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ARTS
Arts & Entertainment Scottsdale.org l @ScottsdaleProgress /ScottsdaleProgress
Special ArtWalk celebrates Scottsdale’s birthday
BY KRISTINE CANNON
Progress Staff Writer
The City of Scottsdale is celebrating its 70th anniversary with a slew of activities and the Scottsdale Gallery Association is joining the fun.
On Thursday, June 24, the association is hosting a specially themed Gold Palette Artwalk as part of the city’s June Days events.
The June Days Gold Palette ArtWalk takes place throughout the Scottsdale Arts District – along Main Street from Scottsdale Road to Goldwater Boulevard and north of Indian School on Marshall Way to 5th Avenue.
It will feature refreshing libations, plenty of themed exhibitions and live entertainment by a steel drum band and other musicians.
“We’re excited to share in the fun of June Days with the City of Scottsdale and present yet another fun opportunity for our art-loving community to support the local art scene,” said SGA President French Thompson. “With some great music and delicious refreshments to cool things down on a beautiful Scottsdale evening, what more could you ask for?”
At participating galleries, visitors will have the opportunity to view a variety of themed exhibits.
For instance, at Amery Bohling Fine Art Gallery, art enthusiasts can look at Grand Canyon-themed paintings and watch a live painting demonstration.
At Bonner David Galleries, artist Dyana Hesson will greet guests and sign free copies of Arizona Highways’ June issue, which features her “Wildflowers of the White Mountains” works.
For live music, head over to Carstens Fine Art Studio & Gallery, where professional harpist Jocelyn Obermeyer will perform.
And Larsen Gallery attendees will be treated to a unique reception that includes a one-of-kind performance by indie folk singer-songwriter Sophie Dorsten from Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation and the chance to view Cooper’s multi-million-dollar Andy Warhol, “Little Electric Chair, in person.
The 5:30-7:30 p.m. reception marks the first time in Scottsdale that the public will have the rare opportunity to view the acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas, estimated to be worth anywhere from $2.5 to $4.5 million.
“We are excited to share this important Andy Warhol with the City of Scottsdale during the Thursday ArtWalk,” said Larsen Gallery co-owner Scott Larsen. He and co-owner Polly Larsen will answer questions and register potential bidders for the Oct. 23 auction.
“Alice wanted to be sure to give the public the opportunity to see the work in person before it is sold,” Scott said. “Maybe we can even find local Alice Cooper fans to be bidders this fall.”
Thompson’s own gallery, French Designer Jeweler, is also hosting an event: an exclusive pop-up artists’ trunk show featuring renowned local jeweler Julie Romanenko.
Romanenko will be onsite to show off her custom, very personal jewelry and mingle with guests.
But the mingling doesn’t end there.
Three popular artists – Scott Palmer, who specializes in copper work, photographer Lorita Winfield and Robin Ray, who specializes in ceramics – will be hanging out at On the Edge Gallery. Other participating galleries include King Galleries, which will feature its Modernly Ancestral exhibit featuring Acoma Pueblo pottery from 1960 to the present, and Wilde Meyer Gallery, which is hosting the Arizona Art Affair group show featuring a selection of Arizona most talented artists, like Ryan Hale, Andrea Peterson, Sherri Belassen, Nancy Pendleton, and more. The day after the ArtWalk, the city is hosting Scottsdale’s 70th Anniversary Legacy Quest, a celebration of Scottsdale’s incorporation as a city. During this free event on June 25 from 6:30-8:30 p.m., guests can take part in an expedition throughout Old Town, during which they’ll gather facts about Scottsdale’s history.
Those interested in participating should slip into a comfortable pair of shoes and check in at the Little Red Schoolhouse Historical Museum on the Scottsdale Mall at the start of the event.
“June Days celebrates the very best Scottsdale has to offer our residents every day as well as pleasing our out-oftown visitors,” said Mayor David Ortega.
“There is so much to see and do right in the heart of Old Town throughout the month — something for everyone. I hope that everyone gets an opportunity to come out and celebrate Scottsdale with us this June.”
Information: scottsdalegalleries. com, oldtownscottsdaleaz.com
Scottsdale Gallery Association’s June Days Gold Palette ArtWalk takes place June 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and features themed exhibits, refreshments, and live entertainment, like live painting demonstrations and live music by a steel drum band. (Scottsdale Gallery Association)
25 Area musicians mark orchestra’s 10th year
BY SRIANTHI PERERA
Progress Contributor
The Pangean Orchestra, which highlights instruments and music from around the world, is celebrating its 10th year with a virtual concert.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to kick off America’s birthday with a celebration of life, liberty, and our pursuit of happiness,” said founder Colin O’Donohoe.
