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Gold Palette ArtWalk promises festive evening

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

The Gold Palette ArtWalk season is in full swing with its next session slated for Thursday and local galleries are hoping for large crowds and sales.

Though this is the second Gold Palette ArtWalk of the season, the one on Dec. 9 is in partnership with the City of Scottsdale as part of its “Scottsdazzle” celebration.

“It’s a very festive evening that gives attendees a chance to enjoy live entertainment while looking through some of the most amazing artwork that we have in our state,” said spokeswoman Susie Timm.

It also gives the shops an opportunity to spread holiday cheer by offering warm beverages, snacks and a unique way to experience the galleries and their art.

“We like to have one of our Gold Palette Art Walks during Scottsdazzle so we can theme it with the holidays and keep a good relationship with the City of Scottsdale,” said French Thompson, president of the Scottsdale Gallery Association and owner of French Designer Jeweler. “It’s a really comfortable way for people to come down and run into things that they may not see anywhere else.”

To complement the festivities within the galleries, Main Street will host strolling carolers, live music and Santa, who will be walking around to pose for self-

Visitors to the Gold Palette ArtWalk will be able to find a plethora of original and unique gift items, such as these works of art at French Designer Gallery. Owner French Thompson also is president of the Scottsdale Gallery Association. (David Minton/Progress) ies with guests. “It is a very well attended and festive Artwalk that serves as a good kickoff to the season and a lot of people use it as a chance to shop and look for gifts,” said Timm. “This is an extremely fun and festive way to shop because everyone is in the spirit.” While there are several other holiday experiences happening throughout the Valley this month, but the Gold Palette see GOLD PALETTE page 37

Mariachi Sol de México de Jose Hernandez will make its return to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 10. (Special to the Progress)

‘Merry-Achi Christmas’ returning to Scottsdale

BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer

After cancelling last year’s performance, Mariachi Sol de México de Jose Hernandez will return to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Friday for a night of Christmas classics with a mariachi twist.

Mariachi Sol de México de Jose Hernandez has made it a point to include Scottsdale on its tour list for the past decade and thrives off the intimacy the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts provides.

“The Center for the Performing Arts is one of the most intimate venues that we go to,”said Mariachi Sol de México de Jose Hernandez maestro Jose Hernandez. “It’s just the right size and the audience is so diverse, which we love.”

Hernandez also enjoys how the musicians and audience become a cohesive unit from the moment his band hits the stage to the final note.

“There is nothing like playing together and being on the same page musically,” he said. “It’s so awesome to be able to go back to the Center for the Performing Arts and be able to feel the level of the crowd applauding and singing along.”

Even though Mariachi Sol de México de Jose Hernandez did not come to town last year, Hernandez felt that the show had become a tradition prior to the pandemic.

“It’s become a tradition,” he said. “It’s always a full crowd that responds so well.”

Hernandez has been blown away ev-

Artwalk differentiates itself by focusing on the art at the shops on Main Street and Marshall Way as well as the works on display throughout the Scottsdale Arts District.

“This has a different vibe from the other monthly artist celebrations,” said Timm. “This provides an opportunity to gain experience about art and the mediums in which these artists work within.”

Because of this, the event boosts sales for the galleries and generates repeat visitors who later purchase high-dollar works.

“Over the years, I’ve noticed that a lot of people don’t like people looking over their shoulder when they’re about to make a large purchase,” said Thompson. “People tend to see something they like and come back to make the purchase at a less busy time.”

This is also a prime opportunity for patrons to see works they cannot see anywhere else.

“When people are walking around and see something they didn’t even know existed, it adds to the possibility of people coming back to explore the area and the galleries a little more,” Thompson said. “It’s a wonderful way of introducing people to the area.”

This also gives guests a golden opportunity to score holiday gifts while not having to worry about the supply chain disruptions plaguing big box stores.

“There are no supply chain issues when shopping locally,” Timm said. “This is a great opportunity to support these galleries that are owned by families or by business owners who have owned businesses for decades.”

Thompson and other business owners are hoping for a seasonal bump in sales.

