Third Fridays
Art Detour Deadline Approaches
Posted on 3/02/11 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
The following is a message from Sloane Burwell, President of Artlink Inc., the nonprofit organization behind the First Fridays, Third Fridays and the upcoming 23rd annual Art Detour.
In a few short weeks it will be time for Artlink’s Art Detour 23. We’ve been working hard and you’ll begin to see the marketing for Art Detour starting with the banner ad on the corner of Central Avenue and McDowell Road.
You’ll also start seeing marketing collateral around town, ads going in Java Magazine, Echo Magazine and of course, the New Times. We’re trying some new ideas for promotion and marketing this year and it would be great if everyone would consider joining us.
We’re also working hard on new funding resources and forging strong partnerships with Downtown Phoenix Journal, the Downtown Phoenix Partnership and the Phoenix Community Alliance.
We’re working on ways that keep you more involved and at the same time, bring more awareness to participating spaces.
In this regard, we are extending Art Detour’s signup to help make that happen. Please consider signing up by First Friday. Art Detour 23 App (465)
I’d be happy to meet people again at the Phoenix Public Market during lunch, or feel free to drop it off at either Just Breathe (828 N. 2nd St.) or After Hours Gallery (116 W. McDowell Rd.). Additionally, if you email me personally, I’d be happy to make arrangements to pick up applications during First Friday.
We’re having Artlink Art Detour meetings weekly now, for neighborhood representatives, participating galleries and key volunteers. I’ll be emailing with details for spaces that are participating.
We hope everyone has a great First Friday,
Sloane
Home Sweet Home
Posted on 12/16/10 by Christina O'Haver » No Comments
To celebrate its 35th year of revitalizing neighborhoods by providing programs and services that establish and support affordable home ownership for hard-working families, local nonprofit Neighborhood Housing Services of Phoenix has recently overseen the construction of 28 new houses — gingerbread ones, that is.
On December 3, the Home Sweet Home exhibit debuted at the After Hours Gallery in Phoenix. The public was invited to view and bid on gingerbread houses created by community leaders, City of Phoenix staff, TV and radio personalities, pastry chefs, architects, restaurateurs, elementary school children and other locals, with all proceeds benefiting NHS Phoenix.
Although bidding is closed, the free exhibit is still open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and this Third Friday, December 17, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Check out just a sample of the exhibit below:
Upon entering the gallery, the first gingerbread house to awe is visitors is the one created by Kim Stoegbauer, the founder and owner of The TomKat Studio, a blog and shop focused on creative parties and home decorating. Pink and white icing, candy and paper decorations complete this delightful house.
From 1954 to 1989, Pat McMahon played Gerald on The Wallace and Ladmo Show, which holds the record for the longest-running children’s television program. His wife, Duffy, founded Innovative Therapies in 2000, an organization that develops programs for people seeking to overcome psychological problems such as stress, anxiety and anger. But, somehow, the two found time to build a gingerbread house in honor of The Wallace and Ladmo Show, and with the peppermint-paved walkway and the M&M-covered rooftop, the McMahons have proven that in addition to their other talents and successes, they can make one sweet gingerbread house.
It’s not an edible model of a television or a replica of the Channel 12 News set, but Lin Sue Cooney’s traditional-style gingerbread house adorned with ribbon candy, nonpareils, candy canes and mints of various shapes and sizes is still one of the most charming houses in the show.
“House Divided” was created by pastry chef Carol Konyha, who built a total of eight houses for the show. It doesn’t have snow made of white frosting or roof tiles made of peppermints, and the only Christmas color is the green of the football field, but this nontraditional gingerbread house can be enjoyed year-round by Arizonans of all ages.
Konyha continues to amaze with her licorice-coated vacuum gingerbread house, designed for Linda Cobb, also known as “the Queen of Clean.”
The students of an art program at Las Artes School designed this house, which is one of the largest ones in the show. This side of the house displays the Arizona state flag and a desert landscape, but the other side of the flag delves even more into Arizona’s culture with a design of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Also, on the other side is a house made of gingerbread and crackers, surrounded by frosting-coated flowers and butterflies.
