyland for geeks to come to our show,” he said. After a multiple-year pandemic-dictated break, Phoenix Fan Fusion will make its return to the Phoenix Convention Center Friday, May 27, to Sunday, May 29. Solberg assures that only minor changes were made to the 20-year event. It’s still a one-stop shop for actors, comic book creators, authors, cosplayers, costume groups, vendors, artists, creators, dealers and publishers. “We are bringing badges back, which has been a long-standing attendee re-
Tempe author Lisa McMann and her husband Matt will moderate panels at Phoenix Fan Fusion. (Special to GetOut)
quest, given their collectible nature,” Solberg adds. “We are expanding gaming that we do into its own hall within the convention center. We are also really focusing our efforts within the exhibitor hall. I’m creating great energy within the hall by having the actors, the costuming groups, the exhibitors, authors, artists, creators all in one space on the lower level of our exhibitor hall.” Anticipated guests include actors Doug Jones (“Hellboy,” “Star Trek: Discovery”) and Felicia Day (“Supernatural,” “The Magicians”), along with authors Erin Jade Lange (“Mere Mortals”) and Lisa McMann (“The Unwanteds”), comic book creators Fabian Nicieza (co-creator of “Deadpool”) and Tony Parker (co-creator of “Mayday”) along with various cosplayers and cos-
tume groups. “We’re bringing three full days of the exhibitor hall, panels of events, a full lineup of celebrities, comic creators, authors, costume groups, after dark parties, theatrical events,” Solberg said. “For our attendees, it should be no different than when they’ve attended our shows in the past. We’re bringing back everything they have come to love and expect.”
Return visit
Author Lisa McMann and her husband, Matt, will moderate panels at the event. The Tempe-based couple debuted at Fan Fusion in 2011 with their daughter, actress Kennedy McMann, with Lisa present-
see FUSION page 27