“We’re optimistic that there’s going to be a pent-up desire to get things that are original, unique and not mass-produced,” he said. “Everything down here is unique, quality, beautiful and enhances a person’s life.”

Not only will this ArtWalk serve the galleries financially, but restaurants in the area can also anticipate an increase in customers who may be looking to grab a bite before or after walking through the galleries.

“We set an environment that is very consistent and allows people to go out to a nice dinner and experience a highclass event afterwards,” Timm said.

Thompson also said seeing the galleries at night provides guests with a unique opportunity to see the art in a different light.

“The galleries are fun because the art looks different at night with the interior lighting of the galleries,” he said. “All of the galleries have a different feel to them during the evening – which makes it fun to come down here and see everything lit up as part of the holiday season.”

For those who maybe are not looking to do any shopping, the Gold Palette ArtWalk provides a nostalgic feeling.

“This is always nostalgic,” Timm said. “I don’t know too many people who could leave the ArtWalk with a frown on their face.”

“Scottsdale has a historic arts district that is also a comfortable area with businesses that have been here a long time,” added Thompson “There’s a certain amount of comfort in knowing that something is going to be here many years in the future.”

If you go

What: Gold Palette ArtWalk When: 6:30-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9 Where: Along Main Street and Marshall Way Cost: Free Info: Scottsdalegalleries.com

MERRY-ACHI from page 35

ery year by how people enjoy the music even though they may not understand the language the lyrics are translated into.

“The show is so musical that even people who don’t speak Spanish appreciate the music and the vocals,” he said. “Music truly is the universal language.”

He also feels that audience members who have never heard his band are impressed by its panoramic sound.

“Most people who have not heard a big sized mariachi in person are shocked when they hear us, it’s almost like hearing a small symphony orchestra,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez admits he cannot take all the credit as his fourth-generation band prides itself on its discipline and intonation that has lasted for 40 years.

“We’re very disciplined when it comes to music,” he said. “For us, intonation is so important – which is why we have lasted so long.”

Another reason for the band’s longevity is its addition of new songs every year; this year’s is “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

“I’ve heard this song my whole life but I always thought it would work perfectly in a certain rhythm that mariachi is played in,” said Hernandez.

Like all songs on the setlist for Mariachi Sol de México de Jose Hernandez, Hernandez aims to ensure that these songs pay homage to the original composers.

“When somebody from another country that plays a different style of music wants to adopt a song from another country, it can get into dangerous territory,” he said. “We don’t want this to become cheesy and we want to pay tribute to the original composer of the song.”

This is easy for Hernandez as he believes that Christmas music is so powerful that translating it into a different style is not a challenge.

“People really are impacted by this music and these songs were not hard to translate into mariachi music,” Hernandez said. “A good song translates into any kind of style.”

No matter where Hernandez and Mariachi Sol de México de Jose Hernandez perform this music, it is celebrated.

“We’ve been all over the world and most of our audience ends up being touched by the music because of how passionate it is,” he said.

Hernandez also feels that the sound of mariachi music offers a good contrast of emotions.

“The great thing about mariachi is that it varies a lot in tempos and people don’t get bored,” he said. “I think there’s going to be a lot of highs and a lot of lows that are on the romantic side that are going to be cool.”

It also gives the audience a good reference to the sounds of Mexico.

“When we celebrate the music of other parts of Mexico that’s where the people become shocked by the musicianship of Mariachi Sol de México de Jose Hernandez,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez hopes that audiences feel joyed by this music and leaves the show with feelings of glee.

“I hope the audience takes a sense of joy from the show that gets spread,” he said. “The whole idea is to be inspired and to connect with music that is very positive.”

If you go

What: Mariachi Sol de México de Jose Hernandez When: Friday Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. Where: Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts 7380 E 2nd Street Cost: $39-$59 Info: Show will be livestreamed. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test will be required for inperson attendees. Scottsdaleperformingarts.org

Know anything interesting going on in Scottsdale?

Send your news to agallagher@timespublications.com

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