The concert will be livestreamed at 7 p.m. July 3 via Facebook Live at fb.me/ e/1nGOrik8y.
Although no tickets are being sold, viewers are encouraged and expected to donate what they can afford through the group’s website, thepangeanorchestra.com.
More than 20 musicians, playing world instruments such as Ngoni, Guzheng, Kaval and Santour, will perform alongside symphonic winds, a jazz rhythm section and diverse percussion. Kathak dancing and break dancing will enhance the show.
“It is our largest and best ensemble since our 2010 inaugural performance,” said O’Donohoe. “We have universally suffered through this pandemic, let’s celebrate universally.”
The music spotlights pieces from countries such as Burkina Faso, Burundi, Iran, Turkey, Brazil and Japan.
Some are original while others are traditional pieces that have been arranged specifically for the ensemble. They include “Djelika” from Mali, “Ar Erinn Ni Neosfainn Ce Hi” from Ireland and “Bahudaari Jathiswaram” from India.
The Pangean Orchestra, also known earlier as The Immigrant Orchestra, has a mission to unite people and promote world peace with the language of music. Since its founding in 2010, it has performed in the East Valley, New York and Turkey. Now an official nonprofit, the group continues to attract talent and volunteers.
O’Donohoe said the forthcoming concert’s theme recognizes that we are “one people.”
“Acknowledge our differences and biases and work through them with the very people you may be wary of,” he said. “When people of diverse backgrounds unite towards a common cause, the results are astounding.We want to be a unifying force.”
Tempe History Museum is Pangean’s unofficial home venue and has hosted its concerts to full houses since the beginning. With positive show themes and diverse sets of musicians, curator Dan Miller said it’s a good fit for the community history
Colin O’Donohoe
Wen Wu, a new member of The Pangean Orchestra, plays woodwind instruments, including the Chinese Hulusi.
(Courtesy of Wen Wu)
seePANGEAN page 26
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The Pangean Orchestra plays a concert at the Tempe History Museum. The next virtual concert, on July 3, kicks off America’s birthday. (Courtesy of Tempe History Museum)
PANGEAN ���� page 25
museum’s performance series.
The July 3 virtual concert will be played at the museum.
“We (staff and our audience) always look forward to seeing and hearing the veterans of the group and the newcomers,” Miller said. “It’s nice to be thought of as a group’s home – they are sort of our house band.”
New Pangean member Wen Wu came from China to Tempe in 2012 for a master’s degree and a doctorate in music at Arizona State University.
Wu didn’t speak any English at the beginning. Music is a universal language and the Pangean Orchestra is a true example of its universality, she said.
“I had trouble in class, communicating with others, or even just ordering food. But I never had any trouble playing in band,” she said. “Now that my English got better, I find that in many situations, I don’t need words to communicate.”
Wu said she’s “not totally surprised” that the Pangean Orchestra has been around for a decade. It uses the simplest way – music – to bring people together, she said.
“It’s diverse, because of the variety of cultural backgrounds. It’s also uniform because we are all using instruments to express feelings.” Nita Mallya is a Bharatanatyam dancer and a choreographer in Chandler who has worked with Pangean almost since its inception.
She collaborated with O’Donohoe to perform a dance routine in 2011 during the first concert.
“It is a pleasure working for someone who is just as passionate about the art; he loves music and I love dance and we come together and work on a common ground and create something beautiful,” she said.
Due to a foot injury, Mallya’s senior dancer, Prarthana Prasad, will perform at this concert.
“The Pangean Orchestra is an amazing team of world music which erases borders, color, creed or any political difference. We are artists who love putting our minds together to create something to entertain,” Mallya said.
Wu plays the clarinet and a Chinese wind instrument called the Hulusi.
“It sounds like a person humming to me. Every time I play this instrument, I have this calm, peaceful image in my head, with river, mountain, fog, trees, bamboo raft, egret,” she said, adding “But my Hulusi also has two vents that create harmonies, like an organ.”
As much as the musicians build on the musical components of their work, communicating their unifying message takes precedence.
“The music is nice, but it’s the thoughts as you walk away and ponder that stick with you. If this group can make great music from all different tunings and music systems, why can’t we ‘just all get along?’” Miller said.
O’Donohoe said: “We are living through a time of intensely increasing tribalism. Quarantine accompanied by a fact-optional internet is a deadly mix. Like the continents before us, we are drifting apart from one another.”
“We acknowledge that differences among people are natural,” he continued. “We choose to let those differences enhance our ensemble.”