Students in Shaw Elementary School’s art club built this school bus by starting with a shoebox and covering it in graham crackers and frosting. Then they decorated the bus with different types of candy such as marshmallows for the bumper and Life Savers for the lights.
The “Under Water House,” sculpted with cookie dough and gingerbread, and topped with goldfish crackers, was designed by Alwun House founder Dana Johnson. The Alwun House is a historic Garfield house that displays artwork from artists of various cultures and disciplines. The house attempts to engage artists and the community to enrich the cultural atmosphere of Phoenix.
Kim Dorney, the Housing Director for the City of Phoenix, used gingerbread, nonpareils, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, peppermints, candy canes, frosted cereal and other tasty treats to create this festive, classic-style gingerbread house.
Another of Konyha’s eight houses, this gingerbread house (well, houses, technically) represents Amsterdam Row. The snow on the ground and Santa and his reindeer on the roof give it a special holiday touch.
Take one guess as to who built this house. Yep, Konyha again. With its candy cane gate and sliced-almond shingles, this glittery gingerbread house looks so cozy and welcoming, it’s hard not to wish you were small enough to fit inside of it.
Another Konyha creation, this Willo house was designed for City of Phoenix Vice Mayor Michael Nowakowski.
Even though they have a serious and sometimes dangerous job, the Phoenix Fire Department obviously knows how to have fun, too. They designed a gingerbread firetruck for the exhibit, decorating the vehicle with frosting and candy.
Headwerk founder Erik von Weber created this gingerbread house in honor of his dog, Lucy Lou, who recently passed away. The house is made of gingerbread, Milk-Bone dog biscuits and icing, and sits on a Rice Krispies Treat foundation with a pretzel picket fence. Inside of the house, he created a space with Lucy’s favorite toys. Headwerk is a design company that offers unique solutions for communications projects related to brand strategy, identity, advertising, packaging, environment and the Web. He founded the company in 2001.
After Hours Gallery is located at 116 W. McDowell Rd. in Willo (light rail at McDowell station) — 602.710.2398
Third Friday: Exploring Grand
Posted on 11/19/10 by Si Robins » No Comments
This time of year is grand, ain’t it? Sandwiched in between weekends stacked with events is November Third Friday, an opportunity to quietly meander through the galleries of Downtown Phoenix. Grand Avenue is the perfect spot, offering a number of amazing art shows and spaces, as well as food and drink options to start or cap off your evening.
The work of Kyle Jordre. Image courtesy of Jordre.
A good starting point is Bragg’s Pie Factory (1301 Grand Ave.), which features the insanely cool Trashy Sculpture show in its cavernous main room. Yep, it’s just like it sounds: Beautiful, one-of-a-kind sculptures made from yesterday’s scraps.
Gallery Marsiglia (1018 Grand Ave.), open from 5 to 9:30 p.m., is stuffed with art, of course, but will also feature a networking happy hour from 6:30 to 9 with Anna Weber, a consultant who can show you a thing or two about using technology to the utmost advantage for your small business.
Need a little musica? Right up the street is the Paisley Violin (1030 Grand Ave.), which is hosting a live music charity event called “Rock for Remedy!” Music starts at 5 p.m., but stay a while for a beer and one of Paisley’s impossibly tasty sandwiches.
The Phoenix Fall Space (1023 Grand Ave.), a quiet little gallery across the drag from Paisley, will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. featuring works from Jimi Girdner and Denise Fleisch. Then there’s the always edgy Deus Ex Machina gallery (1023 Grand Ave.), showing Michele Bledsoe’s “State of Grace” collection from 7 to 10 p.m.
A bit further south, step into Jordre Studio (1007 Grand Ave.) from 5 to 10 p.m., where painter Kyle Jordre splatters colors all over nearly every surface in the room.
An excellent corner to finish the evening is “Grandevelt” — the highly angular intersection of Grand, 15th Avenue and Roosevelt Street — home to the Kooky Krafts Shop (1500 Grand Ave.), Bikini Lounge (1502 Grand Ave.), Sweets ‘n’ Beats (1504 Grand Ave.) and The Trunk Space (1506 Grand Ave.), which is hosting a free artist reception with Michael Patterson (6 to 9 p.m.) and some good ole rock ‘n’ roll featuring Imaginary Colors, starting at 9.
Parking is available along any of Grand’s side streets.
In Memoriam: Alwun House Founder Larry Vanderbeek
Posted on 11/19/10 by DPJ Staff » No Comments
Thanks to Kim Moody and Dana Johnson for giving us permission to republish their tribute to Laurence Eugene Vanderbeek, co-founder of Alwun House. A fireside service will be held, Monday, November 22 at 6 p.m. in the garden he planted.
Shown here with hands-on camera in the early 80s.
We are saddened to announce the passing of our friend and pivotal Alwun House co-founder, Larry Vanderbeek.
Accomplishments include
Born and raised with 2 younger brothers in a sturdy Dutch Reform family, working the family farm and raising chickens in Firth, Nebraska. Served in Army Intelligence, went to ASU on GI Bill, and received his B.A. in 1964, Geology and Education (his Masters Thesis project built the original model of the nascent Pioneer Village).
Larry breaking garden grounds in 1971 with a John Deer Tractor.
In 1971 joined Kim Moody and Long Island Realtor friend with a small band of visionaries to establish Alwun House; a home where the arts and community meet.
As a photographer, friendship with Fredrcik Sommer guided his fluidity in selecting “essential conceptual” imagery for Alwun House mime-centric theatrical productions engaging mimes, dancers, readers theatre, and a soundtrack — with his films projecting from an array of instruments.
When invited to perform for the 1984 International Mime Festival in Milwaukee, he was thrilled to sit in a specially wired chair demonstrating Alwun Theatre’s integrative technique.
- Larry with Kim & volunteer (now running his art salon), pouring the concrete foundation on the original Alwun House Green Garden Park in 1972.
In the ’90s his search took a solitary path, choosing variously to live in Bisbee and Mogillon Rim communities. Now he’s the splash of color on our sunsets and tickles the muse playing in his Green Garden.
Keep the Dream Alive
For Laurence Vanderbeek’s pivotal role in creating Phoenix’s landmark non-profit arts center, your contributions toward his memorial art monument will grow the vision of a Green Art Park for all to enjoy, expanding community blessings into this new millennium.
Your gift helps grow and sustain the dream of a House where we are All One, transforming our community through perseverance and the power of art. Click here to donate.
Kim Moody, Director
Dana Johnson, Board President
Third Friday: A Hoppin’ Good Time
Posted on 7/16/10 by Si Robins » No Comments
It is rare to see amphibious life on Grand Avenue, so take this Third Friday as an opportunity to experience the way of the frog.
Yes, that’s right, starting tonight and throughout the rest of July, you may notice a frog-woman hybrid near Soul Invictus, but no need for a double take. That’s FrogWoman, the star of the wacky new dark comedy of the same name about a mega film star surgically enhanced to look like a frog. I really can’t make this stuff up. Per the play’s description:
[FrogWoman] escapes the clutches from her overprotective producer to find her place in a dangerous and confusing world. Hunted down by her psychopathic producer, chased by overzealous “FrogWomanHeads” and longing for her frog in shining armor, she goes from riches to rags and finds happiness and love along the way. This is a tale that will touch you, surprise you and make you hop away happily into the night!
Not sure what “FrogWomanHeads” are, or what their significance is, but anything that promises to make Third Friday goers hop happily into the night is presumably an entertaining ride. The rags-to-riches story is sure to compel the audience, and the oddly Frankenstein-esque quality of the main character hints that there may be just as much human as frog in this power struggle of a story.
The show, written by Theatre in My Basement founder Chris Danowski, is directed by the founder of The Sic Sense Sketch Comedy Troupe, Franc Gaxiola.
“FrogWoman” debuts tonight at 8 p.m., and runs July 17, 23-25, 30-31. Tickets are $15 (cash only at the door) or online. Soul Invictus is located at 1022 Grand Ave. — 602.614.4154
